A very pleasant surprise from a author who is new to me. Don Pancho, the retired Mexican chief of police, is called in by American millionaire John Belton to guard his wife's jewels while the couple are staying at the Gran Hotel Balnearia in Tuxpan, Mexico. Belton is there to negotiate mining rights over the residual mercury left in the hills as a result of silver extraction by the Spanish centuries ago. A British contingent is also present, and the Mexican owners of the hotel are keen to negotiate the best price. Also on the spot are Lady Kendal, an English aristocrat; an American journalist; an eccentric lady tourist; a couple of starlets from Hollywood recovering from an assignment; and assorted staff and guests.
Belton manages to rile nearly all of them, so it's hardly surprising when he disappears and his chauffeur is found shot, having apparently surprised the kidnap attempt. Later Belton's wayward daughter Linda is poisoned, potshots are taken at Belton's offsider Bill Swayne, and Belton himself reappears, done to a turn in one of the hotel's volcanic thermal pools. The story moves along briskly and the clues are fairly distributed and mostly well-hidden; although one stood out a mile for me at least. Don Pancho is an engaging character and only the unnecessary introduction of international espionage spoils the classic mode of the story. Excellent stuff.
Jon.
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