Sergeant Gonzalez—the book
The ultimate ‘holiday paperback’
Wherever you are, if you are looking for a book to settle down comfortably with, and especially if you know the Costa Blanca—or Las Vegas—you will find Sergeant Gonzalez: the Son of his Father? the perfect book to enhance a relaxing day.
The novel
It’s a humorous novel looking at the Guardia Civil (one of Spain’s three main police forces) located in rural Pedreguer, inland from the Costa Blanca, as seen through the eyes of its six main characters:
- the good-looking, roguish Sergeant Paco Gonzalez
- his fun-loving lawyer girlfriend Maria Lopez
- the fearsome Captain Alonzo, who is due to retire soon and would like to see Gonzalez succeed him
- Julio Fernandez, also an officer in the Guardia Civil—and gay
- Gonzalez’ father Luis, now retired and living in the mountains of Northern Spain
- Vera, the zany administrator.
The central character
Gonzalez, like all Spanish males, enjoys red wine, food, football and women. Nothing bothers him, life is good. At the beginning of the book he is a highway patrolman, informing unsuspecting motorists of impending speeding fines. He is soon transferred to more demanding exploits—crime detection. Not for Gonzalez the use of fingerprints and DNA but more a study of beds. Gonzalez believes beds tell a story of their occupants.
He enjoys being with his girlfriend Maria—but marriage?
The story
Sergeant Gonzalez: the Son of his Father? is set in a land of olives, almonds, grapes and cherries; of Moors and Christian celebrations, bull running, and fireworks. But what will happen to Gonzalez? Will the gloved iron fist of Captain Alonzo knock Gonzalez into shape before he retires? Maria and Gonzalez—will marriage always be just over the horizon? Just who is the mysterious John Smith? And as for the laid-back life style of Gonzalez himself—will he follow in the footsteps of his father?
The book is not a great detective mystery. There is no grumpy Rebus, no scalpel-wielding Coldwell, and no complex Poirot or Marple. Gonzalez himself is closer to Inpsector Clouseau—or perhaps he is a new, refreshing kind of detective like Mma Ramotswe in the stories of Alexander McCall Smith.
Want to read some of the book before you buy?
You can download a chapter from the book, called Robbery at the Country Club, either in Adobe PDF format or in Word DOC format.
Just right-click on the link, and save it to your own computer.
Benidorm
In his dream, a lady floated up to them and sat on the seat. 'Been here before, luv?' asked the middle aged woman from Wigan dressed in a pale blue shell suit. 'You'll love it here! Plenty to do! Great pubs and clubs,' she proclaimed. She was correct, for in the evening the beach takes a backseat as practically every holidaymaker in Benidorm has a shower, filling the city air with the smell of hotel shampoo as they hit the town to enjoy the odd pint of lager or a cocktail enticingly called a Climax, a Slow Comfortable Screw or a G-spot.
Want to get a closer look at the places in the book?
Have a look at our map of the region and glance at some of Harry’s own photos.
Have you read the book?
Here’s a question for you
Where do Gonzalez and Maria have a recommitment service?
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