Mr. DeMille turns in his usual reliable thriller-caper performance. On one hand he introduces Mac, a new protagonist who might share more tales in the future. On the other hand the guy thinks and talks like the cynical, hardboiled, flawed character of at least two other DeMille protagonists.

The caper seems fairly straightforward until everything comes apart in the middle of the book and leaves Mac scrambling to get out of the hornet's nest. The story has a totally unexpected resolution which later makes sense when you (and Mac) realize that you had no idea who else was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

In Nelson DeMille's latest book, The Cuban Affair (Simon & Schuster 2017), a group of Cubans who escaped Cuba during the revolution hire "Mac" McCormack, owner of a small fishing and sightseeing charter boat in Key West Florida to get them to Cuba. Their goal is to retrieve legal papers and $60 million left there by wealthy Cubans fleeing the revolution. The plan is that Mac and the granddaughter of one of the escaped Cubans (Sara) will join a Yale tour of academes that are touring the newly-reopened Cuba while Mac's first mate Jack sails Mac's boat down to the island to participate in a race. That will place him right where Mac and Sara need him when they are ready to flee with the treasure.

Things begin to fall apart immediately when Sara, of Cuban heritage, attracts the attention of Cuban officials as they arrive in Havana. Each step every day, the tension gets worse until Sara wonders if they should simply flee with their lives. Mac, former military with a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts, is not in the habit of ever (ever) fleeing from evil. It gets complicated when he realizes he's falling in love with Sara, though she has a boyfriend and they have nothing in common, making the idea of quitting less a strategic decision and more of a personal one.

I have enjoyed every Nelson DeMille book I've read and this was no different. It is clever, humorous, with lively characters that constantly intrigue me. Although the plot is heavily mixed with background on the Cuban revolution, Cuba's culture, the deterioration of the country during the Castro era, and the strength of the people, the information comes across as authentic and never boring. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a virtual vacation to Cuba from the safety of your couch blended with an exciting typically-Demille thriller.

Why 4/5? Did I mention there was a lot of Cuba travelogue? For me, it was too much. For you, it might be just right.

--my review on WordDreams will appear August 4th

Mac, an Afghanistan veteran and caption of a charter fishing boat, is approached by some Cuban-Americans to take the boat on a dangerous and potentially profitable mission to Cuba. Will they be able to get the mysterious contraband out of the country? Will they be able to get out of the country alive? An entertaining and well-written thriller which provides some insight into Cuba today.

I have been a BIG Nelson DeMille fan from the beginning. This book did not disappoint. I enjoyed the storyline and the introduction of new characters. I found myself racing to the end and very much enjoyed to trip getting there. Can't wait to see what's next.

Very enjoyable travel thriller with a hint of romance. Looking forward to more adventures with "Mac"! Pour yourself a Cuba libre and get lost in this adventure for awhile. You won't regret it.

This fast moving thriller is perfect for vacation or a trip away from reality. Once again DeMille brings us characters rich in depth and wanting more! You will love Mac's humor and dream of a trip to Key West.

I am a huge fan of Nelson DeMille's novels and "The Cuban Affair" was a fast, enjoyable read. DeMille gives us a new hero, Daniel "Mac" MacCormick, a Key West boat captain and ex-military operative, complete with DeMille's usual trademark of snark and wise guy personality. This time the adventure takes us to Cuba, with a beautiful Cuban-American love interest and her passion to restore her grandfather's legacy, a banker whose assets were robbed when the Communists took power. The book follows the couple as they work to complete their mission, which includes retrieving a buried treasure in an isolated cave. Part travelog (as tourists exploring Havana and and Hemingway's haunts), part conspiracy theories (danger at every corner in a police state), the paranoia and tension increases until the last possible moment, when we question whether the team will safely complete their mission. Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity to read and review "The Cuban Affair".

Most people probably do not realize the extent that Nelson DeMille exhaustively researches his novels. He visits the novel setting, immerses himself in the culture, and digs into the history through fact finding and interviews. For this novel he took a trip to Cuba. Through his network of friends he got to meet with the American ambassador of the new embassy in Havana. The research he put into this novel adds to the authenticity of the culture and the demeanor of the characters. For his 20th novel, DeMille decided to introduce a new character, Daniel Graham "Mac" MacCormick. Fans of DeMille have grown to love his writing style filled with his witty demeanor, sarcastic humor, romance, and thrilling scenes. If you have never read one of his novels, this is a good place to start. I also highly recommend the John Corey series.

This novel is set in Key West and Cuba in the fall of 2015 in the waning days of Fidel Castro's regime. The character development is deep and thorough. Demille makes the past and present of Cuba come alive with scenes that involve a tour guide and a female acquaintance. Plenty of foreshadowing and innuendo throughout builds the plot and keeps you turning the pages to find out what will happen next.

The plot slowly builds. Tension mounts and the plot thickens as layers are added. This culminates in a high speed shootout on the high seas. Mac and his crew must navigate the international waters while trying to avoid ending up in a watery grave.

