“A foggy night in November, the smell of burning, the lapping of the sea on to the shore all conspired to bring this novel to life. The blue pulsating light of a fire engine in the dark night, and the throbbing of its pump, and soon I had a body on a burning boat in Horsea Marina. ”

DI Horton is called to investigate a suspicious fire on board a boat, but as soon as he arrives at the marina he experiences a premonition so strong that it’s almost audible. As he views the charred remains of the dead man he knows instinctively that this investigation will be like no other, and he’s right. Soon Horton is forced to confront the past, not just the victim’ past, but the mystery surrounding his mother’s disappearance over thirty years ago. As the pieces of a long ago puzzle begin to unravel, it soon becomes clear to Horton that this is one case someone is determined he should never solve — masterminded by a dangerous adversary who will stop at nothing to prevent the truth from coming out…

Pauline Rowson