Easterman has a way of making past and present collide in the most
malign of ways. There is more than a touch of the Gothic about his
writing, and his characters constantly have to deal with the kind
of warped perspectives beloved of M R James. In this tale the
ingredients are doubly present, with the locations switching from
England to Morocco (a favourite setting for Easterman when writing
under both his real name and in his Jonathan Aycliffe incarnation).
Here he puts together a heartracer that mixes an espionage story
and thriller with doses of barbarous murder and revenge. It could
be gruesome but that is not how Easterman works - his tales are far
more about atmosphere than gore. Maroc opens in 1936, a time of
turmoil in Europe and political rumblings beyond. Newlyweds Gerard
and Beatrice Le Tourneau set off for an exotic life in Morocco and
all seems wonderful for them. Then war comes and they find that the
conflict is to play a greater part in their lives than they could
have guessed. The story switches to the present, and retired
Special Branch detective Nicholas Budgeon goes to Morocco in search
of answers when he learns his ex-wife has committed suicide. His
attempts to trace her ancestors bring to the surface some
unpleasant truths that drive the story to a stunning climax. There
is a deliciously brooding feeling about the tale, and as is often
the case with Easterman some clever intermingling of archaic
history and mythology. As psychological thrillers go, this is a
masterpiece. Easterman truly has proved himself to be a master of
the genre. (Kirkus UK)
Set in Morocco and England, a story of espionage, veiled truths and retribution, and how the sins of our forebears haunt the generations of the present.
1936. Newlyweds Beatrice and Gerard Le Tourneau leave France for Morocco and a new life. But as World War Two unfolds and pollutes, their lives become entwined with those around them with devastating results.
Oxford 2002. Nicholas Budgeon, a retired Special Branch detective, learns of his ex-wife's suicide. He finds himself in Morocco, retracing the paths of her ancestors in an effort to uncover the truth and unearthing some nasty surprises along the way.
PRAISE FOR DANIEL EASTERMAN:
'There are shades of Graham Greene in the climate of brooding terror which Easterman conjures so very nicely.'
'Independent'
'He can weave a web of suspense, laced with historical and mythological references that bait the imagination, satisfactorily embroidered with bullet hole and bloodshed.'
'Times'
'A master of spooky suspense and of the chapter cliffhanger.'
'Scotsman'
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