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The Hand That Feeds You
The sequel to last year’s much-lauded Crocodile Tears (“Reads like a marvellous mash-up of Anita Brookner and Quentin Tarantino.” The Times ). The attempted robbery of the armored truck in the back streets of Montevideo is a miserable failure.
A lucky break for the intrepid Ursula who manages to snatch all the loot, more hindered than helped by her faint-hearted and reluctant companion Diego. Only now, the wannabe robbers are hot on her heels. As is the police. And a private detective. And Ursula's sister. But Ursula turns out to be enormously talented when it comes to criminal undertakings, and given the hilarious ineptitude of those in pursuit, she might just pull it off. She is an irresistible heroine. A murderess with a sense of humor, a lovable criminal with an edge and she is practically invisible to the men who dominate the deeply macho society of Uruguay.
A lucky break for the intrepid Ursula who manages to snatch all the loot, more hindered than helped by her faint-hearted and reluctant companion Diego. Only now, the wannabe robbers are hot on her heels. As is the police. And a private detective. And Ursula's sister. But Ursula turns out to be enormously talented when it comes to criminal undertakings, and given the hilarious ineptitude of those in pursuit, she might just pull it off. She is an irresistible heroine. A murderess with a sense of humor, a lovable criminal with an edge and she is practically invisible to the men who dominate the deeply macho society of Uruguay.
224 pages, Paperback
Published March 21, 2023
5 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Rosende
23 books12 followersMercedes Rosende is a Uruguayan author, lawyer, and journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 27, 2025
In this fun romp set in Montevideo (!) a followup to Crocodile Tears we learn more about the back story of our sideways protagonista Ursula who made away, accidentally or karmically, in the first tale with all the money in a botched robbery. If you don’t want her to wreak vengeance on some of these characters after learning more history, despite her own rather irritating personality, er, quirks, by the end of this story - well then perhaps you’ve never felt the torment of the less loved child, the unchosen classmate, the excluded teenager, or the unseen partner.
She is, very unusually, setting her boundaries, for both the living and the dead.
I’ve had a bit of a confusing upbringing myself. I kept thinking about a 1922 first edition copy of Etiquette by Emily Post my mother gave me while I read this story. A "gift" given after I was all grown up. Yeah, thanks, mum. Published the year my mother was born, I can only surmise she correctly thought me hopelessly feral. It’s wrapped in a drawer somewhere, yet to be cracked open. Can’t decide who to passive-aggressively pass it along to…yet.
Dear Emily Post,
I need your help in composing a thank you note to an author. I’d like it to express this in the most genteel, ladylike manner possible:
“Gosh I’m just tickled pink to see that particular face blown to smithereens.
Thanks oodles for that.”
Recurring thoughts during this book. That's “affirmation”, right?
This odd escapade takes us through this city on the Rio Plata and includes parts that have played important roles in the relatively recent history of Uruguay. There are scenes in what is now a ritzy shopping center, but was once a prison during and before the military dictatorship of the 1970s and 80s (funded by the USA). Punta Carretas, here in its early carceral incarnation:
In 1971 there was a huge escape from this prison: 111 political prisoners walked out through a tunnel under the neighboring streets without a single shot fired.
One of the escapees, then a Tupamaro, became Uruguay’s most famous and beloved president Jose “Pepe” Mujica.
From the afterward:
While the developers of the shopping center said:
“We have transformed a prison into a space of complete freedom.”
Mujica, a committed anti-capitalist, said, “This was a monument to pain and monotony, and today it has a festive appearance. The same stones but with different paint.”
Paisito precioso.
She is, very unusually, setting her boundaries, for both the living and the dead.
I’ve had a bit of a confusing upbringing myself. I kept thinking about a 1922 first edition copy of Etiquette by Emily Post my mother gave me while I read this story. A "gift" given after I was all grown up. Yeah, thanks, mum. Published the year my mother was born, I can only surmise she correctly thought me hopelessly feral. It’s wrapped in a drawer somewhere, yet to be cracked open. Can’t decide who to passive-aggressively pass it along to…yet.
