Description

An intelligent, atmospheric police procedural series for fans of John Le Carre and Mick Heron

“The most important thing that’s happened in Mexican literature in the last thirty years” Gaby Wood, Sunday Telegraph.

Detective Lefty Mendieta makes a deal with the devil in a gripping new novel from the Godfather of Narco Lit

Short of leads on the execution-style murder of a fortune-teller, Detective Lefty Mendieta turns to his contacts in the drug underworld. They oblige, but there is a quid pro quo: Help Samantha Valdes, head of the Pacific Cartel, slip through the net of Mexican army and federal police encircling the hospital where she is recovering after an attempt on her life. Grudgingly he agrees, but then gets caught on camera during the escape and becomes headline news.

Fired from the force and on the run from the Feds, Lefty again seeks Samantha’s help when he learns that his son Jason has been kidnapped in Los Angeles. There, he must come to terms with the woman who broke his heart, while contending with a thicket of conspiracies, feints and double-crosses that further blur the distinction between crime and the law. Betrayal is certain. To save his son, who will Lefty sell out?

Translated from the Spanish by Mark Fried

Publisher Review

One of the biggest names in Mexican literature . . . A true novelist . . . No-one has captured the exciting and passionate nature of the Mexican vernacular like him. -- Arturo Perez-Reverte. If you are fed up with formulaic noir novels and looking for something fresher, Elmer Mendoza . . . could be the answer. -- John Dugdale * Sunday Times. *