Shadow Hunter

Caspian is a 19th century detective. His was a brand new profession - in the 1850s Sir Robert Peel's Police had been in existence for a mere 20 years. Caspian is a modern man who well understands the scientific advances of the times. He also understands human nature, including his own.

Hobart Town is still populated by rogues, thieves, whalers, ex-convicts and scoundrels of every kind and colour. There is an inn on every corner, and the ladies of the night take pride in their professional skills. They are especially skilled at parting the lads with their money.

Caspian is slightly dissolute, a little overweight, and a little too susceptible to the delights of the flesh, and is not adverse to sampling the daunting choices of grog and colonial food available.

A mystery ship, found abandoned but still sound, marks his arrival in the colony, indeed it becomes his first case. Then the bodies of the murder victims begin to accumulate. Eventually the governor and a senior aristocratic citizen of the colony are implicated. As the story unfolds there is action aplenty - of all kinds.

Set in the convict colony of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania, Australia), the trail is followed through the Theatre Royal, wild taprooms, the slums of Wapping, government house, even the cemetery. The denouement is brilliantly constructed - all remains possible until the very end.

If you like your crime in many colours, this is a must read.