July 2013 Debut of the Month.
Winner of the 2012 Scotiabank Giller Prize Readers' Choice award.
This Cuban set Crime Mystery is a real gem. Inspector Ramirez has an unusual gift bestowed on him by his possibly demented dying grandmother - he is visited by (polite but silent) visions of the dead whose cases he is investigating. Well it’s that or he himself is dying of the same rare, hallucination inducing dementia.
First in the series finds Ramirez certain who the killer is but hogtied by the Cuban legal system that only gives him seventy two hours to secure an indictment.
This smart, dark and gripping crime debut was shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger and we can’t wait for the next Inspector Ramirez mystery.
'A Piece of Passion' from the publisher...
‘I am a bit of a sucker for the weird and unusual and a taste of the exotic, so when I saw this script I sat up and took notice. Set in contemporary Havana, we are introduced to the major crime unit of the Cuban National Revolutionary Police led by an inspector who sees the ghosts of unsolved murder victims who in turn is assisted by a dwarf pathologist who needs a stepladder to be able to conduct his autopsies. Although handicapped by a creaking bureaucracy, intermittent steam-internet and a lack of pencils, the policemen’s resourcefulness, dark subversive wit and profound intelligence more than compensate for these shortcomings. A compelling mystery with brilliant characters and a fantastic setting this is a spellbinding whodunnit. But above all a book of immense humanity.’ – Neville Moir, Publishing Director, Polygon
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Midnight in Havana a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - ' 'The most gripping book I have read in years! - Edel Waugh. Scroll down to read more reviews.
| Primary Genre | Crime and Mystery |
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In beautiful, crumbling Old Havana, Canadian detective Mike Ellis hopes the sun and sand will help save his troubled marriage. He doesn't yet know that it's dead in the water - much like the little Cuban boy last seen begging the Canadian couple for a few pesos. For Inspector Ricardo Ramirez, head of the Major Crimes Unit of the Cuban National Revolutionary Police, finding his prime suspect isn't a problem - Cuban law is. He has only seventy-two hours to secure an indictment and prevent a vicious killer from leaving the island. But Ramirez has his own troubles. He's dying of the same dementia that killed his grandmother, an incurable disease that makes him see the ghosts of victims of unsolved murders. As he races against time, the dead haunt his every step.
Midnight in Havana An Inspector Ramirez Investigation features in the following genres: Crime and Mystery, Thriller and Suspense, Debut Books of the Month, Books with reviews by our Reader Review Panel, eBooks of the Month, Fiction, Recommendations
Midnight in Havana An Inspector Ramirez Investigation is available in Paperback
Midnight in Havana An Inspector Ramirez Investigation was written by Peggy Blair and published by Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited an imprint of Birlinn General
