No Happy Ending: A Hector Belascoaran Shayne Detective Mystery

By Paco Ignacio Taibo II

Book Overview

The third English language case for Mexico City independent detective Hector Belascoaran Shayne, No Happy Ending, is Paco Ignacio Taibo II at his subversive, darkly comic best. First, Hector discovers the body of a dead actor, dressed like a Roman in full breastplate and regalia, propped up on the toilet in his office. Shortly thereafter, he receives a threatening letter and a snapshot of another murdered corpse. As Hector investigates the killings, he discovers that both share a connection to a dead stuntman named Zorak who apparently perished while training a government-backed paramilitary group. Once again, the one-eyed anarchist detective finds himself up against the very institutions which persecute the downtrodden and oppress the masses. In typical Taibo fashion, Hector appears destined to lose: the ending to this remarkable absurdist tale shows his bullet-ridden body lying face down in the gutter during a rainstorm.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590580389
• ISBN13: 9781590580387
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Length: 171 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Hope amidst total corruption

Taibo's mystery moves to uncover layers of distrust and fear ofthe secret workings of government officials. The feelings ofhopelessness descend with frightening clarity as the truth of how deeply the system fails to protect the rights of the citizens while fighting viciously against any presumed violation are revealed. Taibo has placed his hero, Hector, in an unbeatable reality. But Hector's fight displays hope.

This is Real World there will be no happy ending

There is something I appreciate about PIT II's books, they talk about reality. It's ok Hector does not exist but the country does. You should fight hard and to the limit, but you have to know that there can be a no happy ending.

Great!!!!!!

Manuel Hugo Porras Ortega (Manuel_porras@excitemail.com) México city. 02/22/98 The first time I started reading it, I found it kind of disturbing. However, when I finished it, I actually felt the despair of living in México, as I do. I couldn't believe that "although the story and the characters are fictitious, the country, however, is real". I read it first in Spanish, and later on I had the chance to bought it in the English version. What I didin't like of it, was that some names where changed, (like Sara Montiel for John Travolta). Anyway, I became a fan of PIT II from the moment i read that book, and i would like to get all translations that have been made to it.