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Sendero #1
Sendero
The Truth Doesn't Always Set You Free.
In 1987, the dirty war that will last twelve years and kill thirty thousand Peruvians finally reaches up through the Andean cloud forest for Nina and her family. Nina’s father is shot by soldiers, her mother raped, and her brother lost to the shadowy ranks of Shining Path guerrillas. And when Agustín Malqui, the village pastor, files a legal complaint against the military, it’s no surprise when he disappears in the middle of the night—just another casualty of the military regime.
Twenty-odd years later, Nina, now an officer in Cuzco’s tourist police, comes across a familiar name on the police printer that she scans daily for any trace of her long-lost brother. Agustín Malqui is alive. After spending years in a political prison, the broken pastor has been wandering the country, saving souls and drowning his demons in pisco. Nina tracks him down, only to lose him yet again in a police sweep of political malcontents. But before Malqui disappears, he tells her a drunken tale she can scarcely believe: that her brother Miguel is still alive.
Despite warnings and threats from her chief and the pleadings of her lover, an officer in Peru’s anti-terrorist branch, Nina presses on to find Malqui. Her search takes her through Peru’s underworld, from remote villages high in the Andes to the steaming jungle haunts of the narcotraficantes, and ultimately to a secret political prison in the altiplano, where she learns the truth about Malqui and her own vanished brother.
In 1987, the dirty war that will last twelve years and kill thirty thousand Peruvians finally reaches up through the Andean cloud forest for Nina and her family. Nina’s father is shot by soldiers, her mother raped, and her brother lost to the shadowy ranks of Shining Path guerrillas. And when Agustín Malqui, the village pastor, files a legal complaint against the military, it’s no surprise when he disappears in the middle of the night—just another casualty of the military regime.
Twenty-odd years later, Nina, now an officer in Cuzco’s tourist police, comes across a familiar name on the police printer that she scans daily for any trace of her long-lost brother. Agustín Malqui is alive. After spending years in a political prison, the broken pastor has been wandering the country, saving souls and drowning his demons in pisco. Nina tracks him down, only to lose him yet again in a police sweep of political malcontents. But before Malqui disappears, he tells her a drunken tale she can scarcely believe: that her brother Miguel is still alive.
Despite warnings and threats from her chief and the pleadings of her lover, an officer in Peru’s anti-terrorist branch, Nina presses on to find Malqui. Her search takes her through Peru’s underworld, from remote villages high in the Andes to the steaming jungle haunts of the narcotraficantes, and ultimately to a secret political prison in the altiplano, where she learns the truth about Malqui and her own vanished brother.
365 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2011
345 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Max Tomlinson
13 books197 followersBorn in the wilds of San Francisco, with its rich literary history and public transport system teeming with potential characters suitable for crime novels, it was inevitable that Max Tomlinson would become a writer.
He is also kindred spirits with a dog named Floyd, a shelter-mix who stops and stares at headlights as they pass by at night. There's a story there, too. If only Floyd could talk. Then again, maybe not.
His work to date includes SENDERO (listed as one of the top 100 Indie novels of 2012 by Kirkus), WHO SINGS TO THE DEAD, LETHAL DISPATCH, THE CAIN FILE (selected by Amazon’s Kindle Scout program) and the follow-up – THE DARKNET FILE. A new three-book mystery series set in 1970s San Francisco debuted in 2019 with Oceanview Publishing. The first book, VANISHING IN THE HAIGHT, features ex-con Colleen Hayes, on the hunt for her long-lost daughter. TIE DIE, book #2, releases August 2020.
Max also writes under the pen name “Max Radin” when he’s not being purely mysterious or suspenseful. Check out ROCK 'N' ROLL VAMPIRE for his comedy debut.
He is also kindred spirits with a dog named Floyd, a shelter-mix who stops and stares at headlights as they pass by at night. There's a story there, too. If only Floyd could talk. Then again, maybe not.
His work to date includes SENDERO (listed as one of the top 100 Indie novels of 2012 by Kirkus), WHO SINGS TO THE DEAD, LETHAL DISPATCH, THE CAIN FILE (selected by Amazon’s Kindle Scout program) and the follow-up – THE DARKNET FILE. A new three-book mystery series set in 1970s San Francisco debuted in 2019 with Oceanview Publishing. The first book, VANISHING IN THE HAIGHT, features ex-con Colleen Hayes, on the hunt for her long-lost daughter. TIE DIE, book #2, releases August 2020.
Max also writes under the pen name “Max Radin” when he’s not being purely mysterious or suspenseful. Check out ROCK 'N' ROLL VAMPIRE for his comedy debut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 19, 2014
Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: In 1987, the dirty war that will last twelve years and kill thirty thousand Peruvians finally reaches up through the Andean cloud forest for Nina and her family. Nina’s father is shot by soldiers, her mother raped, and her brother lost to the shadowy ranks of Shining Path guerrillas. And when Agustín Malqui, the village pastor, files a legal complaint against the military, it’s no surprise when he disappears in the middle of the night—just another casualty of the military regime.
Twenty-odd years later, Nina, now an officer in Cuzco’s tourist police, comes across a familiar name on the police printer that she scans daily for any trace of her long-lost brother. Agustín Malqui is alive. After spending years in a political prison, the broken pastor has been wandering the country, saving souls and drowning his demons in pisco. Nina tracks him down, only to lose him yet again in a police sweep of political malcontents. But before Malqui disappears, he tells her a drunken tale she can scarcely believe: that her brother Miguel is still alive.
Despite warnings and threats from her chief and the pleadings of her lover, an officer in Peru’s anti-terrorist branch, Nina presses on to find Malqui. Her search takes her through Peru’s underworld, from remote villages high in the Andes to the steaming jungle haunts of the narcotraficantes, and ultimately to a secret political prison in the altiplano, where she learns the truth about Malqui and her own vanished brother.
My Review: I've been to Cuzco twice, and Peru three times, in my life. I very much like it there, and I am a big fan of the Andean people's surviving culture. I came to the book ready to love it.
I liked it a whole lot.
There are the accustomed ebook-original glitches, typos and oddly placed punctuation marks and continuity errors. I don't want to dwell on them, but one big one is the last-name change of a major character between books one and two. I sigh, and remove one star.
Ninasisa is a really sympathetic character to build a series of thrillers on, and full marks to Mr. Tomlinson for making her believably damaged by her and her country's fraught past. Nina, as she is known in most of the book, has sustained losses that would wreck a lesser person's entire life. Nina isn't rising above her beginnings, she's building her future on making the beginnings part of it. She never hides or is shamed by her mountain-Indian origins, despite the fact that she's dating a Spaniard (a white Peruvian) from Cuzco's upper classes.
She never forgets that her roots are down low, despite a US university education and a job with the Tourist Police. She could credibly downplay the past, but chooses not to, and that provides a lot of conflict between herself and the class- and race-conscious Peruvian culture. Reading her interactions with the gigantic lower-class majority of Cuzco, the ancient Inca and modern Andean capital, rang very true to me. (My contact with same having been an Andean tour guide who was at pains to inform his American guests of the true nature of poverty.)
I removed one more half-star for the first-time novelist errors of characterization, such as the all-villain-all-the-time bad guys, and the overwhelming goodness of all the womenfolk. It's not tragic, but it informs the ending of the book, which...well...it was certainly dramatic and very well set-up by the rest of the book, but was...pat. Expected. Predictable, if excitingly written.
Make no mistake, this first novel of a series is a very worthwhile way to wile the hours away. If you've never been to Peru, you'll feel like you have after reading this. If you have been to Peru, you'll feel that little pleased jolt when Tomlinson mentions a place you've visited. It's a good read.
Not quite excellent. Not perfect. A good, solid read, delivers on its promise of action, and manages a vivid sense of place. At $2.99 for the Kindle version, it's worth that and more.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Publisher Says: In 1987, the dirty war that will last twelve years and kill thirty thousand Peruvians finally reaches up through the Andean cloud forest for Nina and her family. Nina’s father is shot by soldiers, her mother raped, and her brother lost to the shadowy ranks of Shining Path guerrillas. And when Agustín Malqui, the village pastor, files a legal complaint against the military, it’s no surprise when he disappears in the middle of the night—just another casualty of the military regime.
Twenty-odd years later, Nina, now an officer in Cuzco’s tourist police, comes across a familiar name on the police printer that she scans daily for any trace of her long-lost brother. Agustín Malqui is alive. After spending years in a political prison, the broken pastor has been wandering the country, saving souls and drowning his demons in pisco. Nina tracks him down, only to lose him yet again in a police sweep of political malcontents. But before Malqui disappears, he tells her a drunken tale she can scarcely believe: that her brother Miguel is still alive.
Despite warnings and threats from her chief and the pleadings of her lover, an officer in Peru’s anti-terrorist branch, Nina presses on to find Malqui. Her search takes her through Peru’s underworld, from remote villages high in the Andes to the steaming jungle haunts of the narcotraficantes, and ultimately to a secret political prison in the altiplano, where she learns the truth about Malqui and her own vanished brother.
My Review: I've been to Cuzco twice, and Peru three times, in my life. I very much like it there, and I am a big fan of the Andean people's surviving culture. I came to the book ready to love it.
I liked it a whole lot.
There are the accustomed ebook-original glitches, typos and oddly placed punctuation marks and continuity errors. I don't want to dwell on them, but one big one is the last-name change of a major character between books one and two. I sigh, and remove one star.
Ninasisa is a really sympathetic character to build a series of thrillers on, and full marks to Mr. Tomlinson for making her believably damaged by her and her country's fraught past. Nina, as she is known in most of the book, has sustained losses that would wreck a lesser person's entire life. Nina isn't rising above her beginnings, she's building her future on making the beginnings part of it. She never hides or is shamed by her mountain-Indian origins, despite the fact that she's dating a Spaniard (a white Peruvian) from Cuzco's upper classes.
She never forgets that her roots are down low, despite a US university education and a job with the Tourist Police. She could credibly downplay the past, but chooses not to, and that provides a lot of conflict between herself and the class- and race-conscious Peruvian culture. Reading her interactions with the gigantic lower-class majority of Cuzco, the ancient Inca and modern Andean capital, rang very true to me. (My contact with same having been an Andean tour guide who was at pains to inform his American guests of the true nature of poverty.)
