âA terrific debut novel . . . Mountfordâs parable of the voracious global economy reminds me of Graham Greeneâs The Quiet American.â âJess Walter, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Cold Millions On his first assignment for a rapacious hedge fund, Gabriel embarks to Bolivia at the end of 2005 to ferret out insider information about the plans of the controversial president-elect. If Gabriel succeeds, he will get a bonus that would make him secure for life. Standing in his way are his headstrong mother, a survivor of Pinochetâs Chile, and Gabrielâs new love interest, the presidentâs passionate press liaison. Caught in a growing web of lies and questioning his own role in profiting from an impoverished people, Gabriel sets in motion a terrifying plan that could cost him the love of all those he holds dear. Set against the stunning mountainous backdrop of La Paz and interspersed with Boliviaâs sad history of stubborn survival, this examines the critical choices a young man makes as his world closes in on him. âBoth of the bookâs settingsâdesperately poor but proud La Paz, the worldâs highest-altitude capital, and the world of go-go high finance, a realm about which Mountford clearly knows his stuffâare well rendered. The author is especially good at conveying the visceral and intellectual thrills of stock speculation/manipulation . . . smart, intricate, fast-paced.â âKirkus Reviews âOne of the most compelling and thought-provoking novels Iâve read in years.â âDavid Shields, author of Other People Winner of the Washington State Book Award
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