White Horse Cafe

Library Journal

Smoodin writes with a twist of irony, always recoiling from the ordinary. Her characters, all well drawn, include actress/waitress Sasha, neighborhood cafe proprietor Tomas, and Concepcion, perceptive grandmother of Tomas and widow of the General, whose memory guides Concepcion's actions. When Tomas and two other inexperienced toughs, who believe in the ethics of illegal acts, become involved in a ruby scam, they are threatened by the real villain, an evil caricature of a dangerous maniac. The crime grows grotesque after Tomas, who takes risks to avert boredom and profit financially, involves his ``novia,'' Sasha. Throughout, Tomas's risk taking is contrasted with the General's, meant only to achieve ``noble goals.'' Recommended. Ellen R. Cohen, Rockville, Md.