When Carruthers receives a letter from his friend Davies suggesting a Baltic sailing trip the vision of a manned yacht, A1 scenery and excellent duck shooting quickly works its charm. Much to Carruther's disgust, the reality couldn't be more different. Why should anyone want to kill Davies? What are the Germans trying to hide?

Erskine Childers lived a life as adventurous as his novel. Born in London in 1870 but orphaned when he was six, he was brought up by an uncle and aunt in the large Irish country-house. He was known to be incredibly patriotic and became an equally fervent supporter of Irish independence. He ended his life in front of an Irish firing-squad as an IRA rebel in 1922.