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A review by jennitarheelreader
Don't Send Flowers by Martín Solares
5.0
5 gripping but heartbreaking stars to Don’t Send Flowers! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
It hurt my heart to read this book because it was a solid reminder of life in some parts of Mexico today. What you should know is that my best friend of over 25 years has dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States. I was fortunate to travel with her family there, completely immersed in the language and culture. I never felt unsafe, and I never would have expected to feel that way. On a fundamental level, it is heartbreaking to witness what is occurring in such a beautifully cultured country. The status of Mexico is not a political issue for me. It is a deeply personal one.
Martin Solares is a skilled writer. He immediately brought the main character, Carlos Trevino, to life. Trevino is a retired police detective who left the force because of all the corruption and violence he faced on a daily basis. He is going to confront it all again when he is hired to find a well-to-do family’s kidnapped daughter. Unfortunately, what happened to the daughter is common in that region of Mexico.
As Trevino tracks the the young woman, he is also attempting to avoid the chief of police who is morally corrupt and working alongside the cartels.
Solares’ narrative is gritty, haunting, and even brutal at times, while also original and vitally important. This is not an easy read, but it felt like a realistic and honest portrayal. The tension building feels so exciting until you remember that, while the main character is fictional, the status of safety in parts of Mexico is not. Kudos to Solares for this masterful depiction.
Thank you to Grove Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
It hurt my heart to read this book because it was a solid reminder of life in some parts of Mexico today. What you should know is that my best friend of over 25 years has dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States. I was fortunate to travel with her family there, completely immersed in the language and culture. I never felt unsafe, and I never would have expected to feel that way. On a fundamental level, it is heartbreaking to witness what is occurring in such a beautifully cultured country. The status of Mexico is not a political issue for me. It is a deeply personal one.
Martin Solares is a skilled writer. He immediately brought the main character, Carlos Trevino, to life. Trevino is a retired police detective who left the force because of all the corruption and violence he faced on a daily basis. He is going to confront it all again when he is hired to find a well-to-do family’s kidnapped daughter. Unfortunately, what happened to the daughter is common in that region of Mexico.
As Trevino tracks the the young woman, he is also attempting to avoid the chief of police who is morally corrupt and working alongside the cartels.
Solares’ narrative is gritty, haunting, and even brutal at times, while also original and vitally important. This is not an easy read, but it felt like a realistic and honest portrayal. The tension building feels so exciting until you remember that, while the main character is fictional, the status of safety in parts of Mexico is not. Kudos to Solares for this masterful depiction.
Thank you to Grove Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com