Book Review: Any Wednesday I'm Yours

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Any Wednesday I'm Yours     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Mayra Santos-Febres
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Riverhead, Jul 2005, $14.00, 320 pp.

Julian Castrodad works as the overnight proof reader at the newspaper La Noticia until a rival cuts into their circulation and he is downsized. His friend Tadeo Chamdelau obtains Julian a job working graveyard along side him at the Motel Tulan where most patrons pay an hourly rate.

Julian keeps a journal of the activities he witnesses that run the gamut of San Juan society especially that of the repeat customers. He is very interested though he learns to use hisperipheral vision to not be caught observing the antics of labor attorney Efrain Soreno with union VIPs as they make a deal over development of Parallel 37. Almost as interesting is the antics of drug lord Chino Pereira who uses Tadeo as a cheap messenger. However, the one that hooks Julian eventually indirectly costing him his lived in girlfriend Daphne due to neglect is the Solitary Lady who after having sex with her on several Wednesday he calls M. As he watches and participates in the night life, clients converge leaving one dead and Julian under suspicion of murder.

ANY WEDNESDAY I’M YOURS is a gripping Caribbean urban noir that hooks the audience with its fascinating look at transient life at a seedy motel before spinning into more typical homicidal waters. Much of the intriguing story line centers on the goings-on at the motel through the eyes of Julian. As such, thriller fans will find the pace perhaps a bit slow, but readers who treasure a shadowy atmospheric insightful suspense tale will cherish this deep look at losers spending the dark morning hours in various states of hiding.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner