A dark, haunting, multi-layered story of detection and suspense from the acclaimed author of Koko, The Talisman and Mr X. First published in 1990 and now reissued in a new cover style.

On the tiny Caribbean island of Mill Walk, the rich play tennis, polo and golf, trying to ignore the distasteful realities of life. So when Tom Pasmore, the grandson of a powerful establishment figure, develops a passion for detective work – particularly murder cases – his reputation undergoes a subtle darkening.

One murder in particular fascinates Tom – the 1925 killing of Jeanine Thielman at Eagle Lake, a resort patronized only by the cream of the island’s upper crust community. But when he starts investigating the case, Tom arouses much more than mere disapproval. On the edge of a web of corruption, deceit and violence, he is in danger of uncovering the darkest secrets of the people who own and run Mill Walk.

‘Superb… immensely readable, genuinely intriguing.’ Washington Post

‘Tour-de-force whodunnit from a writer of majestic talent. Straub has made the difficult transition from horror to mainstream dark fiction with an effortless ease of which most other writers can barely dream.’ Northern Echo

‘A satisfyingly complex thriller.’ Time Out

Peter Straub was born in Milwaukee, and is the author of fourteen novels, including Ghost Story and The Talisman (with Stephen King). He has won two British Fantasy Awards, two Bram Stoker Awards, the International Horror Guild Award and two World Fantasy Awards, and was elected Grand Master at the 1998 World Horror Convention. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages. He has lived in Ireland and England, and now lives in New York City.