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Blood of Paradise
El America’s great Cold War success story and the model for Iraq’s fledgling democracy–if one ignores the grinding poverty, the corruption, the spiraling crime, and a murder rate ranked near the top in the hemisphere. This is where Jude McManus works as an executive protection specialist, currently assigned to an American engineer working for a U.S. consortium.
Ten years before, at age seventeen, he saw his father and two Chicago cop colleagues arrested for robbing street dealers. The family fell apart in the scandal’s wake, his disgraced dad died under suspicious circumstances, and Jude fled Chicago to join the army and forge a new life.
Now the past returns when one of his father’s old pals appears. The man is changed–he’s scarred, regretful, self-aware–and he helps Jude revisit the past with a forgiving eye. Then he asks a favor–not for himself, but for the third member of his dad’s old crew.
Even though it’s ill-considered, Jude agrees, thinking he can oblige the request and walk away, unlike his father. But he underestimates the players and the stakes and he stumbles into a web of Third World corruption and personal betrayal where everything he values–and everyone he loves–is threatened. And only the greatest of sacrifices will save them.
“This big, brawny novel runs on full throttle from first to last page. Brutal and heartrendering, eloquent and important, this is a fully engrossing read.”
–Michael Connelly
“A Quiet American for the new century. Angry and impassioned, Blood of Paradise is that rare a work of popular fiction that is both serious and thrilling.”
–John Connolly, New York Times bestselling author of Every Dead Thing
“David Corbett is a supremely gifted writer and Blood of Paradise reminds me of a Robert Stone novel. Its lyrical prose and exotic setting filled with damaged souls grasping for redemption any way they can combine in a tour de force that will haunt you long after you reach the end.”
–Denise Hamilton, nationally bestselling author of Prisoner of Memory
“If you’re looking for the best in contemporary crime fiction, this is it.”
–The Washington Post, on Done for a Dime
_________________________________________________________________
THE MORTALIS DOSSIER- BONUS FEATURE FROM DAVID CORBETT
FROM TROY TO BAGHDAD (VIA EL SALVADOR)
The Story's Genesis
I conceived Blood of Paradise after reading Philoctetes, a spare and
relatively obscure drama by Sophocles. In the original, an oracle advises
the Greeks that victory over the Trojans is impossible without
the bow of Herakles. Unfortunately, it’s in the hands of Philoctetes,
whom the Greeks abandoned on a barren island ten years earlier,
when he was bitten by a venomous snake while the Achaean fleet
harbored briefly on its way to Troy.
Odysseus, architect of the desertion scheme, must now return,
reclaim the bow, and bring both the weapon and its owner to Troy.
For a companion, he chooses Neoptolemus, the son of his slain
archrival, Achilles.
Neoptolemus, being young, still holds fast to the heroic virtues
embodied by his dead father, and believes they can appeal to
Philoctetes as a warrior. But Odysseus–knowing Philoctetes will
want revenge against all the Greeks, himself in particular–
convinces Neoptolemus that trickery and deceit will serve their
purposes far better. In essence, he corrupts Neoptolemus, who subsequently
deceives Philoctetes into relinquishing his bitterness to
reenlist in the cause against Troy.
The tale has an intriguing It turns out to be the corrupted
Neoptolemus who, by killing King Priam at his altar during
the sack of Troy, brings down a curse upon the Greeks even as they
are perfecting their victory.
This story suggested several themes, which I then molded to my
own the role of corruption in our concept of expedience,
the need of young men to prove themselves worthy in the eyes of
even morally suspect elders (or especially them), and the curse of a
hard-won ambition.
Why El Salvador?
I saw in the Greek situation a presentiment of America’s dilemma at
the close of the Cold finally achieving unrivaled leadership of
the globe, but at the same time being cursed with the hatred of millions.
Though we have showered the world with aid, too often we
have done so through conspicuously corrupt, repressive, even murderous
regimes, where the elites in charge predictably siphoned off
much of that aid into their own pockets. Why did we look the other
way during the violence and thievery? The regimes in question were
reliably anticommunist, crucial to our need for cheap oil, or otherwise
amenable to American strategic or commercial interests.
