Sea of Truth — Andrea De Carlo

Two brothers, Fabio and Lorenzo Telmari--one a corrupt politician, the other an impassioned writer and the novel's hero--inherit a secret upon the death of their father, an internationally renowned virologist. At his funeral, Lorenzo is approached by a mysterious redheaded woman who asks him a single question and then disappears: "Have you ever heard of Ndiogene?" From then on, Lorenzo's life undergoes rapid changes involving political and religious intrigue, narrow escapes, and a life-altering love affair. He learns that at the time of his death his father had two documents written by Ndiogene, a Senegalese cardinal who had recently died of AIDS. These documents contain slander against the Catholic church and controversial opinions about population control, among other issues. De Carlo confronts these themes with poise, avoiding sensationalism and tempering rage with irony, emotion, and equilibrium. A grand chase for the documents ensues, pitting brother against brother, and results in a crescendo of disappearances and deaths. With Sea of Truth, De Carlo has executed an engaging and adventurous novel, writing with conviction about the modern world and the values of its citizens.