The Last Resort

Starred review from June 27, 2005
Secrets, lies and society scandals are just a few of the seductive delights that Posadas (Little Indiscretions
) offers in this wonderfully entertaining novel of morals and murder, which examines how gossip—and sins of omission—can destroy lives. Rafael Molinet, a depressed gay Spaniard living in London, decides after his mother's death to end it all at L'Hirondelle d'Or, a luxurious Moroccan spa, but he defers his suicide plans after meeting Mercedes Algorta at the resort. Mercedes's philandering husband recently choked to death under suspicious circumstances, provoking a scandal similar to that surrounding the death of Molinet's unmourned father many years earlier. Though the law exonerated Molinet's mother, she suffered from gossip mongers, as does Mercedes, especially after the arrival of Antonio Sánchez López, a notorious radio personality, who spies Mercedes falling for a glamorous screenwriter. Mystery readers who enjoy sophisticated European ambience and upper-class tomfoolery will be richly rewarded. Agent, Tom Colchie.

July 15, 2005
After his mother dies, Rafael Molinet decides it's time for him to end his life, too. An older Spaniard who makes his home in London, Rafael decides he'll blow what little money he has left and go out with a bang. At lunch the day before he leaves for a lush hotel in Morocco (his final destination), his niece, Fernanda, shares the morbidly fascinating story of a man who dies unexpectedly with both his mistress and his wife at his side. Having said his goodbyes, Rafael heads for Morocco, but fate has other plans for the depressed Spaniard -who should Rafael meet but the dead man's wife, now a suspect in his murder? Posadas's first mystery, "Little Indiscretions", won the prestigious Planeta award for literature in 1998, and this one will also be a good addition in both English and Spanish for libraries of all sizes. Posadas lives in Spain. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 4/1/05.] -Shelley Mosley, Glendale Community Coll. Lib. Media Ctr., AZ

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