Havana Run

by Les Standiford

Book Overview

John Deal has spent much of his adult life trying to rebuild the Miami construction firm that his late father ruined. When the possibility of a major project in post-normalized Cuba arises, he can't help but be intrigued-only to find that he's been lured to Havana for another, far more dangerous purpose: to help spring an American prisoner from a Castro jail. Deal wants nothing to do with it, until he discovers who it is: a man closer to him than...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399150595
• ISBN13: 9780399150593
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

How did I miss this one???

Somehow I just picked this novel up last month. Do you read every Florida Keys Mystery/Action you can get? I do and I have a scale of favorites. Corcoran, Hall, and White in that order plus a few lesser lights. Of course in the well known writers' works the standard wicked crew, developers, pols and tee shirt moguls plus the mob have become a bit too wearing on the beleagured "conchs." Thus it is a pleasure to read the adventures of John Deal and his Dealco development corporation, dedicated to making a buck but not vast sums of bucks by doing condos right. (If there is any way to do them right.)In Bone Key, Deal and sidekick fell into the Key West scene as potential developers of a "martello" tower centered resort. His inherited and endangered development corporation was just recovering from the suicide of his less environmentally dedicated father's suspicious "dealings."(Yep, puns appear now and then.) This novel continues the tale and expands upon it, bringing into the picture his father's early ties to Cuba and plans for post CAstro development.Who these developers may be (off shore banks and all) their ties to on island dissidents and off island exiles and the U.S. Government's desires to snoop on everyone (gives new meaning to the U.S. Interest Section) is the heart of this book. Given current state of boat traffic between the Keys and Cuba,rumors, speculation over future development in Cuba and the general murkiness of ownership of those luxury villas popping up along island edges, there's more than a bit of reality here.Then too, it's kind of fun to see a hero developer. Talk to anyone in the Keys and they will tell you that's kind of like the tooth fairy. It would be nice.Finally, this novel reads a bit faster than Bone Key. I thought there was just a bit too much repetitious complication in that earlier one. (Read it during a long airport wait, so I might misjudge it a bit. It does give some background which helps here.)

Great book, great series, great writer!

Les Standiford's "Havana Run" lives up to the high standards set the initial seven John Deal novels.Deal (the "last honest builder in South Florida") reluctantly accepts the promise of an extensive rebuilding project in post-Castro Cuba from the shady Antonio Fuentes. Fuentes represents a "consortium" and has a $1 million retainer.Prior to departing, Deal is coerced by a Justice Department op to plant miniature listening devices throughout the island.Once in Cuba, Deal sees he was lured there for a sinister purpose: to break an American prisoner out of a Castro jail...a man who holds secrets that many factions would kill to learn---others to keep them concealed.But who is pulling the strings: underground freedom fighters, the consortium, the US government, double agents, Castro partisans? From Miami to Key West to Cuba Deal discovers not everyone can be trusted and figuring out who is trustworthy is nearly impossible.Les Standiford is the most underrated Florida mystery writer. "Havana Run" is part crime fiction, part spy thriller...filled with intrigue, realistic action, suspense, betrayal and an ending that will knock you down.Top drawer reading!

great suspense thriller

Thirteen years ago, police officer John Deal learned that his father committed suicide. His face was so badly damaged that his son couldn't recognize him. The police find papers proving John was supplying his father with information that he used in his business dealings. Unable to demonstrate he was set up, the brass allowed him to retire. John took over Deal Co, the construction company his father ran into the ground.In the present, Deal Co. is breaking even when Antonio Fuentes asks him to accompany him to Cuba. Fuentes represents a consortium who want to rebuild Cuba after Castro is gone and they want Deal to be their point man. Deal is about to turn him down when a government agent asks him to go along with Fuentes and in return they will give him proof that he was framed thirteen years ago. Deal goes to Cuba intending to play the spy but finds someone that has to be smuggled out of the country at any cost, making his deal with the government null & void.Readers get an inside look at the Cuba of today in HAVANA RUN and although the country is in a holding pattern different forces are ready to take control once the present leader is gone. Les Standiford raises the bar of the suspense thriller in the latest installment of his John Deal series. Though one must wonder about a government that hides the truth that would exonerate someone, this fits right into the story line and Justice, American style. Readers will take to the protagonist right away because of the vulnerability that shines above this tough guy persona.Harriet Klausner