Another book written by Michael Hagberg who is a bit of a favourite now having read 6 of his novels. Perhaps the best, in my opinion, is Allah’s Scorpion but Castro’s daughter has a very good basic premise. Maria is Fidel’s illegitimate daughter. Her parentage is not known by anyone. She serves in the security division of the Cuban armed forces. Fidel calls her to his room where he is sick and dying and asks her to save the people of Cuba.
From here the plot line is stretched. Spanish gold which Cuba has some vague claim on is supposed to have been hidden by monks in New Mexico. This is a Kirk McGarvey novel and he is identified by Fidel as the person who can help Maria. The search for the gold with the usual bizarre twists ends with a surprise raid on Fort Knox and a sharing of wealth that benefits the Cuban people and improves political relations with the U.S. All a bit hard to swallow.
It took much longer to read this book. Either the eBook version doesn’t grip me as dramatically or, as is more likely, the novel isn’t one of Hapgerg’s best efforts.
Jan. 12, 2013
Castro’s Daughter; Hagberg, David; 2012, Tom Doherty Associates