Publisher's Synopsis
"Scobie is a highly principled police office in a war torn West African state. When he is passed over for a promotion he is forced to borrow money to send his despairing wife away on holiday. In her absence, he falls hopelessly in love with Helen, a young widow, and his life is transformed by the experience. With a duty to repay his debts, and an inability to distinguish between love, pity, and responsibility to others and to God, Scobie moves inexorably to his final damnation."
