Mr. Hooligan

For 20 years, Riley James has been navigating the waters and canals of Belize as a smuggler for the powerful Monsanto brothers, Carlo and Israel, while dreaming of a different life in this engaging stand-alone from Shamus Award–winner Vasquez (Lonesome Point). Now, after one last run for the Monsantos, Riley plans to go into business with longtime friend Harvey Longsworth as co-owner of Lindy's, a Belize City bar, and marry his American girlfriend, Candice—but a simple car accident leads to rapidly escalating trouble. The tension rises as more and more players—corrupt government officials, Mexican drug soldiers, DEA agents—enter the picture. Nimbly keeping a step ahead of traps and betrayals, Riley improvises surprises of his own in increasingly violent confrontations. Vasquez has crafted a crime novel that unfolds like a Greek tragedy with his flawed, unbowed hero bravely facing everything fate throws at him. (Dec.)