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The Cuban Affair
'Nelson DeMille is a true master'Dan BrownStrap in for the ride of a lifetime with the blistering new novel from America's greatest living thriller writer, Nelson DeMille.Daniel 'Mac' MacCormick has a good life. Aged thirty-five and a decorated US Army veteran, he whiles away his life in stunning Key West, Florida, running a forty-two-foot charter fishing boat The Maine. A ladies' man and rule-breaker, Mac has it all - apart from the money to hold on to his beloved boat.Then Mac is approached by a hotshot Miami lawyer called Carlos with an apparently irresistible a fee of $2 million to run the boat into Havana and smuggle out $60 million from a stash hidden from the Castro government - cash once owned by the family of a beautiful Cuban-American woman named Sara Ortega.With the political 'Cuban Thaw' underway, it's only a matter of time before someone finds the stash. But Mac knows if he accepts this job, he'll walk away rich...or not at all.Punchy, witty and rammed with action, legendary international #1 bestseller Nelson DeMille once more shows he's a true master of the genre.
545 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2017
5406 people are currently reading
12500 people want to read
About the author
Nelson DeMille
257 books7,303 followersNelson Richard DeMille was an American author of action adventure and suspense novels. His novels include Plum Island, The Charm School, and The General's Daughter. DeMille also wrote under the pen names Jack Cannon, Kurt Ladner, Ellen Kay and Brad Matthews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,015 reviews
September 24, 2017
I'm about 3.5 stars here.
Why Nelson DeMille, you sly old dog! Where has your sarcastic sense of humor been hiding all these years?
I've read a number of DeMille's books through the years— The Charm School, The Gold Coast, The General's Daughter, Cathedral to name a few—and while I enjoyed all of those, I don't remember them being funny. But in his newest book, The Cuban Affair , he displays a playful side I haven't seen before, and it brought a new dimension to his writing.
"Being captain of your own fate doesn't mean you always make good decisions."
Daniel "Mac" MacCormick is a decorated war veteran with more than a few scars to show from his two tours in Afghanistan. Although his patrician family back in Maine hoped he'd amount to something after recovering from his wounds, Mac has different ideas. He spends his days in Key West as the owner of a 42-foot charter fishing boat, and he specializes in sunset cruises, fishing trips, drinking to excess, and perhaps more than a little womanizing. It doesn't seem like such a bad life for a 35-year-old.
Well, maybe he could use a little more money. And that's why he agrees to meet Carlos, a Miami lawyer with connections to anti-Castro groups of Cuban citizens wishing to someday make it back to their country. Carlos tries to hire Mac and his boat to work a 10-day fishing tournament in Cuba, but Mac turns him down because he doesn't think the job is on the up-and-up. Undeterred, Carlos sweetens the deal, offering Mac two million dollars instead. And although Mac knows if a deal seems too good to be true it usually is, he decides to hear Carlos out.
When Mac meets Carlos' clients, including a beautiful Cuban-American architect named Sara Ortega, the chance to spend time with Sara plus make more money than he has in his lifetime proves enticing. It turns out that years ago, Sara's grandfather hid more than 60 million dollars in a cave in Cuba so it didn't fall into the wrong hands, and Sara and her colleagues want Mac's help to rescue the loot and return it to its rightful owners, Cuban exiles all. It's a mission that could make Mac a wealthy man—not to mention a wanted one, or worse, a dead one.
The Cuban Affair follows Mac and Sara on their mission to Cuba as part of a study group from Yale. They know what they need to do, and have their plans set, but Mac doesn't realize how many loose ends there are to deal with—and of course, he has no idea what he doesn't know, or what he's not being told. All he knows is he wants Sara and he wants his money, and he doesn't know if he'll get either.
This is a meticulously researched book, providing a tremendous amount of information about how the relationship between Cuba and America deteriorated through the years, and how the anticipated "Cuban Thaw" between the two countries could change everything—for both better and worse. It's also an in-depth look at the anti-Castro forces both within and outside Cuba.
I really liked Mac's character, and found Sara to be a bit of an enigma (as did Mac). I also enjoyed some of the supporting characters, including Mac's first mate, Jack, a cantankerous and perhaps slightly crazy Vietnam vet with a penchant for slightly twisted t-shirts. DeMille definitely generated some good suspense in the book, because I kept expecting everyone to double-cross everyone multiple times over, and you want to know how everything will be resolved.<
At times I felt the book got bogged down with all of the history and factual details, so it seemed more like a nonfiction book than a thriller. And while once the action got going the book really crackled, it took a little too long to get to that point—I felt a little too much time was spent setting up background and painting the scene. But DeMille's storytelling talent, and Mac's dry, slightly ribald sense of humor definitely helped add levity.
I'd love to see another book featuring Mac some day. I believe he's a terrific addition to the cast of memorable characters that DeMille has created through the years. While this book is a little uneven, it's still great to see a master at work, and experience a new side of him.
NetGalley and Simon & Schuster provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
Why Nelson DeMille, you sly old dog! Where has your sarcastic sense of humor been hiding all these years?
I've read a number of DeMille's books through the years— The Charm School, The Gold Coast, The General's Daughter, Cathedral to name a few—and while I enjoyed all of those, I don't remember them being funny. But in his newest book, The Cuban Affair , he displays a playful side I haven't seen before, and it brought a new dimension to his writing.
"Being captain of your own fate doesn't mean you always make good decisions."
Daniel "Mac" MacCormick is a decorated war veteran with more than a few scars to show from his two tours in Afghanistan. Although his patrician family back in Maine hoped he'd amount to something after recovering from his wounds, Mac has different ideas. He spends his days in Key West as the owner of a 42-foot charter fishing boat, and he specializes in sunset cruises, fishing trips, drinking to excess, and perhaps more than a little womanizing. It doesn't seem like such a bad life for a 35-year-old.
Well, maybe he could use a little more money. And that's why he agrees to meet Carlos, a Miami lawyer with connections to anti-Castro groups of Cuban citizens wishing to someday make it back to their country. Carlos tries to hire Mac and his boat to work a 10-day fishing tournament in Cuba, but Mac turns him down because he doesn't think the job is on the up-and-up. Undeterred, Carlos sweetens the deal, offering Mac two million dollars instead. And although Mac knows if a deal seems too good to be true it usually is, he decides to hear Carlos out.
When Mac meets Carlos' clients, including a beautiful Cuban-American architect named Sara Ortega, the chance to spend time with Sara plus make more money than he has in his lifetime proves enticing. It turns out that years ago, Sara's grandfather hid more than 60 million dollars in a cave in Cuba so it didn't fall into the wrong hands, and Sara and her colleagues want Mac's help to rescue the loot and return it to its rightful owners, Cuban exiles all. It's a mission that could make Mac a wealthy man—not to mention a wanted one, or worse, a dead one.
The Cuban Affair follows Mac and Sara on their mission to Cuba as part of a study group from Yale. They know what they need to do, and have their plans set, but Mac doesn't realize how many loose ends there are to deal with—and of course, he has no idea what he doesn't know, or what he's not being told. All he knows is he wants Sara and he wants his money, and he doesn't know if he'll get either.
This is a meticulously researched book, providing a tremendous amount of information about how the relationship between Cuba and America deteriorated through the years, and how the anticipated "Cuban Thaw" between the two countries could change everything—for both better and worse. It's also an in-depth look at the anti-Castro forces both within and outside Cuba.
I really liked Mac's character, and found Sara to be a bit of an enigma (as did Mac). I also enjoyed some of the supporting characters, including Mac's first mate, Jack, a cantankerous and perhaps slightly crazy Vietnam vet with a penchant for slightly twisted t-shirts. DeMille definitely generated some good suspense in the book, because I kept expecting everyone to double-cross everyone multiple times over, and you want to know how everything will be resolved.<
At times I felt the book got bogged down with all of the history and factual details, so it seemed more like a nonfiction book than a thriller. And while once the action got going the book really crackled, it took a little too long to get to that point—I felt a little too much time was spent setting up background and painting the scene. But DeMille's storytelling talent, and Mac's dry, slightly ribald sense of humor definitely helped add levity.
I'd love to see another book featuring Mac some day. I believe he's a terrific addition to the cast of memorable characters that DeMille has created through the years. While this book is a little uneven, it's still great to see a master at work, and experience a new side of him.
NetGalley and Simon & Schuster provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
September 20, 2017
Nelson DeMille has written a rollicking good thriller underpinned with an impressive amount of detailed research on Cuba and its history and relations with the US. Daniel 'Mac' MacCormick is a 35 year old military veteran with tours in Afghanistan that have left their mark on him. He is currently living the good life on Key West running charter boat trips on The Maine which has burdened him with considerable debts. Whilst drinking in the Green Parrot Bar, he meets a slick Cuban-American lawyer, Carlos, representing anti-Castro forces, wanting to charter the boat and hire Mac to get $60 million dollars and papers out of Cuba. Mac enjoys his laid back lifestyle but commits to the enterprise upon meeting architect Sara Ortega, whose grandfather hid the money in a cave before fleeing to the US. As well as Sara being a draw, Mac needs the money and wants the thrill of adventure back in his life again, despite all the dangers the job represents.
The Cuban thaw adds urgency to the mission as the consequences are likely to lead to a speedy discovery of the hidden loot. Mac and Sara enter Havana posing as part of the educational Yale travel group members who get romantically entangled, something that pans out in reality. Their act seems to be successful although suspicions from the tour guide begin to challenge this perception. As with all the best laids plans for the heist, not much survives the reality. Mac and Sara discover that their actions and words are being listened to and reported. In a story full of chases and intrigue, Mac discovers that he might not have been apprised of all the facts. Has Mac taken on more than he can handle? And will he live to tell the tale?
