What do you think?
Rate this book
Cuban Contraband
From the critically acclaimed author of Blind Luck comes Cuban Contraband - the suspenseful thriller set against the backdrop of human trafficking. Kidnapping, sex slavery, strange bedfellows, and a few surprises make Cuban Contraband a great summer read!
Retired FBI agent Alexander Christian is enjoying the good life in his Texas beach house. During a chance encounter, he learns of a young Cuban girl who was smuggled into the US and has gone missing. He has a feeling she’s become a victim of human trafficking and offers to look for her.
To locate the missing girl, Christian must delve into the dark underworld of escort services, massage parlors, and seedy bars that are fronts for prostitution. He concocts a cover story and dives into the sex-slave gutter.
After an exhaustive search, low on options, and when it looks like time is running out for the girl, Christian gets a tip from an unlikely source that could lead him to the missing teen. He follows the lead and what he finds will change his life forever.
Retired FBI agent Alexander Christian is enjoying the good life in his Texas beach house. During a chance encounter, he learns of a young Cuban girl who was smuggled into the US and has gone missing. He has a feeling she’s become a victim of human trafficking and offers to look for her.
To locate the missing girl, Christian must delve into the dark underworld of escort services, massage parlors, and seedy bars that are fronts for prostitution. He concocts a cover story and dives into the sex-slave gutter.
After an exhaustive search, low on options, and when it looks like time is running out for the girl, Christian gets a tip from an unlikely source that could lead him to the missing teen. He follows the lead and what he finds will change his life forever.
- GenresFiction
330 pages, ebook
First published March 27, 2022
8 people are currently reading
4184 people want to read
About the author
Ben Cooper
3 books36 followersBen Cooper is a retired accountant, computer programmer, database admin, photographer, writer and Parrothead. His debut novel, “Blind Luck” was selected as one of the favorite debuts of 1998 by Murder by the Book, one of the largest independent mystery bookstores in the US. He enjoys a cold beer, a hot bowl of gumbo, and exploring the country in his MINI Cooper.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 4, 2022
This is a harrowing and explicit story depicting the brutality of human trafficking. The Cuban contraband in the title refers to young women picked up in Cuba with the promise of jobs in America only to be forced to work as sex slaves to "pay off their debt." Many can't speak English, and there is always the threat of ICE.
While this is an Alex Christian story, the first few chapters are about Reymundo and Jana. Reymundo has bought Jana's boat from her soon-to-be-ex and books a bachelor party. Jana drops by to find out who bought her boat from under her, has revenge sex with Reymundo, and decides to help him in his new charter business. The clients ask about "additional crew services," and Jana uses her stripping background to recruit women who are willing to do that sort of work. They run afoul of Rafael, a human trafficker upset four of "his" girls were on the crew instead of working for him. He forces Reymundo to make two runs to Cuba for fresh "stock" while holding Jana hostage.
Alex Christian appears when a girl jumps off the boat near Galveston. Named Mayte, she reveals she is in America to look for her sister Briana. What follows is a harrowing deep dive into underground chattel slavery.
The detail in the book is great, and both Alex's and Reymundo's attempts to undermine this monstrous enterprise keep the pages turning. However, the endings for both characters are a bit too pat for my taste. And I say that having just finished The Hobbit, which is the epitome of the happy ending. But Cooper does manage to complicate Alex's ending.
And to be honest, my favorite character was actually Jana, an unabashed gold digger tired of digging. Her ending was foreshadowed early on and comes as no surprise as details of her outgoing husband's proclivities come to light.
While this is an Alex Christian story, the first few chapters are about Reymundo and Jana. Reymundo has bought Jana's boat from her soon-to-be-ex and books a bachelor party. Jana drops by to find out who bought her boat from under her, has revenge sex with Reymundo, and decides to help him in his new charter business. The clients ask about "additional crew services," and Jana uses her stripping background to recruit women who are willing to do that sort of work. They run afoul of Rafael, a human trafficker upset four of "his" girls were on the crew instead of working for him. He forces Reymundo to make two runs to Cuba for fresh "stock" while holding Jana hostage.
Alex Christian appears when a girl jumps off the boat near Galveston. Named Mayte, she reveals she is in America to look for her sister Briana. What follows is a harrowing deep dive into underground chattel slavery.
The detail in the book is great, and both Alex's and Reymundo's attempts to undermine this monstrous enterprise keep the pages turning. However, the endings for both characters are a bit too pat for my taste. And I say that having just finished The Hobbit, which is the epitome of the happy ending. But Cooper does manage to complicate Alex's ending.
And to be honest, my favorite character was actually Jana, an unabashed gold digger tired of digging. Her ending was foreshadowed early on and comes as no surprise as details of her outgoing husband's proclivities come to light.
September 10, 2022
This is a nasty look into sex trafficking rings and I really liked it. Be advised of trigger warnings mainly including rape and severe mistreatment of women and children.
