Joan Didion investigates the complex, often volatile intersection of Cuban exile politics, American foreign policy, and the systemic civic corruption defining Miami during the late 20th century. Didion utilizes her signature observational style to dissect the city's veneer of sun-drenched prosperity, revealing the darker currents of Cold War paranoia and racial inequality that shaped the region. By synthesizing historical context with on-the-ground reportage, she constructs a narrative that challenges the conventional understanding of the city as merely a vacation destination.

This work is widely regarded as a seminal piece of American reportage, noted for its clinical precision and unflinching examination of political instability. The text is frequently cited by scholars and journalists for its ability to distill complex, multi-layered historical events into a coherent and sobering narrative.