In the late fifties/early sixties, it seems that every pulp/ espionage writer put out a book on traipsing back into Fidel's post-Revolution Cuba and liberating a hidden treasure. There are literally half a dozen such books I have read. Fifty years after the Cuban missle crisis, Cuba is no longer in the center of a American consciousness (outside of parts of Miami) and moves have been made to thaw relations. DeMille has given us a fantastic adventure that sends a fishing boat captain ( of course ex-Army with experience in Afghanistan) to Cuba on a seemingly suicidal mission with a bunch of Cuban exiles to liberate a cave full of money and treasure. On the way, the story takes us through today's Cuba, still a brutal dictatorship where every block contains a police informant and there's no bill of rights. The buildings are falling apart and everyone drives Frankenstein cars built from every mixed up spare part imaginable. Mostly though this is a rock-solid adventure, skillfully written, perfectly paced, and simply a great read. The tension of the secret mission can be felt on every page. There's no wasted pages, no meaningless dialogue. This is the first DeMille book I've ever picked up, but not the last.

Key West charter boat captain Daniel “Mac” MacCormick is made an offer he has every intention of refusing: Sail his boat to Cuba under the guise of a fishing tournament and recover cash and documents hidden during the revolution. But the lure of a $2 million payday is more than he can resist, and he takes the bait.

The Cuban Affair (Simon & Schuster, digital galley) introduces us to MacCormick, a retired Army infantry officer with combat experience in Afghanistan. With a boat loan he can barely handle, he is the perfect recruit for a dangerous mission dreamed up by anti-Castro groups.

While his first mate sails his boat to Cuba for the tournament, MacCormick flies to Havana with the beautiful Cuban-American Sara Ortega as part of a Yale University cultural trip. If all goes as planned, MacCormick, Ortega and the money will be aboard his boat headed back to Key West in just a few days. But seasoned combat veteran MacCormick knows no battle plan survives contact with the enemy and as soon as they set foot on Cuban soil the mission’s success is cast in doubt.

Nelson DeMille is in top form with this latest work and delivers his familiar biting humor and quick pacing. Researched on a cultural trip DeMille himself took to Cuba, the novel is filled with insights into life in a police state. At a time when relations between the United States and Cuba are beginning a slow thaw, DeMille offers a look at the troubled history shared between the countries.

Another page turner from Nelson DeMille! The Cuban Affair features a new character, Daniel 'Mac' McCormick, an Army vet escaped to Key West and running a heavily mortgaged fishing charter. When he's approached by Cuban Americans interested in retrieving some cash and papers from the Old Country, he thinks maybe the adventure--more appropriately mission--could fill the void and need for adventure that he's been feeling. And pay off his boat. And maybe some extra cash. And his parter in this adventure, Sara Ortega, was motivating in her own right!

THE CUBAN AFFAIR is classic DeMille. A fun, witty, smart assed protagonist; a beautiful, confused, less than honest with Mac but honest in her cause partner; rich and colorful characters; and a peek into the unknown in descriptions and experiences in Cuba.

While there's not a lot of new ground in the style or tone of this book, it is a fun and easy read that will keep you up at night to finish!

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. Here is my review:

I LOVED this book!! It is so contemporary, it could be "ripped from the headlines". Daniel "Mac" MacCormick is a retired Army veteran who doesn't know what to do with himself. Currently, he is just driftine in Key West, running a fishing boat and thinking about going home to Maine.

Then a group of Cuban ex-pats make him an offer: go to Cuba and reclaim goods stolen by the Castro government. Simple, right? Not so much. Cuba is a mystery. Nothing is what it seems, and no one Mac sees is in favor of the current Cuban Thaw. Every crime carries a possible death penalty, and it is hard to actually KNOW what is a crime.

When US Army combat veteran Daniel “Mac” MacCormick becomes a charter boat captain in Florida's Keys, he thinks the most worry he'll have is keeping the charter boat running enough to keep the loan paid up. But when he agrees to take a charter to Cuba for a tidy sum of $2M he begins to learn that money doesn't buy peace of mind or safety. I've read other DeMille books but this is my favorite, I really enjoyed Mac.

I'm between 3 and 3.5 stars.

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!

With humor and suspense, DeMille delivers an enjoyable read about an ex-army Key Westian who may have bit off more than he can chew. Fast paced, yet light and fun.