We live in a dangerous world, we are told. Hard, often unpleasant
choices have to be made.
It’s a difficult argument for those who have suffered under such
regimes to swallow. They would consider it madness to suggest that it
is envy of our preeminence, or contempt for our freedom, that causes
them to view America so resentfully. Rather, they would try to get us
to rem...
Ten years before, at age seventeen, he saw his father and two Chicago cop colleagues arrested for robbing street dealers. The family fell apart in the scandal’s wake, his disgraced dad died under suspicious circumstances, and Jude fled Chicago to join the army and forge a new life.
Now the past returns when one of his father’s old pals appears. The man is changed–he’s scarred, regretful, self-aware–and he helps Jude revisit the past with a forgiving eye. Then he asks a favor–not for himself, but for the third member of his dad’s old crew.
Even though it’s ill-considered, Jude agrees, thinking he can oblige the request and walk away, unlike his father. But he underestimates the players and the stakes and he stumbles into a web of Third World corruption and personal betrayal where everything he values–and everyone he loves–is threatened. And only the greatest of sacrifices will save them.
“This big, brawny novel runs on full throttle from first to last page. Brutal and heartrendering, eloquent and important, this is a fully engrossing read.”
–Michael Connelly
“A Quiet American for the new century. Angry and impassioned, Blood of Paradise is that rare a work of popular fiction that is both serious and thrilling.”
–John Connolly, New York Times bestselling author of Every Dead Thing
“David Corbett is a supremely gifted writer and Blood of Paradise reminds me of a Robert Stone novel. Its lyrical prose and exotic setting filled with damaged souls grasping for redemption any way they can combine in a tour de force that will haunt you long after you reach the end.”
–Denise Hamilton, nationally bestselling author of Prisoner of Memory
“If you’re looking for the best in contemporary crime fiction, this is it.”
–The Washington Post, on Done for a Dime
_________________________________________________________________
THE MORTALIS DOSSIER- BONUS FEATURE FROM DAVID CORBETT
FROM TROY TO BAGHDAD (VIA EL SALVADOR)
The Story's Genesis
I conceived Blood of Paradise after reading Philoctetes, a spare and
relatively obscure drama by Sophocles. In the original, an oracle advises
the Greeks that victory over the Trojans is impossible without
the bow of Herakles. Unfortunately, it’s in the hands of Philoctetes,
whom the Greeks abandoned on a barren island ten years earlier,
when he was bitten by a venomous snake while the Achaean fleet
harbored briefly on its way to Troy.
Odysseus, architect of the desertion scheme, must now return,
reclaim the bow, and bring both the weapon and its owner to Troy.
For a companion, he chooses Neoptolemus, the son of his slain
archrival, Achilles.
Neoptolemus, being young, still holds fast to the heroic virtues
embodied by his dead father, and believes they can appeal to
Philoctetes as a warrior. But Odysseus–knowing Philoctetes will
want revenge against all the Greeks, himself in particular–
convinces Neoptolemus that trickery and deceit will serve their
purposes far better. In essence, he corrupts Neoptolemus, who subsequently
deceives Philoctetes into relinquishing his bitterness to
reenlist in the cause against Troy.
The tale has an intriguing It turns out to be the corrupted
Neoptolemus who, by killing King Priam at his altar during
the sack of Troy, brings down a curse upon the Greeks even as they
are perfecting their victory.
This story suggested several themes, which I then molded to my
own the role of corruption in our concept of expedience,
the need of young men to prove themselves worthy in the eyes of
even morally suspect elders (or especially them), and the curse of a
hard-won ambition.
Why El Salvador?
I saw in the Greek situation a presentiment of America’s dilemma at
the close of the Cold finally achieving unrivaled leadership of
the globe, but at the same time being cursed with the hatred of millions.
Though we have showered the world with aid, too often we
have done so through conspicuously corrupt, repressive, even murderous
regimes, where the elites in charge predictably siphoned off
much of that aid into their own pockets. Why did we look the other
way during the violence and thievery? The regimes in question were
reliably anticommunist, crucial to our need for cheap oil, or otherwise
amenable to American strategic or commercial interests.
We live in a dangerous world, we are told. Hard, often unpleasant
choices have to be made.
It’s a difficult argument for those who have suffered under such
regimes to swallow. They would consider it madness to suggest that it
is envy of our preeminence, or contempt for our freedom, that causes
them to view America so resentfully. Rather, they would try to get us
to rem...
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
15 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
David Corbett
32 books189 followersDavid Corbett is the author of seven novels: The Devil’s Redhead (nominated for the Anthony and Barry Awards for Best First Novel) Done for a Dime (a New York Times Notable Book and nominated for the Macavity Award for Best Novel), Blood of Paradise (nominated for numerous awards, including the Edgar), Do They Know I’m Running (Spinetingler Award, Best Novel—Rising Star Category 2011), The Mercy of the Night, The Long-Lost Love Letters of Doc Holliday (nominated for the Lefty Award for Best Historical Mystery), and The Truth Against the World (June, 2023).
David’s short fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, with two stories selected for Best American Mystery Stories.
In 2012, Mysterious Press/Open Road Media re-issued his four novels plus a story collection, Thirteen Confessions, in ebook format.
In January 2013 Penguin published his textbook on the craft of characterization, The Art of Character (“A writer’s bible that will lead to your character’s soul.” —Elizabeth Brundage). he followed this up with The Compass of Character (Writers Digest Books).
He has taught creative writing at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Project, Chuck Pahalniuk’s Litreactor, 826 Valencia, The Grotto in San Francisco, Book Passage, and at writing conference across the country. He is also a monthly contributor to Writer Unboxed, an award-winning blog dedicated to the craft and business of fiction.
Before becoming a novelist, David spent fifteen years as an investigator for the San Francisco private detective agency Palladino & Sutherland, working on such high-profile civil and criminal litigations as The DeLorean Case, the Peoples Temple Trial, the Lincoln Savings & Loan Scandal, the Cotton Club Murder Case, the Michael Jackson child molestation investigation and a RICO action brought by the Teamsters against members of organized crime.
David’s short fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, with two stories selected for Best American Mystery Stories.
In 2012, Mysterious Press/Open Road Media re-issued his four novels plus a story collection, Thirteen Confessions, in ebook format.
In January 2013 Penguin published his textbook on the craft of characterization, The Art of Character (“A writer’s bible that will lead to your character’s soul.” —Elizabeth Brundage). he followed this up with The Compass of Character (Writers Digest Books).
He has taught creative writing at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Project, Chuck Pahalniuk’s Litreactor, 826 Valencia, The Grotto in San Francisco, Book Passage, and at writing conference across the country. He is also a monthly contributor to Writer Unboxed, an award-winning blog dedicated to the craft and business of fiction.
Before becoming a novelist, David spent fifteen years as an investigator for the San Francisco private detective agency Palladino & Sutherland, working on such high-profile civil and criminal litigations as The DeLorean Case, the Peoples Temple Trial, the Lincoln Savings & Loan Scandal, the Cotton Club Murder Case, the Michael Jackson child molestation investigation and a RICO action brought by the Teamsters against members of organized crime.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 23, 2010
The trajectory of writer David Corbett's novel writing career is pretty breathtaking. If he'd been content to write pulpish crime novels like his first effort, The Devil's Redhead, (which is very good) he would have carved a niche, probably not unlike James Ellroy's. Violent, edgy, contemporary, great dialogue, "Redhead" had it all. But his second novel, Done on a Dime, you saw the writer stretching himself. It's an uneven read, due to plotting more than anything else. But what stands out in Corbett's sophomore effort is great character development (I'm still intrigued by the Jazz waif, Nadya, who seems like she stepped right out of a Beat novel), and an underlying moral concern for the way things happen to be. It is also the novel that introduces the Force-of-Evil character, Bill Malvasio (Malevolent?), who will feature so prominently in Blood of Paradise.
Blood of Paradise, will be viewed as Corbett's first major novel. It's noir, it's a thriller, but it's also literature, since it steps beyond the narrower confines of genre. You can easily liken the novel to Robert Stone's work (in particular, Flag for Sunrise), or Graham Greene's novels. The location of the novel surprised me - El Salvador. I was also surprised to find that things are as bad as ever down there, enough so to make a rereading of Joan Dideon's Salvador, as something more than a look at old history.
The story itself centers on bodyguard Jude McManus, who is generally a good, but psychologically damaged young man, trying to dig himself out from under the sins of his crooked cop father by just doing his job and keeping things light. Unfortunately for him, his principal job is to protect a hydrologist who is investigating the viability of a soft drink factory and its impact of the area's water table. What spirals out from those seemingly mundane facts is a portrait of El Salvador that is rotten through and through, and a people and culture living on the edge while those in power feast away. But those in power can never have enough, and they see threats everywhere to their profit margin, and the hydrologist just might be a future project.
Their main fixer is bad guy Bill Malvasio, who in a past life was a crooked cop along with Jude's father. Bill is basically a kind of devil, offering Jude hazy deals that will in some way wipe the slate clean. But also coming into the mix is Eileen Browning, a politically active anthropoligist (who is also, sexually, quite acrobatic). Browning serves as something of an angel of light, pulling Jude outside of his shell, helping him to see the suffering and corruption that are all around him. Corbett does a fine job pouring out a lot of recent history, without the speeches flattening out the characters. To integrate such strong political statements into a novel, and not sound like a preacher, is a very hard thing to do, but Corbett pulls it off seamlessly. And when action does occur, it's intense, and nasty. That said however, Browning's intriguing character, seemed to fade as the novel moved on, which is a shame, since Corbett seemed to invest a lot in her. But who knows? Maybe Eileen (and hopefully Nadya) will show up in future novels. And besides, the main card here is Malvasio and Jude. To tell more, would be to cheat the reader. Check it out.
Blood of Paradise, will be viewed as Corbett's first major novel. It's noir, it's a thriller, but it's also literature, since it steps beyond the narrower confines of genre. You can easily liken the novel to Robert Stone's work (in particular, Flag for Sunrise), or Graham Greene's novels. The location of the novel surprised me - El Salvador. I was also surprised to find that things are as bad as ever down there, enough so to make a rereading of Joan Dideon's Salvador, as something more than a look at old history.
The story itself centers on bodyguard Jude McManus, who is generally a good, but psychologically damaged young man, trying to dig himself out from under the sins of his crooked cop father by just doing his job and keeping things light. Unfortunately for him, his principal job is to protect a hydrologist who is investigating the viability of a soft drink factory and its impact of the area's water table. What spirals out from those seemingly mundane facts is a portrait of El Salvador that is rotten through and through, and a people and culture living on the edge while those in power feast away. But those in power can never have enough, and they see threats everywhere to their profit margin, and the hydrologist just might be a future project.
Their main fixer is bad guy Bill Malvasio, who in a past life was a crooked cop along with Jude's father. Bill is basically a kind of devil, offering Jude hazy deals that will in some way wipe the slate clean. But also coming into the mix is Eileen Browning, a politically active anthropoligist (who is also, sexually, quite acrobatic). Browning serves as something of an angel of light, pulling Jude outside of his shell, helping him to see the suffering and corruption that are all around him. Corbett does a fine job pouring out a lot of recent history, without the speeches flattening out the characters. To integrate such strong political statements into a novel, and not sound like a preacher, is a very hard thing to do, but Corbett pulls it off seamlessly. And when action does occur, it's intense, and nasty. That said however, Browning's intriguing character, seemed to fade as the novel moved on, which is a shame, since Corbett seemed to invest a lot in her. But who knows? Maybe Eileen (and hopefully Nadya) will show up in future novels. And besides, the main card here is Malvasio and Jude. To tell more, would be to cheat the reader. Check it out.
