The Hand That Feeds You

In this darkly humorous caper, the terrific sequel to 2021’s Crocodile Tears, Uruguayan author Rosende expertly juggles the different points of view of various amoral characters. From a mistaken phone call, poetry translator Ursula López gets caught up in the chaos of an armored truck heist gone wrong in the back streets of Montevideo and escapes with Diego, one of the inept robbers, and a van loaded with the loot. After the two split up, the anxiety-ridden Diego disappears with the cash, terrified he’ll end up back up in prison. Meanwhile, corrupt Inspector Clemen, who planned and mismanaged the robbery, and Antinucci, a shady attorney who helped arrange the inexperienced crew’s release from prison, are frantically seeking the money. They must recover the cash and continue diverting the suspicions of their superiors and the beleaguered Capt. Leonilda Lima, who’s on Ursula’s trail. Infectious characters match the playfully woven narrative. This complex portrait of social and political anxieties within Montevideo is sure to win Rosende new fans. (Mar.)