In Fagan’s gripping, fast-paced third installment of the Pepper Ryan Mystery Thriller Series, FBI Special Agent Pepper Ryan is on a “losing streak”—he’s recovering from a break up with his girlfriend and his job with the Bureau is at risk. But when his friend Angel calls him to ask for help finding his girlfriend Marisol, who mysteriously disappeared from a street market in Cuba, Pepper doesn’t hesitate to board a plane. With only Marisol’s broken pink high-heeled shoe to go on, he finds himself on a dangerous unauthorized mission that leads him into a risky web of secrets in Cuba’s capital.Fagan brings Havana to life, weaving its landmarks, vibrant culture, and menacing political landscape seamlessly into Pepper’s exploits. As his investigation deepens, the lively cast of supporting characters infuses the story with energy: Hector, Angel’s Elvis-loving cousin, reluctantly shepherds Pepper through Havana’s dicey underworld; grizzled, tenacious Cuban detective Juan Guiteras sets himself against Pepper at every turn (even in the boxing ring); laconic Belarusian filmmaker Victor Beriev’s camera is always watching; and gorgeous actress Dayana de Melina distracts Pepper with her sensual beauty even as her charm opens doors in his investigation. While the arc of their relationship occasionally feels predictable, their romance is disrupted when Pepper discovers that Dayana knows more about Marisol’s disappearance than she claimed.
With a hurricane approaching and tensions escalating, Pepper must make a crucial decision that will impact this case – and the rest of his life. Though readers may find some of his initial discoveries too convenient, as Pepper’s investigation deepens and he finds himself on the trail of a serial killer who is targeting Cuba’s well-known artists, his trademark intelligence, wit, and resourcefulness create exciting confrontations and thrilling revelations. The story’s relentless pace and action-packed twists and turns through Havana’s dark underbelly will have fans of international thrillers on the edge of their seats.
Takeaway: Exciting and witty missing-person thriller, with a Cuban twist.
Comparable Titles: Carl Hiaasen, Janet Evanovich.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
