Urban Crimes Increase in Puerto Rico

In the Caribbean, over 1,000 miles from Florida, lies the island of Puerto Rico, with a population of over three million people and a capital city, San Juan, on the Atlantic coast. Despite being US citizens since 1917, the island faces a high crime rate - 19.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, with 80% of murders related to drugs according to the local police. Tackling this grim reality head-on, Steve Torres's Precinct Puerto Rico series dives deep into the island's criminal underbelly.

Luis Gonzalo, sheriff of the mountainous town of Angustias, leads the charge in book one, Precinct Puerto Rico (2007). During a trip to his wife's family in the seaside town of Rincón, Steve is called to action when bodies begin washing ashore. Suspected victims of human trafficking from the Dominican Republic, the ship's captain has been brutally murdered, and his vessel scuttled.

Detective work unfolds in book 2, Death in Precinct Puerto Rico (2007), set in the 1990s. Domestic violence takes a deadly turn, while a hidden beating case forms the core of Luis Gonzalo #3, Burning Precinct Puerto Rico (2010). In Missing in Precinct Puerto Rico (2006), a child goes missing in the 1980s, and the gripping mystery continues in Blackout in Precinct Puerto Rico (2010), where a woman is brutally beaten. But by whom? Local partygoers or outsiders? Gonzalo is on the case.

The series presents a captivating look at Puerto Rico's diverse landscapes and social climate, with a focus on the 80s, 90s, and beyond. Born in the Bronx and spending part of his childhood in Puerto Rico, Torres expertly infuses the narrative with an authentic island flavor.

Other crime novels set in Puerto Rico include:

The Puerto Rico Pearl by JA Jernay (2023) follows gemstone detective Ainsley Walker as she investigates the theft of a valuable pirate-era pearl brooch in Puerto Rico's tropical interior.
The Animal Hunter by French L McLean (2016) follows Detective Sergeant Antonio Ponce as he probes the world of animal trafficking in Puerto Rico, encountering professional hitmen and bureaucratic hurdles.
En Mi Viejo San Juan by Matthew Fearing (2020) follows Harley-riding former Army investigator Buck Larson as he works alongside the FBI on the island of San Juan, investigating an intrigue that threatens to shake the city's foundations.

For a unique blend of crime, corruption, history, and a fascinating look at Puerto Rico's complex relationship with the United States of America, Robert Friedman's Puerto Rico trilogy is essential reading. Inspired by true events, this series takes readers on a dark and dramatic journey through the island's underworld, featuring complex characters entwined with geopolitical intrigue.

The three novellas in Friedman's trilogy are:

The Odyssey of Pablo Camino (2019), in which a troubled Puerto Rican artist embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about his father's potentially murderous past.
The Defining Sea (2019), which follows a 20-year-old University of Puerto Rico student trafficking drugs to raise money for a scholarship amid the US Navy's controversial exercises on the inhabited offshore island of Vieques.
Ulysses in San Juan (2019), which tells the story of a Jewish concentration camp survivor's relationship with a Puerto Rican drug addict, drawing readers into the seedy underbelly of San Juan and other striking island locales.

With its emphasis on historical accuracy and engaging storytelling, Friedman's trilogy offers a compelling and unforgettable exploration of Puerto Rico's darker corners. A seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from the island, Friedman makes for a perfect guide through this fascinating Caribbean location.

Lastly, we can't forget to mention the late legendary Elmore Leonard and his 2012 novel, Glitz. After being shot by a mugger, Lieutenant Vincent Mora convalesces in Puerto Rico, where he meets a beautiful and disillusioned young woman named Iris. Offered a job as a hostess at a casino in Atlantic City, Iris finds herself entangled in a dangerous web of crime and deceit. However, Mora soon realizes that there's more to this job than initially appears, leading him down a dark and dangerous path. This novel is a gripping exploration of human nature, corruption, and desire set against the backdrop of Puerto Rico and Atlantic City, underscoring Leonard's unique storytelling prowess.

The Precinct Puerto Rico series, penned by Steve Torres, combines elements of mystery novels and crime fiction, delving into the island's crime-and-justice system and political climate.
The Puerto Rico trilogy by Robert Friedman, a blend of crime, corruption, history, and geopolitical intrigue, stirs up a noir fiction feel, providing a captivating look at the island's complex relationship with the United States.
Legends like Elmore Leonard, renowned for his gripping narratives, have also crafted crime fiction works set in Puerto Rico, such as Glitz, which explores themes of human nature, corruption, and desire amid the island's culture and Atlantic City's underworld.