After Manuel Cruz moves from the United States to the South American Republic of Banador, he thinks he is going to live in paradise. Instead, he finds himself hiding out in a hut at the edge of a marsh, after leaving behind his wife, children, and haciendas. Somebody wants Manuel dead, and he thinks it is a diabolical political genius-the president of Banador.

President Alejandro has an insatiable thirst for power. In just two years, he has seized control of nearly every major branch of the government and two television stations that pepper the airwaves with self-indulgent propaganda-all without a coup d'etat. At one time, Manuel was not only President Alejandro's good friend, but also his presidential advisor. But when Alejandro makes a covert state visit to Cuba to meet with Fidel Castro, Manuel takes revenge. Soon Alejandro's wife and their children are leaving Banador for Europe; she wants a divorce, and Alejandro wants nothing more than for Manuel to disappear forever.

In a last attempt to save his life, Manuel helps Alejandro's political opponent defeat his former friend in the upcoming presidential election-but as turmoil continues to swirl around him, he wonders if he will ever be able to trust anyone again.

After moving to Lawrence, Massachusetts, Manuel Cruz quickly learns that many rumors surround his neighbor, Madam Farfalla, and the death of her husband. But when he meets Madam Farfalla in person for the first time, he wonders if the rumors are just malicious jokes to target an old woman. Manuel soon learns that Madam Farfalla was once an opera singer, and the two quickly become fond of each another.

As Manuel begins high school in the fall, he meets Mr. Devlin, his eccentric new English teacher, who begins to shape Manuel's growing interest in Shakespeare and other literature, and eventually convinces Manuel to write a novel of his own. Manuel bases his novel around Madam Farfalla and writes the story of how a once-famous singer lost her husband. But not all is as it seems.

One day while Manuel is working on his paper route, he is introduced to a woman who tells him the truth behind Madam Farfalla's past, forcing him to reevaluate his relationship with the singer and everything he thought he knew. But after a serious confrontation and personal tragedy, Manuel will be forced to deal with the consequences and decide the facts for himself.

After moving to Lawrence, Massachusetts, Manuel Cruz quickly learns that many rumors surround his neighbor, Madam Farfalla, and the death of her husband. But when he meets Madam Farfalla in person for the first time, he wonders if the rumors are just malicious jokes to target an old woman. Manuel soon learns that Madam Farfalla was once an opera singer, and the two quickly become fond of each another.

As Manuel begins high school in the fall, he meets Mr. Devlin, his eccentric new English teacher, who begins to shape Manuel's growing interest in Shakespeare and other literature, and eventually convinces Manuel to write a novel of his own. Manuel bases his novel around Madam Farfalla and writes the story of how a once-famous singer lost her husband. But not all is as it seems.

One day while Manuel is working on his paper route, he is introduced to a woman who tells him the truth behind Madam Farfalla's past, forcing him to reevaluate his relationship with the singer and everything he thought he knew. But after a serious confrontation and personal tragedy, Manuel will be forced to deal with the consequences and decide the facts for himself.

After Manuel Cruz moves from the United States to the South American Republic of Banador, he thinks he is going to live in paradise. Instead, he finds himself hiding out in a hut at the edge of a marsh, after leaving behind his wife, children, and haciendas. Somebody wants Manuel dead, and he thinks it is a diabolical political genius-the president of Banador.

President Alejandro has an insatiable thirst for power. In just two years, he has seized control of nearly every major branch of the government and two television stations that pepper the airwaves with self-indulgent propaganda-all without a coup d'etat. At one time, Manuel was not only President Alejandro's good friend, but also his presidential advisor. But when Alejandro makes a covert state visit to Cuba to meet with Fidel Castro, Manuel takes revenge. Soon Alejandro's wife and their children are leaving Banador for Europe; she wants a divorce, and Alejandro wants nothing more than for Manuel to disappear forever.

In a last attempt to save his life, Manuel helps Alejandro's political opponent defeat his former friend in the upcoming presidential election-but as turmoil continues to swirl around him, he wonders if he will ever be able to trust anyone again.