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Madam of Espionage #1
India Black
In the red-light district of London, India Black is in the business of selling passion her clientele will never forget. But when it comes to selling secrets, India's price cannot be paid by any man...
In the winter of 1876, the beautiful, young madam, India Black, is occupied with her usual tasks—keeping her tarts in line, avoiding the police, and tolerating the clergyman bent on converting her girls. But when Sir Archibald Latham of the War Office dies from a heart attack while visiting her brothel, India is unexpectedly thrust into a deadly game between Russian and British agents who are seeking the military secrets Latham carried.
French, the handsome, British spy, discovers India disposing of Latham's body and blackmails her into recovering the missing documents. Their quest takes them from the Russian embassy to Claridge's Hotel, from London to the English coast, all the while dodging Russians intent to do them harm.
But it is their own tempestuous relationship they will have to weather as India and French attempt to resist the mutual attraction between them—an attraction that can prove as deadly as the conspiracy entangling them.
In the winter of 1876, the beautiful, young madam, India Black, is occupied with her usual tasks—keeping her tarts in line, avoiding the police, and tolerating the clergyman bent on converting her girls. But when Sir Archibald Latham of the War Office dies from a heart attack while visiting her brothel, India is unexpectedly thrust into a deadly game between Russian and British agents who are seeking the military secrets Latham carried.
French, the handsome, British spy, discovers India disposing of Latham's body and blackmails her into recovering the missing documents. Their quest takes them from the Russian embassy to Claridge's Hotel, from London to the English coast, all the while dodging Russians intent to do them harm.
But it is their own tempestuous relationship they will have to weather as India and French attempt to resist the mutual attraction between them—an attraction that can prove as deadly as the conspiracy entangling them.
296 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2010
About the author
Carol K. Carr
7 books303 followersAfter a career as a lawyer and corporate executive, Carol K. Carr turned to writing. India Black is her first book. She lives in the Missouri Ozarks with her husband and two German Shepherds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 477 reviews
July 7, 2015
Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!
Excuse me if I amextremely a little fangirly right now. I just finished this whirlwind novel of adventure, humor and mystery just minutes ago, and friends, I am impressed. And in dire need of a reread, just for fun. And, now, I am a stalwart fan of both India Black and the author behind this highly creative and immensely fun novel, Carol K. Carr. Reading this was easy, entertaining, and so very fun; this is one of those novels that grabs you from the very first page and never really lets go. Another of my done-in-one-sitting reads, India Black has set a high standard for the rest of the novels that will follow in this promising series from a talented author. I admit that I am not one for historical mysteries all that often - I usually stay more on the straight historical fiction side of the genre - but I will willingly make exceptions for any and all further India Black novels to come.
In such a fast-paced novel, with adventures and turnabouts and surprise revelations and secret pasts every other chapter, it is main character India that really makes the novel something really quite special. I truly enjoyed the fleshed-out secondary characters (French and Vincent are both, quite disparately charming fellows) and antagonists, but India is what makes this one of my best-of-2012 novels easily. India is a madam, among many, many other attributes (and vices). Skilled in multiple fields (I do enjoy a girl who can shoot a gun/defend herself/use her wits) and India does each and every one of those multiple times. She is the equal of her unofficial government counterpart, and her charm and humor had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. Smart, cunning and opportunistic, India is a fully-formed, distinct character, and one I related to quite easily - despite our very different backgrounds and attitudes. She bursts forth from the page with her witty comebacks and her handy way around a weapon. She is resourceful and wonderfully three-dimensional with her frank honesty, forthright attitudes - a heroine to remember in a sea of forgettable leads.
India is nicely complemented by her comrades-in-arms, the mysterious and charming French and the street urchin of questionable but useful talents, Vincent. The verbal and occasional real sparring between India and French is another highlight to this well-rounded novel. So often during my experience, I was tempted to update my status on GoodReads with a bon mot or a choice comment from either droll character. Their chemistry is palpable, their interactions full of authenticity, and though this is far from a romance novel, the attraction between the opposites works really well to add an extra layer of tension to a novel already brimming with it. French is a charismatic character, and one that kept me intrigued and very attentive through this all-too-short read of just under 300 pages. Not as open as India about his life, or even his name! - which is to be expected as she narrates the novel, often breaking the fourth wall to address her readers - but is still one that manages to hold his own against the formidable and crafty madam. Vincent adds a certain charm, if his role as a street smart urchin in a Victorian novel is somewhat formulaic, he does add to the novel another easily likeable and distinct character.
This is a mystery, but midway through the novel, that premise is readily concluded and then it's a madcap race of adventure through England and various hostage situations in a race against the agents of the tsar of Russia. India Black is by turns amusing, exciting, hilarious, and always full of constant surprises and upheavals. It's light and fun read and I can't stress enough how good of a time I had with this novel, from start to end. India Black is well worth a try if a feisty protagonist with a brain is high and a unique way around a retort are on your list of favorites. All the rest is an added bonus to a convoluted plot, populated with such vibrant characters.
(A copy of the novel was generously sent to me by the author to review. This in no way influenced my opinion. Because seriously: THIS BOOK IS AWESOME.)
Excuse me if I am
In such a fast-paced novel, with adventures and turnabouts and surprise revelations and secret pasts every other chapter, it is main character India that really makes the novel something really quite special. I truly enjoyed the fleshed-out secondary characters (French and Vincent are both, quite disparately charming fellows) and antagonists, but India is what makes this one of my best-of-2012 novels easily. India is a madam, among many, many other attributes (and vices). Skilled in multiple fields (I do enjoy a girl who can shoot a gun/defend herself/use her wits) and India does each and every one of those multiple times. She is the equal of her unofficial government counterpart, and her charm and humor had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. Smart, cunning and opportunistic, India is a fully-formed, distinct character, and one I related to quite easily - despite our very different backgrounds and attitudes. She bursts forth from the page with her witty comebacks and her handy way around a weapon. She is resourceful and wonderfully three-dimensional with her frank honesty, forthright attitudes - a heroine to remember in a sea of forgettable leads.
India is nicely complemented by her comrades-in-arms, the mysterious and charming French and the street urchin of questionable but useful talents, Vincent. The verbal and occasional real sparring between India and French is another highlight to this well-rounded novel. So often during my experience, I was tempted to update my status on GoodReads with a bon mot or a choice comment from either droll character. Their chemistry is palpable, their interactions full of authenticity, and though this is far from a romance novel, the attraction between the opposites works really well to add an extra layer of tension to a novel already brimming with it. French is a charismatic character, and one that kept me intrigued and very attentive through this all-too-short read of just under 300 pages. Not as open as India about his life, or even his name! - which is to be expected as she narrates the novel, often breaking the fourth wall to address her readers - but is still one that manages to hold his own against the formidable and crafty madam. Vincent adds a certain charm, if his role as a street smart urchin in a Victorian novel is somewhat formulaic, he does add to the novel another easily likeable and distinct character.
This is a mystery, but midway through the novel, that premise is readily concluded and then it's a madcap race of adventure through England and various hostage situations in a race against the agents of the tsar of Russia. India Black is by turns amusing, exciting, hilarious, and always full of constant surprises and upheavals. It's light and fun read and I can't stress enough how good of a time I had with this novel, from start to end. India Black is well worth a try if a feisty protagonist with a brain is high and a unique way around a retort are on your list of favorites. All the rest is an added bonus to a convoluted plot, populated with such vibrant characters.
(A copy of the novel was generously sent to me by the author to review. This in no way influenced my opinion. Because seriously: THIS BOOK IS AWESOME.)
March 4, 2011
Oh me oh my--I sooo wanted to like this book. It sounded just my thing. Alas, it did not work for me. Maybe I had on my grouchy pants when I was reading it, I don't know....
My biggest complaint was that the author was trying too hard.
