Murder, Majorcan Style

Inspector Alvarez #35

by Roderic Jeffries

An Inspector Alvarez Mystery - Inspector Alvarez is just considering whether he can surreptitiously leave work early when a colleague calls to tell him that an Englishman has been found dead in his car in his garage, the engine on and the tank empty. Alvarez, chafing over the prospect of an evening on the job, proceeds to the scene, but his hopes of a quick and easy case are dashed – for while the man was found in a car full of fumes, it appears the cause of death was not carbon-monoxide poisoning . . .

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

aka Peter Alding, Jeffrey Ashford, Roderic Graeme, Graham Hastings.
Son of Graham Montague Jeffries

Roderic Jeffries was born in London in 1926 and was educated at Harrow View House Preparatory School and the Department of Navigation, University of Southampton.

In 1943 he joined the New Zealand Shipping Company as an apprentice and sailed to Australia and New Zealand, but later transferred to the the Union Castle Company in order to visit a different part of the world.

He returned to England in 1949 where he was admitted to the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn and read for the Bar at the same time as he began to write. He was called to the Bar in 1953, and after one year's pupilage practiced law for a few terms during which time there to write full time.

His first book, a sea story for juveniles, was published in 1950.
His books have been published in many different countries and have been adapted for film, television, and radio.

He lived for a time in the country in a 17th century farmhouse, almost, but not quite overlooking Romney Marsh before he and his wife moved to Mallorca. They have two children.

Reviews

[Natalie Schroeder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled through this book. The dialogue seemed stilted and I felt lost several times. I understand this is part of a series, but having never read any of the other ones, I did not know who some characters were. Most series still do a brief introduction of characters for new readers.
No one in the story was likeable.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad to read at least one from Roderic Jeffries legendary series featuring Inspector Alvarez. Wonderful sense of place, the innate love of the land and the preservation of olive groves and citris trees. The architecture is so well described: stone buildings, buttresses and historic places are delightful. Eating well is a big part of the inspector's life, and because the foods are not well described, I'm now curious about the Majorcan cuisine and how it might be different or similar to other mediterranean cuisines. The inspector's supervisor is idiotic, and so is his housekeeper.

--Ashland Mystery

[Lynn Lerch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspector Alvarez works on a case of a British gentleman who is found dead in his car in the house garage. It appears to be suicide but is really murder. The deadman has had affairs with many women.
At the same time Alvarez sister is trying to get him to ask an old friend that has reappeared in his life to marry him. His sister threatens to make him move out of her house if he doesn't proprose. What to do?

[Rosanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

The description of food and places is very well done in the book, but for a mystery novel, I was very frustated with the main character, Detective Alvarez, and the end was very lacking in my humble opinion. I am not reading any more books of this series.

[Ann Tonks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't get past p.29 when the son and the daughter of the murder victim where described by the police inspector as "niece and nephew". Given that carelessness, I didn't want to waste my time any further.