Death Under the Perseids is a book about which I liked some things but not others. The premise is that Merceditas and her husband are offered a free cruise to Havana. This is quite appealing to them. Mercy grew up in Cuba and is happy to revisit her country and family. Mercy’s husband Nolan, a professor, is delighted to be invited to give a lecture.

Oddly though, there are people on the cruise that Mercy already knows. This feels more than coincidental to her and the reader. Each of these characters was also involved with the man that Mercy was involved with prior to Nolan. There is a clear sense of menace that the reader is supposed to feel. All of this relates to the fate of Mercy’s prior partner Lorenzo.

Readers may feel that they know what the resolution of the story will be early on but they will need to read on to find out if they are right. While doing so, they can enjoy a bit of time in Havana.

The author uses many Spanish phrases and words throughout. While this adds to the atmosphere and culture of the story, as a non-Spanish speaker, I wish that there had been some translations. My other quibble with this novel is that I thought it was a story that moved slowly.

Have you read this one? If yes, what did you think?

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Delighted to include this title in December’s Novel Encounters, my regular column highlighting the month’s top fiction for Zoomer magazine’s books section. (article is online at related link)

A promising premise to a pseudo-cozy mystery novel set on a cruise to Cuba, but something about this didn't click for me and I didn't get past the first 50 or so pages, during which there wasn't much mystery at all.

Mercedes can't resist taking advantage of a free cruise to Cuba, her former home. She and her husband Nolan embark - he has been invited to give a university lecture - and soon she begins to wonder if there's a cost, after all. One of the women on board disappears, and the cruise company seems more invested in protecting their reputation than taking responsibility. Meanwhile, Mercedes reconnects with her Cuban ex, with whom she had a stormy relationship.

While I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's first, I appreciate that she gives Cubher main character a distinctive voice and avoids making her a typical heroine. In fact, she's mercenary and her relationship with Nolan was largely based on improving her station in life - though his teaching career is on the rocks. It says something about the fraught relationship Cuban Americans sometimes have with their island home and the temptations of America, so close to Cuba, so far from god.