Tango

Life is suddenly looking up for William Wooding. Thirty-five, overweight, sedately employed and unhappily married, he is given the chance to escape to a new life in South America.

There he runs the English Bookshop and discovers a different kind of existence: anarchic staff, a beautiful prostitute called Theresa, intrigue at Maria''s Tango Club (the local house of pleasure) and a country heading for a bloody coup. Wooding discovers that the country''s young president is an old school friend and as a consequence finds himself recruited by the mysterious Mr Box of British Intelligence to investigate what is going on…

Tangois a hugely enjoyable mixture of sexual escapades, revolutionary politics, and intelligence-gathering in exotic landscapes. It confirms Alan Judd as the contemporary successor to Evelyn Waugh.

''Very entertaining…it makes you want to turn the pages. No mean achievement'' Sunday Telegraph

''Well-constructed, witty and at times moving'' Independent

''An enjoyable book which made me laugh out loud… Alan Judd has a real gift for satire'' NewStatesman

''The breezy satirical blend of carnival and cruelty is never less than nicely judged'' Observer