The author has written a tense and suspenseful thriller that is a fun and entertaining read. It is full of wit, humour, sarcasm and terrific one liners. Where the book really excels is in the detailed descriptions of Cuba, the dilapidated nature of Havana, its architecture, life, culture and its people. Mac is a great central character and I loved his relationship and banter with his colourful first mate, Jack Colby, a Vietnam veteran with a great line in t-shirts. There is a strong focus on Cuba's history with the US, along with a social and political commentary, although I am not convinced the author got the balance right on this. As long as you don't take the story too seriously, this is a wonderful action packed read. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
The Cuban thaw adds urgency to the mission as the consequences are likely to lead to a speedy discovery of the hidden loot. Mac and Sara enter Havana posing as part of the educational Yale travel group members who get romantically entangled, something that pans out in reality. Their act seems to be successful although suspicions from the tour guide begin to challenge this perception. As with all the best laids plans for the heist, not much survives the reality. Mac and Sara discover that their actions and words are being listened to and reported. In a story full of chases and intrigue, Mac discovers that he might not have been apprised of all the facts. Has Mac taken on more than he can handle? And will he live to tell the tale?
The author has written a tense and suspenseful thriller that is a fun and entertaining read. It is full of wit, humour, sarcasm and terrific one liners. Where the book really excels is in the detailed descriptions of Cuba, the dilapidated nature of Havana, its architecture, life, culture and its people. Mac is a great central character and I loved his relationship and banter with his colourful first mate, Jack Colby, a Vietnam veteran with a great line in t-shirts. There is a strong focus on Cuba's history with the US, along with a social and political commentary, although I am not convinced the author got the balance right on this. As long as you don't take the story too seriously, this is a wonderful action packed read. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
April 24, 2021
This was my very first introduction to this author and this book has definitely enticed me to read more novels by Nelson DeMille in the future. I loved our main character Mac and his witty sense of humor.
THE CUBAN AFFAIR by NELSON DEMILLE is an amusing, intriguing, fun, and an action-filled adventure suspense novel that had me engaged, entertained, and interested throughout this entire book. Although, I wouldn’t say there was too much action or suspense for the first ¾’s of the book though it was the last ¼ of the book where the action and suspense picked up considerably and then was extremely intense and exciting to read. What I really loved about this book in a whole though was that it was filled with a lot of witty camaraderie between the characters which was an enjoyable, well-needed, and fun aspect to this novel after reading some really emotional and heavy books lately.
NELSON DEMILLE delivers a well-written and engrossing story here that I thoroughly enjoyed as it was filled with lots of sarcasm and witty narrative from our great characters that had me smiling and chuckling to myself a few times. The storyline also included quite a knowledgeable an interesting background into Cuba which I thought was very fascinating and easy to understand.
To sum it all up it was an interesting, fun, quick and easy read with an intense and satisfying ending. Would recommend!
Publication date: September 19, 2017
Thank you so much to my fellow Traveling Sisters for another awesome reading experience!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Nelson DeMille for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review is written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee is a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of
valley. I am surrounded by coulee's where I live!
THE CUBAN AFFAIR by NELSON DEMILLE is an amusing, intriguing, fun, and an action-filled adventure suspense novel that had me engaged, entertained, and interested throughout this entire book. Although, I wouldn’t say there was too much action or suspense for the first ¾’s of the book though it was the last ¼ of the book where the action and suspense picked up considerably and then was extremely intense and exciting to read. What I really loved about this book in a whole though was that it was filled with a lot of witty camaraderie between the characters which was an enjoyable, well-needed, and fun aspect to this novel after reading some really emotional and heavy books lately.
NELSON DEMILLE delivers a well-written and engrossing story here that I thoroughly enjoyed as it was filled with lots of sarcasm and witty narrative from our great characters that had me smiling and chuckling to myself a few times. The storyline also included quite a knowledgeable an interesting background into Cuba which I thought was very fascinating and easy to understand.
To sum it all up it was an interesting, fun, quick and easy read with an intense and satisfying ending. Would recommend!
Publication date: September 19, 2017
Thank you so much to my fellow Traveling Sisters for another awesome reading experience!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Nelson DeMille for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review is written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee is a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of
valley. I am surrounded by coulee's where I live!
December 30, 2017
The Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMille is a 2017 Simon & Schuster publication.
Fast paced adventure and international intrigue-
Daniel MacCormick, formerly of Maine, is a military veteran, now residing in Key West, and is the proud part owner, along with the bank, of a boat he has cleverly dubbed ‘The Maine’. When he is approached about a possible job, he knows immediately this is not an ordinary client out for a fishing expedition or romantic cruise.
Sure enough, Daniel is offered the chance to hit pay dirt, with a multi-million -dollar payday attached. Naturally, there is a catch- a big one.
Daniel will have to take his clients into Cuba in search of a huge stash of cash. His partner in crime is the beautiful Sara Ortega, whose grandfather hid the cash they are out to retrieve, now that there has been a ‘Cuban Thaw’.
Thus, begins the harrowing, but life altering adventure that will end up meaning a lot more than the promise of instant wealth.
I’ve read several DeMille novels over the years, but this one has a slightly different tone to it, but still employs some of the DeMille’s trademark themes. Daniel is a character I was slow to warm up to. I wasn’t quite sure how to take him at first, as he seemed immature one minute and an old soul the next. But, I eventually caught on and soon began to appreciate his internal dialogue, which was often sarcastic, witty and funny and kept the mood from becoming too somber or heavy.
The story takes on a very serious tone, however, once the setup is complete, but I liked the noble cause behind the adventure, which made the mission seem more important and more suspenseful. The story paints a very complex and complicated and eye opening view of Cuba, which is not altogether flattering. Sara and Daniel are constantly tip toeing around potential land mines, as they are monitored very carefully, while they also find themselves coping with the unexpected feelings developing between them.
The story is filled with international intrigue, and adventure, pulling off a caper or heist-like tone, which kept the pace moving along at a brisk pace, and kept me engaged in the story from start to finish.
Overall, this is a quick, suspenseful, and entertaining read. I think I’d enjoy hearing from Daniel MacCormick again someday.
4 stars
Fast paced adventure and international intrigue-
Daniel MacCormick, formerly of Maine, is a military veteran, now residing in Key West, and is the proud part owner, along with the bank, of a boat he has cleverly dubbed ‘The Maine’. When he is approached about a possible job, he knows immediately this is not an ordinary client out for a fishing expedition or romantic cruise.
Sure enough, Daniel is offered the chance to hit pay dirt, with a multi-million -dollar payday attached. Naturally, there is a catch- a big one.
Daniel will have to take his clients into Cuba in search of a huge stash of cash. His partner in crime is the beautiful Sara Ortega, whose grandfather hid the cash they are out to retrieve, now that there has been a ‘Cuban Thaw’.
Thus, begins the harrowing, but life altering adventure that will end up meaning a lot more than the promise of instant wealth.
I’ve read several DeMille novels over the years, but this one has a slightly different tone to it, but still employs some of the DeMille’s trademark themes. Daniel is a character I was slow to warm up to. I wasn’t quite sure how to take him at first, as he seemed immature one minute and an old soul the next. But, I eventually caught on and soon began to appreciate his internal dialogue, which was often sarcastic, witty and funny and kept the mood from becoming too somber or heavy.
The story takes on a very serious tone, however, once the setup is complete, but I liked the noble cause behind the adventure, which made the mission seem more important and more suspenseful. The story paints a very complex and complicated and eye opening view of Cuba, which is not altogether flattering. Sara and Daniel are constantly tip toeing around potential land mines, as they are monitored very carefully, while they also find themselves coping with the unexpected feelings developing between them.
The story is filled with international intrigue, and adventure, pulling off a caper or heist-like tone, which kept the pace moving along at a brisk pace, and kept me engaged in the story from start to finish.
Overall, this is a quick, suspenseful, and entertaining read. I think I’d enjoy hearing from Daniel MacCormick again someday.
4 stars
September 3, 2017
This was my first book by the very popular and best-selling author, Nelson DeMille. When I saw the title, my fear was that it was going to be a heavy political/espionage thriller. I still went ahead and requested it due to all the fantastic reviews it had been receiving. No need to worry- the story-line takes the front seat while the politics is kept to a minimum!
Mac, a war veteran now giving boat tours in Key West Florida is offered the deal of a lifetime. Assist in bringing back 60 million dollars stashed away in Cuba and be set for life. Is it dangerous...yes! Is it illegal….probably! Would he be risking his life…no question! How can he resist!
The author has an extensive knowledge of Cuba and it shows throughout this book. Cuba remains a mystery to the average American (including myself!) but Mr. DeMille lifts that veil to take a peek inside a well-hidden country rich with native culture.
Mac has an incredible sense of humor that he disperses throughout, from beginning to end. Even in the most dire of situations Mac has a perfect one-liner for the occasion.
In a police state, where the walls have ears and your neighbors are all too eager to turn you in to the police/government officials, the main characters sure did a lot of talking out loud and provoking the locals! I would have been too scared to talk above a whisper the entire time I was there! OK…truthfully I would have been too scared to go there in the first place!
I was left with the feeling that I just read a great movie script….Hollywood you might want to take a close look at this one (if you haven't already)!
This was a wonderful traveling sister read with Brenda, Norma, Lindsay, Susanne and Diane!
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Nelson DeMille for an ARC to review.
For this review and our full traveling sister review please visit Norma and Brenda's fantastic book blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
Mac, a war veteran now giving boat tours in Key West Florida is offered the deal of a lifetime. Assist in bringing back 60 million dollars stashed away in Cuba and be set for life. Is it dangerous...yes! Is it illegal….probably! Would he be risking his life…no question! How can he resist!
The author has an extensive knowledge of Cuba and it shows throughout this book. Cuba remains a mystery to the average American (including myself!) but Mr. DeMille lifts that veil to take a peek inside a well-hidden country rich with native culture.
Mac has an incredible sense of humor that he disperses throughout, from beginning to end. Even in the most dire of situations Mac has a perfect one-liner for the occasion.
In a police state, where the walls have ears and your neighbors are all too eager to turn you in to the police/government officials, the main characters sure did a lot of talking out loud and provoking the locals! I would have been too scared to talk above a whisper the entire time I was there! OK…truthfully I would have been too scared to go there in the first place!
I was left with the feeling that I just read a great movie script….Hollywood you might want to take a close look at this one (if you haven't already)!
This was a wonderful traveling sister read with Brenda, Norma, Lindsay, Susanne and Diane!
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Nelson DeMille for an ARC to review.
For this review and our full traveling sister review please visit Norma and Brenda's fantastic book blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
September 2, 2017
3.5 Stars.
"The Cuban Affair" is a lackluster suspense with lots of laughs.
Daniel "Mac" McCormick runs a charter boat, The Maine, in beautiful Key West, Florida after having been honorably discharged from the Army. Life is quiet and uneventful. Mac can almost convince himself he likes it that way. If only his boat wasn't mortgaged up the hilt. When a man named Carlos approaches him about chartering his boat for a fishing competition to Cuba for a small group, Mac's first thought is to turn him down, until a beautiful woman named Sara enters the picture and the pot is sweetened to the cool price of $2 million. Mac knows it's a bad idea. And he knows there's more to the deal than just a fishing trip. Carlos and Sara have planned a heist and with Mac's military background, he is the key.
The Cuban Thaw has just begun. And tensions are at an all time high. Yet Mac is drawn to danger like a moth to a flame. And for the price of $2 million and the attention of a beautiful woman, Mac can't say no.
In "The Cuban Affair" Nelson DeMille provides an incredible background into the state of Cuba / US Relations and our histories and he does so in a way that makes it evocative, intriguing and easy to understand.
The novel is peppered with Mac's dry sarcastic humor. The witty repartee he exchanges with his first mate and friend Jack, makes for an entertaining, quick read. That being said, the novel itself is lacking in action and suspense. For the first 3/4ths of the novel, nothing really happens, except for witty exchanges and a little romance that is. Having read almost every novel Nelson DeMille has written, I wanted more.
All in all, I enjoyed the book and laughed quite a bit but had higher hopes. While I liked the character of Daniel "Mac" McCormick, and found him amusing, I hope Mr. DeMille goes back to his tried and true, John Corey, next time around.
This was a traveling sister read for me. It included: Brenda, Norma, Kaceey, Lindsay and Diane S. It was nice to finally read something a little lighter with my sisters that also had a few laughs!
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster & Nelson DeMille for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 9.1.17.
*Will be published on Amazon on 9.19.17.
"The Cuban Affair" is a lackluster suspense with lots of laughs.
Daniel "Mac" McCormick runs a charter boat, The Maine, in beautiful Key West, Florida after having been honorably discharged from the Army. Life is quiet and uneventful. Mac can almost convince himself he likes it that way. If only his boat wasn't mortgaged up the hilt. When a man named Carlos approaches him about chartering his boat for a fishing competition to Cuba for a small group, Mac's first thought is to turn him down, until a beautiful woman named Sara enters the picture and the pot is sweetened to the cool price of $2 million. Mac knows it's a bad idea. And he knows there's more to the deal than just a fishing trip. Carlos and Sara have planned a heist and with Mac's military background, he is the key.
The Cuban Thaw has just begun. And tensions are at an all time high. Yet Mac is drawn to danger like a moth to a flame. And for the price of $2 million and the attention of a beautiful woman, Mac can't say no.
In "The Cuban Affair" Nelson DeMille provides an incredible background into the state of Cuba / US Relations and our histories and he does so in a way that makes it evocative, intriguing and easy to understand.
The novel is peppered with Mac's dry sarcastic humor. The witty repartee he exchanges with his first mate and friend Jack, makes for an entertaining, quick read. That being said, the novel itself is lacking in action and suspense. For the first 3/4ths of the novel, nothing really happens, except for witty exchanges and a little romance that is. Having read almost every novel Nelson DeMille has written, I wanted more.
All in all, I enjoyed the book and laughed quite a bit but had higher hopes. While I liked the character of Daniel "Mac" McCormick, and found him amusing, I hope Mr. DeMille goes back to his tried and true, John Corey, next time around.
This was a traveling sister read for me. It included: Brenda, Norma, Kaceey, Lindsay and Diane S. It was nice to finally read something a little lighter with my sisters that also had a few laughs!
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster & Nelson DeMille for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 9.1.17.
*Will be published on Amazon on 9.19.17.
September 3, 2017
3.5 stars! This was an intriguing story with great characters, a suspenseful plot, intense action and an interesting history lesson.
This was my first book by Nelson DeMille and I really enjoyed his writing. Witty humour flowed throughout the story and had me smiling and giggling to myself. I really loved the main character, Mac.
I enjoyed learning about some of the history of Cuba/USA relations. I had little knowledge of Cuban history and politics so I worried that this novel might be over my head, but DeMille creates an extremely vivid story providing the perfect amount of history and background to keep an uneducated reader (like myself) engaged and following along.
While I did enjoy the storyline, I felt at times it dragged. For the first 65% of the novel, I found myself anxiously waiting for something big to happen. The suspense continued to build throughout the first half of the book, but there was no real action to keep me glued to the pages until close to the end. I was pushing myself to read faster to get to the “good” parts. When the action finally did come, it definitely delivered - it was intense and almost overwhelming at times.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. It has sparked an interest in me to look into reading DeMille’s other novels.
It was a pleasure to read this along with my Traveling Sisters - Brenda, Norma, Kaceey, Diane, Susanne and JanB! Lots of great discussion!
A big thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Nelson DeMille for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
To find this review along with our full Traveling Sister Read Review, please visit Norma and Brenda's fabulous blog at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
This was my first book by Nelson DeMille and I really enjoyed his writing. Witty humour flowed throughout the story and had me smiling and giggling to myself. I really loved the main character, Mac.
I enjoyed learning about some of the history of Cuba/USA relations. I had little knowledge of Cuban history and politics so I worried that this novel might be over my head, but DeMille creates an extremely vivid story providing the perfect amount of history and background to keep an uneducated reader (like myself) engaged and following along.
While I did enjoy the storyline, I felt at times it dragged. For the first 65% of the novel, I found myself anxiously waiting for something big to happen. The suspense continued to build throughout the first half of the book, but there was no real action to keep me glued to the pages until close to the end. I was pushing myself to read faster to get to the “good” parts. When the action finally did come, it definitely delivered - it was intense and almost overwhelming at times.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. It has sparked an interest in me to look into reading DeMille’s other novels.
It was a pleasure to read this along with my Traveling Sisters - Brenda, Norma, Kaceey, Diane, Susanne and JanB! Lots of great discussion!
A big thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Nelson DeMille for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
To find this review along with our full Traveling Sister Read Review, please visit Norma and Brenda's fabulous blog at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
September 5, 2017
First off, let me confess. I am a huge fan of Nelson DeMille, especially the John Corey series. I love his wit, his sarcastic sense of humor.
Daniel “Mac” MacCormick has the same droll sense of humor as John Corey. Mac runs a charter boat out of a Key West. He's ex-army, having served in Afghanistan. He owes the bank $250,000 against the boat, so he's open to taking on a questionable trip to Cuba to recover $60 million left behind behind by the anti-communists when Castro came to power.
The book covers the anticipated Cuban Thaw and who might or might not want it to occur. DeMille keeps a nice level of suspense going throughout the book. And he seems to have done his research, giving you a real sense of travel in a police state, not to mention the brinksmanship, the unknown of who's calling the shots or what the ultimate game is.
He really ratchets up the pace at the end and you're hanging on for a wild ride. I highly recommend this book for anyone with a taste of politics mixed into their mysteries.
My thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
Daniel “Mac” MacCormick has the same droll sense of humor as John Corey. Mac runs a charter boat out of a Key West. He's ex-army, having served in Afghanistan. He owes the bank $250,000 against the boat, so he's open to taking on a questionable trip to Cuba to recover $60 million left behind behind by the anti-communists when Castro came to power.
The book covers the anticipated Cuban Thaw and who might or might not want it to occur. DeMille keeps a nice level of suspense going throughout the book. And he seems to have done his research, giving you a real sense of travel in a police state, not to mention the brinksmanship, the unknown of who's calling the shots or what the ultimate game is.
He really ratchets up the pace at the end and you're hanging on for a wild ride. I highly recommend this book for anyone with a taste of politics mixed into their mysteries.
My thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
August 31, 2017
3.5 Mac, a veteran of two tours in Afghanistan, now runs a charter boat service in Key West, with his partner Jack. When he is approached by a man asking Mac to commit to a scheme to smuggle something out of Cuba, he at first resists, but when he hears the money on offer he changes his mind. Heavily in debt to the bank for his boat, he sees this as a chance to clear his debt, and more.
A very entertaining read, a madcap caper, adventure story wrapped around a history lesson of Cuba.
Mac is one humorous, ironic guy and Jack with the sayings on his tee shirts were at all times amusing. Of course things don't go as planned. Do the ever? Nothing is a easy as it seems at first, and in Cuba it is hard to tell where the danger is coming from. There is a love interest, a side love story which was okay but not necessarily one I was heavily invested in, and one I felt was too heavy, too quickly. All in all though this was a good read, the humor kept the plot moving quickly, and I enjoyed the history lesson.
This was a travelling sisters group read and I enjoyed our exchange of thoughts.
ARC from Netgalley.
A very entertaining read, a madcap caper, adventure story wrapped around a history lesson of Cuba.
