MIST ON THE WATERS

By no means equalling the fervor and the tension of Odd Man Out -- and more closely identifiable with its successor, A Flask for the Journey, this is again a story of crime and more particularly the spiritual retribution it imposes. His criminals, in this case Fingal and Palancey who indulge in a moment of blackmail which results in the victim's suicide, are of a more articulate and reflective nature, and the concern here, which is more with man's conscience than his sins, lends a metaphysical overcast. Whereas Fingal, an habitual petty thief, is primarily worried by the possible pursuit of the ""polis"", it is Pelancey who fears himself and knows that his penance will be self-in-flicted. And finally, not before others have been involved in the aftermath of the crime, Pelancey finds his way to forgiveness as he gives his life to save Fingal in the fire which destroys the external evidence of the crime...Plus sale for psychological mystery addicts.