Lynn Tavernier’s mesmerising novel begins with a superscription from Joseph Conrad: ‘The belief in the supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.’ And that nod to one of the greatest writers in the language is a hint that we are to encounter a particularly elegantly written thriller with a careful use of language – not to mention a steadily increasing narrative grip. Her protagonist, Detective Andrea Stuart, is dealing with a troubled past and retires to the relaxing shores of Jamestown. But Andrea is to find herself drawn into a case involving one of Rhode Island’s most influential families, and a death fall from a seaside cliff. What follows is one of those thrillers for which the reviewer’s cliché is a propos – it is, simply, unputdownable. What’s more, Tavernier has created in Andrea Stuart a truly well-rounded protagonist. A winning thriller.
The Lost Hours by Lynn Tavernier is published by Crooked Lane
