Description

Book Synopsis
A frustrated publisher receives a mysterious angst-ridden manuscript: ''a friend'' must send it in installments; its contents would put the author in danger.

As he pieces together the story, he learns that the author is the wife of one of the two Martelli brothers - gangsters who dominate a small town in the Brazilian interior. Surely her dark outpourings are a cry for help?

One by one, he dispatches his motley collection of friends to Frondosa - a town totally obsessed with five-a-side football - to investigate and to bring her to safety.

Trade Review
'An unsual elegance and lightness of touch, as well as a lingering underlying melancholy. It's nicely written too - the translation is as smooth as silk' Andrew Taylor, Spectator. * Spectator *
'At barely 200 pages, and with a note-perfect translation from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa, The Spies shares with a cryptic crossword the virtue of succinctness, not a word or scene wasted' Hannah Rosefield, Observer. * Observer *

The Spies

    Product form

    A Paperback / softback by Luís Fernando Veríssimo, Margaret Jull Costa, Margaret Jull Costa

    £9.86

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    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Thu 1 Oct 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Quercus Publishing
      Published 7 November 2013
      ISBN-13 9780857051141
      978-0857051141
      ISBN-10 0857051148
      Also in:
      Crime & Thrillers

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      A frustrated publisher receives a mysterious angst-ridden manuscript: ''a friend'' must send it in installments; its contents would put the author in danger.

      As he pieces together the story, he learns that the author is the wife of one of the two Martelli brothers - gangsters who dominate a small town in the Brazilian interior. Surely her dark outpourings are a cry for help?

      One by one, he dispatches his motley collection of friends to Frondosa - a town totally obsessed with five-a-side football - to investigate and to bring her to safety.

      Trade Review
      'An unsual elegance and lightness of touch, as well as a lingering underlying melancholy. It's nicely written too - the translation is as smooth as silk' Andrew Taylor, Spectator. * Spectator *
      'At barely 200 pages, and with a note-perfect translation from the Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa, The Spies shares with a cryptic crossword the virtue of succinctness, not a word or scene wasted' Hannah Rosefield, Observer. * Observer *

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