First published 2012
Erin McKenna finds herself imprisoned in a crumbling castle deep in the Yucatecan jungle. Benjamin Armenta, the brutal head of the Gulf Cartel, has torn her away from her life as a songwriter married to corrupt Los Angeles County deputy Bradley Smith. Armenta makes an extraordinary demand. He wants Erin to create a narcocorrido telling his life story, a folk ballad in the tradition that has celebrated Mexican outlaws for generations. He calls it "the greatest narcocorrido of all time" and threatens death if she fails. Armed with only a guitar and accompanied by a mysterious old priest, Erin wanders the castle's dark corridors composing the song that might save her life. Meanwhile, her criminal husband Bradley and lawman Charlie Hood both race to find her. These two men share a complicated history and a love for the same woman. As Erin's haunting melody drifts from the jungle hideout, it draws both rescuers closer to a final confrontation in the ancient landscape of Mexico's lowlands.
Genres: adventure, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, rescue
Setting: Yucatecan Jungle, Mexico
Period: Contemporary
358 pages · Hardcover · Dutton
Content warnings: kidnapping, violence