A Window in Copacabana: An Inspector Espinosa Mystery

by Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza

Book Overview

A ruthless group of corrupt cops is playing a lethal game of cat and mouse in the latest installment in the seductive bestselling Brazilian crime series Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. Three policemen have been killed over the course of a few days. They were mediocre cops, and their deaths have a lot in common: they were eliminated by a cold-blooded assassin, who leaves no trace and likes to fire at point-blank range.Immediately the police world is thrown...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805074384
• ISBN13: 9780805074383
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Window in Copacabana: An Inspector Espinosa Mystery (Inspector Espinoza Mysteries)

As usual, shipping and delivery condition were excellent. I absolutely love the characters and how real they are presented, as human beings. I think the writing helps one learn about the country and the people living there...along with the culture. A good light-hearted read (though, it's not a book that my mother might tolerate as some of the scenes and implications are a tad too read for her 91 years).

Murder is afoot and Rio's Top Cop is on the Job

Three murders, very much alike. Three policemen dead, shot at close range. Who is the killer? Why is he targeting cops? This is for Inspector Espinosa of Rio de Janiero's 12th precinct to find out. Is it personal, someone the policemen had been involved with, arrested? Is it revenge against the police in general? Or is it about drugs or dirty cops? It doesn't take long for Espinosa to figure out he's not going to quickly solve this difficult case. The killer leaves no clues. Then a woman involved with one of the murdered officers is found dead. Was she killed by the same man? And to make matters worse, charming Serena, the wife of a government official all of a sudden is obsessed with Inspector Espinosa and his case. Why? Mr. Garcia-Rosa has penned a mystery that will grab you from the get go and keep you till the end. Suspense is the order of the day here and this writer sure knows his stock and trade. The story will keep you guessing right to the twist in the tale, the surprise ending. I loved this story and I know you will too.

Murder and Dames, it Doesn't Get Better than this

Three cops have been killed in Rio de Janeiro, all by a single bullet, all had mistresses, all seemed to be mediocre cops. Then the killer goes after the mistresses. Detective Espinosa, chief of Rio's 12th district has no leads, no clues, but he believes somebody is trying to send somebody a message with these killings. The killer dispatches two of the mistresses, but accidently killed the wrong woman when he went after Celeste Cardoso, mistress number three. Not wanting to meet the fate of the others, Celeste, Espinosa's only lead, vanishes. As the case moves forward Detective Espinosa winds up getting involved with not only Celeste, but also with Serena Rodes, who witnessed the killer as he tossed the woman he mistook for Celeste out a window. Did I forget to mention Espinosa's sweetie Irene. Yes, I guess I did. Will Espinosa two time Irene and fall in bed with Celeste or Serrena? Will he find the killer before he kills Celeste? For that matter will he find the killer before he kills anyone again? Will he figure out the message the killer is trying to send and will he learn who he was trying to send it to? All questions that beg you to read this tightly writing Brazilian mystery noir. This book is dark and good and it reads as if it was originally written in English, that's how good the translation is in this, Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza's fourth Detective Espinosa mystery.

Great Mystery

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. It has all the components one wants in a mystery: interesting and well developed characters, exotic setting, and a plot that is a surprise without any contrivance or lack of credibility. The narrative is very well written and involves both suspense and crime detection. It also delves into personal relationships and soul searching. Overall it's an excellent mystery.

terrific police procedural

The third assassination has shaken up the Rio de Janeiro police force because they are the targets of this brazen serial killer who shoots his victims from close range but so far has selected bottom of the barrel officers as targets. The killer twists his pattern when he next murders the two mistresses of the dead cops; he went for three but tossed the wrong woman out the window leaving one mistress alive who perhaps can identify this culprit that is if she can be found. 12th Precinct Inspector Espinosa heads the investigation that seems to be going nowhere. However, unlike his superiors who insist on he concentrate on the serial killer, Espinosa searches for the vanished mistress Celeste Cardoso not only in the hope she can provide information leading to the capture of the murderer but also to keep her safe. He also finds a witness step forward as the married Serena Rodes insists she saw the killer toss the victim out the window. Though trying to remain faithful to his Irene and stop the low keyed but deadly killing machine, Espinosa is sidetracked on both counts as the two women he vows to protect seem to compete on who can get him in bed first. WINDOW IN COPACABANA is a terrific police procedural serial killer thriller as unique a tale as a reader will find and not just because of the location. The story line is action-packed as Espinosa works on the case in his crusty take no prisoners manner while finding the women quite the distracter (will he or will he not is the question). Luis Alfredo Garcia-Roza paints a fantastic who-done-it in a world filled with dishonesty and avarice. Harriet Klausner