Havana Gold - (Mario Conde Investigates) by Leonardo Padura (Paperback)

About the Book

Scorching novel from a star of Cuban fiction. The fourth of the Havana Quartet series.

Book Synopsis

Praise for the Havana Quartet:

"Havana Red, another winner from Bitter Lemon Press."--The New York Times

"Overlaid with a rich smoky patina, an atmosphere that reeks of slums and riches, cigar smoke and exotic perfumes."--The Independent

"Talk about unexpected discoveries, the Havana Quartet is a revelation. With a nod to Key Largo and a virtual bow to The Maltese Falcon, these novels are ultimately about the redemptive nature of undying friendship and the potentially destructive nature of undying love."--The Atlantic Monthly

"Drenched with that beguiling otherness so appealing to fans of mysteries of other cultures, it will also appeal to those who appreciate the sultry lyricism of James Lee Burke."--Booklist

The fourth title of the prize-winning Havana Quartet.

Twenty-four-year-old Lissette Delgado was beaten, raped, and then strangled with a towel. Marijuana is found in her apartment and her wardrobe is suspiciously beyond the means of a high school teacher. Lieutenant Conde is pressured by "the highest authority" to conclude this investigation quickly when chance leads him into the arms of a beautiful redhead, a saxophone player who shares his love for jazz and fighting fi sh.

This is a Havana of crumbling, grand buildings, secrets hidden behind faded doors, and corruption. For an author living in Cuba, Leonardo Padura is remarkably outspoken about the failings of Fidel Castro's regime. Yet this is a eulogy of Cuba, its life of music, sex, and the great friendships of those who elected to stay and fight for survival.

Review Quotes

Examples of previous Padura reviews: "'Havana Black' is a revelation. A lush, frank, captivating murder mystery."--Atlantic Monthly "A whodunit syncopated with brilliant riffs on Cuban sex, society, religion, even food."--The Independent "Well-plotted second volume of the seething, steaming Havana Quartet . . . a densely packed mystery."--Publishers Weekly "The subterfuges adopted by people in everyday life, particularly in a climate of repression, captured perfectly in Padura's steamy, heat-soaked pages."--The Guardian

About the Author

Leonardo Padura was born in 1955 in Havana. He is a prize winning novelist, essayist, journalist and scriptwriter. International fame came with the publication of the Havana Quartet, all featuring Lieutenant Mario Conde, of which Havana Black is the second to be available in English.The Quartet has been translated into seven languages and has won numerous prizes including Spain's Hammett Prize. Critically acclaimed translator known for extensive work on Juan Goytisolo. Also translated Daniel Chavarria and Pedro de Alarcon from Cuba.

Leonardo Padura has just won the 2015 Princess of Asturias Literary prize for his life's work. This prize is said to be the Spanish Nobel Prize. Previous winners include Philip Roth, John Banville, Margaret Atwood, Amin Maalouf and Ismail Kadare. Padura is most famous for his Inspector Mario Conde novels, all published in English by Bitter Lemon Press.