Pity poor Inspector Alvarez: surrounded by arrogant British expatriates, scorned by his bad-tempered superiors, at the mercy of his cousin Dolores's equally bad temper and culinary whims, and--as always--in wistful need of a coñac and a siesta. But don't be surprised if, as loyal Roderic Jeffries fans already know, you find yourself taking just a little pleasure in the Mallorcan inspector's misfortunes. Jeffries's cynical treatment of such slings and arrows--and Alvarez's phlegmatic acceptance of them--are the best things about the always amusing Inspector Alvarez series (21 volumes and still going strong). So stifle any sneaking feelings of guilt and relish the insults that pepper An Enigmatic Disappearance.

When beautiful young Sabrina Ogden disappears, Alvarez doesn't share her husband Bevis's worry: foul play seems a much less likely scenario than an extended lover's tryst. But then--"The phone rang and it was in a carefree spirit that [Alvarez] reached for the receiver. Which went to prove that a man was most likely to fall into a hole when he was looking up at the stars." Sabrina's body has turned up at the bottom of a gorge, and the island is rife with suspects: Might the murderer be Rino Ruffolo, Sabrina's lover, afraid of losing his plum position as a very ugly, very capricious, very wealthy woman's pet? Or is Bevis's despair less a widower's grief than an attempt to draw suspicion away from what might have been a life-insurance fraud gone violently awry?

Jeffries has polished his "expatriate cozy" mystery genre to a diamond shimmer, with just enough Mallorcan sun, sea, and dust to frame his sharp-edged character sketches. Fans of the Alvarez series can settle in for another Mediterranean treat, and newcomers will enjoy browsing through the earlier titles after this island outing. --Kelly Flynn

From Publishers Weekly
Despite a lackluster title, Jeffries's 21st installment in his series featuring Mallorca-based policeman Enrique Alvarez provides the smooth entertainment readers have come to anticipate and relish. The expatriate community resident on Mallorca can't seem to keep itself out of trouble. This never fails to puzzle Alvarez, who marvels at the antics of these foreigners, chiefly English. When Sabrina Ogden, the beautiful, much younger wife of fussy, elderly Bevis Ogden, disappears, Alvarez suspects it is simply the case of a woman bored by her husband's impotence. Alvarez noses around, trying to discern who the other man might be. Is it Rino Ruffolo, handsome Italian boy toy of Ada Heron, English barmaid- turned-millionairess? Or could it be tart-tongued Clive Keane, whose colorless wife thinks him immune to adultery? When Alvarez discovers that Bevis Ogden collected a hefty insurance premium when a previous wife disappeared and later turned up murdered, the cop realizes he could be investigating something more serious than the whereabouts of an errant wife. Jeffries's wit is as quietly mordant as ever, taking the expatriates to task for their despoiliation of the beauties of Mallorca and pointing up the absurdities of the English abroad, who insist on treating all non-English people as "foreigners." This is another small gem in a series that never fails to amuse. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Mallorca's Inspector Alvarez shrugs off the disappearance of a wealthy young British woman of questionable reputation, but then she is found murdered. The list of suspects includes her husband, whose first wife also died tragically. A clever procedural. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Yes, most mysteries rely on formula, but some authors are able to use the comforts of familiarity without becoming slaves to them. Jeffries, for example, deserves a grand prize for having made his twenty-first Inspector Alvarez story just as fresh, readable, and enjoyable as the first. Here are all the same elements from the previous novels: the slow-moving, brandy-loving Mallorcan inspector with the shrewd instincts drawn from his peasant heritage; the expatriate British community of eccentrics, bores, and unfaithful spouses; and the beautiful island of Mallorca fighting its losing battle with overdevelopment and tourist hordes, much to Alvarez's discomfort. The plot, too, is familiar: the missing beautiful young wife of an aging British businessman who may or may not have staged the disappearance as an insurance scam. So, although this one is in many ways "just like" the other 20 in the series, Jeffries' crisp prose, deft characterizations (often accomplished in a paragraph or two), and fast pacing keep even series veterans riveted. And, of course, the inspector himself retains his enduring appeal; Alvarez is the kind of person you'd love to have as your good friend. We've said before that a new Inspector Alvarez novel is always cause for rejoicing. Let the latest round of rejoicing begin. Stuart Miller
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
Inspector Alvarez likes the quiet life, away from the disapproving gaze of his boss, Superior Chief Salas, and the antics of Mallorca's expatriate community. So he is not inclined to become too concerned when Bevis Ogden, a wealthy British man, reports the disappearance of his attractive young wife, Sabrina. No doubt she has found a younger, possibly wealthier, alternative and left for greener pastures. However, the discovery of a body at the bottom of a gorge changes his attitude dramatically. The husband is distraught, but is this just an act? Rumors abound over Sabrina's lifestyle-from the lovers to the over-indulgent spending. But their expat pack is rife with unsavory characters: The young gigolo who, dependent on a wealthy older woman, may have had an illicit affair with Sabrina; and the cynical and bitter friend whose advances she may have rejected. The investigation becomes even more complicated when the specter of an insurance fraud is raised. Alvarez thinks he knows the answer, but proving his theory is another matter. Wittier and fresher than ever, this latest novel in the "good natured, wonderfully ironic, completely captivating" series (Buffalo News), proves that Roderic Jeffries is a clever and compelling storyteller at the top of his form.