Mac is one humorous, ironic guy and Jack with the sayings on his tee shirts were at all times amusing. Of course things don't go as planned. Do the ever? Nothing is a easy as it seems at first, and in Cuba it is hard to tell where the danger is coming from. There is a love interest, a side love story which was okay but not necessarily one I was heavily invested in, and one I felt was too heavy, too quickly. All in all though this was a good read, the humor kept the plot moving quickly, and I enjoyed the history lesson.
This was a travelling sisters group read and I enjoyed our exchange of thoughts.
ARC from Netgalley.
September 21, 2017
ANOTHER fast-paced entertaining read from the talented Nelson DeMille!
In THE CUBAN AFFAIR, we meet....for the first time....35 year old Daniel MacCormick "Mac" a former U.S. Army combat veteran, and his crazy old partner in crime, U. S. Army Vietnam veteran, Jack Colby.
Now a Key West Charter Boat Captain with unstable finances and a boatload of debt on The Maine, Mac entertains and accepts....from a beautiful woman....a dangerous and difficult retrieval mission to a hostile environment, and the payoff is BIG....if he returns alive.
THE CUBAN AFFAIR has everything....great writing, short chapters, a bit of romance, and an enlightening and informative look at the culture and life in Cuba....some scary stuff here. And, last but not least, Nelson DeMille brings to the reader his customary quick-witted, sarcastic sense of humor providing some great laughs throughout the entire novel.
My 9th DeMille read did not disappoint. Really enjoyed the intrigue and slow reveal of important secrets along the way, but so wanted to see even more of Mac's tactical abilities.....and hopefully we will!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2017
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Nelson DeMille, and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Returning with another novel full of political commentary and a slice of dry wit, Nelson DeMille shows how he has long been a master storyteller with yet another sensational novel. Daniel ‘Mac’ MacCormick enjoys the quiet life in Key West, Florida. Having traded in his military life for that of a charter boat captain, he is able to enjoy the calm breeze and only a few arrogant customers at a time. When he is approached with an offer to sail a group down to Cuba, the idea does not much appeal to him. Up the ante to over a million dollars for his troubles and he is in. With the Cuban Thaw, Americans are slowly becoming accepted in the country, but this mission is anything but an advance team for the party planners during the welcoming fiesta. Instead, Mac will work with Cuban American Sara Ortega to secure a vast sum of cash and valuables left by her banker grandfather before the Cuban Revolution. These vast riches are currently stashed away in a cave well away from Havana’s lights. Posing as members of a Yale Travel Group, Mac and Sara arrive in Havana and begin putting their plan into action. Their cover seems secure and a faked holiday romance soon turns completely genuine. However, their Cuban tour guide may be onto them and tips his hand a little too soon. With a general idea of where the money is located and a plan to get it out of the country in the dead of night, all it will take is a timely execution of the plan. Trouble is, they still need to get back to US soil before they are caught by the Cubans. Might this operation bring a renewed diplomatic chill to a relationship that remains precariously uncertain? Full of one-liners and sarcastic banter, DeMille entertains, educates, and enthrals fans with this novel. Recommended to anyone with a great respect for humour in its driest form paired with a story ripped from the headlines.
Nelson DeMille has a style all his own and exemplifies it yet again here. His use of sarcasm and dry wit passes through all protagonists borne of his pen, but it is the delivery and the ease with which the reader can enjoy its inclusion that makes it so accepted. Mac is another wonderful character cut from the same cloth as John Corey. He seeks the simple life and yet seems to find trouble at every turn. He has just the right amount of machismo to lure in the women and leave the men beating their chests in jealousy. Using a military backstory, DeMille is able to not only pull his protagonist into the current situation at hand, but also pull punches as it relates to the two wars that continue to simmer when US boots need not be. Add in a spicy female to offset Mac’s bravado and you have a wonderful pairing. Ortega is an independent woman who wants to do her family proud, but cannot deny the allure of this scarred ship captain. Turning to the story, DeMille weaves a wonderfully realistic story, using some of his research during a trip to the country in 2015 and shows how the Thaw might be welcomed on one side, but not yet fully celebrated in Cuba. Still, it is apparently the State Department that has turned this police state into the untrusting tiny country that has been a thorn in the American backside. Rich with history and descriptions of the countryside, DeMille takes the reader to the streets of rural Cuba and nighttime Havana with his well-crafted narrative. Injecting just the right amount of political commentary, the reader will surely see the Thaw through the eyes of a patriotic American who has witnessed the sentiments on the other side. Whatever Cuba might be to the reader, this is a wonderful story and keeps the action going until the final pages. Witty yet full of social comparisons between the two nations, DeMille delivers a knockout punch.
Kudos, Mr. DeMille for telling this story at a time when many are surely questioning the need for ongoing embargoes and travel restrictions. They may have once been chummy with the Russians, but Cuba poses much less of a threat than the current American Administration.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Returning with another novel full of political commentary and a slice of dry wit, Nelson DeMille shows how he has long been a master storyteller with yet another sensational novel. Daniel ‘Mac’ MacCormick enjoys the quiet life in Key West, Florida. Having traded in his military life for that of a charter boat captain, he is able to enjoy the calm breeze and only a few arrogant customers at a time. When he is approached with an offer to sail a group down to Cuba, the idea does not much appeal to him. Up the ante to over a million dollars for his troubles and he is in. With the Cuban Thaw, Americans are slowly becoming accepted in the country, but this mission is anything but an advance team for the party planners during the welcoming fiesta. Instead, Mac will work with Cuban American Sara Ortega to secure a vast sum of cash and valuables left by her banker grandfather before the Cuban Revolution. These vast riches are currently stashed away in a cave well away from Havana’s lights. Posing as members of a Yale Travel Group, Mac and Sara arrive in Havana and begin putting their plan into action. Their cover seems secure and a faked holiday romance soon turns completely genuine. However, their Cuban tour guide may be onto them and tips his hand a little too soon. With a general idea of where the money is located and a plan to get it out of the country in the dead of night, all it will take is a timely execution of the plan. Trouble is, they still need to get back to US soil before they are caught by the Cubans. Might this operation bring a renewed diplomatic chill to a relationship that remains precariously uncertain? Full of one-liners and sarcastic banter, DeMille entertains, educates, and enthrals fans with this novel. Recommended to anyone with a great respect for humour in its driest form paired with a story ripped from the headlines.
Nelson DeMille has a style all his own and exemplifies it yet again here. His use of sarcasm and dry wit passes through all protagonists borne of his pen, but it is the delivery and the ease with which the reader can enjoy its inclusion that makes it so accepted. Mac is another wonderful character cut from the same cloth as John Corey. He seeks the simple life and yet seems to find trouble at every turn. He has just the right amount of machismo to lure in the women and leave the men beating their chests in jealousy. Using a military backstory, DeMille is able to not only pull his protagonist into the current situation at hand, but also pull punches as it relates to the two wars that continue to simmer when US boots need not be. Add in a spicy female to offset Mac’s bravado and you have a wonderful pairing. Ortega is an independent woman who wants to do her family proud, but cannot deny the allure of this scarred ship captain. Turning to the story, DeMille weaves a wonderfully realistic story, using some of his research during a trip to the country in 2015 and shows how the Thaw might be welcomed on one side, but not yet fully celebrated in Cuba. Still, it is apparently the State Department that has turned this police state into the untrusting tiny country that has been a thorn in the American backside. Rich with history and descriptions of the countryside, DeMille takes the reader to the streets of rural Cuba and nighttime Havana with his well-crafted narrative. Injecting just the right amount of political commentary, the reader will surely see the Thaw through the eyes of a patriotic American who has witnessed the sentiments on the other side. Whatever Cuba might be to the reader, this is a wonderful story and keeps the action going until the final pages. Witty yet full of social comparisons between the two nations, DeMille delivers a knockout punch.
Kudos, Mr. DeMille for telling this story at a time when many are surely questioning the need for ongoing embargoes and travel restrictions. They may have once been chummy with the Russians, but Cuba poses much less of a threat than the current American Administration.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
September 20, 2017
Once again Nelson Demille shows us his mastery of the fast moving, clever thriller.
In a way this book harks back to the old fashioned caper, but goes much deeper in terms of history and modern politics.
Cuba’s exiles and in some cases their descendants have neither forgiven nor forgotten the Castro brothers and the crimes they committed against most of Cuban society. Heartbreak and memory run deep as does a desire for vengeance and reparations.
As this novel is set in the beginning days of the Cuban Thaw, there are just as many if not more Cuban-Americans who are against this idea as those who are for it. Some will do most anything to derail it. Cuban-Americans, politicians, business, and of course the CIA who have yet to have a win in Cuba. All have their own agendas concerning Cuba.
Three Cuban –Americans make an offer he can’t refuse to Daniel McCormick, an army vet still carrying the scars from his times in Afghanistan. He currently runs fishing charters out of Key West on his heavily mortgaged boat.
It’s not that he can’t really refuse this offer to enter than leave Cuba carrying 60 million dollars and documents worth many times that amount; it's just that with an offer of two million on the table and a beautiful woman to accompany him, Mac doesn’t really want to. Mac also hankers after the days of danger and what he might not admit to: making a difference. Little does he know that his trip to Cuba with the beautiful Sara Ortega does make a difference and will honor his background.
It reads as if DeMille did more than visit Cuba and do research, he writes with an assurance of Cuba and her people that make it sound as if he were a citizen. Cuba’s beauty, her decay, her resilient citizens are all rendered in DemiIle’s masterful prose. But not forgotten and even more striking are his reminders of Cuba’s dark history under the Castro brothers’ iron fists.
DeMille hits another home run with this moving yet exciting story. Mac, has Demille’s characters’ signature smart-ass attitude to life, the Universe and everything. The back stories of the characters are sympathetic and make their actions understandable. The action is fast paced. The last quarter of the book will have you hoping you only ever swim or fish in lovely blue waters with nary a storm in sight.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fir and honest review.
In a way this book harks back to the old fashioned caper, but goes much deeper in terms of history and modern politics.
Cuba’s exiles and in some cases their descendants have neither forgiven nor forgotten the Castro brothers and the crimes they committed against most of Cuban society. Heartbreak and memory run deep as does a desire for vengeance and reparations.
As this novel is set in the beginning days of the Cuban Thaw, there are just as many if not more Cuban-Americans who are against this idea as those who are for it. Some will do most anything to derail it. Cuban-Americans, politicians, business, and of course the CIA who have yet to have a win in Cuba. All have their own agendas concerning Cuba.
Three Cuban –Americans make an offer he can’t refuse to Daniel McCormick, an army vet still carrying the scars from his times in Afghanistan. He currently runs fishing charters out of Key West on his heavily mortgaged boat.
It’s not that he can’t really refuse this offer to enter than leave Cuba carrying 60 million dollars and documents worth many times that amount; it's just that with an offer of two million on the table and a beautiful woman to accompany him, Mac doesn’t really want to. Mac also hankers after the days of danger and what he might not admit to: making a difference. Little does he know that his trip to Cuba with the beautiful Sara Ortega does make a difference and will honor his background.
It reads as if DeMille did more than visit Cuba and do research, he writes with an assurance of Cuba and her people that make it sound as if he were a citizen. Cuba’s beauty, her decay, her resilient citizens are all rendered in DemiIle’s masterful prose. But not forgotten and even more striking are his reminders of Cuba’s dark history under the Castro brothers’ iron fists.
DeMille hits another home run with this moving yet exciting story. Mac, has Demille’s characters’ signature smart-ass attitude to life, the Universe and everything. The back stories of the characters are sympathetic and make their actions understandable. The action is fast paced. The last quarter of the book will have you hoping you only ever swim or fish in lovely blue waters with nary a storm in sight.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fir and honest review.
February 12, 2018
Audiobook narrated by Scott Brick.
Geezzzzzz.......so many shifts in rhythms. One minute there’s an action and adventure heart-pounding scene-..... then we have a love scene...... then another action scene....then small conversations of dialogue where emotions creep up on you when least expected —-a serious real moment that could make me choke up — then soon I was laughing again.....
This was a very unexpected enjoyable book. An honest to goodness surprise! Part of the enjoyment was not ‘only’ the story but the incredible Scott Brick.
I’m beginning to think some of these REALLY TALENTED BOOK READERS do something that the average schmo just doesn’t do- not sure what that is —- but there is a big difference between a fair -competent book reader and an excellent one. Scott was so good that a few times I seriously wondered if I would have enjoyed this book without him.
The COMPETITION for LOVE in this story was a kick. ( too funny)!!!
Plus it was so easy could to imagine drinking with these guys - while watching the sunset!!!
Great humor - sarcasm - history -
......wartime Post Traumatic experiences influence.....
AND
.......FUN CHARACTERS! As for Cuba...... scary! I think I’ll stay home.
Geezzzzzz.......so many shifts in rhythms. One minute there’s an action and adventure heart-pounding scene-..... then we have a love scene...... then another action scene....then small conversations of dialogue where emotions creep up on you when least expected —-a serious real moment that could make me choke up — then soon I was laughing again.....
This was a very unexpected enjoyable book. An honest to goodness surprise! Part of the enjoyment was not ‘only’ the story but the incredible Scott Brick.
I’m beginning to think some of these REALLY TALENTED BOOK READERS do something that the average schmo just doesn’t do- not sure what that is —- but there is a big difference between a fair -competent book reader and an excellent one. Scott was so good that a few times I seriously wondered if I would have enjoyed this book without him.
The COMPETITION for LOVE in this story was a kick. ( too funny)!!!
Plus it was so easy could to imagine drinking with these guys - while watching the sunset!!!
Great humor - sarcasm - history -
......wartime Post Traumatic experiences influence.....
AND
.......FUN CHARACTERS! As for Cuba...... scary! I think I’ll stay home.
September 6, 2017
3.5 Stars
The Cuban Affair was my first book by Nelson DeMille and I experienced this story along with my Traveling sisters, Norma, Kaceey, Lindsay, Susanne, JanB and Diane.
The Cuban Affair is an entertaining, fun, humorous, political adventure suspense thriller that we all enjoyed reading and discussing our thoughts with each other. This was a first for a couple of us and won’t be our last.
Nelson DeMille does a good job balancing this story with some well researched insight to Cuban/US relations giving us some background to the story along with some good fun humour, sarcasm and action. With a little romance that did have me and a couple of sisters rolling our eyes at. We felt we could've used a little less of that. We all really enjoyed our fun, humorist, sarcastic main character Mac and his colourful, snarky first mate Jack and enjoyed their relationship and they had us chuckling a few times.
I did find the middle to drag a bit and the romance didn’t help with that at all. It got a little sluggish for me and I found myself rushing through it to get to the action and when it did, it came quite fast for me and had me thinking what just happened. I would of liked it to have been a bit better paced.
We all are interested to see if we are in for some more adventures for Mac and Jack in the future from Nelson DeMille and will have my eye out for that.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Nelson DeMille for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy.
All Norma’s and my reviews and all of our Traveling Sisters Reviews along with Lindsay and Kaceey review for this one can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
The Cuban Affair was my first book by Nelson DeMille and I experienced this story along with my Traveling sisters, Norma, Kaceey, Lindsay, Susanne, JanB and Diane.
The Cuban Affair is an entertaining, fun, humorous, political adventure suspense thriller that we all enjoyed reading and discussing our thoughts with each other. This was a first for a couple of us and won’t be our last.
Nelson DeMille does a good job balancing this story with some well researched insight to Cuban/US relations giving us some background to the story along with some good fun humour, sarcasm and action. With a little romance that did have me and a couple of sisters rolling our eyes at. We felt we could've used a little less of that. We all really enjoyed our fun, humorist, sarcastic main character Mac and his colourful, snarky first mate Jack and enjoyed their relationship and they had us chuckling a few times.
I did find the middle to drag a bit and the romance didn’t help with that at all. It got a little sluggish for me and I found myself rushing through it to get to the action and when it did, it came quite fast for me and had me thinking what just happened. I would of liked it to have been a bit better paced.
We all are interested to see if we are in for some more adventures for Mac and Jack in the future from Nelson DeMille and will have my eye out for that.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Nelson DeMille for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy.
All Norma’s and my reviews and all of our Traveling Sisters Reviews along with Lindsay and Kaceey review for this one can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
December 17, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It is a very good adventure thriller. Daniel "Mac" MacCormick, a 35 year old Army Afghanistan veteran, and now Key West charter boat captain, is approached by Carlos, a Cuban American lawyer with an unusual proposition. He is offered $2 million to take some people to Cuba who want to retrieve $60 million. He will also be picking up a trunk full of deeds to property confiscated by the Castro government. He initially says no, but then meets Sara Ortega, a stunningly beautiful woman who will accompany him on the trip. He asks for $5 million and settles on $3 million.
Of course things do not go as planned and there are some surprises along the way. But I liked the way the plot developed and the pace of the story which moved along quite well. There is some snappy dialogue. Mac is the narrator and the story takes place in the present tense.
Some Mac quotes:
"Being captain of your own fate doesn't mean you always make good decisions."
"My financial advisor is Jack Colby who likes to say, 'I spent most of money on booze and broads and I wasted the rest of it'."
"Yalies, like vampires, can recognize each other in the dark. Similarly, Bowdoin alum can recognize each other in a bar-they're the ones passed out on the floor."
I apologize for taking so long to read this book, but I did see the author on CSPAN, talking about this book and the craft of writing. I recommend watching the interview, which is available on their website, booktv.org
He explained that he produces a book about every 2 years, because he likes to do a fair amount of research. DeMille mentioned that there are mystery/thriller authors who put out a new book every year and even some who produce 3 or 4 a year. He said "I called James Patterson's house to talk to him recently. His wife answered and said 'He can't come to the phone, he is writing a book.' I said 'That's all right, I'll wait."
Of course things do not go as planned and there are some surprises along the way. But I liked the way the plot developed and the pace of the story which moved along quite well. There is some snappy dialogue. Mac is the narrator and the story takes place in the present tense.
Some Mac quotes:
"Being captain of your own fate doesn't mean you always make good decisions."
"My financial advisor is Jack Colby who likes to say, 'I spent most of money on booze and broads and I wasted the rest of it'."
"Yalies, like vampires, can recognize each other in the dark. Similarly, Bowdoin alum can recognize each other in a bar-they're the ones passed out on the floor."
I apologize for taking so long to read this book, but I did see the author on CSPAN, talking about this book and the craft of writing. I recommend watching the interview, which is available on their website, booktv.org
He explained that he produces a book about every 2 years, because he likes to do a fair amount of research. DeMille mentioned that there are mystery/thriller authors who put out a new book every year and even some who produce 3 or 4 a year. He said "I called James Patterson's house to talk to him recently. His wife answered and said 'He can't come to the phone, he is writing a book.' I said 'That's all right, I'll wait."
September 17, 2017
The Cuba Affair isn't my usual kind of book. I read lots of mysteries and some thrillers, but usually not this type of unabashed commercial action packed macho fare. But I'm a sucker for books set in Cuba and I read a few enthusiastic reviews from GR friends, so I thought I would give it a try. This one involves narrator Mac agreeing to go on a trip from Key West to Cuba to help some Cuban Americans recoup money and papers that were hidden at the time of the revolution. As you can predict, things don't go as smoothly as everyone hoped.
So my verdict is that while The Cuba Affair kept my attention, I had lots of unhappy moments along the way:
-I don't like chase scenes, and there's a long long one at the end.
-Cuba is a complicated place, and although the narrator makes this point at the end, the country is mostly depicted in really negative terms, with little regard for the positive or nuanced aspects of the country, and no regard for the American embargo's contributions to some of the country's economic challenges.
