Em mais este livro da série Mario Conde, os elementos da estrutura do romance policial se sobrepõem à construção dos personagens, que em outros romances costuma ser o que torna Padura singular em sua escrita. Com o sempre, no entanto, boa diversão, ainda maior para quem já se afeiçoou ao protagonista picaresco e talvez por isso mesmo tão humano e real. ( )

O passado remoto e o presente imediato se entrelaçam neste novo romance do escritor cubano Leonardo Padura. Em A transparência do tempo acompanhamos o já conhecido detetive Mario Conde em seu oitavo caso, o desaparecimento de uma estátua de uma virgem negra. Às vésperas de completar sessenta anos, cético em relação a seu país, Mario Conde assiste ao encolhimento da oferta de livros usados, cuja revenda vinha sendo seu ganha-pão dos últimos tempos. É então que um ex-colega de escola o procura e lhe oferece trabalho: recuperar a estátua de uma virgem negra que lhe fora roubada.Com o desenrolar das buscas, Conde vai percebendo que a peça é muito mais valiosa do que imaginava, tendo suas origens nos Pireneus catalães, de onde fora trazida por um jovem em fuga da guerra civil. Paralelamente, em capítulos intercalados, o autor retraça a história desse jovem e as lendas que envolvem a escultura, tendo como pano de fundo a zona rural da Catalunha, desde a Idade Média até os dias de hoje. Ao buscar a imagem da santa negra pelas ruas de Havana, Conde vaga entre dois polos de um mesmo país: o submundo dos cortiços, do tráfico de drogas e da vida precarizada e o rico ambiente dos colecionadores e galeristas envolvidos em contrabando e venda ilegal de obras de arte. Permeando esses dois mundos, o catolicismo e a santería, sincretizados, e o passar infindável do tempo.

Una narración que funde de manera magistral las pesquisas del detective Mario Conde en una Habana que se derrumba con un deslumbrante viaje en el tiempo y en la historia.

A un Mario Conde a punto de cumplir sesenta años, y que se siente más en crisis y más escéptico que de costumbre con su país, le llega de manera inesperada un encargo de un antiguo amigo del instituto, Bobby, que le pide ayuda para recuperar la estatua de una virgen negra que le han robado. Conde descubre que esa pieza es mucho más valiosa de lo que le han dicho, y su amigo tiene que confesarle que proviene de su abuelo español, que, huyendo de la Guerra Civil, la trajo de una ermita del Pirineo catalán. En los bajos fondos de La Habana, Conde da con un sospechoso al que acaban matando. Con el asesinato de otro cómplice, Conde descubre una inesperada trama de galeristas y coleccionistas extranjeros interesados en la talla medieval, y se tropieza inevitablemente con la policía de homicidios de La Habana. Pero, en capítulos intercalados, La transparencia del tiempo también cuenta la epopeya a lo largo de los siglos de la estatua, una virgen negra traída de la última cruzada a una ermita del Pirineo por un tal Antoni Barral, y será otro Antoni Barral quien la salve y se vea obligado a embarcar como polizón rumbo a La Habana. ( )

As I said in an earlier review of one of Padura's works "if you're not offended by some occasional crude language or, (somewhat typical for the genre,) sexism, this is a great read". Padura's likable detective, Mario Conde, is struggling with the approach of his 60th birthday in addition to the confusion of the case. The novel includes some historical vignettes to provide background for the centerpiece of Conde's search. Perhaps a little longer than it needed to be but, as a fan of Padura's work, I'm not complaining. ( )

I love a good mystery that also serves as an unvarnished introduction to a nation and culture I've never visited. Case in point: Cuba as depicted in Leonardo Padura's Mario Conde novels. Padura has lived his entire life in Cuba. His depictions of Cuban society aren't necessarily flattering, but his love for his homeland is clear nonetheless. Padura's love doesn't delude itself, doesn't airbrush, but still makes clear how deep and deeply justified that love is. The fact that Padura has be able to publish in Cuba for decades now, despite the critical streak in his novels, speaks to how clearly he balances criticism with love.

Padura's detective, Mario Conde, is a former policeman, now making a living as an itinerant buyer and seller of books, scouting out old collections containing titles that have some monetary value. Conde also writes, though never to his own satisfaction. He also takes on the occasional bit of private investigation work.

The Transparency of Time looks to the past and the future with an equally critical and affectionate eye. Conde has been approached by a newly reappeared school friend, Bobby, now a dealer in art and antiques, whose home was stripped by his con man lover. Bobby is particularly concerned about the loss of a statue of the Virgin de Regla, a Black Madonna who is popular in Cuba. Bobby has recently been initiated into Santería, identifies his Madonna with Yemayá, the primary mother figure in Santería, and claims that she has cured him from a near-fatal cancer. Conde takes on the job—the terms Bobby offers are well above Conde's usual pay rate—but Conde gradually finds himself wondering how accurate and how complete Bobby's story actually is. This narrative is accompanied by another that moves back in time, imagining a history for Bobby's Madonna.

Throughout the novel we see Cuba through Conde's (and, I'm assuming, Padura's) eyes. Over the years, too many of his friends have died or left the country. Bobby's arrival seems propitious, given that another of Conde's childhood friends has announced his intention to visit Miami—and possibly remain there. Conde struggles to embrace his friend's decision to leave Cuba, whether temporarily or permanently. Conde also struggles to accept the fact that he will soon be turning sixty, and that he sees his own aging as analogous to the "aging" of revolutionary Cuba, with its increasing disparities in wealth and power.

The Transparency of Time is a novel that rewards on many levels. It fulfills reader expectations for the mystery genre, but is also character-driven, offers a Cuban's view of contemporary Cuba, and has historical sweep folded in due to the missing Madonna.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the published via NetGalley. The opinions are my own. ( )