Blood Moon Over Bengal [Mass Market Paperback]

Morag McKendrick Pippin (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 337 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843954523
• ISBN-13: 978-0843954524
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,253,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I didn't start out to be a writer. But I have always been a voracious reader. An activity which my father encouraged and my mother discouraged because she knew all too well if left to my own devices I wouldn't do anything else!

Although born in the U.S., I hold dual US/UK citizenship through my Scottish father and English born mother. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, near Seattle, I was very lucky to spend summers in Scotland with one set of grandparents or in Winnipeg, Manitoba with the other set.

After leaving college with a degree in Journalism and discovering the compensation less than generous I set out to become a 'Jill of all trades,' dabbling in various ventures: bartending and bar management, modelling, travel consulting, bookkeeping, retail and commission sales - and moonlighting as entertainment columnist for a paper in southern California - or as it now pronounced in some circles, 'Caaalleeefoornia.'

Eventually my prince charming located me and after gallantly sweeping me away into happily ever after, he discovered me one night in bed with his rival - a romance novel. 'Unfaithful wench!' he cried. 'You read so many books why don't you write one yourself?'

'Write!' I gasped in horror. 'Write? That's far too hard a job. I don't want to work that hard! Why, I'd rather dance naked in a strip bar!'

My husband snorted. 'She doth protest too much methinks.'

To my consternation, his idea continually crept into my conscious mind. It figures prince charming would turn out to fit Lady Caro Lamb's description of Lord Byron as 'mad, bad, and dangerous to know.'

After learning with various degrees of success to control both my fear of the blank page and rejection, I yielded and set out to pen my first book. Eventually, BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL was written, refined and purchased by Dorchester one year after its completion. BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN followed a year later. I am now working on BLOOD MOON OVER BERLIN, a romantic thriller set inside the Third Reich.

Oh, by the way, prince charming removed us to Honolulu where we now live over looking Mauna Lua Bay with two monster Maine Coon cats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars British Colonial India comes to life!, October 14, 2004

By 

baltimore0502 "Hon!" (BALTIMORE, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Moon Over Bengal (Mass Market Paperback)

Ever since watching the Masterpiece Theater dramatization of Paul Scott's Raj Quartet AKA The Jewel in the Crown, I've been interested in British Colonial India. So when I stumbled onto this book which takes place in the waning years of the British Raj (specifically 1932 Calcutta) I wouldn't have missed it! Murder mystery, imperialism, prejudice and forbidden love all combine for an enjoyable and interesting debut for this new author. Those who loved Scott's romance between English-educated Indian Hari Kumar and British born and raised Daphne Manners may also enjoy this story.

"Modern girl" Elizabeth Mainwarring has just recently inherited millions in addition to a sheep station in New Zealand on the death of her beloved mother. Elizabeth was born in India but her mother left her controlling, dictatorial, military man father when she was a child using malaria as her public reason for returning to England with her daughter. Now on her way to her inherited property in New Zealand, Elizabeth drops in (quite literally!) on her father's military compound in India to attempt reconciliation.

Major Nigel Covington-Singh is what is unkindly referred to in Brit circles, a "cheechee" or "blacky-white" meaning he is half Indian and half English. And even though his father is the Maharaja of Kashmir and his grandfather was the English Duke of Avesbury, he cannot escape the prejudice of the British with whom he works and lives among. When several Brahmin (Indian upper-class) women are savagely murdered Nigel is given the task of investigating the murders.

When his commanding officer's estranged daughter shows up quite unexpectedly, it shakes Nigel's world as he is very attracted to her. Unfortunately, there are two very good reasons that he cannot pursue her: one, she is the daughter of his boss; two, an English woman would be ruined if she consorted with an Indian man - no matter how exalted his family tree. It just is not done. But Elizabeth cannot understand such prejudice and Nigel cannot resist her and so a discreet (and steamy) romance begins. Things escalate when English women begin numbering among the killer's victims - especially women who have "consorted" with Indian men. Which makes it all the more imperative to keep their relationship under wraps and could put Elizabeth in danger. Can Nigel find the killer before another Englishwoman dies?

