The Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMille

Daniel “Mac” MacCormick is a US Army veteran with two tours of duty under his belt as an infantry officer in Afghanistan where he earned two Purple Hearts and the Silver Star.  Now he lives the good life as captain and owner of a forty-two foot fishing boat which he charters out of Key West.  The good life… drinking heavily, chasing women for one night stands, and smart mouthing anyone who will listen… it’s all good expect for the monumental loan on his boat and a yearn for the adrenalin rush from the action he saw in the army.

One day a Miami lawyer approaches Mac about entering a fishing tournament in Cuba, a promotional event that is part of the US move, known at the Cuban Thaw, to improve relations with long chastised Cuba.  But the lawyer has more purpose in mind than fishing.  He offers Mac two million dollars to help Sara Ortega, a Cuban American from Miami, recover cash ($60 million) and valuable documents now hidden in Cuba that once belonged to her anti-Castro grandfather.  As a cover, Sara and Mac join a Yale travel group to Cuba that is coincidently concurrent with the fishing tournament.  Mac’s first mate captain’s the fishing boat to Cuba with the intent of breaking away from the tournament to rescue Sara and Mac after they recover the treasure.  Mac is skeptical about the mission but he needs the money and longs for the action.  Plus Sara Ortega is beautiful and he has to admit his chance to romance her enhances the adventure.

But the mission is not simple.  Castro regime spies are everywhere in Cuba and are particularly suspicious of Americans.  Many would like to create an international incident that would squelch the Cuban Thaw.  Gathering the guns and transportation needed for a successful mission proves more dangerous than Mac thought particularly when he learns the true objective of their trip.  This caper may be more than he can master even with his combat training and battlefield experience.

DeMille is an excellent story teller.  He delves deep into the personal lives and motivations of his protagonists and gives you a history lesson along the way.  He holds your interest with several key plot twists and with the bold and brazen personality of Mac, the lead character.  The book is well researched, well written, and entertaining.  Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the advance look.