In a Fine Castle

April 1943. As World War II rages on, rations in the British colony of Trinidad start to dwindle, curfews take effect and nerves begin to fray. Since last year's U-boat attacks, more and more American servicemen have flooded into the petrol-rich island. Their aim-to protect British and American interests here and across the Caribbean Sea. After his recent encounters with the Yankees, Bonham Mars is anxious to avoid the foreigners and stay out of trouble. But the 'American occupation' isn't Mars' only worry this time.



Summoned to a Santa Cruz mansion, he winds up face to face with the island's most notorious citizen-Nello Gaspard, the Prohibition-era 'rum-runner.' The deported gangster's son has been abducted and he needs Mars to find the boy.



Mars criss-crosses the island, hot on the trail of the kidnappers. But he is frustrated at every turn by the unexpected events of wartime. He is constantly reminded too that, no matter how singular your focus, you always find more crime than you were looking for.