August 8, 2007
[http://www.davidcorbett.com]
Inspired by the eloquent, yet deeply disturbing Greek tragedies of long ago, Blood of Paradise, is a dark novel, penned by one of today’s most passionate writers. David Corbett’s third novel, shines an unflinching and unapologetic light into the backrooms and back-alleys, corporate boardrooms and finally, the lofty and corrupt offices of the politicians sworn to serve and protect.
Whether defined or haunted by, his late father’s choices, Jude McManus left Chicago and joined the Army. He now provides protection services for high profile executives in El Salvador. Assigned to guard Axel Odelberg, an American hydrologist, hired to evaluate the effects a proposed bottling plant expansion may have on local water supplies. The powers that be expect a “rubber stamp report”, and will go to any lengths to ensure both favorable findings and total silence.
A brilliant liar and master manipulator, Bill Malvasio knew Jude McManus was an easy target. Exploiting his father’s memory and using their friendship as a base, Malvasio spun a story filled with half truths. He explained to Jude that an old warrant prevented him from returning to the US. He asked Jude to escort the ex-cop, Phil Strock (the third member of his father’s disgraced trio) back to El Salvador. While not entirely certain of Malvasio’s intentions, Jude agrees.
However, he soon realizes all is not what it seems, as he finds himself in the eye of life-threatening storm fueled by greed and maintained through violence. The true extent of the danger slowly becomes apparent as the Salvadoran mob flexes its’ muscle, ordering the murder of a female villager that complained her well was destroyed by the water project. Soon thereafter, an infant is kidnapped to guarantee her mother’s silence.
The characters are flawed, three dimensional and absolutely believable. Throughout the novel recognizing good and evil becomes more difficult, as the reader begins to question their own moral assumptions and attitudes. The plot and subplots work well together and often propel each other forward. Intricately layered and complicated, Corbett revs up the suspense and the stakes as the novel hurtles toward the conclusion.
With a practiced eye for detail, Corbett’s thoughts on the modern predicament are as insightful as they are chilling. Acknowledging the complexity of the politics and the difficult decisions being made by politicians, lends a realism to the novel, making it almost impossible to discern the line between fact and fiction. He weaves a myriad of seemingly disparate situations in the world - gang activity, terrorism, US foreign policy, corruption, murder, - into a seamless story that ties everything together. Exceptionally well written, with haunting depictions that capture both the beauty and the despair of a land and its people, which no longer seem so foreign or distant.
Powerful, shocking and thought provoking, Blood of Paradise is a challenging read that I would recommend to all who enjoy serious thrillers. For interested readers, Corbett included a dossier at the end of the book, describing the political atmosphere of El Salvador.
Happy Reading!
RJ McGill
3Rs-Real Reader Reviews
[http://rjscafe.wordpress.com]
Personal Note:
A dense and complex read, I often found myself returning to previous chapters to clarify the various aspects linking the characters. (A character list was an absolute necessity.) Also, I was frustrated by the use of undefined and obscure Spanish words that could not be interpreted by the surrounding text. Dark and disturbing, David Corbett’s passion is both refreshing and moving, so much so, I immediately checked out his 2003 release, “Done for a Dime” from my local library
Inspired by the eloquent, yet deeply disturbing Greek tragedies of long ago, Blood of Paradise, is a dark novel, penned by one of today’s most passionate writers. David Corbett’s third novel, shines an unflinching and unapologetic light into the backrooms and back-alleys, corporate boardrooms and finally, the lofty and corrupt offices of the politicians sworn to serve and protect.
Whether defined or haunted by, his late father’s choices, Jude McManus left Chicago and joined the Army. He now provides protection services for high profile executives in El Salvador. Assigned to guard Axel Odelberg, an American hydrologist, hired to evaluate the effects a proposed bottling plant expansion may have on local water supplies. The powers that be expect a “rubber stamp report”, and will go to any lengths to ensure both favorable findings and total silence.
