The Ways of Evil Men

Chief Inspector Mario Silva #7

by Leighton Gage

The Awana tribe, who live in the remote Amazon jungle in the Brazilian state of Pará, have dwindled to only 41 members—and now 39 of them have dropped dead of what looks like poison. The neighboring white townsfolk don’t seem to be mourning the genocide much—in fact, the only person who seems to care at all is Jade Calmon, the official tribal relations agent assigned to the area. She wants justice for the two survivors, a father and his 8-year-old son. But racism is deeply entrenched and no one is going to help her get to the truth.

Unfortunately, this is far from the first time the Brazilian federal police have had a tribal genocide to investigate. Chief Inspector Mario Silva and his team are sent in from Brasilia to try to solve the increasingly complex case just as a local white man is discovered murdered. Someone has done their best to frame the surviving Awana man, and the town is about to erupt.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

338 pages, Hardcover

First published January 21, 2014

About the author

Died July 27th, 2013

Leighton Gage writes the Chief Inspector Mario Silva series, crime novels set in Brazil. He and his Brazilian-born wife divide their time between their home in Brazil and those of their children and grandchildren in Europe and the U.S.
Praise for the Chief Inspector:

Hard-hitting, atmospheric…. Despite their social conscience and ambitious reach, there's nothing stiff or programmatic about Mr. Gage's lively, action-filled chronicles. They have finely sketched characters, vivid geographical detail and their own brutal sort of humor. The vast size of Brazil, with its great economic and topographic differences, affords a diversity of locales. Each book is a bit of adventure-travel, with Silva and crew often feeling like tourists within their own country. Yet the Silva investigations have all the step-by-step excitement of a world-class procedural series…. The books' greatest appeal, though, is Silva. Even after five books and many glimpses into his past and present, he remains an enigma. The reader never knows what the detective might or might not do in order to balance the scales of justice. The Wall Street Journal
South America’s Kurt Wallander - Booklist
Top notch...controversial and entirely absorbing...irresistible -
The New York Times
Masterful - The Toronto Globe and Mail
Compelling - The Boston Globe
Fascinating, complex and riveting - Florida Sun Sentinel
Intelligent and subtle…suspenseful and sophisticated - Publisher’s Weekly
Highly recommended - Library Journal
Colorful characters and crackling banter - Kirkus Reviews

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was with much sadness that I read the final book written by Leighton Gage who left us in 2013. This is the seventh in the series and he left the principal character Mario Silva poised for some happiness in his personal life. It's a shame we won't be able to see where this would have gone. This is another page turning thriller in which an entire tribe is poisoned for their land. There's plenty going on besides the main plot and Gage keeps lots of surprises until the end. We have: murder;adultery; greed for the resources of land, minerals, and forests; hatred for indigenous peoples; domestic violence; corruption; and journalistic secrecy- all competing for your attention. You just have to love Silva for his unrelenting focus and his compassion as well as his sense of justice

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Leighton Gage's last book before he died. It's a heart rendering story of a tribe in the Amazon that was poisoned except for a father and son who were out hunting. There's plenty of action and Leighton solves Silva's problems. While Silva solves everyone else's. It's a two day book read, and if you read his other books, it"s a fantastic read. RIP Leighton.

[Gloria Feit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must begin by saying that I opened up this book with very mixed emotions. Not because I didn’t expect to like the writing – far from it – I have loved each of the books by Mr. Gage, and this was probably the best of them all; but because I knew it would the last by this wonderful writer, who passed away almost exactly a year ago, in July of 2013. I have loved each of his books, and, beyond that, considered him a friend. We had communicated often, about his books and about Brazil, the setting for each of the books in this terrific series, of which this is the seventh entry. I should add that he (and his wife and daughter!) always made sure I didn’t run out of Brazilian wish ribbons, to which he alluded in his books, and I have not been without one on my wrist for years.

