Blood of the Wicked

by Leighton Gage

Book Overview

The first book in Leighton Gage's critically acclaimed police procedural series set in Brazil, now available in paperback at the special introductory price of $9.99

Chief Inspector Mario Silva of Brazil's Federal Police is a good cop in a bad system--Brazil's justice system is rife with corruption, and constantly a beat behind criminal elements. But Silva and his team of colorful sidekicks--baby-faced Gon alves, who is irresistible...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 161695180X
• ISBN13: 9781616951801
• Release Date: September 2012
• Publisher: Soho Crime
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Blood of the Wicked, great read

I would compare Leighton Gage's writing style to Henning Mankell, Per Wahloo and Maj Sjowall. There are no wasted words. Every sentence brings an image to mind and an immediate connection to the characters. Blood of the Wicked takes place in Brazil and the story is about the cruel and corrupt police that run the country. An archbishop is assassinated and Mario Silva, Chief Inspector of the Federal police is called to investigate. There's a side story about Silva's personal life that I thought was a very clever way for the author to give deeper insight into the personality of the main character. There's really only one way for justice to be served and Silva does it. I'm a big fan of Wallander and Martin Beck and am happy to add Silva to my list of favorites.

One of the Best

Blood of the Wicked I started reading this book on a whim because my kids are finally asleep and I wanted to relax with a good book. It was a great choice. This book keeps me on my seat. I don't know much about Brazil, and this book introduce me to a Brazil beyond bikini-clad bodies. I find the tidbits about Brazil very entertaining. This is a crime book, and it's written well. Sure the body count is high, but it's part of the story. Some innocents die; that's real-life too. A book should entertain, and this book does it very well. I hope it makes it to the movies. I got the same excitement reading this book as I did reading Hostage by Robert Crais. It's got that same can't-peel-my-eyes-off-the-pages quality.

Wicked Truths

When I lived in Brasil in the 1970s, the military junta was in power, and the power of the police and the military was absolute. Those who knew how to 'break branches' to find a way to get things done, did well. Those who didn't have the wherewithal or the contacts had a very tough fight. Communists and socialists had little freedom of speech. Some worked their way up to build a new middle class, but many went by the wayside. Today, the class struggles continue, rending the beautiful fabric of Brasil, one that is woven together of so many cultures. When Leighton Gage's story deepens into the politics of the last decades, he portrays a Brasil that is quite real. Gage is a master of dialogue, using it to quicken the pace of the story as the climax builds. I look forward to getting to know the characters better in successive tales, and to watching the development of Leighton Gage's skill as a storyteller who bridges several cultures, and who is not afraid to use fiction to tell his readers a difficult truth.

fascinating but violent Brazilian police procedural

In a classic sh*t rolls down hill, the Pope calls the Brazilian president twice; in turn the president pressures the Director of the Brazilian Federal Police Nelson Sampaio to resolve the matter ASAP; in turn Nelson orders Chief Inspector Mario Silva to uncover the identity of the person who assassinated Bishop Dom Felipe Antunes at a church mass in front of a crowd at Cascatas. Mario understands he is to drop everything else and personally handle the investigation in the remote town and capture the felon yesterday. Silva travels immediately to Cascatas only to find angry townsfolk as the affluent landowners and the reform minded Landless Workers' League are in a brawl over sharing the wealth. Each side's leaders demand Silva investigates a local case that has raised tensions to a point that hostilities seem imminent if he wants any cooperation on the Bishop homicide. The son of a local landowner, Orlando Muniz Junior vanished without a trace. His father and his allies believe the league abducted and probably killed him. The League believes the lad is on holiday. Silva is a fascinating character as he has enough personal issues and a difficult case without getting involved in the local tsunami, but cannot keep out of it as more kidnappings and murders occur. He makes little progress on either investigation and what he does learn like the church is involved in protecting its own when pedophile accusations surface make him wonder if the Bishop's death is related. Although extremely violent as the title is not false advertising, fans who have a strong stomach for gore will enjoy this Brazilian police procedural. Harriet Klausner