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Lupe Solano #3
Bloody Secrets
Miami private detective Lupe Solano comes to the aid of a young refugee from Havana, who claims that Miami's most prominent couple has robbed his family and has arranged for his own murder.
- GenresMystery
274 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
9 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Carolina Garcia-Aguilera
16 books49 followersCarolina Garcia-Aguilera (born 1949) is a Cuban-born American writer. She has written a series of mystery stories, and two novels.
She was born in Havana, Cuba in July 1949. In 1960, she emigrated to the United States, living in Palm Beach, Florida, and then New York City. She graduated from college, with degrees in history and political science, a master's in language and linguistics, and an MBA in finance. She is currently working on a PhD in Latin American affairs.
She lives in Miami Beach, Florida, and is married (twice) with 3 daughters. In order to get realistic information for her mystery books, she became a licensed private investigator in Florida, and started a successful business in the field.
She has written a series of mystery books, featuring a female Cuban-American private investigator in Miami named Lupe (Guadalupe) Solano. The series is celebrated for its rich and detailed coverage of the Cuban American, Catholic, exile community in Florida, their history, and the differences and conflicts between the generations regarding Cuba and Fidel Castro. Her most recent books were two novels. She has not published any books since 2003.
Series:
* Lupe Solano Mystery
She was born in Havana, Cuba in July 1949. In 1960, she emigrated to the United States, living in Palm Beach, Florida, and then New York City. She graduated from college, with degrees in history and political science, a master's in language and linguistics, and an MBA in finance. She is currently working on a PhD in Latin American affairs.
She lives in Miami Beach, Florida, and is married (twice) with 3 daughters. In order to get realistic information for her mystery books, she became a licensed private investigator in Florida, and started a successful business in the field.
She has written a series of mystery books, featuring a female Cuban-American private investigator in Miami named Lupe (Guadalupe) Solano. The series is celebrated for its rich and detailed coverage of the Cuban American, Catholic, exile community in Florida, their history, and the differences and conflicts between the generations regarding Cuba and Fidel Castro. Her most recent books were two novels. She has not published any books since 2003.
Series:
* Lupe Solano Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 24, 2017
This is the third book in this series starring Lupe Solano, a private investigator, from a wealthy Cuban family. She quickly jumped in to help a Cuban refugee that had apparently been swindled by a Cuban couple prominent in high society Miami circles. At first, the client seemed more interested in his families honor than anything else.
Lupe struggled with emotional feelings for the client and moved to solve the case veraciously.
She spent more time working this case, transfixed on a client, and less time with her customary male companions. I enjoyed the surprise twist at the end, which was an ironic display of poetic justice. Each book contains more lessons in Cuban history, which intertwine with characters portrayed.
Lupe struggled with emotional feelings for the client and moved to solve the case veraciously.
She spent more time working this case, transfixed on a client, and less time with her customary male companions. I enjoyed the surprise twist at the end, which was an ironic display of poetic justice. Each book contains more lessons in Cuban history, which intertwine with characters portrayed.
July 5, 2020
Carolina Garcia-Aguilera's third novel about MIami PI Lupe Solano isn't as satisfying as the first two, in part because the plot twist is so obvious you'll see it coming a mile away.
There are other pleasures, of course. Lupe's often hilarious "Cuban-American Princess" voice remains a distinctive one among the lily-white ranks of other fictional private eyes. She's remarkably resourceful, tapping a network of friends and sources for help. And her depiction of the Cuban caste system, both in Cuba and in America is fascinating.
Lupe's client is a Cuban who came across in a raft and upon arrival reminded the richest Cuban couple in Miami of the debt they owed his parents -- only to be tossed out on his earHe and forced to dodge a hired killer. He wants what they took from his family, he says. She's taken by his handsome face, his soulful eyes, his talk of honor. She feels herself falling for him, something she's sworn she'll never do.
Anyone who saw an '80s movie about a female attorney defending a handsome man on a murder charge can see what's going to happen. That's a real letdown, considering the first two books zig when you think they'll zag and vice versa.