A brilliant liar and master manipulator, Bill Malvasio knew Jude McManus was an easy target. Exploiting his father’s memory and using their friendship as a base, Malvasio spun a story filled with half truths. He explained to Jude that an old warrant prevented him from returning to the US. He asked Jude to escort the ex-cop, Phil Strock (the third member of his father’s disgraced trio) back to El Salvador. While not entirely certain of Malvasio’s intentions, Jude agrees.
However, he soon realizes all is not what it seems, as he finds himself in the eye of life-threatening storm fueled by greed and maintained through violence. The true extent of the danger slowly becomes apparent as the Salvadoran mob flexes its’ muscle, ordering the murder of a female villager that complained her well was destroyed by the water project. Soon thereafter, an infant is kidnapped to guarantee her mother’s silence.
The characters are flawed, three dimensional and absolutely believable. Throughout the novel recognizing good and evil becomes more difficult, as the reader begins to question their own moral assumptions and attitudes. The plot and subplots work well together and often propel each other forward. Intricately layered and complicated, Corbett revs up the suspense and the stakes as the novel hurtles toward the conclusion.
With a practiced eye for detail, Corbett’s thoughts on the modern predicament are as insightful as they are chilling. Acknowledging the complexity of the politics and the difficult decisions being made by politicians, lends a realism to the novel, making it almost impossible to discern the line between fact and fiction. He weaves a myriad of seemingly disparate situations in the world - gang activity, terrorism, US foreign policy, corruption, murder, - into a seamless story that ties everything together. Exceptionally well written, with haunting depictions that capture both the beauty and the despair of a land and its people, which no longer seem so foreign or distant.
Powerful, shocking and thought provoking, Blood of Paradise is a challenging read that I would recommend to all who enjoy serious thrillers. For interested readers, Corbett included a dossier at the end of the book, describing the political atmosphere of El Salvador.
Happy Reading!
RJ McGill
3Rs-Real Reader Reviews
[http://rjscafe.wordpress.com]
Personal Note:
A dense and complex read, I often found myself returning to previous chapters to clarify the various aspects linking the characters. (A character list was an absolute necessity.) Also, I was frustrated by the use of undefined and obscure Spanish words that could not be interpreted by the surrounding text. Dark and disturbing, David Corbett’s passion is both refreshing and moving, so much so, I immediately checked out his 2003 release, “Done for a Dime” from my local library
March 6, 2018
This was a good yarn, but some of the descriptions and illustrations got in the way. The author is an excellent writer, and the characters and storyline are well developed. The main problem I had with it is that there were long passages in which the author explained the political backstories and settings, to the point of exhaustion for me many times. The story itself can carry this book, and while some of the explanations of drug culture and political environments are interesting, it often got bogged down in explanations, and it seemed as though I was sitting in a lecture.
That said, I'd recommend the book if you like adventure spy thriller stuff. I liked the various characters, along with their relationships to each other. --je
That said, I'd recommend the book if you like adventure spy thriller stuff. I liked the various characters, along with their relationships to each other. --je
August 31, 2019
B.
The plot is really convoluted. Often hard to follow. I think the story is surely more plausible for its non-linearity. But this reads almost like non-fiction. It was no fun.
The plot is really convoluted. Often hard to follow. I think the story is surely more plausible for its non-linearity. But this reads almost like non-fiction. It was no fun.
July 12, 2021
The writing was good. There was almost two chapters of politics that felt unnecessary; it was almost list like. However, overall it was good. Wish they'd wrapped things up a little more.
May 20, 2022
Nice but violent story
January 3, 2021
May have had a few slower, up hill moments, but the story is fantastic and complex and high speed and by the end....standing ovation!
March 6, 2017
Worth it for the second half. 3.4 stars
May 18, 2010
RATING: 3.5
There are times in everyone's life when events of the past take over life in the present. Jude McManus is an unfulfilled young man whose life is defined by his father's history. His father was a former Chicago cop, and he got involved in some shady doings that ended his career and his life. Jude escaped by joining the military, and now he's a bodyguard in El Salvador. You can only imagine how he feels when he meets up with one of the two men that went down with his father. Is it coincidence or part of a plan that leads to Bill Malvasio meeting Jude in a bar? It seems to be the latter, especially when Malvasio talks Jude into returning to Chicago to bring back the third member of the group, Phil Strock. Ostensibly, Bill wants to use Strock's sharpshooting skills on a job. But of course, things are not as they seem….
