It is no idle whim that takes Paco Ruiz to Madrid, the city he fled thirty years earlier, but an urgent need to lay to rest the ghosts of the past.

Accompanied by his best friend, ex-DCI Charlie Woodend, he relives his days as a police inspector; a militiaman caught up in the hopeless struggle to defeat Franco's army; and political prisoner working in brutal conditions to build a lasting monument to fascism. But more painful than any of this are the memories of the investigation he conducted into the murder of Faustino, his boyhood friend-better known as El Gitano, the most famous matador in Spain.

From the very start, the investigation is a perplexing one. Who could have killed El Gitano just before he appeared in the ring? And more to the point, why would anyone want to kill a man who was so beloved by both sides in the bloody conflict? But the deeper he digs, the more Paco discovers secrets long buried and passions suppressed.

Death of a Matador is a fascinating tale that immerses the reader in the blood-soaked realities of the Spanish Civil War and the driving forces of contemporary Spanish culture. It is bound to appeal to the many fans of Paco Ruiz and Charlie Woodend, to anyone interested in modern history, and to all who enjoy fine detective stories.

'Beautifully crafted detective story in a very unusual setting ... Perfectly drawn characters. Impossible to put down. Highly recommend this book and want to read everything else this author has written' - Amazon review

'Fast paced, twists in the plot kept me guessing, all set against the awful cruelty and chaos of the civil war' - Amazon review

'As the Spanish Civil war starts to unfold, ex-Inspector Ruiz has another murder to solve. This was a very entertaining read, packed with historical insight' - Goodreads review

James Garcia Woods was educated at the universities of Wales, Manchester and Oxford and taught in England, Iran and Spain before becoming a full-time writer. He lives on the Costa Blanca with his partner, one cat, two dogs and countless fruit trees.