Two Spies in Caracas

Journalist Naím (The End of Power) makes his fiction debut with a gripping political thriller that immerses the reader in the volatile Bolivarian revolution led by Venezuelan army colonel Hugo Chávez. Chávez’s failed 1992 coup caught the world by surprise, drawing the interest of Fidel Castro, who envisioned a valuable economic partner, as well as the attention of the United States, which was preoccupied with regional instability. Chávez’s unlikely rise from political prisoner to the presidential palace is seen through the eyes of Cuban intelligence officer Iván Rincón, CIA spy Cristina Graza, and a diverse cast of real-life-inspired composite and fictional characters. Naím wields his experiences as an international affairs writer and former Venezuelan economic cabinet member to provide authoritative insights into the severe economic downturns and rises in violence stemming from the power plays of external actors seeking to exploit a vulnerable nation in turmoil. This is a must for anyone who wants to explore this tumultuous and often strange period in modern Latin American history. [em](Aug.) [/em]