Product Description

A dark, haunting, multi-layered story of detection and suspense from the acclaimed author of Koko, The Talisman and Mr X. First published in 1990 and now reissued in a new cover style. On the tiny Caribbean island of Mill Walk, the rich play tennis, polo and golf, trying to ignore the distasteful realities of life. So when Tom Pasmore, the grandson of a powerful establishment figure, develops a passion for detective work -- particularly murder cases -- his reputation undergoes a subtle darkening. One murder in particular fascinates Tom -- the 1925 killing of Jeanine Thielman at Eagle Lake, a resort patronized only by the cream of the island's upper crust community. But when he starts investigating the case, Tom arouses much more than mere disapproval. On the edge of a web of corruption, deceit and violence, he is in danger of uncovering the darkest secrets of the people who own and run Mill Walk.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #337116 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Review
'Superb! immensely readable, genuinely intriguing.' Washington Post 'Tour-de-force whodunnit from a writer of majestic talent. Straub has made the difficult transition from horror to mainstream dark fiction with an effortless ease of which most other writers can barely dream.' Northern Echo 'A satisfyingly complex thriller.' Time Out

About the Author
Peter Straub was born in Milwaukee, and is the author of fourteen novels, including Ghost Story and The Talisman (with Stephen King). He has won two British Fantasy Awards, two Bram Stoker Awards, the International Horror Guild Award and two World Fantasy Awards, and was elected Grand Master at the 1998 World Horror Convention. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages. He has lived in Ireland and England, and now lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

A page-turner from the first sentence!
This is a coming-of-age story intertwined with a web of family secrets told from the point of view of Tom. Peter Straub's characters and locations are so believable you really do feel as if you watching as a bystander to the action. I literally could not put this book down (except I suppose to eat) until I had finnished it - and went straight out and bought 'The Throat'. Buy this book!

a gripping thriller
I picked this as a holiday read, and quite frankly I couldn't put it down. There are many intertwining stories leading to a quite unexpected ending. Tom Pasmore's journey of self discovery, combined with several murders amongst the fictional communities elite draws you in, not as a passive observer but as a participant in what is going on. There are enough characters in the story to enable to identify yourself with one.
A highly recommended read, on a par with many Stephen King novels.
It is little wonder that Stephen King thinks so highly of Peter Straub, and has collaberated with him on several books.
Since buying this book almost accidentally, I have since purchased several more of his books, and as I class myself to be a "fussy reader", I can give no higher praise to this author.

First class crime fiction!
The book surprised me! I have read most of Straub's books and had anticipated something more mysterious, supernatural.
Let the record show that I was not in the least disappointed!!
Straub writes horror like noone else, gives you that creepy feeling, that makes you look over your shoulder ell the time, but he is also very good at crime stories. It would be interesting, should he want to write more books like these, without any supernatural accurrencies, but still dark, gloomy and ill-boding.
The story is very good and enjoyed every page of the long read.!
Excellent!