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An Inspector Ruiz Mystery #1
A Murder of No Consequence
What could be deadlier than war? On the eve of the Spanish Civil War murder on the streets of Madrid has become so commonplace that it passes largely unnoticed. For Inspector Paco Ruiz the death of a young woman in Retiro Park has a significance that even he does not fully understand. Battling against official hostility, and attempts on his own life, Ruiz finds himself being pulled deeper and deeper into a dark web of lies and treachery. As well as providing a thrilling and intriguing mystery, A Murder of No Consequence paints a vivid picture of a society – and a way of life – on the verge of collapse. James Garcia Woods was educated at the universities of Wales, Manchester and Oxford. Before becoming a full-time writer, he taught in England, Iran and Spain. He has lived with his wife in Madrid since 1979.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2013
240 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
James García Woods
7 books10 followersaka Sally Spencer. Real name Alan Rustage .
Alan Rustage grew up in the north of England. He has taught in England and Iran. He now writes full-time and lives in Spain.
Alan Rustage grew up in the north of England. He has taught in England and Iran. He now writes full-time and lives in Spain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 27, 2022
A good mystery set in Spain during the period leading up to the Spanish Civil War. The main protagonist is a police investigator trying to work amidst chaos, danger, apathy, conflicting politics and people who don't want the job done at all. He ends up supporting the Republican side by default as none of the others appeal to him at all. Even so, the author gives readers a pretty balanced view of Spain in chaos. Here is a quote from the book:
"Paco drained his glass, and the girl filled it again. ‘If we take the left for a start,’ he said. ‘The socialists want the government to control everything, the anarchists want the government to control nothing, and the communists want whatever it is that Moscow wants.’ ‘What about the right wing?’ ‘The Carlists, who are led by Calvo Sotelo, want a return to the last-but-one ruling monarchy. The Catholic parties want the Church to be part of the State like it used to be. The Falange wants a mass movement which will follow it unquestioningly, and the big landowners want the government to keep the peasants in line.’ ‘What about the army?’ ‘The army wants to see order. And the government – which is liberal – can’t even keep itself in order."
"Paco drained his glass, and the girl filled it again. ‘If we take the left for a start,’ he said. ‘The socialists want the government to control everything, the anarchists want the government to control nothing, and the communists want whatever it is that Moscow wants.’ ‘What about the right wing?’ ‘The Carlists, who are led by Calvo Sotelo, want a return to the last-but-one ruling monarchy. The Catholic parties want the Church to be part of the State like it used to be. The Falange wants a mass movement which will follow it unquestioningly, and the big landowners want the government to keep the peasants in line.’ ‘What about the army?’ ‘The army wants to see order. And the government – which is liberal – can’t even keep itself in order."
September 7, 2020
Set amidst the Spanish Civil War, this murder mystery seems to have more pertinence to the current state of affairs in the U.S. than I suspect the author had intended.
The murder of a young woman leads Inspector Ruiz into a society being torn asunder by the struggle for power in Spain prior to WWII. The fascists vs socialists, the right vs the left, the working class vs the privileged— it all takes on an eerily familiar ring as one reads the story while cities in the U.S. are suffering from protests amid the backdrop of a looming election that could be seen by some, as a parallel struggle to that dealt with in the novel.
The mystery is decent but, really, the heart of the story seems more about the history of Spain during this period of its history. Ruiz is a reasonably sympathetic character, albeit somewhat stereotypical of the noble cop who doggedly pursues his case regardless of the consequences. There are several weaknesses in the plot and tangential characters (his partner, for one, could have been written as a much more contributory element to solving the mystery), but since I had no expectations going in, they were easy to abide. Not too many demands to suspend disbelief are made, and on balance, the plot mostly works.
3.5 stars, rounded up for a nice twist on the usual mystery genre— almost more of a historical fiction novel, but not quite. I didn’t recall why I’d downloaded it, as it had sat on my TBR list for a while, but glad I did. A nice change of pace.
The murder of a young woman leads Inspector Ruiz into a society being torn asunder by the struggle for power in Spain prior to WWII. The fascists vs socialists, the right vs the left, the working class vs the privileged— it all takes on an eerily familiar ring as one reads the story while cities in the U.S. are suffering from protests amid the backdrop of a looming election that could be seen by some, as a parallel struggle to that dealt with in the novel.
The mystery is decent but, really, the heart of the story seems more about the history of Spain during this period of its history. Ruiz is a reasonably sympathetic character, albeit somewhat stereotypical of the noble cop who doggedly pursues his case regardless of the consequences. There are several weaknesses in the plot and tangential characters (his partner, for one, could have been written as a much more contributory element to solving the mystery), but since I had no expectations going in, they were easy to abide. Not too many demands to suspend disbelief are made, and on balance, the plot mostly works.
3.5 stars, rounded up for a nice twist on the usual mystery genre— almost more of a historical fiction novel, but not quite. I didn’t recall why I’d downloaded it, as it had sat on my TBR list for a while, but glad I did. A nice change of pace.
March 23, 2021
There is some chance this series will develop. The story is of a Madrid detective trying to solve a homicide as the Spanish Civil War starts in 1936. Real events, the confusion of who is on whose side and the lack of forensics all requires Inspector Ruiz to rely on logic. A bit weak at times but overall it was ok.
July 11, 2020
James Garcia Woods is a better author than reflected in this book. The storyline is about a policeman who gets his man under the authority in place at the time. The action takes place in Madrid and Seville, Spain, at the beginning of the revolution which is a precursor to WW ll. The author had too much going on in this short book.
Otherwise, the author's writing mechanics were good. I have read him before and liked him very much. I hate to trash a book or an author. Please be assured, I am not trashing this author.
Thank you, Mr. Woods, for the read.
Otherwise, the author's writing mechanics were good. I have read him before and liked him very much. I hate to trash a book or an author. Please be assured, I am not trashing this author.
Thank you, Mr. Woods, for the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2019
A novel of little consequence
The body of a young woman is discovered in a Madrid park a matter of weeks before the Spanish Civil War breaks out. In the midst of political riot, plotting and assassination, a detective is determined to find the culprit.
An interesting scenario in a fascinating period of history is spoilt by a mediocre and lacklustre story. A pity.
The body of a young woman is discovered in a Madrid park a matter of weeks before the Spanish Civil War breaks out. In the midst of political riot, plotting and assassination, a detective is determined to find the culprit.
An interesting scenario in a fascinating period of history is spoilt by a mediocre and lacklustre story. A pity.
April 27, 2024
A good mystery.
This story was set in a period of history I had not been familiar with. Therefor it was much enjoyed. The persistence of then hero was fantastic.
This story was set in a period of history I had not been familiar with. Therefor it was much enjoyed. The persistence of then hero was fantastic.
September 3, 2020
July 1936 Madrid. The body of a female, Maria Sebastian, is found in Retiro Park.
Against the backdrop of the oncoming civil war, with descriptions of the conditions of the people, the investigation by Inspector Ruiz causes problems and danger to him.
An interesting historical mystery
Against the backdrop of the oncoming civil war, with descriptions of the conditions of the people, the investigation by Inspector Ruiz causes problems and danger to him.
An interesting historical mystery
June 12, 2023
This is the first book I've read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It immerses the reader in Spain in the mid-1930s, when the government was being attacked, both figuratively and literally, by both the left and the right (also anarchists). The reader knows how it turned out, but the book follows a dedicated detective trying to solve the murder of a poor girl from the countryside in the Big City. She came to Madrid for opportunity, and is found strangled in a park. No one, except for Inspector Ruiz and his sidekick, seems to be interested in finding the killer, and the wealthy family she worked for appears to to be extremely disinterested. We follow Ruiz as he doggedly collects information about the girl, identifies her and the village from which she came, and begins to narrow down suspects. He's surprised as some of his prime suspects are slowly eliminated from possibility as the murderer, but just as the Spanish government begins to fall and General Franco launches his army takeover to "save" Spain, Ruiz manages to identify the killer, even while it's unclear who will punish him with no functional government left? I actually picked up a lot of history while reading this novel, including that Spain had had a military intervention in Morocco before the events of this story. Ruiz had served in the army at that time, and his memories of that period are not positive.
April 8, 2022
A policeman tries to solve a murder on the eve of the Spanish Civil War, and is thwarted by the powerful suspect as well as the beginnings of the war. A young woman has been strangled and her body dumped in a park, and the only clue is the very fancy dress she’s wearing. As the detective starts asking questions, he’s repeatedly told to stop investigating. Against advice and his own well-being, he persists, angering more and more people.
I found the parts about the war itself interesting but there wasn’t very strong characterization - troubled loner policeman with wrenching trauma in his background, drinks and smokes too much, is brusque and harsh with everyone around him. He’s more of a cliché than a person.
I just didn’t find the story compelling. I recently finished the far superior Winter in Madrid by CJ Sansom. If you want to read a Spanish Civil War novel, skip this one and go for Sansom’s.
I found the parts about the war itself interesting but there wasn’t very strong characterization - troubled loner policeman with wrenching trauma in his background, drinks and smokes too much, is brusque and harsh with everyone around him. He’s more of a cliché than a person.
I just didn’t find the story compelling. I recently finished the far superior Winter in Madrid by CJ Sansom. If you want to read a Spanish Civil War novel, skip this one and go for Sansom’s.
January 24, 2019
Well written, atmospheric and interesting
Two story lines running parallel and a well drawn main character make this worthy, in my opinion ,of the 4 stars given. A good murder mystery set just as Spain is about to implode. Having spent a fair amount of time in Spain I've always been fascinated by its history, particularly the era of the civil war, but never really understood the politics. Even though this is a work of fiction it has given me an insight into the origins of the tragic events and catastrophic aftermath. Not a novel to tax the brain, just enjoyable reading if the subjects of crime and Spain are of interest. In some ways the hero, Paco, puts me in mind of a Spanish Jack Reacher. 🤔
Two story lines running parallel and a well drawn main character make this worthy, in my opinion ,of the 4 stars given. A good murder mystery set just as Spain is about to implode. Having spent a fair amount of time in Spain I've always been fascinated by its history, particularly the era of the civil war, but never really understood the politics. Even though this is a work of fiction it has given me an insight into the origins of the tragic events and catastrophic aftermath. Not a novel to tax the brain, just enjoyable reading if the subjects of crime and Spain are of interest. In some ways the hero, Paco, puts me in mind of a Spanish Jack Reacher. 🤔
June 15, 2020
This book is the first in a series with the main character, Francisco (Paco) Ruiz, who is a detective with the Madrid police department. The plot takes place during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Paco and his sidekick, Fat Felipe, investigate the death of a young woman found in a park. The investigation takes Paco to small villages in Spain as well as Seville. Paco identifies with the leftists anti-government faction as he was brought up in a small town. The main suspects belong to the wealthy class and have much power and control. The book was interesting as I learned more about what happened in Spain during this time period. The substance was fairly light, so I gave the book a rating of a 3. I think I like a little more history in my historical fiction.
Read
April 17, 2020In mid-1930s Spain, a police detective investigates a girl’s murder. Her expensive dress leads him to a powerful political leader’s wife. The philandering husband has given his wife’s castoffs to his young mistress. The detective is attacked by three Falangist thugs, which heightens his resolve to find the murderer. He is not merely warned off the investigation but fired from the force. The political spectrum at the time includes anarchists, Nationalists, monarchists, Catholics, conservatives, liberals -- and gruesome bloodshed. Extensive research is evident, and the presentation is flawless.
