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Max Castillo Mystery #1
Buried In Benidorm
Ex-priest and newly minted agnostic Max Castillo ekes out a living as a private investigator from his houseboat in Benidorm, Spain. He's finally got a little free time ... until a big-shot turns up dead at a local golf course. Now, his former employer is calling in an old debt, and Max is neck-deep in gangsters, grifters and girls with grudges. A decades-old secret could hold the key to solving the case, but can Max figure it out before one of them leaves him ... Buried in Benidorm?
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First published March 22, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 9, 2025
This was not my usual read but I really enjoyed it! It’s my first ever murder mystery and I wasn’t sure what to expect but I have been pleasantly surprised. The plot was complex but not overly complicated, which was great for me because I can feel quite overwhelmed by lots of information. I loved how the book is written ‘narrator’ style with plenty of humour. It really was quite funny! I also really loved the main character and how the book was about him as well as the murder.
I’d definitely like to read some more LH Thomson and some more of the books in this series in future :)
I’d definitely like to read some more LH Thomson and some more of the books in this series in future :)
January 14, 2015
I picked this up because I wanted something mindless to pass a few hours and be a change of pace from the horror streak I've been on lately. This did the trick perfectly. It's a mystery lite sort of thing, nothing too heavy or dark or morbid or ultra violent, outside of the genre prerequisite murders. Max is an ex priest and a current agnostic, subject that coupled with the book's general gay friendly manner might put off some of the more narrow minded readers. But Max doesn't pontificate or proselytize all that much. He just wants to lead the good life and life is good indeed, he lives on a houseboat in a Spanish resort town on a steady diet of pizza and alcohol, occasionally gambles and occasionally works as a PI. His vacation gets interrupted when his former diocese gets Max working on a murder case, murder of a man everyone in town had a reason to kill. So it's all almost cute really, down to its Agatha Christie like structure and particularly the final reveal set up. It wasn't predictable, it was enjoyable for what it was, Thomson is a pretty good writer and even occasionally funny. Made for an entertaining quick read.
October 22, 2012
There are some authors who can slip from one genre to another without the slightest hiccup, buoyed solely by the strength of their prose. These are the sort of writers you read just to enjoy the infrastructure of their phraseology and the construction of the story. Anthony Doerr is infinitely resourceful for the former; I think L.H. Thomson is a strong candidate for the latter.
My introduction to Thomson was the sci-fi novel The Process Server (go here for that 5-star review). Typically, myself included, most people seem to find a genre and stick with it. Not Thomson, who likens himself a literary polymath on the scale of Isaac Asimov. I'd call him an arrogant cad if it weren't for the fact that he pulls it off (damn him, anyway).
Buried in Benidorm differs in genre from The Process Server, but shares its strengths: rounded, complex characters with a history, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, short but effective descriptions, and here-and-there a poignant and amusing aside.
Perhaps as interesting as the story itself is the history of the main character, Max, and how it informs the rest of the story, particularly his views on the church. Or, at least, the local magistrates.
Max is a former priest who left to clergy but was unable to leave it behind. While he feels no allegiance toward the community of faith, it certainly feels he owes them a debt, along with substantial seminary fees. The story paints clergymen as men clinging to their clerginess, attempting to justify their typical-person behavior (haughtiness, avarice, etc.) by passing it through a sort of ecclesiastical car wash, as if being religious figures makes underhanded behavior acceptable and serving a higher purpose. That in itself is enough to raise eyebrows, but we also learn from Max that the bishop is, historically, a bully--he'd been one as a child and had no reservations about being one now.
In fact, it is the mystery of Max' departure from the priesthood and loss of faith that is, at least initially, what drives the story, moreso than that of the murder discovered at the opening of the book. This mystery manifests not just as absence of faith and a focus on the secular, but very near animosity, which may be off-putting for readers of a more religious bent who take this perspective as an affront to their God rather than a judgment of the men whose responsibility it is to deliver His message.
This conviction is stated, in no uncertain terms, fairly early in the tale when Max is discussing the interruption of his vacation by the church:
This isn't to say that the church is the only thing to take flak. There's plenty of scorn to go around as the characters in this story all seem to harbor one prejudice or another, whether it be Detective Nicodema's disdain for the wealthy (money creates crime), the layabout Domingo's disdain for the non-religious (though perhaps just Max), Tomas' disdain for Portuguese (which may be a regional thing), the disdain Caridad shares with Max for clergy (due to mistreatment), and pretty much everyone else's disdain for Max as a consequence of his departure from the church. That said, there is an abundance of backstory justifying each of these perspectives, so it never seems as though the author is simply projecting his hatred of one thing or another through his characters. Rather, it's more likely that a disenfranchised former Catholic priest who has turned to private investigation is predisposed to contact with people who have criminal pasts, and harbor grudges against those who have wronged them. Or, perhaps, that's just the way we all are, but fool ourselves into believing we're above the fray or have never had cause to dislike anyone.
