“Tight plotting, rich atmospherics, and an engagingly flawed lead distinguish Webster’s second contemporary mystery” following Or the Bull Kills You (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
Max Cámara is feeling low. Ominous cracks have appeared in the walls of his flat; the body of a well-known paella chef has been washed up on the beach; there are rows and threats about abortion clinics in anticipation of the Pope’s visit to Valencia; and Town Hall officials are set on demolishing El Cabanyal, the colorful fisherman’s quarter on Valencia’s seafront. As Cámara untangles these threads, he stumbles into a web of corruption and violence, uncovering deep animosities and hidden secrets, and forcing him to question his own doubts and desires.
This is the second novel in Webster’s dark and witty series, following his widely praised debut, Or the Bull Kills You. The plot is fast and twisting, the scene-setting vivid, and the atmosphere powerfully authentic. Starring the determined Cámara, with his love of flamenco and brandy, and occasional doped-out high, A Death in Valencia delves into issues that rouse unruly passions and divide the Spanish people today.
“Jason Webster has made Valencia his own . . . This is Chief Inspector Max Cámara’s second outing, and his colourful personality is every bit a match for the vibrant but often troubled home of paella he has to keep safe.” —The Daily Mirror (UK)
“[Camara’s] perceptions of what is wrong with Spanish society form an original background to a complex thriller.” —The Independent (UK)
