Going to Oaxaca sometime soon. Here's a book review I wrote a year ago:

Oaxaca Chocolate: A Santo Gordo Mystery (Santo Gordo Mysteries) Paperback by Charles Kerns

Paperback: 250 pages Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 3, 2013)

This is the second time for a Charles Kerns novel. The first was “Santo Gordo: A Killing in Oaxaca (Santo Gordo Mysteries).” Let’s say you have heard about becoming an expat and you’ve heard good things about Oaxaca, Mexico. The best advice is rent for an extended time to see if you like the culture, the people, the food, and the climate. Take a short cut with Charles Kerns, as Robert Evans, a retired American living in Oaxaca.

Robert Evans (Roberto) is nick-named Santo Gordo, because he is an amateur detective and to the people who know him, he solves mysteries and is their saint, with a small “s”. Through Roberto you will learn what it’s like to live among the natives, be their friend, eat their food and share in their holidays.

This book takes place around Christmas and New Years. With Roberto you’ll see how the Mexicans celebrate the birth of baby Jesus. Like “…A Killing in Oaxaca” I find the culture and people comforting. I seem to slow down when I read what Kerns has written. We also learn that it is not appreciated, at least by this writer, to have Americans think they know what is best for Mexicans; to think that American culture and ways of business are superior. They don’t want the fast paced life and pursuit of money to dominate their life style. If you move to Mexico, don’t be upset if it isn’t like the U.S.

I recommend both books by Charles Kerns and give both five stars.