Set in the politically volatile world of El Salvador, Jude faces not just personal challenges but constant danger in guarding his client, a noted hydrologist who appears to be about to render a very unpopular opinion about the state of the water table in the area. There's a lot at stake if Axel Odelberg does issue an unfavorable finding, and there are many people who will do whatever it takes to shut him up.
BLOOD OF PARADISE weaves a complex tale, with many characters and many different situations incorporated into the narrative. Being a more linear reader, I had trouble following everything that was going on. However, that is purely a personal issue and not the fault of the writer; the plot may have been complicated, but it followed a rational narrative arc. Similarly, even though I created a cast list, I had trouble remembering how the characters interconnected. What made things even harder for me was Corbett's inclusion of isolated Spanish words. I understood that the purpose of using those words was to anchor the reader into the setting, which he did, but oftentimes, I could not decipher the meaning of the word from the context, which made understanding even more difficult.
That being said, Corbett is a very talented writer who writes beautifully. Even though I may have been lost, I appreciated his writing skill. El Salvador is wonderfully rendered; Corbett captures both its possibilities and its deficiencies exceptionally well. BLOOD OF PARADISE is a thought-provoking thriller that challenges one's moral assumptions. Although not an easy read, it is worth the effort.
There are times in everyone's life when events of the past take over life in the present. Jude McManus is an unfulfilled young man whose life is defined by his father's history. His father was a former Chicago cop, and he got involved in some shady doings that ended his career and his life. Jude escaped by joining the military, and now he's a bodyguard in El Salvador. You can only imagine how he feels when he meets up with one of the two men that went down with his father. Is it coincidence or part of a plan that leads to Bill Malvasio meeting Jude in a bar? It seems to be the latter, especially when Malvasio talks Jude into returning to Chicago to bring back the third member of the group, Phil Strock. Ostensibly, Bill wants to use Strock's sharpshooting skills on a job. But of course, things are not as they seem….
Set in the politically volatile world of El Salvador, Jude faces not just personal challenges but constant danger in guarding his client, a noted hydrologist who appears to be about to render a very unpopular opinion about the state of the water table in the area. There's a lot at stake if Axel Odelberg does issue an unfavorable finding, and there are many people who will do whatever it takes to shut him up.
BLOOD OF PARADISE weaves a complex tale, with many characters and many different situations incorporated into the narrative. Being a more linear reader, I had trouble following everything that was going on. However, that is purely a personal issue and not the fault of the writer; the plot may have been complicated, but it followed a rational narrative arc. Similarly, even though I created a cast list, I had trouble remembering how the characters interconnected. What made things even harder for me was Corbett's inclusion of isolated Spanish words. I understood that the purpose of using those words was to anchor the reader into the setting, which he did, but oftentimes, I could not decipher the meaning of the word from the context, which made understanding even more difficult.
That being said, Corbett is a very talented writer who writes beautifully. Even though I may have been lost, I appreciated his writing skill. El Salvador is wonderfully rendered; Corbett captures both its possibilities and its deficiencies exceptionally well. BLOOD OF PARADISE is a thought-provoking thriller that challenges one's moral assumptions. Although not an easy read, it is worth the effort.
January 23, 2009
I liked this book. Probably a big part of that was the setting and the politics of it. It takes place mostly in El Salvador in the post 9/11 world. The plot, in large part, revolves around the fallout of the Salvadoran civil war - death squads, gangs with US roots, corruption, ARENA and the FMLN, US political influence. The lead character is a young American army vet who is now a body guard. His love interest is a left leaning anthropologist. The guy is not as political, and the plot of the novel serves to bring him along to face political realities.
In many ways, this book is just a thriller. However, in bringing in the (seemingly) realistic portrayal life in El Salvador and linking that to the disastrous reprecussions of that dirty little war, it becomes much more than a plain old thriller.
In many ways, this book is just a thriller. However, in bringing in the (seemingly) realistic portrayal life in El Salvador and linking that to the disastrous reprecussions of that dirty little war, it becomes much more than a plain old thriller.
November 16, 2015
This novel was a neat follow-on from reading Joan Didion's work of reportage - Salvador - and is set in the mid 2000's after the civil war ended. Violence is still endemic and the story revolves around the corrupt, ultra violent, right wing political elite who still govern in a supposedly democratic El Salvador generally because it suits US interests to have a corrupt, right wing bulwark against the perceived threats to US interests from further south. That's the backdrop, but the thriller revolves around Jude McManus, an American bodyguard and his deepening entanglement in this world of corruption and killing after a friend of his dead father contacts him. His father, this friend and another man had all been exposed as corrupt Chicago cops 10 years earlier, an event that had sent Jude's life spiralling downward. It's good and I enjoyed it.
May 9, 2010
The Blood of Tropics despite its obvious seeming title (from a Wallace Stevens poem) is a mostly successful mix of political disgust and horrifying reportage with a sometimes meandering thriller and Greek tragedy. Overall it works and its sense of tragic breaks your heart. This may suffer compared to, say Robert Stone’s Flag for Sunrise (what doesn’t?) there may be more recognizable humanity in Corbett’s characters. Jude, Strock , and Malvosio (I love the play on Shakespeare’s impotent, frustrated Malvolio, which Corbett’s character is the opposite) and many more are memorable characters who seeking of redemption and damnation is giving more weight by Corbett’s unsparing reality.
May 23, 2012
4.5 For my money, Corbett's walked among the elite of living crime writers since his debut. Sure, I lived in the non-fictionalized version of his Vallejo and knew him (in passing) at the time, but his work since has only reinforced the opinion. His portrayal of violent, gritty reality moves into El Salvador with this one, where meta-issues of US foreign policy are addressed on the ground and any lingering notions of good vs. evil in his characters are pretty much wholesale replaced with shades of morality.
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August 21, 2014Curieusement ennuyeux, pour un roman classé meilleur thriller de l'année par le Washington Post! Peut-être spécifiquement masculin. Et pourtant le thème est tentant, la recherche de la vérité du fils, meurtri de l'histoire du Père, la main mise des USA et le cynisme politique dans un pays aussi miséreux et corrompu que le Salvador. La magie n'opère pas. Détail (last but not least), le parti pris de laisser des mots espagnols non traduits et les pensées des personnages en italique est vraiment agaçante. Abandonné à la moitié.
March 30, 2009
I loved the Salvadoran slang and the descriptions. I really got the flavor
(not so sweet) of the murky political stew in El Salvador. David Corbett is a funny speaker and I'd have enjoyed some more of his edgy humor. Maybe in the next book?
(not so sweet) of the murky political stew in El Salvador. David Corbett is a funny speaker and I'd have enjoyed some more of his edgy humor. Maybe in the next book?
April 23, 2013
This one started off really well, but then just died in the middle. A little too much research on the author's part. Almost ruined the story. In fact, for much of the middle, there wasn't much of a story. It rebounded a bit in the end, which gets it 3 stars. For a while it was heading for 2.
September 7, 2007
really good story, if you can follow all the complexities of Salvadoran underground politics
November 13, 2007
Doesn't quite hit the mark, but enjoyed reading about the unique challenges that El Salvador faces, in action-packed fiction form.
April 30, 2010
I simply could not get into the flow of this story. Too many characters to keep track of, the story didn't flow well and no matter how much I tried to finish, I simply had to stop before ending.
October 23, 2008
He's a friend, but that's not why I like it.
November 5, 2015
Desperately in need of an editor.
Want to read
November 7, 2019Synopsis: Jude McManus works in El Salvador as a protection specialist for an American engineer working with a US consortium.
March 19, 2009
My favorite kind of book: lots of story, lots of political history
January 8, 2012
I loved this book when I first read it back in 2010 - a 2012 re-read + review.
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September 2, 2012Page 39. I just can't seem to get into this book.
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