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The Darkest Heart

Review

The Darkest Heart

Zico is looking for a fresh start. Orphaned at a young age, he has spent most of his life dealing in illegal activities and trying to make enough money to survive. He got mixed up with Costa, a man with a dark heart who has hired him many times to kill. Costa wants Zico to end one more person’s life: Sister Delores Beckett. Zico no longer wants to be a murderer-for-hire, but he knows that if he refuses the job, the life of his girlfriend, Daniella, will be in jeopardy. If he says yes, it will be worth a lot of money to him, and the two can make a fresh start. Ultimately he accepts the assignment but with a heavy heart.

"THE DARKEST HEART served as my introduction to Smith, whose previous efforts include THE CHILD THIEF and THE RED WINTER. His latest is a winner, and I hope to sink my teeth into more of his work in the future."

Zico has another job to do: he must take a load of contraband down the river with his friend and mentor, Raul. Raul has a cargo boat that he uses to transport goods, both legal and otherwise, up and down the river. Zico decides that he can complete both assignments in one trip. Leonardo is sent along by whoever owns the contraband to ensure that the cargo is delivered safely. Against his better judgment, Zico allows Daniella to travel with them. Leonardo is another man with a dark heart; he causes lots of trouble on the way to their destination, endangering the cargo, the boat and everyone on it.

Other problems crop up during the journey that Zico does not anticipate. Will he be able to fulfill his assignment so he can start his new life? Or will the price he has to pay be too much? And who really has the darkest heart?

Author Dan Smith sets his novel in the heart --- the dark heart --- of Brazil. The setting is quite appropriate for the story as darkness and dark hearts are recurring themes. In the process, the reader learns a good deal about this country, its terrain and its language. Smith sprinkles foreign words liberally throughout the text, which I generally enjoyed. Sometimes, though, it was a bit difficult to decipher the exact meaning of those words as translations weren’t always provided. Nevertheless, I appreciated being educated about Brazil’s people and customs.

THE DARKEST HEART served as my introduction to Smith, whose previous efforts include THE CHILD THIEF and THE RED WINTER. His latest is a winner, and I hope to sink my teeth into more of his work in the future.

Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin on August 21, 2015

The Darkest Heart
by Dan Smith