⋙ Read Free India Black and the Gentleman Thief A Madam of Espionage Mystery Carol K Carr Books

India Black and the Gentleman Thief A Madam of Espionage Mystery Carol K Carr Books

Download As PDF : India Black and the Gentleman Thief A Madam of Espionage Mystery Carol K Carr Books

India Black and the Gentleman Thief A Madam of Espionage Mystery Carol K Carr Books

Madam Espionage of Victorian England herself is back along with that glorious cast of characters that create a Victorian England that assuredly would shock Queen Vicky out of her black underbritches. India Black, the madam-turned-spy is attempting to solve the mystery of her own family while aiding French in a dogged pursuit of an international smuggling ring. She soon finds more than she bargained for when she's reunited both with an ex-flame (if you haven't read "India Black and the Rajah's Ruby - do so!) and that troublesome, yet somehow endearing, Dowager Marchioness of Tullibardine.

The story has the all the action, drama, and wit that readers have come to expect from India and her companions. I am continually impressed by the many nicknames India uses to refer to the Almighty (my favorite currently being the "Great Hairy Chess Player"). However, one thing that is different is the realization that the work India does and the people she works with (those not being her...um...employees) are starting to have effects on her. It's up to the reader to decide if they are good effects or bad; India herself seems conflicted.

India is starting to have a vulnerability about her that hasn't been present in previous books. Her feelings (yes...feelings! She can deny it all she wants!) and dependence on French are giving her less of an edge. She's still independent, she's still very much a tough, self-sufficient woman. She still does have a long way to go as certain incidents with that rapscallion, Vincent, will show (you'll know them when you see them). However, she's learning to care for others besides herself - something she really hasn't done since her mother died. Also, she's realizing that she just may not be what French wants (how little she knows!) and that tiny seed of doubt that all women understand has started to grow. The tricks she relied on for years are not working with him; she learns that all too well after a particularly bad backfire and, for the first time since we've met her, India starts showing some insecurity. She's always depended on her ability to attract men; she is stunned (and hurt...it's implied - but it's there) when French fails to grab at the same bait. This and a great intro to the next tale is enough to make me itch for the next book.

As it seems Carr's plan is to draw things out as long as possible so as not to "jump the shark," I confess I see the logic in it. However, I admit that I like seeing India mature this way. I believe it's better because it means if/when India and French finally make it work, she will be a more fully realized person. Right now, too much of India's past still rules her; the former prostitute/current madam still holds too much control to let India see herself as anything more than an object. It'll be interesting to see where her future investigations take her.....and French. I'm sure they'll free her more than she can ever dream.


Tags : Amazon.com: India Black and the Gentleman Thief (A Madam of Espionage Mystery) (9780425262481): Carol K. Carr: Books,Carol K. Carr,India Black and the Gentleman Thief (A Madam of Espionage Mystery),Berkley,0425262480,Mystery & Detective - Historical,FICTION Historical,Nationalism;Scotland;Fiction.,Nationalists - Scotland,Nationalists;Scotland;Fiction.,Spies - Great Britain,Spies;Great Britain;Fiction.,Spy stories,AMERICAN HISTORICAL FICTION,AMERICAN MYSTERY & SUSPENSE FICTION,FICTION Mystery & Detective Historical,FICTION Romance Historical Victorian,FICTION Thrillers Espionage,Fiction,Fiction - Mystery Detective,Fiction-Mystery & Detective,GENERAL,General Adult,Great Britain,Historical fiction,Monograph Series, any,MysterySuspense,Nationalists,Scotland,Spies,United States,thrillers; thriller books; mystery books; murder mystery books; crime books; detective novels; mystery and thrillers; romance; thriller; spy; espionage; historical romance; suspense; mystery; historical mysteries; mystery thriller suspense; mystery and suspense; mysteries and thrillers; mystery novels; historical romance books; romance novels; fiction; mysteries; fiction books; romance books; spy novels; suspense thriller books; spy thrillers; suspense fiction; espionage and spy thrillers; espionage fiction,thrillers;thriller books;mystery;historical mystery;victorian;historical mysteries;mystery books;thriller;romance;suspense books;crime books;murder mystery books;espionage;mystery and thrillers;mystery and suspense;detective novels;police;historical romance;spy;suspense;mysteries and thrillers;romance books;mystery novels;love;romance novels;spy novels;suspense thriller books;assassin;spy thrillers;fiction;novels;mysteries;fiction books;books fiction;historical mystery fiction,FICTION Mystery & Detective Historical,FICTION Romance Historical Victorian,FICTION Thrillers Espionage,Fiction - Mystery Detective,American Historical Fiction,American Mystery & Suspense Fiction,Great Britain,Nationalists,Scotland,Spies,Fiction,MysterySuspense,Historical fiction

