Published by Benhams Books,
3 October 2004.
ISBN: 978-0-95488800-8(PB)
3 October 2004.
ISBN: 978-0-95488800-8(PB)
Forty-five-year-old Steve Simpson, ex-Olympic sailor
manages a sail making firm in Chichester, Sussex. He lives with his daughter
Sarah and is still grieving his wife who died of cancer. On the second
anniversary of her death he learns that a bid has been made by a Company,
Winterbirch for the sail making business. It is headed by a Kenneth Lindgrune
who is known to the police as a bit of a crook, but they have never been able
to prove anything. Winterbirch also has dealings in Copenhagen, and Lindgrune
spends quite a bit of his time there.
Later that day Steve and Sarah,
also a keen sailor, take their sloop out and to their horror find a body
floating in the water. His neck is broken and foul play is suspected. Sarah
recognises him from a party held by her friend Francine's, Lindgrune's step
daughter. The body is identified as a Per Elgaad from Denmark.
Steve is invited to Copenhagen for
a get together of old Olympians. Whilst there and with an old friend of his,
Chris, who has had a bad experience concerning Lindgrune, determines Steve to
find more information on Lindgrune. This is with the full blessing of the
British Police.
They stay with old friends of Steve's
from his boat racing days and they know of Lindgrune and his shady dealings.
Steve and Chris discover that Lindgrune has close contact with the Elgaad
family who own the largest chemical company in Denmark.
The Elgaads are known to have
supplied the Germans during the war and are hated for it. The head of the
Company is a Kaj Elgaad, the father of Per, and as Steve and Chris make their
enquiries it becomes obvious Lindgrune has a hold of some sort over Kaj. What
terrible secret can he have discovered about him?
Kaj's niece Kirsten flies back to
England with Steve, she knew Per well and between them they uncover evidence of
a new drug on the market that he invented. Could this have contributed to his
death?
Then there are more deaths and
Steve is sure Lindgrune is connected to these crimes in some way. However,
proving it is another matter entirely. The whole story culminates in a
desperate boat race in a raging gale, which can only end in tragedy.
Right from the Prologue this book
moves along at a great pace, like a yacht in full sail. James Morley obviously
knows his stuff and I found it all the more interesting as I love the sea and
have been to Copenhagen and the places around Chichester mentioned.
As a comment made at the back of
the book says it is vital not to read the Epilogue before finishing the story.
Recommended especially for those with a love of boats and the sea.
-----
Reviewer: Tricia Chappell
James Morley sis a local author, writing books
under the name Benham's Sea Mysteries. Retired from an agricultural background
Jim has been writing books since 2005. He is well known in the local area for
his novels, short stories and publicity writing. He is chairman of Petersfield
Writers’ Circle, and an active member of his local book club. Jim lives in Liss
in Hampshire, a widower, in an untidy house filled with books and computers.
Jim is a member of the UK Society of Authors, and Mystery People.
Tricia Chappell.
I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I
play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is
cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for
plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots
of great new authors.
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