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Prologues can often be problematical, and this one is no exception. This one is particularly confusing – deliberately so – but could easily cause some people to put the book aside. For others, however, the mystifying opening will provide an incentive to carry on reading. The year 1132, the place is south-western France. The character to whom we are introduced, however, seems from his language and idiom to belong more to the 21st than the 12th century. It is not made clear how this foul-mouthed and violent psychopath came to be there or what he is doing – questions that will be answered gradually as the book progresses. The confusion only increases in the first chapter, which contains the text of an allusive and strangely emotional letter from an unnamed person to someone simply referred to as 'Nick'. It is clear that this is a stylistic device and that at this point the book is intended to be puzzling – rather a brave stance for the author to take, but one which, assuming a certain degree of patience on the part of the reader, works well. 'Nick' turns out to be the cynical LAPD detective, Nick Lambert, a man who clearly doesn't like himself very much and who considers his job a waste of time. Eventually – and it won't be until the very end of the book – it will be made clear who wrote the letter and what it means. In the meantime, Lambert, in his investigation of a puzzling murder, seeks out an autistic girl in a psychiatric institution. Unfortunately, she is mute and cannot help him. Lambert meets an extraordinary woman named Sarah, apparently the sister of the autistic girl, and she requests his help in finding an ancient and priceless artefact. Without knowing precisely why, and not even trusting her story, he agrees to do so. It doesn't take them long to realize that in their search they are competing with a powerful and deadly rival. The girl appears to know who this is – Josef Klein, the ruthless head of Kleinwort Research Technology, a billion dollar organization. Moreover, she appears also to know what sort of person he is – a power-hungry egotist. She is a woman of mystery, however, and her explanations to Lambert are always cryptic, sometimes to the point of incomprehensibility. The story, sometimes seen from the standpoint of Klein, and sometimes that of Lambert and Sarah, moves along rapidly, keeping the reader on tenterhooks as both sides close in on the precious object. The ending, however, is not so much thrilling as sad, though for Lambert the experience makes him a better man and one able at last to believe in something. Interest in the ultimate fate of Lambert and Sarah never wanes because they are believable people, as are the obsessed Klein and the obnoxious Creed, the head of the psychiatric institution. There are many passages concerned with the science of space travel and whilst it has to be said that these are not easy to understand, that isn't actually necessary. The general meaning is always apparent and the science can be taken for granted, although occasionally a little backtracking is required. Considering the complexity of the plot, it is remarkable that there are no loose ends and everything is convincingly tied up at the conclusion of the book. If there is a fault it is that the novel is perhaps too long – something that should have been picked up in the editing. § Arnold Taylor is a retired Examinations Board Officer, amateur writer and even more amateur bridge player.
Reviewed by Arnold Taylor, October 2011
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