The last resort - Tapa blanda

Rafael Molinet Rojas, an inconspicuous Spaniard living in London, feels that life is not worth living when his mother, his closest companion, dies. Hoping to make a dignified and stylish exit from this world, Molinet plans his last days, picking an elegant setting for his suicide via sleeping pills: Morocco's L'Hirondelle d'Or, one of the most luxurious resorts in the world. In the resort, he hopes to forget about his troubles, stroll around in a white caftan, and try to make a little money playing backgammon before he does himself in. But the day before his trip, Molinet has a lunch date with his vivacious niece, who enthralls him with the story of a scandalous and deeply suspicious death. Jaime Valdes, a high-society lothario, has seemingly choked to death in the presence of both his mistress and his wife, but all of Spain is awash with rumours of murder. When Molinet arrives at the luxury spa, he realizes that the stylish woman sitting by the pool is none other than Valdes' widow. And when a throng of gossipy Europeans turns up, it becomes clear that many sinister things are happening at L'Hirondelle, despite its air of tranquility. In this charged atmosphere, Molinet's eavesdropping leads to a startling turn of events. A tale of high-society, murder and privilege, "The Last Resort" is a literary whodunit to compare with the classics of its kind.

Carmen Posadas is the daughter of a Uruguayan diplomat, and has lived in many capital cities including Moscow, Buenos Aires and London. She is a prize-winning children's author and co-writer for film and television. Little Indiscretions won the coveted Planeta Prize in 1998 and was published by Random House in UK. Carmen Posadas lives in Madrid. Her most recent book is Juego de Ninos (Child's Play), published by Alma in September 2007.