FATAL LONGEVITY

In this debut international thriller, an intelligence analyst looks into supposedly natural deaths around the world that have perplexing circumstances.

David works for a covert intelligence organization. His latest assignment focuses on the mysterious death of Günther Fischer in Portofino, Italy. Security footage shows Fischer, who runs a company that trades in rare-earth elements, apparently asleep and then “writhing in agony” before dying. A pathologist determines that he died from jellyfish poisoning. But as there’s no jellyfish in the footage or at the scene, “natural causes” becomes the official reason for his demise. Two equally baffling deaths follow: Belgian fashion designer Marie Thérèse Dupont mysteriously dies during a long-distance flight to Singapore, and Gregory Duncan, founder of the Intellectual Property Law Firm, apparently dies from a lightning bolt on the Greek island of Santorini, despite no recent storm. David and his new romantic interest, Elizabeth Wilson, a British television journalist, spot a link among all three deaths—Fischer and Dupont were both clients of Duncan’s firm. Shockingly, David’s boss doesn’t want him pursuing the investigation any further. “It’s not something that concerns us,” he says, before writing off the peculiar deaths’ connection as a coincidence. Meanwhile, Goran Dragovic is raising funds for his foundation, Chronos, which finances research into prolonging life, ideally to 150 years. He and Chronos may have a tie to the strange events, which soon include additional deaths on the Italian island of Capri and at a holiday resort on Turks and Caicos. Regardless of his boss’s command, David continues to investigate, determined to track down what he calls the “ghost killer.”

Pascal’s novel is brimming with detailed backstories and lavish scenery. With such an abundance of characters, a few of these well-developed individuals, like those related to the victims, play only small roles in the overall tale. But the diverse settings typically enhance the narrative. For example, at the Naples departure point for Capri, there’s “the usual crowd of tourists. Couples and families with heavy suitcases. A mass of humanity waiting anxiously to board. All seemingly escaping the frenetic city life for a holiday in Capri’s enchanting little streets.” Similarly, historical backdrops are rich even when they decelerate the plot. In one instance, a lecture on the history of Pavia, Italy—from a university professor with former romantic ties to Dragovic—dominates the narrative spotlight. The book retains a good deal of mystery throughout, most notably involving Dragovic, whose foundation, notwithstanding its apparent titular connection, is not an integral part of the story. But readers will get some answers by the end, highlighted by specifics on how each victim died—a startling and unsettling reveal. Although David is the novel’s main sleuth, there are lengthy narrative stretches in which he doesn’t appear. And while his dedication to the investigation is palpable, he doesn’t uncover very much in the way of evidence. In fact, he still has work to do by the story’s conclusion, which is an obvious setup for a sequel. The cliffhanger ending will definitely whet readers’ appetites for the next volume.

An engaging global tale featuring unexplained deaths, striking locales, and plenty of intrigue.