Or the Bull Kills You: (Max Camara 1)

Description

Gripping, hot-blooded detective fiction with an authentic Spanish setting - perfect for fans of Michael Dibdin Either you kill the bull, or the bull kills you - traditional proverb.Chief Inspector Max Camara hates bullfighting but one hot afternoon in Valencia he has to replace his boss, judging a festival corrida that stars Spain's most famous young matador. That night, he is summoned back to the bullring where the young matador's dead body now lies, naked and mutilated.As the city prepares for the Fallas, the five day festival of fireworks and celebrations, and the politicians work feverishly towards an election, Camara hunts down his prey through the city's streets and bars. But as he follows the trail of death, money, corruption and sex in search of the killer, he must also battle his own demons and desires...

This book marks Jason Webster's stylish move into fiction. He was born near San Francisco, brought up in England and Germany and after spells in Italy and Egypt, he moved to Spain, the subject of his widely acclaimed books. These include Duende: A Journey in Search of Flamenco; Andalus: Unlocking the Secrets of Moorish Spain; Guerra!: Living in the Shadows of the Spanish Civil War and most recently the mesmerising Sacred Sierra: A Year on a Spanish Mountain. He and his wife Salud divide their time between Valencia and their farm in the high mountains. See his website www.jasonwebster.net

"One of the most attractive figures to enter recent detective fiction... Like the best detective stories, this book becomes a scrutiny of our most powerful drives and secrets" -- Jane Jakeman Independent "Does for Spain what Michael Dibdin did to wonderful effect in his 'Zen' novels for Italy ... a marvellous novel ripe with passion, love and murder ... it is wonderful to read about a crime thriller in the sun - rather than the latest fashion of Swedish murders with its freezing cold and bleak weather, short days and long nights!" Crimesquad.com "Nifty plotting, great descriptions and the most enchanting new detective I've come across in a good while" Guardian "Camara's approach to policing is pleasantly quixotic, involving as little time on the job as possible, but the shambolic cop with virility issues is absorbing company and Webster captures the manic atmosphere of the fiesta" -- Siobhan Murphy Metro "He mixes the various ingredients of Valencian tradition, political factions and personal intrigue into a memorable paella of Mediterranean noir" Independent