Dear Emily Post,
I need your help in composing a thank you note to an author. I’d like it to express this in the most genteel, ladylike manner possible:
“Gosh I’m just tickled pink to see that particular face blown to smithereens.
Thanks oodles for that.”
Recurring thoughts during this book. That's “affirmation”, right?
This odd escapade takes us through this city on the Rio Plata and includes parts that have played important roles in the relatively recent history of Uruguay. There are scenes in what is now a ritzy shopping center, but was once a prison during and before the military dictatorship of the 1970s and 80s (funded by the USA). Punta Carretas, here in its early carceral incarnation:
In 1971 there was a huge escape from this prison: 111 political prisoners walked out through a tunnel under the neighboring streets without a single shot fired.
One of the escapees, then a Tupamaro, became Uruguay’s most famous and beloved president Jose “Pepe” Mujica.
From the afterward:
While the developers of the shopping center said:
“We have transformed a prison into a space of complete freedom.”
Mujica, a committed anti-capitalist, said, “This was a monument to pain and monotony, and today it has a festive appearance. The same stones but with different paint.”
Paisito precioso.
March 1, 2023
Crime mystery set in MONTEVIDEO
The Hand That Feeds You by Mercedes Rosende is a crime fiction novel set in Uruguay — but it’s way more than that. By turns comical and verging on farce, it begins with a violent attack on a security truck delivering money. The twist is that the criminals who masterminded the heist leave empty handed, as the money is hijacked by others. Who really has the money? And were the incompetent criminals the victims of misfortune or have they been duped by others who are cleverer than them?
The book reflects life in Montevideo, Uruguay, which is described in fascinating detail. Really the city is just a scenic backdrop to the action, though, and to the book’s larger-than-life characters.
Our main focus is on Ursula, a middle-aged woman who believes herself to be obese and attends therapy sessions, when her physical fitness is perhaps the least of her problems. She is haunted by her dead father’s constant nagging advice, and she seems oppressed, but she skilfully outwits the other characters in the most surprising ways.
We also meet a frustrated police officer, Lima, who can’t solve any crimes because her boss, Clemen, won’t let her; there’s Diego the drugged-up criminal, and Luz, Ursula’s glamorous sister. Antinucci is a corrupt lawyer, whose Catholic faith and rule-bound way of life doesn’t stop him manipulating situations to benefit himself. Then there’s the private detective, Jack, who tries to piece together the mystery of the disappearing money. The characters are original and brilliant: none of them are the stereotypes we might expect them to be.
The storyline is told from a variety of perspectives, but it’s so well done that it isn’t at all confusing. The author adopts an almost confiding narrative, sharing secrets with the reader, and yet the suspense is sustained well throughout. The detailed descriptions are cinematic, but they don’t tell you everything you need to know, in a way that would be impossible in a movie. ‘Have we met this person before?’ we wonder, ‘and if so, who are they?’
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the inertia that affects several of the characters at different times. Far from dampening the excitement, it helps to build tension, and is very cleverly handled. You’ll have to read it to see what I mean!
I enjoyed the fact that aspects of the plot centre on the real mass escape of prisoners from a Montevideo jail in 1971, though I felt that this point was somewhat laboured. I found other aspects of the location fascinating, from the Uruguayan tradition of drinking maté through a special straw in the mornings, to the atmospheric description of mausoleum where Ursula’s dead family members are interred, or the modern shopping centre that is a pivotal location.
The book is a sequel, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel without problems. In summary, this is a highly original and thoroughly enjoyable read.
The Hand That Feeds You by Mercedes Rosende is a crime fiction novel set in Uruguay — but it’s way more than that. By turns comical and verging on farce, it begins with a violent attack on a security truck delivering money. The twist is that the criminals who masterminded the heist leave empty handed, as the money is hijacked by others. Who really has the money? And were the incompetent criminals the victims of misfortune or have they been duped by others who are cleverer than them?
The book reflects life in Montevideo, Uruguay, which is described in fascinating detail. Really the city is just a scenic backdrop to the action, though, and to the book’s larger-than-life characters.
