The Sound of Things Falling (2011) by Colombian author Juan Gabriel Vásquez is a realist, political thriller exploring the lingering impact of Pablo Escobar’s reign on Colombia. Set primarily in 2009 Bogotá, the novel follows law professor Antonio Yammara, whose life is upended when a memory of a past trauma resurfaces. Thirteen years earlier, Antonio witnessed the murder of Ricardo Laverde, an acquaintance and former drug pilot, an event that plunges him into obsession and post-traumatic stress. As he unravels Ricardo’s mysterious past—including the tragic plane crash of Ricardo’s wife, Elaine—Antonio confronts his own lost relationships, including the collapse of his marriage and family life. Interwoven with historical context about Colombia’s drug trade and U.S. influence, the novel examines personal and national consequences of violence and crime. Winner of the 2011 Alfaguara Prize, its 2013 English translation by Anne McLean received the 2014 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and became a New York Times Bestseller.
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