In a remote Peruvian mining camp high in the Andes, Corporal Lituma and his deputy Tomás investigate the baffling disappearances of three men. The local community, steeped in myth and fear, attributes the events to supernatural mountain spirits. Lituma must navigate a labyrinth of superstition, the looming threat of Shining Path terrorists, and the harsh realities of the highlands to uncover a terrestrial, and far more disturbing, truth. Mario Vargas Llosa weaves a masterful tale blending detective fiction with a deep exploration of cultural clashes and violence in a haunting landscape.