#HiddenLight
“Enthralling political drama.” — literary fiction review
How to write a political thriller
One of the most often-asked questions for a mystery and thriller author is "Where does your inspiration come from?" Political thriller THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF MEXICO CITY had quite the auspicious beginning . . . Fateful dinner party We were invited to a dinner party at...
From Panama to Mexico and back again
Every thriller needs the big climax, right? But suspense needs to be built with action scenes that intrigue us. The mystery setting Remember how in THE KEY TO REBECCA, there's the big climax in the desert as the spy, Wolff, tries to get the radio he's left with the...
Matching Books with Museums in Mexico City
There you are, strolling through amazing exhibits and you know something’s missing. Like the backstory. Wish you'd known more before going? But there wasn't time. Besides, research before going to a museum sounds too much like work. So prep with a little fiction!...
The Hidden Lovers of San Miguel
In the political thriller THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF MEXICO CITY, Luz and Eddo briefly escape a political scheme to buy the Mexican presidency with drug money, and spend time away from the world in the lovely Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende. A 4-hour drive northwest...
Padre Ricardo and the Sacristy of Santa Clara
The Hidden Light of Mexico City contains a number of references from my own experiences in Mexico City. I've already written about the class struggle of simply standing in a line but also wanted to share a sadder, more compelling event that helped shape the book's...
Why Read a Book About Mexico Now
Reading about Mexico now is a mix of highs and lows. Fiction can't substitute for facts but it can lead us to become interested enough in an issue to find out what is really going on. That is the impact I hope The Hidden Light of Mexico City can have. The press...
A tale of Mexico: the school bus and the thriller
THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF MEXICO CITY is a political thriller, with characters based on many people I met in Mexico City. And a bus. The setting Let me set this up for you. Our house was at the start of the school bus route going home. My children had a 10 minute ride. In...
At the End of the Line
Let's set the scene Luz filled out a form to cash the check at a mahogany counter then went to the end of the line. It moved very slowly and grew very long. Luz had ample time to look around. The bank was an elegant place of glass and darkly veined marble...