If you haven't already, I urge you to sign up for DeMille's newsletter. They are both informative and entertaining. Overall I would say Mac is a solid character, and there are many options available for adventures in another installmant in this series. I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers, adventures on the high seas, and anyone with an interest in Cuban history. I received this as a free ARC from Simon & Schuster on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of Demille and his books/protagonists. This was a good one, but holy moly, WAY too much build up and walking around Cuba. Try to wrap up the tours in a chapter or three. Get to the thrills sooner.

Lou Jacobs's review Jun 10, 2017 · edit
it was amazing

WOW? Nelson Demille's new book is a monster cinematic "caper" movie . His new protagonist is Daniel "Mac" MacCormick ... a 2 tour Army commanding veteran of Afghanistan .... who now makes his living as a charter boat captain on the highly mortgaged boat: "The Maine" The plot involves enticing Mac (played by Ryan Reynolds) to enter a caper to "steal back" from Cuba 60 million dollars
(hidden in a remote cave) and a trunk loaded with documents establishing true ownership of properties and lands confiscated by the Castro brothers. Enter stage right is the hot and saucy Cuban-American Sara Ortega (played by Jessica Alba) who is aligned with the exiled-Cuban community. Although initially contacted be the Miami lawyer: Carlos ... he agrees to a meeting with his employers (one of which is Sara) .... he with second thoughts agrees to accompany this saucy damsel into Cuba with the promise of a 2 million dollar fee.
The Cuban exiles and their descendants have never forgiven the Castro brothers for the crimes they committed against the Cuban society in the name of "Revolution" Demille's research of Cuba paints a very unflattering life of the modern Cuban trying to survive in a police state. Imagine $20 a month salary ... no matter what your job ... not a great enticement for ambition and perseverance.
The so-called "Cuban Thaw" is held with great suspicion .... not only by the governments but also in the exile Cuban community. The politics bleeds through in the pages of this book. Accomplishing this retrieval is fraught with peril in this socialist police state. The journey is made with many twists and turns. The last quarter of the book ... the retrieval and escape ... moves along like a Japanese bullet train. Demille's prose and plotting sweep you along to the harrowing conclusion.
I hope to see the return of the constant patter and sarcastic wit of "Mac" in future novels. I would like to thank NetGalley for the Advance Reading Copy of this wonderful novel ... in exchange for an honest review.

If you knew where you could find $6 million, wouldn't you think about going to get it no netter the risk? What if a beautiful Latino woman accomplice was your partner in the scheme? That's the premise of a Cuban Affair.

First you have to find a way into Cuba since travel restricted. So you join a tour group. Once you are in country 300 miles separates you from your money. Third once you disappear from your tour group every police officer will b looking for you. And your way off the island is a fishing boat signed up for a tournament. What could go wrong?

Clever dialogue, good suspense and a not unexpected ending makes this a good summer read.

What a pleasure to have a new DeMille novel, and as always, he entertains, excites, educates, and hits it out of the park. On a personal note, I was particularly interested in his take on Cuba, as I've spent quite a bit of time there, and he infuses the narrative with the sexy, island magic, but more importantly with the grace of a country with a sad history wanting to break free. I for one, would happily read more MAC and Sara adventures, so I hope they make a return. A great read on all levels.

Thank you Nelson DeMille! Another winner. I loved this book from beginning to end. Thrilling action, romance, clever dialogue (although at times a little too clever), and an excellent portrayal of life in Cuba. Highly recommend.

Dan "Mac" is john Corey with a sailor's hat. Great story, as always from this author and I like the new setting. It was a great read and I highly recommend it. It is a new plot, new location, new characters, but the same Nelson DeMille sense of humor while being chased or shot at. I consider it a must read!

Nelson DeMille has done it again. A new main character Daniel "Mac" MacCormick who bears more than a slight resemblance in his wise cracking ways to his other great leads Paul Brenner and John Corey. The ex-military charter fishing boat captain is talked into travelling to Cuba with the beautiful Sara Ortega to bring valuables hidden since the revolution back to America. The story takes the reader through the streets and countryside of Cuba in a fast paced chase story. A truly enjoyable read with many twists along the way Recommended to both readers new to Nelson DeMille and those that read all his books.

I was delighted to be able to read an advance copy of The Cuban Affair as Nelson DeMille is one of my all-time favorite authors. This book did not disappoint. I love his new main character, and I hope that there will be a continuation of his story. As with other DeMille characters, I found his sarcasm very entertaining. It was interesting to have the story be situated in both Key West and Cuba. I think the author captured the life of people living in Key West as well as the dynamics of group tours. I haven’t been to Cuba, but his descriptions seemed very realistic to me, based on my travels to other Communist countries.

The book had “something for everyone”. I learned a lot about Cuban-American relations and politics. There was adventure and danger on the high seas and in Cuba. There was also romance, complex relationships and humor. I also appreciate books that appeal to both men and women. I would recommend that people planning to visit Cuba who are unfamiliar with traveling in Communist or Third World countries read this book as a cautionary tale so they behave appropriately when traveling there. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting read.

