Power Game, The

When a boatman is murdered on a remote island off Van Dieman's Land, the authorities want to blame a famous, and very inconvenient, political prisoner. But the victim's history of blackmail prompts Monsarrat to look further afield – and not everyone is happy . . . In this, the third in the Monsarrat series, Hugh Llewelyn Monsarrat and his trusty housekeeper, Mrs Mulrooney, are sent to remote Maria Island to solve the murder of Bart Harefield, the detested cutter skipper responsible for bringing supplies and correspondence to the island. Bart knows that knowledge is currency and he's not shy about reading the letters he brings across ... When Harefield is murdered with an axe, blame is laid at the feet of Thomas Power, the charismatic Irish revolutionary held in detention – with a lot of privileges – on Maria Island. Monsarrat and Mrs Mulrooney are told to solve the murder. They soon realise their real job is to tie Power neatly to the crime, so he can be hanged without inciting rebellion. But were there others who also had reason to want to shut Harefield up? Monsarrat and Mrs Mulrooney are sent to Maria Island in January of 1826, the very early days of the penal settlement there, to solve the murder of Harefield who sailed the government cutter between mainland Tasmania and Maria Island bringing all supplies and correspondence and directives, all of which he makes sure he reads. Knowledge is currency. One of Harefield's other responsibilities is to light the primitive lighthouse to keep the whaling boats out to sea safe. During a storm Harefield is shaken from a ladder whilst igniting the light and falls. He is then attacked with an axe and falls over the cliff edge to his death. All blame is laid at the feet of Thomas Power, the charismatic Irish revolutionary held in detention, with a lot of privileges, on Maria Island. But did he do it? The outsiders, Monsarrat and Mrs Mulrooney are brought in to de-escalate gossip and surmise. Power has continued to smuggle his writings out to the British press throughout his internment and the government does not want him gaining further attention. But did the no-doubt trouble-making, charismatic, educated and charming Power sink to the low of murder to prevent the unscrupulous Harefield from blackmailing him? Or were there others who had reason to want Harefield shut up?