This was a good story and a good mystery by my reckoning (considering the limit of my Hardboiled Mystery reading consists entirely of The Happy Hollisters series, Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, and The Da Vinci Code), though it seemed what should have been the undercurrent dominated the work. Again, the main crime seemed to me more a chapter out of a larger work. And there's nothing wrong with that, so long as Max Castillo's story is not a one-off and is part of a longer series--which it is.
My introduction to Thomson was the sci-fi novel The Process Server (go here for that 5-star review). Typically, myself included, most people seem to find a genre and stick with it. Not Thomson, who likens himself a literary polymath on the scale of Isaac Asimov. I'd call him an arrogant cad if it weren't for the fact that he pulls it off (damn him, anyway).
Buried in Benidorm differs in genre from The Process Server, but shares its strengths: rounded, complex characters with a history, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, short but effective descriptions, and here-and-there a poignant and amusing aside.
Perhaps as interesting as the story itself is the history of the main character, Max, and how it informs the rest of the story, particularly his views on the church. Or, at least, the local magistrates.
Max is a former priest who left to clergy but was unable to leave it behind. While he feels no allegiance toward the community of faith, it certainly feels he owes them a debt, along with substantial seminary fees. The story paints clergymen as men clinging to their clerginess, attempting to justify their typical-person behavior (haughtiness, avarice, etc.) by passing it through a sort of ecclesiastical car wash, as if being religious figures makes underhanded behavior acceptable and serving a higher purpose. That in itself is enough to raise eyebrows, but we also learn from Max that the bishop is, historically, a bully--he'd been one as a child and had no reservations about being one now.
In fact, it is the mystery of Max' departure from the priesthood and loss of faith that is, at least initially, what drives the story, moreso than that of the murder discovered at the opening of the book. This mystery manifests not just as absence of faith and a focus on the secular, but very near animosity, which may be off-putting for readers of a more religious bent who take this perspective as an affront to their God rather than a judgment of the men whose responsibility it is to deliver His message.
This conviction is stated, in no uncertain terms, fairly early in the tale when Max is discussing the interruption of his vacation by the church:
She detected my obvious discomfort. "And...? I take it something has interrupted?"
I nodded briefly. "My former employer."
Caridad giggled. "God?"
I gave her a withering look. "Very funny. The diocese."
She gritted her teeth like she had just driven over bumpy roadkill then uncapped a beer for each of us. "Ay. So, definitely not God, then."
This isn't to say that the church is the only thing to take flak. There's plenty of scorn to go around as the characters in this story all seem to harbor one prejudice or another, whether it be Detective Nicodema's disdain for the wealthy (money creates crime), the layabout Domingo's disdain for the non-religious (though perhaps just Max), Tomas' disdain for Portuguese (which may be a regional thing), the disdain Caridad shares with Max for clergy (due to mistreatment), and pretty much everyone else's disdain for Max as a consequence of his departure from the church. That said, there is an abundance of backstory justifying each of these perspectives, so it never seems as though the author is simply projecting his hatred of one thing or another through his characters. Rather, it's more likely that a disenfranchised former Catholic priest who has turned to private investigation is predisposed to contact with people who have criminal pasts, and harbor grudges against those who have wronged them. Or, perhaps, that's just the way we all are, but fool ourselves into believing we're above the fray or have never had cause to dislike anyone.
This was a good story and a good mystery by my reckoning (considering the limit of my Hardboiled Mystery reading consists entirely of The Happy Hollisters series, Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, and The Da Vinci Code), though it seemed what should have been the undercurrent dominated the work. Again, the main crime seemed to me more a chapter out of a larger work. And there's nothing wrong with that, so long as Max Castillo's story is not a one-off and is part of a longer series--which it is.
November 3, 2012
A light easy read.
The story of an ex-priest turned detective who is "persuaded" to take on a homicide case in the hopes that it might yield financial benefits for the church.
Former priest Max Castillo lives on a houseboat on the coast of Spain where he lives a care free lifestyle of drinking, gambling and constant debt. After a prominent (and notorious) local businessman -- who was a long time benefactor of the church -- is murdered Max is manipulated into taking the case in the hopes that he can prove the widow guilty and thus eliminate the church's co-benefactor in the estate of the dearly departed.
As the case progresses Max finds that almost everyone who ever came into contact with the deceased hated him enough to kill him, it's just a matter of figuring out who actually had the nerve to go through with it. And then, of course, there is the other matter: Two thugs who are warning him off the case with increasingly convincing threats of bodily harm.
This is a good, basic detective novel. It's not particularly profound or intriguing but it's an enjoyable time waster, sort of the literary equivalent of a sugary snack. It's filling, it's fun, it satisfies the basic cravings but there's not a whole lot of nutritional value to it and a few hours after you've finished you probably won't have any distinct memory of it.
It's not the type of mystery where you get all the clues needed to solve it yourself, some things are held back until the big reveal, and the ending is a little bit muddled and convoluted. It reminded me a great deal of old '70s and '80s TV detective shows like Baretta, The Rockford Files, and Simon & Simon where the fun comes from seeing the well-defined main characters put through their paces more than in the actual story itself.
I liked the character of Max Castillo and I thought he was quite original and interesting. There are one or two sections where he gets introspective about losing his faith and the reasons behind it that are interesting and thoughtful but for the most part it's just a fun vacation type read. Something you can pick up and read for awhile then put down and pick it up again later.
As seems to be the case with many novels these days it could use one more thorough proofread for grammatical errors -- dropped or misplaced cases of "the" "of" "as" etc. -- but it's nowhere near as bad as some I've read and the story is such that you can generally breeze right over them. Although there is some adult language there is no graphic violence or sex situations.
If you're looking for something fun to read to pass the time then I would recommend it. If you want something deeper than that then this probably isn't the one for you.
The story of an ex-priest turned detective who is "persuaded" to take on a homicide case in the hopes that it might yield financial benefits for the church.
Former priest Max Castillo lives on a houseboat on the coast of Spain where he lives a care free lifestyle of drinking, gambling and constant debt. After a prominent (and notorious) local businessman -- who was a long time benefactor of the church -- is murdered Max is manipulated into taking the case in the hopes that he can prove the widow guilty and thus eliminate the church's co-benefactor in the estate of the dearly departed.
As the case progresses Max finds that almost everyone who ever came into contact with the deceased hated him enough to kill him, it's just a matter of figuring out who actually had the nerve to go through with it. And then, of course, there is the other matter: Two thugs who are warning him off the case with increasingly convincing threats of bodily harm.
This is a good, basic detective novel. It's not particularly profound or intriguing but it's an enjoyable time waster, sort of the literary equivalent of a sugary snack. It's filling, it's fun, it satisfies the basic cravings but there's not a whole lot of nutritional value to it and a few hours after you've finished you probably won't have any distinct memory of it.
It's not the type of mystery where you get all the clues needed to solve it yourself, some things are held back until the big reveal, and the ending is a little bit muddled and convoluted. It reminded me a great deal of old '70s and '80s TV detective shows like Baretta, The Rockford Files, and Simon & Simon where the fun comes from seeing the well-defined main characters put through their paces more than in the actual story itself.
I liked the character of Max Castillo and I thought he was quite original and interesting. There are one or two sections where he gets introspective about losing his faith and the reasons behind it that are interesting and thoughtful but for the most part it's just a fun vacation type read. Something you can pick up and read for awhile then put down and pick it up again later.
As seems to be the case with many novels these days it could use one more thorough proofread for grammatical errors -- dropped or misplaced cases of "the" "of" "as" etc. -- but it's nowhere near as bad as some I've read and the story is such that you can generally breeze right over them. Although there is some adult language there is no graphic violence or sex situations.
If you're looking for something fun to read to pass the time then I would recommend it. If you want something deeper than that then this probably isn't the one for you.
November 15, 2012
A defrocked priest becomes a PI…a corpse is buried in a sand bunker for a golfer to find…What better start?
On the insistence of the bishop in Alicante, Max Castillo investigates the murder of Anthony Ortega, a real estate businessman of dubious repute. A young woman, Caridad, and a young man, Aurelio, whom Max helped when he was at the service of the church, are useful connections in providing him with information and protection against dangerous criminals who don’t want Max to dig into Ortega’s past.
Old and new crimes, and carefully guarded secrets are revealed as the story proceeds. There are speculative transactions--the buying and selling of parcels of land along the Costa Blanca--in which the Alicante diocese is involved; the old relationship of a retired priest with two altar boys; the infidelity of beautiful Esperanza, Ortega’s wife; the murder of Hilario Miguel, Ortega’s business partner on the verge of bankruptcy; competitions and gambling at the La Blanca golf course; the attempt of a French criminal ring to extort money from a local gangster…
Aboard his boat, anchored in the Benidorm harbor, Max spends time meditating on the need for religious believes, and on the reasons he abandoned the priesthood. His frequent meditations are accompanied by equally frequent intakes of beer.
Consulting the land registry of Gandia and vicinity (where most of Ortega’s properties are located) allows Max to pinpoint the culprits.
In a meeting reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s climatic finales, Max convenes all the people even marginally involved in the two murders and, with the help of inspector Nicky Garcia, offers proof of the murderers’ culpability.
My take on the book. Set in Spain, “Buried in Benidorm” is a refreshing mystery where violence is present (as required by the genre) but not glorified. The suspense is built step by step, scene by scene; several personas populate the story and almost each of them is a candidate for murder.
Written by Rene Natan, www.vermeil.biz
First place, 2012 Five Star Dragonfly Award for the Blackpox Threat
Finalist in the 2011 National Indie Excellence Award for the Blackpox Threat
Honorary Mention, 2012 San Francisco Book Competition for the Bricklayer
On the insistence of the bishop in Alicante, Max Castillo investigates the murder of Anthony Ortega, a real estate businessman of dubious repute. A young woman, Caridad, and a young man, Aurelio, whom Max helped when he was at the service of the church, are useful connections in providing him with information and protection against dangerous criminals who don’t want Max to dig into Ortega’s past.
Old and new crimes, and carefully guarded secrets are revealed as the story proceeds. There are speculative transactions--the buying and selling of parcels of land along the Costa Blanca--in which the Alicante diocese is involved; the old relationship of a retired priest with two altar boys; the infidelity of beautiful Esperanza, Ortega’s wife; the murder of Hilario Miguel, Ortega’s business partner on the verge of bankruptcy; competitions and gambling at the La Blanca golf course; the attempt of a French criminal ring to extort money from a local gangster…
Aboard his boat, anchored in the Benidorm harbor, Max spends time meditating on the need for religious believes, and on the reasons he abandoned the priesthood. His frequent meditations are accompanied by equally frequent intakes of beer.
Consulting the land registry of Gandia and vicinity (where most of Ortega’s properties are located) allows Max to pinpoint the culprits.
In a meeting reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s climatic finales, Max convenes all the people even marginally involved in the two murders and, with the help of inspector Nicky Garcia, offers proof of the murderers’ culpability.
My take on the book. Set in Spain, “Buried in Benidorm” is a refreshing mystery where violence is present (as required by the genre) but not glorified. The suspense is built step by step, scene by scene; several personas populate the story and almost each of them is a candidate for murder.
Written by Rene Natan, www.vermeil.biz
First place, 2012 Five Star Dragonfly Award for the Blackpox Threat
Finalist in the 2011 National Indie Excellence Award for the Blackpox Threat
Honorary Mention, 2012 San Francisco Book Competition for the Bricklayer
April 17, 2012
Max Castillo is a private detective, on vacation on his houseboat in the harbour in Benidorm, Spain. He left the priesthood a few years ago, totally disillusioned, and struggles to make an income living the way he is, drinking and gambling too much, much to the disgust of friend and converted prostitute, Caridad. Max helped Cari all those years ago, and now she runs a little cafe, totally on the straight and narrow, and she tries to help Max, the way he helped her, by letting him have a tab for his meals and beer. But she’s not happy about it!
When Max gets a call from his previous employer, after the news that a top shot businessman by the name of Anthony Ortega has turned up dead at the local golf course, he wasn’t sure what to expect. But when they want him to investigate the murder, because Ortega made million dollar donations to the church and they felt they might be entitled to his estate...that’s if his wife murdered him...Max wasn’t impressed. Even less so when they added that he’d have to investigate for free, to cut out his debt to the church.
With a friend in the local police force, Nicky Garcia, reluctantly on his side, and Samantha Gamboa, avid newspaper reporter, and a useful person to have around, Max began his investigation. His first call was on local gangster, Fulgencio Sanchez, playing golf with his cronies at the same golf course Ortega had been found. After a scary confrontation with Sanchez, he began his interviews in earnest, only to find himself in imminent danger of having his life cut short by two thugs (and their guns) waiting for him on his houseboat, warning him off the investigation.
Suddenly Max is knee deep in gangsters, criminals, and people who all had reason to hate Ortega, including his wife Esperanza, her lover, Vigneault, and his business partner Hilario Miguel. With more bodies turning up, would Max be able to solve the mystery of who killed Ortega before it was too late?
The large number of grammatical errors and lack of editing spoilt this tale a little for me, but if you can overlook that, it's quite enjoyable.
When Max gets a call from his previous employer, after the news that a top shot businessman by the name of Anthony Ortega has turned up dead at the local golf course, he wasn’t sure what to expect. But when they want him to investigate the murder, because Ortega made million dollar donations to the church and they felt they might be entitled to his estate...that’s if his wife murdered him...Max wasn’t impressed. Even less so when they added that he’d have to investigate for free, to cut out his debt to the church.
With a friend in the local police force, Nicky Garcia, reluctantly on his side, and Samantha Gamboa, avid newspaper reporter, and a useful person to have around, Max began his investigation. His first call was on local gangster, Fulgencio Sanchez, playing golf with his cronies at the same golf course Ortega had been found. After a scary confrontation with Sanchez, he began his interviews in earnest, only to find himself in imminent danger of having his life cut short by two thugs (and their guns) waiting for him on his houseboat, warning him off the investigation.
Suddenly Max is knee deep in gangsters, criminals, and people who all had reason to hate Ortega, including his wife Esperanza, her lover, Vigneault, and his business partner Hilario Miguel. With more bodies turning up, would Max be able to solve the mystery of who killed Ortega before it was too late?
The large number of grammatical errors and lack of editing spoilt this tale a little for me, but if you can overlook that, it's quite enjoyable.
March 16, 2015
Buried in Benidorm is a relatively quick read. It isn't L. H. Thomson's best though.
The humor of Max Castillo felt forced and didn't even elicit a smirk. This is a shame after having read The Antique Hunters, which I found quite amusing and the humor much more appealing.
The mystery in this story caught me completely off guard. I had no idea who the killer was and until it was spelt out by Max I would never have guessed. I think that made it feel a touch unbelievable, or something, because I just didn't get how he managed to put it all together.
The other reviews about all the typos must have been based on an earlier version than the one I had, I did find some (below) but it wasn't excessive.
Overall, I liked the book, but wouldn't rave about it. Give it a go if you want to be neck deep in murder, mystery and gangsters!
Things I noticed:
6% - '...and she said (remove said) acknowledged...'
27% - '...or the jorgger (jogger)...'
27% - '...off the local pierl (pier)...'
32% - '...make Ortega fair fame (game)...'
38% - '...holding back shirts to display and (an) array...'
43% - '...I understand they have (gave) you some...'
49% - '...Avinguda d'Alacant (remove space after)'
49% - 'blue-and-gold dome ( why is this hyphenated?)
75% - '...his short game can (delete can) could use...'
81% - '...don't you think she (is this meant to be he?)
NOTE: I receieved a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review
The humor of Max Castillo felt forced and didn't even elicit a smirk. This is a shame after having read The Antique Hunters, which I found quite amusing and the humor much more appealing.
The mystery in this story caught me completely off guard. I had no idea who the killer was and until it was spelt out by Max I would never have guessed. I think that made it feel a touch unbelievable, or something, because I just didn't get how he managed to put it all together.
The other reviews about all the typos must have been based on an earlier version than the one I had, I did find some (below) but it wasn't excessive.
Overall, I liked the book, but wouldn't rave about it. Give it a go if you want to be neck deep in murder, mystery and gangsters!
Things I noticed:
6% - '...and she said (remove said) acknowledged...'
27% - '...or the jorgger (jogger)...'
27% - '...off the local pierl (pier)...'
32% - '...make Ortega fair fame (game)...'
38% - '...holding back shirts to display and (an) array...'
43% - '...I understand they have (gave) you some...'
49% - '...Avinguda d'Alacant (remove space after)'
49% - 'blue-and-gold dome ( why is this hyphenated?)
75% - '...his short game can (delete can) could use...'
81% - '...don't you think she (is this meant to be he?)
NOTE: I receieved a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review
May 27, 2012
Good job, Mr. Thomson! I do not like detective novels. I do not like murder mysteries. Hey, I do not like Green Eggs and Ham (vegetarian bordering on gluten-free vegan). But I tried L.H.'s book because I have read another book by him, Antique Hunters, and I liked it. So I thought I would try this.
Am I a convert? Nope. While I love L. H.'s writing style and the philosophy he slipped in, I would rather not read about murder and other horrendous deeds portrayed on the news. Not that this act was gruesomely written about, not that I don't want to be informed. I just have a strong allergy to nightmares. Murder and the justice sought in such cases, bring those mares galloping out.
On the other hand, I KNOW my husband will LOVE this book! As the cats will attest, HE has no aversion to nightmares. We, the cats and I, know of nights where one or more of us land on the floor! He likes reading mysteries and writes them. One day L. H. will have a bit more competition in that arena. Hubby (and I) are slow in the publication stage.
I think this would make a good movie.
Will I read more by Mr. Thomson? You bet!
Am I a convert? Nope. While I love L. H.'s writing style and the philosophy he slipped in, I would rather not read about murder and other horrendous deeds portrayed on the news. Not that this act was gruesomely written about, not that I don't want to be informed. I just have a strong allergy to nightmares. Murder and the justice sought in such cases, bring those mares galloping out.
On the other hand, I KNOW my husband will LOVE this book! As the cats will attest, HE has no aversion to nightmares. We, the cats and I, know of nights where one or more of us land on the floor! He likes reading mysteries and writes them. One day L. H. will have a bit more competition in that arena. Hubby (and I) are slow in the publication stage.
I think this would make a good movie.
Will I read more by Mr. Thomson? You bet!
May 22, 2012
I was hooked from the start by private detective Max Castillo, who narrators the story with self-depreciating humor and charm. The reader learns more of Max's personal demons---alcohol, gambling, and a loss of faith which had expelled Max from his life as a priest whose mission had been to help troubled youth. While struggling through his own need for healing, Max takes on a murder case of particular interest for his former colleagues from the Church. The case grows more interesting as Max begins to unravel to a point where his friends recognize the impending train wreck. All the while, Max struggles to reconcile his kind, gentle nature which must have made him an effective priest with the qualities required to navigate the darker world of gangsters and other troubled souls. The strong character voice and my curiosity through out this well-told who-done-it made reading this novel a pleasure.
June 13, 2012
Max Castillo former priest and present P.I. leads a simple life on his houseboat on a river in Spain and he just wants peace and quiet. But when his former employer needs his help he can't decide if he wants to work or try to figure out what to do about his vices of drinking, gambling and his loss of faith. The storyline is quite accomplished and believable,I really did not know who did it until the end. I feel L.H. has a great feel for writing creatively and how to expand on his characters stories.
I would definitely recommend this book to others and can not wait to read more by L.H. Good Work!!!
I would definitely recommend this book to others and can not wait to read more by L.H. Good Work!!!
July 30, 2015
"Just relax and enjoy someone else doing the work"
A leisurely stroll around the Costa Blanca with private detective Max Castillo. If you like your books to be fast-paced, all-action and with thrills on every page then you may be disappointed. If you like to relax and watch a murder being solved while finding time for the occasional cerveza, a bite to eat and a conversation over religion and local politics - this is perfect! I could get used to this style of book.
A leisurely stroll around the Costa Blanca with private detective Max Castillo. If you like your books to be fast-paced, all-action and with thrills on every page then you may be disappointed. If you like to relax and watch a murder being solved while finding time for the occasional cerveza, a bite to eat and a conversation over religion and local politics - this is perfect! I could get used to this style of book.
November 30, 2012
The premise is an interesting twist-an ex-priest as a detective on the Spanish coast. He lives on a houseboat, doesn't pay his bills, drinks and gambles too much. Perhaps a little unbelievable that he is able to unravel such a complicated plot. Some editing problems.
Want to read
May 25, 2012I'm sure this is going to be another winner! This author's mysteries are top notch... outstanding writing and great plots! Looking forward to it.
September 10, 2012
interesting character and writing style. I will read more in the series.
October 8, 2012
2012 10 08
Spanish ex-priest solves several murders on La Costa Brava, pondering God and the Catholic Church throughout. Very good.
Spanish ex-priest solves several murders on La Costa Brava, pondering God and the Catholic Church throughout. Very good.
February 28, 2021
It's all over the news. Big-shot found dead at the local golf course.
Anthony Ortega. a family man living in the nearby town of Gandia, was a local real estate magnate, church leader, and most important church donor. His will leaves much of his estate to the church. As Bishop Mendoza says, more could be up for grabs, depending on who killed him.
Ex-priest turned private investigator, Max Castillo is asked by Bishop Mendoza to investigate.
When Castillo left the priesthood, he agreed to a period of servitude to pay for his seminary education. The Bishop wants someone who understands the church and to investigate for free. Castillo is the perfect solution.
Though I did not really care for the character of Max Castillo I enjoyed the book.
Anthony Ortega. a family man living in the nearby town of Gandia, was a local real estate magnate, church leader, and most important church donor. His will leaves much of his estate to the church. As Bishop Mendoza says, more could be up for grabs, depending on who killed him.
Ex-priest turned private investigator, Max Castillo is asked by Bishop Mendoza to investigate.
When Castillo left the priesthood, he agreed to a period of servitude to pay for his seminary education. The Bishop wants someone who understands the church and to investigate for free. Castillo is the perfect solution.
Though I did not really care for the character of Max Castillo I enjoyed the book.
April 13, 2020
Only one real negative of this otherwise decent mystery featuring an ex-priest turned private eye; two-thirds of the way through there's this absolutely unnecessary theological harangue against the Catholic Church. Perhaps author L.H. Thomson has some reason to vilify the faith; Lord knows much wrong has been done under the cloak of Rome, but just calling the protagonist of his Max Castillo mystery series would have been plenty for the casual reader who is merely looking for an interesting crime to solve vicariously.
An interesting side note: Although the location of this novel is Spain, the dialogue could be lifted from the streets of Chicago.
An interesting side note: Although the location of this novel is Spain, the dialogue could be lifted from the streets of Chicago.
May 13, 2023
Buried In Bebudirn
I purchased this because it was free. It is a great read with well developed characters and a story line that flows. What I enjoyed most was a mystery that took place in Spain. It was new and different from the stories that take place in New York, La, etc. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book in a new setting. 2013
I purchased this because it was free. It is a great read with well developed characters and a story line that flows. What I enjoyed most was a mystery that took place in Spain. It was new and different from the stories that take place in New York, La, etc. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book in a new setting. 2013
April 26, 2021
Mystery series
I enjoyed this mystery, especially with the setting in Spain. With the introduction of some towns that I had not heard of, I had a geography lesson on the side. I will try the next book in the series.
I enjoyed this mystery, especially with the setting in Spain. With the introduction of some towns that I had not heard of, I had a geography lesson on the side. I will try the next book in the series.
April 30, 2018
3.5 stars. I thought this was decent, although when I saw the title I thought perhaps it was in Ireland.
November 25, 2020
This was a fun mystery with a great cast of characters. I enjoyed the different (than usual) setting of Spain, also. I intend to read more from this author.
Read
December 30, 2016A bit formulaic and SERIOUSLY in need of a proof reader
Some of the errors are simply mild annoyances, others require a re-read to work out what was meant.
Some of the errors are simply mild annoyances, others require a re-read to work out what was meant.
March 11, 2017
Not Kindle Unlimited, Oh got this as freebie somewhere and reviewed it, blah blah blah, as if that matters; I either like a book or I don't, and that's what the bloody rating system is supposed to be for.
Buried in Benidorm (Max Castillo Mystery, #1) - Vendetta in Valencia (Max Castillo Mystery #2) - Suicide in Salobrena (Max Castillo Mystery #3)
Maximum Max: The First Three Max Castillo Mysteries (Max Castillo Mystery, #1-3)
Revenge in Ronda (Max Castillo Mystery #4)
Quinn Checks In (Liam Quinn Mysteries #1) - Quinn Gets His Kicks (Liam Quinn Mysteries #2) - Quinn and the Deadly Diner (Liam Quinn Mysteries #2.5) - Quinn Goes West (Liam Quinn Mysteries #3) - Quinn & The Vanishing Bride (Liam Quinn Mysteries #4) - Quinn Gets the Blues (Liam Quinn Mysteries #5) - Quinn & The Dead Man's Daughter (Liam Quinn Mysteries #6) - Quinn Slips the Noose (Liam Quinn Mysteries #7) - Quinn Goes to Jail (Liam Quinn Mysteries #8) - Quinn Gets Hitched (Liam Quinn Mysteries #9)
The Rough Side (Brett Harrison Mysteries #1)
Cold City: A Gripping Suspense Thriller
Abigail Deane and the Demon's Gate (Abigail Deane #1) - Abigail Deane and The Sapphire's Curse (Abigail Deane #2)
Terrible People Doing Terrible Things
The Antique Hunters - The Process Server - The Rough Side
Buried in Benidorm (Max Castillo Mystery, #1) - Vendetta in Valencia (Max Castillo Mystery #2) - Suicide in Salobrena (Max Castillo Mystery #3)
Maximum Max: The First Three Max Castillo Mysteries (Max Castillo Mystery, #1-3)
Revenge in Ronda (Max Castillo Mystery #4)
Quinn Checks In (Liam Quinn Mysteries #1) - Quinn Gets His Kicks (Liam Quinn Mysteries #2) - Quinn and the Deadly Diner (Liam Quinn Mysteries #2.5) - Quinn Goes West (Liam Quinn Mysteries #3) - Quinn & The Vanishing Bride (Liam Quinn Mysteries #4) - Quinn Gets the Blues (Liam Quinn Mysteries #5) - Quinn & The Dead Man's Daughter (Liam Quinn Mysteries #6) - Quinn Slips the Noose (Liam Quinn Mysteries #7) - Quinn Goes to Jail (Liam Quinn Mysteries #8) - Quinn Gets Hitched (Liam Quinn Mysteries #9)
The Rough Side (Brett Harrison Mysteries #1)
Cold City: A Gripping Suspense Thriller
Abigail Deane and the Demon's Gate (Abigail Deane #1) - Abigail Deane and The Sapphire's Curse (Abigail Deane #2)
Terrible People Doing Terrible Things
The Antique Hunters - The Process Server - The Rough Side
December 11, 2012
I really enjoyed this one. How can you go wrong with a drinking, gambling ex-priest turned private eye?
The idea of an ex-priest turned detective really intrigued me, but I have to say the voice of Max Castillo's character totally blew me away! It was so strong and so clear, I actually "heard" the Spanish accent when I was reading. Even the syntax fit a native Spanish speaker writing English.
The story itself is a good mystery with interesting characters and locales and I enjoyed being surprised at the end by reveal of the killer.
Although not enough to spoil the read, there were a few typos, missed words and a few punctuation issues (along with a bit of excessive nose pinching, LOL) and the book would probably benefit from another editing/proofreading pass.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series! I also have an overwhelming taste for paella! :)
The idea of an ex-priest turned detective really intrigued me, but I have to say the voice of Max Castillo's character totally blew me away! It was so strong and so clear, I actually "heard" the Spanish accent when I was reading. Even the syntax fit a native Spanish speaker writing English.
The story itself is a good mystery with interesting characters and locales and I enjoyed being surprised at the end by reveal of the killer.
Although not enough to spoil the read, there were a few typos, missed words and a few punctuation issues (along with a bit of excessive nose pinching, LOL) and the book would probably benefit from another editing/proofreading pass.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series! I also have an overwhelming taste for paella! :)
December 30, 2012
Max Castillo is an ex-priest who is now a private investigator. While on a suppose vacation. His brothers friend from childhood Bishop Andy Mendoza calls him in for a job. Since Max owed the church money he took the job.
Anthony Ortega was found dead in a bunker at the local golf course. His head smashed in from a nine iron. Now Max must figure out who did it. Could it be the cheating wife or maybe her lover. What about the business partner or local gangster. Maybe even the neighbor.
With the help from his friends Max will figure out what happened to Anthony Ortega in Buried in Benidorm.
L.H. Thomson has written a great book here that has some of everything. This is a great start for the Max Castillo series to start with.
Anthony Ortega was found dead in a bunker at the local golf course. His head smashed in from a nine iron. Now Max must figure out who did it. Could it be the cheating wife or maybe her lover. What about the business partner or local gangster. Maybe even the neighbor.
With the help from his friends Max will figure out what happened to Anthony Ortega in Buried in Benidorm.
L.H. Thomson has written a great book here that has some of everything. This is a great start for the Max Castillo series to start with.
February 18, 2015
This was a very light, easy read. Perfect for reading on the beach (in Benidorm perhaps. I really enjoyed the protagonist Max and I found the musings on religion very interesting. I did feel some of the supporting characters were under utilised (particularly the reporter Samantha) however the author may have been laying foundations for future novels.
I also found it stretched my imagination a bit as to how useless the hired thugs were in their attempts to dispose of Max. They came across more like a pair of bumbling idiots.
All in all this is enjoyable and has the potential to be a good series.
I also found it stretched my imagination a bit as to how useless the hired thugs were in their attempts to dispose of Max. They came across more like a pair of bumbling idiots.
All in all this is enjoyable and has the potential to be a good series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2016
This is the first detective story I have read that was set in Spain. I don't have a clue if any of these places are real, however there is little local flavor in the story (It could have been set in any coastal town). The lead character is slightly interesting - an ex-Catholic priest, who is a drunk and a gambler, and agnostic. The solution does not come out of left field - maybe left-center. Everyone he talks to could have done the deed, but he one who did is a bit of a surprise.
December 5, 2012
Another one grabbed from the Amazon Free Kindle Bookstore! This one didn't measure up - okay story, somewhat fragmented, not one the grabbed my attention and forced me to read late into the night. The hero is an agnostic ex-priest who is hired by the Church to solve a murder mystery. This is #1 in Max Castillo Mystery series - I most likely won't read #2.
January 13, 2016
I enjoyed reading "Buried in Benidorm". LH Thomsom has created an interesting main character as well as an intriguing plot. I was reminded of older novels and short stories similar to this novel. Describing it in a few words, I'd say the private investigator is a combination of Sherlock Holmes and Father Brown brought into the current world.
July 17, 2015
This was an OK book. I think maybe men would enjoy it more as the main character is more of a man's man. I am in no way anti religion, but I wasn't interested the religious discussions Max had. On the plus side, I did not guess "who dunnit" at all before it was revealed. I also liked the various characters although possibly none of them were particularly upstanding citizens.
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