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Pistaco: A Tale of Love in the Andes
Steven McMahon, a young American struggling to reconcile his priestly vocation with his very human desire for love and intimacy, flees to Peru on mission, thinking he will more readily find serenity there. In the high sierra of the Andes mountains he meets a young school teacher fleeing from some demons of her own. They both come to love and respect the campesinos they meet in a pueblo on the edge of civilization, and soon find themselves entrapped between a harsh military junta and Shining Path guerrillas who threaten mayhem across the mountain countryside.
291 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 12, 2017
Pistaco: A Tale of Love in the Andesseeing
A truly thought-provoking story about the pros and cons of falling in love while on a religious or humanitarian mission in a war torn country. Well-crafted, excellently written story with compelling, imperfect characters and a fascinating backdrop of small villages in the Peruvian Andes under siege by Maoist terrorists. The Peruvian schoolteacher Cori is a remarkable character with grit, complexity and simplicity-- haunting and memorable. Loved this view of Quechua culture and superstition, the Peruvian nature, and the growth of terrorism in 1990s Peru.
May 12, 2017
Set in remote villages in the Andes during a Shining Path guerrilla insurrection in the 1980s, a young American priest and a teacher from Lima fall in love. Contrasting their relationship with a backdrop of horrific violence, this novel explores paradoxes and the intersection of opposites in a world where it is impossible to stay neutral and everyone must pick a side.
Father Steven and Cori come to the Andes as outsiders. Both are seeking isolation and service to others as a way to assuage their own personal demons. However, the vision that each held of their future rapidly dissipates and they must acclimate to much more than the thin mountain air. The villagers are devoutly religious and follow a form of Catholicism mingled with folk beliefs, which Father Steven finds difficult to understand. Cori learns about the Communist teachings and mysterious disappearance of the previous schoolteacher and encounters suspicion in the town. As Father Steven and Cori become closer, there is always the threat of violence in the background as well as the impossibility of serving two masters.
Pistaco shows the clash of several cultures. English, Spanish, and Quechua, the language of the Incas, is interwoven throughout the novel. Traditional and modern customs blend together, as does folk belief and Christianity. Coastal Lima is contrasted with the rural life of the subsistence farmers in the Andes. Throughout the novel, these contrasts are illuminated by characters who constantly find themselves dealing with shades of grey. Terms like good and evil, right and wrong, lose their meaning in a world where morality is a luxury in the face of survival.
Striking descriptions and vibrant characters make Pistaco a memorable novel. Incredibly haunting and complex, Pistaco will stay with you long after you read it.
Father Steven and Cori come to the Andes as outsiders. Both are seeking isolation and service to others as a way to assuage their own personal demons. However, the vision that each held of their future rapidly dissipates and they must acclimate to much more than the thin mountain air. The villagers are devoutly religious and follow a form of Catholicism mingled with folk beliefs, which Father Steven finds difficult to understand. Cori learns about the Communist teachings and mysterious disappearance of the previous schoolteacher and encounters suspicion in the town. As Father Steven and Cori become closer, there is always the threat of violence in the background as well as the impossibility of serving two masters.
Pistaco shows the clash of several cultures. English, Spanish, and Quechua, the language of the Incas, is interwoven throughout the novel. Traditional and modern customs blend together, as does folk belief and Christianity. Coastal Lima is contrasted with the rural life of the subsistence farmers in the Andes. Throughout the novel, these contrasts are illuminated by characters who constantly find themselves dealing with shades of grey. Terms like good and evil, right and wrong, lose their meaning in a world where morality is a luxury in the face of survival.
Striking descriptions and vibrant characters make Pistaco a memorable novel. Incredibly haunting and complex, Pistaco will stay with you long after you read it.
November 8, 2025
I, along with others in Elena Norris’ reading community, recently read Pistaco: A Tale of Love in the Andes by Lynn F. Monahan, and it was an unforgettable experience. Steven McMahon’s struggle between his priestly vocation and human desire felt incredibly real, and his journey in the Andes was both harrowing and deeply moving.
Lynn F. Monahan writes with vivid detail, bringing the mountains, villages, and local people alive. The tension between the military junta and the Shining Path guerrillas made the story gripping, while the myth of Pistaco added a layer of mystery and cultural depth. As readers, we found ourselves reflecting on love, faith, and the courage it takes to face both personal and societal challenges.
Lynn F. Monahan writes with vivid detail, bringing the mountains, villages, and local people alive. The tension between the military junta and the Shining Path guerrillas made the story gripping, while the myth of Pistaco added a layer of mystery and cultural depth. As readers, we found ourselves reflecting on love, faith, and the courage it takes to face both personal and societal challenges.
September 18, 2019
The author was a lay missioner who served in Peru during the time period of this novel. He brings to life a time of chaos and madness in a rural area. The campesinos are torn between the Shining Path and the military who struggle for their loyalty with brutality and violence toward not only each other but toward the campesinos, as well. The local people only desire to be left alone, but that is not an option. Drawn into this violent setting are a young woman from Lima who is hired as the town teacher and an American priest who comes to serve the area. Love develops between the two of them, which only increases the intensity of the drama. Well written and compelling.
November 8, 2025
Reading Pistaco: A Tale of Love in the Andes by Lynn F. Monahan was an intense, emotional experience. The story of Steven and the young schoolteacher is full of heart, struggle, and unexpected tenderness, set against the harsh realities of 1990s Peru.
Lynn F. Monahan’s ability to convey both historical tension and personal emotion is remarkable. The Andes feel alive, the campesinos feel like neighbors, and the haunting Pistaco legend adds a thrilling and mysterious dimension. Many in Elena Norris’ community commented on how immersive the book felt it’s the kind of story that sticks with you long after you turn the last page.
Lynn F. Monahan’s ability to convey both historical tension and personal emotion is remarkable. The Andes feel alive, the campesinos feel like neighbors, and the haunting Pistaco legend adds a thrilling and mysterious dimension. Many in Elena Norris’ community commented on how immersive the book felt it’s the kind of story that sticks with you long after you turn the last page.
November 8, 2025
We in Elena Norris’ community recently read Pistaco: A Tale of Love in the Andes by Lynn F. Monahan, and it left a lasting impression. The story blends romance, spirituality, and historical struggle in a way that feels authentic and deeply human.
Dr. Monahan’s writing brings Peru and its people vividly to life, while also exploring the personal struggles of love, faith, and morality. The addition of the Pistaco legend adds a haunting, unforgettable layer to the narrative. As readers, we were drawn into the story immediately and found ourselves reflecting on its themes long afterward. It’s a book that is both thought-provoking and profoundly moving.
Dr. Monahan’s writing brings Peru and its people vividly to life, while also exploring the personal struggles of love, faith, and morality. The addition of the Pistaco legend adds a haunting, unforgettable layer to the narrative. As readers, we were drawn into the story immediately and found ourselves reflecting on its themes long afterward. It’s a book that is both thought-provoking and profoundly moving.
August 9, 2020
I read books in many different cultural settings. This book, set in Peru during the time of the Shining Path's greatest influence, gave me an insight into the traditions of the Peruvian people who live in the rural areas, especially the combining of ancient beliefs and Catholicism. The characters are well drawn and the plot moves along quickly.
November 15, 2019
A short but sweeping account of the transformative experience of mission
Monahan manages to convey the beauty of personal discovery of Love found in the space between peoples, cultures, geographies, contexts and yet the impossibility of grasping it.
Monahan manages to convey the beauty of personal discovery of Love found in the space between peoples, cultures, geographies, contexts and yet the impossibility of grasping it.
July 24, 2018
A truly surprising, well written novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely add this to your Want to Read list!
August 31, 2018
Peruvian villages during the time of the Shining Path, and gringos.
March 10, 2017
Pistaco is a tale of a conflicted young American priest called to the high Andes, where he finds both love and death in the height of the Maoist Shining Path uprising. Pistaco is billed as a thriller, and it is, both a political thriller and a supernatural horror story. It reads more like literary fiction, however, and the deliberate pace with its wealth of detail is lovely. Excellent fiction debut from a writer I expect we'll hear more from.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews