This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad by Sean Oliver and Ricardo Morales, Jr., is an expansive biography that follows the extraordinary life of Ricardo “Monkey” Morales, a figure who moved through some of the most volatile political and criminal currents of the twentieth century. The book opens in Miami in the early 1980s, at the center of the infamous “Tick Talks” trial, where Morales appears as a legendary informant whose testimony could shape the fates of dozens of defendants. From there, the narrative traces his origins in Havana, his early involvement with Castro’s G-2 secret police, and his rapid shift into exile operations after fleeing Cuba in 1960. At the same time, the biography returns to Morales's human dimension as a husband and father, showing how his personal relationships unfolded alongside his dangerous public life.
Sean Oliver and Ricardo Morales's writing is fast-paced and journalistic. The authors balance detailed historical context with scene-driven storytelling, often placing the reader directly in tense moments, whether in a Miami courtroom or on covert missions along Cuba’s shores. The pacing is brisk despite the book’s length, aided by short chapters, clear timelines, and a wide cast of characters introduced with helpful structure. Readers of true crime, Cold War history, and espionage will appreciate how the narrative connects personal biography to larger political events. The prose is direct and engaging, capturing the larger-than-life aura surrounding Morales while still grounding him in the realities of exile culture, intelligence operations, and family life. Monkey Morales reads like a blend of John le Carré’s espionage complexity and Truman Capote’s true-crime narrative style, combining covert intrigue with deeply reported real-life drama. It's a must-read book!
