Omar Razaghi is an Iranian-born graduate student at the University of Colorado, and his financial aid for a fellowship is contingent on his writing an authorized biography of the late Latin American author Adam Gund. Shortly into his first semester on the fellowship, Gund's estate unexpectedly withdraws its consent to the book. Following his girlfriend Deirdre's advice, Omar travels to Uruguay to ask the executors to change their minds. But he is instantly plunged into a snake pit of intrigue, scandalous relationships, and family idiosyncrasies.