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Isabel Flores Mallorcan Mysteries #1
The Devil's Horn
When 33-year-old Isabel Flores Montserrat quits her promising career with the Spanish police to run her mother’s holiday rentals agency in rural Mallorca, her crime-fighting days seem far behind.
Basking in the Mediterranean sunshine with pet ferret Furó, she indulges her passion for local cuisine, swimming in the sea and raising her pampered hens.
However, in just a few days, the disappearance of a young British girl, violent murder of an elderly neighbour, and discovery of a Colombian drug cartel threaten to tear apart Isabel’s idyllic life.
Together with local chief inspector Tolo Cabot, an old admirer of her unorthodox methods, Isabel must race against the clock to untangle a sinister web of crime and restore peace to the island once more.
Basking in the Mediterranean sunshine with pet ferret Furó, she indulges her passion for local cuisine, swimming in the sea and raising her pampered hens.
However, in just a few days, the disappearance of a young British girl, violent murder of an elderly neighbour, and discovery of a Colombian drug cartel threaten to tear apart Isabel’s idyllic life.
Together with local chief inspector Tolo Cabot, an old admirer of her unorthodox methods, Isabel must race against the clock to untangle a sinister web of crime and restore peace to the island once more.
348 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2019
8 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Anna Nicholas
14 books11 followersAnna is a bit of a wild Celt being of Irish, Scottish and Welsh extraction.
During her childhood, she spent many unconventional yet magical school holidays travelling around Eastern Europe and some off the map destinations in a battered old car and on a shoe string with her older sister, Cecilia, and her inspiring teacher mother and aunts Minny and Della. It is these experiences that have led to her life long love of travel and adventure.
After leaving school, Anna studied English Literature and Classics at Leeds University before joining the national charity, Help the Aged, as a graduate trainee. Promoted to senior press officer, she organised many fundraising and gala events involving high profile celebrities and the late Princess Diana, who at that time was the charity’s patron.
Moving to the Guinness Book of World Records she became International PR spokesman and invigilator, working closely with both the late Norris McWhirter, CBE, and TV presenter Roy Castle and travelled the world judging extraordinary records.
Those she most enjoyed adjudicating included the world’s longest conga line with singer Gloria Estefan in Miami; the tallest tower of bread in Indonesia; the festival of record breaking in Korea; the longest train journey which culminated in Hong Kong, and driving around Finland in the world’s longest limo.
After several years of unadulterated fun and madness at Guinness, Anna became marketing director and then a board director for a luxury bathrooms and aromatics company in Mayfair. Some years later she established her own PR and marketing consultancy with international clients in luxury travel, retail, hotels and spas.
After an impromptu meeting with renowned British explorer, Colonel John Blashford-Snell, CBE, Anna accompanied him on an expedition to Nepal, and for 10 years served as a trustee and director of his charity, The Scientific Exploration Society (SES).
She is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and continues – time permitting – to participate in tough scientific expeditions to remote corners of the globe. The most bizarre of these, the subject of BBC2 TV documentary, A Grand Adventure, was when she and the colonel led an expedition to the remote Wai Wai community in Guyana in order to bring them a grand piano for their mud hut church.
She is a keen runner, having completed ten full marathons and 20 half marathons on behalf of her favourite causes. Her most recent international marathon was running in a South African reserve alongside the Big Five beasts. Anna has been a freelance journalist for many years, having written features for the Financial Times, Independent, Sunday Telegraph, Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Daily Express, UltraTravel USA and Tatler among others, as well as several in-flight magazines.
She is the Mallorca destination expert for Telegraph UK and writes for local island newspaper, Majorca Daily Bulletin. Anna lives in Mallorca with her husband, Alan. She has presented her books at the Times Oxford Literary Festival and been guest speaker at numerous events. Her new title, Fallen Butterfly, was published 15, December 2022.
During her childhood, she spent many unconventional yet magical school holidays travelling around Eastern Europe and some off the map destinations in a battered old car and on a shoe string with her older sister, Cecilia, and her inspiring teacher mother and aunts Minny and Della. It is these experiences that have led to her life long love of travel and adventure.
After leaving school, Anna studied English Literature and Classics at Leeds University before joining the national charity, Help the Aged, as a graduate trainee. Promoted to senior press officer, she organised many fundraising and gala events involving high profile celebrities and the late Princess Diana, who at that time was the charity’s patron.
Moving to the Guinness Book of World Records she became International PR spokesman and invigilator, working closely with both the late Norris McWhirter, CBE, and TV presenter Roy Castle and travelled the world judging extraordinary records.
Those she most enjoyed adjudicating included the world’s longest conga line with singer Gloria Estefan in Miami; the tallest tower of bread in Indonesia; the festival of record breaking in Korea; the longest train journey which culminated in Hong Kong, and driving around Finland in the world’s longest limo.
After several years of unadulterated fun and madness at Guinness, Anna became marketing director and then a board director for a luxury bathrooms and aromatics company in Mayfair. Some years later she established her own PR and marketing consultancy with international clients in luxury travel, retail, hotels and spas.
After an impromptu meeting with renowned British explorer, Colonel John Blashford-Snell, CBE, Anna accompanied him on an expedition to Nepal, and for 10 years served as a trustee and director of his charity, The Scientific Exploration Society (SES).
She is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and continues – time permitting – to participate in tough scientific expeditions to remote corners of the globe. The most bizarre of these, the subject of BBC2 TV documentary, A Grand Adventure, was when she and the colonel led an expedition to the remote Wai Wai community in Guyana in order to bring them a grand piano for their mud hut church.
She is a keen runner, having completed ten full marathons and 20 half marathons on behalf of her favourite causes. Her most recent international marathon was running in a South African reserve alongside the Big Five beasts. Anna has been a freelance journalist for many years, having written features for the Financial Times, Independent, Sunday Telegraph, Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Daily Express, UltraTravel USA and Tatler among others, as well as several in-flight magazines.
She is the Mallorca destination expert for Telegraph UK and writes for local island newspaper, Majorca Daily Bulletin. Anna lives in Mallorca with her husband, Alan. She has presented her books at the Times Oxford Literary Festival and been guest speaker at numerous events. Her new title, Fallen Butterfly, was published 15, December 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 26, 2019
You probably know a person who starts talking, and then keeps on talking and talking and talking. And talking. This is the book she wrote, and if you are very patient you will find crime solving in here. Good Luck!
November 6, 2019
| Book Review | The Devil's Horn.
~
Having finished reading this novel just minutes before, I knew I had to write a review immediately. There's a certain charm in crime mysteries that are set in a place which we know nothing about. When this book came through the mail, I was intrigued by the cover. It's rustic and the back of the book adorns a painting of a place which has the sea and a shore spotted with trees. I do not think I have read a crime story as excellent as this one lately. It's gripping and quirky, making me stifle a giggle now and then.
~
Isabel Flores is a 33 year old ex-cop in Mollorca who quit the Spanish police department few years ago. She now runs a holiday rental agency that brings in handsome money with the help of her assistant Pep. Having left behind the hectic police days, Isabel has now fallen into a comfortable routine of waking up early for a swim in the sea with her pet ferret Furó. Soon, the idyllic tourist island comes to life when a young British girl is abducted from a beach which is then followed by the murder of an elderly Mallorcan man. The Spanish police department loops in Isabel to work on the case as a favour and this sets her mind whirring furiously. Within the next few days, Isabel goes through the activities of the island, interrogating neighbours and coming up with possible theories.
