Or the Bull Kills You

Starred review from July 11, 2011
Webster's remarkable first novel, a baffling mystery centered on the world of Spanish bullfighting, introduces Chief Insp. Max Cámara of the Valencia police. Despite attacks from animal rights activists and politicians hoping to ride public opposition to bullfighting into office, the sport has had a resurrection, thanks to a charismatic young matador, Jorge Blanco. When Blanco's naked body turns up one night in an empty bullring, with two banderilla darts hanging from his back, a matador's sword in his rib cage, and a Spanish flag tied around his neck, Cámara isn't pleased to be assigned what is bound to be a high-profile murder case. Webster makes the bullfighting integral to the plot rather than a mere backdrop, effortlessly conveying the role of the sport in Spanish society. The well-rounded leadâcynical, willing to bend the rules, emotionally woundedâshould be more than capable of sustaining a long series.

October 1, 2011
A Spanish homicide detective encounters more bull than he bargained for. Chief Inspector Max Cámara of the Valencia PD has detested everything to do with "blood-in-the-sand" ever since as a child he saw a matador sink a sword into an already crippled, helpless animal. Young as he was, he regarded the contest as shamefully unequal. Years later, however, he finds himself reluctantly standing in for his boss, the police commissioner, at a particularly significant corrida. It features nonpareil matador Jorge Blanco, who through his consummate skill and exemplary bearing has almost single-handedly rescued bullfighting from what had seemed an inexorable decline. As usual, Blanco's performance is heroic. He's the darling of the crowd--with, it turns out, a notable exception, since later that same night his naked, mutilated body is discovered in the deserted bull ring. So, because happenstance put him at the scene, Cámara catches a case he'd much rather have done without. For one thing, his personal life has recently become depressingly distracting. Moreover, it's hard to locate a single citizen in all Valencia who takes bullfighting lightly. Rabid fans of the sport include the commissioner, the mayor and a variety of lesser politicians--all of which, as Cámara knows full well, is tantamount to seeing the case as a potential career-killer. Webster's insights into bullfighting shed light on aspects of the Spanish character, lifting this debut and its bleak and brooding protagonist above the ordinary.

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Starred review from September 1, 2011

Chief Inspector Max Camara might as well be in the ring himself as he investigates the brutal slaying of Valencia's star bullfighter. When a second, ritualistic death occurs, the pressure escalates. Which way to turn? There are the antibullfighting activists, animal breeders, local politicians, and two possible love interests to complicate his life. One question can't be avoided: Where did a gay bullfighter (rumor has it) fit into this macho society? Webster, who lives in Spain and who is married to a flamenco dancer, makes his scenes easy to visualize, uses believable dialog, and plays out the investigation in an assured manner. The author's marvelously structured mystery not only reveals the complex politics behind bullfighting but also introduces us to colorful, tragic, and empathetic characters. The city of Valencia is a character as well, so strong is the sense of place (map included). VERDICT With its rapid pace and wonderfully flawed detective, this vibrant novel has tremendous appeal. Conor Fitzgerald would be a good read-alike; it also would appeal to new fans of Zen (Michael Dibdin's Italian cop) thanks to the recent PBS Masterpiece Mystery! miniseries starring Rufus Sewell.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2011
Webster's fiction debut is a police mystery set in modern-day Valencia. Chief Inspector Max Cmara is called in at the last minute to judge a bullfight, despite his well-known distaste for the bullring. Unfortunately for Max, he's also the only officer left on call a few hours later when the star matador's body is found in the middle of the ring. In order to solve the murder, Max must penetrate the tightly knit world of Spanish bullfighting, but, fortunately, one of the top bullfight reporters is willing to share information over dinner dates and drinks. As with most first novels, this one has some flaws; mainly, Webster does too much telling and not enough showing, especially in his lengthy descriptions of characters. Even so, there is real potential here for a series, Max and his police assistants are intriguing and well-drawn characters, and the Valencia setting is unique and well described. Make sure to suggest Webster to fans of P. J. Brooke's Blood Wedding (2008), set in Granada, and Alicia Gim'nez-Bartlett's Death Rites (2008), about a police librarian in Barcelona.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)