Click Here To Purchase The Reluctant Colonel

Author: Michael J. Merry

ISBN: 978-1-4196-8702-0

Although Michael J. Merry’s The Reluctant Colonel is quite a tall tale and a bit far- fetched, I have to admit it did suck me in.

Merry has incorporated into his novel his vast dossier of Latin American knowledge he acquired while living and travelling there for twenty-seven years where he headed a political news gathering organization for ten of those years.

The narrative is set in a fictitious beautiful and unusual Latin American country, Maraguay. What was quite unique about this country was that it was blessed with the most incredible natural deep-water harbor between San Francisco in the USA to the north and Ushuaia at the tip of Chile in the south.

The Americans had been craving for this harbor since the country’s independence. It was in 1916 on the eve of World War I that the two countries signed a treaty “in perpetuity.” The deal was that the USA would pay to the government of Maraguay a half million dollars a year and in exchange the Americans would receive the exclusive use of the harbor, its islands, the port, and the wharves. Furthermore, due to American astuteness, it was agreed that American currency would be used. As it turns out, what Maraguay received was in reality more than the half million annual fees, for it gave them stability that many other Latin countries lacked.

The importance of the harbor was far reaching for it eventually served as a huge warehouse and free zone for ships transiting the Panama canal as it was only two hundred miles to the north and for the rapidly developing countries to the south. In addition, it was a “direct shot across the Pacific to Taiwan, China, and Japan, and was therefore ideal of on and offloading goods for shipment north, south, or through the canal.” The Americans used the largest of the islands as a fifteen thousand foot runway that was built at the beginning of the Korean War. In the 1960s, when our story takes place, it was also used in order to keep an eye on the Cubans, as the Bay of Pigs invasion had taken place a few years previously.

As our story unfolds, we learn that the treaty is about to expire and informal talks with the government in power under the leadership of General DeSantos who now held power for thirteen years were underway.

DeSantos had seized power from the previous civilian government after he presented a plan to the Americans that would solve their problem of having to constantly renegotiate their treaty arrangements with a government that every year demanded more money for the harbor rights. The Americans agreed to turn a blind eye to DeSantos’s revolt plan, and furthermore to sweeten the pot, they agreed that each month his Swiss bank account would be enriched to the tune of thousands of dollars as long as he permitted them to do whatever they wanted, when they wanted and where they wanted.

It should be mentioned that DeSantos not only profited from the Americans but also, as we discover, he and his cohorts had their slimy paws in the country’s treasury to the tune of millions of dollars.

When all of this was taking place George McGregor, a young expatriate Englishman and junior supervisor in the employ of American and European Cable Company in Maraguay befriended a fellow employee, Felipe Fernandez. Felipe was quite a storyteller who could keep everyone in stitches as he recounted his many romantic ventures.

It was through Felipe that George met Daniel Montego who was a senior cadet at the Military Academy in San Antonio. Daniel had been at the British College with Felipe and had finished three years of medical school before his parents died and his money ran out. Daniel was an outstanding military student and he caught the eye of General DeSantos who after his graduation assigned him as one of his personal aides.

One day while George, Felipe and Daniel were boozing it up, Ramon Fernandez, Felipe’s older brother and who was a lawyer comes by and is introduced to George.

Ramon doesn’t hide his disdain for DeSantos and his cohorts and George listens to the exchange between Ramon and Daniel saying nothing although he surmises that they knew something that he didn’t. 

Subsequently, the foursome gather at a restaurant, where to the surprise of George, Ramon is arrested. It seems that General DeSantos got wind of a possible coup led by civilians.

What then ensues is a blow–by-blow account of how George, Felipe, Daniel and eleven others successfully overthrow the government. We further learn that Daniel fully understands that there are three basic rules to a successful military coup d’état, timing, military control, and popular support. We also discover that he will stop at nothing to become the coup leader.

Merry dissects the anatomy of the coup and its aftermath that was carried out by a mere handful of men known as El Grupo. The narrative furthermore reveals how young Daniel along with George, Felipe and Ramon, who was now free, perform some daring feats to solidify their hold on power and track down hidden funds squirreled away by members of the previous corrupt government.

Entwined into the plot is the wheeling and dealing of a cunning George concerning the renegotiation of the harbor treaty that not only involves the Americans but also get-togethers with Fidel Castro, the English and the French ambassadors. George also believes in the adage that all work and no play makes one a dull person and he savors the fruits of his popularity with several women who literally throw themselves at him.

The Reluctant Colonel is not without faults such as the insertion of too many of Felipe’s stories that does very little to move the narrative along. It also lacks the kind of suspense that would bring readers to the point of nail biting with their hair standing on end. However, it does deserve praise for its sharp perception of the corruption practiced by government officials of many Latin American countries and the terror resulting from human rights abuses.

Furthermore, I have to admit that although Merry has created a rich dream world that despite being quite hazardous is nevertheless quite alluring as we notice from following the life of George after the coup. Could Merry’s story happen in the real world? Probably.

Click Here To Purchase The Reluctant Colonel

 To read Norm's Interview With Michael Merry CLICK HERE

The above review was contributed by: The Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com, Norm Goldman, B.A. LL.L, Retired Title Attorney: Norm is also a travel writer and together with his artist wife, Lily, the couple meld Norm's words with Lily's art. To check out their travel site click on Sketchandtravel.com   Click here to view Norm’s Reviews & Interviews.