Night of the Jaguar: A Novel

About this book

In Joe Gannons 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 hes a homicide investigator in Managua solving murders and sweating through the nightmares from his guerilla days. When hes 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 isnt 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.