Alejandro's leugen

by Bob Van Laerhoven

País, 1983, Zuid-Amerika. Na tien jaar dictatuur lijkt de gewelddadige junta van generaal Pelarón te wankelen. Alejandro Juron, gitarist van de dichter en volkszanger Victor Pérez die door de junta werd geëxecuteerd, komt vrij uit de beruchte gevangenis Het Laatste Avondmaal. Het ondergrondse verzet wil dat Juron opnieuw meedoet, maar Alejandro is veranderd. Verteerd door schuldgevoelens over de dood van Pérez wordt Juron het ongewilde middelpunt van een web van dramatische intriges die leiden tot een catastrofale volksopstand.

325 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2013

About the author

Van Laerhoven made his debut as a novelist in 1985 and quickly became known for his colorful, kaleidoscopic novels, in which the fate of the individual is closely linked to broader social transformations. International flair has become his trademark. His novels blend literature and suspense.
AVID TRAVELLER
Bob Van Laerhoven became a full-time author in 1991. As a freelance travel writer, he explored conflicts and trouble spots across the globe from the early 1990s to 2005. Echoes of his experiences on the road also permeate his novels. Somalia, Liberia, Sudan, Gaza, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Laos, Bosnia, Albania, Myanmar… to name but a few.
MULTIFACETED OEUVRE
All these experiences contribute to Bob Van Laerhoven’s rich and commendable oeuvre. He is a 20-time prize-winning author, translated into 12 languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Greek, Swedish, Slovenian, Italian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, and Amharic (Ethiopia)
AWARDS
AWARDS

Four-time finalist of the Belgian Hercule Poirot Prize for Best
Mystery Novel of the Year with the novels "Djinn," "The
Finger of God," "Return to Hiroshima," and "The Firehand
Files."

Winner of the Hercule Poirot Prize for "Baudelaire's
Revenge," which also won the USA Best Book Award 2014 in
the category "mystery/suspense."

The collection of short stories "Dangerous Obsessions" was
hailed as the "best short story collection of 2015" by the San Diego Book
Review.

"Heart Fever," the second collection of short stories, was a
Finalist in the Silver Falchion 2018 Award.

The quality UK book site Murder, Mayhem & More chose
"Return to Hiroshima" as one of the ten best international
crime books of 2018.

The novel "Alejandro's Lie" was the Best Thriller Book
Award winner in the category "Political Thriller 2021" on
BestThrillers.com.

The novel was a finalist in The American Writings
Awards 2023

The book won a silver medal in The Bookfest Awards 2023

"Alejandro's Lie" became the first runner-up in the "general fiction" Los Angeles Book Festival 2024 category.

"The Shadow Of The Mole" has become a finalist in the Best Thriller Awards 2022, Historical Fiction category, from Best‐Thrillers.com.

The Historical Fiction Company chose "The Shadow Of The Mole" as the winner in the "Historical Literary" category of the 2022 HFC Book Of The Year contest.

The book also won a silver medal in the Reader View "Reviewer's Choice Awards 2022-2023" competition in the
"Historical Fiction" category.


"The Shadow Of The Mole" is a finalist in the "Hemingway 20th-century wartime novels" competition of The Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA).

"Scars Of The Heart" received a New York Book 2024 Festival Honorable Mention in the category Anthologies/Compilations.

"Scars Of The Heart" received a Gold Book Award 2024 from Literary Titan

"Scars Of The Heart" is the Literary Global Book Awards 2024 winner in the category "short story collections."

"Scars Of The Heart" is the winner in the San Francisco Book Festival Award Category "Compilations/Anthologies."

"Scars Of The Heart" is the winner in the 2025 International Impact Book Awards in the category "Short Story Collections."

“La Mentira de Alejandro, » the Spanish translation of “Alejandro’s Lie,” received an Honorable Mention (aka Bronze Award) from the International Paris Book Fest 2025

“The Long Farewell” is the winner of a Literary Titan Gold Book Award 2025
"The Long Farewell" is a Finalist in the 2025 American Writing Awards in the category "Historical Fiction."
"The Long Farewell" is the BookFest winner in the category Fiction-Literary-Historical Novel

Reviews

[Olga Miret · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Alejandro's Lie" is a lyrical novel that will resonate with readers familiar with the history of many countries (not only South-American) that have suffered under the rule of dictatorships and corrupt governments. A gripping plot, beautifully written, filled with characters trying to remain true to themselves in impossible situations while confronting evil, which will touch the hearts of all who read it. It’s a fabulous story, full of tragedy, wonder, and magic.
I was provided an early ARC copy of the novel, which I freely chose to review.

[Lou Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has won many awards, including the Hercule Poirot Prize for Best Mystery Novel of the year, and the USA Best Book Award 2014 in mystery/suspense. It only takes a few pages of this book to know why.
The lyricism of this book just blew me away…… mixing the horrific with the personal pin-point view, and then back to wade through the obstacles and other dangers, and onward to what Alejandro wants. There is poetry in everything this author writes, from the color of the sky to the way the bullets fly.
“I live by the grace of people who have little more in life than memories, he thought to himself.” One of my favorite lines. This occurs early in the story, and proves true to the end.
Like a cloud over everything is Alejandro’s own self-loathing that effects everything he thinks and does, yet his innate goodness comes through when he does the right thing, automatically.
The erotic images are done beautifully, and tied to Alejandro’s inner torment, that makes his participation come and go. Sometimes literally.
The writing is smooth, economical, and natural:
“Alejandro grabbed his guitar, crawled under the ropes, and winked at Beatriz.” Nothing wasted, and the line is a total visualization that puts the reader in the moment.
Later, toward the end, “He’d failed with anyone he loved because love held up a mirror to him.” And if you wonder why a reader cares about Alejandro, it is because they can’t help but to feel for him. Yet, as he wrote love ballads the emptiness in him had always been there.
It is interesting how the dialog is filled with descriptive words as if a translator from Alejandro’s language, who was part poet, was doing so on purpose with his words. An example: it is purposely written ‘How do you mean taken off?” Not “What” do you mean taken off?” (referring to the plane)
This book in a beautiful way blends new light onto the music of the land to the south, not in a jumble of emotions or clichés, but of a story.
The ending, without a spoiler, seemed as poetic as the rest of the story because of the flair with which it happened and the starkness of the act, and being in the characters’ final thoughts and motivations. Perfect.

[Zowie Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked if I would read this book by the author for an honest review and I'm so glad that I was! Wow! This is most exciting and gripping story that I have read in a long time! As an author of children's fiction and poetry primarily, this isn't usually my first choice of genre, but I truly enjoyed the read and think it would make an amazing film one day too! Although I would need to watch it behind a cushion!

The story is a dark tale that isn't for the faint hearted, but that is because it is written extremely well and the author's attention to detail and description is so vivid , that you can picture the scene in your mind clearly, and almost feel all the emotions that each character goes through in the way that tension and suspense is expertly created. I really felt like I was in Latin America, about to take part in a revolution!

I went through a rollercoaster of emotions reading about heartbreak, corruption, survival and death and torture, which did make me out the book down on number of occasions - just to catch my breath and regain reality! However, the breaks wouldn't be for long as I was too gripped and intrigued to know what happened next.

The main character , Alejandro, is tortured by his past life in prison as his betrayal gets out of control - betraying everyone, including himself.
His past is something which is revealed throughout the story , which allowed me to get to really know him and try to empathise situation and understand his actions. The author has a great way of creating such intense suspense with all the other characters in this way too.

In the midst of this political and gruesome tale , there is also a fiery love story that takes place ending with a sacrifice which leads to heartbreak .
At the end of story, I was left questioning humanity and the dangers and of political secrets and decision making. It's raw, brutal in places but honest.

This is the first book that I have read by Bob Laerhoven, and I truly hope that it isn't my last. Thank you for sharing your amazing story Bob and for the excitement and generally blowing my mind! I cannot recommend this story enough!

Z Norris

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alejandro's Lie is a stirring novel that follows the story of a recently released prisoner back on the streets of his junta occupied country after ten years of torture and profound guilt.

Once the guitar player of a popular revolutionary band - Alejandro finds the world is much the same as he and the other members of Aconcagua left it.

Yet even ten years after the junta's brutal crackdown - a rebellious spirit persists among the people.

Pulled yet again into the machinations of insurgents - a deeply unsettled Alejandro once again becomes witness to, and victim of, the wicked violence of the junta.

Immersed in a world of soaring natural beauty juxtaposed with acute poverty - Alejandro's Lie takes the reader down the dark and troubled path of each character - all desperate to not only survive but to overthrow the punishing military dictatorship.

The deeply authentic characters and the realistic flavor of their pain lends a near reverent shine to their grand sacrifices and their immovable dedication to freedom and democracy.

[James Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book a chance on Kindle Unlimited because I was in the mood for a thriller and wanted something a little different. I was really glad that I did. The book was a page-turner and kept me engaged until the very end. I loved the era and the setting of the story. The story takes on a ride of ups and downs and reminds you that all decisions have consequences. I suggest giving this book a shot, especially if you are in the mood for a set-piece thriller with a touch of romance.

[Cody Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alejandro’s Lie by Bob Van Laerhoven This well-written, intelligent political thriller (and love story) takes you on a thrilling, captivating journey. Great characters and a plot filled with violence, betrayal, corruption and love. A fantastic read.

[Joey Madia · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the past three years, as part of my work as a Chautauquan and historical education specialist, I have portrayed Ernesto “Che” Guevara, one of the key personalities in the Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro in the late 1950s. Much has been made of Che—to some a hero/Messiah-like savior and to others a heartless mass murderer. He is admittedly complex.
As are all who choose the life of the revolutionary.
This is the core subject matter of Alejandro’s Lie. Taking place in a fictitious country called Terreno (meaning “ground”) in 1983, which has suffered a military takeover (junta) and now dictatorship by General Pelaron (meaning “to skin an animal”), the book explores the motivations of both those on the side of the general and those fighting against him. Although the book is rife with political complexities, it is primarily a character study.
The main characters in this drama are the Alejandro of the title, who is a former guitarist for a popular folk group destroyed for their political activist songs. The lead singer of the group, the Bob Dylan–esque Victor, is a spectre that haunts Alejandro throughout the novel, having been the reason for one of Alejandro’s (many) lies.
When the authorities let Alejandro out of a hellish prison called The Last Supper after a decade, he returns to the capital, Valtiago. The victim of psychological and physical torture, and burdened with his many lies, he tries to find his way amid the rest of the cast, including a troubled priest named Rene Lafarge and a woman named Beatrice with a violent husband involved in the dirty work of Pelaron’s regime. Her father, dying in a hospital, is a powerful, wealthy man in his own right.
Identity is central to Alejandro’s Lie, both concretely and psychologically. Some pretend to be other people. Others lock away entire early chapters of their lives. Some convince others, through violence and brainwashing, that they are someone else. In the second half of the book, Van Laerhoven takes this further with physical masks that various characters wear. In the case of Beatrice, it is difficult to have an identity of your own when your father and husband have subverted your personality and functionality in service to their own agendas. What the characters will do to forge and find their identities is the core thematic work of this beautifully written, excellently paced novel.
I have chosen to title this review “A Hundred Horrible Lies” because, although one of Alejandro’s lies is central to the plot, all of the characters have them. Each is hurtful in its own unique way, like the various devices in a torture chamber. The characters strive to find camaraderie in the common cause, alcohol, and sex. The way that touch and physical/psychic contact harms them like the application of battery clamps to the body reminds me of the characters in the plays of American Pulitzer Prize–winner Sam Shepard. Their pain is constant, spreading ever outward like a contagion, enveloping the innocents the revolutionaries are attempting to save.
The plot becomes increasingly complex as Van Laerhoven introduces us to two half-cocked revolutionaries, Christobal and Joao, who are planning an attack on the general.
As a writer and reader of historical fiction and nonfiction, I am often astounded by how human flaws get in the way of better outcomes for the history that is being enacted. From jealousy to libido, from greed to paranoia, it is the humanness of the players that truly inscribes the drama on the dense surface of history. This is what got me interested in history decades ago and why I have made it the canvas on which I paint the majority of the stories I choose to tell.
In conjunction with this, a writer of historical fiction dances between the micro and macro. The macro story (what we call the A story) in the case of Alejandro’s Lie is the junta and what it is doing to the country and its people. On the macro level, there is the international—Nixon supports the junta because General Pelaron is anti-Communist and has borrowed massive amounts of money from the United States “on the people’s behalf.” This situation has played out numerous times in Central America. Nixon was the one who met with Castro during the Cuban leader’s first visit to America after the revolution. Eisenhower hid out elsewhere. Nixon (talk about flaws) found Castro to be arrogant and paranoid and definitely a Communist. The first two were of course true on some level, but mostly reflections of Nixon’s own psyche. The third was an untruth that became a truth when the United States refused to work with Cuba, leaving Castro with little choice but to get into bed with the very eager Russians.
On the micro level of Alejandro’s Lie, all of the aforementioned characters on the side of justice and some characters who work for the general—Manuel and a torturer named Fitzroy, whose crimes are nearly unspeakable—fall prey to their flaws as the two sides move inexorably closer together as the novel reaches its both surprising and inevitable climax.
Bob Van Laerhoven is a talented storyteller with a gift for structure and character. Alejandro’s Lie—and hundreds of lies within it—weaves a tapestry of events that, given the January 6 Capitol Riots and widening gaps in ideology as the 2022 US mid-term elections approach, is required reading for anyone attempting to understand the micro and macro dynamics underlying human history, and how the simplest songs make a difference when sung by passionate voices.

[Julie Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alejandro's Lie, Bob Van Laerhoven political thriller is about revolution in a Latin American country. It shows what happens when the marching, protests, and rebellions stop and the rebel is left older and alone with their thoughts.

It is 1983 in Valtaigo, Terreno, a fictional Latin American country. Alejandro has just been released from a prison that is so notorious that it is nicknamed The Last Supper, because "supper was the only meal that they gave you on your execution." Alejandro was the guitarist in the folk band, Aconcagua, led by the fiery and charismatic Victor Perez.

Alejandro struggles to adjust to life on the outside, refamiliarizing himself with places like the 'pigsty', Vaitago's slums and living under the military junta that has strict control over Terreno (with funding from the United States). He reunites with old friends, like Cristobal Vial, a former firebrand playing it safe as a university librarian and makes new friends, like Beatriz Candalti, a feminist who is separated and planning to divorce her abusive husband.

Alejandro's imprisonment has given him PTSD and a bitter cynical outlook. He also feels guilty about his own motives for becoming a musician/revolutionary and his actions that led to Vincent's arrest, imprisonment, and death.

Alejandro's Lie is an absorbing look at how a dictatorship affects the people and places surrounding it. Terreno is a fictional location but the impact of living under a tyranny can be clearly felt in the real world. This impact has been experienced by people from real Central and South American countries that have been ruined by dictators who have used various political leanings from Capitalism to Communism and backing from more powerful countries as means for control.

One character describes the situation in Terreno as "The wealthy are dancing the rumba in luxurious nightclubs, the poor grab leftovers in the garbage dumps….Terreno is a country of contradictions a d teeming with underground parties and resistance groups…rebel groups are smuggling in arms from Cuba...the middle class hesitates; the oligarchy has resolutely sided with the junta." It's a world that has been teetering on an abyss for a long time and barely needs a slight push before it falls off.

Alejandro's Lie is the type of book in which the author avoids making the setting beautiful to focus on the ugliness surrounding the characters. There are some detailed descriptions of nature, particularly when Beatriz flies a plane to a mountain location. However, they are very few. Most of the action is in Valtaigo, possibly a deliberate move by Van Laerhoven. The focus is on the dictatorship, so much so that everything in the country is centered around it. Even nature's beauty is tainted by the corrupt people in charge who want to destroy it. Terreno is a country filled with loss, regret, guilt, and forced complacency.

Those feelings overwhelm Alejandro as soon as he leaves The Last Supper and exacerbates his already growing PTSD. He suffers through the nightmarish memories of his Imprisonment including starvation, torture, and manipulation. After leaving prison however, his experiences get worse.

Alejandro left a country that was devastated by a dictator. What he finds is a ruthless government still in power. The people's rights have only diminished further. Unfortunately, it has been so long that most people have lost the will to fight. There are some resistors, as Beatriz is involved in just such a cell. But they are the minority. Most people such as Beatriz's father and at times Cristobal have traded rebellion for conformity and are less concerned with ideologies and more worried about survival. It makes one wonder what the point of rebellion is if the people aren't going to follow through on it.

The complacency of the people and his own dark memories drive Alejandro. He questions everything, even his own motives for joining Ancocagaua. His motives for becoming a folk musician and betrayal of Victor eat away at his soul. He believes that his own motivations to join a political folk band had more to do with fame, money, and sleeping with willing women than it did with singing against the system. This puts a more cynical and world weary outlook at the rebellious idealistic image that others saw in him. Alejandro also has to contend with his mental anguish over Victor's Imprisonment and his blame in turning Victor in not for political reasons but because he had an affair with Victor's wife.

Alejandro recognizes the lie within himself and can't do anything to ease that remorse. He turns to music, drink, old friends, even a stint as a professional barrio wrestler to earn money. But these things only make the void in his life worse. The only emotion that he has left is rage for an old enemy. This rage causes him to engage in a pretty reckless plan to seek vengeance and retribution.

Alejandro's Lie is a book that explores the long term impact that a dictatorship and Imprisonment has on the soul and how they lose everything: their home, families, lovers, strength, and fighting spirit. Truth be told, Alejandro's Lie is a somber but still intriguing and completely honest book.

[Peter D'Hollander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alejandro Juron is a child of his time. He has a cynical look into his world, where a junta rules and the people either follow - or die. This is a book of a fellow countryman, translated into English. You expected me to read it in its original version, but the world wanted it differently.

Alejandro Juron was a guitarist of a popular folk singer Victor Perez before he disappeared into jail thanks to the junta of General Pelarón. To thank him, Alejandro enjoyed hospitality at the infamous prison ‘The Last Supper’ (yes, names are great that way - it refers to the only meal you get prior to your dead). Today he's free and he has to make a choice: leave the country or join the rebellion against the Junta of Terreno; a magnificent South-American country. We're in the nineties - a period where the military ruled the waves. But like everything: it seems they lose their grip on the populace.

We meet Alejandro when he's not at his best, certain the junta is still strong. After leaving one of the worst prisons of the country, he lost his faith in humanity. His past is all he has (and that's not very bright, once you learn of his secret), so maybe you can forgive him for not believing in his future. Still, things have a weird way of catching up with you, as Alejandro is about to discover...

I was asked to review this book, but it's not a genre I would have picked up in a bookshop. Having said that, I admit that it drew me right in from the start. Alejandro, with all his flaws, is a likeable character that tries to navigate through difficult times, carrying a load of memories, most of which aren't that nice to begin with. If he got tortured in prison, the 'new' Alejandro is also tortured by his memories and the secrets that follow him around. Actually, there are more secrets floating around some of the characters you meet.

It starts with a protest mars - and a woman that runs in the wrong direction. It's enough to pull Alejandro right in again, because he feels he has to steer her to safety. Bob van Laerhoven is a Flemish (Belgian) author - just like me - who published 45 books in Belgium and the Netherlands (as many as I did in the same countries, but in my case it was non-fiction). Alejandro's Lie takes you on a journey through a world I hoped we only knew from history classes, but with the war in Ukraine raging on, the book is actually a literary warning against autocracies. Bob van Laerhoven writes a cross-over between literature and suspense. In this book, South American's a bloody past comes grippingly to life.

The end is not what you might expect, but it makes the book stronger for it. I read whenever I had the time, following the adventures of a man at a breathtaking speed. I wanted to know how it ended. I longed for it. And when I found it, it left me behind, thinking of what might have happened in that world that was - and still is - part of our history. Bob shows he's a talented storyteller - brutal at times, but honest till the end. He brings a past to life that most of us only heard about. Even when it plays out today in our own backyards (for those who don't realize it, I live in Europe).

[Livi Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Analysis – Alejandro’s Lie by Bob Van Laerhoven

Alejandro’s Lie was such a great book with such a deeper complex meaning than what lies on the surface of its words. Alejandro has been released from prison, while his friend was not and ended up being executed. That is enough trauma for one person on top of spending a decade behind bars. Alejandro is a changed man; he is more focused on his old habits of music than anything else. The guitar is his escape, lyrics are his passion, which is obvious throughout the novel as song lyrics appear between scenes.
Alejandro overall is a very down to earth character. He keeps to himself and has sentimental values to things and ideas. He is looking to do better now that he was thrown out of prison to keep the inmate population down. This is a rare opportunity, and he was ready to take in the moment and use it to the full potential it held.
With a love interest inserted towards the beginning of the book, you know as a reader there will be heated scenes and interesting relationships throughout the story. This is just one of the many reasons this book had me hooked.
Without spoiling who the love interest is and what the main plot points of this book are, as a reader I think it is most important to mention that there is a decision to be made by Alejandro that is consciously decided through the whole story. Love and escapism, and the decision in between. The complexity of Alejandro’s life grows as he becomes more accustomed to the strange world he was thrown back into.
The story is written in a third person perspective, which fit perfect. There are so many aspects of the Latin America setting in 1983 that is most fitted to be narrated in the third person view. The explanations of the time frame, setting and characters creates a clear visual. The setting is clear as the author describes dictatorship and government rulings to be unequal.
The mixed ideas of Alejandro constrained by his past with the difficult governing system helps enhance the theme of breakthroughs and staying true to who you are. Although it is a fictional book, the characters almost seemed to be giving me a helping hand, showing me that if I want something for my future that contradicts my past, to just go for it.
The spirit and resilience Alejandro gains from his past aids him mentally and physically throughout the book, and his growth is made perfectly clear without needing to explain his whole past in detail.
Overall, this was a very well written book. I would not have picked this specific genre up on my own, so I am so thankful that this author reached out to me. It was an honor to read this book and has opened my eyes to reading more on different societies, cultures, and time frames in various countries. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for confidence and a fearless protagonist.

[Carly Rheilan · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the background of this novel is a fictional South American dictatorship - don’t worry, it could be any fascist state on any continent. The government is corrupt, brutal and failing. The church is cynical and compromised. The people are downtrodden and frightened. The resistance – there is always resistance – is struggling against apparently insuperable odds.

Alejandro is well placed to play the hero in this political thriller. A musician who has endured a decade of political imprisonment, who has faced torture, whose friends are dead; on his release, haunted by the past, he is co-opted by the resistance; he attracts the affection of Beatriz, a beautiful middle-class woman who is escaping an oppressive marriage; he is searching for the lost daughter of old friends who were murdered before his imprisonment; he is caught up in game-changing acts of resistance. We are ready to root for him as he challenges the oppressive junta - and if he cannot defeat them we are ready to watch him nobly sacrifice himself for the cause. Just let him be brave, let him inspire us.

There is heroism in this book, certainly – around the edges. In the face of oppression there is always heroism. The supporting cast is sometimes inspiring, and at the climax of the book there is even a single, tragic, desperate act of sacrifice. But this is Bob van Laerhoven, not an episode from a comic book. This author does not do heroism the easy, reassuring way you want it. The leadership of the resistance is frayed, foolhardy, unwise. Victims do not always choose to be rescued. And though Alejandro is charismatic, enigmatic, instantly attractive, he is also profoundly flawed.

He is not a bad man. In a world of intolerable oppression, he has an ordinary level of decency, which is not much. He has an ordinary level of courage, which perhaps is less. He is a troubling, uneasy Everyman. His betrayals are small at first - but at every turn, he makes the wrong decision. History catches up with him, but so does his own weakness. By the end, he has betrayed himself. He has betrayed everyone.

From moment to moment the book is a page-turner. There is plenty of action, suspense, danger. Intrigue. Secrets. There is even a love story, of a sort. But deep down this is a slow burn that gradually strips the reader of all easy platitudes. Bob van Laerhoven’s honesty about the human condition is sometimes hard to bear. Yet you have to read on, if only because the writing is mesmerising. Bob Van Laerhoven writes more beautifully than any author I know. Even in translation, even writing about the darkest places of the human soul, his writing is luminous.

[Isobel Blackthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guitarist and songwriter Alejandro Juron is released from prison after ten years and faces a city alien to him. The slums, the political complexities of a crumbling dictatorship in the fictitious nation of Terreno (resonant of Chile), not even the music makes sense, the thriving local scene he was a part of having given way to American disco.

At home in Terreno's infamous slum the Pigsty, Alejandro remembers the old days in Victor Perez's folk-band Aconcagua, and Victor's wife Lucia. He remembers the night he lost them both after various leftist groups were rounded up into a football stadium on a pretext and then either murdered on the spot or tortured and jailed, and the part he played in their demise.

The story opens on Alejandro caught up in a street protest in the city, on his observations, recollections and his anguish, and his brief encounter with university secretary and Lucia lookalike Beatriz Candalti. On the same night of the protest, the nefarious paramilitary police raid the pigsty on the pretext of a hunt for communist infiltrators. Killing is casual, the brutality of the regime made plain.

Alejandro sets about reconnecting with whoever is left that is willing to help him leave Terreno, a quest that takes him straight back to Beatriz, precariously divorced and desperate to escape her father and ex-husband’s clutches. Through the lens of Beatriz, Bob van Laerhoven captures the essence of Latin machismo, the way that cultural habit underpins governance at every level and oppresses the powerless at every turn.

The stage is set for a complex political thriller brimming with vile and corrupt characters in a regime majoring in oppression, secrecy and arbitrary curfews as Beatriz risks her life to help Alejandro flee the country. The narrative is sprinkled with excerpts of poetry and song lyrics that capture the mood of the times, the aching for a return to peace and freedom, and capture the inner workings of Alejandro’s tormented soul.

Skilfully told in short, sharp chapters, Alejandro's Lie is a taut, well-developed and intelligent read. Clean prose, an astute attention to detail, great characterisation and artfully constructed action scenes altogether make for an exemplary thriller. The novel has a cinematic quality to it, all dark streets and gunshots, casual violence and simmering passion. I'm a reader who is easily bored. When I remark that I found Alejandro's Lie very hard to put down, that's high praise and sincerely meant.

[André · Rating 4 out of 5]

Citaat : De deur naar de democratie die generaal Pélaron ons heeft beloofd, zullen we schouder aan schouder forceren.
Review : Bob Van Laerhoven herschreef zijn eigen roman De Stenen Wachter. Een spannende politieke thriller - geïnspireerd door de politieke situatie in Chili onder Pinochet, 1973. In 2013 verscheen deze onder een nieuwe titel Alejandro's leugen. De eerste versie vond ik al goed maar deze vind ik zelfs nog beter.



Na tien jaar in de gevangenis Het Laatste Avondmaal komt Alejandro Jurón, die ooit roem vergaarde als gitarist van de groep Aconcagua, vrij. Hij is mentaal geradbraakt in een land dat beheerst wordt door angst en wantrouwen. Na tien jaar dictatuur lijkt de gewelddadige junta van generaal Pelarón te wankelen. Alejandro Juron, vriend én gitarist van de dichter en volkszanger Victor Pérez die door de junta werd geëxecuteerd, wordt door het ondergrondse verzet verzocht om Pérez' repertoire te laten herleven. Maar Alejandro is veranderd. Verteerd door schuldgevoelens over de dood van Pérez wordt Juron het ongewilde middelpunt van een web van dramatische intriges die leiden tot een catastrofale volksopstand.



