The Ultimate Havana

by John Lantigua

Book Overview

Praised by Carl Hiaasen as "fresh" and "authentic," the Edgar Award-nominated novels of John Lantigua present a sizzling slice of Cuban-American life. In this intriguing new novel, private eye Willie... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451202783
• ISBN13: 9780451202789
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

From the back cover

When asked to find the missing son of a famous cigar manufacturer, Willie Cuesta figures that Carlos Espada just skipped town with his girlfriend for some R & R. Instead, he uncovers a bitter rivalry between two tobacco companies and a counterfeit cigar ring that Carlos may have been involved with... Two conterfeiters have already been murdered, and in their possession were boxes of fake "Ambassadors" - Cuba's most expensive cigars. Then things really ehat up when Willie's investigation brings thugs out of the woodwork. From Miami's Little Havana to teh Dominican Republic, with the shadow of Castro's Cuba hanging over him, Willie must find Carlos - before he too becomes a victim of dirty business and is left smoldering in ash...

An Excellent Writer Of Varied Interests

I have read several of John Lantigua's books and have always found them well written and the stories interesting. This one is no exception. The general theme of counterfit Havana cigars set in a murder mystery is unique. The author's research and reporter background lends credibility to the underlying information about the cigar industry in the book. This author's books should be kept in print. They're timely, well written and have interestingly serious backgrounds. The "prequel" to this book is "Player's Vendetta".

Another Great Read From Lantigua

This is a good book --especially if you smoke cigars. The whole scene of the "cigar boom" is done with a lot colorful detail and with humor. Lantigua seems to know the history of Cuban cigars very well and he has a great eye for the excesses of "the good life." He also does the atmosphere of the Miami Latin scene well and the characters are sharply drawn. My favorite is Cesar Mendoza, a legendary blind cigar store owner, who can distinguish between one brand of cigar and another through his heightened senses of taste and smell. Cesar also has a reputation as a Latin lover. "There exist women for whom a blind man is irresistable," he tells the hero, detective Willie Cuesta. The book is as flavorful as a great stogie.

A helluva smoke

This is a terrific PI novel set in Little Havana involving the world of counterfeit Cuban cigars. Cigar smokers will definitely enjoy it, as will anyone with an interest in Miami and, more specifically, Little Havana. John Lantigua knows the terrain on all accounts, and he has a nice sardonic style. I've read other detective novels set in Miami's Cuban community (Bloody Shame by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, for one) and this is far superior. On the basis of The Ultimate Havana, I will be seeking out other books by John Lantigua to read.