(Reviewed by JD Jung)
Colombian drug lord Diego Velasquez is facing financial ruin. It’s right after 9/11, and the U.S. borders are tightening, and corrupt officials are now refusing bribes. His two sons represent the family’s split identity: Carlos, deeply enmeshed in the cartel, and Esteban, with no interest in the family business, is studying English literature in the United States with a passion for the Romantic poets—particularly Wordsworth.
When Diego informs Esteban that the family is going broke, which will affect his graduate studies, Esteban has an idea. He proceeds to organize a conference in Bogotá with hand-picked speakers from the United States. Though Diego and Carlos know the details of this plan, we, the readers, do not. Also, the presenters and attendees are unaware of Estaban’s motives.
Events escalate when Carlos is sent to the U.S., purportedly to help Esteban, but his arrival sets off alarms within the DEA. They are determined to find out the truth about this literary conference.
The novel’s strength lies not only in its plot, which is built with suspenseful precision, but in its cast of nuanced, memorable characters. I was drawn to them as I read their histories and profiles. Of course, this is in the background as you never forget about the upcoming conference and wonder how this is going to fix the Velasquez family’s financial problems.
Suspenseful, original, and thematically rich, Wordsworth in Bogotá rewards both lovers of literary fiction and fans of smart, high-stakes thrillers. I eagerly await more from this talented author.