Buried Strangers by Leighton Gage

From the Publisher

Praise for Leighton Gage’s Chief Inspector Mario Silva series:

“Realistic characters that the readers can care about. . . . The ultimate story of the haves vs. the have nots.”—Detroit Free Press

“Gage creates a contemporary tapestry of Brazil . . . [and] builds a compelling foundation for future Silva cases.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Emotionally charged. . . . Vividly evokes a country of political corruptions, startling economic disparity and relentless crime.”—Booklist

A playful dog finds a bone at the outset of this mystery set in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Chief Inspector Mario Silva of the federal police based in Brasilia and his team of investigators, Hector Costa and Arnaldo Nunes, are called in. The bone is human and the investigators soon unearth a clandestine cemetery. Someone has secretly disposed of the bodies of unknown human beings, often interred in family groups. And in Sao Paulo, it turns out, many patrons of a local travel agency have never reached their North American destinations. The motive for these mass murders is completely contemporary and completely appalling.

Publishers Weekly

At the start of Gage's intelligent and subtle second mystery to depict life in modern Brazil (after 2008's Blood of the Wicked), Yoshiro Tanaka, a corrupt local policeman, uncovers a secret cemetery in a park near Brasilia that contains more than three dozen corpses, including those of 24 children. Mario Silva, of the Brazilian Federal Police, has an uphill battle persuading his politically sensitive boss, Nelson Sampaio, that the find warrants federal resources. When forensics indicate that the dead were each missing a body part, Sampaio fears rumors that a satanic cult is responsible will harm the country's tourism industry. Tanaka, under pressure from his wife to bring in more money, dutifully tracks down clues identifying some of the dead people. When Tanaka's attempts to extort money backfire, Silva must pick up the pieces of his investigation. Lovers of suspenseful and sophisticated crime novels will be rewarded. (Jan.)

Jo Ann Vicarel - Library Journal

When 37 corpses are uncovered in a clandestine cemetery in the Brazilian city of São Paulo, Chief Inspector Mario Silva, introduced in Blood of the Wicked, must find the motive behind this mass murder. Despite the political underhandedness and police corruption that mark Brazilian life, Silva and his crew work steadily toward a bang-up ending. For readers who like procedurals set in exotic places. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ9/1/08.]

School Library Journal

Adult/High School

In this second book featuring Chief Inspector Mario Silva, Gage takes readers back to the scene of the original crimes, the gritty streets of São Paulo. The story begins with the discovery of a human bone by a dog out walking with his owner, and Inspector Silva and his team are called in to investigate. This innocent opening soon spirals into a bizarre and creepy investigation fraught with corruption, human-organ theft, and a cemetery's worth of victims. The sweaty, inherently shady backdrop of Brazil's largest city is a fabulous setting for the mystery. The book is characterized by deadpan dialogue and prose that has an almost film noir feel. The simple but riveting style makes this a page-turner and stands in stark contrast to the brutal murders and long trail of dead bodies. Fans of Gage's first Silva mystery will enjoy this one just as much, and it can also be read as a stand-alone title. It's a great example of classic good-versus-evil storytelling, with lots of guts, gore, forensic detail, and intrigue along the way.-Caitlin Fralick, Ottawa Public Library, Ontario

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