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Jack Hall is the star of a hit TV series filmed in Los Angeles. But his growing fame isn’t enough, and Jack decides to chuck it all to work for a human rights group headed by his sister, Peggy. The group’s work is based in Central America, and Peggy sends her brother to Mexico City to learn Spanish. She asks for help from journalist Hugh Bruce, a long-time Latin America hand. But when Jack arrives, both he and Hugh get far more than they bargained for—and far less than they want.
Settling temporarily in the capital, Jack quickly meets Hugh’s assistant, Maru Campagna. Maru’s family has been shattered by the death of her father, and she’s trying to reinvent herself in ways her mother and uncle disapprove. When she falls into a relationship with Jack, Maru’s family schemes for a quick marriage to a foreigner. But Maru isn’t sure, and Jack has no intention of getting married. He’s off to fight for human rights. At least he will be soon.
Hugh Bruce is both the witness and narrator of Jack’s quest. He’s also friends with another foreigner who owns a resort in the hot-spring zone north of Mexico City. Wayne Gibbings is a former L.A. restauranteur who moved south for profit, not ideals. But his hotel is failing, located too near a mountainous area where long-time ranchers have found a lucrative new crop, growing marijuana back in the hills as they clear peasant farmers off their land. Rumours speak of a massacre.
When Jack arrives at the hotel with Maru and Hugh, he finds himself in the middle of a hair-trigger human rights case. Idealistic and unprepared, Jack tries to help—not that anyone inn Mexico asked. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, they say.
Who will Jack take with him?
Settling temporarily in the capital, Jack quickly meets Hugh’s assistant, Maru Campagna. Maru’s family has been shattered by the death of her father, and she’s trying to reinvent herself in ways her mother and uncle disapprove. When she falls into a relationship with Jack, Maru’s family schemes for a quick marriage to a foreigner. But Maru isn’t sure, and Jack has no intention of getting married. He’s off to fight for human rights. At least he will be soon.
Hugh Bruce is both the witness and narrator of Jack’s quest. He’s also friends with another foreigner who owns a resort in the hot-spring zone north of Mexico City. Wayne Gibbings is a former L.A. restauranteur who moved south for profit, not ideals. But his hotel is failing, located too near a mountainous area where long-time ranchers have found a lucrative new crop, growing marijuana back in the hills as they clear peasant farmers off their land. Rumours speak of a massacre.
When Jack arrives at the hotel with Maru and Hugh, he finds himself in the middle of a hair-trigger human rights case. Idealistic and unprepared, Jack tries to help—not that anyone inn Mexico asked. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, they say.
Who will Jack take with him?
494 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2021
11 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Krueger
15 books49 followersLesley Krueger's latest novel, Far Creek Road, is now out from ECW Press. Sheila Murray, author of Finding Edward, calls it "masterful."
According to a starred review in the Mirimachi Reader, "Far Creek Road is a wonderfully written novel, with full and rich characters, a delightful narrator, and very much the adult version of those Judy Blume stories we loved as kids. I was sucked into this novel right away, and Krueger’s ability to immerse me inside of Tink’s mind was impressive."
Lesley's previous novel, Time Squared, was published in September 2021 -- a time travelling look at the role of women through the ages. Says critic Kerry Clare, "I’ll dive right in and tell you that the novel, Time Squared by Lesley Krueger, which I’ve loved more than I’ve loved than any book I’ve read in ages."
Lesley is the author of four previous novels, a travel memoir and two books of short stories, as well as a novel for children aged ten and up. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their elderly cat, Archie.
According to a starred review in the Mirimachi Reader, "Far Creek Road is a wonderfully written novel, with full and rich characters, a delightful narrator, and very much the adult version of those Judy Blume stories we loved as kids. I was sucked into this novel right away, and Krueger’s ability to immerse me inside of Tink’s mind was impressive."
Lesley's previous novel, Time Squared, was published in September 2021 -- a time travelling look at the role of women through the ages. Says critic Kerry Clare, "I’ll dive right in and tell you that the novel, Time Squared by Lesley Krueger, which I’ve loved more than I’ve loved than any book I’ve read in ages."
Lesley is the author of four previous novels, a travel memoir and two books of short stories, as well as a novel for children aged ten and up. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their elderly cat, Archie.
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