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Isabel Flores Mallorcan Mysteries #3
Fallen Butterfly
FALLEN BUTTERFLY is the third instalment in a gripping Mallorca-based crime series from Anna Nicholas, the most prolific British author writing about the island today.
The new book again features local protagonist, 33-year-old Isabel Flores Montserrat, an eccentric, fearless, lateral-thinking sleuth who has a pet ferret named Furó, and is addicted to sunflower seeds and Chupa Chups lollypops.
Unlike many female leads in popular crime fiction today, the Mallorcan former detective inspector is happy and balanced with few hang-ups. She loves her family and mountain community in the Soller valley, her pampered hens and her day job as a holiday rentals agent. Isabel believes in living for the moment and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
Having turned her back on her old life as a policewoman in Barcelona, Madrid and Palma to run her widowed mother’s ailing mountain rentals agency in the Soller valley, Isabel finds herself being drawn back into detective work by her close friend and former boss, police chief Tolo Cabot. Having already assisted him with a cluster of puzzling island crimes, she is called upon again when Sebi Vives, the local transport minister, is found floating in the sea near Muro. He had increasingly infuriated local environmentalists, having approved a scheme to run a motorway through S’Albufera Natural Park that would destroy the natural fauna and flora and the habitat of thousands of birds. Environmentalists are blamed for the murder but Isabel Flores believes there is more to Sebi Vives’s death.
Meanwhile, close to her own mountain village, Sant Martí, foreign hikers are being misdirected by false cairns and signs in the Tramuntana hills, causing many to fall. Mischief is at work but who is to blame? Is it environmentalists or is something far more sinister at play?
The new book again features local protagonist, 33-year-old Isabel Flores Montserrat, an eccentric, fearless, lateral-thinking sleuth who has a pet ferret named Furó, and is addicted to sunflower seeds and Chupa Chups lollypops.
Unlike many female leads in popular crime fiction today, the Mallorcan former detective inspector is happy and balanced with few hang-ups. She loves her family and mountain community in the Soller valley, her pampered hens and her day job as a holiday rentals agent. Isabel believes in living for the moment and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
Having turned her back on her old life as a policewoman in Barcelona, Madrid and Palma to run her widowed mother’s ailing mountain rentals agency in the Soller valley, Isabel finds herself being drawn back into detective work by her close friend and former boss, police chief Tolo Cabot. Having already assisted him with a cluster of puzzling island crimes, she is called upon again when Sebi Vives, the local transport minister, is found floating in the sea near Muro. He had increasingly infuriated local environmentalists, having approved a scheme to run a motorway through S’Albufera Natural Park that would destroy the natural fauna and flora and the habitat of thousands of birds. Environmentalists are blamed for the murder but Isabel Flores believes there is more to Sebi Vives’s death.
Meanwhile, close to her own mountain village, Sant Martí, foreign hikers are being misdirected by false cairns and signs in the Tramuntana hills, causing many to fall. Mischief is at work but who is to blame? Is it environmentalists or is something far more sinister at play?
386 pages, Paperback
Published December 15, 2022
13 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 14, 2023
Reading Anna’s books have been such a joyous experience! Perhaps she’s the only one I can think of who adds sunshine to the story even when there are gruesome murders involved. Fallen Butterfly, the third book in the Isabel Flores series is as good as the former ones. After Nancy Drew, Isabel is my absolute favourite woman detective and this has been reaffirmed after reading the third novel. Set in the joyous island of Mallorca, surrounded by her loved ones and her eccentric ferret pet, she goes on to solve many a mysterious problems.
Contrary to other detectives, Isabel leads a fun life in Soller village surrounded by those who love and adore her. She leads a rather carefree life, taking baths in the sea, downing cups and cups of cortado and wolfing down all the delicious food that her mother makes. She has very little to worry about the ongoings of her daily life, but when an occasional murder pops up she eventually burrows her way into it and solves it. In Fallen Butterfly, when a local transport minister is found dead in a rather cruel manner, the police force is quick to rope in Isabel. Although Isabel resigned from the force years ago, her help is often sought in case of tough cases.
In trying to resolve the murder of the minister, Isabel uncovers a much larger crime situation. While munching on sunflower seeds, and savouring chupa chups, with her assistant ferret assistant in tow, Isabel sets out to figure out the secret. Like in her previous books, I still found Isabel extremely likeable and her antics quite entertaining. My only qualms with the story was that it got a bit stretchy in the middle but the end makes up for it.
If you’re looking for a fresh face in the detective world, this one’s just for you. Can’t thank @annanicholasauthor enough for sending me a copy the minute I reached out to her 🫶🏻
Contrary to other detectives, Isabel leads a fun life in Soller village surrounded by those who love and adore her. She leads a rather carefree life, taking baths in the sea, downing cups and cups of cortado and wolfing down all the delicious food that her mother makes. She has very little to worry about the ongoings of her daily life, but when an occasional murder pops up she eventually burrows her way into it and solves it. In Fallen Butterfly, when a local transport minister is found dead in a rather cruel manner, the police force is quick to rope in Isabel. Although Isabel resigned from the force years ago, her help is often sought in case of tough cases.
In trying to resolve the murder of the minister, Isabel uncovers a much larger crime situation. While munching on sunflower seeds, and savouring chupa chups, with her assistant ferret assistant in tow, Isabel sets out to figure out the secret. Like in her previous books, I still found Isabel extremely likeable and her antics quite entertaining. My only qualms with the story was that it got a bit stretchy in the middle but the end makes up for it.
If you’re looking for a fresh face in the detective world, this one’s just for you. Can’t thank @annanicholasauthor enough for sending me a copy the minute I reached out to her 🫶🏻
January 12, 2023
Another new author for me & although this is the third in this series, it reads well as a standalone.
I love Mallorca & this book takes me back there instantly; from the vibrant cover design to the meticulous descriptions of the cuisine.
Isabel is a great character; feisty when she needs to be but cool & intelligent as required. There are two threads to this book & of course they eventually join together with a fabulous “who did it” scene reminiscent of Christie herself.
I’m going to have to read the rest of this series now & also the travel books by the same author. Recommended.
I love Mallorca & this book takes me back there instantly; from the vibrant cover design to the meticulous descriptions of the cuisine.
Isabel is a great character; feisty when she needs to be but cool & intelligent as required. There are two threads to this book & of course they eventually join together with a fabulous “who did it” scene reminiscent of Christie herself.
I’m going to have to read the rest of this series now & also the travel books by the same author. Recommended.
January 23, 2023
The writing was descriptive and there was always something going on. There were a couple of different storylines that ran alongside one another, yet ended up intertwining and ending well. I also enjoyed the addition of food. I thought that added another layer to the story.
The chapters were long and so you were able to get a good chunk of the story before moving on. There were breaks in the chapters which added to the good flow to the story.
The main character was excellent. I loved her lightness and her willingness to do whatever it took to get the evidence she needed.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this mystery.
✨For a longer review see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com
The chapters were long and so you were able to get a good chunk of the story before moving on. There were breaks in the chapters which added to the good flow to the story.
The main character was excellent. I loved her lightness and her willingness to do whatever it took to get the evidence she needed.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this mystery.
✨For a longer review see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews