The Last Kashmiri Rose: Murder and Mystery in the Final Days of the Raj [Hardcover]

Barbara Cleverly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 18, 2002

Conjuring up the last golden days of the Raj and the turbulent early ones of Indian rule, this suspenseful and atmospheric first novel—the winner of the Crime Writer Association’s Debut Dagger competition—draws the governor of Bengal, local police authorities, and visiting Scotland Yard detective Joe Sandilands into an increasingly baffling and bizarre case of serial murder. It is 1922, in Panikhat. In March of each of the past five years the wife of an officer in the Bengal Greys has met with a violent and terrifying death. One died in a fire, another by a cobra bite, the third from a fall, and the fourth victim drowned. Of course, they all might have been accidents, while the death of Captain Somersham’s pretty young wife, who was found with her wrists cut, could be ruled a suicide. One link between the five cases, however, points to foul, disturbing play. On the anniversary of the deaths small red roses mysteriously appear on the women’s graves. With only a few days to go before the end of March and with faith in the new Western science of psychological profiling, Joe Sandilands finds himself running a race against time and a serial killer who alone knows the recipient of the next Kashmiri rose. “The atmosphere of the dying days of the Raj is colorfully captured.”—Sunday Telegraph “Introduces an intelligent author and an interesting investigator.”—Morning Star

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In an impressive debut, British author Cleverly weaves an engrossing tale of serial murder and the impending decline of the British Empire into a well-written fair-play mystery set in 1920s India. Commander Joe Sandilands, a Scotland Yarder completing a stint with the Bengal Police, is on his way back home when the provincial governor asks him to look into the recent death-by-suicide of an army officers young wife. Nancy Drummond, a close friend of the dead woman, reveals that four other officers wives have also died¢apparently by accident or misadventure¢over a period of 12 years, all in the month of March. Sandilandss investigation reveals further disturbing similarities; the cause of death in each case was the victims greatest phobia, and an unknown person has marked the anniversaries of their passing by placing a Kashmiri rose on their graves. With Drummond as his assistant and love interest, the detective probes beneath the surface of a society attempting to replicate pre-WWI England in a very different milieu. The political tensions of the time are more than mere background dressing, while the clash of cultures is instrumental to the plot. The likable and plausible Sandilands and other characters, both British and Indian, come across as living, breathing people. The killers motivation proves to be more baffling than his identity, but the solution is satisfying, as is Sandilandss handling of the ethical issues that his uncovering of the truth has raised. Classic whodunit fans should look forward to Cleverlys future efforts.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In the 1920s, a serial killer targets the wives of Britons attached to the military Bengal Greys near Calcutta. Disguised as accidents, the murders go undetected until the latest, the purported suicide of a young wife, finally attracts the attention of investigator Joseph Sandilands. Recognizing common threads in all five deaths, he dives into a thorough investigation that revisits all the crime scenes. A strongly evocative narrative, sensitive characterizations, artful dialog, and masterly plotting make for an excellent first historical, which won the Crime Writer Association's Debut Dagger competition.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (July 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786710594
• ISBN-13: 978-0786710591
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,886,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barbara Cleverly is a former teacher and a graduate of Durham University who now lives in Cambridge. Her debut, The Last Kashmiri Rose, was a New York Times Notable Book of 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't put it down!, November 16, 2003

By 

Sam Archer (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Kashmiri Rose (Mass Market Paperback)

I've just finished this and I'm starting right over
at the beginning. This brilliantly-plotted novel had
me turning the pages right down to the last
breath-catching wriggle. I know who did it and - more
importantly - why - but I'm treating myself to a
second helping.
The Indian setting is colourfully captured and the
characters convincing and sympathetic, the whole
captured in a great style - Cleverly manages to be at
once light but authoritative. Her dialogue is
authentic and right for the period (sadly, I'm old
enough to know!) What a treat to hear that clipped,
literate, 1920's style!
The hero-detective, Joe Sandilands, is a refreshing
change from the cops we have gotten used to over the last
few years; Cleverly allows him to be charming and
principled and he comes without the heavy baggage of a
failing personal life. More in the pipe-line, I hope?

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Steeped in the days of tea and tiffins, October 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Last Kashmiri Rose (Mass Market Paperback)

This book captured me in the first page. The detective was smart, charming and handsome. There is a lady who captures his eye, a silent and intellegent side kick and lots of shady characters maskerading as Bengal Greys, an elite force of the British in India. I smelled the spices and stench, felt the rattans and coarse cottons, and heard the guns and market din. The only downside of the book was the language of the characters was a bit too contemporary and seemed jarring with the setting/time period. It was a good, fast, fun read and I hope the author follows with more of Joseph Sandilands, Scotland Yards Detective!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding start for a great new series, May 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Last Kashmiri Rose: Murder and Mystery in the Final Days of the Raj (Hardcover)

As a long-time fan of historical novels, I've gotten pretty bored with the standard Victorian, medieval, etc. periods, no matter how well they are written. I like a book which "takes" me to times and places I've never been before and know little about. This book not only satisfied me in that respect but it contained an interesting plot involving well-rounded characters with a good mixture of human strengths and foibles that I could relate to and care about. (Although I must admit that I'm happy to have learned more about this period of Indian history from a distance of over 3/4 of a century. It sounds like a terrible era that's happily behind us.)

In my opinion, all fans of historical novels should read this one. I'm eagerly looking forward to the author's second entry in this promising series.