Southerly Breeze

The book is a gripping modern day drama in a European country where assets become liabilities, ancient rites mingle with current feasts, evildoers receive their ultimate punishment from unheralded quarters and from even more despicable characters, everyday folks show bravery and dignity in the face of events beyond their control and none is safe.
The novel is a Darwinian tale of survival of the ‘meanest’ unfolding in Bulgaria before the Cold War's end. The plot culminates in the first chapter where protagonists appear and the reader glances at Byzantine business in Party circles. Classic and classy buildings coexist with Stalinesque architecture; political decisions are adopted behind wall of secrecy and shrouded by blatant propaganda cliches. In a ‘parallel universe’ another drama unfolds in Plovdiv and its mountain vicinity, rich history playing vital role. The local ‘tigress’ brings a few new tricks to the fox chase game: nothing-personal-business-only is her MO. In a small village, ‘a stone’s throw from the border’ a youth matures in the birthplace of Orpheus and Bacchus. In this place history violently galloped in eons ago, leaving a painful open wound and let it to its own devices. The village with its ancient history rooted in the daily life of its inhabitants, becomes a scene of clashes and renewed mayhem. Honor, dignity, pride collide with brutal events forcing serious decisions, repeating ancient history. The last subplot develops around the ancient resort city of Varna, on the Black Sea coast ruled by a promiscuous first secretary and his equally unscrupulous, profligate wife. Their despicable deeds are ‘rewarded’ in an unexpected way in the opening chapter of the book with some belated name play and ominous coincidences. Ancient myths and present day celebrations mingle into an explosive muddle of carnality, violence and death, leading to the ultimate demise of the First regional couple.