Our main focus is on Ursula, a middle-aged woman who believes herself to be obese and attends therapy sessions, when her physical fitness is perhaps the least of her problems. She is haunted by her dead father’s constant nagging advice, and she seems oppressed, but she skilfully outwits the other characters in the most surprising ways.
We also meet a frustrated police officer, Lima, who can’t solve any crimes because her boss, Clemen, won’t let her; there’s Diego the drugged-up criminal, and Luz, Ursula’s glamorous sister. Antinucci is a corrupt lawyer, whose Catholic faith and rule-bound way of life doesn’t stop him manipulating situations to benefit himself. Then there’s the private detective, Jack, who tries to piece together the mystery of the disappearing money. The characters are original and brilliant: none of them are the stereotypes we might expect them to be.
The storyline is told from a variety of perspectives, but it’s so well done that it isn’t at all confusing. The author adopts an almost confiding narrative, sharing secrets with the reader, and yet the suspense is sustained well throughout. The detailed descriptions are cinematic, but they don’t tell you everything you need to know, in a way that would be impossible in a movie. ‘Have we met this person before?’ we wonder, ‘and if so, who are they?’
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the inertia that affects several of the characters at different times. Far from dampening the excitement, it helps to build tension, and is very cleverly handled. You’ll have to read it to see what I mean!
I enjoyed the fact that aspects of the plot centre on the real mass escape of prisoners from a Montevideo jail in 1971, though I felt that this point was somewhat laboured. I found other aspects of the location fascinating, from the Uruguayan tradition of drinking maté through a special straw in the mornings, to the atmospheric description of mausoleum where Ursula’s dead family members are interred, or the modern shopping centre that is a pivotal location.
The book is a sequel, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel without problems. In summary, this is a highly original and thoroughly enjoyable read.
March 2, 2023
A couple of years ago now, I had the pleasure of reviewing Crocodile Tears , the first book featuring the wonderful Ursula Lopez. With shades of Fargo and featuring this truly mercurial and ballsy female protagonist, it left a marked impression on me, and so, of course, I was keen as mustard to get back on the mean streets of Montevideo and see what the indomitable Ursula was getting up to next…
Once again, this book reads as a twisted love letter to Montevideo, unashamed to highlight the good and the bad of this energetic and pulsating city, where poverty and crime go hand in hand with the open hearted spirit and joie de vivre of the city’s inhabitants. I have learnt so much about Uruguay and its environs over the course of these two books, and you will find yourself swept up in the author’s obvious love for the capital city, steeped in history. I have a real passion for books that root you firmly in their particular location you are more unfamiliar with, and Rosende achieves this beautifully.
Reading some of the reviews of the book, a couple of critics mention Elmore Leonard as a comparison to Rosende’s writing, and this is absolutely spot on. There is a crispness and sparsity to her prose that serves to achieve what she needs to achieve perfectly, adding an energy and pace to the book that makes it difficult to put down for any length of time. The pace drives the story on at a whip-smart rate, as we see the deceptively street-smart Ursula become entangled in a heist, and a cat and mouse game to keep the loot and her life intact. The dialogue is clipped and edgy, and underscored with dark humour, it will have you smiling wryly throughout. Rosende also repeats her now familiar trope of good dollops of authorial intrusion to direct the reader’s attention this way and that, which also adds a certain spark and more humour to the overall plot. The characterisation is superb, with Ursula navigating safe passage between a bent police officer, an incredibly shady lawyer, a ruthless criminal, and her own slightly dense partner in crime, the woefully pathetic Diego. As Ursula relies on her smarts to keep one step ahead of those that would liberate the heist money from her sticky mitts, and also save her sister, unwittingly caught up in the chaos, Rosende also manages to squeeze in some pertinent observations on Ursula’s daddy issues, the futility of religion and absolution, and that you should never underestimate a woman who resembles a dumpy librarian…
With another lively and pitch perfect translation from Tim Gutteridge, I was instantly immersed back into the world of Ursula Lopez, and I think my new credo should be, ‘what would Ursula do?’ as she is a complete force of nature. Smart, funny, fast and furious, The Hand That Feeds You is an absolute gem of a book, and if you want a complete distraction from the inanity and depressive nature of life today, I would heartily recommend this to you. Highly recommended.
