Reviewed by Ian Hamilton
Best Left Buried is more complex than thrillers which have a single plot line and restrict themselves to the essentials of the thriller genre: a dangerous situation, some elements of intrigue and brave cunning to bring the danger and intrigue to a resolution. Neil A. White adds another dimension to his text by his choice of political contexts: Nicaragua and the U.S. role in its civil war.
Indeed, many of the things which drive the plot have their beginnings in the Nicaraguan Civil War (1981-1990) during which the Marxist Sandinista regime, which had overthrown the dictatorial Anastasio Somoza Debayle, is in sustained and bloody guerilla battles with the Contra rebels. In a twist to the usual pattern of rebels fighting to oust a right wing, even totalitarian, regime, in this conflict the Contra forces wanted to defeat Daniel Ortega’s socialist government. History records that both sides engaged in atrocities. The USA secretly sold weapons to Iran (in defiance of the wishes of Congress) and the money from those sales was used to fund the Contra forces. The evidence clearly suggests that the CIA was charged with monitoring the progress of the war and reporting back to Washington. This is important for the plot of this novel.
The whole grizzly affair was a scandal within the Reagan administration and the secrecy and deceit associated with it is the background into which White places our protagonist (Matt Latham).
As we know from the first book in this series (Shadow Lives), which is set in Ukraine, Matt is a journalist who also does some work for the Australian equivalent of MI6 (ASIS). His familiarity with the world of espionage is an important element in this novel because it explains his suspicion of other characters, his ability to seek out information others would prefer to remain hidden and his own vulnerable secret.
An influential spy, Tommy King, seeks out Matt to write a ghosted autobiography (later changed to a biography) of U.S. Senate candidate Bryant Callahan. That moves the centre of the story to Dallas and Callahan’s luxury mansion. Matt undertakes many interviews with Bryant which cement his existing knowledge of him from college days. Callahan’s father and Matt’s father (a diplomat called Sir Frank) were close friends but, as Matt is estranged from his father because of his disapproval of Matt, that does not necessarily fill Matt with confidence in Bryant’s honesty.
Woven into the Dallas context is Callahan’s stunningly beautiful wife Ajela. She was used by the Castro government as something of a trophy after winning the Miss Cuba title. That pattern of abuse was continued by the New York Fashion scene and by Bryant’s violent physical and emotional abuse. White adds minor characters Lonnie (the driver) and Consuela (the cook) who he uses to reveal aspects of Callahan’s character and marriage. His command of characterisation is very sound and Matt Latham, in particular, is established as a three- dimensional person. We are exposed to some of his failings and to an unnamed past indiscretion. The more sinister characters, Bryant Callahan, Tommy King and Hernan Cordua are also portrayed successfully and the much-put-upon Ajela is convincingly written as trapped into a loveless and manipulative relationship.
The author links Nicaragua, Cuba and Mexico to reveal deceit, murder, rape and urgent revenge. Those aspects of the plot need to remain concealed by any reviewer. As often found in this genre there are mis-directions and last chapter realisations. Less often found in the thriller is a moral inquiry: Who is it, if anyone, within this story who has acted with integrity? What does it mean to give lip-service to the idea of a nation’s sovereignty and then proceed to shamelessly interfere with their domestic politics? Who are the victims of the political machinations which are spawn by virulent ideology?
While this novel does provide a satisfying denouement, it does also suggest that in the murky world of espionage there are things “best left buried”.
Best Left Buried
[2025]
by Neil A White
Echo Publishing
ISBN: 978 1 7606 8932 2
$32.99; 352pp