, written by the renowned Colombian journalist and author Germán Castro Caycedo, is a seminal work of investigative narrative that exposes the dark intersection of witchcraft, drug trafficking, and politics in 20th-century Colombia. Originally published in 1994, the book is often subtitled Coca, política y demonio (Cocaine, Politics, and the Devil), reflecting the three pillars of its unsettling reality. Overview of the Narrative

The primary narrative takes place in Fredonia , a small town in Antioquia, Colombia, during the 1970s.

Amanda's journey is intertwined with that of Jaime Builes , a powerful drug lord who exerts authority over the town through wealth and corruption.

The book is constructed through a series of vivid testimonies recorded by Castro Caycedo, revolving around the life of (also identified as Amanda Londoño), a teacher turned influential witch. Her story serves as a lens through which the author explores the decline of Colombian society during the rise of the cocaine trade.