-The premise of the story seemed beyond implausible.
-The romance was ridiculous and shallow.
-Something happens towards the end that is treated far too lightly given its moral implications.
I know my reactions sounds prissy. What did I expect? After all, this is unabashed commercial action packed macho fare.
Besides, honestly it wasn't all bad as reflected in my 3 stars "I didn't hate it" rating. I liked Mac's voice and the humour that ran through the book -- including his depiction of a minor character who is an American novelist on a tour in Cuba doing research for a new book. I liked the book's eye on the Cuban American community. I liked getting insight into the American perspective on traveling to Cuba even though it's very different from my Canadian perspective.
But still the bottom line is that this isn't really my cup of tea but it will be many readers' pint of beer.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
So my verdict is that while The Cuba Affair kept my attention, I had lots of unhappy moments along the way:
-I don't like chase scenes, and there's a long long one at the end.
-Cuba is a complicated place, and although the narrator makes this point at the end, the country is mostly depicted in really negative terms, with little regard for the positive or nuanced aspects of the country, and no regard for the American embargo's contributions to some of the country's economic challenges.
-The premise of the story seemed beyond implausible.
-The romance was ridiculous and shallow.
-Something happens towards the end that is treated far too lightly given its moral implications.
I know my reactions sounds prissy. What did I expect? After all, this is unabashed commercial action packed macho fare.
Besides, honestly it wasn't all bad as reflected in my 3 stars "I didn't hate it" rating. I liked Mac's voice and the humour that ran through the book -- including his depiction of a minor character who is an American novelist on a tour in Cuba doing research for a new book. I liked the book's eye on the Cuban American community. I liked getting insight into the American perspective on traveling to Cuba even though it's very different from my Canadian perspective.
But still the bottom line is that this isn't really my cup of tea but it will be many readers' pint of beer.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
August 21, 2017
Nelson DeMille’s The Cuban Affair follows Daniel “Mac” MacCormick, an army veteran who owns and operates a fishing boat in Key West, Florida. Mac spends his days taking out tourists for both sunset cruises and fishing trips, but that all changes when he is approached by a group of Cuban Americans. With relations normalizing between the US and Cuba for the first time in over fifty years, they want to hire him to assist in retrieving millions owed to Cuban ex-pats who escaped during the Missile Crisis. Mac agrees, but it's mostly because he wants to get under the covers with Sara, one of his potential employers. Under the guise of a fishing tournament, Mac and his new customers set off for Cuba to track down a decades-old stash of cash.
I received an advanced copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
I found DeMille’s Mac to be an insufferable dumbass. I’m not sure if that was intentional, but he was both unlikeable and annoying right from the start. Mac believes himself to be both clever and witty, but his jokes and observations are unbearably lame (a t-shirt that says “designer t-shirt” on it is supposed to be funny?). Adding to that, he had the mentality of a fourteen year old boy - completely obsessed with getting laid that he could rarely go fifteen minutes without monologuing about sex and how badly he wanted to crawl in bed with Sara. It became irritatingly repetitive and it poisoned the narrative.
It wasn’t all Mac though - Sara is just as much to blame. She’s introduced as this determind young woman, driven to stick it to the Cuban regime, but it wasn’t long before she became this dependent, lovesick caricature that pined over Mac. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with romantic aspects or story-lines within a crime/action novel, but when it is front and center and as nauseating as this was, it is a real turn-off.
DeMille has noted that it takes him approximately sixteen months to write a novel. Although he writes each novel on legal pads with a pencil, the reason for the lengthy timeframe is largely due to the extensive amount of research involved with each story. For The Cuban Affair, DeMille traveled to the island country when then-president Barack Obama relaxed tensions among the two nations. Throughout the novel, he does an excellent job painting the backdrop to Mac and Sara’s adventure highlighting antique cars, dilapidated buildings and the tropical environment surrounding our two protagonists. That was easily my biggest take-away from The Cuban Affair.
In the end, I couldn’t get passed the love story, so it seriously hampered my overall enjoyment. I can recognize the work put in by DeMille to explore the Cuban culture, but I hated almost every character in the story and unfortunately, that makes this one a difficult one to rate positively.
The Cuban Affair releases on September 19, 2017 through Simon & Schuster.
I received an advanced copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
I found DeMille’s Mac to be an insufferable dumbass. I’m not sure if that was intentional, but he was both unlikeable and annoying right from the start. Mac believes himself to be both clever and witty, but his jokes and observations are unbearably lame (a t-shirt that says “designer t-shirt” on it is supposed to be funny?). Adding to that, he had the mentality of a fourteen year old boy - completely obsessed with getting laid that he could rarely go fifteen minutes without monologuing about sex and how badly he wanted to crawl in bed with Sara. It became irritatingly repetitive and it poisoned the narrative.
It wasn’t all Mac though - Sara is just as much to blame. She’s introduced as this determind young woman, driven to stick it to the Cuban regime, but it wasn’t long before she became this dependent, lovesick caricature that pined over Mac. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with romantic aspects or story-lines within a crime/action novel, but when it is front and center and as nauseating as this was, it is a real turn-off.
DeMille has noted that it takes him approximately sixteen months to write a novel. Although he writes each novel on legal pads with a pencil, the reason for the lengthy timeframe is largely due to the extensive amount of research involved with each story. For The Cuban Affair, DeMille traveled to the island country when then-president Barack Obama relaxed tensions among the two nations. Throughout the novel, he does an excellent job painting the backdrop to Mac and Sara’s adventure highlighting antique cars, dilapidated buildings and the tropical environment surrounding our two protagonists. That was easily my biggest take-away from The Cuban Affair.
In the end, I couldn’t get passed the love story, so it seriously hampered my overall enjoyment. I can recognize the work put in by DeMille to explore the Cuban culture, but I hated almost every character in the story and unfortunately, that makes this one a difficult one to rate positively.
The Cuban Affair releases on September 19, 2017 through Simon & Schuster.
June 11, 2018
Nelson used to be my favorite author. I guess I've strayed or he's changed. The Cuban Affair is about an ex military boat captain, Mac, who does private cruises out of Key West. That is, until a Miami lawyer and a beautiful, anti-Castro woman, Sara, ask him to sail to Cuba, which is the last place he wants to go until they offer him $2 million. The goal: recover $60 million hidden in a cave by the woman's grandfather when communism and Castro took hold on the island. The obstacles: he's likely to get killed by Castro's troops, Sara won't tell him the full truth, she might shoot him rather than pay him the money, the money, hidden in a cave for years may not be there.
The Good: Mac, the protagonist is a great character. He's ex-military, 5 years in the infantry, 2 stints in Afghanistan, silver star, a couple purple stars. He's a decent, down-to-earth guy who doesn't harbor aspirations, just a quiet life where he can rely only on himself to earn his money. The other characters in the book are also good. Sara fits the mold of a pretty, sexy woman who is just beyond Mac's reach, which makes her alluring enough to pursue. Nelson is great at characters and scene description. Also, his humor returns in this novel, which i loved so much in his early novels.
The Less Than Good: Nelson's early novels had humor, great characters, and dynamic, interesting plots. While this novel has the first two, the last is sorely missing. You might say that Nelson, for my tastes, has gotten really long-winded. He's provided great, meticulously-researched details about the relations between Cuba and the US. And he provides, great descriptions of characters and settings. But every chapter could have been cut in half or left out all together. A thriller means it's supposed to be thrilling. This thriller is mired in facts, descriptions and nothing much happening for long stretches of time. The nothing-happening sections are professionally written. So, if you don't mind chapters of 20 pages where the actions could have been dramatized in 7, this novel will be perfect for you. I'm, I confess, more of a 7-page guy. I don't have Attention Deficit Disorder, but I felt like I did reading this novel.
Still, Nelson has a rich, evocative story telling style. You definitely get a sense of people and places. I just yearn for the Nelson who wrote Plum Island that I had to read in one sitting.
The Good: Mac, the protagonist is a great character. He's ex-military, 5 years in the infantry, 2 stints in Afghanistan, silver star, a couple purple stars. He's a decent, down-to-earth guy who doesn't harbor aspirations, just a quiet life where he can rely only on himself to earn his money. The other characters in the book are also good. Sara fits the mold of a pretty, sexy woman who is just beyond Mac's reach, which makes her alluring enough to pursue. Nelson is great at characters and scene description. Also, his humor returns in this novel, which i loved so much in his early novels.
The Less Than Good: Nelson's early novels had humor, great characters, and dynamic, interesting plots. While this novel has the first two, the last is sorely missing. You might say that Nelson, for my tastes, has gotten really long-winded. He's provided great, meticulously-researched details about the relations between Cuba and the US. And he provides, great descriptions of characters and settings. But every chapter could have been cut in half or left out all together. A thriller means it's supposed to be thrilling. This thriller is mired in facts, descriptions and nothing much happening for long stretches of time. The nothing-happening sections are professionally written. So, if you don't mind chapters of 20 pages where the actions could have been dramatized in 7, this novel will be perfect for you. I'm, I confess, more of a 7-page guy. I don't have Attention Deficit Disorder, but I felt like I did reading this novel.
Still, Nelson has a rich, evocative story telling style. You definitely get a sense of people and places. I just yearn for the Nelson who wrote Plum Island that I had to read in one sitting.
September 24, 2017
First and foremost, I'd like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster publishers, and Nelson DeMille for an advanced copy of The Cuban Affair in return for an honest review.