I removed one more half-star for the first-time novelist errors of characterization, such as the all-villain-all-the-time bad guys, and the overwhelming goodness of all the womenfolk. It's not tragic, but it informs the ending of the book, which...well...it was certainly dramatic and very well set-up by the rest of the book, but was...pat. Expected. Predictable, if excitingly written.
Make no mistake, this first novel of a series is a very worthwhile way to wile the hours away. If you've never been to Peru, you'll feel like you have after reading this. If you have been to Peru, you'll feel that little pleased jolt when Tomlinson mentions a place you've visited. It's a good read.
Not quite excellent. Not perfect. A good, solid read, delivers on its promise of action, and manages a vivid sense of place. At $2.99 for the Kindle version, it's worth that and more.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
April 2, 2012
This book has an aura of authenticity that is impressive. The details of Peruvian culture and geography allow readers to seamlessly immerse themselves in the story. I've never been to Peru, but I could visualize the places in this book due to the attention Tomlinson gives to description. The plot is brisk and the characters well drawn. I found some of the violence jarring. But, that, I think, is the main theme of the book: acts of violence change people in ways they do not anticipate, i.e. violence begets violence. It's a sobering thought given how much violence there is in the world.
November 13, 2020
I have to say that this book really surprised me. This was just a blind pick from my "to read" list for a challenge and when I started looking it over I was wondering why I had marked this as a book to read. It's about a family from Peru who live in a mountain village. There was some kind of political war going on and the father was shot and killed. Miguel, the brother, disappears and Nina, his sister, believes that he's dead. Twenty years later, Nina finds out that a padre from their village who stood up for the family after her father's shooting has returned to the village and tells her that her brother is still alive. From there it's just one heck of a ride through the rest of the book, Padre is rearrested, Nina goes to save him and ends up a prisoner as well. Luckily, her long lost brother has also decided to save the Padre, then finds out that Nina is imprisoned and must go to rescue her as well. Just lots of adventure, guns, jungle, twists and turns. Not what I would normally have thought I'd enjoy but I actually did. If you're into thriller, intrigue and a lot of blazing gun, give this a try.
July 27, 2019
Great read !
The storyline was very much today’s happenings. The drugs,smuggling...it was awful that it controlled and effected so many people,and for so many years ! Amazing that after being imprisoned so many times Maliq was still kicking ,lol. I was saddened that Miguel got caught,right after he decided to find his daughter...I’m hoping there is a sequel to this ! Great read !
The storyline was very much today’s happenings. The drugs,smuggling...it was awful that it controlled and effected so many people,and for so many years ! Amazing that after being imprisoned so many times Maliq was still kicking ,lol. I was saddened that Miguel got caught,right after he decided to find his daughter...I’m hoping there is a sequel to this ! Great read !
August 4, 2018
A very interesting story of the fight for equality and freedom
The author has written a very interesting story about the class struggle for justice and fare treatment in a country that has treated a group of people as worthless for many years. His story of one family is very interesting and entertaining.
The author has written a very interesting story about the class struggle for justice and fare treatment in a country that has treated a group of people as worthless for many years. His story of one family is very interesting and entertaining.
August 19, 2018
Exciting
This is a very good book. It is an good read full of drama and intrigue. I love stories where the characters stand up for what they believe in no matter the consequences.
This is a very good book. It is an good read full of drama and intrigue. I love stories where the characters stand up for what they believe in no matter the consequences.
May 4, 2013
In the 1980s, the Sendoro Luminoso (Shining Path) and the Peruvian government were engaged in a battle for power which brutalized large portions of the Peruvian population. In the midst of the rebellion, choices were limited: neither side cared what happened to the ordinary people when the battle raged. In the mountainous areas of Peru, largely populated by the indigenous Indian tribes, the Maoist “El Sendoro” often seemed like a viable alternative to a fascist government.
Author Max Tomlinson’s excellent historical thriller, Sendoro, takes this backdrop and builds an exciting and believable story around characters who have been irretrievably scarred by a childhood lived in the time of revolution. Although politics support the background, they don’t get in the way. The story is one of deeply personal impact and a reality in which the only choices available are often morally repugnant.
Sendero follows Nina Flores, a Qechua Indian leading a traditional life with strong family and village ties. She is only twelve years old in 1987 when members of the military rape her mother and murder her father. Two months later her beloved older brother, Miguel, joins the senderistas to seek his revenge. Senderistas die in battle or in a suicide attack. Senderistas don’t return. Nina understands that she will never see him again.
In 2009, Nina is living in Cuzco as a member of the Policia de Turisma (Tourist Police), an organization which discourages its officers from interfering with the illegal activities of the tourists who bring their much needed foreign dollars into the Peruvian economy. When she hears that Augustin Malqui, the village pastor who was imprisoned as a terrorist for writing a letter condemning her father’s murder, has been arrested in the city for drunk and disorderly, she is determined to step in and help him.
Pastor Malqui has been changed by the bottle since Nina knew him, and it is impossible to save him from himself and a government which suspects him of terrorist connections. Just before he disappears again into the hands of the military, Malqui reveals to Nina that the brother she thought long dead is still alive.
Nina expresses her concern about the old priest to her lover, Francisco Guislan, a high-ranking anti-terrorist official. Francisco reassures her that the government no longer “disappears” people and cautions her about making further waves in looking for Pastor Malqui. She wants to believe Francisco, but Nina is a woman who is loyal to her past above all other things. Determined to save Malqui while reuniting with her brother, she ultimately uncovers a large number of secrets that have been kept from her by those who love her.
What follows is Nina’s suspense-filled and violent journey into Peru’s underworld, secret military operations, and the mountain paths where the senderistas and the drug lords reign. The road Nina travels is mined with deceit, corruption, and the belief of political men that to do good for the people, you often first must do evil.
Mr. Tomlinson is a master of descriptive language. He draws the scene around his characters beautifully whether it is set in the grittier parts of Cuzco or the rain forests of the Andes. His characters, too, are finely drawn, and you get a sense of even the smaller characters quickly.
If you are looking for heroes in Sendero, you will be disappointed. There are no heroes or heroines in Nina’s world. Death is quick and there is no time to mourn. Nina and Miguel are the children who are born of war: they have a different morality.
I highly recommended Sendoro for readers who enjoy suspense novels, particularly suspenseful historical fiction with a dose of food for thought. Fans of Martin Cruz Smith and Tony Hillerman should also appreciate Max Tomlinson's books. Sendero is well worth the $2.99 investment for the Kindle at Amazon.com.
This review was originally written for IndieHeart.com. IndieHeart lists five free hand-picked Kindle books daily as well as reviewing books by Indie and self-published authors.
Author Max Tomlinson’s excellent historical thriller, Sendoro, takes this backdrop and builds an exciting and believable story around characters who have been irretrievably scarred by a childhood lived in the time of revolution. Although politics support the background, they don’t get in the way. The story is one of deeply personal impact and a reality in which the only choices available are often morally repugnant.
Sendero follows Nina Flores, a Qechua Indian leading a traditional life with strong family and village ties. She is only twelve years old in 1987 when members of the military rape her mother and murder her father. Two months later her beloved older brother, Miguel, joins the senderistas to seek his revenge. Senderistas die in battle or in a suicide attack. Senderistas don’t return. Nina understands that she will never see him again.
In 2009, Nina is living in Cuzco as a member of the Policia de Turisma (Tourist Police), an organization which discourages its officers from interfering with the illegal activities of the tourists who bring their much needed foreign dollars into the Peruvian economy. When she hears that Augustin Malqui, the village pastor who was imprisoned as a terrorist for writing a letter condemning her father’s murder, has been arrested in the city for drunk and disorderly, she is determined to step in and help him.
Pastor Malqui has been changed by the bottle since Nina knew him, and it is impossible to save him from himself and a government which suspects him of terrorist connections. Just before he disappears again into the hands of the military, Malqui reveals to Nina that the brother she thought long dead is still alive.
Nina expresses her concern about the old priest to her lover, Francisco Guislan, a high-ranking anti-terrorist official. Francisco reassures her that the government no longer “disappears” people and cautions her about making further waves in looking for Pastor Malqui. She wants to believe Francisco, but Nina is a woman who is loyal to her past above all other things. Determined to save Malqui while reuniting with her brother, she ultimately uncovers a large number of secrets that have been kept from her by those who love her.
What follows is Nina’s suspense-filled and violent journey into Peru’s underworld, secret military operations, and the mountain paths where the senderistas and the drug lords reign. The road Nina travels is mined with deceit, corruption, and the belief of political men that to do good for the people, you often first must do evil.
Mr. Tomlinson is a master of descriptive language. He draws the scene around his characters beautifully whether it is set in the grittier parts of Cuzco or the rain forests of the Andes. His characters, too, are finely drawn, and you get a sense of even the smaller characters quickly.
If you are looking for heroes in Sendero, you will be disappointed. There are no heroes or heroines in Nina’s world. Death is quick and there is no time to mourn. Nina and Miguel are the children who are born of war: they have a different morality.
I highly recommended Sendoro for readers who enjoy suspense novels, particularly suspenseful historical fiction with a dose of food for thought. Fans of Martin Cruz Smith and Tony Hillerman should also appreciate Max Tomlinson's books. Sendero is well worth the $2.99 investment for the Kindle at Amazon.com.
This review was originally written for IndieHeart.com. IndieHeart lists five free hand-picked Kindle books daily as well as reviewing books by Indie and self-published authors.
October 18, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
May 31, 2012
This book tells the story of Nina and Miguel who lived with their parents in Peru during the dirty war. One day their father is killed by the military. The local pastor, Malqui, files a complaint against the military because of this and shortly after is taken away in the night by police and not seen again. Miguel decides to join the Shining Path and disappears from Nina's life. Years later Nina discovers Malqui is alive and tracks him down. He is later taken into custody during a police sweep and Nina decides to find Malqui and help him escape.
