“Gage smoothly expands his focus on the assassination of an ambitious bishop to encompass the controversial and entirely absorbing issue of whether the clergy should involve themselves in the politics of land distribution among the poor.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Gage’s inspector is a fascinating character. Highly recommended.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Achieves both a powerful political thriller and gripping crime fiction in his fascinating debut.”—Arizona Daily Star

“Powerful. . . . A chilling, complex and riveting plot.”—South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“Terrifically written, intelligent and powerfully evocative. . . . Not to be missed.”—Brian Haig

“A novel as rich and complex as Brazil itself.”—Rebecca Pawel

In the interior of Brazil, landless workers battle the owners of vast fazendas. When a visiting archbishop is assassinated, Mario Silva of the federal police is called upon to investigate. Then a newspaper owner, a TV journalist, a landowner’s son, and a priest are brutally killed. In a country where dead street kids are known as “hams,” justice is scarce.

Leighton Gage has spent many years in Brazil, where he maintains a home. He also resides in Florida and lives part of the year in the Netherlands.