The idea was really clever, if not too original. The story is told in the first person by our main character, the madam of a Victorian era London brothel that caters to a 'good' segment of society (minor nobility, government officials, military officers, etc).
Alas, one of those government officials kicks the bucket in her establishment. And to make matters worse, he was carrying Important Government Documents, which have gone missing and may be in the hands of the Russians (which would be very bad).
The rest of the book is a chase--try to find and recover the documents, etc, etc.
I think Carr was trying for something like Fraser's Flashman books--wild romps, with a lot of action and smart remarks. But it didn't work for me.
Judging by other reviews, I am in the minority. But that's the way it works sometimes....
My biggest complaint was that the author was trying too hard.
The idea was really clever, if not too original. The story is told in the first person by our main character, the madam of a Victorian era London brothel that caters to a 'good' segment of society (minor nobility, government officials, military officers, etc).
Alas, one of those government officials kicks the bucket in her establishment. And to make matters worse, he was carrying Important Government Documents, which have gone missing and may be in the hands of the Russians (which would be very bad).
The rest of the book is a chase--try to find and recover the documents, etc, etc.
I think Carr was trying for something like Fraser's Flashman books--wild romps, with a lot of action and smart remarks. But it didn't work for me.
Judging by other reviews, I am in the minority. But that's the way it works sometimes....
February 23, 2011
"My name is India Black. I am a whore."
India Black is the proprietor of Lotus House, a house of ill-repute that caters to the gentlemen trade. As the story opens, one of her regular customers drops dead during his latest visit. India begins making arrangements for Bowser's body to be discovered somewhere else, but things get a bit sticky when it's revealed that the briefcase he was carrying contained some super-secret, highly damaging government memos that the Russian government would very much like to get their hands on. India is roped into helping French, the prime minister's agent, in retrieving the briefcase from those dastardly Russians,
"Since the day of Bowser's death, my world had turned upside down. I'd endured kidnapping (by the prime minister, no less), performed a naughty routine for a Russian count and had been held hostage at the Russian embassy. I'd nearly killed myself (and French) trying to steal Bowser's case from William Gladstone's hotel room, ridden in an open sleigh through some hellish weather, been kidnapped again (at least it was the Russkis this time, and not my own country-men) and was now on my way to France. Say what you will about the experience, at least I hadn't been bored."
This was a quick easy read, and a very entertaining romp filled with action, adventure, spies and counter-spies. Written in the first person, India's voice is smart, witty and very irreverent. The verbal sparring between India and French was a lot of fun, and I look forward to seeing the relationship grow in future books. That said, my hands down favorite character was Vincent the street urchin, I'd very much like to take him home, lice or not :0
FTC? Library loot.
India Black is the proprietor of Lotus House, a house of ill-repute that caters to the gentlemen trade. As the story opens, one of her regular customers drops dead during his latest visit. India begins making arrangements for Bowser's body to be discovered somewhere else, but things get a bit sticky when it's revealed that the briefcase he was carrying contained some super-secret, highly damaging government memos that the Russian government would very much like to get their hands on. India is roped into helping French, the prime minister's agent, in retrieving the briefcase from those dastardly Russians,
"Since the day of Bowser's death, my world had turned upside down. I'd endured kidnapping (by the prime minister, no less), performed a naughty routine for a Russian count and had been held hostage at the Russian embassy. I'd nearly killed myself (and French) trying to steal Bowser's case from William Gladstone's hotel room, ridden in an open sleigh through some hellish weather, been kidnapped again (at least it was the Russkis this time, and not my own country-men) and was now on my way to France. Say what you will about the experience, at least I hadn't been bored."
This was a quick easy read, and a very entertaining romp filled with action, adventure, spies and counter-spies. Written in the first person, India's voice is smart, witty and very irreverent. The verbal sparring between India and French was a lot of fun, and I look forward to seeing the relationship grow in future books. That said, my hands down favorite character was Vincent the street urchin, I'd very much like to take him home, lice or not :0
FTC? Library loot.
January 25, 2015
Find my favorite quotes and follow all my reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I stumbled over India Black by accident. A librarian left it on a cart of returns while attending another patron. I’d heard good things about the title so I helped myself and hunkered down to read it as soon as I got home. I don’t know what I expected really, but for once I think the accolades deserved. Carr’s is a fabulous debut. A fun and fast-paced fiction beginning to end.
I found India’s clever banter and internal dialogue wickedly entertaining. She’s a savvy business woman with genuine flare and should prove an entertaining heroine as the series moves on. Vincent also stands out in my mind. Not since Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist has a street urchin managed to work his way into my good graces and while I admit he’s a disgusting little blighter, but I found his personality charming and delightfully quirky.
I felt the mystery itself simplistic, but well-executed just the same. There’s humor in it and the story kept my attention so I can’t really complain, but ideally I’d have liked to see a tad more complexity in the novel’s structure.
I suppose my only real complaint is French. I wanted Tobias March, but there really is no comparison. French’s relationship with India is companionable, but lacked the chemistry one would expect between would-be lovers. He isn’t a bad character, but he is subtle and was easily overshadowed by his vivacious leading lady.
I stumbled over India Black by accident. A librarian left it on a cart of returns while attending another patron. I’d heard good things about the title so I helped myself and hunkered down to read it as soon as I got home. I don’t know what I expected really, but for once I think the accolades deserved. Carr’s is a fabulous debut. A fun and fast-paced fiction beginning to end.
I found India’s clever banter and internal dialogue wickedly entertaining. She’s a savvy business woman with genuine flare and should prove an entertaining heroine as the series moves on. Vincent also stands out in my mind. Not since Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist has a street urchin managed to work his way into my good graces and while I admit he’s a disgusting little blighter, but I found his personality charming and delightfully quirky.
I felt the mystery itself simplistic, but well-executed just the same. There’s humor in it and the story kept my attention so I can’t really complain, but ideally I’d have liked to see a tad more complexity in the novel’s structure.
I suppose my only real complaint is French. I wanted Tobias March, but there really is no comparison. French’s relationship with India is companionable, but lacked the chemistry one would expect between would-be lovers. He isn’t a bad character, but he is subtle and was easily overshadowed by his vivacious leading lady.
July 10, 2016
This book was a nice surprise! I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. India Black is witty, sarcastic and has a dry sense of humor. The fact that she runs a brothel adds to the humor of the story.
You come to like French and Vincent who are India's partners in crime. I'm sure they will be featured in other stories too.
I did find there was some English slang used that I wasn't familiar with and couldn't define. A glossary or footnote of some of those things would be helpful. But I sorta just ride over those things and enjoy the story anyway.
I will definitely read more of India Black!
You come to like French and Vincent who are India's partners in crime. I'm sure they will be featured in other stories too.
I did find there was some English slang used that I wasn't familiar with and couldn't define. A glossary or footnote of some of those things would be helpful. But I sorta just ride over those things and enjoy the story anyway.
I will definitely read more of India Black!
March 13, 2022
I like it! So immersive. Makes me think Im in that era with her. And I really enjoyed that dangerous little adventure. Writing is superb, and masterfully uses elements of that place and time. New fav!
January 30, 2011
Well I liked the book, sort of, but it wasn't what I expected. India was funny. She was very outspoken and definitely had a different sort of outlook on life. But a major part of the story was missing! Part of the description on the back of the book was this.
"But it is their own tempestuous relationship they will have to weather as India and French attempt to reset the mutual attraction between them-an attraction that can prove as deadly as the conspiracy entangling them..."
This is talking about the main character and the British spy who blackmails her into helping him. I kept waiting for the attraction between the two of them. There was ONE part where they had a somewhat meaningful conversation, but other than that. Nothing. I was extremely disappointed. I liked them together, but throughout this book they were never more than acquaintances. Ugh it makes me mad that a description on the back of the book could be so false... the description that made me buy the stupid book.
