I‘m a sucker for mystery reading, and I’ve just posted a new review at Escape Into Life of a Cuban mystery called Grab a Snake by the Tail. It’s set in Havana’s Chinatown district, which I didn’t even know existed, and it’s full of enough seedy atmosphere and surprising Cuban-Chinese culture to make me wish for a real-life peak at the neighborhood. It’s a strange book, and I had some love-hate issues with the detective protagonist (I’d call it Cuban noir, and our hero is definitely flawed), but it was fun. If you like mysteries, give it a try.

Want to stick closer to home? Pick up Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke. This one is set in Texas, and the writing is rich and textured and an absolute joy. Our hero is an African-American Texas ranger sent to investigate a pair of murders in a tiny rural community, and the plot is shot through with social and racial issues. It’s gritty and real and swimming in blues music and rural Texas. I just learned that a sequel is coming out in September. I don’t want to wait. Continue reading →