First published 2005
Victor Baxter is a boarding school student whose life takes an unexpected turn when a stranger known only as "the Captain" whisks him away to London. Thrust into the Captain's shadowy world, Victor must navigate the man's elusive motives and his shifting relationship with this enigmatic father figure. As the mysteries deepen, Victor finds himself caught between the Captain's unpredictable whims and the looming threat of an unseen enemy. In this riveting Graham Greene tale, a boy's coming-of-age becomes entangled with the adult realm of secrets, danger, and the meaning of loyalty.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: London, Seaside Town
Period: 20th Century
192 pages · Paperback · VIKING
Content warnings: kidnapping