Other than that, it was a good story, although I grew very tired of them capturing other spies and not patting them down to make sure they didn't have any weapons. How stupid.
"But it is their own tempestuous relationship they will have to weather as India and French attempt to reset the mutual attraction between them-an attraction that can prove as deadly as the conspiracy entangling them..."
This is talking about the main character and the British spy who blackmails her into helping him. I kept waiting for the attraction between the two of them. There was ONE part where they had a somewhat meaningful conversation, but other than that. Nothing. I was extremely disappointed. I liked them together, but throughout this book they were never more than acquaintances. Ugh it makes me mad that a description on the back of the book could be so false... the description that made me buy the stupid book.
Other than that, it was a good story, although I grew very tired of them capturing other spies and not patting them down to make sure they didn't have any weapons. How stupid.
January 11, 2015
I really liked this much more than I would have thought. Never heard of this series. I was searching through my nook one night and came across this. I downloaded the sample and was hooked by the preface alone. So I bought it and I'm so glad I did. I really liked India. She was sassy, honest, independent, quite funny, and made no excuses for herself. Even though she's a madam, it's not the main story, part of the background I guess I would say. When she gets involved with spies she meets French. I really liked him also, I thought they complemented each other well. I can't wait to see where the author takes India and French. I will definitely be buying the rest of these books.
June 3, 2012
India Black is a boss from hell, a shallow, mean spirited creature who thinks little of humanity and the world around her. I think the author was trying for a frank vulgarness to give things a funny, tell it like it is tone, and a lot of other reviewers talk about the narration's wit.
Let my put it this way- within the first chapter we are already well informed that as a madam, India Black thinks everyone in her employ is an addicted moron. For reasons I can't fathom, the authour decided the best possible thing she could refer to her employees as was "bints". This bit of historical slang is a lot closer to "bitch" or "cunt", and while the meaning once had slightly more positive connotations, at least implying desirability, it was still the sort of back handed compliment that comes from its origins, from an unpleasant slang term for native women (it's Arabic for daughter) and peculated through the language from the attitudes of the time. India Black sounds like the sort of pimp that anti-pimping laws were invented to stop.
Never fear, in addition to loathing and disrespecting her employees, India Black also loathes her customers, quick to remind us how above the work she is now even if of course she's still young and pretty and could just grab a protector on a moment's notice. We're reminded repeatedly that men are only to be led around by the nose and everything is settled by plunking a young lady in their lap. Not to be outdone by her low view of people in the face of temptation, she's actively dishonest, and one of her proofs that her employees are lacking in intelligence is that they will not fleece the customers as hard unless she pushes them, and only nice where it suits her purpose. So by chapter four, with an endless parade of disrespectful vulgarity tossed as if trying to shuck the very filth she sprung from and still nourishes herself with, India Black is well established as an unsympathetic sociopath who would probably sell her unconscious aged mother for the right price. In short, rather revolting instead of racy, and whomever the bad guys are they'd need to be pretty awful to top this platonic ideal of misanthropy.
And then there's the narrative inconsistency. The employees, initially described as a bunch of fools, appear to have just as much sound economic sense and survival skills as the protagonist in practice, and India Black in turn consuming whisky just about the rate of the employees she scorns for their vices. Endless talk of social hypocrisy while modelling it more strongly then anyone else does not endear the reader and I can't be sure this is what the author intended. The result is a starting tone that falls short of the happy hooker motif while missing something human sounding, a mess all over the place. Some of it is that I've lost the ability to snicker about kinky sex, so gags about clients wearing drag and wielding whips aren't inherently funny. I can't feel superior to fetishists, and I can't feel shocked either.
Chapter four and dirty London inserts herself as a character, a bit refreshing in all her unsavouriness, and the author doesn't do badly painting the setting, even if India Black appears to have no redeemable characteristics. The plot's got rolling and we're spared her endless whine about how the universe is conspiring to piss her off, in time to give what now comes across as a shrill, bad tempered bawd something to genuinely complain about, and some trim action scenes. A bit of oddness pops up with the narrator remarking that even Beau Brummel wouldn't have worn an outfit that bright (for course bloody not, the Regency era arbiter of men's fashion was famous for dark, tailored and sombre looks!) but that's picking nits. I'm also a bit less than convinced the Primeminister would meet with the protagonist personally over even a matter of immediate urgency to do with state security, or that the budget for a matter of national urgency would be reduced to one agent, a madam and a plucky urchin, or even that a war memo would be carried into a brothel during a Sunday visit, but a fast pace and more well written fights help.
What I'm not convinced is that there was any chemistry between French and India; to be exact French looked interested and India seemed way too self absorbed to notice. The urchin, Vincent, honestly seemed the most heroic of the lot, and his specialty seemed to be to drive the plot wagon. After a certain point the kid showing up was both a little preposterous and making me more interested in his story than another round of India hating everything and say, pathologically lying to bystanders.
This is the author's first published work. Keep watching because she's got a lot going on here, and a first work is very seldom a masterpiece, but her ability to place and move people is already pretty fantastic. If India Black was a bit less of a souless wonder this would have gotten a much higher rating and I'm expecting Carol K. Carr to get better over time.
Let my put it this way- within the first chapter we are already well informed that as a madam, India Black thinks everyone in her employ is an addicted moron. For reasons I can't fathom, the authour decided the best possible thing she could refer to her employees as was "bints". This bit of historical slang is a lot closer to "bitch" or "cunt", and while the meaning once had slightly more positive connotations, at least implying desirability, it was still the sort of back handed compliment that comes from its origins, from an unpleasant slang term for native women (it's Arabic for daughter) and peculated through the language from the attitudes of the time. India Black sounds like the sort of pimp that anti-pimping laws were invented to stop.
Never fear, in addition to loathing and disrespecting her employees, India Black also loathes her customers, quick to remind us how above the work she is now even if of course she's still young and pretty and could just grab a protector on a moment's notice. We're reminded repeatedly that men are only to be led around by the nose and everything is settled by plunking a young lady in their lap. Not to be outdone by her low view of people in the face of temptation, she's actively dishonest, and one of her proofs that her employees are lacking in intelligence is that they will not fleece the customers as hard unless she pushes them, and only nice where it suits her purpose. So by chapter four, with an endless parade of disrespectful vulgarity tossed as if trying to shuck the very filth she sprung from and still nourishes herself with, India Black is well established as an unsympathetic sociopath who would probably sell her unconscious aged mother for the right price. In short, rather revolting instead of racy, and whomever the bad guys are they'd need to be pretty awful to top this platonic ideal of misanthropy.
And then there's the narrative inconsistency. The employees, initially described as a bunch of fools, appear to have just as much sound economic sense and survival skills as the protagonist in practice, and India Black in turn consuming whisky just about the rate of the employees she scorns for their vices. Endless talk of social hypocrisy while modelling it more strongly then anyone else does not endear the reader and I can't be sure this is what the author intended. The result is a starting tone that falls short of the happy hooker motif while missing something human sounding, a mess all over the place. Some of it is that I've lost the ability to snicker about kinky sex, so gags about clients wearing drag and wielding whips aren't inherently funny. I can't feel superior to fetishists, and I can't feel shocked either.
Chapter four and dirty London inserts herself as a character, a bit refreshing in all her unsavouriness, and the author doesn't do badly painting the setting, even if India Black appears to have no redeemable characteristics. The plot's got rolling and we're spared her endless whine about how the universe is conspiring to piss her off, in time to give what now comes across as a shrill, bad tempered bawd something to genuinely complain about, and some trim action scenes. A bit of oddness pops up with the narrator remarking that even Beau Brummel wouldn't have worn an outfit that bright (for course bloody not, the Regency era arbiter of men's fashion was famous for dark, tailored and sombre looks!) but that's picking nits. I'm also a bit less than convinced the Primeminister would meet with the protagonist personally over even a matter of immediate urgency to do with state security, or that the budget for a matter of national urgency would be reduced to one agent, a madam and a plucky urchin, or even that a war memo would be carried into a brothel during a Sunday visit, but a fast pace and more well written fights help.
