dev921's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Deportation, Kidnapping, Medical content, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Cancer, Car accident, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, Police brutality, Child death, Abortion, Alcoholism, War, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Gun violence
nancyinoregon's review against another edition
4.0
The story was gripping. I loved the female Cuban detective undercover as an illegal immigrant in the U.S., in a resort town with the rich and famous. I loved how she got out of tight situations.
But the book had some pretty grisly spots, if that kind of thing bothers you.
Mysteries tend to be read and forgotten, but I learned some things about Cuba and the lives of illegal immigrants and won't forget this one soon.
My favorite scene: the detective, posing as immigrant, going to steal a gun from an old guy who advertised it in the newspaper.
I listened to the audible.com version and loved the reader too.
I would definitely like to listen to more books by this author. I like his writing style--short, terse, sentences. Breathe. In, out.
But the book had some pretty grisly spots, if that kind of thing bothers you.
Mysteries tend to be read and forgotten, but I learned some things about Cuba and the lives of illegal immigrants and won't forget this one soon.
My favorite scene: the detective, posing as immigrant, going to steal a gun from an old guy who advertised it in the newspaper.
I listened to the audible.com version and loved the reader too.
I would definitely like to listen to more books by this author. I like his writing style--short, terse, sentences. Breathe. In, out.
atuladhar916's review against another edition
3.0
I’m upset. This book started off STRONG- I was HOOKED. but the last few chapters killed it for me. It didn’t wrap up well in my opinion. Whatever. I liked it till the end.
atuladhar's review against another edition
3.0
I’m upset. This book started off STRONG- I was HOOKED. but the last few chapters killed it for me. It didn’t wrap up well in my opinion. Whatever. I liked it till the end.
mrstuladhar's review against another edition
3.0
I’m upset. This book started off STRONG- I was HOOKED. but the last few chapters killed it for me. It didn’t wrap up well in my opinion. Whatever. I liked it till the end.
ariiiiready2read's review against another edition
3.0
I’m upset. This book started off STRONG- I was HOOKED. but the last few chapters killed it for me. It didn’t wrap up well in my opinion. Whatever. I liked it till the end.
bookemdano's review against another edition
4.0
The writing was beautiful and it gripped me from the first page. I'm hoping there's a sequel as I kind of fell in love with Mercado & "Paco"!
cdcsmith's review
3.0
This was a like for me, but not a really strong like. The writing was fine and the story was engaging, the trouble was just that I couldn't relate to any of it. That is my issue, not the book. I thought the characters were strong for the most part and I could believe the paths they took, but this just wasn't something I connected with. Though saying that, I finished reading it in a matter of two days, so clearly it held my interest enough to keep reading.
guiltyfeat's review
3.0
Hmm. There are plenty of McKinty’s trademark interaction with real famous people. At one end of the scale Brad Pitt sticks his head round the door in an utterly gratuitous cameo that does nothing to advance the plot. At the other end, Castro looms throughout. Mystery-wise it’s not wholly satisfying, but the action scenes are tense and well written.
mepitts's review
2.0
Wow—just not a fan of this and may be over McKinty. I’ve read a couple of his other books where it seemed like the good writing outweighed the sour worldview, but this book is just SO dark and it’s hard to like any of the characters. Need to read some “Anne of Green Gables” or Patrick O’Brian to get the taste out of my mouth. :-) And wonder if McKinty’s editor talked him into a book with an American local and b-list celebrities? If your worldview is affirmed by nasty people doing nasty things, this is a book for you. Me? Peace out!