The Summer of Dead Toys: A Thriller

I find myself reading a lot of mysteries these days where the setting is a major part of the attraction -- Jo Nesbo, Maurizio di Giovanni, Andrea Camilleri, Adrian McKinty, Tarquin Hall, Qiu Xialong. A new series featuring one of my favorite cities in the world sounded really fun. This book didn't disappoint. Sympathetic characters with different challenges than one usually finds with dysfunctional detectives, and a good story line. I look forward to The Good Suicides.

Inspector Hector Salgado has returned to Barcelona after a mandatory stay in Argentina following the beating of a suspect in a child human trafficking case. To ease him back into law enforcement, his boss and employer has partnered him with a new rookie (with computer skills) to look into the death of a teenage boy who fell to his death from the top of a house. Everyone assumes it was an accident, as he had been drinking shortly before. Ahhhh... but not everything is as it looks. Was it an accident? Suicide? Or was it murder? His investigation leads to another death of a teenager. His suspect beating comes back to haunt him. And all roads lead from the summer of dead toys. There are a lot of characters in this book, but they are so tightly woven, and so well written, you get to know them all in short order. The story flows smoothly with some surprises along the way. I give it 5 stars ... and now on my way to Amazon for the 2nd book in this series ... The Good Suicides. Keeping my fingers crossed there will be more Hector Salgado books in the future.

The title sounded clever and the story had some twists and turns. I didn't like being left at the end with a cliffhanger. Still a good read

Good read. Unpredictable. The theme of troubled and abused children runs through this mystery. I hope this is the first book in a series.

Introducing Hector Salgado, an Argentine detective in the Barcelona police force, who is as mesmerizing as the City itself. He, like the City, has an enigmatic facade that simmers over an anger that may erupt at any moment. He is returning from leave with both his career and marriage in shambles. To keep him away from the case that almost destroyed his career, he and his new partner, Liere, an untried, newly promoted assistant, are tasked with "closing" an apparent suicide. Their investigation takes on a life of its own during the sultry Barcelona summer as it twists and turns toward the volatile conclusion. This is a well written translation from the original Spanish that keeps you turning pages even past your bedtime. I normally don't like "dark" police procedurals, but this was chillingly good, even though there is little graphic violence. Totally compelling. I'm off to purchase the next one in the series.

my first time reading this author's work; its an okay read...don't know if I would read another of his works.

This was,a tense, exciting thriller. It doesn't have the humor I have grown accustomed to with Inspector Montalbano but it was a good mystery that kept me guessing. The characters are interesting band I have already ordered the sequel. What better recommendation.

A good paced read with surprise plot twists. Characters well developed and easy to empathize with in some cases. Enjoyed it!