“An acknowledged master . . . writes with heart and unfailing intelligence” in this meditative Inspector Castang mystery about sexual obsession and love (Publishers Weekly).
When Inspector Henri Castang is asked to investigate the death of a colleague and friend, an Irishman whose erratic behavior raises questions about his involvement in the I.R.A., Castang travels through Europe in search of answers. What the detective discovers is a very different picture of the friend he once knew, a sordid tale of sexual obsession that plunges Castang into the world of organized crime, on the trail of a mystery that calls into question the very nature of the human heart.
Praise for Nicolas Freeling:
“In depth of characterization, command of language and breadth of thought, Mr. Freeling has few peers when it comes to the international policier.” —The New York Times
“Nicolas Freeling . . . liberated the detective story from page-turning puzzler into a critique of society and an investigation of character.” —The Daily Telegraph
“Freeling rewards with his oblique, subtly comic style.” —Publishers Weekly
“Freeling writes like no one. . . . He is one of the most literate and idiosyncratic of crime writers.” —Los Angeles Times
Nicolas Freeling (1927–2003) was a British crime novelist best known for the Van Der Valk detective series. After serving in the military and working as a hotel and restaurant cook throughout Europe, he began writing his first novel, Love in Amsterdam. Freeling’s novel King of the Rainy Country received the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Among his other literary awards are the Gold Dagger from the British Crime Writers Association and France’s Grand Prix de Roman Policier.