Inspired by a real-life event of undeclared cash carried from Venezuela to Argentina in 2007, Briefcases from Caracas is an extraordinarily literary blend of the classic noir novel and international political thriller, the first of this prolific author’s novels to appear in English. Mendez Guédez’s Caracas--gritty and sublime--is the sinking ship at the center of this twenty-first century transnational Stevensonian Caribbean tale of shifting conflicts, loyalties, and surprising treasures.

Structured in a series of rounds in a boxing match, the fast-moving story of the underdog contender Donizetti is interspersed with observations from his cornerman, Manuel. Each is on the ropes in their own struggle to make sense of and find beauty in their day to day lives, upended by excruciating and unpredictable social changes beyond their control.