A perfect-pitch story of love and redemption (The New York Times) Boyd s atmospheric new novel confirms his reputation as heir to the grand narrative traditions of Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham. In 1936 Los angeles as her long-estranged father tells architect Kay Fischer the story behind her secret parentage he plunges readers into a tale of grisly murders and an illicit passion that still obsseses him 30 years later. 384 pp. Author tour.