First published 2010
Bishop Juan Gerardi lies dead in his home, bludgeoned to death on a Sunday night in 1998. Just two days before his murder, the leading human rights activist had overseen the release of a Church report documenting 200,000 civilian disappearances at the hands of Guatemala's government. The legal system offers no hope for justice. The Church makes a radical choice: they assemble Los Intocables, a covert team determined to hunt down Gerardi's killers themselves. These men navigate a treacherous landscape of youth gangs, corrupt politicians, and organized crime networks. Each step toward truth brings new dangers as powerful forces work to bury the case forever. Goldman follows Los Intocables as they battle Guatemala's authorities and uncover a web of violence that reaches the highest levels of power. At its heart, this is the story of ordinary people who refuse to let injustice triumph.
Genres: historical-fiction, crime, political-thriller, activism
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, underdog
Setting: Guatemala
Period: 1998
374 pages · Kindle Edition · Atlantic Books (UK)
Content warnings: death, graphic-violence, murder