When Rey makes a mistake trying to have a sex party on his newly bought yacht he is indebted to a pimp and must make a few trips to Cuba to bring back girls to sell off in the sex trade.
Meanwhile a trip goes wrong when a girl jumps from the boat. She's only there to find her sister who disappeared on a past boat. This turns into an onslaught to bring the ring down.
This is a great story and a real eye opener. However, it is also a little too farfetched for me and I can't say more than that. Too coincidental but I guess needed to make the story work. In real life it takes an army to crack these sex rings.
A few characters were way to old to be falling in love with young hookers too so I had to go with 3 stars on this one.
When Rey makes a mistake trying to have a sex party on his newly bought yacht he is indebted to a pimp and must make a few trips to Cuba to bring back girls to sell off in the sex trade.
Meanwhile a trip goes wrong when a girl jumps from the boat. She's only there to find her sister who disappeared on a past boat. This turns into an onslaught to bring the ring down.
This is a great story and a real eye opener. However, it is also a little too farfetched for me and I can't say more than that. Too coincidental but I guess needed to make the story work. In real life it takes an army to crack these sex rings.
A few characters were way to old to be falling in love with young hookers too so I had to go with 3 stars on this one.
May 25, 2022
Suspense, illicit activity, drugs, guns, muscle, and the tenacity of several heroes who refuse to give up in their quest to locate a young girl smuggled into the US from Cuba. The characters find themselves in impossible situations where there is no way out, until there is. The reader can't help but pursue, knowing there is so much more to come. A truly great read and highly recommended!
January 7, 2023
Cuban Contraband is available now in Paperback and eBook
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐ Book Review
Meet the Author: Ben Cooper is a retired accountant, computer programmer, database admin, photographer, and writer. His debut novel, “Blind Luck” was selected as one of the favorite debuts of 1998 by Murder by the Book which is one of the largest independent mystery bookstores in the US. He enjoys a cold beer, hot bowl of gumbo, and exploring the country in his Mini Cooper.
Synopsis: Retired FBI agent, Alexander Christian is living his best life in his Texas beach house. When he learns about a young Cuban girl who was smuggled into the US and is now missing he can’t just sit back and do nothing about it. Completing an exhaustive search he is determined to solve the case. Getting a tip from a non reliable source may just be the best thing that has ever happened to him, leading to findings he will never forget.
Reader’s Thoughts: Cuban Contraband was full of suspense, keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The plot twists were always unexpected, causing me to turn the pages frantically needing to know what comes next. This novel was a very intense read covering dark subject matter that many people tiptoe around. Cooper did an amazing job turning such a hard topic into an eye opening novel. Thank you author Ben Cooper for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐ Book Review
Meet the Author: Ben Cooper is a retired accountant, computer programmer, database admin, photographer, and writer. His debut novel, “Blind Luck” was selected as one of the favorite debuts of 1998 by Murder by the Book which is one of the largest independent mystery bookstores in the US. He enjoys a cold beer, hot bowl of gumbo, and exploring the country in his Mini Cooper.
Synopsis: Retired FBI agent, Alexander Christian is living his best life in his Texas beach house. When he learns about a young Cuban girl who was smuggled into the US and is now missing he can’t just sit back and do nothing about it. Completing an exhaustive search he is determined to solve the case. Getting a tip from a non reliable source may just be the best thing that has ever happened to him, leading to findings he will never forget.
Reader’s Thoughts: Cuban Contraband was full of suspense, keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The plot twists were always unexpected, causing me to turn the pages frantically needing to know what comes next. This novel was a very intense read covering dark subject matter that many people tiptoe around. Cooper did an amazing job turning such a hard topic into an eye opening novel. Thank you author Ben Cooper for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.
August 7, 2022
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. First off, it was a good book and kept my attention throughout. In my opinion, there were some extra sexual scenes that weren’t necessary to the story line thrown in there beyond the human trafficking which was the main part of the story. That being said, if you can get past that and it doesn’t bother you, read it. If that is not your sort of thing, this MAY not be the book for you. I liked that there were a couple of plot twists that I wasn’t expecting and a couple that I saw coming as I read the book. Overall, I enjoyed the book.
September 17, 2022
Well written, quick read. Suspenseful plot with interesting characters. Hard to put down.
March 3, 2024
Not a bad book. The pace was solid. The storylines were crisp. Well written. I enjoyed it.
May 20, 2022
An absolute page turner! It was one of those books where I found myself saying, “Just one more chapter!” Next thing I know it’s hours later, and I read more than “one more chapter.” To me, it had the same thrilling effect as the movie Taken, where you can’t help but want to know more about what is really going on as the hero dives into the horrifying realms of human trafficking. A very interesting plot with good morals behind it, by an author who hadn’t written a book in about 10 years. Well done.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews