Shakedown unveils the hidden faces of power through the history of Carolina, Susana, Lorena and Tanya, four strong women very close to the world's decision makers against the backdrop of Mexican politics. It is a novel rich in conspiracies, romantic capers, international corruption, complicity, dangers, secrets and the shadiest side of power. Throughout the plot, the four girls unravel mysteries of the country's public life and world politics, after receiving a unique message that reinforces their complicity, illuminates their passions and builds a strong friendship adventure. The boundaries between politics and its personalities, as well as personal travails and zest, meet in a single story full of nuances, where in the end all the pieces fit. A thought-provoking, albeit humorous read. Erica Fuentes' extraordinary ability to write between the lines shows her deep knowledge of her subject: power and world politics from within. Shakedown's first edition in Spanish, "Las Chicas de Palacio", was abruptly withdrawn from the market despite being a major best-seller, holding fast among the top 10 books sold in Mexico from its release. Was it because it hit a raw nerve? In México? In the Middle-East, or perhaps in Europe or in the United States itself? You be the judge.