Just Desserts

Inspector Alvarez #5

by Roderic Jeffries

Miriam Spiller was middle-aged, plain, and resident on Mallorca, where to the English colony's surprise, she had just become engaged. Her fiance was an unsuccessful novelist -- so unsuccessful that he risked deportation if he could not put down a lump sum forthwith to satisfy the Spanish authorities. Miriam talked bravely of borrowing the money for him, but instead she went back to her solitary flat and that night drank too much gin, staggered onto the wrought-iron balcony, and crashed through its rusted railing. A clear case of accidental death.Except that Brenda Stewart, courier with a tour operator and Miriam's nearest approach to a friend, thought otherwise and passed on her suspicions to the police. And the police were represented by Inspector Enrique Alvarez, whose patient investigation into the manners, morals and past histories of those of Mallorca's English residents who knew Miriam led him into a veritable labyrinth of subterfuge.Alvarez expected to find crime at its heart, but he never expected to uncover a crime which would affect his own life and happiness.

Genres: Mystery

211 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

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]

Thoroughly enjoying this mystery series set in Mallorca… The stories are well written and keep one guessing.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the books In this series are great summer beach reading. Set in Mallorca, an island in the Mediterranean.