Death on the Island

Malta, 1880. A quarantine island. A killer among them.

When British civil servant Laurence Buchanan is found floating in Quarantine Harbor, Malta, it is first thought to be an accident. But new evidence quickly reveals a much darker story and Detective Inspector McQueen, an Edinburgh policeman on loan to the Maltese force, is called to investigate.

After a steamship docks in Malta, its first-class travelers are confined in quarantine on Manoel Island, near Valletta, as cholera sweeps the island. Suspicion festers behind locked doors: from a Sikh prince accused of rebellion to a mysterious American heiress, and passengers hiding diamonds, debts, and worse . . . Everyone has something to hide.

As political unrest simmers and the killer's confidence grows, McQueen must navigate corruption, colonial tensions, and betrayal. But on an island where secrets run deep and loyalties shift, can he expose the truth before the murderer strikes again?

Death on the Island is a gripping historical murder mystery, perfect for fans of Abir Mukherjee and Anne Perry.

©2026 Lynne Marie Taylor

It's OK

I purchased this as a preorder by mistake. I listened to it and found the History of Malta interesting. Scottish inspector McQueen was not likeable to me, therefore I will not be continuing with this series. This is book two, it was not necessary to read book one to understand the characters.