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Heads I Win, Tails You Lose, Varigo: Vol. 1
The first in a crime series set in the mountains of southern Spain. It concerns the murder of Juan the Unbaptist, a local healer and anti-Church campaigner.
His cousin, Jesús another healer, begins to investigate, as
do the Guardia Civil.
Plenty of humour and local atmosphere.
His cousin, Jesús another healer, begins to investigate, as
do the Guardia Civil.
Plenty of humour and local atmosphere.
226 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
S.H. Villa
29 books2 followersI am the author of the Varigo Series in 22 volumes which might usefully be tagged as Cops & Healers.
The Varigo series is based around a village in the mountains of Southern Spain, an area known as La Alpujarra – or Las Alpujarras, no one’s quite sure. The books are written from the Spanish point of view with many of the events based on actual occurrences, local customs and history.
- The stories over the course of the books treat fulsomely of our dark side. And yet there is a healing art to ‘crime’. This can be seen in both the personal and the political – in the many ways in which humans live together; and come into conflict in doing so.
- The books are fast-paced mysteries written from a number of points of view.
- There is humour and farce along the way, some of which might even be true.
- Geographically speaking, the stories range widely.
- During the course of the series, we watch the characters evolve, relationships hit peaks and troughs, children are born and grow. As well as the world’s first healer/sleuth, the books follow the lives of a number of more ordinary mortals as they meet challenges. The series could be said to be one book written in 22 volumes, and are best read sequentially.
- The series is grounded in life as she is lived and the history of Spain, land of the impossible. Land of healers. Land of fascism. Land of passion.
- All the books, Varigo series and others, contain Notes for Discussion, making them ideal for lively, introspective and possibly even contentious reading group discussions. Or use them as a personal workout. Or ignore the Notes and read on!
Here are some extracts from the reviews:
I love this series. At the start of every book I can't wait to find out what the lovely gang of characters have been up to this time. It is a lovely mixture of the reality of modern day Spain and flights of the author's fancy. P Somerville
Authentic - I know the area and people in these books, and a great deal of it felt familiar. …Pacy and fun to read. P C Berresford
I have just finished reading this book (Heads I Win Tails You Lose, Vol.1) and found that I couldn't put it down. The Characters in the book I can only describe as genius ! can the guardia civil really be this bad..!! really funny, gripping and I am going straight onto the next book. I am hooked.
Antasbooks
The Varigo series is based around a village in the mountains of Southern Spain, an area known as La Alpujarra – or Las Alpujarras, no one’s quite sure. The books are written from the Spanish point of view with many of the events based on actual occurrences, local customs and history.
- The stories over the course of the books treat fulsomely of our dark side. And yet there is a healing art to ‘crime’. This can be seen in both the personal and the political – in the many ways in which humans live together; and come into conflict in doing so.
- The books are fast-paced mysteries written from a number of points of view.
- There is humour and farce along the way, some of which might even be true.
- Geographically speaking, the stories range widely.
- During the course of the series, we watch the characters evolve, relationships hit peaks and troughs, children are born and grow. As well as the world’s first healer/sleuth, the books follow the lives of a number of more ordinary mortals as they meet challenges. The series could be said to be one book written in 22 volumes, and are best read sequentially.
- The series is grounded in life as she is lived and the history of Spain, land of the impossible. Land of healers. Land of fascism. Land of passion.
- All the books, Varigo series and others, contain Notes for Discussion, making them ideal for lively, introspective and possibly even contentious reading group discussions. Or use them as a personal workout. Or ignore the Notes and read on!
Here are some extracts from the reviews:
I love this series. At the start of every book I can't wait to find out what the lovely gang of characters have been up to this time. It is a lovely mixture of the reality of modern day Spain and flights of the author's fancy. P Somerville
Authentic - I know the area and people in these books, and a great deal of it felt familiar. …Pacy and fun to read. P C Berresford
I have just finished reading this book (Heads I Win Tails You Lose, Vol.1) and found that I couldn't put it down. The Characters in the book I can only describe as genius ! can the guardia civil really be this bad..!! really funny, gripping and I am going straight onto the next book. I am hooked.
Antasbooks
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 10, 2019
I'm now reading though the entire varigo series and I've only got two more to go and am savouring the experience as I don't want it to end! I have thoroughly enjoyed the books so far, so I thought it about time I left a review!...This review is for the whole series.
The way each book introduces new characters and with each book we get a deeper insight into their lives and back stories and the reader is taken on the journey of their lives as they develop. The books are a clever mix or well thought out crime stories with sometimes surreal, and funny plots that lets the readers imagination take flight, but always well researched and taking different real life events in Spain as the inspiration for many of these stories and tackling difficult topics such as child prostitution and abuses of state and church (and that's not a spoiler, by the way, as I'm not telling you which books in the series I'm referring to!)
So immerse yourself in these great stories and I recommend you read them in chronological order.
Rob
The way each book introduces new characters and with each book we get a deeper insight into their lives and back stories and the reader is taken on the journey of their lives as they develop. The books are a clever mix or well thought out crime stories with sometimes surreal, and funny plots that lets the readers imagination take flight, but always well researched and taking different real life events in Spain as the inspiration for many of these stories and tackling difficult topics such as child prostitution and abuses of state and church (and that's not a spoiler, by the way, as I'm not telling you which books in the series I'm referring to!)
So immerse yourself in these great stories and I recommend you read them in chronological order.
Rob
May 13, 2014
Boring
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews