Clara Seacroft
Author of The Karen McLaren Cosy Mystery Series
The Karen McLaren Cosy Mystery Series is set in Castillo on Spain's Costa del Sol. Find out about it here!
Club Britannia
The retirement complex on which most of the members of the Jimi Hendrix Supper Club live is located a short walk outside of Castillo. It is bordered by a marble-tiled, palm tree-lined plaza and a strip of businesses, and boasts magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea. The resort has a swimming pool, gymnasium, and a large clubhouse and is mainly home to English-speaking expats.
Castillo
There are records of a settlement in Castillo dating back to Moorish times. Its picture-perfect streets have featured in myriad photographs and films. The Spanish-speaking enclave is home to quaint shops (among them the Sylvia Beach and Lord Arthur's antiques business) and puts on a number of cultural festivals every year. The police station is located just off the village square.
Pablo's International Restaurant
'The pride of the Mediterranean' - at least according to its proprietor, Maurice. The current owner hails from Wythenshawe, Manchester. When Karen first arrived in Castillo, she helped him out of a situation where he was being framed by the corrupt former owner. Pablo's is the largest restaurant on the coast and has an enormous inside and outside dining area. It also has an annexe named The Don Enigma Suite.
The Sylvia Beach Bookshop
When Karen first arrived in Castillo, she had no intention of starting a business. Indeed, she'd always been a salaried worker, so such an enterprise had never occurred to her. The Sylvia Beach is named after the founder of Shakespeare & Company - the world-famous second-hand bookstore on Paris' Left Bank whose threshold has been crossed by almost anyone who is anyone in literary circles.
Lexi's Hair Salon
Lexi Deville and her ex-husband ran an up-market hair salon on Floral Street in London's Covent Garden for years. She cut hair for film stars, rock stars, politicians, and billionaires. When her marriage ended, she relocated to Castillo and started styling the hair of private clients. Before long her services were so in demand that she needed a premises to operate from full-time; her salon is situated adjacent to the resort.
Ruby's Curryhouse
A Costa del Sol institution, Ruby's has been serving Indian cuisine since the start of the 1970s. Current owner Rantej is a good friend of Karen's; the pair drink green tea together and discuss the works of Charles Dickens. Sometimes the JHSC meet at Ruby's and, on other occasions, Rantej provides hard-to-source ingredients for when Karen cooks her curry feasts.
Cala de los Sueños (Cove of Dreams)
A strip of golden sand which stretches for several miles,Cala de los Sueños is like a magnet for tourists. Castillo residents tend to avoid it - particularly in summer months. It is bordered by hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes, along with dozens of other outlets which cater to visitors. Diana from The Milltown Diner has a pitch on the seafront from which her Coffee & Sardines enterprise operates.
Playa de Castañuelas (Castanet Beach)
'The locals' beach' - Playa de Castañuelas is favoured by most people who live in Castillo or at Club Britannia. It's accessible only via a steep track that winds its way down the cliff face. The beach tends to be half-deserted other than in the summer months, and it makes it the perfect place for Karen's early morning constitutionals and Tai Chi sessions. A ruined lookout tower from the Napoleonic Wars sits atop the cliff.
The Milltown Diner
Many of the restaurants around Club Britannia serve similar fare. Their proximity to one another means their prices are generally very similar too. The Milltown Diner is run by a stern woman named Diana who hails from Bolton. Perhaps the most obvious feature to distinguish the eatery from its rivals is the canvas prints of Lancashire milltowns in their industrial heyday which adorn the walls.
Amy Striker's Tanning Salon
Considering the 300+ days of sunshine the Costa del Sol enjoys each year, one might wonder whether there is a need for a tanning salon in such a locale. The success of Amy's business venture demonstrates that there clearly is. Inside, the tanning pods and curtained areas lend it the feel of a Science-Fiction film. The salon has become so successful that Amy is considering branching out and opening another one in Fuengirola.