I had never read much about the war in Peru, and I found reading about the conflict between the military and the Shining Path very interesting. I was glad to find a link on the author's website so that I could read more about what happened.
The book itself was easy to get drawn into. It had lots of action and the locations were described with such detail it seemed that I was right there with the characters. The plot was engaging and had twists and turns that kept me turning the pages.
I really enjoyed the characters in the book and found them very realistic. Everyone seemed to have a past or some secret that made their motives and actions intriguing. I found Nina and Miguel to be likeable even though their lives in the present were so different. I didn't think I would enjoy a character like Miguel but somehow I was won over by him. I was impressed by Nina and Miguel's loyalty to each other and to Malqui even though they all hadn't seen each other in years.
The ending 'killed me'. I won't spoil it, but I will say that as much as I am sure what eventually happened I kept hoping that maybe it ended up another way.
Max Tomlinson wrote a great book and I recommend reading it. I hope there are more stories or a sequel to Sendero coming from him soon.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you!
I had never read much about the war in Peru, and I found reading about the conflict between the military and the Shining Path very interesting. I was glad to find a link on the author's website so that I could read more about what happened.
The book itself was easy to get drawn into. It had lots of action and the locations were described with such detail it seemed that I was right there with the characters. The plot was engaging and had twists and turns that kept me turning the pages.
I really enjoyed the characters in the book and found them very realistic. Everyone seemed to have a past or some secret that made their motives and actions intriguing. I found Nina and Miguel to be likeable even though their lives in the present were so different. I didn't think I would enjoy a character like Miguel but somehow I was won over by him. I was impressed by Nina and Miguel's loyalty to each other and to Malqui even though they all hadn't seen each other in years.
The ending 'killed me'. I won't spoil it, but I will say that as much as I am sure what eventually happened I kept hoping that maybe it ended up another way.
Max Tomlinson wrote a great book and I recommend reading it. I hope there are more stories or a sequel to Sendero coming from him soon.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you!
July 19, 2012
Max R. Tomlinson’s novel, Sendero, set in Peru in the 1980s, might have been a political diatribe. Instead it succeeds as a great summer thriller—and as an introduction to a culture that I wanted to know more about. Tomlinson gives us the human side of the “dirty war” between the revolutionary Shining Path and a brutal, fascist government. Nina and Miguel are smart and family-oriented Quechua indian youngsters, whose world is torn apart when their father is shot by a government soldier, himself just a kid. This sets the story in motion. As we run through the city of Cuzco with an adult Nina and then the jungles of ancient Peru with Miguel and his crew, we watch them pursue a singular quest—to find one another and to free their former village pastor. Pastor Malqui, a multi-faceted character often providing comic relief, has served a harsh prison sentence simply for inquiring about their father’s death. Once again, twenty years later, he is unjustly imprisoned. The action unfolds as Nina struggles to find both Malqui and Miguel—characters we worry about and follow with absorbing emotion. As I had hoped, Tomlinson’s descriptive passages, interwoven with the fast-paced story line, introduced me to the Quechua’s environment, culture, everyday customs—and their conflicts with the modern-day descendents of the Spaniards. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this part of the world, but also to anyone looking for a well-constructed thriller with great characters.
October 11, 2013
Sendero succeeds on so many levels. As a Mystery/Thriller, Sendero maintains both pace and dramatic tension as the reader and the characters advance through the story. As human drama, Max Tomlinson presents vivid characters who are not simply flawed as a convenient dramatic device, but appear to the reader as genuine souls struggling to satisfy their senses of honor and justice and, in some cases, service to their God all while treading a dangerous path, a sendero, which could cost them their lives at any point in the journey. Sendero also serves very, very well as a parable of the people of a modern nation moving from their heart-wrenching past into a nobler future.
Personally, when I read something that is really well written, I read it aloud. Max Tomlinson's prose is clever, and stylish, and apt and still intimately human. Reading Tomlinson's smooth prose made me feel clever and insightful as I made my way through the story alongside the characters.
If I had to gauge, Mr. Tomlinson's formidable talent, I would say that his work reminds me of the best of Martin Cruz Smith (Gorky Park and the Arkady Renko adventures) and Tony Hillerman (and his fictional tales of the Navajo Tribal Police).
Sendero is one of the best, most satisfying reads that I have had in quite some time.
Personally, when I read something that is really well written, I read it aloud. Max Tomlinson's prose is clever, and stylish, and apt and still intimately human. Reading Tomlinson's smooth prose made me feel clever and insightful as I made my way through the story alongside the characters.
If I had to gauge, Mr. Tomlinson's formidable talent, I would say that his work reminds me of the best of Martin Cruz Smith (Gorky Park and the Arkady Renko adventures) and Tony Hillerman (and his fictional tales of the Navajo Tribal Police).
Sendero is one of the best, most satisfying reads that I have had in quite some time.
July 31, 2012
Sendero is not for the faint of heart, although it contains tenderness along with violence. Its subject matter is the brutal activities of the Peruvian government and the Shining Path guerilla movement, which plays out against the stunning Peruvian landscape painted in detail that makes the book run like a movie as you’re reading.
I quickly found myself rooting for the main character, Nina, who leaves the comfortable life she has created and sets out to locate and free the pastor who stood up for her family after her father's murder. The characters were far more than just props for the action. Even the minor characters wrestled with the ambiguous realities of a world where there is more gray area than moral certainty.
I read Sendero in less than a week, including a few late nights filled with "just one more chapter" promises. The efficient prose drove the story along and made it into a real page turner. I would love to see more of Nina. The book’s ending made me eager to follow her on her next quest.
I quickly found myself rooting for the main character, Nina, who leaves the comfortable life she has created and sets out to locate and free the pastor who stood up for her family after her father's murder. The characters were far more than just props for the action. Even the minor characters wrestled with the ambiguous realities of a world where there is more gray area than moral certainty.
I read Sendero in less than a week, including a few late nights filled with "just one more chapter" promises. The efficient prose drove the story along and made it into a real page turner. I would love to see more of Nina. The book’s ending made me eager to follow her on her next quest.
January 15, 2012
The people of our childhood are often more important to us than the ones we know as adults. The nostalgia holds us like glue to what is important. After Nina’s father is killed by government troops, she grows into a woman who lives in two different worlds, the one of the government who talks a good game of reform and the real world of poverty, drug dealing and shining path revolutionaries who still believe in a new Peru. It is an old priest who defended her father that wakes up Nina’s compassion and loyalty toward the world of her childhood. Her journey to rescue him from a political prison takes her back to a past of pain and a secret that defined her life. Max Tomlinson writes a compelling and realistic tale of people who have no good choices. His adept prose and multi-layered characters render a story that holds the reader’s focus until the very last line.
April 28, 2014
Revolution and mystery in Peru? I couldn't resist that. I know nothing at all about Peruvian politics and government and this was a great way to start getting a little info. This is one of those books I prefer reading electronically so I can click right to wiki and get some background and definitions. I learned about The Shining Path, the Communist party in Peru whose goal is world wide revolution, as well as the ruling government, and the corruption and ambiguity in everyone. Another look at what drives people to violence, how they choose a side, personal versus political. There were interesting female and male characters who were both important and a refreshing comparative lack of sexism. This is the first in the series and I'll be reading the next one. I think it will be fun to watch this author develop.
May 1, 2012
I received this book through Goodreads giveaways.
It took me a while to get into this book but once I did I was hooked. When the ending came around I wanted more. I can't wait to read more from Max Tomlinson.
The details of Peruvian culture, people, language and geography allow readers to immerse themselves in the story. You really get a feeling of being in Peru. You can almost feel the heat and hear the noises in the jungle.
The description of the characters make it easy to picture them. The way that Max describes the thoughts, feelings and action makes you want everything to turn out for them. You get very attached to these characters.
I would recommended this book.
It took me a while to get into this book but once I did I was hooked. When the ending came around I wanted more. I can't wait to read more from Max Tomlinson.
The details of Peruvian culture, people, language and geography allow readers to immerse themselves in the story. You really get a feeling of being in Peru. You can almost feel the heat and hear the noises in the jungle.
The description of the characters make it easy to picture them. The way that Max describes the thoughts, feelings and action makes you want everything to turn out for them. You get very attached to these characters.
I would recommended this book.
February 23, 2016
Sendero : Book #1
Sendero's , the army of renegade Peruvian Indians are forced to run and hide from everyone , including their own families and friends. Their sacrifices are made to protect their loved ones from retaliation by the crooked governments officials , and the drug dealers working with the crooked government . This is one family's struggle to stay together and SURVIVE the EVIL. The struggle of not just this family..but the whole country. THRILLING , GRAPHIC EXCITEMENT right to the last page. I HAPPILY RECOMMEND!
Sendero's , the army of renegade Peruvian Indians are forced to run and hide from everyone , including their own families and friends. Their sacrifices are made to protect their loved ones from retaliation by the crooked governments officials , and the drug dealers working with the crooked government . This is one family's struggle to stay together and SURVIVE the EVIL. The struggle of not just this family..but the whole country. THRILLING , GRAPHIC EXCITEMENT right to the last page. I HAPPILY RECOMMEND!
March 15, 2014
Really enjoyed this book, a gripping and exciting read in a part of the world I know well. The author paints a very good picture of Peru and the current struggles linked back to the dark days of the dirty war.
Very good and recommended.
Very good and recommended.
November 3, 2019
What does Civil war do to a country? What if revolution gets mixed up with crime? What if you can't trust anybody, the lines are clear and there's no life in between? Corruption, torture and lost morals are the all too often deadly consequences.
The example in this novel is Peru, a country most of us don't know much about. A country where the original habitants have been suppressed for centuries, where corrupt and brutal government brought parts of the people to seek revolution. A unique history? Not at all. Injustice will bear rebellion at some point.
The story of Nina and Miguel is believable although somehow extreme. It's full of suspense and action without lecturing or moralizing, but with an unsatisfying end.
The example in this novel is Peru, a country most of us don't know much about. A country where the original habitants have been suppressed for centuries, where corrupt and brutal government brought parts of the people to seek revolution. A unique history? Not at all. Injustice will bear rebellion at some point.
The story of Nina and Miguel is believable although somehow extreme. It's full of suspense and action without lecturing or moralizing, but with an unsatisfying end.
May 29, 2020
Full review: https://girlswithguns.org/sendero-by-...
It’s a very thought-provoking read, and opened my eyes to the history of a country about which I had never known much previously, and its social and political struggles. If there’s a weakness, it’s probably the way in which Nina ends up taking a seat in the second half, with the story’s focus shifting to Miguel and his colleagues in the Shining Path [though among them, Comrade Inez does partly fill in for the lack of Nina]. It’s a shame, for Nina is an excellent heroine: one who never forgets either where she came from, or where she wants to be, and is willing to risk everything for others, in a highly altruistic manner. Hopefully, the second book is all Nina, all the time.
It’s a very thought-provoking read, and opened my eyes to the history of a country about which I had never known much previously, and its social and political struggles. If there’s a weakness, it’s probably the way in which Nina ends up taking a seat in the second half, with the story’s focus shifting to Miguel and his colleagues in the Shining Path [though among them, Comrade Inez does partly fill in for the lack of Nina]. It’s a shame, for Nina is an excellent heroine: one who never forgets either where she came from, or where she wants to be, and is willing to risk everything for others, in a highly altruistic manner. Hopefully, the second book is all Nina, all the time.
September 9, 2019
Wow!
Wonderful story of Peru and it's political battles that rivaled Nazi Germany. This book takes you alongside bandits and drug runners and other desperate people as if you were next to them while they fight their battles. Very moving book!
Wonderful story of Peru and it's political battles that rivaled Nazi Germany. This book takes you alongside bandits and drug runners and other desperate people as if you were next to them while they fight their battles. Very moving book!
April 15, 2019
A storyline which was interesting but rambled a bit in the beginning but gradually improved
April 13, 2011
Sendero / B004TEYRZM
I think this is such a great example of an intense and frightening excerpt. The fear, frustration, and helplessness of the people is very tangible and overall the whole setting feels intensely oppressive and depressing. The subject matter is very original, and the narrative voice is so memorable. The characters are well-defined and well-characterized. I can't think of anything I've read in recent memory that read quite like this, and I would like to read so much more of this story.
The only thing that concerns me about the excerpt is that if the reader isn't familiar with the subject matter (and I know that I wasn't), then it does take a few pages to really acclimate to the political and social climate. I would have liked a little more backstory, maybe, or something to really bring home what exactly was going on. Then again, this is a story of a war told from the point of view of the victimized (so far, at least) so maybe it makes sense that the reader would be a little disoriented.
Overall, I love the subject matter and how it really comes to life in a very personal way in the characters and their daily struggle to survive.
NOTE: This review is based on a sample excerpt of this book provided through the ABNA contest.
~ Ana Mardoll
I think this is such a great example of an intense and frightening excerpt. The fear, frustration, and helplessness of the people is very tangible and overall the whole setting feels intensely oppressive and depressing. The subject matter is very original, and the narrative voice is so memorable. The characters are well-defined and well-characterized. I can't think of anything I've read in recent memory that read quite like this, and I would like to read so much more of this story.
The only thing that concerns me about the excerpt is that if the reader isn't familiar with the subject matter (and I know that I wasn't), then it does take a few pages to really acclimate to the political and social climate. I would have liked a little more backstory, maybe, or something to really bring home what exactly was going on. Then again, this is a story of a war told from the point of view of the victimized (so far, at least) so maybe it makes sense that the reader would be a little disoriented.
Overall, I love the subject matter and how it really comes to life in a very personal way in the characters and their daily struggle to survive.
NOTE: This review is based on a sample excerpt of this book provided through the ABNA contest.
~ Ana Mardoll
September 16, 2012
In Sendero Max Tomlinson takes the reader on a gut-wrenching journey through the underbelly of Peruvian society, exposing us to the brutality and corruption of the government and the Shining Path guerrillas who held the people - and the brilliantly crafted characters of his book - hostage in their Dirty War.
From the moment I started reading I was captivated by Max Tomlinson's descriptive writing. I could smell the jungle, taste the fear, and see the characters. Peru is not a country I know much about, but after reading Sendero I have a wonderful picture of this 'world'. I also enjoyed learning about the customs and way of life of the Quechua Indians.
I must admit political thrillers are not my usual genre (I tend to stick with Young Adult!) so I did not find Sendero an easy read because of the violence and brutality. Thankfully the characters, with their poignant relationships, coupled with the twists and turns in the plot, kept me reading. I'm so glad I did, because Nina, with her dedication and loyalty, and quirky pastor Agustín Malqui will live with me for a long time.
From the moment I started reading I was captivated by Max Tomlinson's descriptive writing. I could smell the jungle, taste the fear, and see the characters. Peru is not a country I know much about, but after reading Sendero I have a wonderful picture of this 'world'. I also enjoyed learning about the customs and way of life of the Quechua Indians.
I must admit political thrillers are not my usual genre (I tend to stick with Young Adult!) so I did not find Sendero an easy read because of the violence and brutality. Thankfully the characters, with their poignant relationships, coupled with the twists and turns in the plot, kept me reading. I'm so glad I did, because Nina, with her dedication and loyalty, and quirky pastor Agustín Malqui will live with me for a long time.
December 24, 2012
I was hooked from the beginning and could barely put the book down each night. I was more than a little interested in Max's take on Sendero Luminoso, as my husband and I remember all too well what was happening in the 1980's and the brutality Sendero Luminoso visited upon their own people. All the while proclaiming that they were replacing a bourgeois democracry with the only true "new democracy". Max captured the flavor of Peru and of people like Nina who had the courage to do what was right against a so-called revolutionary group that smuggled drugs, murdered, tortured, and raped under the guise of a new democracy world revolution. That said, Max does not focus overly on the political in this book, but focuses on the characters and their relationships which are, after all, the glue that holds us all together. Strong, poignant, and utterly believable. You'll find yourself rooting for Nina all the way!
I am waiting, waiting, waiting for Max's next novel. In the meantime, I am reading Max's "Out by the Trees", a book of short stories; I have just started it and hope to come to understand what "short dark fiction" is? I highly recommend Sendero.
I am waiting, waiting, waiting for Max's next novel. In the meantime, I am reading Max's "Out by the Trees", a book of short stories; I have just started it and hope to come to understand what "short dark fiction" is? I highly recommend Sendero.
June 4, 2012
For those looking for a simple adventure/thriller without a lot of complexity this book will probably fit the bill. For seeking a little complexity or nuance, maybe not.
I found the character's a bit simplistic. I found the back-drop of the 'dirty war' in Peru intriguing and it did add suspense to the story. On the other hand if you are truly looking for an insight into the war and it's effects on Peru and her people. I think reading this would be comparable to reading SuperMan Comic Books from the 1940s and 1950s in order to get a true insight into WWII.
And, ...I'm not saying I didn't enjoy those comic books, I'm just saying, I don't think all those secret German submarine boats really made it to Florida or the Carolina's.
I found the character's a bit simplistic. I found the back-drop of the 'dirty war' in Peru intriguing and it did add suspense to the story. On the other hand if you are truly looking for an insight into the war and it's effects on Peru and her people. I think reading this would be comparable to reading SuperMan Comic Books from the 1940s and 1950s in order to get a true insight into WWII.
And, ...I'm not saying I didn't enjoy those comic books, I'm just saying, I don't think all those secret German submarine boats really made it to Florida or the Carolina's.
July 2, 2012
This was one of the best books I have read this year. Sendero has a well-crafted, interesting plot. The characters are multifaceted and realistic. I loved the descriptions of Peru. I have never known much of the struggles between rebels and the government in Peru and found the story fascinating. I am looking forward to Max Tomlinson's next book.
Note: I think the name Sendero does a disservice to this book. It sat on my Kindle for a while and I kept passing it over because I thought it was a made up word (Send-er-roo) for a SciFi novel. I went looking for "that book about Peru" in amazon and I realized which book it was. As a non-spanish speaker, it wasn't until about page 50 that I realized the significance of the name and its pronunciation (Sen-dare-oh).
Note: I think the name Sendero does a disservice to this book. It sat on my Kindle for a while and I kept passing it over because I thought it was a made up word (Send-er-roo) for a SciFi novel. I went looking for "that book about Peru" in amazon and I realized which book it was. As a non-spanish speaker, it wasn't until about page 50 that I realized the significance of the name and its pronunciation (Sen-dare-oh).
June 29, 2014
This was a gritty, provocative read. Some of the passages tore my heart out. The author's writing captivated me, dragged me into the story as if I were there. The action and emotions were raw and felt so real. The cultural aspect mixed with the reality of the situation was stomach wrenching but Tomlinson made it easy to relate to the main characters.
5/5 for this breathtaking thriller. Highly recommended read especially if you enjoy cultural fiction such as I.
5/5 for this breathtaking thriller. Highly recommended read especially if you enjoy cultural fiction such as I.
November 24, 2015
Drugs, Politics, and Maoism in Peru
I enjoyed this book but only for the fiction. I suppose that is all one should expect from a novel, isn't it? But if I had more background knowledge of the many cultures, ranging from Indian to Spanish to drug trafficking, I would have felt less lost in the twists and turns--not feeling I needed to fact check to separate actual events and places from the author's creative inventions.
I enjoyed this book but only for the fiction. I suppose that is all one should expect from a novel, isn't it? But if I had more background knowledge of the many cultures, ranging from Indian to Spanish to drug trafficking, I would have felt less lost in the twists and turns--not feeling I needed to fact check to separate actual events and places from the author's creative inventions.
June 11, 2022
This book reads like a low grade movie. The plot and characters are poorly developed. Most of the book centers around violence, shoot outs etc. I liked that this book was set in Peru and tried to highlight some of the history and political strife in this country and featured a supposedly strong "native" woman. Unfortunately this book fell way short.
April 1, 2012
Sendero captured my interest immediately. It was full of suspense and rich with detail on the culture. The characters were interesting ...well described...I could picture each of them. I would definitely recommend this book to others!
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