Cholo

I ordered a used copy of Cholo online after I saw a review that was published in the book 1001 Midnights (by Bill Pronzini and Marcia Muller). Those authors said that the little-known Cholo was the best original-paperback mystery published in 1981. After reading Cholo, I agree that it is worth tracking down a copy. The best thing about Cholo is the setting. Author Robert Houston brings Lima, Peru, to life at the beginning of the book. One can almost feel the thick fog that blankets the City. The story of Atahualpa's attempt to escape Lima before the authorities can apprehend him is exciting. On the whole, Cholo is a great adventure story with an ending that may surprise readers. Though I recommend Cholo, the book is not perfect. After Atahualpa leaves Lima, the story loses some of its momentum (though the book "picks up" again at the end). Also, I thought that Houston did not develop the characters (aside from Atahualpa) as well as I might have hoped he would; part of this problem stems from the book's short length (175 pages), but I wanted to know more about the people in the story. I am not quite as enthusiastic about Cholo as are Pronzini and Muller. It is still, however, an exciting adventure story with vivid descriptions of Peru.