Review
Praise for Daniel Easterman's writing: 'There are shades of Graham Greene in the climate of brooding terror which Easterman conjures so very nicely.' Independent 'He can weave a web of suspense, laced with historical and mythological references that bait the imagination, satisfactorily embroidered with bullet holes and bloodshed.' The Times 'An accomplished writer.' New Statesman 'A master of spooky suspense and of the chapter cliffhanger.' Scotsman
Easterman has a way of making past and present collide in the most malign of ways. There is more than a touch of the Gothic about his writing, and his characters constantly have to deal with the kind of warped perspectives beloved of M R James. In this tale the ingredients are doubly present, with the locations switching from England to Morocco (a favourite setting for Easterman when writing under both his real name and in his Jonathan Aycliffe incarnation). Here he puts together a heartracer that mixes an espionage story and thriller with doses of barbarous murder and revenge. It could be gruesome but that is not how Easterman works - his tales are far more about atmosphere than gore. Maroc opens in 1936, a time of turmoil in Europe and political rumblings beyond. Newlyweds Gerard and Beatrice Le Tourneau set off for an exotic life in Morocco and all seems wonderful for them. Then war comes and they find that the conflict is to play a greater part in their lives than they could have guessed. The story switches to the present, and retired Special Branch detective Nicholas Budgeon goes to Morocco in search of answers when he learns his ex-wife has committed suicide. His attempts to trace her ancestors bring to the surface some unpleasant truths that drive the story to a stunning climax. There is a deliciously brooding feeling about the tale, and as is often the case with Easterman some clever intermingling of archaic history and mythology. As psychological thrillers go, this is a masterpiece. Easterman truly has proved himself to be a master of the genre. (Kirkus UK)
Product Description
Set in Morocco and the UK, a story of espionage, veiled truths and retribution; and how the sins of our forebears haunt the generations of the present. 1936. Newlyweds Beatrice and Gerard Le Tourneau leave France for Morocco and a new life of wine and roses. They are later joined by Beatrice's widowed sister who marries an expatriate dignitary. As WW2 unfolds and pollutes, the lives of the sisters, their spouses and the locals become entwined with devastating results. Oxford 2002. Nicholas Budgeon, a successful publisher and retired Special Branch detective, learns of his ex-wife's suicide. He too finds himself in Morocco, retracing the paths of her ancestors in an effort to uncover the truth behind the atrocities that have visited his family.