Voor wie zich de dictatuur van de Chileense generaal Pinochet herinnert, zal in deze roman heel veel herkennen. Het verhaal is gesitueerd in de denkbeeldige stad Valtiago, hoofdstad van País, een poging om te verhullen dat het hier duidelijk om Chili gaat. Zo heet het landelijke dagblad Hermes, in plaats van El Mercurio en Victor Pérez lijkt een tweelingbroer van de doodgemartelde Victor Jara.



Bob Van Laerhoven weet het verhaal over het fictieve País, dat gebukt gaat onder een dictatuur en een een vermoeide oppositie die haar kans ruikt en de mensen die zich daartussen staande proberen te houden, prachtig gestalte te geven. Zijn personages: de vrijgelaten muzikant, een rijkeluisdochter met idealen en een Belgische priester met een verleden, zijn ijzersterk en weten de lezer te laten meeleven. Alejandro’s leugen is een mooi liefdesverhaal, met heel sterke thrillerelementen en de auteur maakt ook een gedreven analyse van de mechanismen achter een Zuid-Amerikaanse dictatuur. Een bijzonder boek vol Latijnse passie.

[Ashley Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been ten years since the Junta have held a control over Terreno. Alejandro Juron has just been released from the infamous prison 'The Last Supper'. Before the dictatorship took control, Alejandro was the guitarist for Victor Pérez, a famous and popular folk singer/poet. The world has changed a lot in the years since Alejandro was in prison and it seems like the Junta's control over the people of Terreno is starting to slip. Alejandro gets mixed up with a small group of rebels and has to decide whether to leave the country or join the resistance.

I really enjoyed this book. It's not like anything I've ever read before, in the way that it feels so real. The characters are full of depth and complicated with their flaws on show. I was fully invested by the end of reading chapter one and couldn't wait to see where the story would go. By the time I was reaching the end, I genuinely didn't want it to be over. It's rare that happens for me, that I'm so invested I just want to find out what happens next, even after the final page.

Alejandro is tortured by his past, the time he spent in prison and even from before then. His story is told slowly throughout the book, slowly unravelling itself so you get a great understanding of who he is and why he is making the choices he does. A lot of the characters have secrets in their past that aren't revealed straight away and will have you gripped while you slowly learn about them and uncover the story.

The book itself seems to fly by. Whenever I picked it up, I would read a few pages, and before I realised I would have read 50 pages or more. It's so easy to read and get into the flow of. The story is fascinating and dark. It's full of shocking moments and at points does get very brutal. It's never exploitative or feels too difficult to read, but there are some dark moments.

This is the first book I've read from Bob Van Laerhoven, but it won't be the last. I couldn't recommend this enough. It's a dark story, and it captures you from start to finish. The characters feel real, which I think is the best thing a book can do.

[Linda McCutcheon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If I were to stay in this country...If I could overcome all my doubts and contradictions and engage myself again, would you stay with me? If I could go back to the man I used to be?"

So asks Alejandro of the brave Beatriz but in reality asking himself can he change who he has become and, quite honestly, does even want to be the man he used to be before ten years in prison and committing the ultimate act of betrayal.

There is so much to unpack and overcome in Alejandro's Lie by the prolific author Bob Van Laerhoven for all its characters but especially the self-loathing Alejandro.

We are introduced to Alejandro when he is released from prison after ten years as basically a political prisoner for his resistance to the dictatorship of this fictitious Latin America country. The new government, with the help of the U.S., is just as corrupt as any dictator. They just put a better spin on their ruling party.

The author, as in his previous masterpiece Return To Hiroshima, makes us squirm uncomfortablely with the grittiness of the country, the politicians, and most exhaustively our protagonist. Alejandro has more than one lie. A famed folk guitarist beloved by the underground resistance for his thought provoking songs was not upset by the perks his fame brought him like much drink and women. Before he is ever imprisoned he is a liar to his best friend, his fans, his country but mostly to himself.

The resistance wants him to still fight for a better life for his fellow citizens. Alejandro knows he is a broken man and he might not be able to fix himself but maybe he can truly change himself. His journey is filled with violence, betrayal, regret, resistance, corruption, guilt and ultimately love.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[☠Arianne Reads Horror ☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Why do you always want to hurt everyone who loves you, boy?"

Its 1983, and Alejandro has just been released from prison. 'The last supper' to be exact. A brutal place, with torture and no end of horrors. His best friend Victor and his wife Lucia, on the other hand, weren't so lucky.

10 years before, they were in a band. Writing music about the dictatorship  which they resisted. Now Alejandro is the only one left, and all he wants to do is flee Terreno for good.

Throughout the book, Alejandro becomes close with a few people, who also just like him hate the way things are. They are all plagued by pain and hurt in one way or another, which really shows in the writing of them.

Each of the characters close with Alejandro(including himself) all have secrets. And Alejandro's secrets (and also the lies hes told) slowly unravel throughout. It's a very poetic read, many small parts of lyrics are scattered around from Alejandro.

This read is intense, raw and descriptive. Whilst reading it, I felt like I was there in Terreno. I felt the unease as characters may walk through the streets. The seriousness of the political characters, and their lack of empathy for the people who live under their rules.

