Book of the Month - By Kathleen Thorne

The Lighthouse
By
by P.D. James

Published by Faber and Faber
Cost €14.50

In a recent radio interview P.D. James said she likes an "old fashioned classical detective story". That is precisely what she gives us in The Lighthouse. The events occur on a fictitious island called Coombe off the coast of Cornwall. Unique circumstances surround this place. After centuries of ownership by the Holcombe family, it has been handed over by them to a trust.

The terms of the trust state that the island is to be a place "of rest and seclusion for men in positions of responsibility who needed to get away from the rigours of their professional lives". Strict rules govern who may come to the island, as a guest or worker, and they are rigidly adhered to.

A suspicious death occurs on the island and the Metropolitan Police are called in. Adam Dalgliesh, hero of several of James's novels, leads the team. He brings with him inspector Kate Miskin and Sergeant Benton-Smith. One of their first tasks is to determine if the death is a suicide or murder. Initially it seems that the former is the case. However, it quickly becomes clear that it is murder.

The dead man, Nathan Oliver, has been a famous novelist. He was born on Coombe and thereby was entitled to certain privileges. These he arrogantly and ungraciously assumed. In doing so he antagonised the only member of the Holcombe family now living on the island.

In fact, Oliver managed to alienate almost everyone he came in contact with. He was irascible, calculating and cold - thus making himself universally disliked. Only his daughter, Miranda, remained devoted to him. But in the end, he succeeded in antagonising even her. It becomes clear that several people on the island would have had motives to murder him.

With a limited number of people contained in a limited space the scene is set for a classic murder investigation. Everyone on the island at the time of the death is a suspect. The reader is drawn into the guessing game as the police question everyone.

Then a second murder occurs. Adrian Boyde, a former Church of England priest, is bludgeoned to death in the chapel. The two deaths must have a connection. Fortuitously, there is an outbreak of Sars on Coombe, thus enabling the isolation and quarantining of the island and its occupants for the duration of the investigation.

Alan Dalgliesh falls victim to the disease but recovers in time to put his two and twos together, thereby providing us with a satisfying climax to the sorry affair. The Lighthouse is more than just a murder investigation. There is some exploration of a medical scandal, priestly alcoholism, class differences and a disapproved love affair. Through these we become aware of the vulnerabilities of the suspects as well as the intrigues that link or divide them.

Motive is the key to solving the murders. Perhaps the revelation of the real motive is a bit late and somewhat contrived. Nevertheless, it is a gripping whodunit that is well constructed and satisfyingly concluded.

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