Marshall hasn’t had the best childhood. His father drank himself to death, and his mother went insane. This leaves Marshall feeling like he isn’t capable of attracting love. So when Marshall ends up in a home for troubled teenagers, he doesn’t expect to make friends with the janitor, Hal. Little does Marshall know that his psychiatrist and his new friends are working up a scheme. Hal helps Marshall after he gets out of the boys home and talks him into a con game. A game that makes them all a lot of money but doesn’t make Marshall feel good. Hal and Marshall take their game to South America where rich land owner, Angelo Farelli, lives. Angelo’s land is wanted by a group of drug lords. Marshall is expected to seduce Angelo into giving up the land, but what Marshall doesn’t expect is falling in love.

Arsenic and Rio is quite possibly the best novel D.J. Manly has written so far. Of course, I said that with his last book. D.J. Manly’s stories are always emotionally charged and full of energy, and this one is no exception. I couldn’t help but sympathize with Angelo and Marshall both. The character of Hal was just plain scary. I felt a connection with all these characters that left me both crying and laughing right along with them as they took their journey. You’ll find yourself thinking about Arsenic and Rio for days after the last page is read. With complex characters and a storyline that is unpredictable you can’t go wrong with this novel.

Reviewed by: April