Federal Police Chief Inspector Mario Silva is called in to investigate two deaths which occur in quick succession. As violent and brutal as these deaths were, what preceded them was infinitely worse: The deaths of thirty-nine of the lone surviving 41 members of the Awana tribe in the Brazilian state of Para, “Brazil’s modern-day equivalent of the old American Wild West.” One character says “only white men would be evil enough to poison an entire people.” It becomes clear that what is involved is nothing short of genocide, and comparably lesser crimes with which Mr. Gage’s readers have become familiar, such as corruption, greed and intolerance, are present as well. As Silva says, “Money buys justice in this part of the world.” The worst of human failings is brought to stark life in these pages. By its end, the esteem those readers have always had for Silva, his competence and his character, is only heightened.

The book’s title is taken from the Bible: “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.” The evil is made abundantly clear in this terrific book, which is highly recommended. I can only urge that readers who appreciate strongly drawn characters and a well-plotted tale not miss this wonderful, final addition to a much-loved series from a writer who will be sorely missed.

[Janet Newport · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of The Ways of Evil Men through Goodreads. Thank you SOHO Crime!

While I have read 5 of the previous 6 books in the Mario Silva series, I almost didn't want to read this one, knowing that Leighton Gage had recently died and this wouldn't be just the most recent book in the series, but the LAST book of the series...

But I read it anyway (just couldn't help myself). It's really a 4.5 star book to me. As I've come to expect from Leighton Gage, the characters were well developed, interesting and ran the full spectrum of humanity, though perhaps overly weighted with the throughly nasty (evil) ones. I also enjoyed the politics of Brazil and political climate within the Brazilian state of Para, as well as the ecological implications of the industries located there. For me, the book was much more than your usual police procedural.

While the story starts violently in a state of absolute corruption, I appreciated Silva's sense of humanity and justice (not to mention his determination). It was resolved without any obvious contrivances and just a very few "unanswered questions" in my mind. Raoni's "fate" was the main issue left open, but there was hope for him as well.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leighton Gage, who died in 2013, was an author of crime fiction best known for his Chief Inspector Mario Silva novels set in Brazil. The "Ways of Evil Men" is his seventh and last novel, published posthumously. Breezy, concise, Gage’s works are intriguing mysteries. His latest book is written along the same lines. If you've never read any of his books, try one. You’ll enjoy it.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

IMO, this is the best of the seven books in this series or at least it's the one I enjoyed the most. Every time I put it down to do something else, I found I was back reading a few minutes later. It's sad that Gage died so young.

Good characters along with a new location and very interesting, innovative ways of murder.

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm now at the end of the series so this is a series review as well. This is a police/crime series set in Brazil. The cast of characters are Chief Inspector Silva of the Federal Police and his staff. This is a character driven series where the drama of the characters provide 1/3 of the story. The next 1/3 of the story is Brazil and how it works (mostly corruption, hot weather and bad traffic). The last 3rd of the story is the crime.

I feel that the first 2/3's of the story drives the series. The crime part is usually only so-so but it does get better as the series goes along. The author doesn't know how to create suspense and usually shows the crime from the criminal POV or breaks open the mystery too early. Sometimes he doesn't try at all and just releases the mystery. He also has a problem of giving too much biographical background, like 2 pages for a bit part character who doesn't re-appear ever again. For example, in #6, there's a jeweler who buys a diamond from someone. He only appears one time but the readers got to know how his grandparents immigrated to Brazil.

But I still like the series because the writing is easy to read and follow and most people develop some feelings for the characters. Each book also tells something about Brazil or S. America. The last book it was about Paraguay, one book was about organ transplants, another about illegal immigration, etc.

Spoiler: This last book #7 showcases the terrible plight of the indigenous Amazonian natives. We find out how they are treated and what some Brazilians feel about them. Added to that is some info about illegal logging and mining. This isn't the best of the series but adds on to it.

Despite my somewhat unflattering review I still like the books and I'm sorry to find out that the author passed in 2013.

[Lorne Strachan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but it was pretty mediocre. It doesn’t involve Black Ops or former Navy Seals or CIA operatives like books by James Rollins or Clive Cussler but it has the same artificial feeling, only featuring the federal police of Brazil. CI Mario Silva is pitched as a moral, dedicated police officer but he sure didn’t come across that way to me. He’s the kind of police officer that favours his own moral judgement over the law. I didn’t find him an even remotely sympathetic or respectable character and he ruins the book, which abounds with silly clichés and is only saved from a one star rating only because it does a decent job of bringing an important issue to life with a bit of cultural context.

The book is set in the Brazilian state of Para, where an indigenous tribe has dwindled to 41 members but still blocking the development interests of wealthy white residents of a nearby town. Soon 39 of them die of what seems to be poison, leaving one adult and one child to face the racism of the townspeople, who seem to be just fine with the genocide. Silva and his team are sent from Brasilia to investigate just as a white man has been killed, seemingly by the one remaining adult member of the tribe. Significant other characters include a female government tribal relations agent, a female journalist who will do anything for her big ‘scoop’, and various significant members of the town: the doctor, the priest, the mayor, the hotelier and so on.

The silly ending feels as inevitable as gravity. If I hadn’t been listening to the audiobook, which I can do while walking, biking, cooking and cleaning, I would have ditched the book without finishing it. I won’t be trying another.

[K. Counihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chief Inspector Mario Silva #7 of 7.
This was Leighton Gages last book. He writes no more; he has passed away.
I have just finished his last book (The Ways of Evil Men)
In this book, Chief Inspector Mario Silva has learned, justice is hard
to come by in Brazil. So, when his niece tells him about a possible genocide,
deep in the jungle. He agrees to round up his team and charter a plane to Pará, to check it out.
Thirty-nine natives have recently dropped dead of mysterious causes. Given the tense relationship between the Awana tribe and the white townsfolk nearby, Pará’s sole government-sponsored advocate for the native population, Jade Calmon, immediately suspects foul play and takes the two remaining Awana—a father and his eight-year-old son—into her custody.
In this story, Leighton Gage, takes on the topic of racism, and murder of the indigenes people who have been living near the amazon river for 500 to 1,00o years or more. I really liked this book a lot.

[Eadie Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly, this is the last book for Leighton Gage as he passed away in 2013 after writing this one. As all the others, this book was excellently written. The characters were well-drawn and the plot was very engaging. Lots of twists and turns made the book unputdownable. Gage is a master storyteller and this one did not disappoint. The theme was racism and we received a lot of information about the Awana Tribe of the Amazon in Brazil. The author puts a lot of himself into the character of Mario Silva and shows his outrage at the injustices in Brazil's class system. If you haven't read this series, you should start at Book 1 and read through them as they are a real eye-opener to conditions in Brazil. I will surely miss Gage's writing and highly recommend his books.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Pará, Brazil. 338 pp. This was just meh for me. I wasn't really drawn into the mystery or the characters. Probably didn't help that I jumped into a series on book 7, treating it as a standalone.

The Ways of Evil Men (Chief Inspector Mario Silva #7) by Leighton Gage

[Петр · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real thriller, the location comes alive and one of the author's best. There are some new avenues beginning to be explored but sadly we'll never know what may have possibly developed. Well worth reading.

[Janice Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book a lot. I didn’t expect the twist at the end.

[Pat Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad story of how greed and hate create devastating consequences.

[robert morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book which moves along briskly. Nice to get a foreign crime author with wholly different approaches and venues.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Ways of Evil Men was bittersweet. I have been a tremendous fan of the Chief Inspector Mario Silva books since the very first one, Blood of the Wicked. But with author Leighton Gage's death due to pancreatic cancer in 2013, it was tough knowing that this is the last book in a truly remarkable series. Each book is a seamless blend of police procedural, character study, and social commentary. I can think of no other series in crime fiction that gives such a heartfelt and unflinching portrait of a country than Gage's.

"The State of Pará was Brazil's modern-day equivalent of the old American Wild West. Life was cheap; violence, rife; ignorance and poverty, endemic."