Nelson DeMille's newest work, "The Cuban Affair," was a delight from the perspective of one of his long time fans. As always, his politically incorrect sense of humor makes the journey through the narrative at least as delightful as the plot line. This is much like many of his recent books but with a new protagonist. My delight comes from discovering that this protagonist, an ex-military fishing boat owner based in Key West, is every bit as irreverent as one finds in books like "Plum Island." The plot here is not particularly surprising, despite the usual twists and turns, but the experienced reader really benefits from Mr. DeMille's sardonic wit and constant examination of the human condition. What more can what ask of a modern novelist? Events here occur in Castro's Cuba in 2015 just as the thaw in relations with the United States is occurring. What better way to come to terms with the developing situation on that island than by examining it through the eyes of an experienced commentator on the world around him, one whose work is always marked by its humor as well as its often penetrating understanding of human nature?

Seventeen years ago, someone whose opinions on books NEVER matched mine recommended Lion’s Game by Nelson DeMille, and I LOVED it. Since then, I’ve grabbed every new DeMille book and been puzzled by the inconsistency: for example, Night Fall was terrific. The Panther? Not so much. And don’t even get me started on Radiant Angel. I kept thinking, “what happened?”

But I can’t quite give up on any author who has provided me with so many hours of entertainment, so I had a positive attitude when I received an advance copy of DeMille’s latest, The Cuban Affair, in return for my honest review (thanks, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley!)

Having thought quite a bit about why I had been so disappointed reading some of his recent books (was it him? Was it me?), I had concluded that the John Corey character was the problem. In the earlier books, he was witty and could be charming. In the more recent books, his wisecracking had become constant, and was more annoying than entertaining, and it seemed to have become his dominant characteristic, to the point where it came across as somewhat cartoonish. So, I was pleased to read that the latest book was introducing a new protagonist, Daniel Graham MacCormick (aka “Mac”). A native of Maine, Mac has seen two tours of Afghanistan and left a career on Wall Street out of boredom and moved to Key West, Florida where he owns a boat that is chartered for fishing, romantic cruises, parties, etc. Mac doesn’t accept every charter request of his boat, so when he is approached by a smooth attorney from Miami who wants to charter his boat for a ten-day fishing derby to Cuba, he initially turns it down.

Once the offer is explained further by the attorney and the plan includes a beautiful Cuban-American woman, AND the fee becomes multiple millions, Mac decides to accept and the adventure begins. Along the way, there are shady characters, guns, booze, sex, crooked police, jealous boyfriends, a chase through swamp and jungle, and a tour group comprised mainly of academics and pseudo-academics (sort of a classic “educational” travel group). Without giving anything away, I suspect we will encounter Mac again for more adventures.

The story is pure entertainment, and DeMille has clearly done his research into Cuban-American relations and politics in the South Florida area. This allows him to explore the passionate feelings of Cuban-Americans and the conditions in contemporary Cuba just as relations between the US and Cuba were being re-established.

The pace is good, and the writing is crisp and entertaining, re-establishing DeMille as one of my favorite thriller writers. A friend who is unable to participate in his usual level of physical activity due to recent open-heart surgery BEGGED me for a book he could get lost in – one that would totally hold his interest. This one met the criteria, so I give The Cuban Affair a solid four stars.

Once again Nelson Demille shows us his mastery of the fast moving, clever thriller.
In a way this book harks back to the old fashioned caper, but goes much deeper in terms of history and modern politics.
Cuba’s exiles and in some cases their descendents have neither forgiven nor forgotten the Castro brothers and the crimes they committed against most of Cuban society. Heartbreak and memory run deep as does a desire for vengeance and reparations.
As this novel is set in the beginning days of the Cuban Thaw, there are just as many if not more Cuban-Americans who are against this idea as those who are for it. Some will do most anything to derail it. Cuban-Americans, politicians, business, and of course the CIA who have yet to have a win in Cuba. All have their own agendas concerning Cuba.
Three Cuban –Americans make an offer he can’t refuse to Daniel McCormick, an army vet still carrying the scars from his times in Afghanistan. He currently runs fishing charters out of Key West on his heavily mortgaged boat.
It’s not that he can’t really refuse this offer to enter than leave Cuba carrying 60 million dollars and documents worth many times that amount; with an offer of two million on the table and a beautiful woman to accompany him, its just that Mac doesn’t really want to. Mac also hankers after the days of danger and what he might not admit to: making a difference. Little does he know that his trip to Cuba with the beautiful Sara Ortega does make a difference and will honor his background.
It reads as if DeMille did more than visit Cuba and do research, he writes with an assurance of Cuba and her people that make it sound as if he were a citizen. Cuba’s beauty, her decay, her resilient citizens are all rendered in DemiIle’s masterful prose. But not forgotten and even more striking are his reminders of Cuba’s dark history under the Castro brothers’ iron fists.
DeMille hits another home run with this moving yet exciting story. Mac, has DemIle’s characters’ signature smart ass attitude to life, the Universe and everything. The back stories of the characters are sympathetic and make their actions understandable. The action is fast paced. The last quarter of the book will have you hoping you only ever swim or fish in lovely blue waters with nary a storm in sight.

Editorial review for Library Journal not for public viewing