It's a long time since I have read a debut so intriguing and powerful. Dan Smith has created an original novel set in an under-explored time and place. It is both beautifully written and very accessible. Whilst many of its themes - violence, power and greed - are quite masculine, its compelling cast of the both male and female characters should ensure that it will appeal to a wide range of fiction fans. This brand of accessible, literate and intelligent fiction is very much where the market is at the moment - there should be serious book-club potential here. Dan has seen this world at close hand - he was brought up as the son of a plantation owner in South America in the 80s.