Leonardo Padura:  Adios Hemingway
English Edition: 9781741955414, Canongate, paperback,

German edition: Unionsverlag, 9783293206144, paperback

Leonardo Padura is a Cuban author living in Havana whose Mario Conde crime novels reveal much about present day life in Cuba.  In other words, perfect holiday reading.  “Adios Hemingway” was written in 2006 but I only bought it recently and thought I share my view of this light hearted, clever novel.  I saw his latest book “Heretics” in Waterstones in the UK, another excellent pick for holiday reading.

Forty years after Hemingway’s death, a corpse is discovered on the grounds of Finca Vigia where Hemingway spent many years of his life.  In all likelihood the person found was murdered as two bullets from Hemingway’s famous weapon collection are the cause of death.  Could it be that Hemingway was a murderer?  No one is interested in soiling Papa Hemingway’s image and additionally this old cold case is too delicate a subject for Havana’s police to deal with, particularly in view of manpower shortages.  Teniente Manolo entrusts his old colleague, former policeman and now author Mario Conde with this delicate investigation.  In synchronization with Mario Condos findings, the book has another layer and tells of Hemingway’s last days on the Finca in 1958, ultimately leading to Hemingway’s departure and the event and puzzle Conde needs to solve.

This is very cleverly plotted. Obviously not all facts about Hemingway’s last days are true but close enough,  one wonders if this could not have been another last unpleasant adventure in Hemingway’s  troubled depressed last years.