The Undoing of Alejandro Velasco

Actor Boneta’s sure-footed debut opens with the dynastic Velasco family mourning their 28-year-old son, Alejandro, who died in an apparent suicide while pursuing his MBA at UCLA. Shortly after Ale’s death, his handsome friend, Julián Villareal, arrives at the Velasco estate in Mexico. Julián, who found Ale’s body and believes his friend was murdered, has vowed to pursue the killer at all costs. To that end, he draws on his charm and “magazine cover smile” to ingratiate himself with Ale’s family, hoping to dig up clues. Soon, he’s living under the Velascos’ roof and enjoying their largesse, as well as the considerable charms of their beautiful, business-savvy daughter, Sofia. As Julián gets closer to Sofia, he uncovers a slew of shady business dealings and blackmail schemes undergirding her success, spurring a battle of wits between the two of them that quickly turns dangerous. The narrative culminates in a whiplash-inducing series of twists and double-crossings, which provide quick thrills even if they don’t always hold up to close inspection. Shrewd class observations (“Hours and hours of eating and drinking, and none of them had to lift a finger for themselves. He wondered what that did to the psyche; never having to clean up after yourself”) are a plus. Patricia Highsmith fans will enjoy this. (May)