Still, we do get treated to Garcia-Aguilera's display of knowledge of how a real PI works -- digging through a target's trash, running license plates from the people they meet, doing surveillance from a nearby tree, etc. And Lupe's so charming I'll definitely read the rest of this series, but I sure hope the next books are put together better than this one.
There are other pleasures, of course. Lupe's often hilarious "Cuban-American Princess" voice remains a distinctive one among the lily-white ranks of other fictional private eyes. She's remarkably resourceful, tapping a network of friends and sources for help. And her depiction of the Cuban caste system, both in Cuba and in America is fascinating.
Lupe's client is a Cuban who came across in a raft and upon arrival reminded the richest Cuban couple in Miami of the debt they owed his parents -- only to be tossed out on his earHe and forced to dodge a hired killer. He wants what they took from his family, he says. She's taken by his handsome face, his soulful eyes, his talk of honor. She feels herself falling for him, something she's sworn she'll never do.
Anyone who saw an '80s movie about a female attorney defending a handsome man on a murder charge can see what's going to happen. That's a real letdown, considering the first two books zig when you think they'll zag and vice versa.
Still, we do get treated to Garcia-Aguilera's display of knowledge of how a real PI works -- digging through a target's trash, running license plates from the people they meet, doing surveillance from a nearby tree, etc. And Lupe's so charming I'll definitely read the rest of this series, but I sure hope the next books are put together better than this one.
August 22, 2021
This is a breezy, fast-paced series with a unique female Cuban-American voice that I love! Just don't sweat the scrambled details of the overly complicated plots...
A cringe-worthy repeated proofreading error made me grind my teeth:
Arroz con POLIO!!!
Ay!!!
A cringe-worthy repeated proofreading error made me grind my teeth:
Arroz con POLIO!!!
Ay!!!
November 3, 2012
This third Lupe Solano Mystery is the best one yet! The story begins at a Havana night club in 1958 where we witness a conversation between friends, the Delgado and the de le Torres, who are also business partners. While the band plays, there is shooting in the background, setting the tone of the revolution for these wealthy Cubans. Then the book moves to 1994, during that brief time in which Castro declares that anyone wanting to leave can- as long as they find there own way. This is when we learn that the de le Torres made it to Miami after Castro took over but the Delgados did not. So now the son, Luis Delgado has his chance to leave Cuba. He and some friends build a raft and set to sea becoming one more group of balseros. After being rescued at sea and then spending time in Guantanamo, Luis Delgado is finally in Miami. But something has gone wrong in his attempts to claim his father's half of money from Miguel and Teresa de le Torre. So he decides to hire Lupe Solano to help him with this matter of honor.
The author's technique is to gain our sympathy for Luis Delgado by giving us enough information on the history of these two families that we therefore understand how Lupe is drawn into the case at a more personal level than is professionally appropriate. I won't say anymore at this point except that it is a mystery that only a Cuban could write yet the content is universally provocative.
The author's technique is to gain our sympathy for Luis Delgado by giving us enough information on the history of these two families that we therefore understand how Lupe is drawn into the case at a more personal level than is professionally appropriate. I won't say anymore at this point except that it is a mystery that only a Cuban could write yet the content is universally provocative.
June 5, 2009
A fresh voice. I feel I have had a front seat with all of her characters as if I were a traveler in time involved with their intriguing scenarios. It's the first book in a year I did not jump ahead and read the ending as I was getting no where with them in the "see me, feel me," department.
I learned that every now and then when you go to the library you get lucky.
Patricia O'Hara
I learned that every now and then when you go to the library you get lucky.
Patricia O'Hara
January 10, 2011
This book is excellent reading as is the whole series. A Cuban rafter wants Lupe's help to regain his fortune and honor that he believes was taken away by a prominent Miami Cuban family. The twists and turns are great, and the end a total surprise. I highly recommend this series.
December 16, 2009
Thrid book in a series, second book I've read.
Continues to be a decent series. This book was a little light on the mystery and a little heavy on the history lesson of Cuban migration.
Continues to be a decent series. This book was a little light on the mystery and a little heavy on the history lesson of Cuban migration.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews