To his colleagues, co-workers and friends (did he have any real friends?), Hugo Frenchman was the consummate British civil servant. A bit dull, perhaps; a bit fussily fastidious, a bit of a stickler for protocol. But in the right position, even dullness can be a virtue. And as Her Majesty's "Head of Chancery" in India, Frenchman was the ideal man to make up the numbers at a diplomatic dinner party, keep the junior officers in line, and represent solid British values in Delhi. Indeed, Frenchman,s life was such a model of propriety that its two areas of untidiness stood out like sore thumbs. One, certainly, was his death: Diplomats like Frenchman do not tend to be found in a bloody heap, furiously and fatally stabbed with an antique ritual dagger. Nor do they tend to amass priceless collections of Tibetan artifacts and bank accounts that are bulging at the seams. Had Frenchman been smuggling? Spying? Clearly he had been up to something untoward, and George Sinclair is sent off to Delhi to find out what it was and -- ideally -- sweep it all under an ornate Indian rug. Back in London, this seemed like a relatively straightforward task. But once in India, Sinclair soon realizes that nothing about the dull, eternally correct Hugo Frenchman was straightforward. And he realizes as well that he s going to need a very, very big rug.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A really excellent first novel, with original and interesting characters, great atmosphere, good action, and a genuine surprise in the tail" --Times Literary Supplement (UK)
"This intriguing first novel is imbued with an atmosphere of reality -- partly through its sheer intelligence -- that makes it outweigh the work of many more practiced writers" --The Telegraph (UK)
"Excellent local colour and culture, grand adventure, and an admirable denoument" --Times of London
"This intriguing first novel is imbued with an atmosphere of reality -- partly through its sheer intelligence -- that makes it outweigh the work of many more practiced writers" --The Telegraph (UK)
"Excellent local colour and culture, grand adventure, and an admirable denoument" --Times of London
About the Author
"Elizabeth Ironside" is the pseudonym for Lady Catherine Manning, the current British Ambassador to the United States. As "Elizabeth Ironside" she has written five stand-alone mystery novels, of which two (Death in the Garden and The Accomplice) have been published in the U.S. by Felony & Mayhem; National Public Radio named Death in the Garden one of the 12 Best Books of 2005. Upon initial publication in the UK, A Very Private Enterprise won Britain's CWA Creasey award for Best First Crime Novel of the Year, and Death in the Garden was shortlisted for the CWA Golden Dagger award, for Best Crime Novel of the Year. Lady Manning and her husband, Sir David Manning, live in Washington, DC.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great,
This review is from: A Very Private Enterprise (Felony & Mayhem Mysteries) (Paperback)
This is a great blend of mystery, with some humor thrown into it also, done in a style that will appeal to anyone that likes Englsh murder mysteries.A rather normal civil servent is found murdered with a ritual dagger (no spoiler, it happens quickly) and a Scotland Yard detective is on the case.
Catches your attention early and holds it until the end. Will look for others from her.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
anderson83ster,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: A Very Private Enterprise (Felony & Mayhem Mysteries) (Paperback)
This is the third book I have read by Elizabeth Ironside - she knows how to spin a tale! I have a partiality toward british mystery writers - she was not a disappoinment.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Savvy, sophisticated British murder mystery,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: A Very Private Enterprise (Felony & Mayhem Mysteries) (Paperback)
A Very Private Enterprise is the third book I've read from Elizabeth Ironsides. All that I have read are sophisticated and well written, frequently with an international twist.
One of my great recent finds. I've passed her books on to several friends with rave reviews from all. Try it!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
