Mr Charles Brett

Corruption's Price: a Spanish Deceit Mr Charles Brett

Publisher Marketing: Davide Shape is a half-Spanish, half-English businessman who returns to Spain to try to grow an American company's client list. Realising the chances of success are diminishing and suspicious about why, he asks Caterina Certaldo, a previous business partner, to come from Sydney to Madrid and explore what's wrong. She does, bringing with her a fellow Australian and bi-sexual colleague, Emilia. All too soon their joint efforts indicate corrupt business practices. Davide, Caterina and Emilia are joined by a Madrilena, Ana de la Rosa, who introduces her cousin, Pedro Casals, a senior policeman responsible for investigating national crimes like corruption and money laundering. They are backed by the formal powers of Rafa Garibey de Williams, a frustrated investigating judge. As they try to understand a cat's cradle of connections, they discover deceits which reach deep into not only into business but beyond - to the Church, Opus Dei, the legal profession and ... politicians. Their activities soon provoke a reaction from those who fear the consequences, who try to prevent progress. The effect is to question the future viability of major parts of the Spanish State. [This is the second Davide Shape/Inma Avila novel: the first is The HolyPhone Confessional Crisis.]"