Really enjoyed this story of a woman hunting for the truth about her missing mother and d3ad father in Cuba from the age of Castro. The descriptions of the life there in the 80s under his rule, and the shortages of everything, and the control that was exhibited were interesting to learn about. Nice conclusion.

Such a moving story about family ties, the struggles of life in Cuba in the 80s and 90s and generations long mystery waiting to be solves.

Newly widowed baker Mercedes Spivey flies from Miami to her native Cuba in 2019 to care for her ailing paternal grandmother. Mercedes’s life has been shaped by loss, beginning with the mysterious unsolved disappearance of her mother when Mercedes was a little girl. Returning to Cuba revives Mercedes’s hopes of finding her mother as she attempts to piece together the few scraps of information she has. Could her mother still be alive?

Thirty-three years earlier, in 1986, an American college student with endless political optimism falls deliriously in love with a handsome Cuban soldier while on a spontaneous visit to the island. She decides to stay permanently, but soon discovers that nothing is as it seems in Havana.

The two women’s stories proceed in parallel as Mercedes gets closer to the truth about her mother, uncovering shocking family secrets in the process . . .

"Last Seen in Havana" is a captivating mystery thriller that intertwines real-time historical events with a gripping narrative. The novel's dual points of view and seamless transitions between the past and present create a compelling and immersive experience that is easy to follow. Set against the vibrant and tumultuous backdrop of Havana, the story is rich in historical detail, bringing the city's history to life. The author's meticulous research shines through, providing readers with an authentic sense of place and time.

One of the novel's strengths is its ability to maintain suspense without becoming overwhelmingly intense, making for a comfortable yet intriguing read. The unexpected truths revealed about the characters add depth to the story, making the revelations even more impactful. However, the pacing of the book could have been better managed, as the first half felt excessively long and somewhat dragged out.

Additionally, the ending, while shocking and emotionally resonant, felt abrupt, and a few more pages to wrap up the story would have provided a more satisfying conclusion. Despite these minor flaws, "Last Seen in Havana" does a good job in creating a suspenseful atmosphere and delivering a story that resonates on multiple levels. For those who enjoy mystery thrillers rooted in historical events, this book is a noteworthy addition to their reading list.

#LastSeeninHavana #NetGalley

This book was a combination of a thriller, romance, and story of hardships with a good feeling ending. The story starts out as a love story between two people who are fighting for a common goal in the Fidel Castro years in Cuba. A woman from the US, Sarah and Joaquin who is in the Cuban military. The book goes through the trials and hardships that many of the Cuban people had to fight for food and healthcare during the invasion. It also portrayed the Russian influence as well during this time. Sarah or Tania as she was known in Cuba fell in love with Joaquin and stayed in Cuba. They married and eventually had Mercedes. Mercedes is trying throughout the book to find her mother. But through hidden secrets and lies "to protect her" she finds out the real fate of her mother and father. Mamina is her grandmother and refuses to give up the old ways until it lands her in the hospital. Mercedes finally learns the truth by talking with many of her family that she had only met once. She confronts Mamina and through trying to fix up her homeplace and horrible storms, more questions arise than answers. Eventually after some soul searching and persistence, she finds the truth and a family that she finally can call her own.

I liked the overall premise and setting and time period . It was a good read but felt some parts were weak and repetitive and didn’t really like the writing style
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

So the setting was great, Havana through the 80s. The plot was intriguing and I kept reading because I wanted to know what had happened.
However, was not a fan of the writing style, as it felt a bit weak and repetitive. There was a lot of “dude” calling. It also felt like it was either translated, or written by someone whose first language is not english, some of the sentences were weak or didn’t make sense. The characters didnt have much depth to them, although I liked Yoel and Canario most (which I think says a lot because they are barely in the book).

The ending was good, though. It surprised me in a way and kind of made up for the slow pace of the book.