This was a bit of something different for me. I've never read a political thriller, but I definitely picked a good one to start with!! This was a great book to read, a trickle feed of action, so it doesn't feel boring when there isn't much happening. A great amount of suspense, especially toward the end which left me not wanting it to finish.

If you're looking for something that ties in politics, thriller, suspense genres, this is definitely it!!!

(I recieved this in return for a review- but all views are my own!)

[Aubrey Cleeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alejandro’s Lie is something special. I have read books about social injustice and the fight against repression before, but I admit my knowledge of issues in Latin America do not extend as far as I would like. I was grateful to pick this book up as it enlightened me on the corruption and repression so many people face, whilst keeping me enthralled in a story of love and loss.

There is a good atmosphere in this book, and it hangs over every page, dark and foreboding. There is pain and sadness in the streets and it is reflected in the characters. I liked Alejandro and his character and thought his history of incarceration and release made him fit into a world that was no better than when he left it. I also liked Beatriz and thought her own struggles were well represented, as she came from a different life to Alejandro but their goals complement one another. Music features heavily in this book and the songs that were composed were elegant and thoughtful, adding a poetic element to what is already a poetic book.

A few character decisions didn’t sit right with me, such as a short ‘interlude’ after a major event that rocks the pigsty. The character then go back to helping the poor straight away and I don’t think in the real world people can process trauma like that. It seemed a way to force the characters to develop and connect when it may have been better placed elsewhere. That being said, the character development is superbly done and there are some brilliant scenes between them. The connections feel real and every single person feels fleshed out.

This book was as thrilling as it could be and hard to put down, despite the emotional torment it put me through. I read it too quickly and each page needs to be savored. I hope to take my time during the next read.

[Literature Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alejandro's Lie by Bob Van Laerhoven is action packed political thriller. The fascinating story is set up in the backdrop of South American Dictatorship which is fictional.

Alejandro is die hard perfectionist, idealist and a musician. The life of his band members came to an end 10 yrs before due to the cruel dictatorship. People who are aware of history will understand the severity.

Alejandro after serving a term in prison, is now ready to start a new life and to hide his apprehensions and much more he began telling lies. As we read the novel we realise that this issue isn't just with Alejandro but it is with many.

Alejandro later meets Beatriz, who is struggling in oppressive marriage with Manuel. Which she tries to escape and is hoping for divorce to be finalized. We also learn that Beatriz father blames her for failure of marriage and believes she had to abide by the laws of her husband. The father too seems to be highly patriarchal and misogynistic in attitude. We can conclude this by knowing the way he treated Beatriz in childhood.

The language is poetic and I really liked the way how the novel has been set up in lower class and disturbing backdrop of warzones. Where every soul is trying and fighting for meaning of life.

I was provided an ARC copy and this is my honest review.

[Julee Balko · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you read Alejandro’s Lie, you are in Terreno, feeling the despair of living under corruption in Latin America. All the characters are flawed and real in their pain. The writing is dark but beautiful and carefully crafted to bring to life this challenging world. The main character Alejandro is as complex as they come – he’s been released from prison and yet is still in prison in life due to the shame of his past. I found his relationship with Beatriz compelling. She’s a fascinating woman who doesn’t understand men as much as they don’t understand her. Her desire to be someone more was heartfelt.

One of my favorite parts of the book is how the writer weaved in lyrics of Alejandra’s which showed a tenderness that the reader might not have gained: “Oh, my love, what does it hurt to be someone else for you.” I loved any time we got these glimpses. Although the book was a tough read at times because times were tough in places like the ‘pigsty’ where military juntas run amuck, I appreciate how well-written this novel was. Clearly, the writer understands tragedy but also the journey to try to find redemption.

I was given a copy of Alejandro's Lie in return for my honest review. I love reading other authors' books and I was truly inspired by the thoughtful writing.

[Helen Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-crafted political thriller

ALEJANDRO'S LIE by Bob Van Laerhoven is an action-packed political thriller. The intriguing story is set at the backdrop of a fictional South American dictatorship there, Alejandro is born a musician, a romantic idealist. He has no intention to be a hero but do something good. However, history has made a joke with him. After a decade of political imprisonment, Alejandro has to face the cruel reality: friends are dead, being lured to a revolutionary course and the troubled loving relationship with a beautiful woman who is escaping an oppressive marriage. To save his life and vanity, he starts lying to himself and people.

It is a well-crated black tale, sometimes feeling quite depressing when reading people under the dictatorial regime being tortured mentally and physically. However, the author has made the reading journey a process of human soul search, which has made the book irresistibly page-turning.

ALEJANDRO'S LIE is an excellent contribution to the literature field, presenting a picture of people struggling under a totalitarian regime, which is happening in some countries (PR China, North Korea,…). Thank you Bob Van Laerhoven.

By Helen Huang
Author, NUCLEAR POWER NUCLEAR GAME

[Hugh M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Alejandro’s Lie” is the third novel in English translation that I’ve read from the Flemish/Belgian author Bob Van Laerhoven. Again, he surprises, this time with a literary, political thriller mixed with a poignant love drama. The story takes place in Terreno, a fictitious Latin-American country in the eighties. At first, I wondered why Laerhoven had chosen a non-existent country. But the further into the story I got, the better I understood his choice: “Alejandro’s Lie” is, in fact, a sharp analysis of the mechanisms that lead to and govern a dictatorship. This analysis, slyly intertwined with a relentlessly suspenseful storyline and an enticing eighties vibe, is of all times. Although set around 40 years ago, “Alejandro’s Lie” is entirely in sync with the current atmosphere in many autocracies, not only in Latin America but in the whole world. I’ll try to give an example without giving away spoilers. Let me just say that the assassination of the Haitian president Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 is a perfect illustration of the political corruption and drug traffic that play such a significant role in “Alejandro’s Lie.”
Like in previous work, Laerhoven uses his poetic literary style effectively. His characters are well-rounded and surprise the reader at key points of the story where a choice or a decision has life-altering consequences. The fiery love story in the book is loaded with guilt and fear, and ends in a heartbreaking sacrifice. But above all, “Alejandro’s Lie” is an intense suspense novel: the voltage continues to rise with each page.
I wholeheartedly give this impressive novel five stars, but with a note of caution: “Alejandro’s Lie” will probably shock readers of lightweight literature. All the others will find the novel fascinating.

[Eddy Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting political thriller set in a fictional South American country. Alejandro, just freed from prison, eagerly wants to flee the country. But soon he finds himself tangled with the resistance fighters who, living under a brutal dictatorship, yearn for democracy. Beatriz, the recently divorced female protagonist, was rescued by Alejandro, soon finds herself caught in a web of romance, hatred, lust in her fight against fate caught between both sides of the political divide. The priest, a fatherly figure, tries to save the children, and in due course, ‘rescues’ the daughter of Victor Perez, lead of the legendary resistance song group, only to find she has been ‘brainwashed’ during her upbringing.

Alejandro is a flawed character, partly due to his prison experience. And it’s exactly the reason that the story development tugs at the reader’s heart strings. His songs also connects the developments from beginning to end. The reading felt very realistic and relatable. The theme of the book is heavy with its portrayal of military scenes, political agendas and rape and only intended for mature audiences.

[Bethany Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I previously read and enjoyed Bob van Laerhoven's Return to Hiroshima last year, so when the opportunity to review Alejandro's Lie came up I jumped at the chance. This book is also dark historical fiction, but instead of exploring the aftereffects of radiation and corrupt leaders, it explores the effects on the psyche of political prisoners (and also corrupt leaders) through the eyes of Alejandro, guitarist turned political prisoner turned reluctant insurrectionist. This was no disappointment.

One of the things I enjoyed most about Return to Hiroshima, and what I believe is one of Bob van Laerhoven's strengths, was the rich, evocative setting, and I'm pleased to say Alejandro's Lie did not fall short. The descriptions were vivid and I felt like I was really in Latin America in the 80s, on the cusp of revolution.

I particularly enjoyed the characters in this book, with three in particular that stood out. Alejandro, of course, was a highlight; his cowardly nature was excellently written and, unusually, did not become bravery as the novel progressed. This led to an interesting third act, in which everyone but the protagonist had developed into stronger characters. However, this lack of development works well for the character considering everything he's been through.

My favourite character was Beatriz by far. For most of the novel, I thought she would be the tragic casualty used to spur Alejandro's development, especially when we got to the scene that would typically be the turning point for him as a character, coupled of course with her untimely death. I was shocked (in a good way!) when she survived her ordeal and her own development was spurred by this. Her transition from the beginning of the novel to the end left me cheering with joy and utterly devastated at the same time.

Finally, Captain Astíz was an interesting character to follow. His history with Alejandro pitted him as the antagonist from the very beginning, but right near the end he is offered the chance for redemption. His actions following that moment shocked me to my core. Like Alejandro, his development is mostly flat, and the parallels between the two were intriguing.

While a fascinating an enjoyable read, this book is not for the faint of heart. There were heartbreaking moments as well as horrifying scenes gory enough to make even those with the strongest stomachs put the book down for a few moments. However, for anyone who likes a challenge, I would highly recommend this book.

I was offered a copy of this book with a request for an honest review.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently released from the prison known as The Last Supper, once famous musician Alejandro Juron returns to the war torn home he knew 1o years ago. Consumed with guilt for turning his former bandmate and best friend and his wife over to the military when he went to prison, Alejandro finds himself still a prisoner outside of the prison only to himself. He is trying to overcome his past for friends, lovers, the future of his country. But can he? Alejandro tries to help fight for his country's freedom while fighting inner demons along the way, but trying to overthrow a dictatorship while never fully free from his past makes it a difficult and bloody journey.

This is written in such a way that the whole thing almost seems like one long poem or political song. The language really brings images to your mind so as you go along it kind of plays like a movie in your head.


Thanks to BVL and team for my copy to read and share!

[Darren Bourn]

I received this book from Booksirens.com and the author in return for an honest review.

This book is written from the POV of a former political prisoner of a a South American junta, and is considered a mainstay of any reader's fiction collection that is based on the political, cultural and social affairs of Latin America.

This novel is very descriptive in setting the atmosphere that the character finds himself in.

While this is a very descriptive read and is very well written, I still found this book to be a bit of a difficult read (hard to get into). As such, I am torn as to whether to finish at this time.

As with all reviews, this is only my five cents worth.

[enjoyingbooksagain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story about a man who has just been released from prison. You follow his life living under a dictatorship. His life is deeply troubled. This is a book you will read that will stay with you for days after

[Robert Morgan Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laerhoven is such an unappreciated master of the form.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always found it interesting to try to read from different genres, and I don't read many political thrillers.
This one is set in 1983 Latin America and I like the way the author has approached the subjects within the story. It has strong characters and descriptions and settings that are rich in detail.
I do think it will have a particular audience but that's not a bad thing at all. It's a solid read with a plot that's intriguing. I would say it is a little gritty at times due to the subject matter, but I think there will be a lot of people who enjoy this one.

So, If this sounds like your thing then the novel is available to purchase now.