Blood Tango by Annamaria Alfieri, a Mysterious Review.

Review: Set in Buenos Aires in October 1945 just hours after Colonel Juan Peron has been forced to resign his government position as Vice President and Secretary of War, a young woman, who bears a remarkable resemblance to Peron's mistress, radio actress Eva (Evita) Duarte, is murdered, leading the police to suspect that Evita herself may have been the intended target in Blood Tango, a historical mystery by Annamaria Alfieri.

The young woman's body was found in front of the dress shop where she worked as a model for Evita's dresses. Police detective Robert Leary believes someone mistook her for Evita, who many believe will attempt to restore Peron to power. With so much chaos in the streets, Leary's superiors tell him to forget about the death of an unknown girl and focus on the important issues facing the city. But Leary persists in his investigation, eventually identifying two possible suspects, both of which present him with formidable obstacles.

Blood Tango is a study of conflict. War is raging in Europe and though Argentina is technically aligned with the Allies, its people favor the Axis Powers. The country's own political stability is in doubt with popular Peron out of power (though not for long). The murder mystery here is a good one — the plot element that she may have, indeed, been the real target makes for a suspenseful read — but what is most interesting about the story is how Juan Peron and Eva Duarte set the course for their future together, one that would soon return Peron to power and give Evita the public stage she so craved.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Blood Tango.

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