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A Very Private Enterprise
Hugo Frenchman was the consummate British civil servant. A bit dull perhaps, a bit fussily fastidious. But in the right position, even dullness can be a virtue. And as Her Majesty's "Head of Chancery" in India, Frencham 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. Indeed, Frencham's life was such a model of propriety that its two areas of untidiness stood out in startling relief. One, certainly, was his death: Diplomats do not tend to be found in bloody heaps, furiously stabbed with antique ritual daggers. Nor do they tend to amass priceless collections of Tibetan artifacts or bulging bank accounts. Had Frencham 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 Frencham was straightforward. And he realizes as well that he's going to need a very big rug.
326 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
1 person is currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Ironside
9 books17 followersElizabeth Ironside is the pseudonym of Lady Catherine Manning, wife of the British Ambassador to the U.S. Her first novel won Britain’s John Creasey Award for Best First Mystery of 1985, and Death in the Garden was nominated for Britain’s CWA Gold Dagger for Best Mystery of 1995.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 19, 2016
For my second Elizabeth Ironside book, this was quite a success. It combines a murder set in a British diplomatic community in New Delhi, probably in the 1970s, details of that community, India and Tibet---the countries, the civil governments, the natural world and some wonderful descriptions of the geography---and the working out of all the fall out from the killing. A representative, Sinclair, is sent from London to ensure there are no security implications from Hugo Frenchman's death (or to manage any that may turn up). His encounters with the diplomats, Janey, a Tibetan scholar temporarily living in Hugo's home, various members of the Indian constabulary and military, even Tibetan monks, advance the plot. This definitely kept my attention. At one point, I found myself forcing a stop to my reading for the night. It was well after one AM and the plot was becoming too intense for bedtime reading! I knew I wouldn't be able to stop if I continued. That hasn't happened in my reading recently.
Recommended for those who enjoy mysteries with a dash of the exotic and characters who are out of the mainstream.
Recommended for those who enjoy mysteries with a dash of the exotic and characters who are out of the mainstream.
August 23, 2018
A Very Private Enterprise (1984) was the 1984 winner of the John Creasey Award for a crime fiction debut. It's all about the death of Hugo Frencham, a has-been British civil servant who has landed a position in Delhi where he was destined to spend his days till retirement. Except somebody decided to retire him (permanently) a bit ahead of schedule. He's found stabbed to death in the garden of his diplomatic bungalow--having unaccountably left a party in the British enclave much earlier than normal. Did he have a secret rendezvous that led to his death? Or are there other motives?
He was well-known as a collector of Tibetan and other Eastern art and a few recent acquisitions are found to be missing. Did someone have a deadly lust for a silver Buddha? But then George Sinclair, a secret service sleuth sent out from London, discovers a safe full of of gold bars in Hugo's office. Does Hugo's possession of so much (highly illegal!) gold have anything to do with his death? Sinclair works with the local Delhi police and members of the High Commission in Delhi, but it is visiting scholar Janey Somers who helps him find his way through all the red herrings to final solution.
Several years ago I discovered Death in the Garden by Elizabeth Ironside. It was an excellent historical mystery that I enjoyed very much. When I picked up A Very Private Enterprise, I had the vague idea that it was historical as well--possibly because that cover sortof implies it. It's not really (which--and admittedly this is my own fault for assuming--was disappointing). It is apparently set in the 1970s not long before its publication date, but there isn't anything in the text to definitely date it. In fact, as far as time frame goes, it has a very odd free-fall time period feel. You don't really feel like it takes place in a definite time at all. The way the British people in India behave it's like the British Empire is still going strong. But then it's obvious that India has its own government and police force and whatnot. It's apparent that this takes place before the regular use of computers and cell phones (but not too long) and, yet, the way parties and social interactions are described you could mistake it for pre-1950.
In fact, I think this book would have been far better if Ironside had decided to make this a period piece from the days of Empire. I wasn't sold on the procedures of the (then) current investigating officers. It all seemed rather dated if I was supposed to believe that it was the late 1970s/early 1980s. The motive given in the final reveal also seems rather dated. The best part of the book was the character of George Sinclair and his interactions with the various suspects, witnesses, fellow investigators, and, especially, Janey--who, of course, serves as a love interest. The production of red herrings and the road to the final reveal is quite good. This shows the promise of a good detective fiction writer, but I don't quite see why the book was chosen as the crime fiction debut award winner--unless, of course, all other debuts books that year were real duds (note to self--check out lists for 1984 debut crime fiction novels). A not-quite ★★★ read, but I feel generous and will round up anyway.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
He was well-known as a collector of Tibetan and other Eastern art and a few recent acquisitions are found to be missing. Did someone have a deadly lust for a silver Buddha? But then George Sinclair, a secret service sleuth sent out from London, discovers a safe full of of gold bars in Hugo's office. Does Hugo's possession of so much (highly illegal!) gold have anything to do with his death? Sinclair works with the local Delhi police and members of the High Commission in Delhi, but it is visiting scholar Janey Somers who helps him find his way through all the red herrings to final solution.
Several years ago I discovered Death in the Garden by Elizabeth Ironside. It was an excellent historical mystery that I enjoyed very much. When I picked up A Very Private Enterprise, I had the vague idea that it was historical as well--possibly because that cover sortof implies it. It's not really (which--and admittedly this is my own fault for assuming--was disappointing). It is apparently set in the 1970s not long before its publication date, but there isn't anything in the text to definitely date it. In fact, as far as time frame goes, it has a very odd free-fall time period feel. You don't really feel like it takes place in a definite time at all. The way the British people in India behave it's like the British Empire is still going strong. But then it's obvious that India has its own government and police force and whatnot. It's apparent that this takes place before the regular use of computers and cell phones (but not too long) and, yet, the way parties and social interactions are described you could mistake it for pre-1950.
In fact, I think this book would have been far better if Ironside had decided to make this a period piece from the days of Empire. I wasn't sold on the procedures of the (then) current investigating officers. It all seemed rather dated if I was supposed to believe that it was the late 1970s/early 1980s. The motive given in the final reveal also seems rather dated. The best part of the book was the character of George Sinclair and his interactions with the various suspects, witnesses, fellow investigators, and, especially, Janey--who, of course, serves as a love interest. The production of red herrings and the road to the final reveal is quite good. This shows the promise of a good detective fiction writer, but I don't quite see why the book was chosen as the crime fiction debut award winner--unless, of course, all other debuts books that year were real duds (note to self--check out lists for 1984 debut crime fiction novels). A not-quite ★★★ read, but I feel generous and will round up anyway.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
February 17, 2026
The mystery itself is simply okay. I predicted the ending of the primary mystery annoyingly early only for a side plot to dominate the rest of the book. The main antagonist’s motivations felt flimsy to me, and the whole thing was rather boring.
However, Sinclair, the “investigator” and “protagonist”of this novel, is an incompetent misogynistic condescending prick of a buffoon. At some point, I would have happily traded in a satisfactory ending to receive a horrible ending for him. I was rooting for him to end up being another murder victim tbh. But alas, he got an impossibly good ending because nobody in reality would tolerate him long enough to make his life decent. I had to keep reminding myself that this man was fictional so that I didn’t get too angry in real life. The only justice I cared about in this crime was for his poor wife, five children, and girlfriend
However, Sinclair, the “investigator” and “protagonist”of this novel, is an incompetent misogynistic condescending prick of a buffoon. At some point, I would have happily traded in a satisfactory ending to receive a horrible ending for him. I was rooting for him to end up being another murder victim tbh. But alas, he got an impossibly good ending because nobody in reality would tolerate him long enough to make his life decent. I had to keep reminding myself that this man was fictional so that I didn’t get too angry in real life. The only justice I cared about in this crime was for his poor wife, five children, and girlfriend
December 5, 2008
The author is British, as are most of the characters. That is why I've placed this book on the British Isles Mysteries shelf. Since the story takes place in New Dehli and Tibet it's also been given a place on the the Non-Brit Mysteries shelf.
This was a very well-written story and an impressive first novel. Elizabeth Ironside (who is actually Lady Catherine Manning, wife of a British diplomat), did a fine job of constructing a worthy mystery that centers on the murder of a member of the British High Commission in India in the early 1980's. The deceased's fascination with collecting Tibetan art ultimately propels the story to the Himalayan "roof of the world." If you love to pull out the atlas as you read, this book will give you good reason to do so.
There's much to like about this novel: the author's knowledge of both Indian and Tibetan culture, history, traditions, and geography, her ability to create interesting, if not always admirable, characters, and the fine action and suspense scenes near the end of the book. I think I'll have a look at her other books!
This was a very well-written story and an impressive first novel. Elizabeth Ironside (who is actually Lady Catherine Manning, wife of a British diplomat), did a fine job of constructing a worthy mystery that centers on the murder of a member of the British High Commission in India in the early 1980's. The deceased's fascination with collecting Tibetan art ultimately propels the story to the Himalayan "roof of the world." If you love to pull out the atlas as you read, this book will give you good reason to do so.
There's much to like about this novel: the author's knowledge of both Indian and Tibetan culture, history, traditions, and geography, her ability to create interesting, if not always admirable, characters, and the fine action and suspense scenes near the end of the book. I think I'll have a look at her other books!
November 14, 2008
This is, apparently, Ironside's first novel. In real life, she's Lady Catherine Manning, wife of a diplomat, so she really knows her background material. When Hugo Frencham, England's head of chancery in New Delhi is murdered, the foreign service wants to be sure that there are no security problems involved in the crime. So George Sinclair arrives from London. Middle-aged, separated from his wife, Sinclair thinks his emotional life is over, until he meets Janie, the Tibetan scholar who discovered Frencham's body. Sinclair finds out that Frencham has more money than he should, include a cache of gold; that he'd been having an affair with one of the diplomatic wives; and that he has a peculiar friendship with a Russian diplomat. But did any of this lead to his death? As he and Janie flee Ladakh pursued by a violent enemy, Sinclair hopes only that he will survive to find out. As always, Ironside's writing is superb.
April 8, 2010
A fun little mystery set in India and Kashmir. Elizabeth Ironside was married to a British diplomat, and you feel that she knows what she is writing about as she evokes the high commission community in Delhi. One of my favorite mysteries by my favorite mystery writer is set in Kashmir: Death in Kashmir by M.M. Kaye. This book reminded me of her novels, but without the same element of period charm.
The characters are minimally described but still well-drawn, there's a little romance thrown in with the thrills, and the conclusion is satisfying. I'd like to read some of Ironside's other books to see how they compare.
The characters are minimally described but still well-drawn, there's a little romance thrown in with the thrills, and the conclusion is satisfying. I'd like to read some of Ironside's other books to see how they compare.
March 16, 2009
This Who-Dun-It set in India among British diplomats gives us plenty of local color, and that's what makes it good reading. There's nothing wonderful about the characters or plot (other than the local-color aspects) but the language is good. High-speed car-chases along Himalayan roads may be somewhat more colorful than those along California freeways, but not much.
July 21, 2023
This book was selected for its usefulness in the 666 Challenge, for the memory of Furball who originally owned it, and because it seemed to fit this month's Genreland Challenge (criminal protagonist). In this case the criminal protagonist was the murder victim whose character and shady dealings are at the heart of the story. There were many twists and turns and so many varied motives, but tye answers were there the whole time.
I enjoyed this book set in semi-modern India (no clear dates are indicated but appears to be late 60s or mid 70s based on the description of the cars). The British influence in India looms large because it involves the murder of a high British official at the British diplomatic compound. Many of the characters had connections to India which predate the partition of India and Pakistan and sine even the start of WWII. The discussion of the plight of displaced Tibetans in India also plays a significant role in the story. There is defini6a strong flavor of India, albeit at a remove, and I learned some things. For instance I have always accepted the city name New Delhi as being like New York city instead of understanding that a New Delhi implies the existence of an Old Delhi -- in this case immediately adjacent.
The mystery aspect was well done and I enjoyed many of the characters. Janey was a pistol and reminded of the character of Marian in Indiana Jones. Sinclair could not have been any more the unruffled British bureaucrat with a quintessential Keep Calm and Carry On attitude. I felt as if some of the BIPOC characters could have used a little more depth although I liked Bhattacharis and Hamid and the bank manager. But the Britishness of the story line made the lack of analysis of most of the local characters resonant with the tone. The diplomatic and bureaucratic flavors of the book were spot on but since the author is an ambassador's wife, it makes sense. It was an enjoyable read and I would not mind reading more by this author.
I enjoyed this book set in semi-modern India (no clear dates are indicated but appears to be late 60s or mid 70s based on the description of the cars). The British influence in India looms large because it involves the murder of a high British official at the British diplomatic compound. Many of the characters had connections to India which predate the partition of India and Pakistan and sine even the start of WWII. The discussion of the plight of displaced Tibetans in India also plays a significant role in the story. There is defini6a strong flavor of India, albeit at a remove, and I learned some things. For instance I have always accepted the city name New Delhi as being like New York city instead of understanding that a New Delhi implies the existence of an Old Delhi -- in this case immediately adjacent.
The mystery aspect was well done and I enjoyed many of the characters. Janey was a pistol and reminded of the character of Marian in Indiana Jones. Sinclair could not have been any more the unruffled British bureaucrat with a quintessential Keep Calm and Carry On attitude. I felt as if some of the BIPOC characters could have used a little more depth although I liked Bhattacharis and Hamid and the bank manager. But the Britishness of the story line made the lack of analysis of most of the local characters resonant with the tone. The diplomatic and bureaucratic flavors of the book were spot on but since the author is an ambassador's wife, it makes sense. It was an enjoyable read and I would not mind reading more by this author.
March 15, 2024
A British civil servant in India is murdered and Britain sends out an investigator whose charge is pretty much to sweep any possible propriety is swiftly swept under the rug.
Head of Chancery Hugo Frencham, seems to be a devoted older diplomat, an avid collector collector of Indian and Tibetain artifacts, a man that appears to have no enemies. And yet, one evening after briefly attending a party at an associate's home, he is struck down, stabbed with an antique ceremonial dagger he had just received.
Enter George Sinclair, who finds himself in unfamiliar territory — staying in the dead man's house, dealing with his native servants and tracing back those Frencham associated with both in the consular realm and the community.
Sinclair turns out to be tenacious in his investigations, and slowly develops an case that is much more complex, especially after he opens Frencham's safe. Sinclair also develops an attraction to Jane Somers, an archaeologist and friend of the dead man. She also is staying at Frencham's home.
A complex, multilayered mystery in a setting both exotic and mysterious. The characters are well drawn, the setting intriguing and the mystery a real roller coaster. This is the first of Elizabeth Ironside's books and as I have found previously, a good read.
Head of Chancery Hugo Frencham, seems to be a devoted older diplomat, an avid collector collector of Indian and Tibetain artifacts, a man that appears to have no enemies. And yet, one evening after briefly attending a party at an associate's home, he is struck down, stabbed with an antique ceremonial dagger he had just received.
Enter George Sinclair, who finds himself in unfamiliar territory — staying in the dead man's house, dealing with his native servants and tracing back those Frencham associated with both in the consular realm and the community.
Sinclair turns out to be tenacious in his investigations, and slowly develops an case that is much more complex, especially after he opens Frencham's safe. Sinclair also develops an attraction to Jane Somers, an archaeologist and friend of the dead man. She also is staying at Frencham's home.
A complex, multilayered mystery in a setting both exotic and mysterious. The characters are well drawn, the setting intriguing and the mystery a real roller coaster. This is the first of Elizabeth Ironside's books and as I have found previously, a good read.
March 14, 2019
Something about India, especially in stories set in the colonial era and told by British writers, just lends itself to mysticism. It infects this story in that, despite it being a mystery, in the end the solution - the truth - is presented as somehow unimportant. That's a ridiculous position to take in a mystery. So perhaps this is more of a romance with detective interludes, as Dorothy Sayers said with charming self deprecation regarding Busman's Honeymoon.
If character study set in a bygone time - with a dash of murder - is your thing, I would give Sayers a go. Nobody does it better than she did in Gaudy Night and Busman's Honeymoon. But in the meantime - Ironside is a lovely writer though I'd read Death in the Garden over this one.
If character study set in a bygone time - with a dash of murder - is your thing, I would give Sayers a go. Nobody does it better than she did in Gaudy Night and Busman's Honeymoon. But in the meantime - Ironside is a lovely writer though I'd read Death in the Garden over this one.
September 11, 2020
An engaging enough story, as London investigator Sinclair is sent to clear up a murder in Delhi, and the author's familiarity with the world of overseas civil servants and diplomatic compounds and petty power struggles is very interesting. Anyone looking for post-colonial commentary here is out of luck, as you might imagine from a British novel from the early 80s, but far more embarrassing is the romance of the central characters, where Sinclair incessantly patronizes the sexy, lively, redheaded Janey, who is twenty years his junior, more physically fit, and far more competent than he is (unlike him, she speaks the language and knows the culture), and she grows to love him.
April 23, 2023
I believe this is the third book I've read by this author (there are only 5 altogether). I very much enjoyed this mystery. Ironside's writing is very erudite and the book is full of details about the characters and India where the book is located. I really enjoyed the complexity of the relationship between the characters played against the beauty and mystery of India. Very good read especially for those that like mysteries that are not formulaic.
July 24, 2022
I enjoyed this (pseudo-mystery) more for the insight and local color of India and Kashmir than the murder mystery. Ironside is a good writer and her characters were not stereotypical and predictable. The part set in the mountainous region reminded me a bit of "The Rose of Tibet," which I can also recommend.
June 23, 2025
A British official and collector of Buddhist artefacts is murdered in Delhi, Sinclair is sent from the UK to investigate for security implications. Travel to and within Tibet for research as well as India is very accurately described. This thriller has kept me enthralled although not a typical genre for my reading.