Once again, this book reads as a twisted love letter to Montevideo, unashamed to highlight the good and the bad of this energetic and pulsating city, where poverty and crime go hand in hand with the open hearted spirit and joie de vivre of the city’s inhabitants. I have learnt so much about Uruguay and its environs over the course of these two books, and you will find yourself swept up in the author’s obvious love for the capital city, steeped in history. I have a real passion for books that root you firmly in their particular location you are more unfamiliar with, and Rosende achieves this beautifully.
Reading some of the reviews of the book, a couple of critics mention Elmore Leonard as a comparison to Rosende’s writing, and this is absolutely spot on. There is a crispness and sparsity to her prose that serves to achieve what she needs to achieve perfectly, adding an energy and pace to the book that makes it difficult to put down for any length of time. The pace drives the story on at a whip-smart rate, as we see the deceptively street-smart Ursula become entangled in a heist, and a cat and mouse game to keep the loot and her life intact. The dialogue is clipped and edgy, and underscored with dark humour, it will have you smiling wryly throughout. Rosende also repeats her now familiar trope of good dollops of authorial intrusion to direct the reader’s attention this way and that, which also adds a certain spark and more humour to the overall plot. The characterisation is superb, with Ursula navigating safe passage between a bent police officer, an incredibly shady lawyer, a ruthless criminal, and her own slightly dense partner in crime, the woefully pathetic Diego. As Ursula relies on her smarts to keep one step ahead of those that would liberate the heist money from her sticky mitts, and also save her sister, unwittingly caught up in the chaos, Rosende also manages to squeeze in some pertinent observations on Ursula’s daddy issues, the futility of religion and absolution, and that you should never underestimate a woman who resembles a dumpy librarian…
With another lively and pitch perfect translation from Tim Gutteridge, I was instantly immersed back into the world of Ursula Lopez, and I think my new credo should be, ‘what would Ursula do?’ as she is a complete force of nature. Smart, funny, fast and furious, The Hand That Feeds You is an absolute gem of a book, and if you want a complete distraction from the inanity and depressive nature of life today, I would heartily recommend this to you. Highly recommended.
February 26, 2023
‘The Hand That Feeds You’ is a witty, tongue-in-cheek take on a heist novel with a twist! But it has depth, the characters are brilliant, there are plenty of wtf moments and you left wanting more. This is the second in the series that deals with the residents of Montevideo but it can be read as a standalone. It was how I came to the book and I didn't think I was missing out on anything. To be fair I didn't even realise there had been a previous book until I was logging this one on Goodreads. I will be picking up ‘Crocodile Tears’ though as I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
The heist of an armoured van in the streets of Montevideo goes spectacularly wrong! It's a massacre and one that Ursula Lopez is able to take advantage of. She grabs all the loot off the thieves and makes a run for it with her friend Diego. She has the police, the gang and her sister after she and the pressure mounts up. But it turns out she makes a good criminal and doesn't want to lose this money for anything and given that everyone else in the fray seems to be useless she might even get away with it!
I have to admit that I kind of liked Ursula. Sure she is a loner, with daddy and body issues but she is clever, funny and loyal to her sister. Even if her sister doubts her activities in the past. I really hope that the series continues as I'm intrigued to where life is going to take her next and if she really does get away with everything! But Ursula is only one of four women in this book that events revolve around - there is her sister, a PI called Jack and a police captain called Leo! Each one fascinating in their own right but I do want to know more about Jack and Leo. They seemed strong women who didn't mind bending the boundaries to get what they wanted.
