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Inspector Alvarez #31
Murder Needs Imagination
A new case for Inspector Alvarez . . .Majorcan Inspector Enrique Alvarez is called out to investigate the seemingly routine accidental death of Englishman Jasper Vickers, but all is not as straightforward as it seems. Despite being made to hand the case over to the slick, suave Inspector Pocavi, Alvarez remains determined to solve the case in the hope that his imaginative approach might win the day.
- GenresMystery
170 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Roderic Jeffries
134 books19 followersaka 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 28, 2017
A brief and not too complicated or interesting mystery. Alvarez continues his introspective, sly and sarcastic way, fueled by cognac and coffee.
May 11, 2018
A disappointing read as I had enjoyed other books in the series. This one had a thin plot concerning the death of a womanising expatriate in Majorca. Not a character I could summon up any enthusiasm for and many of the other characters were one-dimensional.
There were long conversations between the investigating officer Alvarez and his superior officer, where the latter criticises Alvarez at every turn. This began to get tedious. There were also some domestic scenes through which the same theme ran throughout - men's general uselessness. This also became tedious.
It was difficult to know whether to sympathise fully with Alvarez or not. In the first book there was some explanation of why he had lost his enthusiasm for work, also of his family relationships, but this history, which would not be considered spoilers, was not recounted in this book,
There were long conversations between the investigating officer Alvarez and his superior officer, where the latter criticises Alvarez at every turn. This began to get tedious. There were also some domestic scenes through which the same theme ran throughout - men's general uselessness. This also became tedious.
It was difficult to know whether to sympathise fully with Alvarez or not. In the first book there was some explanation of why he had lost his enthusiasm for work, also of his family relationships, but this history, which would not be considered spoilers, was not recounted in this book,
January 12, 2008
This is the second book that I have read in this series. They are very light and remind me a little of Andrea Camillieri's books of Sicily primarily because of the lead character, Inspector Alvarez. However, Camillieri is a better writer than Jeffries and, I think, truer to the culture. With Camillieri, you feel that he is part of the culture and is writing about it from the inside. With Jeffries, you feel that he thinks he understands the Majorcan culture, but that it is still from the outside.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews