How about a geography lesson today?
Fact: Havana is closer to Key West – than Miami is to Key West.
There was a time when Cuba, especially Havana, was a destination for tourists, businessmen, and gamblers. Sort of like contemporary Las Vegas. But the U.S. & Cuba severed diplomatic relations way back in 1961. I remember because I was a senior in high school at the time – & it was a big deal every week in current events.
Except for the occasional book or movie, we lost touch with Cuba for the last five decades. Speaking of movies, Havana came out in 1990, starring Robert Redford & Lena Olin.
IMDB describes the movie like so: “In 1950s Cuba, a professional gambler falls for a woman heavily involved in the revolution movement.”
Take a look at the trailer below.
This Havana buildup is just that – a buildup to introduce a new murder mystery I heard about recently. Set in Cuba, it’s written by Leonardo Padura, and entitled GRAB A SNAKE BY THE TAIL.
To paraphrase the book jacket, it goes like this: Mario Conde – the Main Character – investigates a murder in Chinatown, in Havana, a rundown neighborhood called el Barrio Chino.
He takes the case because a colleague asks for help. In addition to being a police lieutenant, his colleague is a lovely, sexy, woman, and she’s someone he’s secretly coveted for years.
Upon visiting the scene, he finds an old Chinaman hanging from a beam in the ceiling – naked – one finger chopped off – and two arrows engraved in his chest – with a knife.
Is it a ritual Santería killing?
Or a payback for a drug deal gone bad?
The investigator discovers unexpected connections in a story that’s soaked in atmosphere, with plenty of rum drinking in smoke-filled bars, and plenty of beautiful of beautiful women.
The book’s available at Amazon and Kindle. If anyone feels like reviewing the book – do it – and email your review to me at barry@barrybowe.com. I’ll post it.
Thanks for watching – thanks for listening – until next time.
Barry Bowe America’s Best Crime Writer
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