I am always intrigued by novels set in other countries. They expose readers to a different way of life and challenges in an area that may be quite foreign to them. Argentinian author Nicolás Ferraro does just that with his latest book, MY FAVORITE SCAR, which is translated by Mallory N. Craig-Kuhn.

This tale is a nice mix of crime noir and coming of age as a teenage girl and her father are on the run seeking revenge. Víctor Mondragón has led an interesting life and has come across some very shady characters in the process. He has not been able to shield his lifestyle from his 15-year-old daughter, Ámbar, who would rather be listening to music or playing video games than tracking down ruthless killers across a dreary Argentinian landscape.

"MY FAVORITE SCAR nicely fits inside the infectious dialogue and storytelling that has become an expectation of the noir genre. Víctor and Ámbar quickly become indelible characters as our wayward protagonists."

Víctor calls Ámbar his “favorite scar,” a reference to the tattoo on his forearm where her name is prominently displayed. It was like she was destined to be with him through thick and thin. This current situation is definitely not a safe one for Ámbar as Víctor vows to get even with a mercenary who killed his best friend. With him and his daughter at the top of the hit list, Víctor has no choice but to go on the offensive rather than sit and wait for the killer to darken their doorstep and wipe them out in one fell swoop.

Víctor attempts to educate Ámbar about his mindset in this particular scenario by saying, “Giving is better than receiving. It took me a lot of scars to figure that one out.” Finding and eliminating the culprit before he locates them will be easier said than done, but Ámbar is quite intelligent, determined and more than up to the task. As they pick up the scent and begin questioning anyone who might have seen their target, their road trip becomes incredibly tense.

They eventually learn that the mercenary’s name is Mboi. His heavily tattooed body makes him easy to spot and just as easy for witnesses to remember. When they encounter Mboi’s brother, Víctor must curb his hatred just long enough to wring every drop of information about Mboi out of him. This is the perfect setup for the inevitable showdown that in no way guarantees the success or survival of Víctor or Ámbar.

MY FAVORITE SCAR nicely fits inside the infectious dialogue and storytelling that has become an expectation of the noir genre. Víctor and Ámbar quickly become indelible characters as our wayward protagonists.