Upon arrival to Lizard Village, Charles quickly learns that the deaths at the station were no accident, and Kate bumps in a mutual acquaintance who will not acknowledge he knows Kate. Soon Kate becomes convinced that the little girl who drowned after she reported seeing pirates in the creek and the accidents surrounding Marconi are connected and may be more than industrial rivalry and industrial espionage. Once again, Kate with husband and alter ego in tow, manages to unravel a plot designed to stop more than wireless trans-Atlantic messages.

The usually intrepid duo of Charles and Kate are a bit lackluster while in Lizard Village. The two handily solve the mystery, but without much effort this time, providing a less than climactic ending. The setting is well detailed, effortlessly transporting readers to Edwardian Cornwall. The visit to Lady Loveday brings back some painful memories for Kate, but she readily realizes how lucky she is to have had Charles to help her through her own losses, and is able to help Lady Loveday not only grieve her daughter, but uncovers what the girl may have know that lead to her death. The invention of wireless communication provides the historical context this time out giving readers a view of life when a different type of wireless was the latest thing.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry