New Book Alert: Under The Volcano (Quito Murder Mysteries) by William Graham; Suspenseful Trip Into The Violent Bloody Ecuadorian Underworld

 

New Book Alert: Under The Volcano (Quito Murder Mysteries) by William Graham; Suspenseful Trip Into The Violent Bloody Ecuadorian Underworld

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: One of the most interesting aspects about murder mysteries is how they sometimes act as round the world tours. Sometimes the setting is so intrinsic to the plot that the mystery can't be set anywhere else. Either the suspenseful and deadly circumstances stand to counter the beautiful scenic view that surrounds the character or that the suspense and death surrounds the otherwise beautiful unique view so often that it's a part of daily life.

Under the Volcano: Quito Murder Mysteries by William Graham reveals that the Ecuadorian setting of the book is the latter.

Graham describes the setting of Ecuador so well that it almost becomes a character in the book. This is a country which according to OSAC's website, its capital city Quito's crime rate level is listed as a critical threat. The book shows poor citizens longing for better lives, a rampant drug trade thanks to close proximity to Colombia, American tourists who visit the country for fun or to hide their most nefarious deeds, and plenty of jungles and forests to leave a body or two. This is a world where even the cops can act as criminals.

Graham explores the complex dark lives of Quito's citizens and visitors in six stories that are interconnected by the presence of Detective Alberto Alvarado. He is the typical police detective heading a murder mystery who protects the innocent and can stand against any gun wielding killer to find out the truth. However, he has an extremely shady side that even the most hard boiled detective in the darkest noir story would find his actions questionable. Alberto has a gambling addiction which puts him at odds with his wife, Dolores and involves himself with shady characters that he should be arresting. 

He also commits violence in various chapters and not always in self defense or protection towards others.

Similar to Robert New's Colours of Death, Graham tells six different novellas that are all linked by Alberto's presence in solving them. They take different aspects of exploring the victims and perpetrators of crime in this dark and gritty Ecuadorian setting.

The stories are:

*Deadly Crude"- This story really develops many of the problems of the rural communities and why their residents have no love lost for Quito. We see the San Carlos village ravaged by pollution where it's a health hazard to drink from or swim in the water. ("Make him drink bottled water only," a doctor tells an anguished mother about her child who has been sickened by the water.) Many of the young people leave for better opportunities and never return. Some however want to return to fight for the people left behind like lawyer Juan Criollo who was murdered. When Quito radio personality Teresa Eagle makes note of his disappearance during a broadcast, Alberto is put on the case even though he doesn't personally care for lawyers. ("But even lawyers have mothers," he reasons.) 

The plot is seeped in muck and not just because Juan was investigating the corrupt oil industry that polluted his home village. (Though that is a truly horrifying development to reveal what San Carlos is reduced to and will no doubt get worse now that their champion has been killed.) But also the lengths these industries go through to keep the environmental damage a secret. There are some very violent means that some will go through to protect their profits and bottom line over human life.

"The Diplomat"- This is one of those types of suspense stories that tell part of the narrative from the murderer's point of view as well as the investigator so we not only follow the investigation but the journey of the unfortunate soul to cover up the crime. 

In this case, wealthy American Lucas Grant accidentally hits a woman with his car. Rather than calling a hospital or informing some authority figure, this true "prince among men" is angry at her for being so foolish to put him in this predicament. After an argument with his mistress (part of the reason that he's not willing to come forward), Lucas dumps the woman's body onto the side road of an airport. What a guy!

The impact of the case in "Deadly Crude" left Alberto so stressed that he lost his hair. He isn't ready to tackle another dangerous case but the realization that Maria, the dead woman is close to the same age as his daughter. Feeling a paternal tug at his heart, Alberto takes the case.

This is a case where not only the murderer but the rest of the cast are downright horrible as well. Besides Lucas being a cowardly sleaze of the highest order, his wife, Victoria is a shrieking drug addict. His mistress, Geovanna, is decent enough to want to report the accident to the police but she is pretty self-serving and materialistic. A photographer, Carlos and his partner, Luz, take pictures of the crime and decide to blackmail Lucas with the evidence. There isn't a likeable member in the whole bunch which carries on the dark aspects of detective noir where characters are purposely unlikeable but interesting to follow.

"Family Secret"- One of the common themes in these stories is the appearance of Americans either as tourists or expatriates. They come to Ecuador for a vacation, but often they arrive to get away from a lawless past, to exploit the country's riches, or to obtain answers to troubling questions. American reporter, Patricia Dobson is one of those who arrives to get answers. On her mother's deathbed, she learns that the man that she believed was her father really wasn't. Her birth father was Ecuadorian novelist and activist, Jorge Cossio. Patricia goes to Ecuador to meet her father and unfortunately never returns.

This story is somewhat reminiscent of an Agatha Christie locked room mystery where there is a claustrophobic setting and a limited number of suspects. It doesn't help that with the exception of Jorge no one particularly wants her there.

Because of the limited amount of suspects, the murderer is pretty easy to guess. However, what is brilliantly handled is the amount of hatred that this family has over this presumed outsider and what she represents to their roles in the dynamic.

"Gold Rush"- This is not one of the better stories except for one interesting subplot. The main plot is that Arturo Silva is killed after he gets into a partnership with a pair of Americans who find gold. In true Treasure of the Sierra Madre fashion, greed sets in and bodies are discovered. This case isn't particularly great nor is the resolution. What is most interesting is what is going on with Alberto between investigations.

In an unrelated plot, Alberto commits cold blooded first degree murder. Yes the lead detective commits murder and not in self defense or to protect someone. This is one of the few times that I am aware that the lead detective kills someone and the murder is not affected by the main plot. Even more baffling is that he is never called out on it nor is this particular murder ever investigated. It makes you look at Alberto differently in the rest of the book.

It is a strange twist to see a detective callously murder someone without reprecussions, but it gives the Reader a sense of the kind of world that they are reading about. A world where the line between those on the side of the law and against is thin to the point of practically non-existent. A world where there are good reasons why the crime level is described as critically high when anyone could quickly change from friend to enemy. It's dark but at the same time unfortunately very real too that there are officers who sincerely believe that they are above the law.

"Confession"-In a dark setting like the way Graham writes Quito, it is expected that even the local church is corrupted. Two priests are murdered, one shortly after confession. Apparently, they are being punished for sins that were undiscovered and unpunished for a long time.

This story really develops the long term repercussions of unpunished crimes and how they fester over time. Eventually, the guilty are found out usually by someone who has had to suffer the trauma of not only being hurt but by having to watch day in and day out this person walking free and clear because they are protected by a system that favors them over their victims.(Makes you wonder if there will be future repercussions for Alberto's murder in going with that theme.)

"Cloud Forest Murder"- Remember how I said that there are a lot of forests and jungles which are perfect to leave a body? Well that is at play here. Rachel, one of a group of American tourists, is found lying with her head crushed by a rock in the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest outside the Linda Vista lodge where she and her husband and friends are staying. What an unbelievable coincidence Alberto and his wife, Dolores are vacationing there as well. Since Death never takes a holiday, neither does a criminal investigator.

Similar to "Family Secrets," the suspects are a small limited group. This keeps the relationships intimate and the emotions present. There is a love triangle that develops between some of the characters and it is shown in a way that comes naturally since two of the characters have known each other for years making the other member more of the intrusion. 

While the murderer is certainly questionable, it's clear that their actions come from loneliness and overwhelming anguish making the Reader understand their actions even when they don't condone them.

Under the Volcano is a brilliant anthology that explores all that is hot and dangerous in Quito leading to actions that are ready to explode.