Charlie Woodend has taken his wife to Spain for a rest. The doctor has
recommended it for her health. However, Charlie is unable to stop being
the policeman that he is. He immediately becomes suspicious of a man
travelling on the bus with them to their hotel. Fortuitously Charlie
meets a Spanish policeman, who is no longer working due to Franco, the
first evening in a pub.
That evening upon returning to his hotel, Charlie sees a man fall from
the next room's balcony. Upon a cursory examination of the body, he is
positive that the man had been murdered. Charlie is arrested and taken
in for questioning, but released shortly afterwards. Charlie's new
ex-policeman friend, Paco Ruiz, tries to convince him into helping with a
surreptitious investigation.
The body is identified and as a result, Charlie is forced by the British
consul to work with a local police officer, by the name of Lopez, whom
he despises. Meanwhile back in England, Charlie's protégés, Bob Rutter
and Monika Paniatowski begin by questioning the widow and then the
victim's best friend.
Charlie is having no luck with his interrogations due to the
interference of the the local policeman. Paco, on the other hand is
beginning to learn more. Unfortunately, Lopez has a spy who also learns
what Paco has discovered. This gives him a very strong hand.
When the mayor of the Spanish town is murdered, Lopez is in a panic. He
realises that he needs the help of Charlie. However, Woodend refuses
to help unless he has the help of Paco. Lopez ungraciously acquiesces.
Author Sally Spencer ensures that Woodend has his work cut out for him
in solving the murders, and it is done in a very unusual way. A good,
quick read.
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