Part of Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, book 7
First published 1998
Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte arrives at a remote Australian fishing village where three local men have vanished without explanation during what should have been a routine fishing expedition. The mystery deepens when a fisherman's net brings up a horrific discovery: the severed head of one missing man, bearing a clear bullet wound to the temple. Bony must navigate the tight-knit coastal community's secrets and suspicions to uncover what happened on the waters near Swordfish Reef. The investigation leads him through a web of local rivalries, hidden motives, and dangerous waters both literal and figurative. As Australia's most unconventional detective applies his unique methods to solve the case, he faces a killer willing to commit brutal acts to protect their secret. The story captures the harsh beauty of the Australian coast while exploring how violence can shatter even the most peaceful communities.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-detective, small-town
Setting: Australia, Swordfish Reef
Period: 20th-century
268 pages · Paperback · Touchstone
Content warnings: violence