The latest puzzle to rouse Enrique Alvarez's sleepy Spanish island begins with an Englishman hospitalized for a suspicious pattern of cigarette burns on his body. The fact that the burns form a circle on Franklin Gore's chest would indicate that he has been tortured, but if so, why would he insist that the burns are accidental? Faced with a stubborn Englishman who adamantly refuses all offers of police protection, Alvarez is almost convinced to let the matter drop - until a local peeping Tom is assaulted outside Gore's home. Villagers are quick to imprison a wandering gypsy for the attack, but Alvarez understands the ways of rural prejudice, and knows how locals can repeat - and whole-heartedly believe - falsehoods, without lying. Alvarez is convinced that the wrong man is in jail, and that Gore is still in danger, but everyone else on the force is content to believe the locals. Alas, as the old Mallorcan saying goes, a fool is far too foolish to understand a wise man, but a wise man is far too wise to understand a fool. Which, Alvarez wonders, am l? Alvarez's investigation eventually takes him to England and back in pursuit of a man's secret identity and an organization of terrorists. But perhaps the Inspector is allowing complex assassination plots to blind him to a very simple motive for murder....
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.