Prisoner in the Opal

By A E W Mason

An opal glimmers at the edge of a murder investigation, while warnings, disguises and secret ceremonies unsettle the ordered world of a country-house gathering. Among vineyards on the Gironde, cultivated hospitality conceals a darker pattern of secrecy and obsessive belief. Macabre imagery and dark humour sharpen the unease, turning an elegant rural setting into a place where appearances demand close and sceptical attention. Julius Ricardo, a fastidious wine enthusiast and amateur investigator, joins Inspector Hanaud of the S ret after a young woman is murdered and an American guest disappears. Their inquiry proceeds through witness questioning, reconstructed movements, searched rooms and physical evidence, yet intuition continually presses against what can be demonstrated. Loyalty and jealousy complicate testimony, while manipulation makes every gesture, letter and absence potentially significant without surrendering the mystery to easy supernatural explanation. Wine culture is woven deeply into the novel's identity, lending precision and character to a psychological thriller shaped by deception. Elaborate references to vintages sit beside recurring opal symbolism, occult belief and ornate menace; the contrast between connoisseurship and macabre suggestion gives this amateur detective mystery its distinctive texture. The investigation ranges through vineyard country, farm buildings and a river harbour, balancing methodical detection against the dangerous force of conviction. 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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9378413226
• ISBN13: 9789378413223
• Release Date: March 2027
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"