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The decade following the Great War was one of intense labor strife in both England and the United States. Violence often followed rallies and demonstrations. Both governments were struggling to contain the situation before even more dangerous events occurred. In England, in particular, events conceivably could have brought down the government and then it was feared that anarchy would reign. Into this picture steps Harris Stuyvesant, an agent with J. Edgar Hoover’s newly formed Bureau of Investigation. Harris has no legal status as a law enforcement officer outside of the United States. However, he is on the trail of a bomber and he is convinced that the bomber is English, and he even has a suspect. His attempts to try to get close to his suspect are met with disdain by the officials he has approached until he ends up in the office of a Major Carstairs, a man with mysterious credentials. The Major suggests that the American should ally himself with Bennett Grey. Grey comes from a titled family; his war years had left him shattered, but his unique abilities as a sort of human lie detector had made him interesting to the Major’s department. Unwilling to be used by such an unscrupulous person, Grey has sequestered himself in a cottage in Cornwall, where he is practically a hermit. Grey’s sister is associated with the suspect and Stuyvesant’s plan is to get close to the family through Grey. While he is uncertain as to why Grey agrees to the plan, the American is introduced to the family at a weekend gathering. As a bystander in a unique position, Stuyvesant sees the foibles, secrets, and attractions of a world till now he has only imagined. He likes these people, yet he is willing to use them. Just as in her Russell/Holmes series, the author’s depictions of an era in England in the early part of the 20th century rings true. All of her characters shine, even the unpleasant ones. We see the titled family hanging on to the tattered threads of the great house and the society of bejeweled matrons and dazzling debutantes. King paints a clear portrait of all aspects of her novel. From the brash American to the reclusive young heir, his beautiful and unconventional sister, we get to know these people. Part thriller, part historical novel, it is all suspense. The tension is unrelieved right through to the shocking conclusion. As the author of over a dozen best sellers, Ms. King is just hitting her stride as a writer.
Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly, May 2008
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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