A novel of George Orwell in 1920s BURMA
Novel set mainly in CUBA
26th January 2024
Last Seen In Havana by Teresa Dovalpage, novel set mainly in Cuba.
“A must-read for mystery fans who love great locations paired with even better characters” says author Alex Segura. What an accolade!
This is the story of two women separated by time and circumstance. Mercedes has recently lost her husband and she is off to Cuba to look after her paternal grandmother, who lives there. The death of her husband brings into sharp relief the loss she suffered as a young girl, when her mother disappeared – the authorities were involved in trying to trace her but the closed was closed in 1991, leaving her with little hope of ever finding her mother. Her mother (whose name she didn’t even know) fell in love with a Cuban soldier in the 1980s during a whirlwind trip to Havana, at a time when political fervour was ubiquitous and idealism persisted, despite many restrictions and hardships simply obtaining the basic necessities. The 1980s story guides the reader around Cuba as it was then, with revolutionary slogans – Patria o muerte – intrinsic even to collective wedding ceremonies taking place at El Palacio de Los Matrimonios (where perhaps the romance and wedding shine were slightly tarnished because the ashes of revolutionary Julio Antonio Mella were also interred there – you could never escape from the revolution, even in intimate moments).
Mercedes’ search leads the reader through Havana’s bustling streets and crumbling Art Deco mansions, as she unravels family mysteries and discovers buried history. The author uses Spanish words judiciously throughout the narrative, which adds a nice level of authenticity.
This is a mystery, which sometimes almost feels like a memoir, exploring family bonds, identity and the lasting power of love. And as Mercedes makes her discoveries, she also finds her own firmer footing in the world. Cuba is a great backdrop for this engaging story.
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