Missionary Stew

By Ross Thomas,

Book cover of Missionary Stew

Book description

Missionary Stew follows political fundraiser Draper Haere on a quest to uncover the secret behind a right-wing coup in an unnamed Central american country. He seeks the information in order to get dirt on his boss's opponent in the 1984 US Presidential election.

Haere's pursuit of the truth repeatedly puts…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Missionary Stew as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Critically underrated and largely unknown but described by up-and-coming writer Stephen King (in 1983) as “the Jane Austen of the political espionage story,” Ross Thomas was rumoured to have been an ex-spook himself. For those that haven’t read him, the best way I can describe his writing is: hilarious, clever, cynical, and like Elmore Leonard had a baby with Graham Greene.

Missionary Stew sees political fundraiser, Draper Haere, and “almost-Pulitzer winning” journalist, Morgan Citron, wrapped up in a caper involving the CIA, cocaine traffickers, Latin American generals, and corrupt US officials, all trying to fund a coup in a fictional…

From Lachlan's list on spy books set in Latin America.

Want books like Missionary Stew?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Missionary Stew.

Browse books like Missionary Stew

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Central America, elections, and presidential biography?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about Central America, elections, and presidential biography.

Central America Explore 33 books about Central America
Elections Explore 33 books about elections
Presidential Biography Explore 18 books about presidential biography