I loved this author's first outing "A Jarful of Angels" but feared this would be a re-write. The similarities are easy to spot: an out of the way setting in the 1960s peopled by oddballs, some imaginative children, a disappearance or two, a Mediterranean connection and everyone swears a lot. There's nothing wrong with writing to a winning formula I suppose - let's be honest it never stopped Dan Brown - but I had my concerns.

Having finished I can report that the two books are very different whilst retaining common themes. This one has more mysteries per square inch - probably more than any book I've ever read. Good in a way - there is something there to interest every reader - but also bad because the overall effect is confusing. There was also at least one event that pushed credulity a bit too far - right to the edge of the cliffs of disbelief, and sent it plunging into the Sea of Scepticism.

Overall, it's value for money and worth a look if you like a book with plenty going on. I just think it's one of those cases where less might have been more. ( )