The quest for an elusive amphibian in the mountains of violence-torn Haiti brings together an unlikely pair of hunters—American herpetologist Victor Grigg and his Haitian guide, Thierry Adrien—whose individual stories unfold and intertwine in a mesmerizing tale of love, sex, and fraternal rivalry; of the propagation and extinction of species in the natural world; and of the mysterious forces of nature that govern the fate of all living creatures. In the Palm of Darkness is a compelling tale that reads like a murder mystery but also reveals a highly sophisticated and refined literary voice. "Translation of Tâu, la oscuridad, a work by a Cuban-born author now living in Puerto Rico. English-language readers may wish for some background information about Montero or the context of her novel. However, they will find helpful a map of Haiti (not included in Spanish original) that will enable them to follow the protagonist's search for an extinct red frog"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58.