About the Author
Roderic Jeffries was born in London in 1926 and was educated at Southampton's School of Navigation. In 1943 he went to sea with the New Zealand Shipping Company and returned to England in 1949 where he was subsequently called to the Bar. He practiced law for a brief period before starting to write full time. His books have been published in many different countries and have been adapted for film, television, and radio. He and his wife live in Mallorca, and have two children.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Inspector Alvarez likes the quiet life, away from the disapproving gaze of his boss, Superior Chief Salas, and the antics of Mallorca's expatriate community. So he is not inclined to become too concerned when Bevis Ogden, a wealthy British man, reports the disappearance of his attractive young wife, Sabrina. No doubt she has found a younger, possibly wealthier, alternative and left for greener pastures.

However, the discovery of a body at the bottom of a gorge changes his attitude dramatically. The husband is distraught, but is this just an act? Rumors abound over Sabrina's lifestyle-from the lovers to the over-indulgent spending. But their expat pack is rife with unsavory characters: The young gigolo who, dependent on a wealthy older woman, may have had an illicit affair with Sabrina; and the cynical and bitter friend whose advances she may have rejected. The investigation becomes even more complicated when the specter of an insurance fraud is raised.

Alvarez thinks he knows the answer, but proving his theory is another matter. Wittier and fresher than ever, this latest novel in the "good natured, wonderfully ironic, completely captivating" series (Buffalo News), proves that Roderic Jeffries is a clever and compelling storyteller at the top of his form.

Author Bio: Roderic Jeffries was born in London in 1926 and was educated at Southampton's School of Navigation. In 1943 he went to sea with the New Zealand Shipping Company and returned to England in 1949 where he was subsequently called to the Bar. He practiced law for a brief period before starting to write full time. His books have been published in many different countries and have been adapted for film,television, and radio. He and his wife live in Mallorca, and have two children.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Despite a lackluster title, Jeffries's 21st installment in his series featuring Mallorca-based policeman Enrique Alvarez provides the smooth entertainment readers have come to anticipate and relish. The expatriate community resident on Mallorca can't seem to keep itself out of trouble. This never fails to puzzle Alvarez, who marvels at the antics of these foreigners, chiefly English. When Sabrina Ogden, the beautiful, much younger wife of fussy, elderly Bevis Ogden, disappears, Alvarez suspects it is simply the case of a woman bored by her husband's impotence. Alvarez noses around, trying to discern who the other man might be. Is it Rino Ruffolo, handsome Italian boy toy of Ada Heron, English barmaid- turned-millionairess? Or could it be tart-tongued Clive Keane, whose colorless wife thinks him immune to adultery? When Alvarez discovers that Bevis Ogden collected a hefty insurance premium when a previous wife disappeared and later turned up murdered, the cop realizes he could be investigating something more serious than the whereabouts of an errant wife. Jeffries's wit is as quietly mordant as ever, taking the expatriates to task for their despoiliation of the beauties of Mallorca and pointing up the absurdities of the English abroad, who insist on treating all non-English people as "foreigners." This is another small gem in a series that never fails to amuse. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Mallorca's Inspector Alvarez shrugs off the disappearance of a wealthy young British woman of questionable reputation, but then she is found murdered. The list of suspects includes her husband, whose first wife also died tragically. A clever procedural. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

Internet Book Watch - Internet Book Watch

Inspector Alvarez of the Cuerpo General de Policia lives on the beautiful island of Mallorca off the coast of Spain. The tropical paradise has a large contingent of English expatriates such as Sabrina and Ogden Nash. The elderly Ogden married Sabrina so he could have a trophy wife while she married him for his money. To keep Sabrina interested in him, Ogden uses the aphrodisiac Spanish Fly, but lands in the hospital due to an overdose poisoning his body. A few days after Ogden is released from the hospital, Sabrina vanishes. Inspector Alvarez handles the investigation although he is confused by how the expatriates think. He believes Sabrina left her spouse, especially since her car is parked at the airport. Months later, her body is found. Alvarez focuses on the grieving widow even though no evidence points towards the distraught Ogden. The different viewpoints of the island-born vs. the immigrants come across as a key theme in the Inspector Alvarez mysteries. Although there are few viable suspects, the fascinating plot of An Enigmatic Disappearance works because they can easily be innocent or guilty, requiring the entire novel to be read before knowing whom the killer is. The bewildered but clever yet often bumbling hero seems more like a Bullwinkle who somehow seems to get the job done.

Kirkus Reviews

Companionably sipping his way through his 22nd case (A Maze of Murders, 1998, etc.), Mallorcan Inspector Enrico Alvarez is immersed once more in the island's expatriate community, this time focusing on the disappearance of Sabrina, the lush, much-younger wife of former English commodities broker Bevis Ogden, recently hospitalized from the ill effects of the aphrodisiac Spanish Fly, which he presumably took to satisfy his sexy young love. When Sabrina's green BMW is found abandoned at the airport, rumors proliferate that she flew away with a dashing stud. Then her naked, ringless body is found in the underbrush on the estate of Señor Claudio Zafortega. Ogden is duly distraught. But an insurance fraud investigator tells Alvarez that it's all an act: Ogden's heavily insured second wife also supposedly debunked with a young stud, then died-and dear departed Belinda turns out to be a dead ringer for Sabrina. How many times can Ogden work this scam? His inquiries abetted by top-notch brandy provided by the scandalized Brits, Alvarez uncovers another May-December doomed romance, a three-timing lothario, and a spin on a twist that, momentarily, quells the barbs of his huffy superior officer.