The Lizard in the Cup

An ex-policeman is on a Greek island, hired by a charismatic but sleazy millionaire who fears an assassination attempt. The policeman runs into a former colleague, who's come to the island on a tip-off about Mafia interest. Is the Mafia on the island to carry out the assassination? Or to set up a new drugs processing point? Or could it be anything to do with the crumbling monastery with the two elderly, often drunken monks, and their young American assistant? Add into this mix the fact that the policeman is attracted to the millionaire's girlfriend, a beautiful and smart leftist terrorist on the run from the law, and you have, frankly, a story that is so complicated I rarely had any idea what was going on! I have only read a couple of show more other crime novels by Peter Dickinson but I think he specialises in these very ornate and twisty plots. This was good fun as long as you were happy to go with the flow.

“Don’t forget the monastery,” said Mr. Thanatos. “Hell, they wouldn’t try up there,” said Buck. “Best anchorage on the island,” said Mr. Thanatos. “And those two old lushes would do anything for a few hundred drachs. They know more about smuggling than they do about praying. If they get their souls past St. Peter it’ll be as contraband. You go and look them over, Jim. Look the whole place over. It’s worth the visit.” show less