First published 1998
Paul Kemp, a struggling writer, lands a job at a San Juan newspaper. Immersed in the island's hedonistic culture, he spirals into a world of rum, women, and corruption. As he navigates the moral quagmire, Kemp must confront his own demons and the decaying values of a profession he once revered. Through it all, he clings to the hope of reclaiming his lost passion and purpose.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, moral-dilemma
Setting: Puerto Rico, San Juan
Period: 20th-century
205 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: alcohol-abuse, drug-use