by Lia Matera
First published 2001
Willa Jansson discovers her activist mother has violated federal law by traveling to Cuba without permission. When the older woman fails to return with her peace group, Willa faces a nightmare scenario. The government could prosecute her mother for trading with the enemy, a charge carrying ten years in prison and a massive fine. Willa breaks her own laws by flying to Havana to find her missing parent. The island proves treacherous territory where nothing appears genuine. She navigates hidden tunnels beneath city streets and luxury hotels while dodging manipulation and near arrest. Fellow travelers who claim to be journalists vanish without explanation, possibly CIA operatives in disguise. The U.S. State Department and Cuban Interior Ministry close in as her former lover, San Francisco police lieutenant Don Surgelato, joins the pursuit. Willa races from Havana to Mexico City and back to California, staying one step ahead of two hostile governments and a deadly adversary. Only a daughter's intimate knowledge can solve this puzzle of politics and murder.
Genres: adventure, suspense, mystery, crime, political-thriller, activism
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: California, Cuba, Havana, Mexico City, San Francisco
Period: Contemporary
Audiobook · Phoenix Audio.