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Joe Sandilands #9
The Blood Royal
A story of murder, mystery and espionage (with a dash of romance) set in London in the long, hot summer of 1922, against the backdrop the Romanov murders and the disappearance of the Tsar's fortune.
A beautiful and traumatized young Russian woman turns herself in at the British consulate in Russia, begging to be sent to relatives in England and rescued from the mysterious tragedies of her past. But is she what she seems, or is she a deadly spy on a secret mission?
A beautiful and traumatized young Russian woman turns herself in at the British consulate in Russia, begging to be sent to relatives in England and rescued from the mysterious tragedies of her past. But is she what she seems, or is she a deadly spy on a secret mission?
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
48 people are currently reading
547 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Cleverly
45 books230 followersBarbara Cleverly was born in the north of England and is a graduate of Durham University. A former teacher, she has spent her working life in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk; she now lives in Cambridge. She has one son and five step-children.
Her Joe Sandilands series of books set against the background of the British Raj was inspired by the contents of a battered old tin trunk that she found in her attic. Out of it spilled two centuries of memories of a family – especially a great uncle who spent a lot of time in India – whose exploits and achievements marched in time with the flowering of the British Empire.
Her Joe Sandilands series of books set against the background of the British Raj was inspired by the contents of a battered old tin trunk that she found in her attic. Out of it spilled two centuries of memories of a family – especially a great uncle who spent a lot of time in India – whose exploits and achievements marched in time with the flowering of the British Empire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
February 24, 2013
If it were not annoying enough that the characters see files & people, as well as read things that the reader does not get to see, they also come to realizations to which the reader is not enlightened. I suppose on the one hand, this saves Ms. Cleverly from the criticism of telling not showing; but in a mystery story, is also prevents the reader from figuring things out -- perhaps a worse sin to my mind.
This book had so many tenuous connections, stupid red herrings and absurd ideas that I am amazed I actually finished it. The very stilted dialog and thick descriptive passages combined with flat, relatively uninteresting characters makes for a long, dull read.
This book had so many tenuous connections, stupid red herrings and absurd ideas that I am amazed I actually finished it. The very stilted dialog and thick descriptive passages combined with flat, relatively uninteresting characters makes for a long, dull read.
April 9, 2014
Why am I finishing books I don't like at all? Takes place in early 1920's in London, intrigue involving the Romanovs and White Russians in England. The "suspense" is all pretty phoney and, ultimately, uninteresting. Only aspect I liked was the woman constable who is portrayed as a very feisty, smart lady (but pretty unbelievable.) This is definitely for the giveaway pile!
August 8, 2015
Good bones of a plot buried under endless awful dialogue.
January 3, 2023
Oh, I liked this one a lot! Particularly the relationship between Joe and Deputy Constable Lily Wentworth. He's an excellent mentor, but I can't help finding very amusing his difficulty in dealing with a policewoman :P
The plot is exciting and I liked the way in which the political scenario plays such a big part in the story and the detailed way in which the situation of the Russian immigrants and the killings of the Romanov family are entwined into the story.
There is a lot happening, there are several threads belonging to different cases and not all of them belong to the same tapestry; it's all very well done, managing to keep the suspense and the intrigue until the end.
Really liked it.
The plot is exciting and I liked the way in which the political scenario plays such a big part in the story and the detailed way in which the situation of the Russian immigrants and the killings of the Romanov family are entwined into the story.
There is a lot happening, there are several threads belonging to different cases and not all of them belong to the same tapestry; it's all very well done, managing to keep the suspense and the intrigue until the end.
Really liked it.
May 4, 2019
I enjoyed this book in the Joe Sandilands series. I especially liked the addition of Constable Lily Wentworth into this all-male team. It was great fun to see their reactions to this female into their staid routines and their annoyance with the fact that she is quite good at what she does!
November 5, 2011
First Sentence: “Are you sure this is the place, cabby?”
It’s 1922 and Commander Joe Sandilands, back from his tour in India, is now head of the CID and the Special Irish Branch of the Metropolitan Police. Tsar Nicholas, cousin to King George, and his family have been murdered in Russia and the Irish threat is ever present. With the murder of Lord Dedham by a pair of Irish gunman with the assistance of an escaped third gunman, and suspicions of a Russian spy out to kill the Royal Family, Joe commanders the assistance of Lily Wentworth, a young Constable he saved from being knifed in the posterior while arresting a child predator.
For those who have been following this series and reading the books as they are released, Ms. Cleverly has jumped us back in time from Joe’s last adventure, set in 1926, to this one. For those for whom this is their introduction to Joe, fear not as it reads very well as a standalone and provides sufficient character definition so as not to feel lost.
The biggest difference is that whereas the previous books focused on Joe alone, this is a collaborative, and professional, effort between Joe and Lily. One of the most significant things about Lily, is seeing how the role of women in England had changed during this time. There actually was the first female CID officer, Lilian Wyles, appointed in 1922/23. That blending of historical facts, and many characters, within a fictional story is only one of the things Ms. Cleverly does extremely well.
Another of Ms. Cleverly’s strengths is her voice. She conveys emotion very effectively. Both the dialogue and her narrative convey the social class and role of the character involved. There are flashes of humor, such as an observation natural for someone at Joe’s age of 29, and a cleaver way in which we are informed of Lily’s appearance and capability through “hearing” Joe’s side of a telephone conversation. She creates a strong sense of time and place through the use of period euphemisms…”Phyl…the Slip-Up? How’s he doing?” (an illegitimate child) and …”He’s not planning to twang your elastic” (get in your panties), but also illustrating the social structure and manners of the time. There is even an excellent argument on loyalty to England and the purpose of the monarchy and a painfully realistic view about war…”The men of Europe were straining for a war. When the will to war is there, one bullet from a madman’s gun outweighs years of diplomacy.” and that the actions of great nations can be substantially less noble than the nations themselves. It is the hallmark of a fine writer when they make you stop and think.
However, the dark is well offset with the light. Although listed as “A Joe Sandilands Murder Mystery,” the stage is shared by, and sometimes dominated by, Lily. It is refreshing to have a male and female character in strong roles without their being a romantic relationship. Each character definitely holds their own although there are several scenes between them which seem rather unrealistic, but rather how one would like such relationships to be.
They story is very effectively written; you are drawn in further into the story and the darkness of the time with each chapter. There are well executed changes of direction that take you, with some good suspense, down unexpected roads. Unfortunately, there is one major convenience that makes things a bit too pat, but it is of little consequence to the overall and the ending is a bit abrupt.
“THE BLOOD ROYAL” is, in all, another very good read from Ms. Cleverly.
THE BLOOD ROYAL (Hist Mys/Pol Proc-Joe Sandilands/Lily Wendworth-England-1922/Golden Age) - Good
Cleverly, Barbara – 9th published in series; 5th chronologically in series
New York; Soho Constable, ©2011
It’s 1922 and Commander Joe Sandilands, back from his tour in India, is now head of the CID and the Special Irish Branch of the Metropolitan Police. Tsar Nicholas, cousin to King George, and his family have been murdered in Russia and the Irish threat is ever present. With the murder of Lord Dedham by a pair of Irish gunman with the assistance of an escaped third gunman, and suspicions of a Russian spy out to kill the Royal Family, Joe commanders the assistance of Lily Wentworth, a young Constable he saved from being knifed in the posterior while arresting a child predator.
For those who have been following this series and reading the books as they are released, Ms. Cleverly has jumped us back in time from Joe’s last adventure, set in 1926, to this one. For those for whom this is their introduction to Joe, fear not as it reads very well as a standalone and provides sufficient character definition so as not to feel lost.
The biggest difference is that whereas the previous books focused on Joe alone, this is a collaborative, and professional, effort between Joe and Lily. One of the most significant things about Lily, is seeing how the role of women in England had changed during this time. There actually was the first female CID officer, Lilian Wyles, appointed in 1922/23. That blending of historical facts, and many characters, within a fictional story is only one of the things Ms. Cleverly does extremely well.
