What could be deadlier than war?
On the eve of the Spanish Civil War murder on the streets of Madrid has become so commonplace that it passes largely unnoticed.
For Inspector Paco Ruiz the death of a young woman in Retiro Park has a significance that even he does not fully understand. Battling against official hostility, and attempts on his own life, Ruiz finds himself being pulled deeper and … finds himself being pulled deeper and deeper into a dark web of lies and treachery.
As well as providing a thrilling and intriguing mystery, A Murder of No Consequence paints a vivid picture of a society – and a way of life – on the verge of collapse.
James Garcia Woods was educated at the universities of Wales, Manchester and Oxford. Before becoming a full-time writer, he taught in England, Iran and Spain. He has lived with his wife in Madrid since 1979.
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Although the title of this book prepares you for a mystery, it is more of a narrative about the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Paco and his partner Fat Felipe are policemen assigned to fond the murder of an unknown woman. Paco is very persistent, and once he finds out the young woman’s identity, he is able to link her to Don Hererra, a political leader. The the threats to Paco, his removal from the case, his suspension, and death threats begin. At first politics is only brought up when Paco has wine at night with his friends Bernardo and Ramon. But as the rule of law deteriorates in Madrid, the book focuses more and more on the political divides in the city. While Paco does solve the murder in the end, the vast majority of the book is spent on politics and dissension.
This series is an interesting way to get a perspective on the Spanish civil war. Set in 1936 Madrid, A Murder Of No Consequence is a mystery being investigated during the onset of the civil war. It’s a complex mystery with very serious mind games going on as the players have different agendas. There are three books now, and I hope James García Woods puts out another one soon.
Set at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, the main character is interesting.
A Great Read!
A Murder of no Consequence by James Garcia Woods is an excellent read. It’s a murder mystery wrapped inside the beginnings of the Spanish Civil War. You get the fun of just a great read along with a history lesson.
Probably one of the best constructed mysteries I’ve read in a long time. So good I got the follow-up: The General’s Dog.
And oh so Spanish. This guy is like Simenon and Penny in that you can smell the scene.
I recommend as a good afternoon.
Perhaps I couldn’t relate to the political unrest of the time in Spain, but I didn’t see the true connection between the deceased and the political situation of the time. I think there was supposed to be a twist in this who-done-it, but it fell flat. I considered not finishing the book.
It was not exciting
I liked the background of the early civil war in Spain
Great historical mystery
Kept me involved all the way through. Good historical perspective on pre Franco Spain in 1936.
On the eve of the Spanish Civil War a cop tries to stay straight and just investigate a murder.
Political forces buffet him from all sides.
Excellent evocation of the time.
In mid-1930s Spain, a police detective investigates a girl’s murder. Her expensive dress leads him to a powerful political leader’s wife. The philandering husband had given his wife’s castoffs to his young mistress, and the dress becomes the lifeline for the investigation. The detective is attacked by three Falangist thugs, which heightens his resolve to find the murderer. He is not merely warned off the investigation but fired from the force. The political spectrum at the time involves anarchists, Nationalists, monarchists, Catholics, conservatives, liberals, Generalissmo Franco — and exploding, gruesome bloodshed. The detective is forced to choose a side, when all sides are losing. Extensive research is evident, and the presentation is flawless.
I really enjoyed this book. It kept one guessing throughout all the pitfalls the man character had to navigate.