I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

I enjoyed following the escapades of the new character, Mac. The first-person account really brought the reader into the story and let you appreciate the action from Mac's point of view. His internal wise-cracking is reminiscent of John Corey.

This book is particularly relevant because of the current Cuba-US relations.

I did, however, feel that the book could have been tightened up.

This book was interesting at times but I thought it was sometimes boring and repetitive. All the action was at almost the end. The last chapter was mostly boring. The characters were mostly not very likable, I wasn’t sure I wanted to see them make it home. Cuba was very unappealing. I have loved most of DeMille’s books, but would never recommend this one.

Fun read, perhaps not deMille's finest, but it's Nelson deMille. New characters and a timely topic, classic.

Not DeMille's best work, but he still has his sarcastic wit that I enjoy. This book of suspense was slow for me and didn't pack the punch that I have come to expect from this author. If you are new to DeMille, I would skip this one but definitely pick up The Charm School which has long been a favorite of mine.

Simon & Schuster and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Cuban Affair. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

35 year old veteran Daniel Graham "Mac" MacCormick has settled down in Key West, Florida after being discharged from the Army. A charter boat captain with a big bank loan, Mac, despite his misgivings, takes a job whose cover is a fishing tournament in Cuba. The covert mission, with a Cuban American woman, entails much more than Mac bargained for. A little danger, a little romance, and a lot of intrigue makes Mac's heart skip a beat, but is it real or is it just a game?

The Cuban Affair highlights both current and past issues with regards to relations between the United States and Cuba. Mac is a well developed main character, but the plot places him in a situation that seems unrealistic. As a veteran that was injured during his time in the service, Mac would have been more wary and would have had better instincts. I could see The Cuban Affair as a very successful movie, with its great action scenes and a steamy romance. This fast paced thriller will interest many readers who enjoy suspense, mystery, and romance as well.

DeMille is probably my favorite fiction writer. I eat up his books. This was no different. This wouldn't be my #1 DeMille but a definite recommendation to my friends.

Nelson DeMille is a master researcher and storyteller with a sure hand at crafting characters and settings that draws the reader in. THE CUBAN AFFAIR is a sharply written and richly observed look at what the “Cuban Thaw” means to that country and its people by taking a hard look at the crumbling infrastructure as well as the tangible poverty of its people.

Focusing on a 35 year old Afghan war vet named Daniel “Mac” MacCormick, an audaciously sarcastic yet acutely self-aware and shrewd charter boat captain (possessor of two purple hearts and a silver star) DeMille hooks readers with a scenario to savor. When he is approached by a beautiful 35 year old Cuban-American insurgent and her associates requesting Macs aid in smuggling 60 million in cash and some land deeds belonging to Cuban exiles out of a remote Cuban cave where they have been sequestered for over 50 years, Mac’s common sense tells him no ….but the lady is beautiful and the monetary reward appealing.

Enlisting the aid of his 70 something Vietnam Vet buddy, Jack Colby, Mac is up for the adventure, a little hanky-panky with the lady and ,of course, the money (three million to be exact) in this “you will either end up rich or dead” scenario.

DeMille is a seasoned pro who hasn’t lost his touch when it comes to storytelling and this gripping tour-de-force will have readers turning pages late into the night.

Our hero, fresh from army service in Afghanistan, finds himself in the Florida Keys looking for adventure and some extra money. When he is offered both with a long, strange tale about money left in Cuba and sure to be found unless he gets there first...well, who can blame him for deciding to check it out. Especially if this caper includes an unusually attractive woman (don’t these capers always come that way?) The book includes plenty of info and history about Cuba but the real action happens with our characters and their quest. It’s great fun and hard to put down. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Great research on Cuba in this timely novel. DeMille is at his best describing location. A parallel love interest along with adventure makes this one a good read.

This is my 3rd novel I've read by Nelson. I'm a little disappointed in this novel. It seemed flat. Nelson painted a beautiful picture of Cuba, but the Thrill & Suspense were not there till the end. It was more romance than suspense. Not every novel by an author is a home run, this one for me was a strike out. But I will read DeMille again.

Nelson DeMilles' newest novel introduces a whole cast of new characters and a setting that adds depth and atmosphere to another excellent and intriguing story from one of todays best writers. As always, DeMille sprinkles mystery and drama with just the right amount of humor to keep the tale from bogging down. Beginning in Key West and then set entirely in Cuba we travel through a country that is both beautiful and frightening.
The story revolves around a group of people travelling back to the island nation to reclaim secreted wealth that was left behind during the take over by Castro. Hiring an American ex soldier who now captains a charter boat out of the Keys to help guide them through the difficult task of entering Cuba, retrieving said riches and transporting the booty across the island to sail back to the U.S. all undetected we follow DeMilles' newest rogue, Capt. "Mac" is in, for a cool 3 mil of the take, but, of course, all will not be easy or go according to plan. But, thats why they brought Mac along, to navigate around these tricky situations and get them all back home safe and sound. And a lot richer. Excellent once again, Mr. DeMille.

Daniel “Mac” MacCormick is a US military veteran who survived his time in Afghanistan and is now running a fishing charter boat in Key West. He is approached by a Miami lawyer with a lucrative offer to charter his boat to Cuba and help return sixty million dollars hidden during the Castro revolution. The job sounds simple enough have his first mate participate in a Cuban fishing tournament while Mac and Cuban-American Sara Ortega recover the money hidden by her grandfather...just make sure not to get caught by the Cuban regime. Mac and Sara join a special Yale tour group with permission to visit the government controlled country where they must be very careful who they trust because anyone could report them to the police.

