El Flamingo *2024 Ngaio Marsh Awards longlist*

With no role in sight and nothing to lose, actor Lou Galloway leaves Los Angeles and heads to Mexico to drown his sorrows in cheap mezcal. But, after a round too many, he soon ends up at a grandiose wedding in the mansion of internationally wanted crime lord, Diego Flores, where Lou is mistaken for a rogue assassin known simply as El Flamingo. Before he can escape, he meets Maria-Carla, an enigmatic beauty with incredible perfume, and he inconveniently falls in love at first sight. When it becomes too late to turn back, Lou is swept into the dangerous world of Latin-American espionage, embarking on a journey that will take him from the desert fiestas of Mexico to the jungle-clad salsa bars of Colombia. To survive, Lou is forced to do the one thing he swore he would never do again-act. However, as Lou assumes the identity of El Flamingo, he realizes that this may be what he was searching for all along. Maybe this was fate? Maybe this will be the role of his life! _________ El Flamingo, is, at its heart, a sunset noir in which the self-deprecating, soul-searching Lou Galloway takes on what every dreamer longs to attain-to achieve the impossible dream; to fight the unbeatable foe. El Flamingo is a rollercoaster ride. Author Nick Davies incorporates elements from his travels across Latin America into this, his debut novel. It is a mystery full of adventure, vivid scenery, and Latin American culture. It's fast, fun, and leaves you breathless. It has all the markings of an action-thriller with an essential mystery twist. -Independent Book Review El Flamingo is a perfectly crafted sunset-noir novel that engages from its opening page to its satisfying conclusion. Lou Galloway is an unforgettable character full of self-deprecating wit, and the plot is the perfect blend of action, intrigue, and romance, all with an exotic Latin American vibe. This is the story of a dreamer reaching for the impossible, and it's a tale infused with heart and soul." -New Zealand Booklovers. Nick Davies is an actor-turned-writer from Wellington, New Zealand who has appeared internationally in both film and on TV. He has written a collection of travel stories entitled The Lost Gringo Chronicles and has worked as a freelance contributor on Mexico for The Dominion Post.