Twelve: Time Interventions

by John Moss (Illustrator)

It seems like a routine post-mortem, when Professor Max Fosse and DS Charles Seymour are presented with a mysterious road accident fatality in central Lancashire. The victim has unusual physical characteristics, including a missing rib, an unknown blood group and evidence of extensive genetic engineering. He is identified as a radicalised British terrorist and linked to the suspicious death of a government scientist in the Lake District. The trail of the ongoing investigation leads to Saudi Arabia, the Punjab, war zones in Somalia and Bosnia, and back to the Spanish Civil War, in an ever-unfolding paradox.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 4, 2015

About the author

John Moss writes mysteries because nothing brings life into focus like the murder of strangers. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2006 in recognition of his career as a professor of Canadian literature with over a score of books in his field, John moved progressively away from literary criticism to creative writing, before settling comfortably into the Quin and Morgan series which now occupies his writing efforts full time. He and his wife, Beverley Haun, whose book, Inventing ‘Easter Island’, grew out of her work as a cultural theorist and their travel adventures as scuba divers, share a stone farmhouse with numerous ghosts in Peterborough, Ontario. Recently sidelined from his diving avocation (he was an instructor in both PADI and SDI programs), John and Bev have no intention of giving up whitewater canoeing and cross-country skiing with old friends, or taking long hikes in interesting places around the world.

John is professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa.

Reviews

[Janet Gogerty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story; science fiction with real people set in both modern times and a historical context. But I was disappointed that having given Charles Seymour a family and two problems, these themes are not developed. As a police wife (not CID thank goodness ) I thought both Seymour and the author neglected his wife! Seymour's adventures would stand alone, as a James Bond type, but once interested in whether he can save his marriage we need to know more. His wife says they must talk when he returns from his trip; he then goes on many trips and the book ends without them ever talking!
Without giving anything away I also wished Seymour had asked Pascoe a few more questions while he had the chance.