Although in this just-post Spanish Civil War novel, one inevitably feels a great deal more sympathetic toward the Republicans,

the main character, Tejada, a sergeant in the Nationalist Guarda Civil, presents a complex and multi-faceted nature. He is indeed brutal, as his actions and the context of the war have shaped him. However, beneath this exterior lies a deeper complexity.

Tejada is not a one-dimensional, cardboard figure. He is ultimately human, with all the flaws and virtues that come with being so. In the end, he is capable of a moment of unexpected grace and mercy, a moment that redeems him to some extent in the eyes of the reader.

The novel also features an interesting plot and setting. The backdrop of the Spanish Civil War provides a rich and detailed canvas against which the story unfolds. The characters' actions and decisions are influenced by the political and social turmoil of the time, adding an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the narrative. Overall, this is a novel that offers much more than meets the eye.

This is a really well-written mystery.

The story is full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Rebecca Pawtel has a real talent for creating complex and engaging characters that you can't help but root for.

I was completely hooked from the first page and couldn't put the book down until I had finished it.

I will definitely be reading more of her mysteries in the future.

Her writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it a pleasure to read.

If you're a fan of mystery novels, then I highly recommend giving Rebecca Pawtel's books a try.

You won't be disappointed.

If anyone reads this and has suggestions for books about Spain under Franco, please let me know in the comment section.

This book was both well-written and had a historical theme. It took me a bit of time to get the societal factions straight due to my lack of knowledge. However, it's a testament to Pawel's skill that I was still able to follow the story.

Perhaps a female writer understands that hooking the reader with a human interest story is crucial. In this case, the story of a child witnessing a murder compelled people like me to keep on reading.

I was particularly touched by how hunger and food served as the catalyst for action throughout this book. What happens when a society used to being well fed suddenly experiences a scarcity of food? It makes one think about the impact of such a situation on people's lives and behaviors.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. I'm sure it will be just as engaging and thought-provoking.

It is not a bad novel that is set in Madrid right after the Spanish Civil War. Pawel vividly tells the story of a country that is still severely affected by the ravages of a bitter internal war. The novel portrays the deprivation, angst, anger, and fear that have tightly gripped the entire population, including both the winners and the losers.

Moreover, Pawel does a remarkable job of meticulously detailing how a police investigation can take a wrong turn and find itself getting lost in misleading pathways and alleys. The story unfolds with a sense of mystery and suspense, keeping the readers engaged from beginning to end.

The author's description of the post-war Madrid is so vivid that it allows the readers to almost feel the pain and turmoil of the people living there. Overall, it is a captivating novel that offers a unique perspective on the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath.

I truly immersed myself in this book.

It presented a captivating story that was set in a time period that I had a great desire to learn more about.

The characters were all developed with great care and seemed highly believable.

Similarly, the plot lines were engaging and held my attention throughout.

The writing style was such that it flowed effortlessly, being concise and to the point.

Yet, it was also able to express the characters' feelings and thoughts extremely well.

Overall, this book was a real gem that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and would highly recommend to others.

Set in 1939, during the early days of Franco's Spain, "Death of a Nationalist" is a captivating murder mystery that delves deep into the complex tapestry of history.

The Spanish Civil War, which served as a prelude to WWII, has just come to an end, and the short-lived Republic is no more. The Nationalists, supported by Nazi Germany and Italy, have emerged victorious. The remnants of the Republican army, a diverse group of Communists, Socialists, and Anarchists backed by the Soviet Union and Mexico (and more discreetly by England and the US), are now in hiding. Discovery would mean imprisonment, if they're fortunate.

Overall, this is a dark period in Spain's history. People are suffering from starvation on the streets of Madrid, while the black market flourishes. The population remains divided over the recent war. The novel begins with the murder of a member of the Guardia Civil, the often corrupt civil police force responsible for restoring order and normalcy to the city. The murdered man's best friend and fellow Guardia, Sergeant Carlos Tejada, is resolute in his determination to find the killer. What ensues is an investigation filled with false leads, misapprehensions, moral dilemmas, and numerous red herrings, all unfolding against a vividly depicted historical backdrop. This book exudes the strength and authenticity of a novel written in the 1930s.

Readers are immediately immersed in the plot. A young schoolgirl witnesses the murder of the Guardia, and this random act sets off a domino effect that alters the course of her life and that of her family. Pawel has a large cast of characters at her disposal, yet everyone is seamlessly integrated into the story without it becoming formulaic. The main protagonist, Tejada, is something of an anti-hero. A fascist, he is not the typical heroic figure. His beliefs make him unpredictable, and this unpredictability heightens the suspense.

Regarding the audio, Elizabeth Klett, who narrates "Death of a Nationalist," does an outstanding job. Her character voices are nuanced, each possessing a unique individuality. I will definitely be listening to more of her work.

This is the first installment in a series featuring Sergeant Carlos Tejada Alonso y León. The series now consists of four books, three of which, unfortunately, are not yet available in audiobook format.

Moral ambiguity and the concept of a 'flawed hero' are elements that truly make for outstanding detective fiction. They add depth and complexity to the stories, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The Carlos Tejada Alonso Y Leon series is a prime example of this. It is a fascinating collection of books that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the mind of a detective who is far from perfect.

Before simply labelling Carlos Tejada Alonso Y Leon as either a hero or a Fascist villain, it is essential to read the four books in this series. Only then can one truly understand the nuances of his character and the moral dilemmas he faces.

Each book in the series presents a new case for Carlos to solve, and as he delves deeper into the mysteries, his own flaws and past mistakes begin to surface. This makes for a captivating read that challenges readers to question their own beliefs and judgments.

In conclusion, the Carlos Tejada Alonso Y Leon series is a must-read for fans of detective fiction. It offers a unique perspective on the genre and a character who is both flawed and heroic, making it a truly outstanding work of literature.

It seems that this year is dedicated to the Spanish Civil War for me. Recommending "Winter In Madrid" to a friend led me to a series on the subject by Rebecca Pawel, and thus "Death of A Nationalist" becomes part of the Writer Working collection.

The war's world pits the Republicans against the Nationalists. As usual, there are divisions and factions within each group. Generally, the nationalists support Franco, the semi-fascist dictator, while the Republicans are a communist-leaning group aiming to overthrow the dictator. Unlike "Winter In Madrid", here we enter the conflict after the Republicans have lost. The Francophiles struggle to suppress the opposition, and there is constant vigilance against insurrection. Our "nationalist" is Sergeant Tejada, a member of the "Guardia", paramilitary soldiers responsible for patrolling Madrid's streets and rooting out anti-government opposition.

A colleague and friend of Tejada's is killed, and he leads the investigation. Due to misinterpreting several clues, he kills the wrong person. Eventually, he gets involved with the victim's family, who are indeed "reds", and his acquaintance with them makes him start questioning his loyalties. Pawel's writing intricately traces the moral conflicts and the shading of principles that her characters face as they strive to remain true to their convictions while fighting to survive in a city with a collapsed economy and under strict martial law.

There is pain, drama, and inspiration on these pages. It's a great read about a little-known era, an era that we should all strive to understand better.

Right before I read this, I reread my own first novel for the first time in years.

During that experience, I really cringed at many points. It truly highlighted for me how well Pawel does here.

I also found myself reading a number of passages in the voice I’d be hearing if I were the one reading them. And I realised that many things sound a lot more awkward to the author than they come across on the page.

I wouldn’t really call this a mystery novel. The reason is that I don’t feel like clues are laid for the reader to try and solve along with the detective.

However, it was a really good, morally grey read. It made me think about the complex nature of right and wrong, and how often things are not as straightforward as they seem.

