It was a far cry from Communist China to the peaceful village on the South Downs, but to be a self-confessed murderer, keeping his agonized diary, it could buy no peace. But then who was the writer of the diary? ''I feel the net drawing in around me even closer and closer. Dufydd has appeared suddenly in Southmouth. He will never forgive. I remember his last words to me. ''Remember to come back, man, for if you do not, vengeance will follow.'' What did he mean by that? Who''s vengeance? The communists? Or had he guessed what I was going to do?'' This is one of the strongest narratives that the acclaimed writer, Clifford Witting, ever penned. Although it has the familiar Inspector Bradfield involved to investigate the murderous goings-on, the story that hangs between Communist China and the South Downs is entirely original - and completely compelling. Clifford Witting wrote 16 novels between 1937 and 1964. Galileo is proud to be reissuing them all.