For being an action adventure the story moves a little slowly and there's not as much action as one would hope for. The romance between Mac and Sara seems a little forced and unrealistic. DeMille's research and descriptions of Cuba are vivid and make you feel like you are on the notorious island.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.
In all honesty, I did not read much of anything about this book before beginning it. The cover and author alone were enough for me to say "Heck, yes I HAVE to read this!" And Mr. DeMille has not disappointed in the least. There are a lot of books advertised as "action packed" or "a pager turner", and while in the better part of the first half there isn't much "action" going on, I could not stop turning the page. I wanted to know where Mr. DeMille was taking these new characters and what was going to happen.
The main character, Mac, reminds me somewhat of Mr. DeMille's John Corey character (which I love to read about as well), but there are plenty of differences that it doesn't make you feel like you're reading "the next book in the series". Mac's personality and sense of humor is just a small part of what makes this book so enjoyable to read. The relationship between Mac and Jack is not delved into deeply, but what is revealed is enough for you to understand, appreciate it and make you like both of them. At 25% through, I was already hoping they both make it through to the end.
The supporting characters are given enough development that they don't seem pointless or shallow, but still have a little bit of mystery to them....are they really the "good guys"? Are they telling Mac the real and whole story, or just enough to reel him (and Jack) in? Let's be honest-how many lawyers with clients offering big money to help them do something dangerous, giving out information "as needed" or on a "need to know basis" are 100% trustworthy? And there's usually that odd and mostly silent character that you just have to wonder about....
**I'm very detail-oriented and like understanding the minute details in a book, whether or not they are a central part to the storyline. However, there's a fine line between an overload and just enough (yes, unfortunately it's happened before...and yes, I've skimmed and rolled my eyes until they moved on). However, I think Mr. DeMille has gotten it just right and is spot on. For example, he explains the military terms in Jack's military discharge papers, but doesn't draw it out or give you a line by line account of it.
I have really enjoyed everything about this book and hope it is the first of many, many more in a new series by Mr. DeMille. The only thing that would have made this advanced copy better was to have at least one of Jack's shirts included with it.

This is only the second DeMille book that I have read. “Mac” MacCormick, an Army veteran has made a new life as a charter boat captain in Key West. Like many of the residents of that colorful location, he is a unique character. Approached by some anti Castro Cuban Americans, he signs on for a dangerous mission on the Communist island, accompanied by an attractive, savvy woman.

Although I thought the book dragged a bit in getting through the story, I enjoyed it, especially DeMille’s often cynical sense of humor. It is an entertaining read.

Looks like Mr. DeMille has done it again, he has created a mesmerizing character in Daniel "Mac" McCormick. Basing his charter boat business out of Key West, Mac is always looking for ways to make money. He finds one in this richly written book!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Cuban Affair is the latest offering from Nelson DeMille. If you're a fan of DeMille's John Corey books, you'll almost certainly like this novel - the hero, Mac, is basically John Corey with a different background. Honestly, the two characters are so similar in speech and personality that I found myself distracted throughout the entire book wondering why DeMille even created Mac when he could have just as easily had John retire to Key West and buy a boat.

At any rate, it's a solid story. Mac is a charter boat captain with a mortgaged boat he can't afford. Along comes Sarah, a Cuban-American beauty who offers him a few million dollars to help her out with a top secret fortune recovery mission in Cuba.

There's a lot of information about Cuba in this book but it never comes off as travelogue-y, which it might have in less experienced, less skilled hands. It's a slow build to the action, but once it gets going, you won't be able to put it down. I've got a hunch this is just the first installment in a new franchise from DeMille and, if I'm right, I'm definitely looking forward to the next in the series.

It is my opinion that Nelson DeMille couldn't write a bad book if he tried. Starting with The Charm School which I swear I read in the mid 70s, through the John Cory series that is still ongoing (I hope), I don't think I've missed a book.

While the main characters are similar each one has his own foibles and strengths. The author gives the reader the James Bond like hero, but unlike Bond, these men are flawed and more real life like.

The Cuban Affair lives up to all my preconceived notions of what a Nelson DeMille suspense novel should include. The suspense is intense at times, the plot is intriguing and believable, and the characters are very well drawn and likeable. The only way to improve on this book would have been if it had been an audio book, because his books are what audio books are made for.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All views are my own.

This book is beautifully crafted. All of Nelson DeMille's books are. But I'm thinking that I'm not the first to notice this is not a typical DeMille book. Sure there is plenty of thrilling action and CIA trickery and shooting, but there's also quite a tender love story. And, DeMille adds a swig of humor to the book by writing himself in as a famous and curmudgeonly thriller author touring Cuba as part of a people-to-people tour sponsored by Yale University. Hidden treasure. Booze and excellent cigars. A fishing tournament. An approaching storm (hurricane, maybe). A bit of Bogie (think Key Largo). A lot of Hemingway. I couldn't put it down. A bit of advice: don't start his book on a week night. You'll have sandpaper eyes at work the next day. Binge-read it on a weekend.

I loved the main character in this book. Daniel "Mac" MacCormick was such a curmudgeon but aslso very funny. I hope this is not the only book he appears in.

The story takes place in Key West (loved that) and Cuba. I hadn't read a book set in Cuba before. It sounds beautiful but full of a lot of shady characters who are called chivatos. They will do anything for a buck. It's also sad that the country is so depressed that they have to live like this.

The story is full of action and I sped through the pages enjoying every minute.

Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

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.