Roderic Jeffries (1926–2017)

Beginning with the thirty-seventh book in a long-running series can be a bit tricky, but I wanted to read something set on Mallorca, so I picked up the latest Inspector Alvarez mystery by Roderic Jeffries. At first I did feel a bit off balance because I was missing the introductions to the characters and setting, but that swiftly passed-- especially with the brilliant opening conversation between two rich, insufferable, razor-tongued gossips.

Inspector Alvarez quickly proved himself to be the show more type of investigator who knows how to deal with a supremely difficult superior while still conducting his business his way. Being new to Alvarez's deductive style, at first I thought it was much too repetitive. Inspector Alvarez's thought processes aren't served up on a platter for the reader either. You get to see what he does, and you get to see what he tells his boss, and that's it. But that's the charm of this book: you see what the inspector sees, and it's up to you to put things together at the same time as Alvarez. When everything starts clicking together, the reason for the investigative repetition becomes clear, and your appreciation of Alvarez-- and for Roderic Jeffries' skill-- grows. After enjoying In Search of Murder, I'm thinking that I should savor a few of Alvarez's earlier cases! show less

Inspector Alvarez continues to make life interesting for the " superior Chief". His Quixotic solution is delightfully Mallorquin and does preserve a precious commodity, fertile land.

The story begins during WWII, with main character Harry Miles serving in the Merchant Navy. The ship is torpedoed; he escapes and is able to save one of the crew, a Geoffrey Pattison, from drowning. Years later, Harry needs a job, so he goes to Pattison, for a job on his farm. But a chain of events previously set into motion leads to terrible tragedy, and Harry finds himself a chief suspect.

The book is really quite good, and Ashford sets up a fine tale of suspense that will keep you reading show more until the story's done. I would recommend it to people who like British mysteries, or people looking for an author off the beaten path. The end may let you down if you're looking for things sewn up neatly, but it's still a very worthwhile read. show less

Another British writer who has picked up and moved to Spain to write Spanish murder mysteries. Is there room for me? A fun read that nearly had me rushing down to the liquor store to pick up some cognac. I don’t read a ton of mysteries and therefore did not see the twist coming, but I suspect anyone who reads mysteries more than I do probably would have seen it coming a mile away. But never mind, poor Inspector Alvarez is so beleaguered, yet so much fun, it doesn’t matter.