Manuel Vázquez Montalbán, The Buenos Aires Quintet

The Buenos Aires Quintet

Manuel V zquez Montalb n

Serpents Tail, September 2006, $14.00

ISBN: 1852427833

His uncle hires Catalan private investigator Pepe Carvalho to go to Buenos Aires to learn what happened to Raul Touron. Beyond Diego Maradona, Pepe knows nothing about the country, except that his cousin worked there before the military coup of '76 as a research behavioral scientist who discovered a link between rat behavior and the quality of their food. The military sold Raul's concept and put it to use to destroy the opposition subversives Peronists. Raul joined the rebels, but a year later his wife and baby were abducted, though he spent time in prison too.

Pepe knows that a Spaniard cannot work as a private sleuth in Argentina, so he hires elderly Don Vito Altofini as a front. They establish an office, and Pepe begins the investigation with University Professor Alma, Raul's sister in-law. She provides little help, only more questions, especially why he would come home from exile, except perhaps to find his daughter. Others seek the missing man too, and they do not welcome the Spaniard sleuth, as they have plans once they catch up to Raul that Pepe is not a part of.

THE BUENOS AIRES QUINTET is a fabulous private investigate tale that brings out the impact over two decades after its fall of the vicious military rule (1976-1983) in Argentina. The fast-paced storyline never takes a break, with Pepe on the case, while others are willing to harm, maim or kill the foreigner as he gets in the way. Readers will enjoy his "illegal" misadventures, with only his laid back partner seemingly on his side.