Set in India 1922, the book opens with a killing by a man-eating tiger, that has been terrorising the villages of Ranipur.
Governor Sir George Jardine sends Joe Sandilands, war hero and Scotland Yard detective to assist in the hunting of the beast. On arrival Joe is witness to what initially looks like an accidental death but he is suspicious and decides to investigate for himself. He meets Madeline, an American married to the second heir to the throne. He also has an interesting encounter with the third heir to the throne, who at ten-years-old is in fear of his life. And so Joe is quickly plunged into the palace politics and intrigues.
Following a hunch, Joe flies with Madeline’s brother Stuart to the maharajah’s native village, and learns something of interest that sets him on a fantastic line of thought.
The maharajah is dying, and one by one his sons are being despatched before him, so the succession is unclear. When Joe is summoned to the maharajah’s presence to witness a document, Joe suggests that it should be witnessed by two trustworthy court officials I loved the maharajah’s retort that the two were a contradiction in terms! Joe reads the document through which appears to be quite straightforward in putting an end to speculation and naming his successor, but Joe is puzzled by something in the document.
One of the most fascinating episodes in the book is the chess game, in which
Joe takes part. The description of the court. The glittering jewels on bright
satin clothes - I could see all the colours glinting in the sun, and the beautiful
girls, who are the chess pieces. Really entrancing. Terry Wale rises quite magnificently
to the accents of the British Colonials, the Indian Royal Family and the Americans.
No mean feat but one skilfully accomplished.
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Lizzie Hayes
Barbara Cleverly is the recipient f or the Ellis Peters Dagger for the best
historical crime novel of 2004. Her other books are: The Last Kashmiri Rose,
Ragtime in Simla, The Damascened Blade, The Bees Kiss