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Assassination of a Saint: The Plot to Murder Óscar Romero and the Quest to Bring His Killers to Justice
"A tale told well that provides valuable insights into the motives and modus operandi of the death squads in El Salvador, and of the financiers who commissioned and facilitated such crimes. It also highlights the difficulties that face those who pursue such cases many years after the crimes have taken place."— New York Review of Books On March 24, 1980, the assassination of El Salvador’s Archbishop Óscar Romero rocked that nation and the world. Despite the efforts of many in El Salvador and beyond, those responsible for Romero’s murder remained unpunished for their heinous crime. Assassination of a Saint is the thrilling story of an international team of lawyers, private investigators, and human-rights experts that fought to bring justice for the slain hero. Matt Eisenbrandt, a lawyer who was part of the investigative team, recounts in this gripping narrative how he and his colleagues interviewed eyewitnesses and former members of death squads while searching for evidence on those who financed them. As investigators worked toward the only court verdict ever reached for the murder of the martyred archbishop, they uncovered information with profound implications for El Salvador and the United States.
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 24, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 10, 2017
I can't recommend this book highly enough. I was moved to tears on numerous occasions and feel so much richer for having read this incredible history of events leading up to, surrounding, and resulting from the murder of Archbishop Romero.
For such a heavy subject, the author deftly weaves complex narratives and creates an accessible and engrossing story. It almost feels wrong to call this a page-turner, given the horrifying topic, but once I started reading this book I found it hard to put down. The opening chapter is wonderfully written, drawing you into the life and world of Romero and San Salvador (and El Salvador at large). What follows from the visually arresting opening is a captivating account of the efforts of an immense number of people to find answers and bring justice to people impacted not only by politicians and others in South America but by the effects of American foreign policy.
This is a major strength of the book; the author does not shy away from the hard work of describing decades of complicated political machinations, and yet the writing never stalls or feels bogged down by the sheer weight and magnitude of factual information.
I typically struggle to get through histories, largely because of how dense the writing can be when handling such material. Assassination of a Saint is a rare gem, providing a fascinating and important account of recent history with a vivid, fluid, and eminently enjoyable prose style.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if this book ends up on lists of the best books of 2017.
For such a heavy subject, the author deftly weaves complex narratives and creates an accessible and engrossing story. It almost feels wrong to call this a page-turner, given the horrifying topic, but once I started reading this book I found it hard to put down. The opening chapter is wonderfully written, drawing you into the life and world of Romero and San Salvador (and El Salvador at large). What follows from the visually arresting opening is a captivating account of the efforts of an immense number of people to find answers and bring justice to people impacted not only by politicians and others in South America but by the effects of American foreign policy.
This is a major strength of the book; the author does not shy away from the hard work of describing decades of complicated political machinations, and yet the writing never stalls or feels bogged down by the sheer weight and magnitude of factual information.
I typically struggle to get through histories, largely because of how dense the writing can be when handling such material. Assassination of a Saint is a rare gem, providing a fascinating and important account of recent history with a vivid, fluid, and eminently enjoyable prose style.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if this book ends up on lists of the best books of 2017.
April 8, 2017
Began to read it just after attending special Mass at St George's (Catholic) Cathedral, Southwark (S London) - we've an indult- on the anniversary of his martyrdom. I counted about 22 priests concelebrating, in the red chasubles usually reserved for martyrs who are already canonised. We pray for that final recognition before his 100th birthday on 15/08/17.
Like Papa Francesco, Romero underwent a conversion, from conservative priest maintaining the status quo, personally pious, but preferring to leave the Kingdom of God till the after-life, to undertake a ministry defending social justice, opposing violence (by anyone, but since the ruling oligarchs had the organisation and weapons and the support of US governments, it had become pretty unbalanced!)
This book underlines that Romero's murder destroyed any possibility of compromise, of peace. No effort was made to investigate his killing, every opportunity was taken to protect the assassins and their backers. For most people, the planned murder of a priest while he is saying Mass, is not just the killing of one man, bad enough, but a deliberate attack on God/goodness.
