Grab a Snake by the Tail

Havana's Chinatown is not Conde's usual beat, but when he is asked to take a murder case by the sultry, perfectly proportioned Police Lieutenant Patricia Chion, he can't resist. Pedro Cuang is found hanging naked from a beam in his dingy room, with one of his fingers cut off and two arrows carved on his chest. Conde discovers unexpected connections, secret businesses, and a history of misfortune that affected many immigrant families from China. The Barrio Chino was once one of the largest Chinatowns in the West, but now it feels like a ghetto of uprooted families. The story is soaked in atmosphere, with African spells cast by babalao sorcerers, smoke-filled bars, deep friendships, and beautiful women.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2019
Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press

Havana's Chinatown is not Conde's usual territory, but when the sultry and perfectly proportioned Police Lieutenant Patricia Chion approaches him with a murder case, a frequent subject of his nightly fantasies, he finds himself unable to resist. Pedro Cuang's lifeless body is discovered hanging naked from a beam in the dimly lit room. One of his fingers has been severed, and a knife has etched the outline of two arrows on his chest. Was this a ritual Santería killing or a mere act of retribution in the world of drug trafficking that was beginning to infiltrate Cuba in the 1980s? As Conde delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers unexpected connections, secret businesses, and a history of misfortune that has affected many immigrant families from China. The Barrio Chino, once a thriving Chinatown, now feels like a desolate ghetto, with its abandoned cemetery and boarded-up shops. The story is suffused with a rich atmosphere: African spells cast by babalao sorcerers, smoke-filled bars, deep friendships, and stunning women, particularly the exotic Afro-Chinese Patricia Chion.

Weight: 156g
Dimension: 128 x 196 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912242177