May 16, 2020
Very noir
This is not my usual read. But it engaged me. The protagonist, Paco, a dedicated policeman in Madrid, Spain, at the beginning of a Spanish Civil War, is determined to solve the murder of a campesina, a young country girl. The case pits him against powerful, rich politicos, but he doggedly persists. The author vividly, almost brutally, drags the reader through pain, anguish and bittersweet success. The ending left me sad for the shattered ideals and grim outlook of the disillusioned hero. The writing was brilliant. I give 4 stars, because I prefer a happy ending, but I applaud the truth of the story.
This is not my usual read. But it engaged me. The protagonist, Paco, a dedicated policeman in Madrid, Spain, at the beginning of a Spanish Civil War, is determined to solve the murder of a campesina, a young country girl. The case pits him against powerful, rich politicos, but he doggedly persists. The author vividly, almost brutally, drags the reader through pain, anguish and bittersweet success. The ending left me sad for the shattered ideals and grim outlook of the disillusioned hero. The writing was brilliant. I give 4 stars, because I prefer a happy ending, but I applaud the truth of the story.
May 22, 2020
I liked the book. It takes place in the lead up to the Spanish Civil War (which is very much in the background until the end). I liked how the murder mystery was a fairly simple one despite its setting. Our main character is a cop who is former army and he was quite interesting. I think he could have been developed more but seeing as it's part of a series I assume that will happen throughout.
I especially enjoyed the ending, less due to the wrap up and more due to the situation. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was Cindy. She was kinda superfluous, not really adding much to the story. Overall a good story in an interesting setting.
I especially enjoyed the ending, less due to the wrap up and more due to the situation. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was Cindy. She was kinda superfluous, not really adding much to the story. Overall a good story in an interesting setting.
May 20, 2019
Good rattling read - combining two of my favourite backdrops - wartime and larger than life cops trying to police the ‘streets’ whilst under fire! Ruiz is your archetypal handsome loner, always on the margins, magnet to women and lover of food of drink to boot!
Set in the fascinating run up to the Spanish Civil war, the book excites both in in the overview of life during that era, and the machinations of murder and malicious intent. Loved it and moved swiftly on to book 2. Great reading for those who love this genre.
Set in the fascinating run up to the Spanish Civil war, the book excites both in in the overview of life during that era, and the machinations of murder and malicious intent. Loved it and moved swiftly on to book 2. Great reading for those who love this genre.
April 9, 2020
Paco Ruiz gets a murder case concerning a young woman who has ties to an influential family in 1936 Madrid. His efforts to succeed are blocked at every turn and eventually Ruiz loses his job but it doesn't stop him from pursuing the case until it's solved. Set in the time of the Spanish Civil War, the reader receives an understanding of the complexity of the situation as well as the danger. Ruiz is a bit like James Bond in that he is able to get out of seemingly fatal situations, but the narrative flows quickly so that can be forgiven.
June 4, 2020
Tilting at Windmills.
Before reading this book I was very vague about the Spanish Civil War, and I still am, but just a little less so.
Setting a murder mystery using the Spanish civil war as a backdrop is inspired. Also, going for a little tour of Spain, as he, Inspector Ruiz, searches for clues, giving the reader a picturesque description of each place he visits adds charm to the story.
Before reading this book I was very vague about the Spanish Civil War, and I still am, but just a little less so.
Setting a murder mystery using the Spanish civil war as a backdrop is inspired. Also, going for a little tour of Spain, as he, Inspector Ruiz, searches for clues, giving the reader a picturesque description of each place he visits adds charm to the story.
November 5, 2020
The combination of a well-done mystery with an on-the-ground look at the start of the Spanish civil war was as engrossing as it was unusual. Although my Kindle indicated I was at 100% in the book, it also gave me a message saying an error had occurred and to reload the book from the cloud after doing so several times, the result was the same, so I may have lacked the last page. The story was nicely wrapped up by then, however.
April 26, 2020
Decent read but too short.
I enjoyed Inspector Ruiz's debut apart from it being too short. The story, set immediately before the start of the civil war, was holding my attention for three quarters of the book and then it just seemed to be in rush to reach the end.
The result was a terrific debut spoiled by an unsatisfactory conclusion.
I enjoyed Inspector Ruiz's debut apart from it being too short. The story, set immediately before the start of the civil war, was holding my attention for three quarters of the book and then it just seemed to be in rush to reach the end.
The result was a terrific debut spoiled by an unsatisfactory conclusion.
May 24, 2020
Not a page-turner!
Set in Spain, it is the story of a detective team investigating the murder of a young woman whose only clue to identity was the label in her dress. The story weaves its way though what was going on politically at that time. I felt the author could have given more information about what was going on, because it was very confusing. Would not recommend this book.
Set in Spain, it is the story of a detective team investigating the murder of a young woman whose only clue to identity was the label in her dress. The story weaves its way though what was going on politically at that time. I felt the author could have given more information about what was going on, because it was very confusing. Would not recommend this book.
June 2, 2020
This might be a better book than I give it credit for, for those who have an interest in this time in Spain's history, but I found the politics hard to follow and not particularly interesting, aside from how they played into the murder. And the romance seemed superfluous.
Wanting to know whodunnit kept me just engaged enough to keep reading through to the end. Not bad writing, just not for me.
Wanting to know whodunnit kept me just engaged enough to keep reading through to the end. Not bad writing, just not for me.
December 4, 2020
Spanish history came to life..
Very well written. The characters, especially Paco and Felipe are flawed and many-dimensional, making the story interesting. The backdrop is the beginning of the civil war. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a mystery, with a dose of history.
Very well written. The characters, especially Paco and Felipe are flawed and many-dimensional, making the story interesting. The backdrop is the beginning of the civil war. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a mystery, with a dose of history.
May 4, 2020
Set in Madrid at the start of the Spanish Civil War, this mystery immerses the reader fully in a country disintegrating before your eyes. Great plot arc, interesting characters, totally satisfying. Read this if you like good murder mysteries and want a feel for causes of the Spanish Civil War.
July 30, 2020
Fascinating story!
This book tells the story of a police investigation in the middle of a Spanish revolution in the 1930’s. I learnt a lot from the storyline and through the eyes of the main character. Really enjoyed it.
This book tells the story of a police investigation in the middle of a Spanish revolution in the 1930’s. I learnt a lot from the storyline and through the eyes of the main character. Really enjoyed it.
August 16, 2020
Great story
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set in Spain at the beginning of the civil war. A good detective story in a very different setting. It is listed as book one in a series. I'm just about to look to see if there are more. I hope do
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set in Spain at the beginning of the civil war. A good detective story in a very different setting. It is listed as book one in a series. I'm just about to look to see if there are more. I hope do
June 2, 2022
A interesting novel about an historical time in Spain.
The protagonist is a policeman living in General Franco's Spain the chaotic times were nobody knew who really was in power. The King won the popular vote. But the royalty abdicated in the chaos.
The protagonist is a policeman living in General Franco's Spain the chaotic times were nobody knew who really was in power. The King won the popular vote. But the royalty abdicated in the chaos.
September 6, 2022
This was a very good book. The author is very talented, he writes a book that flows well and is written at a level to hold your interest. There is some resemblance to Donna Leon's, Inspector Brunetti series. I look forward to reading more books by the author.
January 8, 2023
Immersing myself in Spanish Civil War ahead of a trip to Spain and discovered this crime series set at the outbreak of the conflict - a great way to begin to get to grips with the complexity of events of that time
January 19, 2023
Interesting subject
This book took some interesting twists, some plot related some based on the historical setting. I am looking forward to the next book in the series,although not sure, due to the historical setting, how it will sit.
This book took some interesting twists, some plot related some based on the historical setting. I am looking forward to the next book in the series,although not sure, due to the historical setting, how it will sit.
August 14, 2019
Excellent read
Set at the start of the Spanish civil war with our hero painstakingly pursuing the murderer whilst Spain descends into civil war.
Set at the start of the Spanish civil war with our hero painstakingly pursuing the murderer whilst Spain descends into civil war.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews