3.5 stars rounded down. 

1st in a series. Would read more if they came my way, but I wouldn't seek them out.

We'll written, strong characters. European tone and locations, though originally written in English. 

Excellent characterizations and plenty of plot twists wrapped in a dark timbre makes for a satisfying and entertaining read. This book introduces us to Inspector Hector Salgado, a Barcelona police homicide detective, who has just returned from visiting his native Argentina, as he is on “forced” leave due to beating up a sex trafficker ring leader who denied culpability in the death of a young Nigerian girl. Because of his violent actions, Hector is taken off this case while his former partner Sgt. Martina Andreu continues the investigation and stealthy keeps him updated. Now assigned to an open-and-shut case of a wealthy young man who fell to death from his balcony, Hector and his new partner Leire Castro are told to quickly wrap it up without a lot of fanfare.
As Hector, Martina and Leire begin to peel back the façade of the public faces of those connected to the two cases, there is a private world of deceit, betrayals and secrets held close to the chest and makes for intriguing plot twists. What I enjoyed most is while this very able police team gets to the truth of the crimes, is we are also learning more about their compelling back stories and their own personal dilemmas and demons. The cases are satisfactorily wrapped up and the author has adequately tantalized me to be invested in knowing how the personal issues will be resolved. And I must say that the last chapter is a pure teaser setting me up for the next book in the series.
The Summer of Dead Toys by Antonio Hill is a gripping murder with compelling characters set in sultry Barcelona. Recommend to mystery readers looking for a noirish style series.
This book was provided by Blogging For Books in exchange for a fair and honest view.

Antonio Hill thrills readers with The Good Suicides with page-turning twists and just enough background information to make you want to know more! 
Hill uses many character's who you would not believe would be connected. Hector Salgado, an inspector/detective of the sort, is faced with a suicide of Sara, a very quiet, independent woman. Not to mention he is dealing with the disappearance of his estranged wife that no one can seem to figure out. While investigating a large cosmetics company who seems to know more about Sara's suicide than they let out, Hector must figure out where the dogs come in to the investigation. And who is sending the picture of them hanging, dead, from a tree to Sara before she killed herself? 
A very beautifully written thriller that I could not put down! If you are one who is into mystery/thriller and wants to solve a case just as much as the characters do, then absolutely pick up this novel. Very good insight on how the world views suicide and how the mind works. 

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. 

THE GOOD SUICIDES is a dark and mysterious novel. The tone is set at the opening, describing a man that murdered his family and then killed himself: “What we cannot know is how to protect ourselves from the rancor that accumulates in silence, from that mute hatred which suddenly explodes one night and destroys everything.”

That quality, foreboding writing continues throughout. Author Antonio Hill produces two stories in one novel. On one hand, he continues the story of Inspector Salgado by trying to resolve what happened with the African witch doctor and his wife, and then introduces a new twisted story about a cosmetic company whose employees are killing themselves.

Mystery and darkness persist cover-to-cover. The inspectors are witness to infidelity, partner switching (some from one sex to another), domestic violence, S&M, father-in-law romance, and, of course, suicide and murder. Antonio Hill handles it all professionally, never trashy. He writes with intelligence, creating a perfectly paced story that builds and burns until the final sentence.

The one challenge I would forewarn you on are the names and locations used in this book. There are many names, all authentic to the Barcelona region. With family relationships within the cosmetic company, previous mysteries to be solved, who is dating whom, and several flashbacks, it would behoove you to write the names down as you progress through the novel. You’ll be thankful you did around the 200-page mark, when everything starts swirling together.

Another stand-out quote that comes later in the novel, which ties the book together and does not spoil, is a reference to the dogs. How they “work together to achieve a common goal”, but “when the hunt ends…they fight among themselves for the best morsel.” The imagery is haunting.

Thank you to Crown and Random House for sending me this book; I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. They have offered these sites for further interest:

The main site for the book:

http://www.randomhouse.com/book/219466/the-good-suicides-by-antonio-hill

The author’s profile:

http://www.randomhouse.com/author/182487/antonio-hill