A Companion to Latin American Crime Fiction
The first integrated overview in English of Latin American crime fiction, a flourishing genre with unique perspectives and characteristics.


Latin American crime fiction has a long and rich history, and this volume offers the first integrated overview in English of a flourishing tradition with unique perspectives and characteristics. Featuring contributions from leading scholars of a multifarious genre often shortened to neopolicíaco or neopolicial, this Companion explores noir literature in Latin America. The first part looks at the history of the novela negra and its manifestations in Mexico, Argentina, Cuba and Brazil. The second part examines patterns and trends including literary crime fiction, the narconovela, a concern for increasing racial and sexual diversity and the phenomenon of true crime. In the third part, expert analyses are given of four leading authors and their work: Paco Ignacio Taibo II, Leonardo Padura Fuentes, Claudia Piñeiro and Rubem Fonseca. The book closes with a chapter on screen adaptations of crime fiction for film and television. Overall, the Companion provides a clear and authoritative account of Latin American crime fiction, showcasing its variety, fluidity and adaptability.
1146994133
A Companion to Latin American Crime Fiction
The first integrated overview in English of Latin American crime fiction, a flourishing genre with unique perspectives and characteristics.


Latin American crime fiction has a long and rich history, and this volume offers the first integrated overview in English of a flourishing tradition with unique perspectives and characteristics. Featuring contributions from leading scholars of a multifarious genre often shortened to neopolicíaco or neopolicial, this Companion explores noir literature in Latin America. The first part looks at the history of the novela negra and its manifestations in Mexico, Argentina, Cuba and Brazil. The second part examines patterns and trends including literary crime fiction, the narconovela, a concern for increasing racial and sexual diversity and the phenomenon of true crime. In the third part, expert analyses are given of four leading authors and their work: Paco Ignacio Taibo II, Leonardo Padura Fuentes, Claudia Piñeiro and Rubem Fonseca. The book closes with a chapter on screen adaptations of crime fiction for film and television. Overall, the Companion provides a clear and authoritative account of Latin American crime fiction, showcasing its variety, fluidity and adaptability.
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Overview

The first integrated overview in English of Latin American crime fiction, a flourishing genre with unique perspectives and characteristics.


Latin American crime fiction has a long and rich history, and this volume offers the first integrated overview in English of a flourishing tradition with unique perspectives and characteristics. Featuring contributions from leading scholars of a multifarious genre often shortened to neopolicíaco or neopolicial, this Companion explores noir literature in Latin America. The first part looks at the history of the novela negra and its manifestations in Mexico, Argentina, Cuba and Brazil. The second part examines patterns and trends including literary crime fiction, the narconovela, a concern for increasing racial and sexual diversity and the phenomenon of true crime. In the third part, expert analyses are given of four leading authors and their work: Paco Ignacio Taibo II, Leonardo Padura Fuentes, Claudia Piñeiro and Rubem Fonseca. The book closes with a chapter on screen adaptations of crime fiction for film and television. Overall, the Companion provides a clear and authoritative account of Latin American crime fiction, showcasing its variety, fluidity and adaptability.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781855663787
Publisher: Tamesis Books
Publication date: 08/12/2025
Pages: 248
Product dimensions: 6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

AILSA PEATE is Lecturer of Latin American and Heritage Studies at the University of Westminster.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors
Introduction - Philip Swanson

Part I: Time and Place
1. History - Ailsa Peate
2. Mexico - Persephone Braham
3. Argentina - Cynthia Schmidt-Cruz
4. Cuba - Carlos Uxo
5. Brazil - Natalia Jacovkis

Part II: Themes and Trends
6. Literary Crime Fiction - Philip Swanson
7. Narconarratives - Ruth N. Solarte-Hengsen
8. Diversity in Crime Fiction - Osvaldo di Paolo Harrison
9. True Crime - Kate Guinn

Part III: Four Major Authors
10. Paco Ignacio Taibo II - Charlotte Lange
11. Leonardo Padura Fuentes - Fabienne Viala
12. Claudia Piñeiro - Fiona Mackintosh
13. Rubem Fonseca - M. Elizabeth Ginway

Part IV: Beyond the Written Word
14. Latin American Crime Fiction on Screen - David Conlon

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