Heads I Win Tails You Lose — S.H. Villa

This is the first in the 22-volume Spanish crime series featuring Jesús de Dios Santos a healer turned investigator when the head of his cousin, another well-known healer, Juan the Unbaptist, is found on the desk of the mayoress. The Guardia Civil investigate the murder and arrive at little or no result. In fact, certain things point to the Guardia themselves being involved. This tragic loss of his cousin sets Jesús on a new path he never imagined; just as an earlier tragedy resulted in him becoming a healer. His dual career of investigator/healer makes for a crime series which deals with social ills - murder, greed, corruption, abuse, betrayal, civil war, genocide and crime generally - which is not about punishing wrongdoing so much as finding resolution. The series may not appeal to all, but to those who hanker after a more compassionate world of social, psychological and spiritual transformations. It is centred around the small town of Varigo in southern Spain, but during the course of the series encompasses Granada, the Costa del Sol, Romania, Peru, Ecuador and other stops on the grand tour. The series is best read in order as characters and situations evolve over time. The author so enjoyed writing these stories and hopes others will enjoy reading them.