By setting his book in a place that is identifiable to anyone remotely familiar with the American Wild West, Gage lets us know that the past isn't always past. Horrible things are still happening around the world in a daily basis, and in an area where travel is difficult and distances vast, it is a simple matter for those in charge to do whatever they like. City people aren't going to care what's happening almost a thousand miles away in a place no one's heard of. What difference does it make that a tribe has been almost completely wiped out? There were only 41 of them anyway.

The characters Leighton Gage created are the type of city people to whom such atrocities matter. All it takes is one person who refuses to accept the status quo, and in The Ways of Evil Men, that one is tribal agent Jade Calmon. She knows her limitations, but she will not quit, and it's her lucky day when Silva is assigned to the case.

Silva is another person whose moral code will not let him rest, and he's assembled a team cut from the same cloth. In many ways, he's the Marshall Matt Dillon or Sheriff Walt Longmire of Brazil. If he sees something wrong, he's going to fix it. If he has to work around corrupt or lazy officials above him in the food chain, that's exactly what he'll do, and he does it with grace, style, and a dash of humor.

Silva is the man you want on your side, and as I followed him through this investigation-- as I've followed him through six previous books-- it reminded me of how fortunate the world is that people like Calmon and Silva really do exist, and that writers like Leighton Gage tell us about them. Certain events in The Ways of Evil Men show us new, exciting directions in which the author was planning to take the series, and they will forever remain speculation amongst his fans. Some of the color went out of the world when Leighton Gage died, but his literary legacy is pure gold. I can't recommend his books highly enough.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leighton Gage’s new book “The Ways of Evil Men” is the seventh in his series starring Detective Inspector Mario Silva of the Brazilian Federal Police. This time Silva is called upon to investigate genocide in the northern state of Para, which is the modern South American version of the Old Wild West.
In Para huge ranches have been carved out of the Amazon jungle, and the landowners will do anything to get their way. In the town of Azevedo, a half-dozen such men have set their covetous eyes on a natural refuge that is home to the Awana tribe, which has dwindled to 41 members. When two tribe members, a father and his son, return from a hunt, they find the rest of the tribe dead. Jade Calmon, the government official assigned to watch over the refuge and the Awana tribe, is outraged by the genocide, but finds the townspeople and the state police officials unwilling to investigate.
With the help of family and friends, she succeeds in bringing the case to the Federal Police, who assign Silva and his team to the case. But while they’re still making their way to Azevedo, one of the landowners is killed and the adult tribesman is implicated in the murder.
As Silva digs into the evidence in both crimes, he finds the case growing more complex. Complicating matters is the presence of a journalist, Maura Mandel, who’s a friend of Jade’s. Along with that, the townspeople have decided to stonewall the investigation by laying the blame for the genocide on the dead landowner. But they do not know what a relentless investigator Silva is, motivated by his innate sense of justice.
Gage succeeds in bringing the Amazon to life within the book’s pages. The deaths of the indigenous tribes and the loss of the jungle to rapacious greed is an on-going problem for Brazil, one that the government has tried to resolve with only limited success. Gage’s book shines a brilliant light on “The Ways of Evil Men.”

Reviewed by David Ingram for Suspense Magazine

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leighton Gage’s new book, “The Ways of Evil Men,” is the seventh in his series starring Detective Inspector Mario Silva of the Brazilian Federal Police. Silva is called upon to investigate genocide in the northern state of Para, which is the modern South American version of the Old Wild West.
In Para, huge ranches have been carved out of the Amazon jungle, and the landowners will do anything to get their way. In the town of Azevedo, a half-dozen such men have set their covetous eyes on a natural refuge that is home to the Awana tribe, which has dwindled to forty-one members. When two tribe members, a father and his son, return from a hunt, they find the rest of the tribe dead. Jade Calmon, the government official assigned to watch over the refuge and the Awana tribe, is outraged by the genocide, but finds the townspeople and the state police officials unwilling to investigate.
With the help of family and friends, Jade succeeds in bringing the case to the Federal Police, who assign Silva and his team to the case. But while they’re still making their way to Azevedo, one of the landowners is killed and the adult tribesman is implicated in the murder.
As Silva digs into the evidence in both crimes, he finds the case growing more complex. Complicating matters is the presence of a journalist, Maura Mandel, who’s a friend of Jade’s. Along with that, the townspeople have decided to stonewall the investigation by laying the blame for the genocide on the dead landowner. But they do not know what a relentless investigator Silva is, motivated by his innate sense of justice.
Gage succeeds in bringing the Amazon to life within the book’s pages. The deaths of the indigenous tribes and the loss of the jungle to rapacious greed is an on-going problem for Brazil, one that the government has tried to resolve with only limited success. Gage’s book shines a brilliant light on “The Ways of Evil Men.”
Reviewed by David Ingram

[Gail Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one book I found impossible to close for the night until I’d read every line. What a setting and what a plot! Gage so perfectly describes the nether regions of a remote Brazilian state that one can all but feel the heat and drenching perspiration that is impossible to escape. As is said a visitor does not drink water for pleasure but for survival. Truth be told there are precious few visitors save for Jade Calmon, the official tribe relations agent.

Twice a year she visits the Awana tribe who live in the Amazon jungle. The tribe had shrunk in size to a mere 41 but to Jade’s horror she now discovered it numbered a great deal less.. There are two remaining - Amati and his 8-year-old son who lead her to 39 mounds of earth. She heard “All Awana...Dead...Men kill.” She realizes that all must have died at the same time, but how and why?

Jade soon learns that there is no help in solving the mystery of the sudden death of so many. Further, and perhaps worse no one seems to care. She’s unable to elicit any response from local law enforcement officials while people in a nearby town share one opinion - “Good riddance” while arguments ensue as to who can claim the valuable tribal land. Jade sends an SOS to Chief Inspector Mario Silva. He and his team arrive to be greeted with zero cooperation by the town folk, which is putting it mildly. There is suspicion, hostility and one more death - the murder of an important white citizen.

What follows is an example of Gage’s admirable skill in plotting and drawing complex characters. Sadly the author passed away this year so this is the last book in what is an outstanding series. The words of Leighton Gage will be greatly missed.

- Gail Cooke

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an intriguing story. Set in the rain forests of Bra, this book tells a tale of genocide, thirty nine of an Indian tribe's forty one members are dead, one man and his young son survived as they were out hunting at the time.

I found this book disturbing - genocide does that to me. The stark portrayal of the town's population, the rampant corruption and greed, the division between wealthy and impoverished is unnerving. Racism is pervasive. When Amati, the tribe's last remaining adult, is framed for the murder and a mob mentality grows, tragedy follows. As local authorities agree on a version of their story, one woman is able to bring a true investigation to bear. The results are chilling. The direction of the investigation shifts when new information is brought to light, the final pieces to the puzzle are... well, you'll find out when you finish the book.

This story draws comparisons between the Indian tribes in the rainforests and the American Indians - lied to, robbed, populations decimated, homeland stolen. Today many people are complacent, after all the rainforests have been saved - right? Life is not so simple, this story points that out
quite clearly.

I entered to receive a advance copy of this book on goodreads, I liked the idea of it being set in a rainforest. I did get a copy of the novel but it is so much more than I'd expected. Besides acquiring the earlier books by this author I hope to delve into this subject and find some small way to help. I hope.

[Garryvivianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually like to read books that have the same character in them, this book apparently is part of a series of tales which include Chief Inspector Mario Silva of the Brazilian police force. Now I may have to go look for others, because I liked his character. And Leighton Gage, the author, has passed away, so I would guess this is it for Silva's character.

The story starts when 39 people belonging to an Indian tribe in the Brazilian rainforest die by poisoning, leaving only 2 survivors. Jade Cameron, a worker for the National Indian Foundation is the only one who seems to be concerned & wanting to solve the mystery. Nobody seems to care about what happened, but of course, the land is very valuable & everybody has a say about it. This is when Silva is sent for. He & his men find that greed, politics, racism, corrupt officials & even a gold find have much to do with no one's willingness to help.