Another of Ms. Cleverly’s strengths is her voice. She conveys emotion very effectively. Both the dialogue and her narrative convey the social class and role of the character involved. There are flashes of humor, such as an observation natural for someone at Joe’s age of 29, and a cleaver way in which we are informed of Lily’s appearance and capability through “hearing” Joe’s side of a telephone conversation. She creates a strong sense of time and place through the use of period euphemisms…”Phyl…the Slip-Up? How’s he doing?” (an illegitimate child) and …”He’s not planning to twang your elastic” (get in your panties), but also illustrating the social structure and manners of the time. There is even an excellent argument on loyalty to England and the purpose of the monarchy and a painfully realistic view about war…”The men of Europe were straining for a war. When the will to war is there, one bullet from a madman’s gun outweighs years of diplomacy.” and that the actions of great nations can be substantially less noble than the nations themselves. It is the hallmark of a fine writer when they make you stop and think.
However, the dark is well offset with the light. Although listed as “A Joe Sandilands Murder Mystery,” the stage is shared by, and sometimes dominated by, Lily. It is refreshing to have a male and female character in strong roles without their being a romantic relationship. Each character definitely holds their own although there are several scenes between them which seem rather unrealistic, but rather how one would like such relationships to be.
They story is very effectively written; you are drawn in further into the story and the darkness of the time with each chapter. There are well executed changes of direction that take you, with some good suspense, down unexpected roads. Unfortunately, there is one major convenience that makes things a bit too pat, but it is of little consequence to the overall and the ending is a bit abrupt.
“THE BLOOD ROYAL” is, in all, another very good read from Ms. Cleverly.
THE BLOOD ROYAL (Hist Mys/Pol Proc-Joe Sandilands/Lily Wendworth-England-1922/Golden Age) - Good
Cleverly, Barbara – 9th published in series; 5th chronologically in series
New York; Soho Constable, ©2011
April 26, 2015
I've read all the books in this delightfully atmospheric series but the previous one ("Strange Images of Death"), but since this book takes Commander Joe Sandilands back to 1922 and his time as a rising star at Scotland Yard, it can be read as a stand-alone. This book got off to a bit of a slow start for me with the prologue, but as soon as Constable Lily Wentworth appeared I was hooked and enjoyed the ride - although I still had some problems with the pacing and dialogue which I don't remember from previous Sandilands outings. I wondered if I was just out of sync with the author's style, but I read several reviews on this site and found some other readers also found the sometimes crisp and laconic dialogue between Joe and his fellow officers left the reader confused as to what they were trying to say or how many layers of deception and subterfuge were underneath the little they DID say! I rarely had that problem in the scenes with Lily and Joe working on the case, though - the dialogue between them was crystal clear and often hilarious - another point in Lily's favor!
In all fairness, Joe's team of Special Branch and CID officers had to be dead serious as they were tasked with tracking down an assassin (Irish terrorists? Bolsheviks?) seemingly bent of destroying as many high-ranking British targets as possible. Cleverly does a magnificent job of ratcheting up the tension as pressure builds and the plot twists keep coming at the reader, and all the while we get to enjoy the wonderful Lily - what a treat she is, a smart, tough, more than capable sidekick to the gallant, dashing Commander Joe!
This was a fun, exciting read, with a satisfyingly complex plot with red herrings galore, and despite the frustrations of trying to follow the sometimes murky motivations of some of the characters (this is international espionage shortly after WWI, the murders of the Romanovs and as the Irish Troubles were heating up, after all) I enjoyed this outing very much and am thrilled to see Constable Wentworth makes another appearance in the most recent Sandilands mystery "Enter Pale Death". I look forward to catching up with the rest of this enjoyable series to meet the incomparable Lily again!
In all fairness, Joe's team of Special Branch and CID officers had to be dead serious as they were tasked with tracking down an assassin (Irish terrorists? Bolsheviks?) seemingly bent of destroying as many high-ranking British targets as possible. Cleverly does a magnificent job of ratcheting up the tension as pressure builds and the plot twists keep coming at the reader, and all the while we get to enjoy the wonderful Lily - what a treat she is, a smart, tough, more than capable sidekick to the gallant, dashing Commander Joe!
