A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens

In Palma’s chilling debut novel (after the collection In This World of Ultraviolet Light), a second-generation Bolivian immigrant in Miami struggles with crushing debt and searches for redemption after his wife’s unsuccessful cancer treatments. Despite his gig playing a babaláwo (a priest in the Yoruba religion) at a botanica, Hugo is skeptical of traditional rituals and exorcisms. However, his life takes a surprising turn when attorney Alexi Ramirez, who had previously sued Hugo for unpaid debts, begs for an exorcism. A deal is struck: Hugo will banish the malevolent presence before Noche Buena, and Alexi will wipe clean his debt. Initially, Hugo sees his role as a con artist, but as he immerses himself in the enigmatic Ramirez household and confronts his own past, the line between reality and the supernatural begins to blur. Palma masterfully intertwines Hugo’s immigrant journey, his intricate relationship with his late wife, and the ominous presence of El Tío, a Bolivian devil who has haunted Hugo far longer than he realized. The tension mounts steadily, with spine-tingling moments of horror intensifying as Hugo’s anger and remorse towards Alexi come to the forefront. Eventually, Hugo makes a fateful decision­ that alters the destinies of those around him. Palma’s fresh interpretation of timeless themes makes this a winner. (Oct.)