Some facts about Tibetan culture were new to me.
Some facts about Tibetan culture were new to me.
August 4, 2017
So on the fence about this book. Good writing and interesting to read about diplomatic life in India, but found the mystery a touch tedious though there were about nice twists, and the characters rather flat.
August 11, 2018
This was the author’s first book and it does show. It is set in the world of British diplomats in India which the author knows well and feels very believable. It is excellently written and has some interesting moments but didn’t work nearly so well for me as her later book Death in the Garden did.
June 23, 2018
An entertaining mystery.
Read
September 15, 2022Atmospheric.
March 30, 2025
It took me a number of pages to figure out when the book was set in terms of time. British were in India for many years. ;-) When they mentioned travel by jet and air conditioning, I knew! LOL
January 24, 2010
Sinclair, officer for Her Majesty’s Government sent to India to see if there are any security leaks linked to the death of Hugo Frenchman. Ruth , a Tibetan scholar, has been staying in Hugo’s house who helps him trace the wheel of dharma engraved on gold hidden in Hugo’s wall safe. Intrigue ensues. There is Ranjit, an extremely wealthy black markerter, who helped Hugo transport the gold, but also has Sinclair beat up and chases birth Sinclair and Ruth to a Tibetan monastery. A Russian diplomat, Dolgov has helped Hugo with some black market trade, is a red herring as the murderer, but Sinclair convinces him to defect. The author, Ironside, captures the inane, obscure world of British diplomacy, the power differential with Indian servants, and the hostility between government agencies. There is the undercurrent of Tibetan Buddhist culture, as Hugo was enamored collecting pieces and the pair of sleuths travels to Tibet. The settings are vivid and captured well. The Tibetan Buddhism philosophy and culture, and the character development are pluses as well. It is like European mysteries where the murder isn’t solved, but the murderer is exposed. It is a bit slow, but I enjoyed it.
June 25, 2009
I liked this best, of the three Ironsides I have now read. For one thing, I like her masterful handling of the fact that the reader knew from chapter one who the murderer was; yet this reader still had to finish the story! I came away from it acknowledging that both lovers have important secrets, now, from each other, and this does not sound like the ideal foundation for a relationship--that, and the fact that they are so vastly different from one another! I get the impression, three books on now, that Ironside herself is rather cynical, or at least jaded, about lasting love.
February 5, 2009
A slow-starter, but engaging once you are through with the introductions. I liked how the author leads you to believe, along with the main characters, that the killer is one person, but on nearly the last page, she shows you the killer is someone else entirely, with a different motive. The setting of the book is really well done, you feel like you're in India, Kashmir, and Tibet along with the characters.
July 27, 2010
I had to force myself to finish reading this book. The writing is fine, the plot is ok, but the characters are so dull that I found myself thinking about doing housework instead of reading the book. Looking at other reviews, however, I seem to be in the minority, so don't be put off reading the book by this review.
July 27, 2011
A serviceable mystery with a few interesting elements. I enjoyed the setting of 1980s India. The author (apparently the wife a British diplomat) also brought a unique sensibility to the interactions between her characters, as each conversation is framed as a competition in which whoever gives away the most information loses.
June 27, 2008
Mediocre. Not so bad that I didn't finish it, though. Written by the wife of a British diplomat about the post-colonial Indian diplomat scene in Delhi and Tibet, weaving in a barely compelling mystery plot.
July 26, 2008
Three and a half stars. Ironsides is an excellent writer but I just didn't enjoy this as much as her other mysteries - too many cliches in the plot and the characters, not as unusual or surprising. But fun anyway.
October 27, 2008
I enjoyed this book in a quick read- a beach book kind of way. I didn't admire any of the characters, but they were many were well drawn enough to keep my interest.
I'm not currently interested in reading any more of this author's work.
I'm not currently interested in reading any more of this author's work.
April 9, 2009
Another great mystery by Ironside. I didn't think the plot was as tight as "Death in the Garden" but I did enjoy how much time she spent on her characters and solving the mystery/murder. Looking forward to reading another one!
August 7, 2010
I picked up this book as I was intrigued by the author...the wife of the former British ambassador to the US. I was disappointed to be disappointed in the book. The mystery is only incidental to the plot and the story left me unsatisfied.
May 10, 2014
I enjoyed this book - it was a nice detective story set in India and involving the British diplomatic team. It isn't ground breaking and was a tad predictable, but fun characters, a solid storyline and that quirky British humor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews