Dance of the Millions: A Music & Murder Mystery
Three friends attend law school in Havana during the time called the Dance of the Millions, between September 1919 and May 1920, when Cuba’s economy cratered after prices for its principal export raw sugar rose from 6½ to 22½ cents per pound, then fell to 3¾ cents.
Each of the young men represents a faction thrown into turmoil. Eduard Betancourt is the son of a sugar estate owner in El Siboney who has mortgaged his property to the hilt to add modern sugar-processing equipment and a rail line to ship sugar to market. Degas Falla Bonet is the son of a confidential aide to the president of the country and is expected to join the government himself after graduation. Enrique Solar is so concerned about poverty and political pressure on laborers and unions he abruptly leaves school and disappears. When police ignore a series of ritualistic murders of young female dancers, Eduardo and journalist Tomás Fuentes team up to investigate on their own.
Dance of the Millions is Martin’s second historical mystery, and it has elements of the first. Killin’ Floor Blues (2020) describes a series of bizarre killings of country blues performers police turn their backs on, leaving the investigation to a father and son who are traveling the Depression-era South and recording blues music.
The story is multilayered, weaving in details about the economy and politics of the time, the complicated history of Cuba, slavery, Santería religion, and voodoo. Music is a focus, with descriptions of Habanero songs and dances. But the story does not gel. The plot drags; dialogue is often stilted and explanatory. While scenes of Havana and other parts of Cuba are evocative, the narrative keeps readers at a distance, wishing they could find una melodía.
