This is a short story. It follows George and Jay who are in need of a little money. They are paid a decent sum to travel to Cuba and retrieve certain mysterious documents, unfortunately for them it isn’t as easy as that.

Initially I didn’t want to review this because I didn’t finish it and didn’t have much to say. But I’ve gone back to finish the book. I appreciate this for what it is and even though it is a short story I feel like it could have been a little bit longer. It was fast paced and action packed but towards the end it felt like it had been rushed and everything wrapped up a little too nicely. There were lots of characters introduced and sometimes I found myself a little confused as to what was going on and who these people were, also the backstabbing characters got a little repetitive for me. This isn’t my typical type of read but it was bearable nonetheless.

This was a typical Ace Atkins story and was as enjoyable as his novels. The two main characters seem to bungle their way through more than they bargained for, and it brings an unexpected humor to the story.

The Havana Run? More like The Havana Crawl.

I was expecting a tense, high-stakes heist thriller but this was a complete dud that went nowhere and as dry as the Cuban landscape it was set in. So dreadfully dull! The two main characters were flat and totally unlikeable, while the plot felt messy and unpleasant to follow.

The only saving grace for me was Carmen, hence 2 stars.

Published by Amazon Original Stories on March 12, 2024

George and Jay are retired journalists living in Florida. An old man named Navarro offers them $10,000 to travel to Cuba and recover “family valuables” that have been hidden away since the Revolution. They fly to Havanna, where Navarro has arranged for Carmen to act as their guide. Carmen drives them to a hotel and assures them that a driver will take them to Santa Clara on the following day. Whether Carmen is trustworthy may be questionable. Sure, she drives off with their luggage, but maybe she was in a hurry.

Later that day, George and Jay are in fact met by a man named Armando who agrees to drive them to Santa Clara in the morning. Armando tells the men not to trust Carmen. In the hotel bar, George meets an American who tells him not to trust Nararro. They soon learn that they cannot trust Armando. The trip to Santa Clara turns out to be perilous.

In Santa Clara, George and Jay search for the contacts Navarro provided, Rosa and Safia. The two women are widely believed to be witches, but they put George and Jay in touch with a very old man. When George shows the man a map that Navarro made, he knows exactly where to find the valuables. Recovering them, however, will be a hairy experience.

Ace Atkins is high on my list of favorite thriller writers. This story earns points for avoiding the usual thriller themes. George and Jay aren’t tough guys. They don’t have guns. They don’t use their wits to accomplish their mission. Instead, employing journalistic persistence, they muddle their way forward until they get what they came for.

George and Jay have little choice but to place their faith in unsavory characters who routinely betray them. Yet they took the job and they doggedly perform it. Reflecting their uncertainty about their journey, the nature of the “family valuables” Navarro asked them to recover turns out to be ambiguous.

“The Havana Run” is driven by Cuba’s revolutionary history and post-revolutionary corruption. The medium-length story doesn’t waste a word. Atkins tells an offbeat tale at a good pace, creates atmosphere, populates the story with colorful characters, and grounds a plausible plot in an interesting history lesson.

RECOMMENDED

"The Havana Run" by Ace Atkins is a thrilling short story centred around two Florida journalists, George and Jay, who find themselves entangled in a dangerous scavenger hunt in Havana, Cuba. When a stranger offers them $10,000 to retrieve some family valuables hidden in Cuba since the Revolution, they see it as a golden opportunity to solve their cash-flow issues. Equipped with a crudely drawn map, a translator, a guide, and a safe place to stay, the two embark on their mission, unaware of the perils that await.

Their guide, Carmen, a stunning and enigmatic woman, warns them to trust no one. The journey quickly turns into a whirlwind of mystery and danger, as they uncover secrets that stretch far beyond what they anticipated. As the stakes rise, George and Jay must navigate through a complex maze of deceit, betrayal, and hidden agendas.

It is a captivating and fast-paced short story that expertly blends suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists. Ace Atkins delivers a gripping narrative that keeps readers on their toes as they follow George and Jay through the vibrant yet perilous streets of Havana. The story's brevity only adds to its impact, as the action unfolds with precision and tension.

Atkins' characters are well-developed, and the setting of Havana provides a rich backdrop for the unfolding drama. The sense of danger is palpable, and the interactions between the characters add depth and complexity to the plot. The guide, Carmen, serves as a fascinating and mysterious character whose motives are as elusive as the treasure they are seeking.

The themes of deception and trust are central to the story, with George and Jay quickly learning that nothing is as it seems. The narrative's rapid pace and unexpected twists make "The Havana Run" a compelling read from start to finish, ideal for readers who enjoy short, intense stories with an element of crime and mystery.

Tropes:
- Mystery and suspense
- Treasure hunt
- Danger and betrayal
- Cuban setting
- Unexpected twists

The Havana Run is an engrossing short story that combines suspense and action in a captivating Cuban setting. Ace Atkins' storytelling keeps readers engaged and guessing until the very end, making it a thrilling addition to the genre of novellas and short stories.

I really appreciate the Amazon Original stories because not only do they bring together our favourite authors on a common platform, embracing a common theme but also provides an excellent way of exploring the works of renowned authors from our lesser read genres.

I had not had the good fortune of reading Ace Atkins before and despite its brevity, this story has indeed intrigued me to explore more from the author.

This short story was super fast-paced and a quick read. It took me a while to figure out the story took place in present day, which was probably the point since it's primarily set in Cuba. With how much action was packed into this story, it felt a little rushed, which is to best expected with a 50-page story. However, the characters felt a little cliched and contrived - like I was reading a parody of a gritty heist book. None of the characters seemed very realistic - no one was appropriately horrified at their experiences. Maybe that's how typical heist books are read, and maybe that's my problem. I'm not a heist girly. Overall, even though it was a little over the top, and wrapped up way too quickly and neatly, it was a quick and entertaining read. 3/5 stars.

This was too much with too little in all ways possible for me.

The idea was good and it could have been an interesting story but the short story formt didn’t allow for enough build up, anticipation and interest to build for me to care. I didn’t care what the characters went though or why they did it or any of that befreundet didn’t know the characters nor did I feel like I wanted too.

The plot itself could have been good but it felt to rushed and to compressed to really get there and actually be good. Again could have been well done with an actual longer story but in short story format too many things happened to rapidly one after the other while at the same time never really being explained enough for me to want to see that much action happen.


Clearly this didn’t work for me, sadly.

If you are looking for mindless action and don’t mind not getting to now anything or anyone or really getting a clear picture of any questions - go for it.


Other wise? Maybe not the right story for you.

In need of quick cash and a bit of an adventure, the two men head to Havana, Cuba to "procure" some family documents. Seems everything is handled for them so the trip should be a breeze, right? Not so much!! The lesson is not to trust anyone, including the gorgeous woman who warned them in the first place. They may just make it home, if they've lucky.
Lively short mystery, enjoyable evening of reading.

I loved it! Read this short story in one afternoon! Not only is Ace Atkins narrative easy and engaging, he used Cuba as backdrop for an unsolved "mystery" that has plagued curious minds for decades. Born and raised in Cuba, I am very familiar with the story of Camilo Cienfuegos, a revolutionary hero who mysteriously disappeared on October 28, 1959, just after Castro took power. As a kid, every October we had to pay tribute to Camilo, and throw white flowers at sea. The mystery surrounding his death has puzzled the Cuban minds of those living in Cuba, or away in Miami. Everyone asks the same question: Where's Camilo? Thank you, Ace, for a wonderful read about my motherland. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

This short story is about two journalists who are sent to Cuba for a side job. On their journey, the two main characters spend a lot of time grappling to understand what their side job even is (they don't understand how it should be handled). I was was confused on who the other characters were in this book, as there seemed to be just too many, and for a short story, too much to keep track of, without having enough words to explain their characters. The same thing resonates with the different locations the characters are a part of. I had a hard time understanding what was going on many times in this book, and the ending seemed too predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I honestly really liked this! Didn't know what to expect going in but this was fast paced (of course, because it is a short) and I loved the high-tension moments as the guys searched! Obviously with a short we don't get to become too connected with the characters but I felt invested in their story and to find out if they were going to find what they needed. I loved the twists throughout!

I'm a big fan of Ace Atkins and his Quinn Coloson series. Was eager to see how he read with a new story and new characters (especially since he has a standalone coming later this year). Sadly, this one was a miss. I don't know if it was the local or the characters, but I just couldn't get into either one. This felt familiar, almost like an early Randy Wayne White novel -- only not as good. Thankfully, it was short, and not too big of a commitment. Still love Ace Atkins and will read his new novel later this year.

I enjoyed the topic of the text but to be honest it wasn't my favorite. Of course only so much could be done with a short story but I kind of wish the characters were a bit clearer from the beginning since there are various people named from the beginning. It was engaging but even a bit over Half way through the text I didn't feel like the story was going anywhere.

A pretty interesting short story. The first book by Atkins that I've read, and it gave me a great intro to his prose. The story felt underdeveloped (maybe it should have been expanded into a novella), but I enjoyed it.

A great place to try the author's work, if you're not sure about committing to a full-length novel. (However, I already was, but this came along between reads, so seemed like a great place to start.)

I enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading more by Atkins.

A short story by an author that can be counted on to provide all of the thrills you need to call it a 5 star read. Atkins is a prolific author of several series, Quinn Colson is one of my favorites, plus the author of 10 Robert B Parker's Spenser series. This is a quick read with some memorable characters.

I enjoyed this short read from Ace Atkins. Great characters, plot, and pacing. Would also work if expanded into a novel length story. #TheHavanaRun #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. For this being a short story it was pretty detailed and action packed! I loved it!

This was a fast and action packed short story. For me, it was too action packed for it's length. This would have been great if it was longer. To me, there was too much packed into too few pages.

I listened to the audio, and the narrator did a good job. I enjoyed the lively descriptions related to the setting. With that being said, there was just too much going on in this short story. It felt rushed, and I was unable to connect to the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Short Stories for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A short story packed with tons of action. Too much. I did enjoy the descriptions of Cuba. That country is one that is an enigma in the world. Full of classic cars, classic architecture, old world charm. It is also rampant with crime. This story focused in on one aspect of that. I just wish there were less side characters and more story development.

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and author Ace Atkins.