Lawrence Gatt’s new novel, ‘Il-Guramenttal-Hatra’, is an intriguing story which makes pleasant reading for the summer. If you like suspense, intrigue and complex family relationships, this is a book to grab and read. The writing is flowing and you will be tempted to read it all in one go.

Published by Merlin Publishers, ‘Il-Gurament tal-Hatra’ is the story of Govanni, a lawyer whose career has had a prestigious turning, in that he has just been appointed magistrate. His family life too seems serene – married with two children. But this state of grace is short-lived, as troubles start to pour on him and his family. It all starts when his daughter’s boyfriend is caught handling drugs during a raid in a nightclub. Francesca, the magistrate’s daughter, puts a lot of pressure on her father to keep the relationship under wraps, so that her boyfriend would be arraigned in court before him and he would in turn acquit her boyfriend.

Meanwhile, in a separate set of developments, Govanni receives a letter the content of which threatens to further turn his life upside down. A ghost from a long-forgotten past is back to haunt him. And the timing could not have been worse.

When he meets his son’s new girlfriend, pieces of the puzzle start coming together, and Govanni is faced with a lot of serious decisions. What will the future hold for the magistrate and his family? Set between Malta, Rome and Poland, there’s plenty of drama and intrigue to keep you busy at the beach.

Il-Guramenttal-Hatracan be purchased from all bookshops, or directly online from www.merlinpublishers.com