That sultry London madam and spy, India Black, has wormed her way back onto my bookshelf with the latest Madam of Espionage adventure.
Ms. Black would not have been impressed by my lack of decorum. I was giddy as a schoolgirl upon the arrival of Carol K. Carr's India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy (release date: February 5, 2013).
This fourth installment in the India Black series takes the reader on a rather frightening romp through the grubbier side of London. The whisperings of class warfare have stressed the poor inhabitants of England's greatest city -- and they would do well to be concerned.
A terrorist cell of exiled anarchists are plotting to shock London with a series of attacks, and it's up to India to save the day. Sly, headstrong and street-smart to a fault, the Madam of Lotus House may have finally met her match.
With help from street urchins and various high-ranking government officials, India must reign in the radicals which threaten London and the ever-charming Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli.
Once again, Carr's research has served her well. The streets of London come to life in this fast-paced mystery, filled with real revolutionaries and those just playing the part.
What once thrilled me about India's peacock-like character only annoyed me, this time around. She's too headstrong, and too unwilling to compromise. At times I wanted to shake her vigorously, or slap some sense into her thick skull.
Though she always manages to come out on top, it would serve India well to realize that she cannot do so without some help from others. What's more, she must learn grace and gratefulness - lessons that will be hard for someone so confident of herself.
If sexy spies, secret organizations and a good bit of chaos sound good to you, pick up a copy Shadows of Anarchy. You, too, may be annoyed by India, but you won't regret this good read.
Get it while it's hot!
My review copy is available at the Curious Book Shop, at a steep discount.
India Black and the Shadows of Anarchy
February 5, 2013
Published by Berkley Prime Crime
Trade Paperback -- $15.00
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