This was a fun, exciting read, with a satisfyingly complex plot with red herrings galore, and despite the frustrations of trying to follow the sometimes murky motivations of some of the characters (this is international espionage shortly after WWI, the murders of the Romanovs and as the Irish Troubles were heating up, after all) I enjoyed this outing very much and am thrilled to see Constable Wentworth makes another appearance in the most recent Sandilands mystery "Enter Pale Death". I look forward to catching up with the rest of this enjoyable series to meet the incomparable Lily again!
September 26, 2017
I enjoyed the first Joe Sandilands books a good deal, so the ham-handed dialog, improbable plot, and lack of character development in this one surprised me. Constable Wentworth has potential, but at the moment, she's way too good to be true. The other characters, including, equally surprisingly, Joe, were stick/stock figures.
The novel concerns sinister Russian emigrés and Irish terrorists in London. Prominent men are being murdered. Who will be the next victim? Joe, back in England after his sojourn in India and functioning in both Scotland Yard and Special Branch roles, must find out before even more eminent parties are executed. He enlists the aid of one of the few women constables of the day to go undercover, most prominently as a date for the Prince of Wales.
The book totters along for several hundred pages before the plot catches fire, and then it heads off in a direction perhaps hitherto unexpected, as various pieces of evidence have been ostentatiously kept from the reader. Not only does Ms. Cleverly hide the ball, when she brings it out, it is clear that she has hung her plot on a totally false version of historical affairs (making it even less likely that the reader who has any knowledge of Russian history will get to the bottom of the less than riveting affair).
Many people are fine when an author deliberately changes historical fact to achieve a result. And sometimes it works well. But in this case, given that the alteration of the historical facts needlessly damages the reputations of actual people, and that the true situation was a particularly poignant one, I did not feel comfortable with it--especially as the altered plot was so poorly conceived. Hardly worth it, in my opinion.
Clunky dialog; dawdling plot, too unrealistic to be fun; stock characters; and a strangely unpresent Joe Sandilands. Perhaps subsequent entries in this series will improve, but this novel is not my cup of tea.
The novel concerns sinister Russian emigrés and Irish terrorists in London. Prominent men are being murdered. Who will be the next victim? Joe, back in England after his sojourn in India and functioning in both Scotland Yard and Special Branch roles, must find out before even more eminent parties are executed. He enlists the aid of one of the few women constables of the day to go undercover, most prominently as a date for the Prince of Wales.
The book totters along for several hundred pages before the plot catches fire, and then it heads off in a direction perhaps hitherto unexpected, as various pieces of evidence have been ostentatiously kept from the reader. Not only does Ms. Cleverly hide the ball, when she brings it out, it is clear that she has hung her plot on a totally false version of historical affairs (making it even less likely that the reader who has any knowledge of Russian history will get to the bottom of the less than riveting affair).
Many people are fine when an author deliberately changes historical fact to achieve a result. And sometimes it works well. But in this case, given that the alteration of the historical facts needlessly damages the reputations of actual people, and that the true situation was a particularly poignant one, I did not feel comfortable with it--especially as the altered plot was so poorly conceived. Hardly worth it, in my opinion.
Clunky dialog; dawdling plot, too unrealistic to be fun; stock characters; and a strangely unpresent Joe Sandilands. Perhaps subsequent entries in this series will improve, but this novel is not my cup of tea.
October 28, 2011
Part 1
This is based on about half of the book. Like others here low-rating it, this just isn't the Joe Sandilands, or the Barbara Cleverly for that matter, that we generally enjoy. The writing is full of large, lumpy segments of dialogue, there's very little atmosphere, the characters - especially Sandilands - are wooden. Here's hoping the second half is more stylish and fluid.
Updated:
Having finished the book, I find that while there were many better scenes in the second half, it was still a disappointing read. I think it's because Cleverly has tried a risky project here - introducing a major new character who turns out to be not a complement but a competitor to the established protagonist. A character who requires a very different sort of back story, and in switching to that world, the tone of the book changes from all that came before.
But Cleverly's a pretty adept writer and plotter, and I do look forward to the future installments.
This is based on about half of the book. Like others here low-rating it, this just isn't the Joe Sandilands, or the Barbara Cleverly for that matter, that we generally enjoy. The writing is full of large, lumpy segments of dialogue, there's very little atmosphere, the characters - especially Sandilands - are wooden. Here's hoping the second half is more stylish and fluid.
Updated:
Having finished the book, I find that while there were many better scenes in the second half, it was still a disappointing read. I think it's because Cleverly has tried a risky project here - introducing a major new character who turns out to be not a complement but a competitor to the established protagonist. A character who requires a very different sort of back story, and in switching to that world, the tone of the book changes from all that came before.
But Cleverly's a pretty adept writer and plotter, and I do look forward to the future installments.
October 22, 2017
It's 1922, WW1 is over, the Russian Revolution is still going on, the Romanov Tsar and Tsarina and their children have been murdered by in a most hideous manner. Russian aristocracy was leaving as quickly as they could, mostly to England, residing in London.
Joe Sandilands is a Scotland Yard police officer of the highest order. Lily Wentworth is a constable who works with him. Several murders have taken place of high ranking English government officials. Joe has been assigned to find out who is doing the killing.
I found the book very complicated but interesting. In the interest of not giving anything away, I will stop here. I must say I really love the books when he was in India.
Joe Sandilands is a Scotland Yard police officer of the highest order. Lily Wentworth is a constable who works with him. Several murders have taken place of high ranking English government officials. Joe has been assigned to find out who is doing the killing.
I found the book very complicated but interesting. In the interest of not giving anything away, I will stop here. I must say I really love the books when he was in India.
December 28, 2015
Another great mystery by Barbara Cleverly. A little Russian intrigue for Sandilands to solve with the help of a new partner Constable Lily Wentworth. Although the notion of women in the police force was looked down on for that time period (and consequently made some of the male characters a bit annoying), Lily proves to have the skills to keep up with Joe. Can't wait to read the next one.
January 23, 2013
I would prefer to rate this Cleverly/Sandilands outing with 3 1/2 stars, were that option available.
It is a fine read, filled with history. Histry which becomes skewed for the purposes of the book. But who's counting?
The new female lead is fierce and fun. That alone may be worth an extra star.
It is a fine read, filled with history. Histry which becomes skewed for the purposes of the book. But who's counting?
The new female lead is fierce and fun. That alone may be worth an extra star.
February 27, 2018
This is a solid entry in the Joe Sandilands series of mysteries, but not up to the level of the beginnings in India.
April 25, 2018
This is somewhat of a departure in the Joe Sandilands series, in that Joe teams up with an unlikely partner in Policewoman Constable, Lilian Wentworth. Their partnership is eyebrow-lifting on several levels, one being that the "Policewomen" of the time (1922) apparently did not have the authority to make arrests and as such wern't "real" officers of the law. Also, there is more than rank separating a lowly constable from a lofty Commander; the obvious things such as experience and skills which have been honed over years, but there are also more subtle differences such as leadership, confidence and instincts. Add to all this the fact that Joe is an extremely good-looking, young, ex-Army officer, with panache and "Lily"Wentworth is very pretty, young and as we would say now, "gung ho" to further her career in the Police Force, with wits to match, they are well set-up for romantic sparks to fly! Watching their relationship ebb & flourish is one of the joys of reading this book, but that relationship is by no means standard formula!
The plot is actually less complicated than it appears: what we have is an apparent political murder and an assassination attempt. The solution to the murder has strong overtones of an Agatha Christie approach, which I was NOT happy with, hence the 4-star rating, rather than a 5-star. The ball-room scenes of the assassination attempt are among the liveliest and most appealing in the entire book! I could also have done without the "Perils of Pauline" ending, but that was rescued from sickly melodrama by the last chapter of the book. All-in-all, a thoroughly entertaining read!
The plot is actually less complicated than it appears: what we have is an apparent political murder and an assassination attempt. The solution to the murder has strong overtones of an Agatha Christie approach, which I was NOT happy with, hence the 4-star rating, rather than a 5-star. The ball-room scenes of the assassination attempt are among the liveliest and most appealing in the entire book! I could also have done without the "Perils of Pauline" ending, but that was rescued from sickly melodrama by the last chapter of the book. All-in-all, a thoroughly entertaining read!
