The Tigress of Mysore

Matthew Hervey #14

by Allan Mallinson

Following their successful invasion of Coorg in order to remove the state's deranged rajah, Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Hervey is looking forward to a few months' respite for his regiment, the 6th Light Dragoons, and his family. Indeed, with his stock standing high throughout British India, he has rarely counted himself so content.

But it is not to last.

Lord William Bentinck, the governor-general believes that Hervey is just the man to form and lead a force of suppression against the 'thuggee' criminals who threaten the stability of both the East India Company's domains and a number of friendly princely states. And so Hervey and the Sixth embark on a campaign that will prove to be infinitely complex and very bloody - and put Hervey's own family in very real danger.

Brilliantly researched, beautifully written and wholly engaging, The Tigress of Mysore is set against the backdrop of an India in transition as Allan Mallinson's series hero unwittingly takes his first steps on the tumultuous road that will ultimately lead to the Indian Mutiny . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published August 6, 2020

About the author

Brigadier Allan Lawrence Mallinson is an English author and was an officer in the British Army.

Mallinson is best known for writing a series of novels chronicling the (fictional) life of Matthew Hervey, an officer serving in the (fictional) British 6th Light Dragoons from the late Napoleonic Wars through subsequent colonial conflicts in India, North America and south Africa.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**

This truly engaging historical novel is the 14th volume of the delightful "Matthew Hervey" series.

As ever the book is filled with historical details, which you can find at the beginning and at the end of the book, while right inside the book you'll notice a wonderful picture of St Mary's Church, Fort St George, and also at the beginning is a very well-drawn map of India in circa AD 1834 and its (sub)rulers.

Storytelling is of a superb quality, although in some parts of the book it was a bit slow at times, but due to the author's military expertise and background its very accurate.

All characters come, whether they are real historical and enjoyable fictional, beautifully to life in a very humanlike and believable manner in this story of war and death.

This tale is set in the year AD 1834, and Matthew Hervey and his Sixth Light Dragoons will be taken from Madras to the Province of Chintal, to stop an insurrection there will all possible force, but before they will have to act on this insurrection, they have to will have to deal and capture thuggees (thugs), who are roaming the country and are dealing death to unwary (rich) travellers.

Before and after the Battle of Chintalpore, Matthew Hervey will meet an old acquaintance if his being Suneyla, the forced self-proclaimed Ranee of Chintal, due to the forceful and deceitful revolutionary, Ashok Acharya.

What is to follow is an excellent account of the Battles in India, told with verve and in an authentic way by an author with military experience, and which is brought to us in a most wonderful but also very believable fashion, to be enjoyed and liked in every possible way from start to finish.

Very much recommended, for this is a splendid addition to this amazing humane military series, and that's why I like to call this hugely enjoyable episode: "A Very Likeable Indian Tigress"!

[Chris Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to the new Matthew Hervey novel for some time, and although I enjoyed it, I think this one is weaker than some previous entries in the series. As usual, the quality of the writing was second to none, but I think the plot and characterisation were a bit thinner and let this one down slightly. In the end, I think this was good enough to justify 4 stars, but that's at least in part due to the real affection I have for Hervey as a character and for this series as a whole.

I'll look forward to the next one, but if you're not already a fan of the series, you might find this disappointing.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew Hervey is with the 6th Light Dragoons in India and after the business, in Coorg, he is back to his regimental duties and slightly bored. When he is tasked with stopping and arresting the "Thuggee" who are killing travelers on their way to Mysore. He goes in search of the bandits taking his daughter Georgina and Annie the Governess. Needless to tell the trail leads him to the Ranee who is controlled by; her advisor. There is an attack and the small army is deployed under General Hervey. A great fight ensues.

This is swashbuckling action, slightly restricted by the author's tight, almost, military, writing style and there are too many biblical references that interrupt the flow of the story. All the usual characters are present and in action.

Good read and I have enjoyed the series to date. 4 stars.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and the Matthew Hervey series is one of my favorites. The Tigress of Mysore did not disappoint. Following Matthew Hervey through mid nineteenth century India has been fascinating. I love seeing Georgiana grow up and Annie develop as a character. Corporal Johnson and RSM Armstrong continue to be wonderful characters.

I hope Mallinson will write another book very soon!

[Paul Chipperfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow to begin with, but still a jolly good read. I have read all the books with General Nervy and enjoyed

everyone, so I recommend the series to everyone who likes a historical action packed stories that have a true insight of how the dragoons actually preformed.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best of the series.

Thoroughly enjoyed the first two thirds of third book covering the settling in of the regiment on their arrival in India, both militarily and domestically. The detail and the writing was well up to Mr Mallinsons usual excellence.
The final third however just didn't match the earlier sections. The campaign in the book itself was rushed and the description of it also seemed to be.The author is one of the few writers who I find describes a battle well but unfortunately, for me, this is one of the few times he didn't quite manage it.
Overall though another excellent chapter in Matthew Hervey's glittering career.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

reads like a filler in the larger breath of the series

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable story of British India, but slightly slow-paced in places.