Oct 1, 2009

Cuban-American Mysteries by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, just passed, I'm reprinting this post on a Latina writer who writes mysteries set in Miami and Havana.

A Miracle in Paradise (1999)
The main character in the mystery series, Lupe Solano, is a private investigator in the Cuban-American community of Miami. She drinks mojitos the way other people drink coffee, wears Manolo Blahnik heels, and hangs with the community of elite Cuban exiles living in and around South Beach, Miami.

The novels are written by Cuban-born, Florida-bred author Carolina Garcia-Aguilera.

In the novels, the avidly anti-Castro father of the P.I. keeps a boat ready to return to Cuba at a moment's notice, at the first sign of "Cuba Libre," something he spends his life waiting for. On at least two occasions, Lupe uses his boat to sneak into Cuba, investigating lost or confiscated property, finding people, or recovering valuable artwork for her clients. Needless to say, her secret nighttime forays into Cuba provide some good suspense.

I found out about mojitos (a drink made with mint leaves, sugar, soda water, and rum) and the Cuban American community in Florida while reading these lively mysteries. They include Bloody Waters (1996), A Miracle in Paradise (1999), Havana Heat(2000), and Bitter Sugar(2001).

3 comments:

  1. This sounds like a fun series. I discovered mojitos when I visited a friend in Miami a few years ago. And the night we spent in South Beach was an eye opener :)

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  2. It is a swinging town down there in South Beach! I had a memorable evening with family and friends at a Cuban restaurant in the Little Havana area of Miami a few years ago. Complete with strolling mariachi singers (Mexican), mojitos, and lively Cuban American patrons and food! Loved it!

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  3. mmmm....mmmm! I sure do know about mojitos. South Beach sounds like a wonderful place to people watch.

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