**A conspiracy thriller from the New York Times–bestselling author of Dune, “one of America's most intelligent, imaginative, and magnetic novelists” (Kirkus Reviews).

In pursuit of a scoop, American journalist Hal Garson follows up on a mysterious, desperate letter that points to the whereabouts of legendary author Antone Luac, who vanished without a trace in Mexico years ago. The celebrated writer’s disappearance is an enduring mystery, and Garson senses this story will make his career.

Despite warnings, he travels to isolated Ciudad Brockman and begins asking questions . . . too many questions, which place him in the crossfire of a local crime lord, a Communist insurgent group, and finally to the imprisoned writer—and his beautiful daughter—who may not want to be found.