Crocodile Tears by Mercedes Rosende

 

Hapless Diego is a small time con who was persuaded to kidnap someone. His partner ran off, leaving him in the lurch, and he was arrested and sent to prison. He is about to be released though, as the victims spoke up in his favour. Diego has found prison tough, not least because of the psychopathic criminal, nicknamed the Hobo, who he’s been in hock to. When slippery lawyer Antinucci  arrives to get Diego out of prison, he’s willing to agree to do absolutely anything, and the Hobo and Antinucci have plans for him.

The two - lawyer and psychopath - intend to rob an armoured truck and demand Diego take part. Meanwhile Ursula Lopez, a woman with a troubled past, becomes embroiled in the story and crosses paths with Diego and the Hobo. While Captain Leonida Lima of the Montevideo Police is soon hot on the case.

This is a Uruguayan crime novel, the first I’ve ever read, and I know little about the country. It’s a quick read, more a novella than a full-length novel, and is described as a comedy caper like Fargo. While there is some dark humour, I didn’t really find it had the satirical bite of the Fargo films or TV series. That said, the comparison is apt in that the characters in Crocodile Tears are all incompetent to one degree or another; I’m not divulging spoilers when I reveal things will not go according to plan.

This is a good little novel that packs a punch. The characters are well drawn, and it’s well plotted. It's seamlessly translated too and wasn’t clunky in the way some translations can be.

This is definitely worth a read, and as the author is well established in her home country, I look forward to reading future translations of her other work.

4 out of 5 stars