Bloody Shame: A Lupe Solano Mystery

Lupe Solano #2

by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera

Simultaneous publication (what a coincidence!) of her first book, Bloody Waters, in paperback and her second in hardcover gives readers a double chance to discover the delights of this Cuban-American private detective, who comes from a wealthy family, drives a Mercedes, carries a Beretta, and spends a lot of her time trying to fix the bad things that happen to Cubans in Miami. Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, herself a Cuban-born private investigator and M. B. A., makes sure that both books contain just the right seasoning of local color and personal moments in their strongly plotted stories. This one finds Lupe trying to clear a local jeweler in the death of a would-be assailant. As in her first outing, things soon become personal.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, The United States Of America, Crime

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Carolina 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

Reviews

[Craig Pittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second novel about Miami PI Lupe Solano penned by real-life Miami PI Carolina Garcia-Aguiera, and there's no sophomore slump here. It's as tight and twisty as the first one.

In this one Lupe, a self-described Cuban-American Princess who packs a Beretta in her Chanel purse, is hired to help out with a murder case being handled by her sometime boyfriend, hotshot defense attorney Tommy McDonald. Meanwhile she's trying to figure out why her best friend is moping around and seeming so downbeat. But Lupe is determined to head south to Key West on a long-delayed vacation.

She comes hustling back after her friend is killed, shortly after her friend mentions on the phone that she knows something important about the case McDonald is handling. By the end of this book several more people will die, and all because of a bad cover-up.

Lupe is the narrator and she has such a distinctive voice that it's a pleasure to share her company, even when she's on a tiresome stakeout. A lot of the scenes in this book carry a strong dose of realism, in part because of the author's experience as a PI and in part because it's so well grounded in Miami-area landmarks, such as the Coral Gables City Hall. The ongoing exodus of Cuban rafters arriving in South Florida plays a role in this, as does the way rental cars are protected under the law.

I docked the book one star because when I got to the end I realized Lupe had left a couple of loose ends untied, but the comeuppance to one of her enemies was so satisfying I just about forgave her.
All in all I enjoyed this second outing and raced right through it, and look forward to reading the third book in the series.

[oshizu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery featuring a 2nd-generation Cuban-American female private investigator, written by a 2nd-gen Cuban-American female private investigator.
The protagonist, Lupe Solano, enjoys a privileged life thanks to her wealthy father, but she also works hard and plays harder. A super-fun read and a mystery that I couldn't untangle until Lupe figured it out herself.

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of this series starring Lupe Solano, a Cuban-American from a wealthy family in Miami. She is a budding private investigator in Miami. Even though she has a vacation planned, her friend and on again-off again lover, Tommy, asks her to delay to provide her assistance in one of his criminal cases. She is a beautiful Latino woman and uses her wiles when necessary to get what she is after.

Meanwhile, her closest childhood friend dies on her way to explain to Lupe what is currently happening in her life.

It is fast paced and the story line keeps the reader interested until the end, which of course has a variable twist.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is only for fun - if you like rollicking detective mysteries this is a good one. Very well written, with plot, characters and setting that hang together and keep the interest. It's set in Florida peopled with lots of Cuban-Americans, which lends a different cultural tone.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in a series. Mystery set in Miami.

[LauraKatarooma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hyvin viihdyttävä dekkari. Taattua aivot narikkaan laatua.

[Mike Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the 2nd of a 7 book series. The main character is a Cuban-American female investigator who comes from a very well-off family, but likes the mental challenge of ferreting out the truth in matters that would seem to be below her social level. Besides being very good at her chosen profession, she's a hot looking Latina who isn't above using her feminine wiles to distract or persuade. The characters are well developed and the plot lines keep pulling you along. The story takes place in Miami and Coral Gables, and the exposition gives you a bit of insight into the expatriot Cuban community and family life. Almost every character introduced is from some Latin American country; Cuban, Salvadoran, Nicaraguan, etc. It seemed a little "in-your-face," at first, but it does make sense that "Little Havana" would be a diverse Hispanic society made homogenous by the shared language, food, religion and customs. I liked Lupe Solano a lot and would like to "peek in" on more of her adventures and life.

[Carolyn Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the Coconut Grove, South Beach, and Miami setting even more than Lupe Solano's detective work. I recognized neighborhoods and the people who inhabit them. Her characters are true to life and illustrate some of the conflicts within the Cuban community between those who arrived in Miami in the 50's and those who came on the Mariel Boatlift in 1980. Lupe has the support of her eccentric, close-knit family members. Her books remind me of titles by a former Miami Herald crime reporter Edna Buchanan and her character - Britt Montero, the Cuban-American reporter who gets tangled in police investigations as a result of her reporting research.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

n this second mystery, Lupe is trying to get away for a well deserved week in Key West, when defense attorney Tommy delays her with a "quick" investigation. But then her childhood friend, Margarita, dies in an automobile accident while on her way to tell Lupe something about the man Tommy is defending. So Lupe postpones her vacation. The job is hard - everyone seems to be lying and the case gets more and more personal as she tries to find out Margarita's connection. Once again, Lupe is feisty and funny and a serious contender for one of my favorite fictional P.I.s.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good murder-mystery; a real page-turner.

[Judi Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahh, I love a good beach book. fast paced, good story line, great characters. I read the first in the series years ago, now looking for the next...

[Janet]

Meh

[Kristin Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this first in the series better than the second. Really like Lupe's character and easy, yet engaging story lines.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars