Young Cuban journalist Joaquin Porrata believes there is a direct connection between the assassination of Mafia boss Albert Anastasia and the bizarre discovery of the corpse of a hippopotamus in the Havana zoo, but as he tries to unravel the mystery, Joaquin finds himself caught up in a story of love, murder, and organized crime as the Underworld fights for control of lucrative casino operations in pre-Castro Cuba. Reprint. 20,000 first printing.