Malice in Cornwall

June 1, 1998
Thomas's second Erskine Powell mystery--after the Chief Superintendent's auspicious debut in Malice in the Highlands--finds Powell on the north coast of Cornwall, where frightened residents of quaint Penrich have reported a weird apparition that glows in the nighttime surf. Is there some connection with the unsolved mystery of a teenager's death 30 years earlier? As before, the author's vivid imagery, explicit setting and rounded depiction of both major and minor characters combine with a thrilling plot to provide a most satisfying read. Although lacking a unifying metaphor, as salmon fishing served in his first book, Thomas's sequel deepens Powell's characterization as master sailor and skilled rock climber. Readers will find the unraveling of this fascinating mystery and the continued untangling of Powell's character equally impressive.