I have read DeMille's books for over 30 years, beginning with Charm School, which was an eye-opening shocker to my young, naive soul. I STILL remember the storyline and its impact on me all these years later! Now THAT'S a credit to the author; he is an impeccable writer of suspense, and I am always thrilled when he pens another novel. The Cuban Affair is his newest installment and if Mr. DeMille wasn't already at the apex of his writing prowess, then this one surely rocketed him over the top! It is so enjoyable reading an action packed, suspenseful thriller that has an intriguing plot with well rounded, dynamic characters. The Cuban Affair exceeds that criteria and then some, adding to the mix: excellent research ( which enlightens readers), mysterious situations, many twists, and superb, witty dialogue! There are no missteps in this one! Absolutely engaging! Positively riveting!
My one regret: I wish Mr. DeMille published more frequently, but he obviously desires quality over quantity ...and it is worth the wait!
I have read DeMille's books for over 30 years, beginning with Charm School, which was an eye-opening shocker to my young, naive soul. I STILL remember the storyline and its impact on me all these years later! Now THAT'S a credit to the author; he is an impeccable writer of suspense, and I am always thrilled when he pens another novel. The Cuban Affair is his newest installment and if Mr. DeMille wasn't already at the apex of his writing prowess, then this one surely rocketed him over the top! It is so enjoyable reading an action packed, suspenseful thriller that has an intriguing plot with well rounded, dynamic characters. The Cuban Affair exceeds that criteria and then some, adding to the mix: excellent research ( which enlightens readers), mysterious situations, many twists, and superb, witty dialogue! There are no missteps in this one! Absolutely engaging! Positively riveting!
My one regret: I wish Mr. DeMille published more frequently, but he obviously desires quality over quantity ...and it is worth the wait!
November 18, 2017
It was so much fun to read this great story. Even in the very stressful parts author has away insert humor and make you smile. Old enough to live through Cuban missile crises, was afraid it was going to be political. It's very little politics, Vietnam and Afghanistan war and effects on the returned veterans. Really liked the ending, you'll too.
August 26, 2017
Daniel ‘Mac’ MacCormack is a 35 year old army veteran who runs a charter fishing boat, The Maine, out of Key West. He's heavily in debt and when he's approached by a group of people looking to recover documents and a huge stash of cash that has been hidden in a Cuban cave since the time of the 1959 revolution he's tempted to throw in his lot. The plan is that he’ll position himself on the island by joining Sara, an alluring Cuban-American, on an educational tour. During their stay, they will meet up with contacts who will help them find their way to the treasure. Meanwhile, Mac’s first mate, Jack Colby, will enter a ten day fishing competition that’ll position The Maine off the coast of Cuba. Beyond that details of the plan are vague, but the thought of spending time with Sara, of filling his pockets with cash and of risking all in an ‘adventure’ are just too tempting.
As DeMille reflect in his forward to this book, it's an interesting time for Cuban/American relations. Obama may have started the process of opening the door to a more inclusive relationship but Trump shows every likelihood of slamming it firmly closed once more. I hadn't realised that America prohibits its citizens from holidaying on the island. Quite a few friends of mine, from the UK, have enjoyed holidays there in the recent past and have commented how friendly the locals were during their stay. If the tenor of this novel is to be believed (and DeMille stresses that it's based on a good deal of personally undertaken research) then it seems that things are very different for any Americans who do get to visit. Set in 2015, this caper shows the depth of suspicion that befalls such visitors and the draconian limitations imposed upon them.
The whole thing is full of the sharp and amusing one-liners DeMille habitually peppers his stories with. Mac and Jack are an engaging pair and the tale rumbles along in an entertaining fashion. At times it's tempting to feel that the reflections on Cuban life and on the country’s relationship with America takes up more page space than the plot itself – but that’s ok, as I found this to be both interesting and informative.
It’s hard to take the narrative too seriously, but it's well structured and does throw up a climax that I found truly gripping. And I really enjoy time with Mac in in fact I'd happily do so again should DeMille decide to roll out a follow-up.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As DeMille reflect in his forward to this book, it's an interesting time for Cuban/American relations. Obama may have started the process of opening the door to a more inclusive relationship but Trump shows every likelihood of slamming it firmly closed once more. I hadn't realised that America prohibits its citizens from holidaying on the island. Quite a few friends of mine, from the UK, have enjoyed holidays there in the recent past and have commented how friendly the locals were during their stay. If the tenor of this novel is to be believed (and DeMille stresses that it's based on a good deal of personally undertaken research) then it seems that things are very different for any Americans who do get to visit. Set in 2015, this caper shows the depth of suspicion that befalls such visitors and the draconian limitations imposed upon them.
The whole thing is full of the sharp and amusing one-liners DeMille habitually peppers his stories with. Mac and Jack are an engaging pair and the tale rumbles along in an entertaining fashion. At times it's tempting to feel that the reflections on Cuban life and on the country’s relationship with America takes up more page space than the plot itself – but that’s ok, as I found this to be both interesting and informative.
It’s hard to take the narrative too seriously, but it's well structured and does throw up a climax that I found truly gripping. And I really enjoy time with Mac in in fact I'd happily do so again should DeMille decide to roll out a follow-up.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2019
I don't know how I missed doing the review on this one. I read it as soon as it hit the stores. DeMille is one of my favorites. Gold Coast and Plum Island are right up there with the top twenty favorites of all time. I've reread Gold Coast three times and I still laugh so hard I have to put the book down. If you haven't read it give it try.
The Cuban Affair was good enough for four stars. It's not fair to compare him to his other works but that's what I feel I have to do. If compared to the majority he would be a solid five stars.
I enjoyed this book but it didn't quite have the pizazz of his best.
I don't think the character was unique enough for me. He seemed to be an amalgamation of others, almost trite.
The greatest part of this book was going to Cuba and seeing it through the eyes of the character. The setting carried an equal weight of a main character. That's tough to do and I really enjoyed it.
I would recommend this book.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.
The Cuban Affair was good enough for four stars. It's not fair to compare him to his other works but that's what I feel I have to do. If compared to the majority he would be a solid five stars.
I enjoyed this book but it didn't quite have the pizazz of his best.
I don't think the character was unique enough for me. He seemed to be an amalgamation of others, almost trite.
The greatest part of this book was going to Cuba and seeing it through the eyes of the character. The setting carried an equal weight of a main character. That's tough to do and I really enjoyed it.
I would recommend this book.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.
July 30, 2019
In this latest novel by Nelson DeMille we meet a new protagonist. Daniel “Mac” MacCormick is an Army veteran who after two tours in Afghanistan is now a charter boat captain in Key West, Florida and owner of a forty-two-foot charter fishing boat, The Maine with a big bank loan.
The story opens with Mac sitting in the Green Parrot Bar in Key West contemplating his life and waiting for Carlos who wants to hire Mac and The Maine for a ten-day fishing tournament to Cuba at the standard rate. Mac suspects there is more going on than fishing and turns the offer down. Then the price goes up to 2 million and Mac agrees to he hear the deal and meet Carlos's clients. The clients are Sara Ortega, a beautiful Cuban-American woman, and Eduardo Valazquez, an older mysterious Cuban exile. The deal? There is sixty million American dollars hidden in Cuba by Sara’s grandfather when he fled Castro’s revolution. With the thaw in relations between the two countries Carlos, Eduardo, and Sara want to retrieve the money.
Written with the same sarcastic wit and humor we have come to expect the author takes you on a suspenseful trip to Cuba, a police state where no one can be trusted and anyone can turn you in to the authorities. The book reminded me at times of the film "Casablanca" with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Except here we have Mac and Sara. A very enjoyable story. If you like the John Corey series (Plum Island, Night Fall) I think you will like this story.
The story opens with Mac sitting in the Green Parrot Bar in Key West contemplating his life and waiting for Carlos who wants to hire Mac and The Maine for a ten-day fishing tournament to Cuba at the standard rate. Mac suspects there is more going on than fishing and turns the offer down. Then the price goes up to 2 million and Mac agrees to he hear the deal and meet Carlos's clients. The clients are Sara Ortega, a beautiful Cuban-American woman, and Eduardo Valazquez, an older mysterious Cuban exile. The deal? There is sixty million American dollars hidden in Cuba by Sara’s grandfather when he fled Castro’s revolution. With the thaw in relations between the two countries Carlos, Eduardo, and Sara want to retrieve the money.
Written with the same sarcastic wit and humor we have come to expect the author takes you on a suspenseful trip to Cuba, a police state where no one can be trusted and anyone can turn you in to the authorities. The book reminded me at times of the film "Casablanca" with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Except here we have Mac and Sara. A very enjoyable story. If you like the John Corey series (Plum Island, Night Fall) I think you will like this story.
November 1, 2017
DeMille is back with a new snarky character, Daniel MacCormick, aka Mac. Mac is a thirty-five-year old ex Army, Purple Hearted and Silver Stared veteran living in Key West making a living on his fishing boat. Mac narrates the story, which DeMille does so well with his protagonists.
In this thriller, Mac gets involved in a Cuban caper with exiled Cubans. The purpose of reading any DeMille’s novels is the inner dialogue of his main character. Either you find DeMille hilarious, or tedious. I’m of the former.
I also enjoyed learning a bit more about the current state of Cuba. DeMille did his research and his scenes in Cuba are life-like and easy to lose yourself into the narrative. His ideas of the CIA and its relationship to Cuba are interesting and proving to be true based upon the recent events in Cuba with US Diplomats.
It’s been a while since DeMille wrote a fiction novel and as a fond admirer, I’m glad he’s back.
In this thriller, Mac gets involved in a Cuban caper with exiled Cubans. The purpose of reading any DeMille’s novels is the inner dialogue of his main character. Either you find DeMille hilarious, or tedious. I’m of the former.
I also enjoyed learning a bit more about the current state of Cuba. DeMille did his research and his scenes in Cuba are life-like and easy to lose yourself into the narrative. His ideas of the CIA and its relationship to Cuba are interesting and proving to be true based upon the recent events in Cuba with US Diplomats.
It’s been a while since DeMille wrote a fiction novel and as a fond admirer, I’m glad he’s back.
November 22, 2019
Delightful. Entertaining - I loved the ongoing banter of the 2 main characters. Being Daniel McCormick 'Mac' and Sara Ortega. I especially liked Mac's facetiousness. I smiled most if the way through reading the book.
An insight into communist Cuba and what travel in a communist country is like. Terrifying. A near constant fear of the local police and the local prison.
So to reconcile here: humourous conversations but set in a police state while our 'heroes' carry out an illegal plot. The goal - to wrest a large amount of paper money in 60 steamer trunks. money taken from a bank in the days before Cuba became communist. To be legally returned to its rightful owners in America.
Excellent writing. Unputdownable.
An insight into communist Cuba and what travel in a communist country is like. Terrifying. A near constant fear of the local police and the local prison.
So to reconcile here: humourous conversations but set in a police state while our 'heroes' carry out an illegal plot. The goal - to wrest a large amount of paper money in 60 steamer trunks. money taken from a bank in the days before Cuba became communist. To be legally returned to its rightful owners in America.
Excellent writing. Unputdownable.
October 1, 2017
Some disjointed comments:
IMO, Daniel MacCormick is not a new character-he is John Corey (the protagonist of several previous novels)
Really enjoyedJohn Corey's Mac's many funny one-liners and snarky humor!
Liked learning more about life in Cuba, its history, and ongoing political relationship with America.
Side love story between Mac and Sara was not believable-"too heavy, too quickly" (Diane S.). Almost like-" Hello. I love you beyond reason. Do you love me too? Most excellent! I shall constantly ask you-"Do you love me? "-to remind you and the reader that we are in deep, deep love here. Let us now risk our lives for each other, and then we shall marry and have children.
The action part of the novel was exciting. "And while once the action got going the novel really crackled,it took a little too long to get to that point." (Lifted verbatim from Larry H's review. Thank you, once again, Larry)
Listened to an interview with Demille in which he said that: Jack, the first mate, was based on himself and his own war experience in Vietnam. DeMille also said that he wrote himself into the novel as the writer in the tour group (forgot his name).
IMO, Daniel MacCormick is not a new character-he is John Corey (the protagonist of several previous novels)
Really enjoyed
Liked learning more about life in Cuba, its history, and ongoing political relationship with America.
Side love story between Mac and Sara was not believable-"too heavy, too quickly" (Diane S.). Almost like-" Hello. I love you beyond reason. Do you love me too? Most excellent! I shall constantly ask you-"Do you love me? "-to remind you and the reader that we are in deep, deep love here. Let us now risk our lives for each other, and then we shall marry and have children.
The action part of the novel was exciting. "And while once the action got going the novel really crackled,it took a little too long to get to that point." (Lifted verbatim from Larry H's review. Thank you, once again, Larry)
Listened to an interview with Demille in which he said that: Jack, the first mate, was based on himself and his own war experience in Vietnam. DeMille also said that he wrote himself into the novel as the writer in the tour group (forgot his name).
September 19, 2017
The second I finished this book, my husband broke into a happy dance. Why is that, you ask? Well, most of the time when I'm reading I'm sitting across from him as he sits in his recliner watching the idiot box. And most of the time, that works just fine. But along came this character - Daniel Graham "Mac" MacCormick - who triggered giggles, snorts, chuckles and occasionally, outright guffaws from my side of the room. annoying the heck out of my usually sweet sweetie. A for-instance? Much of the book is set in Cuba, where the construction zones are dotted with "Porta-Juans" (okay, it might have been funnier in the moment, but you get the drift).
Needless to say, I did not share my husband's enthusiasm when I reached the end; clearly, Mac - a 35-year-old Army vet now runs a charter fishing business in Key West and narrates the story - has the same wacko sense of humor as I do. That's great, but what's even better is the intriguing, action-filled plot that kept me thumbing through the pages of my Kindle and unwilling to put it down (yet another thorn in the side of my husband, who expected to be fed now and again).
The story, which takes place as the relationship between the United States and Cuba begins to "thaw," is timely, although the author does remind readers that the book was written before the current administration took office (it's set in the fall of 2015). It's also clear that he's done quite a bit of research, some of it on-site, much to the enlightenment of readers who appreciate history. That I, a person who literally switched my college major because I couldn't fathom taking another boring history class, was glued to the pages is perhaps the greatest tribute to the author's writing skills.
But I digress: The story begins as Mac is waiting in the Green Parrot Bar for a meeting with Carlos, a high-powered lawyer from Miami who's made a name for himself among anti-Castro groups. Turns out Carlos wants to hire Mac to participate in a fishing tournament in Cuba, but Mac isn't buying it. Carlos then ups the ante to $2 million for the job, making Mac put down his beer and agree to a meeting with Carlos's clients on Mac's boat. Turns out that one is the beautiful (and single) Sara Ortega, who claims her grandfather stashed a whopping $60 million in a cave before he fled Cuba during the Castro revolution. The fishing tournament, then, is just a red herring; the real prize is to find, and bring back to the States, the money - less Mac's rather hefty cut, of course.
Needless to say, the cash-starved Mac signs on (albeit grudgingly). His friend Jack takes the helm of the boat - now sold to the attorney and renamed to protect the names of the guilty - while Mac and Sara fly to Cuba under the cover of a U.S.-Cuba sanctioned tour of Yale faculty and grads. Needless to say, trying to steer clear of the clutches of the Cuban authorities is muy dificil; there's a fly in the ointment at nearly every turn and twist - quite possibly, Murphy's Law originated in Cuba - making it hard to know who to trust (if anyone) and forcing Mac to put all the skills he acquired during his two tours in Afghanistan to the test.
More than that I can't say without spoiling things for others. What I can say is that as I understand it, this is Mac's debut appearance in the reading world. He not only gets a big shout-out from me - a more interesting, fun character I haven't come across in a while - but also my hope that I'll meet him again soon (hint, hint). Meantime, many thanks go to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Needless to say, I did not share my husband's enthusiasm when I reached the end; clearly, Mac - a 35-year-old Army vet now runs a charter fishing business in Key West and narrates the story - has the same wacko sense of humor as I do. That's great, but what's even better is the intriguing, action-filled plot that kept me thumbing through the pages of my Kindle and unwilling to put it down (yet another thorn in the side of my husband, who expected to be fed now and again).
The story, which takes place as the relationship between the United States and Cuba begins to "thaw," is timely, although the author does remind readers that the book was written before the current administration took office (it's set in the fall of 2015). It's also clear that he's done quite a bit of research, some of it on-site, much to the enlightenment of readers who appreciate history. That I, a person who literally switched my college major because I couldn't fathom taking another boring history class, was glued to the pages is perhaps the greatest tribute to the author's writing skills.
But I digress: The story begins as Mac is waiting in the Green Parrot Bar for a meeting with Carlos, a high-powered lawyer from Miami who's made a name for himself among anti-Castro groups. Turns out Carlos wants to hire Mac to participate in a fishing tournament in Cuba, but Mac isn't buying it. Carlos then ups the ante to $2 million for the job, making Mac put down his beer and agree to a meeting with Carlos's clients on Mac's boat. Turns out that one is the beautiful (and single) Sara Ortega, who claims her grandfather stashed a whopping $60 million in a cave before he fled Cuba during the Castro revolution. The fishing tournament, then, is just a red herring; the real prize is to find, and bring back to the States, the money - less Mac's rather hefty cut, of course.
Needless to say, the cash-starved Mac signs on (albeit grudgingly). His friend Jack takes the helm of the boat - now sold to the attorney and renamed to protect the names of the guilty - while Mac and Sara fly to Cuba under the cover of a U.S.-Cuba sanctioned tour of Yale faculty and grads. Needless to say, trying to steer clear of the clutches of the Cuban authorities is muy dificil; there's a fly in the ointment at nearly every turn and twist - quite possibly, Murphy's Law originated in Cuba - making it hard to know who to trust (if anyone) and forcing Mac to put all the skills he acquired during his two tours in Afghanistan to the test.
More than that I can't say without spoiling things for others. What I can say is that as I understand it, this is Mac's debut appearance in the reading world. He not only gets a big shout-out from me - a more interesting, fun character I haven't come across in a while - but also my hope that I'll meet him again soon (hint, hint). Meantime, many thanks go to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2025
Познавам Нелсън Демил като опитен в занаята писател.
Има си тази книга от всичко по малко и май точно там е проблема - от всичко по малко и от нищо достатъчно. Но пък се е разпрострял авторът на поне двеста страници в повече, околкото имаше нужда иначе семплия му сюжет.
Макар действието да се развива почти изцяло в съвременна Куба, читателят не успява да научи почти нищо за тази страна и за хората ѝ...
2* от мен - защото е четивна книга и не ми досади много, но все пак, на няколко пъти без малко да я оставя недовършена.
Има си тази книга от всичко по малко и май точно там е проблема - от всичко по малко и от нищо достатъчно. Но пък се е разпрострял авторът на поне двеста страници в повече, околкото имаше нужда иначе семплия му сюжет.
Макар действието да се развива почти изцяло в съвременна Куба, читателят не успява да научи почти нищо за тази страна и за хората ѝ...
2* от мен - защото е четивна книга и не ми досади много, но все пак, на няколко пъти без малко да я оставя недовършена.
October 11, 2017
3.5 stars debating on if I should round up or not.
July 17, 2017
I enjoyed Nelson DeMille's latest novel "The Cuban Affair".
Not only was there thrilling action and romance but there was a bonus for me in receiving a history lesson on Cuba/U.S. relations that I wasn't all that familiar with.
I loved the new characters "Mac" and "Jack" and I hope to see them again in future novels.
Not only was there thrilling action and romance but there was a bonus for me in receiving a history lesson on Cuba/U.S. relations that I wasn't all that familiar with.
I loved the new characters "Mac" and "Jack" and I hope to see them again in future novels.
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