Andean Express in Around the World in 80 Books

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Nov 02, 2020 Tony rated it liked it

Shelves: translated-fiction, setting-south-america, crime, novels

I greatly enjoyed the Bolivian author's previous book that appeared in English (American Visa), and finally caught up with this one. It takes place in 1952, largely among the first-class passengers of an overnight train travelling across the Altiplano from La Paz to the Chilean coastal city of Arica. The core premise is loosely inspired by Agatha Christie's classic mystery, Murder on the Orient Express, in that someone is murdered and there are no shortage of suspects. However, it's not really a I greatly enjoyed the Bolivian author's previous book that appeared in English (American Visa), and finally caught up with this one. It takes place in 1952, largely among the first-class passengers of an overnight train travelling across the Altiplano from La Paz to the Chilean coastal city of Arica. The core premise is loosely inspired by Agatha Christie's classic mystery, Murder on the Orient Express, in that someone is murdered and there are no shortage of suspects. However, it's not really a mystery since the reader is shown exactly who murdered him-- it's more of a morality story. The murdered man is a wealthy, middle-aged, obnoxious bully, and the owner of a mining company who has cheated and betrayed any number of people over the years -- but is his death justifiable?

The protagonist is an upper-class teenage Bolivian who has just graduated from high school in Buenos Aires, and is meeting his family in Arica. He recognizes the beautiful teenage virgin bride of the mine owner as an acquaintance from his high school social circles, and quickly sets about flirting with her with an eye toward more... Others on the train include an Russian Jew who made it out years ago, a leftist organizer disguised as a priest, an émigré Irishman and his morose wife, the bride's mother, a cardsharp, an upscale madam, the teenage boy's uncle, and a peg-legged man with nothing to lose. Over the course of the trip, we get a sense of how insular the upper-crust of Bolivian society must have been at the time. The author is the same age as the teenage boy and also went to high school abroad, and one can imagine that he might have drawn upon his own experiences to bring some of the scenes alive.

If the death of the mine-owner is the "A" plot of the story, then the boy's pursuit, conquest, and infatuation with the girl is the "B" plot. Although, the book actually goes on a little too long with the "B" plot for my taste, with several chapters taking place in Arica after the train trip is over, as the boy chases desperatelyafter the girl. Again, there's a sneaking suspicion that the author is paying homage to a similar love affair from his teen years. All in all, not as compelling as I was hoping, but a quick and colorful (and bawdy) ride recommended for those with an interest in South America. ...more

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Feb 21, 2014 Annie rated it liked it

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May 06, 2014 Deedee rated it it was ok

Shelves: translation, historical-mystery, world-south-america-bolivia, read-in-2014, read-2014-mystery

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Around the World in 80 Books