I found this book quite hard to get into but as I had enjoyed Savage Garden by this author was determined to give it a go. Maybe because it was written from a male point of view or the convoluted plot It was a bit confusing. I think the story itself was good but some of the routes it took to get to the climax didn't work for me. Others have said it was trying to do too many things and maybe this is the problem but it did give an insight it to how the war affected Malta even if fictitious. I found this one in a book sale a few months ago. It looked interesting so I bought it on a whim. And it was a great read. It drew me in straight away and the characters are so well done that I cared what happened to them.Set in Malta in 1942 Mark Chadwick is stationed on the island as the information officer. His job is to filter the information that reaches the people of Malta so as to maintain high morale and support of the British stationed on the island. But Mark suspects a British officer is killing local women. He surreptitiously goes about trying to solve the mystery and maintain his position as information officer.It’s well written and will keep you reading. Interesting setting and well drawn landscapes and characterisation.Mills’ other books are well worth reading too: “The Savage Garden” and “The Whaleboat House”.
Interesting as historical WW II fiction, and as a killer's point of view detective novel.
—Courtney
twist after twist! who are friends, spies double agents? right to the end!
—kashmier
3.5
—FatsT
