Murder Begets Murder

Inspector Alvarez #4

by Roderic Jeffries

‘Roderic Jeffries established a very high reputation for himself.' -Maurice Richardson, The Observer The English community on Mallorca were sorry for William Heron. The reclusive, wealthy invalid had come to the island accompanied by his mistress, and now there were indications that while he lay dying, she was carrying on with another man. So no one mourned when it was discovered that instead of leaving the island as she had planned, shortly after his funeral, she had died alone in the house from food poisoning. Conveniently – too conveniently for Inspector Alvarez – it was no longer possible to determine the poison which had caused her death. If he was right in suspecting it had been deliberately administered, much depended on whether there was any truth in the rumour that she had had another lover, and who the man might be. His enquiries did nothing but arouse hostility among the English residents. Not until he was on a thoroughly unenjoyable professional visit to England did the Mallorquin detective chance to learn something that convinced him that murder could beget murder... Celebrated alike for their portrayal of a Mallorca very different from the one the tourists annually encounter, and the intricate convolutions of their plots, Roderic Jeffries’s crime novels have established themselves steadily. Murder Begets Murder is the fourth book in the Inspector Alvarez mystery series. 'A first-rate whodunit turning on the resourcefulness of a country gentleman who exploits the process of the law to delay its action. Author on the top of his legal and social form.' - Francis Goff, The Sunday Telegraph ‘The resulting legal intricacies make fascinating reading.' - Hester Makeig, The Spectator 'First-class, smoothly told, fine court scenes and sketches of lawyers entirely absorbing.' - John Clarke, Evening Standard ‘The most ingenious of Mr. Jeffries's exercises in legal trickery.' - Julian Symons, The Sunday Times '...is for the mystery story connoisseur and particularly the man who can appreciate this ingenious exercise in legal trickery.' - Police World Roderic Jeffries was born in London in 1926. He was educated at Harrow View House Preparatory School and the School of Navigation, Southampton University. He went to sea in 1943 in the New Zealand Shipping Company, but came ashore in 1949, when he read for the Bar and began writing. He was called to the Bar and served one year’s pupilage, then practised for a further year. During this time he conducted seven cases to the detriment of the seven clients, after which he decided to turn to writing full time. He is married, with one son and one daughter, and in 1972 he moved to Mallorca to see if this would help his daughter’s health. His books have been filmed, televised broadcast, and published in sixteen countries.

Genres: Mystery

194 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

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

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled onto this mystery series set in Majorca. Enjoying the description of the island and the culture as well as the twists and turns in the roads and the story.