The prolonged and intense Axis bombing of Malta and the British efforts to deliver squadrons of new Spitfire fighters in aid of the strategic Mediterranean island's defense provide the dramatic backdrop for Mills's WWII spy thriller. Maj. Max Chadwick negotiates a narrow path feeding info via his weekly bulletin in the Maltese newspaper Il-Berqa, putting a positive spin on Malta's depressing situation, and seeking to separate rumor from fact. When Chadwick learns that a British submariner may be a serial killer targeting sherry queens (e.g., dance hostesses who worked the bars and bawdy music halls in the capital city's disreputable quarter), he has to consider carefully what to reveal. If the murders become public, they could tip the precarious balance of local support against the British. Mills (Amagansett) paints a vivid portrait of a tenacious people, embattled and besieged troops, and a principled man trying to resolve the conflict between duty and justice. (Feb.)
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Mark Mills's third novel--as magnificent as it is sober and chilling--evokes the horror of Malta under siege. The war, however, provides more than a backdrop to this superb spy thriller, gripping mystery, and work of historical fiction; it directs Max's choices as he sets out to investigate the murders. Critics lauded the plot's complexity, smooth pacing, and attention to detail. However, it was the sadistic killer--and his incisive, depraved musings--that really caught most reviewers' attention and that elevates this novel above its genre. In sum: a standout work deserving of a wide readership.
