First published 2015
Daniel Pacheco prepares for another of his twice-yearly gatherings, laying out fine china as gunfire echoes through the unnamed Latin American city beyond his gates. Three friends arrive at the renowned surgeon's luxurious home, seeking refuge from the war-torn streets in familiar ritual and expensive wine. The sullen housekeeper serves course after course while the men's attention fixes on a photograph of a captivating young woman whose beauty seems to command the room. As the evening unfolds, each man reveals secrets about erotic fixation and treachery that bind them together in dangerous ways. Outside, the violence creeps closer to Pacheco's doorstep, threatening to shatter the illusion of safety his wealth has provided. The photograph becomes a catalyst for confessions that expose how desire and betrayal have shaped their lives, even as the sounds of conflict grow louder beyond the walls.
Genres: fiction, suspense, mystery, crime, contemporary
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Latin America
Period: Contemporary
272 pages · Paperback · Blue Rider Press
Content warnings: violence