ALL OUR WARS

In Vasquez’s crime novel, a young woman is determined to escape her family’s criminal empire, but instead finds herself running it.

Sofia De Luna has always known that her family’s wealth and prestige didn’t come from the produce business her late mother owned, but she’s horrified when she learns that her father is putting her in control of the family’s extensive drug trafficking. When her mother was murdered 12 years ago, Sofia, then in her midteens, vowed to separate herself from them forever, and she eventually left Mexico City far behind for a new life in London. For the past eight years, she’s been far away from the cartels and the violence—and far from Andres Herrera, her first love, who broke her heart. Now she’s forced to contend with her brothers (who can’t forgive her for abandoning them), with family members who’d like to strip her of her newfound power, and with Andres, who may also be responsible for her mother’s murder. Vasquez’s page-turner is both an emotional family drama and a tense thriller. Sofia is a sympathetic protagonist, and readers will hope that she can use her family’s power for good. The author deftly paints a picture of a narco-state that’s intertwined with drug cartels who terrorize the people but also provide a measure of economic stability. Vasquez also offers vibrant descriptions of Mexican history and culture: “This complex, beautiful land of mountains and beaches and jungles and deserts had more to offer the world than drugs and violence.” But the novel also refuses to allow readers any illusions about how easy Sofia’s dreams for her country would be to accomplish. Indeed, a feeling of heartbreaking futility permeates the novel as Sofia navigates national and family politics. Flashbacks to Sofia’s mother’s early life enrich the story with the beginnings of the family’s empire and also show how small choices can echo for generations. A strong supporting cast adds depth, and gripping moments of violence and romance will leave readers wanting more.

A riveting family drama set in the world of Mexico City’s cartels.