The Mysteries by Robert McGill

There is a missing person: Alice Pederson, the dentist of a small Canadian town now called Sunshine and formerly known as Mooney's Dump, who vanished one night after a party.

And once her body turns up in the lake, there are more than enough suspects: Stoddart Fremlin, the previous dentist, who's the one picked up by the police; Daniel Barrie, the weak-willed student, who was having an affair with Alice and set out for England the day after her disappearance; Cam Usher, whose party it was and whose home-made Stonehenge might be standing on an ancient burial ground.

Robert McGill, though, is aiming for something classier. He moves from character to character, perspective to perspective, adding shadow and detail to his portrait of the town.

The Mysteries proves McGill's technical skills beyond doubt, which is a real achievement in a first novel. Within the dance he sets himself, he scarcely puts a foot wrong.

Perhaps next time he'll feel strong enough to kick out.

The Mysteries by Robert McGill is published by Jonathan Cape priced £10.99