The attempts of the author and his colleagues to unravel the layers of obfuscation and identify, at least, those responsible, are admirable and intriguing. I was also encouraged by the afterward, by Benjamín Cuéllar, of the promise of reconciliation resulting from the beatification in 2015, and I hope that the canonisation, God willing, will encourage the people of El Salvador, and of other tortured countries, to work together for justice and peace.
The author makes no attempt to whitewash the culpability of successive US governments in supporting very nasty governments. Reagan outevils Carter, naturally, but both gave, not humanitarian aid, but arms aid. "Good" Americans, like ambassador Robert White, found themselves on the dole. Even the murders of US religious in El Salvador (by government) didn't give them the hint that perhaps the régime they were giving all those guns, and all that military training, might not have been on the side of the angels!
In Trumpworld, we might do well to reflect on the story of El Salvador!!
Like Papa Francesco, Romero underwent a conversion, from conservative priest maintaining the status quo, personally pious, but preferring to leave the Kingdom of God till the after-life, to undertake a ministry defending social justice, opposing violence (by anyone, but since the ruling oligarchs had the organisation and weapons and the support of US governments, it had become pretty unbalanced!)
This book underlines that Romero's murder destroyed any possibility of compromise, of peace. No effort was made to investigate his killing, every opportunity was taken to protect the assassins and their backers. For most people, the planned murder of a priest while he is saying Mass, is not just the killing of one man, bad enough, but a deliberate attack on God/goodness.
The attempts of the author and his colleagues to unravel the layers of obfuscation and identify, at least, those responsible, are admirable and intriguing. I was also encouraged by the afterward, by Benjamín Cuéllar, of the promise of reconciliation resulting from the beatification in 2015, and I hope that the canonisation, God willing, will encourage the people of El Salvador, and of other tortured countries, to work together for justice and peace.
The author makes no attempt to whitewash the culpability of successive US governments in supporting very nasty governments. Reagan outevils Carter, naturally, but both gave, not humanitarian aid, but arms aid. "Good" Americans, like ambassador Robert White, found themselves on the dole. Even the murders of US religious in El Salvador (by government) didn't give them the hint that perhaps the régime they were giving all those guns, and all that military training, might not have been on the side of the angels!
In Trumpworld, we might do well to reflect on the story of El Salvador!!
April 23, 2024
Again, I don't understand why members of the Roman Catholic faith view Saint Romero in such a negative manner, but personally I find his story compelling and exemplative of what it means to be a Saint. Historically, the book gives a clear and detailed explanation as to why Saint Romero's killers have not been brought to justice. Yet I think it leaves some to be desired with regard to the Catholic Church's response to St. Romero during his lifetime and how that shifted after St. Romero's death.
February 11, 2025
Incredible and sad book about the murder of a true Christ-Follower who then didn’t receive any justice because of murderous anti-communism and the American government’s willingness to be complicit in that. A sad, sad story that is too common and most of the US seemingly doesn’t know/doesn’t care about finding justice for Romero and the thousands of others who were murdered in the name of anti-communism in Latin America.
December 15, 2019
Well worth a read. This book gives an inside story of a rag-tag fight for accountability -- highlighting the long game played by justice campaigners working as a countermovement to the deadly collaboration between fanatical militarists and ideological zealots who preached democracy at home while undermining it abroad.
October 1, 2021
There are some aspects of this book, which were very interesting to me. Evolution of Monsignor Romero's attitude towards reality, as well as reaction of Roman Catholic Church.
It was also very enriching to learn about history of El Salvador. Information about International Criminal Court and its sources, as well as the fact that the United States is not a member are intriguing.
It was also very enriching to learn about history of El Salvador. Information about International Criminal Court and its sources, as well as the fact that the United States is not a member are intriguing.
August 15, 2018
It is a great story that needs to be told.There is so much history and background information filled into the book, my only problem was the jumping around the timeline throughout the book. It made it difficult for me to keep up with what was going on and who was who.
May 11, 2020
A neighbor offered some books on her porch so I picked this one up. It held my interest and helped explain why it’s been so difficult to bring the El Salvador death squads and their financiers to justice.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews