The Devil’s Mask

By Christopher Wakling

Find & buy on

Two years after the slave trade has been made illegal, the port of Bristol is thriving. Merchants are making themselves rich with the profits gained from trade with a growing empire. When mutilated bodies are found in the city, the city’s leaders move swiftly to prevent panic in the streets. At the same time, when Inigo Bright, a lowly legal clerk with a taste for coffee, is charged with investigating the payment of customs fees in the port, a routine investigation, he is totally unprepared for the verbal and physical violent backlash against his probing. Are the two connected? Are the city fathers trying to protect their investments, or are there darker motives at work?

This is an interesting tale which brings alive the life and times of Bristol just after the abolition of the slave trade. The plot is taut and well paced, while the characters are well drawn and vibrant. The twist at the end of the story is very satisfying, if a little predictable. Fans of the genre will enjoy this. If you are looking for a satisfying summer read try this. Recommended.