The characters were well-developed, and the story kept me engaged from start to finish. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking read.

A diverting read, though seems to understate the horrors of the Spanish civil war.




Rebecca Pawel introduces us to Sergeant Carlos Tejada Alonso y Leon, one of Spain’s Guardia Civil. Death of a Nationalist (2003) is the first of four Sergeant Tejada novels, following in the footsteps of Philip Kerr’s 1930s Berlin noir series. Like Kerr, Pawel’s protagonist is an investigator within a fascist regime, in this case Franco’s Spain.



The novel begins at the end of the Spanish civil war. The Guardia is restoring order in Madrid, which means rounding up leftist sympathizers and sending them to prison and interrogation. Sergeant Tejada is called to investigate the murder of a fellow Guardia member. Suspicion immediately falls on the communists, who are still attacking Franco’s forces sporadically. After an initial mistake, Tejada starts to suspect that the murder may be more complicated, perhaps linked to the black market in army rations.



The writing is suspenseful, making it an absorbing page-turner. Pawel’s novel is also well-researched, with a postscript acknowledging information from web-based oral histories. This is seen in the rich period details like the bomb damage on Madrid’s streets and the malnutrition of the population.



However, the psychological trauma of years of fratricidal slaughter doesn’t come alive on the pages. In fact, Pawel seems to have her characters shrug off the psychic burdens of the war too easily. After just a few conversations, an attractive leftist woman schoolteacher finds herself in the arms of Nationalist Sergeant Tejada, kissing passionately. This is especially strange since the same schoolteacher was nearly raped by Nationalist troops earlier that evening.



As a comparison, American readers might question the credibility of a novel where a Southern Belle falls for one of Sherman’s troops as his army burned through the South. (Since Death of a Nationalist has been translated into Spanish, it’s disappointing not to have more reviews from Spanish readers to see if they think the plotting is plausible.)



Those unfamiliar with the factions in Spain’s civil war may find the different groupings confusing: Falangists, Royalists/Carlists, Republicans, Nationalists, reds/Communists, etc. More background description of the warring parties would have helped clarify the novel’s plot.



Overall, it’s a fine beach read but far from great literature.

If you're in search of a dark mystery that features an antihero protagonist, then this might just satisfy your craving.

Tejada, a police officer in Spain, finds himself in a complex and dangerous situation right after the fascists emerge victorious in the Spanish Civil War. He is a devout believer, firmly convinced that the Reds are the offspring of Satan. He is even comfortable with the idea of torture, although he himself lacks the stomach for it.

His world, which is not solely seen through his perspective as there are other point-of-view characters, is one filled with paranoia, suspicion, and brutal suppression. However, despite its disturbing nature, it serves as excellent storytelling material. The setting and the characters' beliefs and actions create a captivating and suspenseful narrative that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

Whether you're a fan of mystery novels or simply interested in exploring the darker side of human nature and history, this story has something to offer. It delves into the complex emotions and moral dilemmas faced by its characters, making it a thought-provoking and engaging read.

While it may seem strange to discover a hero among the ranks of the fascists, this actually offers valuable insights into the complex mentality of political polarization during times of war. It forces the reader to consider that the enemy is not simply pure evil, but rather a complex entity with its own set of motives and actions. The hero in question is indeed cruel, yet he is portrayed as being better than his fascist colleagues. This cruelty is balanced by the author's mention of the actions of the Communists, adding another layer of complexity to the story.

Tejada, the central character, is a rogue agent who is willing to take the lives of those he deems to be evil. He is also an unreliable narrator, often following false clues and arriving at incorrect conclusions. This aspect of his character makes him more realistic and relatable, as we all make mistakes and misinterpret information at times. The author has a talent for writing engaging lines, such as comparing naive statements to having a "piss free zone" in a pool or an airplane with a "no smoking" section. These vivid comparisons add a touch of humor and depth to the story, making it all the more enjoyable to read.