This is funny novel which I found myself laughing at a few times. Now, it takes something really good to make me laugh out loud and I did with this book! It was also a brilliant translation by Tim as you could feel Mercedes's voice shine brightly. I love that more and more crime is getting translated from South America and this is my first from Uruguay and hopefully it won't be the last.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
The heist of an armoured van in the streets of Montevideo goes spectacularly wrong! It's a massacre and one that Ursula Lopez is able to take advantage of. She grabs all the loot off the thieves and makes a run for it with her friend Diego. She has the police, the gang and her sister after she and the pressure mounts up. But it turns out she makes a good criminal and doesn't want to lose this money for anything and given that everyone else in the fray seems to be useless she might even get away with it!
I have to admit that I kind of liked Ursula. Sure she is a loner, with daddy and body issues but she is clever, funny and loyal to her sister. Even if her sister doubts her activities in the past. I really hope that the series continues as I'm intrigued to where life is going to take her next and if she really does get away with everything! But Ursula is only one of four women in this book that events revolve around - there is her sister, a PI called Jack and a police captain called Leo! Each one fascinating in their own right but I do want to know more about Jack and Leo. They seemed strong women who didn't mind bending the boundaries to get what they wanted.
This is funny novel which I found myself laughing at a few times. Now, it takes something really good to make me laugh out loud and I did with this book! It was also a brilliant translation by Tim as you could feel Mercedes's voice shine brightly. I love that more and more crime is getting translated from South America and this is my first from Uruguay and hopefully it won't be the last.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
March 9, 2023
This is a witty and fast paced crime fiction - I read the English translation, and just thought it was brilliant, there is enough movement in the plot to keep you gripped and I really enjoyed all of the characters. This is the second book in a series set in Montevideo but it can definitely be read as a standalone. There is a brief 'reminder/ info drop' of the happenings from the first book, and I really didn't feel like I needed to have read the previous book.
The book opens with the aftermath of a heist which has gone wrong - the money is not in the hands of the person that intended to nab the cash. However, this has lead us to meet Ursula Lopez, the protagonist in this book - she steals the money with the help of her friend Diego and throughout the book - pursued by the police, her sister and the criminal gang, can Ursula end up with the loot?
On the surface you might think that Ursula is an unlikely criminal, which makes this all the more interesting, she is dealing with the death of her father, who seemingly always doubted her, she has body issues and she is grappling with trust issues too - initially Diego has the money and Ursula is fighting to trust he will come good and return to her with her share of the bounty.
I also enjoyed the angle of looking at women's roles in a male dominated profession - the PI (Jack/ Jacqueline) is trying to lead as a female in a career that feels like it doesn't favour women as being authoritative, the police captain, Leo (Leonilda) is taking charge in a male dominated force. Both have taken a more masculine version of their name, presumably to gain some respect on paper - and I loved the roles they both played.
This was a clever, witty crime mystery which kept me turning the pages, I would definitely look to pick up more books by this author.
Just a note to acknowledge that this is a translated fiction, Tim Gutteridge has translated from Spanish to English for this book, but it really felt like the author's voice shone through.
The book opens with the aftermath of a heist which has gone wrong - the money is not in the hands of the person that intended to nab the cash. However, this has lead us to meet Ursula Lopez, the protagonist in this book - she steals the money with the help of her friend Diego and throughout the book - pursued by the police, her sister and the criminal gang, can Ursula end up with the loot?
On the surface you might think that Ursula is an unlikely criminal, which makes this all the more interesting, she is dealing with the death of her father, who seemingly always doubted her, she has body issues and she is grappling with trust issues too - initially Diego has the money and Ursula is fighting to trust he will come good and return to her with her share of the bounty.
I also enjoyed the angle of looking at women's roles in a male dominated profession - the PI (Jack/ Jacqueline) is trying to lead as a female in a career that feels like it doesn't favour women as being authoritative, the police captain, Leo (Leonilda) is taking charge in a male dominated force. Both have taken a more masculine version of their name, presumably to gain some respect on paper - and I loved the roles they both played.
This was a clever, witty crime mystery which kept me turning the pages, I would definitely look to pick up more books by this author.
Just a note to acknowledge that this is a translated fiction, Tim Gutteridge has translated from Spanish to English for this book, but it really felt like the author's voice shone through.
