Set at the turn of the 20th century, Cameron's memorable sequel to 2009's The Frightened Man
finds General Denton, American expatriate and novelist, returned to his London home after six month's travel on the Continent, which included a lengthy stint in a Central European prison. In his mail, Denton finds a two-month-old letter from a Mary Thomason asking him to help her evade a threat. Thomason's plea was forwarded by one Aubrey Heseltine, who discovered the letter attached to the back of a painting he just purchased. Denton, his curiosity piqued, seeks out Heseltine to get a lead on his would-be client. Meanwhile, Denton himself becomes the object of interest of an unknown watcher. The two story strands weave together nicely before coming to resolutions that are anything but obvious. Other authors have set mysteries in the same period and place, but Cameron stands out by virtue of his fine plotting and distinctive characters. (June)
