商品簡介
A millionaire lies violently dead, the evidence refuses to agree, and an ominous prophecy is bound to the image of a scarlet crowned skull. In the Cornish seaside town of St. Ewalds, a murder investigation draws suspicion towards Sir Hannibal Trevick, placing reputation, inheritance and concealed wrongdoing under relentless scrutiny. Superstition complicates the search for justice, while every accusation carries consequences far beyond the crime itself. Oswald Forde, a young barrister determined to uncover the truth, must contend with conflicting evidence and the pressures surrounding a family under suspicion. Beside him stands Dericka Trevick: intelligent, strong-willed and resolved both to protect her father and to preserve her own independence. Their concerns bring legal inquiry into contact with romance, social status and financial advantage, creating a mystery in which personal loyalties cannot be separated from the demands of proof. Across seaside surroundings, moors, quarries, abandoned mining works and London, the novel combines detective fiction with gothic suspense, sensation and melodrama. Its distinctive motifs sharpen a story preoccupied with deception and judgement: can reason prevail when prophecy influences suspicion, and can affection remain independent of wealth and position? The full-length narrative balances the pursuit of a murderer with questions of reputation, justice and the price of social security. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure.
