'Astonishing' Herald, Books of the Year 'Sublime' Irish Times, Book of the Year 'Wonderful' Guardian, Books of the Year During a sweltering South American summer, a family convenes for dinner at a restaurant. Midway through the meal, Carlos disappears. An experienced, semi-retired inspector takes the case, but what should be a routine investigation becomes something strange, intangible, even sinister. The corporation for which Carlos worked seems to serve no purpose; the staff talk of their missing colleague's alarming, shifting physical symptoms; a forensic scientist uncovers evidence of curious abnormalities in the thriving microorganisms that shared Carlos's body. As the inspector relives and retraces the missing man's footsteps, the trail leads him away from the city sprawl and deep into the country's rainforest interior, where he encounters both horror and wonder.

'Some best-kept secrets are best not kept...' Guardian, Best Books of 2016

Waterstones' Book of the Month

Carlos has disappeared. A retired inspector takes the case, but what should be a routine investigation becomes something strange, even sinister. As the inspector relives and retraces the missing man's footsteps, the trail leads him away from the city sprawl and deep into the country's rainforest interior, where he encounters both horror and wonder.

WINNER OF THE 2016 SOMERSET MAUGHAM AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2016 SALTIRE LITERARY AWARDS