I wish it was a bit better

Nick's second book is so much better. I found voodoo eyes a bit confused somehow. Look forward to next book

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Fascinating historical backdrop for this story

I've seen this book criticised for the clunkiness with which the crime story comes to an end and the fact that a not very prominent character from the novel ends up playing a prominent role (I am trying not to spoil things here). And that'd a criticism that is fairly made by people who are plot addicts, I can see the disappointment.

However, I loved this book because of the backdrop to the crime story which is really original. Unravelling the history of the Black Panthers in Cuba (some of which is presumably based on Assata Shakur) and then spinning a yarn from it works for me. There is some really well researched historical knowledge that forms the foundation of this book and although the characters like the female government agent and the transvestite are sometimes a bit caricature they are also much more original than other writers' creations: they are deceitful, driven by self interest, they develop (a bit) over time and they have a strong sense of humour and (self-) irony without being stupid.

It feels as if Stone has travelled extensively in Cuba, has been ripped off and fallen for a good story that is sold to us with a touch of Cuban magic (haven't we all ...). Wether he refers to the infamous Mariel boat lift and the fact that Castro helped all his prisoners "escape" to the USA or whether he explores the role of the secret Abakwa society which operates in the underground, this book oozes Cuba.

If anything this is my main criticism. Sometimes less would have been more and at times Stone is laying it on a bit too thick. In particular the ending was much more bombastic than I needed it to be.

All that said, however, I really enjoyed this and if anyone is looking for a crime story to delve into the reality of another country or needs a page turner when travelling Cuba (where I read this) - I do recommend and as always Jeff Harding is one of my favourite narrators!

P.S. Ignore the inappropriate title - maybe that was a publisher's attempt to cash in on the succss of Stone's previous stories

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Interesting enough but left me wanting

I read Nick Stone's previous book, so my expectations were exceptionally high. This book was well written, interesting, great characters with good back stories, the location wwas different and all that entails but it didn't quite work for me.
I think the net was cast too wide with all of these components and the writer had a lot of ground to cover with them, whilst he achieved it, some just didn't take the story forward.
All that said, the story had pace and was interesting but whilst I love complex plot lines this was just not as tight as I would have liked.
The performance was very good by Jeff Harding.
I am really looking forward to Nick Stones next book, I am sure it will be great!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Awful

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

may be a different narrator could make is a notch more interesting, but still I doubt

Any additional comments?

It's desperately dull. But the worst part is narration. Why all this accentuation at the last syllable of every phrase? I had to give up and will erase it from my memory without regret (though I still regret I spent a credit on it).

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful