The maharaja has only two legitimate sons and one illegitimate one and the harem is a hotbed of jealousy and conspiracy as Her Highnesses One and Two who have sons fear the new Her Highness Three might produce an heir and the mother of the illegitimate son is equally as scheming. The maharaja is terminally ill and both of the legitimate sons are unsuitable profligates and the younger has even married an American! Shortly before Sandilands arrives the elder son dies in a tragic accident only to have the second son die before his eyes.

The plot twists much as the flowering vines of the frangipani and the air is filled with rumor, suspicion, innuendo and a little sex as the Europeans and Indians jockey for power, prestige, and “jewels the size of pigeon’s eggs.” The last son must be protected from all who wish him ill as well as those who stand to gain much by his succession. When the diversion of a tiger hunt is proposed the suspects agree to stop the vicious beast although exactly what the principle target will be remains to be seen.

The setting is India but the traits are the same of the British country house weekend with higher stakes than an unsuitable fortune hunter seeking the hand of the daughter of the house. An entire fiefdom is at stake and with it the lives of its inhabitants, the political ambitions of the local British advisor, the livelihood of the heir’s Scottish nanny, the second son’s daredevil wife and her barnstorming brother, the luscious young HH3 and Joe Sandilands who is expected to unravel the labyrinth of lies, deceptions, misdirection and evil and report who had whom murdered, how and why.

In the spirit of Inspector Morse Sandilands gets part of the story partially right part of the time only to have another clue or suspect cause him to re think the entire process. No one is innocent but no is completely guilty either. What a devilish mess! What a good story! Cleverly does an excellent job of conveying the complexity of the Raj and all it entails and presents believable characters with remarkable historical accuracy. She’s done her research and makes me want to read more of the adventures of Joe Sandilands of Scotland Yard and India.

--Jane Davis