A Dead Man in Barcelona
Fifth book in the Seymour of Special Branch series
by Michael Pearce
After being somewhat disappointed in this series compared to the author’s Mamur Zapt series, which I adore, A
Dead Man in Barcelona has made me a convert. Earlier books just didn’t strike me with the same joi de
vivre based in the absurdities of daily life as the best of the Mamur Zapt series. You could see similarities
between the heroes, but with Seymour the much more subdued, less sophisticated, less experienced younger brother.
A big part of the pleasure with the Mamur Zapt series is in viewing events through the hero’s own appreciative
enjoyment of what’s going on around him. Well, younger brother has grown up and is coming into his own.
Seymour grew up near the East London docks, amongst a variety of immigrants, with a natural talent for languages
and plenty of opportunity to practice. As a result, he’s been seconded from his job with the Metropolitan Police to
various hot spots around the world where his unique combination of language skills and investigatory skill are
needed.
Sam Lockhart, an expatriate English-born businessman based in Gibraltar, has been found murdered... in the
Barcelona jail cell where he was left after being picked up as part of a Catalan protest. Actually that happened
a couple of years ago, but the local authorities are doing an excellent job of failing to progress in their
investigations, while regional politics are making the circumstances of his death a subject of increasing
interest. Why was he killed? Why was he even there? Seymour and his Deputy Commissioner agree that it really
doesn’t sound their sort of investigation, but the Foreign Office and Navy are insistent. Meanwhile Seymour has
his own reasons for wanting to go, involving proximity to Tangier where Chantale, the woman he thinks he wants
to marry, lives.
This was a fun, fast read, with a lot of humor based in observations about people just being people. The
writing style is smooth and light, very easy to swallow. While part of a series, it works well as a standalone,
although I am going to have to go back and read the prior book I missed, to find out more about Seymour and his
Chantale. Still, if you haven’t tried this series or didn't enjoy earlier entries that much, this would be a great
place to pick things up. |
The Book |
Soho Constable |
December 2008 |
Hardcover |
978-1-56947-537-9 |
Historical Mystery [Barcelona, Spain 1912] |
More at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Kim Malo |
Reviewed 2009 |
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