Ok so how edits this author write novels of such diverse subjects, intricate plots and characters with such specific voices the reader knows their backstories within a page of the character's arrival.
DeMille is an artist painting masterpieces with words. Am I interested in Cuba? No. Do I read spy genre often? No. Am I familiar with boats and living on them? No...but I feel as if the answers are yes when reading DeMille. Most times I have nothing in common with his characters yet feel I do because of his ability to us to feel what the character does.
His use of self-talk in this is spectacular giving the reader the internal monologue of the main character as opposed to what he's saying.

This book was nothing but fun. A little suspense, a bit of romance...not so much that I was left gagging...and a boat load of wit. Mac and Jack were the best. I learned a little Cuban history. I'd love to see Cuba, but it's too dang hot and humid. Maybe if they ever get snow! I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Mr. DeMilles books. Recommended. Thanks to Simon & Schuster, and Netgalley.

90 miles is a long way when you're separated by ocean and the borders of a hostile country...

I've been a Nelson DeMille fan for years. I don't believe I've ever read a book of his I didn't enjoy. They usually consist of adventure and humor and I enjoy the mix.THE CUBAN AFFAIR followed that same format.

"Mac" MacCormick is 35 years old, lives in Key West, loves Corona beer and women, and owns and is skipper of a 42 foot charter boat called The Maine. He was a U.S. Army combat infantry officer in Afghanistan for five years and his first mate, Jack, is a 70 year old Vietnam Army veteran.

One day he's approached by a Cuban American attorney with a charter offer that will have him ending up in Cuba with a beautiful woman - if he accepts. So the adventure starts.

Author DeMille actually took a research trip to Cuba very similar to one described in this story so the book is full of a lot of info about Cuba, which I definitely found interesting and allowed the story to be extremely realistic.

I enjoyed both Mac and Jack's characters and their one-liners are priceless. Jack is not very PC and has a ton of riotous tee shirts.

There was a lot of Cuban politics, which is understandable, I guess, but my only minor complaint is that I would have preferred more adventure and less politics.

I'm not sure if this is a standalone book or whether we will read more about Mac in the future. I wouldn't mind that at all.

I received this book from Simon & Schuster (a new publisher for DeMille) through Net Galley and Edelweiss in exchange for my unbiased review.

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.

Published by Simon & Schuster on September 19, 2017

Daniel Graham “Mac” MacCormick owns a charter boat in Key West. A fellow named Carlos wants to hire Mac to take him to Cuba for a government-sanctioned fishing tournament. There may be more to it than fishing, and while Mac likes to run a clean operation, the offer of $2 million for ten days’ work gets his attention.

The actual mission involves not fishing, but spiriting some of the past out of Cuba and into the United States. To that end, Mac goes to Cuba, accompanied by the lovely Sara Ortega. Of course, they wind up in bed, not only as part of their cover story, but because they enjoy it. Meanwhile, Mac’s first mate, Vietnam vet Jack Colby, keeps Mac’s fishing boat ready for a quick getaway . . . if Mac and Jack can find a way to get to the boat. I can’t say much else about the plot without spoiling the fun, so I will say only that the story takes some unexpected turns and provides the mix of adventure and suspense that Nelson DeMille consistently delivers.

DeMille’s protagonists always have a wry sense of humor. Mac’s pointed remarks about Cuba’s oppressive government would be funny if they weren’t so accurate. Mac is also a typical DeMille protagonist in that he is tough, capable, decent, unselfish, and skeptical. He isn’t politically correct, but he isn’t an in-your-face jerk about it. I don’t mind fictional characters (or real people, for that matter) having opinions that differ from mine, as long as they aren’t haters or just plain stupid, and Mac’s observations — sharp but never mean — might enhance the novel for readers who share his outlook. In any event, the ending is politically astute, regardless of where the reader falls on the political spectrum.

Mac also suffers from raging hormones. The novel’s love story struck me as unlikely, given the speed with which Mac moved from “I want to get laid” to “I love you,” but high-speed romance is standard in a thriller. The love story adds another complication to Mac’s life, particularly when a competing suitor arrives on the scene. That’s all part of the shifting plot that catches the reader off guard, if not the imperturbable Mac.

Apart from entertaining characters, atmosphere is the key to the novel’s success. This is a Cuba that appears to come from personal experience rather than a travel guide.

