Harbor of Spies: A Novel of Historic Havana by Robin Lloyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Harbor of Spies was an unexpected delight. A work of historical fiction that doesn’t dwell too heavily on the romance or the lessons of history but instead just throws you into that world.

The book follows a lot of the usual structures of an “every man” story because Everett is able to slip in and out of many worlds easily and if the story was about his internal world it would have been stunted but instead he’s the ideal vessel for us to glimpse into the world of trade during the civil war. Robin Lloyd’s research allows him to paint a world of subtle hues with enough light and shadow that it is easy to transpose ourselves into a different time and follow a path that feels effortlessly contemporary.

The book’s pacing, drama and plot twists are even and I like that it’s a book I can recommend to someone seeking a light novel and to someone wanting something that makes them think. Harbor of Spies scratches the surface of how trade, politics, race and making a living all criss-cross in meaningful ways. But, as in all good fiction, it is the characters and how they arrive at their choices that drew me in and made this book a new favorite.

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