India Black and the Gentleman Thief A Madam of Espionage Mystery Carol K Carr Books Reviews

(Maybe 3.5 stars?) This is a good entry in the series. It's an enjoyable read, has an interesting mystery for French and India to solve, and the French-India relationship continues to evolve. But I was a tad disappointed in India. I felt like she had lost a bit of her backbone, bite and sass, things I love about her, and I also didn't find as many of her chuckle-worthy, cynical observations about people and life in this story.

On the other hand, I did enjoy learning a bit more about her parentage and background and her relationship to the Dowager Marchioness of Tullibardine (Remember her from India Black and the Widow of Windsor (A Madam of Espionage Mystery)?) and the French connection also there. And those of you who have been trying to guess French's first name along with India will finally find out what it is. But French's past still remains a bit murky to India and their "romance" is still just creeping along, in this book advancing a bit only to retreat.

As for the mystery, India, French, and that loveable street urchin Vincent uncover some international arms dealings, possibly involving British army personnel, with arms shipments to a province in India (the country) involved in uprisings against British control. This investigation leads India (the woman) to a re-connection with a former lover, Phillip, from India Black and the Rajah's Ruby (A Madam of Espionage Mystery), who's the "gentleman thief" of this book.

The mystery was interesting but I was a bit befuddled by India's inability to deal effectively with her brothel employees and with the Marchioness of Tullibardine, who comes barreling into India's life, almost taking over the brothel. I want my take-no-nonsense, in-charge India back again. This one was a bit wishy-washy at times. But if India's personality is going to be softening over time, then I want more romance with French. Whatever the case, Ms Carr has me hooked on the series and I'll be reading the next installment, whenever that will be.
Madam Espionage of Victorian England herself is back along with that glorious cast of characters that create a Victorian England that assuredly would shock Queen Vicky out of her black underbritches. India Black, the madam-turned-spy is attempting to solve the mystery of her own family while aiding French in a dogged pursuit of an international smuggling ring. She soon finds more than she bargained for when she's reunited both with an ex-flame (if you haven't read "India Black and the Rajah's Ruby - do so!) and that troublesome, yet somehow endearing, Dowager Marchioness of Tullibardine.

The story has the all the action, drama, and wit that readers have come to expect from India and her companions. I am continually impressed by the many nicknames India uses to refer to the Almighty (my favorite currently being the "Great Hairy Chess Player"). However, one thing that is different is the realization that the work India does and the people she works with (those not being her...um...employees) are starting to have effects on her. It's up to the reader to decide if they are good effects or bad; India herself seems conflicted.

India is starting to have a vulnerability about her that hasn't been present in previous books. Her feelings (yes...feelings! She can deny it all she wants!) and dependence on French are giving her less of an edge. She's still independent, she's still very much a tough, self-sufficient woman. She still does have a long way to go as certain incidents with that rapscallion, Vincent, will show (you'll know them when you see them). However, she's learning to care for others besides herself - something she really hasn't done since her mother died. Also, she's realizing that she just may not be what French wants (how little she knows!) and that tiny seed of doubt that all women understand has started to grow. The tricks she relied on for years are not working with him; she learns that all too well after a particularly bad backfire and, for the first time since we've met her, India starts showing some insecurity. She's always depended on her ability to attract men; she is stunned (and hurt...it's implied - but it's there) when French fails to grab at the same bait. This and a great intro to the next tale is enough to make me itch for the next book.

As it seems Carr's plan is to draw things out as long as possible so as not to "jump the shark," I confess I see the logic in it. However, I admit that I like seeing India mature this way. I believe it's better because it means if/when India and French finally make it work, she will be a more fully realized person. Right now, too much of India's past still rules her; the former prostitute/current madam still holds too much control to let India see herself as anything more than an object. It'll be interesting to see where her future investigations take her.....and French. I'm sure they'll free her more than she can ever dream.