What I'm not convinced is that there was any chemistry between French and India; to be exact French looked interested and India seemed way too self absorbed to notice. The urchin, Vincent, honestly seemed the most heroic of the lot, and his specialty seemed to be to drive the plot wagon. After a certain point the kid showing up was both a little preposterous and making me more interested in his story than another round of India hating everything and say, pathologically lying to bystanders.
This is the author's first published work. Keep watching because she's got a lot going on here, and a first work is very seldom a masterpiece, but her ability to place and move people is already pretty fantastic. If India Black was a bit less of a souless wonder this would have gotten a much higher rating and I'm expecting Carol K. Carr to get better over time.
January 18, 2011
First of all, I LOVED the heroine, India. What a woman! I could spend hours typing quotes of all the witty, sarcastic, funny, and wise things she says or thinks throughout the book.. "Every word in this volume is the gospel truth. You can put your money on the counter and buy the book, or you can go to the devil. It's all the same to me."
"There's a natural affinity between politicans and whores, having, as they do, certain similarities, that breed a type of professional courtesy, if you will. For example, we share the same line of work; we each provide a service in exchange for something else. In my case, it's money, and for politicians, it's votes. We each exercise our charm and wile to convince our customers to pay us or vote for us, for we're in competition with others who can provide the same services. And we'll both do just about anything as long as the price is right. Frankly, I think it's a damned slur against the tarts to consign them to the social rubbish heap just for earning a living while praising the politicos as selfless public servants. At least bints arent' hypocritical; you'll never hear one of them blathering on sanctimoniously that they do what they do for the benefit of the British public."
However, the mystery/suspense aspect of it was disappointing. After a man dies in India's house of ill repute (Did I mention she is a whore and a pimp?), the rest of the novel is India, French (an agent), and Vincent (a dirty street urchin) running after a case that had been on the now dead client's body. The Russian's also want the case and so does the other side of the British party. So.. basically, a Russian gets the case, India gets the case back, loses it to the British, gets the case back, loses it to the Russians.. and so on.. Really, it all would have been much more exciting had there been more to it and for crying out loud, people, KILL the enemy when you get the case, don't stand there chattering about it! That's why you lose it all over again!
I enjoyed the narrative of India enough to still give this a four star. I will most likely attempt to get the rest of the series through my library simply to read more India wittisms, but unless the mysteries show improvement, I'm not likely to pay ten dollars a book for the series.
"There's a natural affinity between politicans and whores, having, as they do, certain similarities, that breed a type of professional courtesy, if you will. For example, we share the same line of work; we each provide a service in exchange for something else. In my case, it's money, and for politicians, it's votes. We each exercise our charm and wile to convince our customers to pay us or vote for us, for we're in competition with others who can provide the same services. And we'll both do just about anything as long as the price is right. Frankly, I think it's a damned slur against the tarts to consign them to the social rubbish heap just for earning a living while praising the politicos as selfless public servants. At least bints arent' hypocritical; you'll never hear one of them blathering on sanctimoniously that they do what they do for the benefit of the British public."
However, the mystery/suspense aspect of it was disappointing. After a man dies in India's house of ill repute (Did I mention she is a whore and a pimp?), the rest of the novel is India, French (an agent), and Vincent (a dirty street urchin) running after a case that had been on the now dead client's body. The Russian's also want the case and so does the other side of the British party. So.. basically, a Russian gets the case, India gets the case back, loses it to the British, gets the case back, loses it to the Russians.. and so on.. Really, it all would have been much more exciting had there been more to it and for crying out loud, people, KILL the enemy when you get the case, don't stand there chattering about it! That's why you lose it all over again!
I enjoyed the narrative of India enough to still give this a four star. I will most likely attempt to get the rest of the series through my library simply to read more India wittisms, but unless the mysteries show improvement, I'm not likely to pay ten dollars a book for the series.
May 2, 2016
I think this is another of those "it's not you, it's me" moments. Victorian era historicals and I just don't get along! I can sometimes be persuaded otherwise if, for example, there happens to be a good dose of magic or supernatural happenings that use the foggy streets to their best advantage, which is partly why I thought India and I would get along. The foggy streets, that is, not the magic (hint: there isn't any).
India Black is a fantastic, feisty, not-at-all modest heroine - and luckily one who does recognise her own faults, otherwise she would be a little hard to bear. As it is she is charm itself and its hard not to like her. One full star for India Black!
Unfortunately I found myself yawning through the politics, skimming through the various fights and flights, and trying not to doze off as the book came to a climax. I just can't get into this era, I really can't. I had the same problem with The Luminaries, which was a completely different kettle of fish but still set in a year beginning with 18.
Victorian England was lovely I'm sure, for some of those involved, and it seems that genuine historical characters were met by our protagonist throughout the book (I had to look this up later), so full points for research. I probably won't ever find out if this eye for detail carries through the series, as I doubt I'll ever read another.
I do, however, fully recommend this to anyone who like no-nonsense Victorian heroines, a brooding hero (more points for romance averted for the time being by India's aforementioned no-nonsenseness) and a good dose of spy-thriller-action on horseback.
India Black is a fantastic, feisty, not-at-all modest heroine - and luckily one who does recognise her own faults, otherwise she would be a little hard to bear. As it is she is charm itself and its hard not to like her. One full star for India Black!
Unfortunately I found myself yawning through the politics, skimming through the various fights and flights, and trying not to doze off as the book came to a climax. I just can't get into this era, I really can't. I had the same problem with The Luminaries, which was a completely different kettle of fish but still set in a year beginning with 18.
Victorian England was lovely I'm sure, for some of those involved, and it seems that genuine historical characters were met by our protagonist throughout the book (I had to look this up later), so full points for research. I probably won't ever find out if this eye for detail carries through the series, as I doubt I'll ever read another.
I do, however, fully recommend this to anyone who like no-nonsense Victorian heroines, a brooding hero (more points for romance averted for the time being by India's aforementioned no-nonsenseness) and a good dose of spy-thriller-action on horseback.
November 28, 2015
Picked this one up for a bit of light fun, which it provided. I’m not sure about the comparisons to Gail Carriger’s books — sure, the period is roughly the same and the covers have some commonalities, but Alexia is a lady and India is a mercenary whore (and I mean that literally, not pejoratively). The kind of humour is different — sharper, less light, often relying on India’s bitter attitude toward, well, almost everyone. Carriger does have Alexia being more intelligent than a lot of people, but she also has more interaction with other intelligent characters (including other women). The emphasis on romance is entirely lacking in India Black, too.
Still, as a quick romp with a bit of spy/thriller/mystery stuff going on, it’s quite fun. It’s in first person from the point of view of India herself, and she’s pretty sharp and cutting about the world, and knowing about the way things are. That gives her a pretty fun voice.
In terms of the plot… it’s not too tight, with a fair amount of coincidence and people just being stupid. It’s not bad for a light bit of fun, though.
Originally posted here.
Still, as a quick romp with a bit of spy/thriller/mystery stuff going on, it’s quite fun. It’s in first person from the point of view of India herself, and she’s pretty sharp and cutting about the world, and knowing about the way things are. That gives her a pretty fun voice.
In terms of the plot… it’s not too tight, with a fair amount of coincidence and people just being stupid. It’s not bad for a light bit of fun, though.
Originally posted here.
March 13, 2011
In order for me to enjoy this novel I would have had to have a strong willingness to suspend disbelief and as a rule I don't. I don't enjoy fantasy fiction at all and if what I'm reading defies logic I'm generally less than enamored, as was the case with this book. Humor is also not something I generally read, though I do enjoy a novel that incorporates history and adventure, which this novel seemed to attempt to do.
I thought the story started out interesting enough with a compelling conflict for the protagonist who also seemed a witty narrator. I laughed out loud at several things the heroine India Black said. I enjoyed the very beginning of the novel but then was dramatically disappointed by the way the story seems to fall apart. The plot becomes illogical and unbelievable, the characters are caricatures with little or no depth to interest the reader and the details the author uses to describe them are repeated far too often.
As events unfolded I kept asking why? why would she do that? why wouldn't he have done this instead? why didn't they...? Each time I asked myself "why?" I realized that the events being described defied logic. The setting was lacking in Victorian flavor and I disliked the gratuitous sex scene, those elements combined with the repeated pratfalls and ridiculous disguises made me wonder was this satire? was the author spoofing historical fiction? I honestly couldn't tell but I was no longer enjoying it.
Here are some of the things that were in my opinion less than believable:
It seemed very unlikely that India would be able to run a whore house without any muscle, yet no one who performed that task was ever mention. The drunken cook who couldn't cook was mentioned repeatedly.
I also thought it was unlikely that India would be able to run the whore house while spending so much time running around with Mr. French, yet she doesn't mention anyone assisting her in this regard.
At one point Mr. French and India have a run in with the bad guys who out number them, they are left to go home afterward but Mr. French doesn't take India home or find a cab for her, he just disappears leaving footprints in the snow and India has to find a cab home by herself, which is not very Victorian of him.
****The following elements contain spoilers****please be aware that some of the plot will be revealed if you continue reading**** The case with the documents is retrieved by India, not once but twice, and yet neither she nor Mr. French think to destroy the documents in order to keep them from the Russians? That point alone spoiled the believability of the entire story for me. There are many more items on my list to illustrate my point but I will mention only this last one. Toward the end of the adventure the 'bad guys' have the case with the documents in it. In order to get the case to Tsar Alexander's military intelligence they decide to travel to Dover through a blizzard in a carriage. That seems like the slow way to travel. But then Mr. French and India choose to follow them using the same means of conveyance. French mentions they will have to stop every four or five miles to change horses. An equally and incredibly slow way to travel and there is absolutely no logical reason for French to take India with him on the journey. The entire situation is completely illogical and had me wondering what this book was all about. ****End of Spoilers****
Overall I was very disappointed by this novel and thankful I borrowed it from the library.
I thought the story started out interesting enough with a compelling conflict for the protagonist who also seemed a witty narrator. I laughed out loud at several things the heroine India Black said. I enjoyed the very beginning of the novel but then was dramatically disappointed by the way the story seems to fall apart. The plot becomes illogical and unbelievable, the characters are caricatures with little or no depth to interest the reader and the details the author uses to describe them are repeated far too often.
As events unfolded I kept asking why? why would she do that? why wouldn't he have done this instead? why didn't they...? Each time I asked myself "why?" I realized that the events being described defied logic. The setting was lacking in Victorian flavor and I disliked the gratuitous sex scene, those elements combined with the repeated pratfalls and ridiculous disguises made me wonder was this satire? was the author spoofing historical fiction? I honestly couldn't tell but I was no longer enjoying it.
Here are some of the things that were in my opinion less than believable:
It seemed very unlikely that India would be able to run a whore house without any muscle, yet no one who performed that task was ever mention. The drunken cook who couldn't cook was mentioned repeatedly.
I also thought it was unlikely that India would be able to run the whore house while spending so much time running around with Mr. French, yet she doesn't mention anyone assisting her in this regard.
At one point Mr. French and India have a run in with the bad guys who out number them, they are left to go home afterward but Mr. French doesn't take India home or find a cab for her, he just disappears leaving footprints in the snow and India has to find a cab home by herself, which is not very Victorian of him.
****The following elements contain spoilers****please be aware that some of the plot will be revealed if you continue reading**** The case with the documents is retrieved by India, not once but twice, and yet neither she nor Mr. French think to destroy the documents in order to keep them from the Russians? That point alone spoiled the believability of the entire story for me. There are many more items on my list to illustrate my point but I will mention only this last one. Toward the end of the adventure the 'bad guys' have the case with the documents in it. In order to get the case to Tsar Alexander's military intelligence they decide to travel to Dover through a blizzard in a carriage. That seems like the slow way to travel. But then Mr. French and India choose to follow them using the same means of conveyance. French mentions they will have to stop every four or five miles to change horses. An equally and incredibly slow way to travel and there is absolutely no logical reason for French to take India with him on the journey. The entire situation is completely illogical and had me wondering what this book was all about. ****End of Spoilers****
Overall I was very disappointed by this novel and thankful I borrowed it from the library.
May 26, 2011
This is supposed to be a mystery but I don't think so. The whole point of the book is to retrieve a briefcase full of state secrets, yet we know WHO took it, WHERE they are stashing it, WHY they took it, and WHEN then took it. The only part is HOW a madam (i.e. retired Hooker) and a government agent are going to be able to get it back.
The answer - SHEER LUCK AND BUMBLING AROUND LIKE IDIOTS.
Thus, no mystery.
What is sad that I totally expected to like this book - to love it even! I love Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series (like 5 stars people - read them if you haven't) and also Gail Carriger's Parasol protectorate (also 5 huge stars- and insanely funny), but this was totally lacking.
India herself was a pretty good character. She had wit, vivacity, a sharp tongue, and a wicked ability to take down men twice her size with her umbrella. French though (the British spy she is working with) is the equivalent of a wet blanket - or possibly a jar of Mayo. The back of the book claims that "it is their own tempestuous relationship they will have to weather as India and French attempt to resist the mutual attraction between them-an attraction that can prove as deadly as the conspiracy entangling them..."
Uhhhhhh.....what? She never even looks at him with a questioning glance. Yes she admits he's hot, but that's it. And yes he looks at her maybe 2x and possibly thought she was a bit more than a retired hooker but that was it. What tempestuous relationship and mutual attraction?? Thanks for getting my hopes up and then stomping on them Mr. Book Publisher.
There complete lack of chemistry, lack of mystery, and lack of an understandable plot (they spend almost 10 pages describing the geopolitics of the time and why the papers in the briefcase would be detrimental to the British government that made me feel like I was back in my high school civics class...I slept through it then too) made this book pretty disappointing.
Seriously I only finished it because I was on vacation and it was the only book I brought.
Save yourself some time and skip it. There are a lot of better books out there.
The answer - SHEER LUCK AND BUMBLING AROUND LIKE IDIOTS.
Thus, no mystery.
What is sad that I totally expected to like this book - to love it even! I love Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series (like 5 stars people - read them if you haven't) and also Gail Carriger's Parasol protectorate (also 5 huge stars- and insanely funny), but this was totally lacking.
India herself was a pretty good character. She had wit, vivacity, a sharp tongue, and a wicked ability to take down men twice her size with her umbrella. French though (the British spy she is working with) is the equivalent of a wet blanket - or possibly a jar of Mayo. The back of the book claims that "it is their own tempestuous relationship they will have to weather as India and French attempt to resist the mutual attraction between them-an attraction that can prove as deadly as the conspiracy entangling them..."
Uhhhhhh.....what? She never even looks at him with a questioning glance. Yes she admits he's hot, but that's it. And yes he looks at her maybe 2x and possibly thought she was a bit more than a retired hooker but that was it. What tempestuous relationship and mutual attraction?? Thanks for getting my hopes up and then stomping on them Mr. Book Publisher.
There complete lack of chemistry, lack of mystery, and lack of an understandable plot (they spend almost 10 pages describing the geopolitics of the time and why the papers in the briefcase would be detrimental to the British government that made me feel like I was back in my high school civics class...I slept through it then too) made this book pretty disappointing.
Seriously I only finished it because I was on vacation and it was the only book I brought.
Save yourself some time and skip it. There are a lot of better books out there.
July 6, 2017
This book has randomly surfaced on my Goodreads recommendations page and Twitter feed for the last few years now.
I personally love the cover and thought it sounded like an intriguing read. Well recently I saw someone else on Twitter reading it and I suddenly felt like it was time to check it out.
So I guess the whole ‘deadly game’ bit had me thinking this was going to be more of a murder mystery but it wasn’t. This was more of a heist than a murder mystery by far. The whole novel is spent trying to track down a mysterious black case of English documents rather then trying to solve a murder.
It was much different than what I was expecting. I was actually kind of disappointed that this was all that happened throughout the novel though.
There wasn’t even any romance really….Sure India thought French was attractive and there were hints at a possible romance to come in later books but it wasn’t enough to keep me interested in them as a couple—now or in future books.
I can honestly say I just wasn’t that into this book but yet I kept reading it which means I must have liked something right? Well I did, I liked India. She was brash, straight forward, and funny. I loved how no non-sense she was and I loved her honesty from the opening chapter/epilogue. I wanted to keep reading this book because India was such a spitfire and I loved her spirit. I feel like there is more to her than meets the eye so I was intrigued to say the least.
I also liked French. I thought he was enigmatic and mysterious which worked well within the story. I know there is more to him than meets the eye and I would like to get to know more about him as a character.
While both French and India were independently intriguing, as a couple I just didn’t feel any chemistry or tension and maybe that’s what the author intended….but if the idea was for them to eventually become romantically involved, then I think the mark was missed.
In some ways, I felt like the whole searching for the missing documents was boring. I’m not saying that I think a murder would have been more exciting, but in this case the theft was boring. I didn’t feel the eminent need to track the parcel down to avert war. I honestly felt like–well that info is going to come out one way or another so oh well if the documents make it to Russia. For me, I needed more excitement.
Even though this book was a little on the boring side for me, I did keep reading with the hope that it would get better. Then I reached a certain point where I was like ok, it’s not getting better but I’ve already read so much what’s another 100 pages at this point. So I pressed on. It wasn’t that the book was bad or had terrible writing–on the contrary, it was decent–it just lacked excitement for me.
I might pick up one of the other books in the series at some point, but I am not rushing out to pick it up.
See my full review here
I personally love the cover and thought it sounded like an intriguing read. Well recently I saw someone else on Twitter reading it and I suddenly felt like it was time to check it out.
So I guess the whole ‘deadly game’ bit had me thinking this was going to be more of a murder mystery but it wasn’t. This was more of a heist than a murder mystery by far. The whole novel is spent trying to track down a mysterious black case of English documents rather then trying to solve a murder.
It was much different than what I was expecting. I was actually kind of disappointed that this was all that happened throughout the novel though.
There wasn’t even any romance really….Sure India thought French was attractive and there were hints at a possible romance to come in later books but it wasn’t enough to keep me interested in them as a couple—now or in future books.
I can honestly say I just wasn’t that into this book but yet I kept reading it which means I must have liked something right? Well I did, I liked India. She was brash, straight forward, and funny. I loved how no non-sense she was and I loved her honesty from the opening chapter/epilogue. I wanted to keep reading this book because India was such a spitfire and I loved her spirit. I feel like there is more to her than meets the eye so I was intrigued to say the least.
I also liked French. I thought he was enigmatic and mysterious which worked well within the story. I know there is more to him than meets the eye and I would like to get to know more about him as a character.
While both French and India were independently intriguing, as a couple I just didn’t feel any chemistry or tension and maybe that’s what the author intended….but if the idea was for them to eventually become romantically involved, then I think the mark was missed.
In some ways, I felt like the whole searching for the missing documents was boring. I’m not saying that I think a murder would have been more exciting, but in this case the theft was boring. I didn’t feel the eminent need to track the parcel down to avert war. I honestly felt like–well that info is going to come out one way or another so oh well if the documents make it to Russia. For me, I needed more excitement.
Even though this book was a little on the boring side for me, I did keep reading with the hope that it would get better. Then I reached a certain point where I was like ok, it’s not getting better but I’ve already read so much what’s another 100 pages at this point. So I pressed on. It wasn’t that the book was bad or had terrible writing–on the contrary, it was decent–it just lacked excitement for me.
I might pick up one of the other books in the series at some point, but I am not rushing out to pick it up.
See my full review here
July 5, 2011
India Black is a madam, and she makes absolutely no excuses for it. Multiple times, in fact... And there's no escaping it, either--she is the title character after all. In this Carol K. Carr offering, the madam becomes embroiled in espionage when an unfortunate patron departs this life while in the clutches of one of India's "ladies"...
I'm not sure why she decides to dump the body, but she's discovered by a British agent while doing so, and finds out that the poor departed had something very important in his possession--a case that the Russians simply cannot be allowed to get their hands on. Next thing you know, India's engaging in subterfuge all over England trying to recover the case as it ping-pongs between India and her agent, the Russians, and the Prime Minister's opposition.
I wanted to like India Black. I thought the premise was promising, and I like India's dry humor. But somewhere between the first and last page, I got bored, and really didn't care if they recovered the case or not. I still love the cover, though!
I'm not sure why she decides to dump the body, but she's discovered by a British agent while doing so, and finds out that the poor departed had something very important in his possession--a case that the Russians simply cannot be allowed to get their hands on. Next thing you know, India's engaging in subterfuge all over England trying to recover the case as it ping-pongs between India and her agent, the Russians, and the Prime Minister's opposition.
I wanted to like India Black. I thought the premise was promising, and I like India's dry humor. But somewhere between the first and last page, I got bored, and really didn't care if they recovered the case or not. I still love the cover, though!
November 20, 2014
India Black, the clever madam at the heart of this cozy mystery, craves adventure beyond the walls of Lotus House, her "establishment." When one of her clients, a government official, dies unexpectedly and his briefcase subsequently disappears, India earns an audience with the prime minister and his most trusted spy, the stone-faced agent French. Charged with the retrieval of the briefcase, India and French embark on a comic mission filled with harlots, hoodlums, and Russian spies. Saucy, irreverent, and a dab hand with a 0.442 Webley British Bulldog, India is a highly entertaining narrator, and what her story lacks in realism, it more than makes up for in humor.
July 11, 2021
*shrug* I mean, I guess...?
India Black is a former prostitute turned madam, running a classy brothel in the year 1876. One day, a government official dies suddenly while being entertained by a woman posing as a Bulgarian aristocrat, and leaves behind a case of important documents that three separate parties desperately want to get their hands on.
This is exciting, until the case starts feeling like a ping-pong ball repeatedly stolen and passed around while a great number of people don't look at its contents. It's far-fetched to say the least, and a bit too reliant on twists and turns.
India Black's character isn't really my cup of tea. I don't mind her tendency to open her mouth and let words come out without a filter, but she manages to act utterly superior to the women she employs, whom she considers stupid, drunkard and drug-addicted (and claiming she likes them that way), while also being strangely concerned with things such as the plight of Russian serfs. You either give a shit about the oppressed poor, India, or you don't; pick one.
(Also, she's oddly informed about the mood of the common man in countries that are so far off the beaten road of British interest that not even wild Victorian stories are set there - such as Georgia and Armenia. Her brothel doesn't look very international, how does she come across all this information about what serfs' lives are like, what Armenians think about Russians and what Turks prefer calling their cities and so forth?)
All in all, I'm not sorry I read it, nor did I necessarily want to abandon it, and it's not poorly written style-wise, but I won't be reading another book in the series.
India Black is a former prostitute turned madam, running a classy brothel in the year 1876. One day, a government official dies suddenly while being entertained by a woman posing as a Bulgarian aristocrat, and leaves behind a case of important documents that three separate parties desperately want to get their hands on.
This is exciting, until the case starts feeling like a ping-pong ball repeatedly stolen and passed around while a great number of people don't look at its contents. It's far-fetched to say the least, and a bit too reliant on twists and turns.
India Black's character isn't really my cup of tea. I don't mind her tendency to open her mouth and let words come out without a filter, but she manages to act utterly superior to the women she employs, whom she considers stupid, drunkard and drug-addicted (and claiming she likes them that way), while also being strangely concerned with things such as the plight of Russian serfs. You either give a shit about the oppressed poor, India, or you don't; pick one.
(Also, she's oddly informed about the mood of the common man in countries that are so far off the beaten road of British interest that not even wild Victorian stories are set there - such as Georgia and Armenia. Her brothel doesn't look very international, how does she come across all this information about what serfs' lives are like, what Armenians think about Russians and what Turks prefer calling their cities and so forth?)
All in all, I'm not sorry I read it, nor did I necessarily want to abandon it, and it's not poorly written style-wise, but I won't be reading another book in the series.
March 18, 2011
I really wanted to like this book, but somehow it failed to charm me. I read the first few pages online before ordering the book and I have to say that the beginning immediately drew me in. Unfortunately, once I had the actual book in my hands my enthusiasm waned pretty quickly after the first few chapters.
The main character of the story is the title-giving India Black, a whore with lots of dry humor and a fairly cynical view on life. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't quite like her, either. I can't really put my finger on what exactly bothered me about her. It's not that she was a whore --- that I could live with. I guess I just found her a little annoying at times. Also, a little more backstory on her life before the start of this story would have been nice. What was her childhood like? Why did she become a whore and later decide to run a brothel? Perhaps those questions will be answered in the next book (which I probably won't read, though).
As for French --- maybe it's just me, but I found him to be a little too one-dimensional. There is absolutely nothing that makes him stand out as a character, and there is no chemistry between him and India. Going by the summarization on the back of the book I thought he was supposed to be a love interest for India, but it didn't feel that way to me.
Another thing that bothered me for some reason was the fact that the author often used strange words like "bints" for "whores", "cove" for "client", "rogering" for "having sex" etc.! I've read my fair share of historical novels but I have never heard or read those words before. Normally I don't mind if an author uses words that are different from the ones everybody else uses, but this time around I found it annoying.
And while we're at the subject of language --- parts of the book were written in a style that I would call "period appropriate", but then there were also many sentences and phrases that sounded way too modern for a book set in Victorian England. And the thing is --- the "period appropriate" parts and the modern parts in this book just don't mix well.
I agree with some of the other reviewers here that "India Black" really isn't much of a mystery. It is mostly a story about two people on a quest to retrieve a stolen briefcase that holds some important information. They already know what's in the briefcase and who has it, so it's really just a matter of getting it back. No mystery there.
In fact, there were several times when I got really bored with the story. You know how with some books you feel like you just *have to* keep turning pages because you absolutely have to know what happens next and how the whole story will end? Well, this isn't one of those books, or at least it wasn't for me.
Also, the more I read the more I had to suspend my disbelief. Several things happened that made me raise both eyebrows because they were so unbelievable and/or just did not make a lot of sense. Without wanting to spoil too much --- I found it very hard to imagine that a 19th-Century woman (even one who is rather unconventional) would sneak into an upscale hotel, dress up as a maid, and try to get into a hotel room by climbing out the window of one room with the intention of scooting along the window ledge (which was slippery and icy, it being winter of course) and climbing into the window of the room next door. In broad daylight. It gets better --- suddenly there's someone beside her, she’s caught by surprise (cause she wouldn't have noticed someone else standing on the window ledge when she climbed out the window ...), they both fall down from a height of 20 feet, but miraculously neither one is hurt and they immediately start bickering.
Not enough yet? There is a sex scene between India and another whore named Rowena which is part of the plot to get the briefcase back (don’t even ask ...) and which is so ridiculous and badly written that it made me laugh out loud. More than once.
Then there’s „Lotus House“, the brothel that India runs. Early on in the book she says that it’s really important that she’s always there to run things because otherwise her girls are too easily persuaded to lower their rates by their clients. And yet, once she goes off on her briefcase-chase she’s away from the brothel all the time, and there is no mention of anyone else running things in her absence (I doubt the constantly-drunk cook took over for her).
The blurb on the front cover of the book says "A breathless ride through Victorian England" --- well ... I don't think so. The story --- and everything that happens in it --- developed quite slowly so the words "breathless ride" are not something I would associate with this book.
If you expect something along the lines of Deanna Raybourn's superb "Lady Julia Grey" series or Rose Melikan’s „The Blackstone Key“ (as I did) then you might be disappointed. I know I was. "India Black" just holds none of the charm and mystery that made me devour "Silent in the Grave" or „The Blackstone Key“, and neither the story nor the characters (except for India herself, perhaps) are particularly memorable.
Would I read a sequel to "India Black"? At this point I'd have to say no.
The main character of the story is the title-giving India Black, a whore with lots of dry humor and a fairly cynical view on life. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't quite like her, either. I can't really put my finger on what exactly bothered me about her. It's not that she was a whore --- that I could live with. I guess I just found her a little annoying at times. Also, a little more backstory on her life before the start of this story would have been nice. What was her childhood like? Why did she become a whore and later decide to run a brothel? Perhaps those questions will be answered in the next book (which I probably won't read, though).
As for French --- maybe it's just me, but I found him to be a little too one-dimensional. There is absolutely nothing that makes him stand out as a character, and there is no chemistry between him and India. Going by the summarization on the back of the book I thought he was supposed to be a love interest for India, but it didn't feel that way to me.
Another thing that bothered me for some reason was the fact that the author often used strange words like "bints" for "whores", "cove" for "client", "rogering" for "having sex" etc.! I've read my fair share of historical novels but I have never heard or read those words before. Normally I don't mind if an author uses words that are different from the ones everybody else uses, but this time around I found it annoying.
And while we're at the subject of language --- parts of the book were written in a style that I would call "period appropriate", but then there were also many sentences and phrases that sounded way too modern for a book set in Victorian England. And the thing is --- the "period appropriate" parts and the modern parts in this book just don't mix well.
I agree with some of the other reviewers here that "India Black" really isn't much of a mystery. It is mostly a story about two people on a quest to retrieve a stolen briefcase that holds some important information. They already know what's in the briefcase and who has it, so it's really just a matter of getting it back. No mystery there.
In fact, there were several times when I got really bored with the story. You know how with some books you feel like you just *have to* keep turning pages because you absolutely have to know what happens next and how the whole story will end? Well, this isn't one of those books, or at least it wasn't for me.
Also, the more I read the more I had to suspend my disbelief. Several things happened that made me raise both eyebrows because they were so unbelievable and/or just did not make a lot of sense. Without wanting to spoil too much --- I found it very hard to imagine that a 19th-Century woman (even one who is rather unconventional) would sneak into an upscale hotel, dress up as a maid, and try to get into a hotel room by climbing out the window of one room with the intention of scooting along the window ledge (which was slippery and icy, it being winter of course) and climbing into the window of the room next door. In broad daylight. It gets better --- suddenly there's someone beside her, she’s caught by surprise (cause she wouldn't have noticed someone else standing on the window ledge when she climbed out the window ...), they both fall down from a height of 20 feet, but miraculously neither one is hurt and they immediately start bickering.
Not enough yet? There is a sex scene between India and another whore named Rowena which is part of the plot to get the briefcase back (don’t even ask ...) and which is so ridiculous and badly written that it made me laugh out loud. More than once.
