ANXIOUS IN TALARA: A foreign service historical mystery novel by Walt McConville. With 5,000 producing oilwells and the largest refinery on the west coast of South America, northern Peru presents a prosperous picture at the beginning of the Great Depression in this intriguing novel. Pete, Ronnie and Hank, three expatriate oil company employees, become involved in a clever scam to compete with the national lottery, not foreseeing certain surprising complications. Problems caused by romance, political upset, rebellious workers and homicides bring them more than they bargain for. A fast-moving page-turner, Walt McConville's novel provides a fresh insight into an area and an era that will never be the same. Events and descriptions are portrayed by an author who obviously has lived, worked, and observed his locale with keen perception and a wry sense of humour. A fabulous read!