SUSPENSE
"Havana Bay" By
Martin Cruz Smith 
I expect the very best from Martin Cruz Smith, and in "Havana Bay", he delivers.
The Russians are broke and have pulled out of Cuba. The Cubans are in even worse shape. Our anti-hero Arcady Renko goes to Havana at the request of a friend, only to find him dead when he arrives. He gets embroiled in his own investigation since the Cubans have no desire to investigate the death, which they think was accidental of natural. Renko hooks up with a woman detective, Ofelia, and the carry on their own informal investigation, which takes them through the seedy side of Havana. Along the way they but heads with the police, the remaining Russians, and political exiles. All is not what it seems.
Smith reveals the story at the perfect pace. When you think you know what is happening, things change. This book has many engaging characters, all painted in detail, but none more brilliantly than Arcady Renko. More! Please!
Reviewed by Kenneth S. Smith, 8 December 1999
Published by:
Random House, Inc New York and
Random House of Canada Ltd., Toronto