February 18, 2023
This is a novel that at first comes over as funny and very tongue in cheek as far as the characters and storyline are concerned. However, once it starts to develop there is a depth to the characters, especially Ursula, that evolves as the story progresses and we see how she has been affected by her relationship with her “Daddy” and the presence he still commands in her life from beyond the grave.
The novel evolves around four different women, linked to each other by different relationships and our understanding of how these change as their feelings and emotions come to light and how, in many respects, they are all escaping !!!!! It is refreshing to read a "tongue in cheek" novel where women are the main characters who win due to the criminal males failing at even the simplest of tasks.
This is a light hearted, easy read of a funny thriller that won’t give you sleepless nights but will give you a laugh and an insight into the ingenuity of Ursula against the ineptitude of those who are in pursuit of her. There are times when this farcical comedy brings back memories of Monty Python for those of us of a certain age and I , for one, would quite like to see it transcribed to the screen.
I hope we can look forward to more exploits in Montevideo from our heroine in the not too distant future.
The novel evolves around four different women, linked to each other by different relationships and our understanding of how these change as their feelings and emotions come to light and how, in many respects, they are all escaping !!!!! It is refreshing to read a "tongue in cheek" novel where women are the main characters who win due to the criminal males failing at even the simplest of tasks.
This is a light hearted, easy read of a funny thriller that won’t give you sleepless nights but will give you a laugh and an insight into the ingenuity of Ursula against the ineptitude of those who are in pursuit of her. There are times when this farcical comedy brings back memories of Monty Python for those of us of a certain age and I , for one, would quite like to see it transcribed to the screen.
I hope we can look forward to more exploits in Montevideo from our heroine in the not too distant future.
May 7, 2023
I absolutely loved the narration of this novel. It was dynamic and different from almost anything else I've ever read. I wish I had read the first in the series prior to this one, although I wasn't confused by anything I think I would've connected with the characters better if I had. The plot was fun and pacing was fast. Hope to read more by this author.
March 7, 2023
A really interesting thriller with a compelling character who seems on the Eve of becoming a full on criminal and a very energetic writing style that pulls you in
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
March 19, 2023
The story is an unusual one essentially, taking place after the heist rather than covering its planning and execution. it can perhaps be summed up as the pursuit of the loot, as corrupt law officers have publicly said that all involved were killed in the scene and the money destroyed in the raid. One of the raiders, Diego, has the money and the plot revolves around a group of people trying to get their hands on it. A simple plot but one that is cleverly constructed and executed, one that piques the reader’s curiosity and feels rather devious right up to the clever finale.
It’s the characters that bring the story to life and a right oddball collection they are. The heroine Ursula is an attractive if slightly overweight woman of 48 who translates poetry for a living and maintains a love-hate relationship with the spirit of her dead father. Described by him as a black hole she is unreadable but also strong willed and inventive. Her sister Luz is beautiful, slender and glamorous, rich by marriage and in the process of trading up in model. Diego is so highly strung as to be a liability, his anxiety level is off the scale has he trying to lay low with the money for a month. He is indebted to Ursula who saved his life by shooting fellow robber ‘Hobo’. How Ursula came to be at the original crime scene is serendipitous and one I will leave the reader to discover.
In pursuit are a corrupt detective and a borderline psychopathic lawyer, who is handy with a rocket propelled grenade, responsible for masterminding the raid. Of course, nothing is life is simple though. Luz believes Ursula may know more about the death of their Aunt Irene and so employs a private detective to follow her, and what an unusual gumshoe this proves to be. Not all police are corrupt, and a female Captain doesn’t buy the explanations of her superior and though warned off the case, in true good cop fashion follows up in her own time. A veritable conga line of people who are either after a suitcase stuffed with cash, or the people who are after the cash. This results in some fabulous interactions as their paths cross and converge. Even love manages to blossom in this unlikely setting.
As a setting Old Town Montevideo is lovingly portrayed with its old style classical, albeit somewhat faded, beauty. Picturesque and photogenic, part colonial, part modernised but without the poverty and decrepit seediness of Havana. A city where Punta Carretas Prison, close to the centre, can be demolished are replaced by a shopping mall, gone but not forgotten as the reader discovers.
The tone is light, it’s a crime caper rather than an investigation into the dark hearts of criminals. The translator has clearly done a great job in keeping the prose light and entertaining. There is even a cheeky self-reference as lawyer Antinucci leafs through some crime novels and decides to purchase Crocodile Tears, the novel before this one. A nice bit of chutzpah, well why not.
The perspective is quite unusual, there are sections in first person, but mainly it is third person. However, the third person is more of a narrator, with a jokey and friendly persona, observing events and describing them whilst occasionally doing the written equivalent of breaking the fourth wall. Quirky and distinctive it works well.
It’s the characters that bring the story to life and a right oddball collection they are. The heroine Ursula is an attractive if slightly overweight woman of 48 who translates poetry for a living and maintains a love-hate relationship with the spirit of her dead father. Described by him as a black hole she is unreadable but also strong willed and inventive. Her sister Luz is beautiful, slender and glamorous, rich by marriage and in the process of trading up in model. Diego is so highly strung as to be a liability, his anxiety level is off the scale has he trying to lay low with the money for a month. He is indebted to Ursula who saved his life by shooting fellow robber ‘Hobo’. How Ursula came to be at the original crime scene is serendipitous and one I will leave the reader to discover.
In pursuit are a corrupt detective and a borderline psychopathic lawyer, who is handy with a rocket propelled grenade, responsible for masterminding the raid. Of course, nothing is life is simple though. Luz believes Ursula may know more about the death of their Aunt Irene and so employs a private detective to follow her, and what an unusual gumshoe this proves to be. Not all police are corrupt, and a female Captain doesn’t buy the explanations of her superior and though warned off the case, in true good cop fashion follows up in her own time. A veritable conga line of people who are either after a suitcase stuffed with cash, or the people who are after the cash. This results in some fabulous interactions as their paths cross and converge. Even love manages to blossom in this unlikely setting.
As a setting Old Town Montevideo is lovingly portrayed with its old style classical, albeit somewhat faded, beauty. Picturesque and photogenic, part colonial, part modernised but without the poverty and decrepit seediness of Havana. A city where Punta Carretas Prison, close to the centre, can be demolished are replaced by a shopping mall, gone but not forgotten as the reader discovers.
The tone is light, it’s a crime caper rather than an investigation into the dark hearts of criminals. The translator has clearly done a great job in keeping the prose light and entertaining. There is even a cheeky self-reference as lawyer Antinucci leafs through some crime novels and decides to purchase Crocodile Tears, the novel before this one. A nice bit of chutzpah, well why not.
The perspective is quite unusual, there are sections in first person, but mainly it is third person. However, the third person is more of a narrator, with a jokey and friendly persona, observing events and describing them whilst occasionally doing the written equivalent of breaking the fourth wall. Quirky and distinctive it works well.
February 28, 2023
This book was different from my usual go to genre of book, but yet I found myself unable to put it down.
From the first page, you are straight into the story line and I instantly became invested in Ursula's life. She was a strong character, who was working through a lot of issues surrounding her family, but she overcame all of this to get what she wanted.
As well as Ursula, there were other strong women within the book, each fighting for something and I liked how they each came together at the end.
The story line gathered speed and at the end of the book, I liked how it was broken down into time frames and the events in the mall kept me on my toes and kept me turning the pages. I liked how it turned out for Ursula and her sister and would be interesting to see if there was a follow up to the book.
From the first page, you are straight into the story line and I instantly became invested in Ursula's life. She was a strong character, who was working through a lot of issues surrounding her family, but she overcame all of this to get what she wanted.
As well as Ursula, there were other strong women within the book, each fighting for something and I liked how they each came together at the end.
The story line gathered speed and at the end of the book, I liked how it was broken down into time frames and the events in the mall kept me on my toes and kept me turning the pages. I liked how it turned out for Ursula and her sister and would be interesting to see if there was a follow up to the book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews