Book description
Flanders, June 1917: a British officer and celebrated poet, is shot
dead, killed not by German fire, but while recuperating from shell
shock well behind the lines. A young English soldier is arrested and,
although he protests his innocence, charged with his murder.
Douglas Kingsley is a conscientious objector, previously a detective
with the London police, now imprisoned for his beliefs. He is released
and sent to France in order to secure a conviction. Forced to conduct
his investigations amidst the hell of The Third Battle of Ypres,
Kingsley soon discovers that both the evidence and the witnesses he
needs are quite literally disappearing into the mud that surrounds him.
Ben Elton's tenth novel is a gut-wrenching historical drama which
explores some fundamental questions. What is murder? What is justice
in the face of unimaginable daily slaughter? And where is the honour
in saving a man from the gallows if he is only to be returned to die
in a suicidal battle?
As the gap between legally-sanctioned and illegal murder becomes
evermore blurred, Kingsley quickly learns that the first casualty when
war comes is truth.
A work of formidable imaginative scope ... the writing is so good,
the language so surprisingly subtle and the characters so beautifully
delineated Daily Telegraph Riveting action scenes bristle with a queasy
energy ... unputdownable and disgustingly realistic Sunday Telegraph
Elton writes a good crime story with lots of twists and excitement --
Henry Sutton Daily Mirror 20051028
Ben Elton is one of Britain's
most provocative and entertaining writers. From celebrity to climate
change, from the First World War to the end of the world, his books
give his unique perspective on some of the most controversial topics
of our time.
He has written twelve major bestsellers, including Stark,
Popcorn, Inconceivable (filmed as Maybe
Baby, which he also directed), Dead Famous, High
Society (WH Smith People's Choice Award 2003) and The First Casualty.
He has also written some of television's most popular and incisive
comedy, including The Young Ones, Blackadder and The
Man From Auntie. His stage work includes three West End plays
and the hit musicals The Beautiful Game and We Will Rock You.
He is married with three children.
