Synopses & Reviews
In Joe Gannon's debut novel, Night of the Jaguar, a former Sandinista guerrilla comandante turned cop investigates a series of murders that appear to be political executions.
Sandinista Police Captain Ajax Montoya is six days sober and losing his mind. How else to explain his nights waking in bed, his hand wrapped around that bloody-minded stiletto from the old days, or the presence outside his window, a face with no eyes watching him?
How far the heroic have fallen. Ajax was once the gallant comandante guerrillero. A hero of the Nicaraguan revolutionaries in their long uprising against the Ogre and his hated National Guard. Back then hed been the guy who got the bloody missions -- as a lowly grunt with that blade, or the commander of an entire front. Back then he knew what was what and who to trust. But as the clarity of war gave way to the hazy reality of peace, Ajax fared less well. And after he took the fall for an assassination he had no part of, he tumbled into a bottle, and maybe out of his mind.
Now he's a homicide investigator in Managua solving murders and sweating through the nightmares from his guerilla days. When he's called to investigate a robbery turned gruesome murder, Ajax recognizes the marks of a surprising enemy - the CIA mercenary army known as The Contra. This isn't just a random murder; this is an execution, a call to war. Or is it? And why does no one want to know but Ajax? As the bodies pile up and a red-headed gringa who should be his enemy enchants his thoughts, Ajax questions whether he can stay sober, sane, and alive long enough to figure it all out.
Review
“Impressive…a lyric power once thought beyond the range of the genre. A beauty.” —
Booklist (starred review)
"The Nicaraguan Sandinista Revolution provides the intriguing backdrop for Gannon's riverting, action-packed debut. Readers will eagerly await Gannon's next book." —Publishers Weekly “Gannon's dank, dense, tangled debut is doubly welcome.” —Kirkus Reviews “Night of the Jaguar is the real deal—a tightly wound thriller that's politically charged, atmospheric, and haunting. Gannon's story of a man on the verge and a country on the edge of war is a gripping ride from the get go, a fast paced crime story and a delicious fever dream rolled into one.” —Ivy Pochoda, author of Visitation Street
Synopsis
In Joe Gannon's debut novel, Night of the Jaguar, a former Sandinista guerrilla comandante turned cop investigates a series of murders that appear to be political executions.
Sandinista Police Captain Ajax Montoya is six days sober and losing his mind. How else to explain his nights waking in bed, his hand wrapped around that bloody-minded stiletto from the old days, or the presence outside his window, a face with no eyes watching him?
How far the heroic have fallen. Ajax was once the gallant comandante guerrillero. A hero of the Nicaraguan revolutionaries in their long uprising against the Ogre and his hated National Guard. Back then he'd been the guy who got the bloody missions -- as a lowly grunt with that blade, or the commander of an entire front. Back then he knew what was what and who to trust. But as the clarity of war gave way to the hazy reality of peace, Ajax fared less well. And after he took the fall for an assassination he had no part of, he tumbled into a bottle, and maybe out of his mind.
Now he's a homicide investigator in Managua solving murders and sweating through the nightmares from his guerilla days. When he's called to investigate a robbery turned gruesome murder, Ajax recognizes the marks of a surprising enemy - the CIA mercenary army known as The Contra. This isn't just a random murder; this is an execution, a call to war. Or is it? And why does no one want to know but Ajax? As the bodies pile up and a red-headed gringa who should be his enemy enchants his thoughts, Ajax questions whether he can stay sober, sane, and alive long enough to figure it all out.
Synopsis
Police Captain Ajax Montoya is six days sober. Six days and haunted nightly by visions of...what? A ghost? Maybe he's going crazy...cracked...insane. What a far cry from the hero of the old days leading the Sandinista revolution. Back in those days, he'd been the guy who solves problems. Back in those days, he knew what was what and who to trust. At least until he was framed. In that botched affair things went wrong, and when he took the fall so did his sanity.
Now he's a homicide investigator and he's perfectly happy solving murders and sweating through the nightmarish memories of his soldier days. Until it seems that his nightmares are coming back to haunt his reality. When he's called in to investigate a seemingly routine murder, Montoya recognizes the marks of a surprising enemy - the Contra. There's much more to this death than meets the eye, and he's one of the few who would notice. This isn't just a random murder; this is an execution, a call to arms and to war. There's been a lot of dying lately. As the bodies pile up, while a red-headed gringa disrupts his thoughts, Montoya questions whether he can stay sober, sane, and alive long enough to figure it all out.
Synopsis
A former Sandinista guerrilla
commandante turned cop investigates a series of murders that appear to be political executions in this debut novel by Joe Gannon.Police Captain Ajax Montoya is six days sober. But his nights are haunted by...what? Delirium? Hallucinations? A ghost? Maybe he's just finally going crazy. What a far cry from the hero of the old days leading the Sandinista revolution against the Ogre and his hated National Guard. Back then he'd been the guy who got the tough missions, the deadly assignments. Back then he knew what was what and who to trust. But once the clarity of war gave way to the wooly reality of peace, Ajax fared less well. And once he was implicated in an assassination he had no part of, things went wrong and when he took the fall, so did his sobriety.
Now he's a homicide investigator in Nicaragua and he's perfectly happy solving murders and sweating through the nightmarish memories of his guerilla days. Until it seems that his nightmares are leaving his head and appearing, well, all around him. When he's called in to investigate a robbery turned murder, Montoya recognizes the marks of a surprising enemy - the CIA mercenary army known as The Contra. There's much more to this death than meets the eye, but hes the only one who notices, or wants to notice. This isn't just a random murder; this is an execution, a call to arms and to war. There's been a lot of dying lately. As the bodies pile up and a red-headed gringa who should be his enemy enchants his thoughts, Montoya questions whether he can stay sober, sane, and alive long enough to figure it all out.
About the Author
JOE GANNON is a writer, spoken work artist, and journalist. He reported for the Inter Press Service in Nicaraugua during the Contra war and the Sandinista Revolution. His work has appeared in publications like the L.A. Times, The Independent (London), The Valley Advocate, and The Daily Hampshire Gazette. He spent three years in the army then graduated from Amherst in 1984 and did his MFA at Pine Manor College after a stint in London, set-dressing, screen-writing, and teaching high school.