Part of Gideon Oliver, book 13
First published 2006
Gideon Oliver travels with his wife Julie to the Isles of Scilly, a chain of islands thirty miles from Cornwall's coast. Julie accepts an invitation from Vasily Kozlov, a wealthy Russian scientist who hosts heated debates at his home, Star Castle. While Julie endures indoor discussions, Gideon explores nearby Neolithic sites. His archaeological interests take a dark turn when he discovers a human tibia that's only a few years old. All evidence suggests murder. Before Gideon and local police can solve this bone puzzle, another killing occurs at Star Castle itself. Two deaths within years of each other seem like terrible coincidence. But Kozlov's passionate intellectual gatherings may harbor deadly secrets. Gideon must determine whether bad luck struck twice or whether scholarly arguments have turned lethal.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-detective, found-family
Setting: Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Star Castle
Period: Present Day
288 pages · Hardcover · Berkley Hardcover