 The book was controversial at the time of release, in its description of the BOPE as a "killing machine", as well as the detailed allegation of an aborted assassination attempt on then left-wing governor of Rio de Janeiro, Leonel Brizola, and reportedly resulted in Batista being reprimanded and censured by the Military Police.The writing contained some discrepancies, however Soares did not retract his novel.The novel had a unique reception when it was translated in 2010.