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…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

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 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Missionary Stew.

Browse books like Missionary Stew

Book cover of The Feast of the Goat
Book cover of Our Man in Havana
Book cover of Castro's Secrets: Cuban Intelligence, The CIA, and the Assassination of John F. Kennedy

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,188

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Central America, elections, and presidential biography?

Central America 33 books
Elections 41 books