This is really more historical murder mystery than romance novel but I still enjoyed it as I love the setting and period in which the story takes place. If you are looking primarily for a romance, there may not be enough here for you. The murder mystery was well done as the author set up several plausible suspects and it took me a good while to figure out whodunit. And the author really brings India and the period to life for the reader. But I must say that toward the end she throws in a few unnecessary complications and sometimes she went on too long in describing fairly minor characters or situations and I found myself skimming. But I did enjoy this story and will likely check out her next book which will be set in WWII London. A promising new author.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all Romantic Suspense readers!, January 18, 2005

By 

Carole Spencer "An avid reader" (Limoges, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood Moon Over Bengal (Mass Market Paperback)

Blood Moon Over Bengal

Prejudice digs deep in its sack of tricks to doom the relationship of Elizabeth and Nigel.

State of Bengal, 1932.

Elizabeth Mainwarring, heiress to a cheep station in New Zealand, lands her plane in Calcutta, on a military runway, for a last go at mending relations with her estranged father, Colonel Andrew Mainwarring, (C.O.) commanding officer of the post.

No sooner has she vacated her plane that a crossed security officer, Major Nigel Covington-Singh intercepts her. This Major breathes military protocol, and they quickly clash over breached security measures. Meanwhile the confrontation insidiously promises a future relationship.

Separately, both are strongly discouraged in pursuing a relationship as the British officers and wives on the post consider the Major, of mixed race, beneath their station. Despite this fact, it is well known that handsome Nigel would be a catch to a couple of uppity wives.

Half English and half Indian, Nigel feels that Elizabeth is his superior as per the local prejudice, and primarily out of reach -- her being the daughter of his commanding officer.

Having spent her teens and adult life in Britain, Elizabeth is too modern to let prejudice govern her relations. But unbeknownst to her, the dashing officer is an Indian prince! When she does find out ... Elizabeth feels unworthy of such a relationship. Nigel would never contemplate a future with her, on a sheep farm of all places! Thus updated on the politics and his family status, her relationship with Nigel becomes strained.

Meanwhile Nigel seeks a promotion and to be considered for one he must resolve a slew of murders, which has put the post in total panic with the ladies. The killer has killed Indian women but recently has targeted British women, who venture outside their own race. Nigel knows that the "Bengal Killer" has now targeted Elizabeth despite their rare appearances together.

The dangerous flavor of India's jungles mixed with the political climate will provide readers a read they soon won't forget.

The author's cast of characters is superbly done. I found myself caring in `one way or another' for all of them.

And, having served in the military myself, I must say that the author is bang on with the dependant's way of life - rumor mill and all. Kudos to the author.

The mystery never stops. The ongoing relationships within the cast of characters will thrill you, literally. The prejudice is well presented. The forbidden love enthralling.

Kudos to the author. Looking for more...Miss McKendrick Pippin.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! I want more., May 5, 2005

By 

Julia "romance reader" (Venezuela) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Moon Over Bengal (Mass Market Paperback)

The action takes place in India in 1932. "Ultra-modern" Elizabeth Mainwarring has inherited a fortune and a sheep farm in New Zealand. After her mother abandoned her father when she was a child, she grew up in England and decides to visit her father to try to get closer to him. She arrives with her best friend and companion Fiona in an unforgettable way. They arrived in an old flyer, Elizabeth being the pilot and doing an emergency landing on a parade ground.

Major Nigel Covington-Singh is the son of an Indian maharaja and the grandson of an British duke. He has been educated in England, and is trying to make a career for himself, without the help or influence of his father. He has to face a lot of prejudices and as soon as he sees Elizabeth feels a powerful attraction to her, but he knows that no British father wants a blacky-white near his daughter.

Lately, people are worried because of the violent murders of women. Nigel is in charge of the investigation and he suspects than the killer is British and that this is not the first time or place he has acted. Soon he fears that Elizabeth could be the next victim, since it seems the killer is attacking women who are involved with men of other races.

I don't have words to describe this book. The author makes a great work placing us in the middle of the British Colonial India. I could imagine everything perfectly as if I was watching a movie, since she covers all: the clothes, the weather, the gossip and intrigues, the prejudices, the political turmoil, etc. And the suspense is great too. Who is this killer and who will be the next victim? And for the romance, I really like Nigel and Elizabeth. Their characterization is great, and they are very interesting with virtues and flaws. And they are so perfect to each other, in spite of all their differences. They so deserve a happy ending. There is also a whole cast of secondary characters very well developed.

I love the book, and it is amazing that this is the first book the author has published. I hope she will write more stories in this particular period as well as in others that are not so frequent. I can't hardly wait for her next novel.