In Victorian London, India Black has all the attributes a high-class madam needs to run a successful brothel--wit, beauty, and an ability to lie with a smile. Luckily for Her Majesty's Government, all these talents also make her a first-rate spy...
India Black, full-time madam and occasional secret agent, is feeling restless, when one of Disraeli's men calls on her to meet the prime minister--alone. Even though all her previous meetings have been organized by the rakishly handsome spy French, it's been decided this is a mission India must attempt on her own.
Revolt has spread across Europe and reached the shores of England--anarchists have begun assassinating lords and earls, one by one. Now India must infiltrate the ranks of the underground group responsible for those attacks, the sinister Dark Legion. To stop their dread plot, India will go from the murkiest slums of London to the highest levels of society, uncovering secrets that threaten her very existence...
Fun read. Interesting plot that was sort of funny at the end. Great acerbic wit from India. Each of the characters in Ms. Black's world are excellently drawn and real enough that one can picture them as they interact with one another. Indeed, as much as I like the character of Vincent, I really wish he'd embrace personal hygiene as I find my nose crinkling up every time he arrives on the scene, as if I smell something foul. Ms. Carr does such an excellent job describing Victorian London that I found myself cringing every time anyone had to walk in the rain, or had the misfortune to get dunked in the Thames. And we're finally getting down to brass tacks about both French and India's background. Lots of obstacles for these two, aside from her being a madam!
I'm really looking forward to India and French's next adventure, and learning more about where Ms. Black's familial roots lie...
Reading updates
-
Started reading
-
22 February, 2013:
Finished reading
-
22 February, 2013:
Reviewed