Despite the danger the characters face as the story moves along, The Cuban Affair is a little more laid back and a little less gripping than DeMille’s John Corey novels, but those novels set a pretty high standard. The Cuban Affair moves quickly and delivers credible action scenes, particularly when things heat up toward the novel’s end. This isn't DeMille's best work, but it's better than most thriller writers manage.

RECOMMENDED

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 storyline 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, Nelson DeMille and Simon & Schuster 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.twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com

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.

Nelson DeMille has a new publisher and a new character. The snarky John Corey has been replaced by Daniel Graham “Mac” MacCormick. Born in Maine Mac has served his country with several tours in Afghanistan as a combat infantry officer and he is now a charter boat captain in Key West, Florida. It is October, 2015 and Mac is waiting for a prospective charterer in his favorite bar, The Green Parrot. Carlos, a Cuban lawyer from Miami, has a proposition and fishing isn’t part of it. A deal is offered, a beautiful woman flirts and the probability of success is too good to be ignored and as the old saying goes probably too good to be true.

DeMille has filled the pages of The Cuban Affair much like his other books with “Sex, money and adventure. Does it get any better than that.” In many ways it does because for those of us who have not visited Cuba we are given a close-up and critical view of what a communist police state looks like. The fear and constant paranoia are manifest in every action and interaction. There are frequent references to Hemingway and the time he spent in Cuba. There are also many reminders that the Cubans always double cross each other and why isn’t that lesson ever heeded?

DeMille sums it up best in his Letter to the Reader: “The people who populate this story fall into two camps: those who are happy and hopeful about the Cuban Thaw, and those who are trying to derail it.” Well written and very well researched the few leaps of “coincidence” seem to be set in reality. There are definite sides and the issues raised have very few good answers. What became self-evident is that at some point some large parts of history are going to be rewritten.

There was one sentence that took my breath away: “Fate whispered to the warrior, ‘You cannot withstand the coming storm.’ And the warrior whispered back, ‘I am the storm.’”This is a fast moving, sometimes hard to believe this can really be happening, political thriller that held my attention from cover to cover.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC

There is no denying that Nelson DeMille is a master of action, thrillers, and debatably-good one-liners. He also makes for a rather good globetrotter reporting on locales that the normal traveler probably doesn’t have at the top of their bucket list: Russia, Yemen, and now, Cuba. However, the one problem with niche writers is that their beloved style can sometimes be encapsulating. New stories might be enjoyable, neo-noir reads, but are not necessary the freshest.

The Cuban Affair, DeMille’s latest, drops Daniel "Mac" MacCormick, ex-Ranger now sea captain, directly into the Obama-era “Cuban Thaw” where he is hired to help Cuban dissidents in recovering pre-Castro property deeds, and maybe a whole ton of cash, all while trying to escape from Havana. Mac is a fun, archetypal DeMille alpha male. He prefers beer to wine, one-liners to pillow-talk, and has the libido of a seventeen-year-old. Mac is a good guy, and someone you would want on your side in a fight. Or a good game of cornhole. Yet, he is hardly original. In fact, the name “Daniel MacCormick” could easily be replaced with DeMille regulars “John Corey” or “John Sutter” and aside from environment settings, no one would be the wiser.

DeMille, of course, knows his audience and easily provides that which has made him popular. The Cuban Affair is a fun, thankfully-fast read that allows DeMille to postulate Cuba’s place in the current global community while making sure good ole Communism is still the go-to baddie as the CIA remains the slightly lesser of two evils. As original as the Caribbean setting is, the infiltrate-and-escape plot is certainly not. DeMille peppers the chase with fun characters and clever dialogue, but even that only has the appeal of a Corona Light, when the long-time fan is thirsty for a cuba libre. Right?

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC, as well as to Nelson DeMille, who remains one of my favorite authors and whom I would share a Corona with anytime.

Nelson DeMille has done it again. He never disappoints. The Cuban Affair was mesmerizing. It will catch you in its net and not let go until the last page. I loved hearing about Cuba and visiting the locations with the characters. I must admit I am a little hesitant now to travel to Cuba. DeMille's signature humor and suspense hovers throughout the book and is as enjoyable as ever.

Interesting characters; very good "author's voice"; plot is not completely believable, but once you accept the beginning premise, the plot stays consistent.

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.