Leonardo Padura’s The Transparency of Time is a fusion of contemporary noir and historical adventure set in Havana, Cuba. The recovery of a stolen statue for an old school friend, Bobby, should be a straightforward job for ex-cop Mario Conde. Only Bobby has been lying about the value and historical significance of the 15″ high Lady of Regla, a family heirloom. As Conde approaches his 60th birthday, finally realising he’s getting older, things take a nasty turn. This intricate novel is a literary homage to The Maltese Falcon. Read our full review here.