Introducing one of crime fiction’s most legendary detectives, and greatest writers, to America When Antonio Jauma, a director of the multinational conglomerate Petnay, is murdered, his widow seeks out private investigator Pepe Carvalho, who had met and forgotten the playboy executive after their single chance encounter—back when Carvalho still worked for the CIA. Jauma was a “womanizer,” according to a friend, “of the least pleasant sense,” and the police have decided that the murder is the work of an unhappy pimp. But Carvalho doggedly pursues his own phlegmatic investigation, with time out for his signature book burning (Sartre’s Critique of Dialectical Reasoning; Sholokov’s And Quiet Flows the Don), cooking (leek soup and a freshly-caught steamed turbot), and running with his girlfriend Charo, whose last name he can’t remember.

Barcelona detective Pepe Carvalho’s radical past catches up with him when a powerful businessman—a patron of artists and activists—is found dead after going missing for a year. In search of the spirit of Paul Gauguin, Stuart Pedrell—eccentric Barcelona businessman, construction magnate, dreamer, and patron of poets and painters—disappeared not long after announcing plans to travel to the South Pacific. A year later he is found stabbed to death at a construction site in Barcelona. Gourmand gumshoe Pepe Carvalho is hired by Pedrell’s wife to find out what happened. Carvalho, a jaded former communist, must travel through circles of the old anti-Franco left wing on the trail of the killer. But with little appetite for politics, Carvalho also leads us on a tour through literature, cuisine, and the criminal underbelly of Barcelona in a typically brilliant twist on the genre by a Spanish master.

Only Pepe Carvalho could use a tattoo saying "Born to Raise Hell in Hell" as evidence that the police are, once again, dead wrong In a Spain still stifled under the rule of Franco, former CIA operative--and former Communist--Pepe Carvalho has become so cynical he seems to care about nothing except food and sex. He's even taken to burning the occasional book in his Barcelona apartment, just so he can have a fire going in the fireplace when he eats some bacalhao. But when he sees the cops bungling a case he's hired to investigate--that of a body pulled out of the sea--he's roused by a sense of injustice. The cops think the murder was connected to local drug dealers and brothels, and they begin raiding bars and harassing Barcelona's women of the night. But Carvalho's gut tells him something else is going on, and the cops are wrong once again. As the cops stir up more and more trouble, and Carvalho gets more and more entwined, he's only got one clue: a tattoo on the dead man's body, one which reads: "Born to Raise Hell in Hell."

By exploring the transcultural nature of Mediterranean crime fiction, Barbara Pezzotti advocates for a regional 'reading' of the genre.

The Rough Guide to Barcelona is the ultimate guide to this intoxicating Spanish city, whether you are backpacking on a budget, or city-breaking in luxury. This up-to-date guide has an introduction that showcases the colourful streets and astonishing architecture, and there are new sections exploring Antoni Gaudi and modernism, as well as Barcelona's exotic festivals. The city is covered neighbourhood by neighbourhood, with dozens of reviews for restaurant and hotels in Barcelona, easy-to-use maps and area highlights. With all the practical advice you need, and in-depth examinations of Catalan history, culture, music, cuisine, sport and folklore, this if the must-have item for any trip to Barcelona, from the adrenalin junkies to those craving some first-class tapas. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Barcelona!

The ultimate guidebook to one of Europe's most vibrant, exciting, and stylish cities. In full-color throughout, with dozens of photos, this guide not only gives you the finest coverage of Barcelona's historic sights and famous architecture, including the magnificent Gaudí creations like the Sagrada Família, but it also has a keen eye for offbeat attractions and in-the-know sights, from quirky museums to neighborhood markets, city beaches, and urban parks. Walk along Las Ramblas and experience the heart of the city center, explore the winding alleys of the Gothic Quarter, or visit the Museu Picasso. With up-to-date reviews of the best hotels, bars, restaurants, and clubs for all budgets, you'll find just what you're looking for in The Rough Guide to Barcelona, whether a hideaway boutique hotel or the best sangria in town. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Barcelona. Series Overview: For more than thirty years, adventurous travelers have turned to Rough Guides for up-to-date and intuitive information from expert authors. With opinionated and lively writing, honest reviews, and a strong cultural background, Rough Guides travel books bring more than 200 destinations to life. Visit RoughGuides.com to learn more.

An anthology featuring the world's greatest mystery authors writing about theworld's greatest mystery novels.