Coming May 19, 2026
Jaguars and Other Game
An empire in exile. A city on the brink. And three women willing to risk everything for justice.
By Brynn Barineau
Rio de Janeiro, 1808 – As Napoleon’s armies march across Europe, the Portuguese royal court flees Lisbon for Brazil—transforming Rio de Janeiro into the capital of an empire overnight. For sisters Maria and Isabel Azevedo, who have spent years running gold through the jungle to the city’s port, the sudden arrival of princes, soldiers, and laws threatens the dangerous freedom they’ve carved out for themselves.
When a childhood friend is falsely accused of murder, Maria knows the truth will never matter unless the real killer is dragged before the palace gates. Joined by Victoria Cruz, a sharp-witted Portuguese refugee serving the volatile Queen Maria I, the women plunge into Rio’s underworld—where corruption runs as deep as the jungle beyond the city walls.
Their hunt uncovers a conspiracy that reaches into the heart of the royal court itself, forcing each woman to decide what she is willing to risk for justice, love, and family. Lush, atmospheric, and driven by three unforgettable heroines, Jaguars and Other Game is a riveting historical adventure set at a turning point in Brazilian history.
For readers eager to continue their journey through Brazil’s past, Brynn Barineau returns to the Amazon in her sweeping novel Jungle of Ashes, set amid the rise and ruin of Henry Ford’s jungle empire.
Praise
"In vivid and energetic prose, Brynn Barineau portrays a fascinating chapter in Portuguese history, when the court fled Lisbon for Brazil to escape Napoleon’s invasion of their country. Jaguars and Other Game has all the elements of a rollicking good story – action and adventure, political intrigue and corruption, romance and betrayal. The result is a lush tapestry in a fascinating historical setting. Hunt it down at
your local bookstore, and you won’t be disappointed!"
–Carole Lawrence, prolific historical mystery author with Thomas & Mercer
"A twenty-one-gun salute to Brynn Barineau and her tale of three bold women who more than held their own in the rough-and-tumble world of 1808 Rio de Janeiro. This atmospheric, lively debut had me turning the pages to cheer on the clever trio. A dazzling adventure!"
-Lynn Cullen, national bestselling author of THE WOMAN WITH THE CURE and MRS. POE
Brynn Barineau is a writer and international education professional whose work explores the complexities and connections of cross-cultural relationships. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she holds a master’s degree in international communication and has spent her career in international education.
After college, Brynn moved to her husband’s hometown of Rio de Janeiro, where she began writing fiction as a way to navigate life in a new culture. Her experiences abroad continue to shape her storytelling, which blends vivid historical settings with emotional depth and social insight.
Her debut novel, Jaguars and Other Game, was praised by Kirkus Reviews as “an addictive tale with drama, history, and delightful protagonists,” and was named a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award in multicultural fiction. Her creative nonfiction appears in the anthologies Once Upon an Expat and Knocked Up Abroad Again.
Brynn now lives in Atlanta with her Brazilian-American family and works in the Office of International Education at Georgia Tech.