Received as a BookMooch.

The action takes place in an unnamed British Colony coastal town of West Africa (almost certainly Sierra Leone where Greene served as an intelligence officer) during World War II and centres around Henry Scobie, a police Deputy Commissioner and a long-time resident in the colony. He is known for his scrupulous honesty and everyone expects him to be promoted to Commissioner when the present incumbent retires.

This is not an easy read and for me not a particularly enjoyable one. Perhaps because I'm not a Catholic I found it hard to sympathise with Scobie, rather than finding him honest and reliable I found him weak and easily swayed. He portends to love the two women but was I unconvinced (as was his wife) that he really loved anyone other than himself. Equally I found none of the other characters, with the exception of Yusuf, particularly believable or likeable although that isn't normally a pre-requisite. Overall I found this an OK read rather than a memorable one.

Placed in the waiting room Manchester bound platform to be taken on its travels. Enjoy!

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