~
With the help of her assistant and her old friend from the police department Tolo, she cracks the murder mystery and the kidnapping case but only to realise that there's a much bigger drug cartel lurking in the shadows. I'll let you read the novel to see how superbly Isabel decodes the crimes one at a time. Until I read this book, I wasn't aware of Mallorca's existence, their culture, cuisine and the weather that graces the residents. The author, @majorcanpearls has done such a beautiful job in describing the little island to us so vividly that one can feel the warm sun on their faces and sand in their feet. The protagonist's character is a major hit with her little quirks and hunches. Her need to chew on sunflower seeds to concentrate, the pet ferret and the ease with which she goes behind what she wants, is all very pleasant to read.
~
It's not so often that you see such detail in building the supporting characters. Every single character in this novel has been described so wonderfully that one cannot forget their role even after you are done reading it. Though this is a crime mystery, it feels incredibly light to read and now happens to be my favourite. I highly recommend it. After having a little chat with the author, I'm
super thrilled to know that there may be more books starring Isabel.
~
Rating - 5/5
~
Having finished reading this novel just minutes before, I knew I had to write a review immediately. There's a certain charm in crime mysteries that are set in a place which we know nothing about. When this book came through the mail, I was intrigued by the cover. It's rustic and the back of the book adorns a painting of a place which has the sea and a shore spotted with trees. I do not think I have read a crime story as excellent as this one lately. It's gripping and quirky, making me stifle a giggle now and then.
~
Isabel Flores is a 33 year old ex-cop in Mollorca who quit the Spanish police department few years ago. She now runs a holiday rental agency that brings in handsome money with the help of her assistant Pep. Having left behind the hectic police days, Isabel has now fallen into a comfortable routine of waking up early for a swim in the sea with her pet ferret Furó. Soon, the idyllic tourist island comes to life when a young British girl is abducted from a beach which is then followed by the murder of an elderly Mallorcan man. The Spanish police department loops in Isabel to work on the case as a favour and this sets her mind whirring furiously. Within the next few days, Isabel goes through the activities of the island, interrogating neighbours and coming up with possible theories.
~
With the help of her assistant and her old friend from the police department Tolo, she cracks the murder mystery and the kidnapping case but only to realise that there's a much bigger drug cartel lurking in the shadows. I'll let you read the novel to see how superbly Isabel decodes the crimes one at a time. Until I read this book, I wasn't aware of Mallorca's existence, their culture, cuisine and the weather that graces the residents. The author, @majorcanpearls has done such a beautiful job in describing the little island to us so vividly that one can feel the warm sun on their faces and sand in their feet. The protagonist's character is a major hit with her little quirks and hunches. Her need to chew on sunflower seeds to concentrate, the pet ferret and the ease with which she goes behind what she wants, is all very pleasant to read.
~
It's not so often that you see such detail in building the supporting characters. Every single character in this novel has been described so wonderfully that one cannot forget their role even after you are done reading it. Though this is a crime mystery, it feels incredibly light to read and now happens to be my favourite. I highly recommend it. After having a little chat with the author, I'm
super thrilled to know that there may be more books starring Isabel.
~
Rating - 5/5
September 6, 2022
I love love love this book! It is definitely one of the best books I've read in a long time. This story is a true mystery crime story, which I absolutely love. The built-up and the storyline is very strong, and the plottwist is really good. The characters are loveable as well. The language isn't too hard, although very descriptive; but this also makes the story easier to follow. There isn't much romance and other weird stuff, just a good crime novel!
May 30, 2025
Diese Frau war mir von Anfang an sympathisch. Dass sie ausgerechnet ein Frettchen als Haustier hat, macht sie noch sympathischer! Auch ihre witzigen Schlagabtausche mit ihren Mitmenschen lassen sie in meinen Augen steigen. Isabel Flores hat den Polizeidienst quittiert, ist Inhaberin einer Immobilienfirma auf Mallorca, kennt Gott und die Welt persönlich. Für einen Fall einer Kindesentführung wird sie inoffiziell von der Polizei wieder angeheuert. Dass sie das Kind wieder wohlbehalten ihrer Mutter übergeben kann und so nebenbei eine Serie von Morden restlos lösen kann, verdankt sie ihrer Intuition, Beobachtungs- und Kombinationsgabe. Geschickte Gesprächspartnerin, gelingt es ihr immer alle benötigten Informationen von ihrem Gegenüber zu erhalten.
Eines der Pluspunkte des Buches ist die Beschreibung des mallorquinischen Essens. Ob es nur Aioli, Brot und marinierte grüne Oliven sind, oder Brot mit Olivenöl beträufelt, oder “dicke geröstete Brotscheiben bestrichen mit frischem Tomatenpüree und Olivenöl.” (S.220) oder Gebäckspezialitäten aus der Bäckerei,jedes Mal läuft mir das Wasser im Mund zusammen.
Mit langatmigen Beschreibungen der Menschen, ihrer Gedanken, oder der Natur Mallorcas hält sich Anna Nicholas nicht auf. Das Buch besteht fast nur aus Action und Dialogen. und das schätze ich an diesem Krimi.
Eines der Pluspunkte des Buches ist die Beschreibung des mallorquinischen Essens. Ob es nur Aioli, Brot und marinierte grüne Oliven sind, oder Brot mit Olivenöl beträufelt, oder “dicke geröstete Brotscheiben bestrichen mit frischem Tomatenpüree und Olivenöl.” (S.220) oder Gebäckspezialitäten aus der Bäckerei,jedes Mal läuft mir das Wasser im Mund zusammen.
Mit langatmigen Beschreibungen der Menschen, ihrer Gedanken, oder der Natur Mallorcas hält sich Anna Nicholas nicht auf. Das Buch besteht fast nur aus Action und Dialogen. und das schätze ich an diesem Krimi.
March 10, 2020
The author is a well known travel writer and this shows in the environmental descriptions. Personally, I thought they got a bit too close to travelogue, or holiday in Mallorca brochure, at times, which gets in the way, not of the plot but rather of the flow of the reading experience. Show don’t tell is a dictum which springs to mind. There are actually two plots, a kidnapped child and a drug cartel murder. The former is really too predictable, perhaps its main function is to explain why the heroine – a former police officer – has been lured back into service. The latter has a number of twists, some interesting characters, a bit of depth and adventure. Detective stories always have fairly natural coincidences to allow the protagonist to put the solution together, but this one does rely a bit too much on contrivance and the main twist is not very hard to spot. Having said all that, I did find it an easy read but more of a holiday read rather than a serious challenge.
February 7, 2020
A delightful story set in Mallorca with all of the associated smells, sun, food and wine. I generally complain about lack of contextualisation and descriptions but cannot do that with this book. It's almost too much, certainly at first, but, once immersed in the story itself it's necessary and highly enjoyable. Yes, essentially a story of murder, drugs and kidnapping but the ex police inspector now running a holiday-home rental business is up to that - much to the initial aggravation of both the local police Inspector and the Guardia. She does tend, at times, to jump in without thinking first, but her faithful friends come to the rescue, not to mention her pet ferret. Sufficient twists and turns amongst the delicious food that gets served to keep the reader engaged. Thanks to NetGalley and Burro Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 27, 2021
I have read and enjoyed some of the books in Anna Nicholas' travel series, but this, her first novel, is a page turner! As soon as I began reading Anna Nicholas’ premier novel The Devil’s Horn, I couldn’t put it down! The storyline is engaging and the characters are so real and believable I could feel myself in the story. Although it is a plot-twisting murder and abduction mystery it was not scary. The attention to details, the colourful characters, and the fabulously sensuous backdrop of Mallorca make for a wonderful read. It is refreshing to have such a positive, upbeat and female crime investigator - Isabel Flores Montserrat is a combination of bold, curious, funny, daring, intelligent and a lover of life. I’ve ordered copies for friends!
January 27, 2020
One of the best things about reading an ebook is that you can immediately find out what words mean, either by translation or a dictionary. I've now learned a few words of Spanish - or Mallorcan - I don't know which. An excellent and enjoyable book. Well written and the people involved have real depths.
Loved it
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
Loved it
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
June 14, 2020
Very enjoyable read
Loved the Mallorcan setting. Full of intrigue, twists and drama, the story flowed very well and with romance, family and interesting relationships, the book was very entertaining. Looking forward to a sequel!
Loved the Mallorcan setting. Full of intrigue, twists and drama, the story flowed very well and with romance, family and interesting relationships, the book was very entertaining. Looking forward to a sequel!
couldn-t-finish
November 19, 2023It’s just so boring! Like it had promise but something was missing. Maybe heart? Maybe moving the puzzle pieces in place faster? I could give it the remaining four hours (of like 11 total) I really did try.
September 7, 2022
Anna has a nice blend of mystery and beautifully described local aspects. A great holiday reaad.
July 18, 2023
great read
loved the characters and location . page turning, lots of twists and turns and a bit of romance . i will be reading another of anna’s books
loved the characters and location . page turning, lots of twists and turns and a bit of romance . i will be reading another of anna’s books
June 18, 2025
Hat Potential für mehr.
Das Frettchen hat mir gut gefallen.
Das Frettchen hat mir gut gefallen.
November 6, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Claire Maxwell of Maxwell PR and Burro Books. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
This book, the first in a planned series of Isabel Flores Mallorcan mysteries, is saturated with the colours, scents and sounds of the Mediterranean island.
Not only is the setting rich with Spanish heat, flora and fauna, but the narrative is enriched with the language, food, cultural mores and relaxed pace of life that come to the mind when thinking of the Mediterranean way of life. It provided a welcome blast of sunshine for this reader in a cold, grey UK November!
The story follows Isabel, who has retired from the police force to run her mother’s estate agency on the island, as she traverses the island, dipping in the sea, sipping in local cafés, and chatting to everyone – local or incomer. Oh, and uncovering a plethora of secrets as she goes!
It seems Isabel has an unnatural talent for knowing when people are hiding something, which stands her in good stead in the sudden crime wave that hits her sleepy small town. First a young girl is abducted when her mother’s back is turned, then a pious old man is brutally murdered, and that’s not to mention the vibrant drug trade that seems to be thriving around every corner. So Isabel and her reluctant assistant Pep have their work cut out for them. Especially as it’s not strictly speaking their work at all!
Between keeping up with her day job and solving the police’s cases for them, Isabel also finds time to investigate side quests, such as what is going on with her mysterious reclusive renter, and what were some young locals unloading from their boat in the early hours; swim regularly with her ferret Furó; and avoid potential romance from a persistent journalistic suitor and a reticent best friend, who also happens to be chief inspector.
I had no idea how Isabel was solving her cases if I’m honest, as it seemed that everywhere she looked she spotted a conspiracy or secret, and I just couldn’t keep up with her. Much like the police and Pep though, I was happy to just go along for the ride and admire her many talents whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way.
I would definitely recommend this for fans of ‘gentle’ mystery stories and would say that it would make a fantastic beach read, but can also brighten up a chilly winter day!
Pep fiddled with a pen on his desk. ‘You know your problem? You still think you’re a cop.’
‘Inspector, if you please.’
‘You see! You miss it. All the excitement, the drug crime and murders.’
‘You have a fertile imagination, Pep. Police work is mostly routine.’
‘Maybe, but you have to admit that you loved all the action stuff as a cop on the mainland. When you came to Mallorca it must have seemed so boring.’
‘Not at all, life was never dull when I served with the Policía Nacional in Palma.’
Pep sighed. ‘The problem is that nothing ever happens here. What we need is a good grisly murder.’
Isabel offered him a pert smile. ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ She hesitated. ‘Actually, I prefer my life now. I have my own business, good money and total freedom. What more could a woman want?’
– Anna Nicholas, The Devil’s Horn
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
This book, the first in a planned series of Isabel Flores Mallorcan mysteries, is saturated with the colours, scents and sounds of the Mediterranean island.
Not only is the setting rich with Spanish heat, flora and fauna, but the narrative is enriched with the language, food, cultural mores and relaxed pace of life that come to the mind when thinking of the Mediterranean way of life. It provided a welcome blast of sunshine for this reader in a cold, grey UK November!
The story follows Isabel, who has retired from the police force to run her mother’s estate agency on the island, as she traverses the island, dipping in the sea, sipping in local cafés, and chatting to everyone – local or incomer. Oh, and uncovering a plethora of secrets as she goes!
It seems Isabel has an unnatural talent for knowing when people are hiding something, which stands her in good stead in the sudden crime wave that hits her sleepy small town. First a young girl is abducted when her mother’s back is turned, then a pious old man is brutally murdered, and that’s not to mention the vibrant drug trade that seems to be thriving around every corner. So Isabel and her reluctant assistant Pep have their work cut out for them. Especially as it’s not strictly speaking their work at all!
Between keeping up with her day job and solving the police’s cases for them, Isabel also finds time to investigate side quests, such as what is going on with her mysterious reclusive renter, and what were some young locals unloading from their boat in the early hours; swim regularly with her ferret Furó; and avoid potential romance from a persistent journalistic suitor and a reticent best friend, who also happens to be chief inspector.
I had no idea how Isabel was solving her cases if I’m honest, as it seemed that everywhere she looked she spotted a conspiracy or secret, and I just couldn’t keep up with her. Much like the police and Pep though, I was happy to just go along for the ride and admire her many talents whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way.
I would definitely recommend this for fans of ‘gentle’ mystery stories and would say that it would make a fantastic beach read, but can also brighten up a chilly winter day!
Pep fiddled with a pen on his desk. ‘You know your problem? You still think you’re a cop.’
‘Inspector, if you please.’
‘You see! You miss it. All the excitement, the drug crime and murders.’
‘You have a fertile imagination, Pep. Police work is mostly routine.’
‘Maybe, but you have to admit that you loved all the action stuff as a cop on the mainland. When you came to Mallorca it must have seemed so boring.’
‘Not at all, life was never dull when I served with the Policía Nacional in Palma.’
Pep sighed. ‘The problem is that nothing ever happens here. What we need is a good grisly murder.’
Isabel offered him a pert smile. ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ She hesitated. ‘Actually, I prefer my life now. I have my own business, good money and total freedom. What more could a woman want?’
– Anna Nicholas, The Devil’s Horn
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
October 29, 2019
This is a crime investigation book like no other. It is set in the beautiful island of Mallorca.
.
☀️
There is murder, abduction. You will be taken on a journey of ex Spanish police offer Isabel Flores Montserrat. She has left her policing career in Spain before coming to Mallorca to run her mothers holiday letting business. But it is not long before her previous career comes into use and takes her on a journey of the unexpected.
.
☀️
Here is a book that is well paced well written. The characters are well written, solid and very believable.
.
☀️
I found this read really refreshing- it is not like any other crime book I’ve read as it is not a heavy read. .
I found this book to be a great read.
.
☀️
There is murder, abduction. You will be taken on a journey of ex Spanish police offer Isabel Flores Montserrat. She has left her policing career in Spain before coming to Mallorca to run her mothers holiday letting business. But it is not long before her previous career comes into use and takes her on a journey of the unexpected.
.
☀️
Here is a book that is well paced well written. The characters are well written, solid and very believable.
.
☀️
I found this read really refreshing- it is not like any other crime book I’ve read as it is not a heavy read. .
I found this book to be a great read.
November 12, 2019
No el meu estil, tot i que bastant amè de llegir
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews