This is a crime thriller with real attitude, it is bold with subtle undertones, and perfect if you’re looking for something a little different. Focusing on the aftermath of an armed robbery in Uruguay, the women here take centre stage, even if the men don’t know it. I clapped my hands with glee when I knew that The Hand that Feeds You was carrying on from where Crocodile Tears left off. I really do recommend that you start at the beginning in order to fully appreciate the journey undertaken by the characters. Mercedes Rosende invites the reader to look beyond the obvious, to the fascinating layers beneath. I love the way she studies the finer points of humanity, finding sorrow and a real depth of feeling as well as the darkest of humour. The translation is again wonderfully on point by Tim Gutteridge, encouraging the unique tone to flow from the pages. The short sharp shocks of chapters rapidly changed viewpoint, always ensuring I was fully alert and engaged. While all the characters feel vibrantly real, Ursula is a particular favourite, and she is handled with thoughtful care and attention. There is such a sense of place, Uruguay sings with intensity. And oh that ending! It made me smile and raise my eyebrows in anticipation. The Hand That Feeds You is a beautifully riotous, yet razor-sharp novel and I’m happy to recommend it heart and soul.
The attempted robbery of the armoured car in the back streets of Montevideo is a miserable failure. A lucky break for the intrepid Ursula Lopez who manages to snatch all the loot, more hindered than helped by her faint-hearted and reluctant companion Diego. Only now, the wannabe robbers are hot on her heels. As is the police. And Ursula's sister. But Ursula turns out to be enormously talented when it comes to criminal undertakings, and given the hilarious ineptitude of those in pursuit, she might just pull it off. She is an irresistible heroine. A murderess with a sense of humour, a lovable criminal with an edge and she is practically invisible to the men who dominate the deeply macho society of Uruguay.
'Fast, slick and acerbically funny: buckle up and enjoy the ride.' - Guardian
'Rosende smoothly combines dark humor and farce with moving depictions of the grimmer aspects of life. Elmore Leonard fans will look forward to the sequel.' - Publishers Weekly
Author
About Mercedes Rosende
Mercedes Rosende was born in 1958 in Montevideo, Uruguay. She is a lawyer and a journalist when not writing fiction. She has won many prizes for her novels and short stories. In 2005 she won the Premio Municipal de Narrativa fur 'Demasiados Blues', in 2008 the National Literature Prize for 'La Muerte Tendra tus Ojos' and in 2019 the LiBeraturpreis in Germany for 'Crocodile Tears'. She lives in Montevideo.