A good read. Chief Mario Silva, I will be looking for you.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this series from the beginning and have valued the time Leighton spent doing events at our store. The Mystery Group enjoyed his company immensely, as well as that of his wife Eide. It's really sad to think there will be no more books from his hand...

Finished the book this evening... probably more of a 4 1/2 star read. It's vintage Leighton Gage without a doubt. I loved the plot turn on the plight/fate of one of Brazil's indigenous tribes. I also think that Leighton has created more truly horrid female characters than most authors I've read. I'm also wondering if I would want to go to Brazil for the World Cup or the Olympics! Good grief! There is danger around every bend.... I will also truly miss Silva and his colleagues, as well as their wonderful creator.

[Robert Intriago · Rating 3 out of 5]

A shame this is his last book. I have enjoyed the series very much. The information he provided about police procedures, politics, attitudes and corruption in Brazil was great and informative. The other part of his novels which fascinated me was his approach to the dark side of crime. He did so by not holding back on his descriptions of the reality of crime scenes and resulting death.

This book is not as dark as previous ones and I also found it predictable. The police procedure was interesting and so was the social commentary about the abuse of Indians in Brazil. Thank you Mr. Gage for a wonderful series. I am glad that I got to read you.

[Robin Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

My low rating probably reflects my lack of interest in the genre more than anything particular this novel or Gage's writing style.

That said, I found the story simple. The prose was nonexistent and offered nothing so savory as to warrant a re-reading or memorization of a line.

The pacing was good, though I felt the ending dragged with many unnecessary interviews that could have all been summed up in a sentence or two.

All in all it wasn't a terrible read. I don't mind having spent the time reading this work. I might even look for other Leighton Gage novels down the road when I would never had bothered otherwise.

[Christine K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as a Goodreads Giveaway to review. I wish I had known that this story had reoccuring characters bc I feel at a disadvantage in writing this review not having all the background as other readers did. With that in mind, I did like this book. It was a fairly quick read because the story kept pulling me back to it. I guess in my mind I know this is a work of fiction but I also know it could be playing out as we speak. Greed does corrupt and a lack of understanding for other cultures can be very, very dangerous. A good read, I'd recommend it.

[Dorothy Presnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entire tribe of Indians in the Amazon are dead. There are two survivors. Soon after one of the locals in town is murdered and this lone survivor is accused. The town turns against him and carries out an unspeakable act.
The story takes you into each of the lives of those who live in the town and those outside who have come to solve this mystery. Why did this tribe die and how is it all connected to everyone in town. This is a very fascinating series of events spurned by greed ad jealousy.

[Lance Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

The complexity of the storyline in this solidly plotted police procedural together with several credible paths of misdirection make this one of the better books in this already very good series; sadly, it will also be the last as the author died following writing it and prior to its publication. Read our full review, here: http://www.mysteriousreviews.com/myst...

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt that this book was not quiet as good as some of the author's other novels. Sometimes when an author is trying to convey a political message, this becomes more important to him or her than the story itself. In this book, we know who the good guys are, and who the bad guys are. There is no gray in-between people. I happen to sympatise with the message, but I felt that it was given more importance than creating a good plot.

[Threasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It was a very sad story at the same time it was a thriller. The author's note really makes you think about what's happening to indigenous people everywhere. I really like Chief Inspector Silva and would definitely read more of his cases. I could feel the sweltering heat from the rain forest and just feel those buzzing flies on me. I would love to visit the rain forest someday. I bet it is beautiful as well as dangerous.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of "The Ways of Evil Men" through Goodreads First Reads. This was the first Mario Silva novel that I have read. I especially enjoyed setting on the Amazon frontier. The story kept me reading -- I finished the book in two days -- and the length seemed about right. Long enough for twists and turn in the story line, but not so long that I started getting impatient.