October 7, 2019
Subtitle on the cover declares this "A Joe Sandilands Murder Mystery." It is more of a 1920s secret service caper than a murder mystery, and the convolutions attendant on such an undertaking wended their way, for my tastes, overmuch. There was a chapter early on where the author introduced her Constable Lily Wentworth in action at the London underground which was rather delightful and gave me the hope to keep reading to the end... but soon enough there were chapters rather unnecessary, and finally really just too many, and more plot-counterplot-redux kind of international intrigue meanderings than could hold my genuine interest. Her favorite device was the situation described without naming the character, leaving you waiting for a punchline at the end of a chapter to tell you where the scene might actually fit into the story. She used this a couple times too many, too.
Nevertheless, it's nicely written prose, entertaining if not taken too seriously or too impatiently, and it's possible I'll give Ms. Cleverly a second reading.
Nevertheless, it's nicely written prose, entertaining if not taken too seriously or too impatiently, and it's possible I'll give Ms. Cleverly a second reading.
August 31, 2024
Commander Joe Sandilands has returned to London from his assignment in India. He finds himself deep in political intrigue and having to use all the diplomacy that he can.
This adventure takes place in 1922, after the Great War. London is war weary. In addition, the IRA is busy making trouble and there is a spy ring being run by a Russian emigree princess.
A war hero is gunned down when he and his wife come home from the theater. And then the life of the crown prince is threatened. Joe knows he has a crisis on his hands
Lily Wentworth is a constable on the beat in London. She comes across the notice of Joe and becomes involved in the developing case. He draws her into the investigation along with the regular bigwigs.
Lily is a very refreshing character and adds a lot of spice to the story. Joe does not know if the killings are political or something else.
When Joe discovers it is not political intrigue but something else, he is shocked. And that is something considering that Joe is a battle hardened commander.
I liked this story a lot.
This adventure takes place in 1922, after the Great War. London is war weary. In addition, the IRA is busy making trouble and there is a spy ring being run by a Russian emigree princess.
A war hero is gunned down when he and his wife come home from the theater. And then the life of the crown prince is threatened. Joe knows he has a crisis on his hands
Lily Wentworth is a constable on the beat in London. She comes across the notice of Joe and becomes involved in the developing case. He draws her into the investigation along with the regular bigwigs.
Lily is a very refreshing character and adds a lot of spice to the story. Joe does not know if the killings are political or something else.
When Joe discovers it is not political intrigue but something else, he is shocked. And that is something considering that Joe is a battle hardened commander.
I liked this story a lot.
November 4, 2020
1922 ~ This should follow The Palace Tiger because of the time element that chronologically set Sandilands' arrival to London from India and maybe to put a different angle to the tragic character of Mathilda 'Tilly' Westhorpe into the more promising character of Lily Wentworth (note the obvious similarities in their names). For though I understand the war that Tilly fought for her sister and family's honour, I was disappointed in her choice of groom (in Book 5 ~ The Bee's Kiss)... also that, this should be Book 5. This is this author's slant on the Romance and Mystique of the Romanovs' lives and tragic deaths and some of their members' world~widely circulated resurrection... especially that of Princess Anastasia's... though here, it was somebody else's. Another masterful weaving of the plot and sub~plot threads. I do admire this brilliant author's mind.
December 31, 2021
The Blood Royal by Barbara Cleverly is the 9th book in the Joe Sandilands mystery series, set in 1922 England. Although 9th in the series, following cases set in 1926, The Blood Royal jumps back in time to just six weeks after Joe's return to England from India.
Amid a climate of budget cuts, Joe must protect the heads of state from assassination. He fails; Lord Admiral Dedham is murdered, apparently by Sinn Fein terrorists. In addition to investigating the crime, Joe must protect the rest of the targets.
In the utterly delightful heart of the book, Joe recruits constable Lily Wentworth for "undercover" assignments: first to protect the next possible victim, next to flush out a serial killer. Along the way, the gutsy, independent-thinking Lily solves the first murder as well. Hope Lily reappears in the series!
Plot twists galore wrap up the story, including a tale of the Romanovs.
Amid a climate of budget cuts, Joe must protect the heads of state from assassination. He fails; Lord Admiral Dedham is murdered, apparently by Sinn Fein terrorists. In addition to investigating the crime, Joe must protect the rest of the targets.
In the utterly delightful heart of the book, Joe recruits constable Lily Wentworth for "undercover" assignments: first to protect the next possible victim, next to flush out a serial killer. Along the way, the gutsy, independent-thinking Lily solves the first murder as well. Hope Lily reappears in the series!
Plot twists galore wrap up the story, including a tale of the Romanovs.
December 26, 2020
Sandilands teams up with a woman police patrol officer, Lily Wentworth, instead of sacking her. He is aware of her abilities from witnessing her actions in bringing an unsavoury character to his knees on Paddington Station. One of Joe's friends, Admiral Dedham is shot dead on the steps of his home. Two Irishmen are caught but is this the whole story? One of the Royal family offers themselves up as bait. A neat little twist at the end is an interesting ending.
Russian émigrés, Fennian plots, the IRA and the entry - or exit due to cost-cutting - of women into the police are all included. A good read, enjoyable writing. It's nice to see Sandilands and his colleagues continuing to develop.
Russian émigrés, Fennian plots, the IRA and the entry - or exit due to cost-cutting - of women into the police are all included. A good read, enjoyable writing. It's nice to see Sandilands and his colleagues continuing to develop.
January 1, 2024
The female main character was fresh and interesting. The male main character Sandiland's attitude towards her was confusing. Positive but callous? I was not sure. It might have been easier to understand if I'd read the eight earlier books in the series...
There were a lot of characters in the book. The description of current politics and intrigue was credible and seemed well researched.
The antagonists were annoyingly clever and self-satisfied, which rather spoiled the reading experience for me.
There were a lot of characters in the book. The description of current politics and intrigue was credible and seemed well researched.
The antagonists were annoyingly clever and self-satisfied, which rather spoiled the reading experience for me.
July 22, 2021
Note that this series was not written in chronological order. We are now back in 1922, with Joe liaising between Scotland Yard the Secret Service. Highly placed politicians against Irish Home Rule are being targeted, and after the death of an Admiral, Joe enlists the aid of a young policewoman, since the next target may be the Prince of Wales. Multiple storylines converge and diverge in this intricately plotted mystery that is extremely hard to put down. Highly recommended.
May 25, 2023
English & Russian Royalty
A series of attempts on the lives of important English figures has CommanderJoe Sandilands teaming up with the young Constable Lily Wentworth. The English Royal Family seems to be the main target. Are the perpetrators Fenians? Or are they Russian refugees who are angry at Britain's inability to save the Romanovs in their time of need?
A series of attempts on the lives of important English figures has CommanderJoe Sandilands teaming up with the young Constable Lily Wentworth. The English Royal Family seems to be the main target. Are the perpetrators Fenians? Or are they Russian refugees who are angry at Britain's inability to save the Romanovs in their time of need?
November 20, 2021
I had another one of these books on my shelf and decided to read it despite my lackluster feelings about the last one. My stubbornness kept me reading and my pride kept me from quitting before I was finished. On to the next!
February 14, 2024
3.5, but not a four. I got lost a little bit here and there, but the story was good, the characters interesting, and i think i'll give another book in the series a try. I pulled this one off the shelf at the library and didn't realize until now that it was #9...
September 8, 2017
2.5 stars. It really was quite annoying at times.
June 20, 2019
Good twists and turns
Enjoyed the relationship between Sandilands and Wentworth. Sometimes the cuteness was a little heavy handed, but the story was good.
Enjoyed the relationship between Sandilands and Wentworth. Sometimes the cuteness was a little heavy handed, but the story was good.
July 14, 2019
Good mystery. Had me fooled.
August 27, 2019
As usual, lots of twists and turns with unexpected outcomes.
November 2, 2019
One of the best!
Very nicely told story, one of my favorites for sure of Joe Sandilands adventures. Gender, time period, history all felt properly used and balanced in this story.
Very nicely told story, one of my favorites for sure of Joe Sandilands adventures. Gender, time period, history all felt properly used and balanced in this story.
June 8, 2020
Excellent ninth book in Barbara Cleverly's "Joe Sandilands" mysteries.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews