In search of murder--an inspector alvarez mallorcan mystery

"Inspector Alvarez is rudely awakened from his afternoon siesta by a phone call reporting the death of one Senor Picare. On arrival at the Picare villa, it seems his grieving widow is passed out in bed and the housekeeper, Rosalía, is the one dealing with the police and comforting the young maid, Marta, who is devastated by the death of her employer. It soon becomes clear that Senor Picare may have promised Marta - and other young women - more than he should have done and there could be a fair number of disgruntled husbands or fathers around who had a reason to want him gone. Alvarez's investigation, as always, is full of the vivid colour of Mallorcan life and passion, and despite Superior Chief Salas' instructions, he doggedly follows his own - often unconventional - path until he finds out the truth ..."--The publisher "Inspector Alvarez is rudely awakened from his afternoon siesta by a phone call reporting the death of one Señor Picare, a wealthy Englishman living in Majorca. On arrival at the Picare villa, the detective discovers the dead man's grieving widow passed out in bed and the cook, Rosalía, comforting a devastated young maid named Marta. It soon becomes clear that Señor Picare promised Marta--and other young women--more than he ever planned to deliver. The island is full of spurned mistresses and jealous husbands who wanted to see the notorious playboy dead. Could Marta's tears be nothing more than a clever ruse? And what about the friend who was overheard arguing poolside with Picare on the day of his death? Pushed and prodded by his cantankerous boss, Superior Chief Salas, Alvarez doggedly sorts through lies and half-truths to find out what really happened to Picare. Justice and a break from bureaucratic meddling may be powerful incentives, but Alvarez's true motivation lies closer to his heart--namely, his stomach. If he finds the killer, he might just get a taste of Rosalía's delicious cooking."--Publisher's description "Inspector Alvarez is rudely awakened from his afternoon siesta by a phone call reporting the death of one Senor Picare. On arrival at the Picare villa, it seems his grieving widow is passed out in bed and the housekeeper, Rosalía, is the one dealing with the police and comforting the young maid, Marta, who is devastated by the death of her employer. It soon becomes clear that Senor Picare may have promised Marta - and other young women - more than he should have done and there could be a fair number of disgruntled husbands or fathers around who had a reason to want him gone. Alvarez's investigation, as always, is full of the vivid colour of Mallorcan life and passion, and despite Superior Chief Salas' instructions, he doggedly follows his own - often unconventional - path until he finds out the truth ..."--The publisher Inspector Alvarez is rudely awakened from his afternoon siesta by a phone call reporting the death of one Senor Picare. On arrival at the Picare villa, it seems his grieving widow is passed out in bed and the housekeeper, Rosalía, is the one dealing with the police and comforting the young maid, Marta, who is devastated by the death of her employer.

It soon becomes clear that Senor Picare may have promised Marta – and other young women – more than he should have done and there could be a fair number of disgruntled husbands or fathers around who had a reason to want him gone.

Alvarez’s investigation, as always, is full of the vivid colour of Mallorcan life and passion, and despite Superior Chief Salas’ instructions, he doggedly follows his own – often unconventional – path until he finds out the truth . . .