Items related to An Enigmatic Disappearance
Synopsis
Inspector Alvarez likes the quiet life, away from the disapproving gaze of his boss, Superior Chief Salas, and the antics of Mallorca's expatriate community. So he is not inclined to become too concerned when Bevis Ogden, a wealthy British man, reports the disappearance of his attractive young wife, Sabrina. No doubt she has found a younger, possibly wealthier, alternative and left for greener pastures. However, the discovery of a body at the bottom of a gorge changes his attitude dramatically. The husband is distraught, but is this just an act? Rumors abound over Sabrina's lifestyle-from the lovers to the over-indulgent spending. But their expat pack is rife with unsavory The young gigolo who, dependent on a wealthy older woman, may have had an illicit affair with Sabrina; and the cynical and bitter friend whose advances she may have rejected. The investigation becomes even more complicated when the specter of an insurance fraud is raised. Alvarez thinks he knows the answer, but proving his theory is another matter. Wittier and fresher than ever, this latest novel in the "good natured, wonderfully ironic, completely captivating" series (Buffalo News), proves that Roderic Jeffries is a clever and compelling storyteller at the top of his form. Author Roderic Jeffries was born in London in 1926 and was educated at Southampton's School of Navigation. In 1943 he went to sea with the New Zealand Shipping Company and returned to England in 1949 where he was subsequently called to the Bar. He practiced law for a brief period before starting to write full time. His books have been published in many different countries and have been adapted for film,television, and radio. He and his wife live in Mallorca, and have two children.
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Review
Pity poor Inspector Alvarez: surrounded by arrogant British expatriates, scorned by his bad-tempered superiors, at the mercy of his cousin Dolores's equally bad temper and culinary whims, and--as always--in wistful need of a coñac and a siesta. But don't be surprised if, as loyal Roderic Jeffries fans already know, you find yourself taking just a little pleasure in the Mallorcan inspector's misfortunes. Jeffries's cynical treatment of such slings and arrows--and Alvarez's phlegmatic acceptance of them--are the best things about the always amusing Inspector Alvarez series (21 volumes and still going strong). So stifle any sneaking feelings of guilt and relish the insults that pepper An Enigmatic Disappearance.
When beautiful young Sabrina Ogden disappears, Alvarez doesn't share her husband Bevis's worry: foul play seems a much less likely scenario than an extended lover's tryst. But then--"The phone rang and it was in a carefree spirit that [Alvarez] reached for the receiver. Which went to prove that a man was most likely to fall into a hole when he was looking up at the stars." Sabrina's body has turned up at the bottom of a gorge, and the island is rife with suspects: Might the murderer be Rino Ruffolo, Sabrina's lover, afraid of losing his plum position as a very ugly, very capricious, very wealthy woman's pet? Or is Bevis's despair less a widower's grief than an attempt to draw suspicion away from what might have been a life-insurance fraud gone violently awry?
Jeffries has polished his "expatriate cozy" mystery genre to a diamond shimmer, with just enough Mallorcan sun, sea, and dust to frame his sharp-edged character sketches. Fans of the Alvarez series can settle in for another Mediterranean treat, and newcomers will enjoy browsing through the earlier titles after this island outing. --Kelly Flynn
About the Author
Roderic Jeffries was born in London in 1926 and was educated at Southampton's School of Navigation. In 1943 he went to sea with the New Zealand Shipping Company and returned to England in 1949 where he was subsequently called to the Bar. He practiced law for a brief period before starting to write full time. His books have been published in many different countries and have been adapted for film, television, and radio. He and his wife live in Mallorca, and have two children.
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