Part of Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, book 4
First published 1998
Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte takes what should be a quiet vacation in Western Australia's wheat country. A local farmer vanishes without explanation near vast grain fields, leaving behind no clear trail. The local authorities see little to investigate, but Bony's instincts tell him otherwise. He decides to look into the matter himself, treating it as an informal case during his time off. The missing man's sudden departure strikes Bony as suspicious, even without obvious clues pointing to foul play. As he digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, Bony uncovers peculiar activities in the rural community. His investigation reveals that beneath the surface of this agricultural region, unusual events have been taking place. The detective must piece together what happened to the farmer while navigating the complexities of a close-knit farming community where secrets run deep.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-detective, investigation
Setting: Western Australia, Australia
Period: 20th-century
301 pages · Paperback · Simon & Schuster