The Whaleboat House by
Mark Mills
pbk out January 05
(Harper Perennial)
at £6.99
First published as Amagansett by Fourth Estate this is a richly atmospheric narrative
and a refreshing change from more formulaic crime stories. Long Island fisherman,
Conrad Labarde, who has recently returned from the Second World War, finds the
body of a woman caught in his nets. Identified as beautiful New York socialite,
Lillian Wallace, the common view is that she has accidentally drowned. However,
local deputy chief of police Hollis, keen and intelligent, finds evidence of foul play.
Labarde has suspicions too and as the story unfolds the cop and the fisherman circle
round getting closer to the truth, and to each other. Hollis is helped by his friend
Abel, the local photographer. But all three men are up against deep connections
between the families of the insular community as well as the power of the glamorous
incomers who are moving into the coastal towns. This is a debut novel from
screenwriter Mills and there is economy and skill in his use of dialogue as well as in
the impeccable and subtle rendition of another milieu and the creation of absorbing
characters.
(
Cath Staincliffe
author of the popular Sal Kilkenny mysteries and the series creator of TV Blue Murder)
The Whaleboat House by
Mark Mills
