On a Sunday night in 1998, Bishop Juan Gerardi, Guatemala's leading human rights activist, was bludgeoned to death. Two days earlier, a Church-sponsored report had implicated Guatemala's government in the disappearances of 200,000 civilians. The Church, feeling that it could not rely on the legal system, took the controversial decision to assemble a team of men, Los Intocables (The Untouchables), to take down Gerardi's killers.

In a gripping reconstruction, worthy of Graham Greene, Francisco Goldman traces Los Intocables struggle with the Guatemalan authorities to reveal the true story, uncovering the involvement of youth gangs, political corruption and organised crime. Most of all, he tells the story of an extraordinary group of courageous people and their fight for justice.

A true detective story tracing the murder investigation of a human rights activist and Guatemalan bishop, with the plot twists and colourful characters of a Graham Greene novel. Shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction. 'A multi-layered real-life whodunnit... Forensic and chilling.' Rory Carroll, Guardian

About the Author
Francisco Goldman's first novel, The Long Night of White Chickens, won the Sue Kaufman Prize for first fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The Ordinary Seaman, his second novel, was a finalist for the International IMPAC-Dublin Literary Award. Both novels were finalists for the PEN/Faulkner Award. Goldman's novel The Divine Husband was published by Atlantic Books in 2006. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, Harper's, the New York Times Magazine and the New York Review of Books.

Reviews
"'A multi-layered real-life whodunnit... Forensic and chilling.' Rory Carroll, Guardian 'A truly extraordinary book' George Rosie, Sunday Herald 'It simply seethes with violent action and counter-action, conspiracy and intrigue.' Ciaran Cosgrove, Irish Times 'As gripping as a thriller' Duncan Campbell, The Week 'A hugely impressive account: passionate, involving and profoundly moving.' Peter Standford, Independent on Sunday 'Passionate and stunningly researched... Goldman's book portrays the hysterical confusion, the dark fog that power - corrupt, ruthless and enduring - can impose on a society.' Richard Eder, New York Times"


Awards
Short-listed for CWA Gold Dagger Award for Non-Fiction 2010 (Australia).



Book Information
ISBN 9781848871953
Author Francisco Goldman
Format Paperback
Page Count 432
Imprint Atlantic Books
Publisher Atlantic Books
Weight(grams) 370g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 31mm