In her new novel, Rio de Janeiro native Lilian Fontes, author of "Santo Dia" (a finalist for the Passo Fundo Zaffari & Bourbon Literature Prize in 2003), tells the story of a woman whose life is marked from an early age by great losses. The narrator-character, whose name is not revealed, is a criminal lawyer who devotes her time almost entirely to private detective work, working alongside Manolo, dealing with cases of embezzlement, extortion, and marital infidelity. After investigating "everyday" cases of fraud, the protagonist ends up immersed in a much more dangerous investigation, involving a well-known congressman who uses an NGO to embezzle public funds. But in what could be a hard-hitting action novel, the question isn't about the criminal, the offender, or the tax evader under investigation, as Heloisa Buarque de Hollanda points out in the book's blurb, "but, curiously, it's about the content, the degree of reality of what the investigator feels, thinks, and does." In Eyes Wide Open, the reader follows the character's daily life, and through her actions, journeys through her memories and reflections. While dedicating herself to unraveling the case's secrets and uncovering the illicit activities, the protagonist expresses her doubts about her work and profession, while reminiscing about key moments from her childhood and her love life. Using a detective story structure in a clear and agile narrative—with a surprising ending—the author guides the reader through the character's existential journey, with her professional and emotional conflicts and her observations regarding the complex difference between the feminine and the masculine.