Then there’s „Lotus House“, the brothel that India runs. Early on in the book she says that it’s really important that she’s always there to run things because otherwise her girls are too easily persuaded to lower their rates by their clients. And yet, once she goes off on her briefcase-chase she’s away from the brothel all the time, and there is no mention of anyone else running things in her absence (I doubt the constantly-drunk cook took over for her).
The blurb on the front cover of the book says "A breathless ride through Victorian England" --- well ... I don't think so. The story --- and everything that happens in it --- developed quite slowly so the words "breathless ride" are not something I would associate with this book.
If you expect something along the lines of Deanna Raybourn's superb "Lady Julia Grey" series or Rose Melikan’s „The Blackstone Key“ (as I did) then you might be disappointed. I know I was. "India Black" just holds none of the charm and mystery that made me devour "Silent in the Grave" or „The Blackstone Key“, and neither the story nor the characters (except for India herself, perhaps) are particularly memorable.
Would I read a sequel to "India Black"? At this point I'd have to say no.
September 14, 2022
4,25 stars- English Ebook
Review follows later.
Review follows later.
November 17, 2011
What I liked:
The main character of the story is Miss India Black, an intelligent whore with lots of dry humor and a fairly cynical view on life. I loved her narrative voice (as the book is told from her perspective) because it was brutally honest, outspoken and wickedly entertaining. However, the fact that India, once a working girl, now the owner of a brothel, is in peace with her inner self, accepting her fate without any remorse or second thoughts, I liked the best. She makes absolutely no excuses and enjoys her life as it is. She says:
Still, I wouldn’t trade Lotus House for the world. There may be easier ways of earning a sou: I could allow some pedigreed ass to keep me in French perfume and silk gowns, tucked away in a cozy pied-à-terre in St. John’s Wood, and driving a four-in-hand along Rotten Row. But I like my freedom.
It was refreshing.
What’s more, there’s an individual called Vincent – a young street urchin who is cleverer and braver than any spy although his body odour might make you cringe and his appearance and lifestyle are simply outrageous. He is utterly charming in character though – a great addition to our madam and the whole novel.
The book was a breeze to read and I enjoyed the narration pace – quick and vivacious, like the heroine. The mystery was a bit simplistic but nicely executed. Do not expect a lot of romance here, contrary to that last line of the Goodreads synopsis. India is not a person to fall in love – she knows men too well and has no illusions left about them. I think the lack of romance is actually an advantage which made her character only more believable.
Finally the cover is simply lovely, especially the dress and the fan.
What I didn’t like:
In short the plot. Unfortunately the more I read the more I had to suspend my disbelief. Perhaps I was overthinking again…anyway here are the results.
Firstly India leaves Lotus House, her home and the only source of her income, dangerously unattended for almost a week. Very uncharacteristic for such a level-headed businesswoman who, early on in the book, emphasizes how important it is for her to be present there all the time, watch over her girls, her clients and all the takings.
It also seemed very unlikely that a luxurious whore house can be run without any muscle. Although allegedly India’s brothel caters to a 'better' segment of society (minor nobility, government officials, military officers, etc) she still serves alcohol there and a drunk gentleman is first a drunk and gentleman later (if at all); what’s more, imagine what would happen if somebody (or even a group of somebodies) from lower classes tried to barge in and have some 'fun'... In short the book did lack a secondary character who, temporarily at least, would be able to perform the necessary duty of protection and client supervision.
Another scene: India and French, the English agent she has to cooperate with, fall down uncontrollably from a height of over 6 meters; they land on a frozen ground but neither of them is hurt. What’s more, they start bickering almost immediately. Are their bodies made of steel?
Also the fact that extremely cruel Russians proved not so cruel after all and let poor Vincent live I found rather suspicious – I know the boy was necessary to forward the plot and I did appreciate that the blighter survived but it would be far more logical to kill him off…
Last but not least - Mr. French was not a great addition here, character-wise. I found him a bit bland and not especially intelligent when you compare him to India and young Vincent…perhaps he will improve later.
Final verdict:
It was a nice book but if you're expecting a very correct historical fiction novel from Victorian times do not pick this up. You will be disappointed and even annoyed. The language in particular is not from that period and might drive anal purists crazy.
Would I read the next book in the series? Yes, I would. As it was just a debut novel I do hope the author will construct a more intriguing and solid plot which can match the wit, power and fun of India's character.
The main character of the story is Miss India Black, an intelligent whore with lots of dry humor and a fairly cynical view on life. I loved her narrative voice (as the book is told from her perspective) because it was brutally honest, outspoken and wickedly entertaining. However, the fact that India, once a working girl, now the owner of a brothel, is in peace with her inner self, accepting her fate without any remorse or second thoughts, I liked the best. She makes absolutely no excuses and enjoys her life as it is. She says:
Still, I wouldn’t trade Lotus House for the world. There may be easier ways of earning a sou: I could allow some pedigreed ass to keep me in French perfume and silk gowns, tucked away in a cozy pied-à-terre in St. John’s Wood, and driving a four-in-hand along Rotten Row. But I like my freedom.
It was refreshing.
What’s more, there’s an individual called Vincent – a young street urchin who is cleverer and braver than any spy although his body odour might make you cringe and his appearance and lifestyle are simply outrageous. He is utterly charming in character though – a great addition to our madam and the whole novel.
The book was a breeze to read and I enjoyed the narration pace – quick and vivacious, like the heroine. The mystery was a bit simplistic but nicely executed. Do not expect a lot of romance here, contrary to that last line of the Goodreads synopsis. India is not a person to fall in love – she knows men too well and has no illusions left about them. I think the lack of romance is actually an advantage which made her character only more believable.
Finally the cover is simply lovely, especially the dress and the fan.
What I didn’t like:
In short the plot. Unfortunately the more I read the more I had to suspend my disbelief. Perhaps I was overthinking again…anyway here are the results.
Firstly India leaves Lotus House, her home and the only source of her income, dangerously unattended for almost a week. Very uncharacteristic for such a level-headed businesswoman who, early on in the book, emphasizes how important it is for her to be present there all the time, watch over her girls, her clients and all the takings.
It also seemed very unlikely that a luxurious whore house can be run without any muscle. Although allegedly India’s brothel caters to a 'better' segment of society (minor nobility, government officials, military officers, etc) she still serves alcohol there and a drunk gentleman is first a drunk and gentleman later (if at all); what’s more, imagine what would happen if somebody (or even a group of somebodies) from lower classes tried to barge in and have some 'fun'... In short the book did lack a secondary character who, temporarily at least, would be able to perform the necessary duty of protection and client supervision.
Another scene: India and French, the English agent she has to cooperate with, fall down uncontrollably from a height of over 6 meters; they land on a frozen ground but neither of them is hurt. What’s more, they start bickering almost immediately. Are their bodies made of steel?
Also the fact that extremely cruel Russians proved not so cruel after all and let poor Vincent live I found rather suspicious – I know the boy was necessary to forward the plot and I did appreciate that the blighter survived but it would be far more logical to kill him off…
Last but not least - Mr. French was not a great addition here, character-wise. I found him a bit bland and not especially intelligent when you compare him to India and young Vincent…perhaps he will improve later.
Final verdict:
It was a nice book but if you're expecting a very correct historical fiction novel from Victorian times do not pick this up. You will be disappointed and even annoyed. The language in particular is not from that period and might drive anal purists crazy.
Would I read the next book in the series? Yes, I would. As it was just a debut novel I do hope the author will construct a more intriguing and solid plot which can match the wit, power and fun of India's character.
February 17, 2017
The Stephanie Plum of the 19th century, India Black is headstrong and clever but not always very graceful and it lands her in a number of dangerous yet amusing situations that she handles with dry wit and sarcasm. Hell, she even has her own black sidekick at one point. Then there's the handsome Mr. French, a spy who works for the Prime Minister's office, but he only resembles Ranger with his mysterious background. India has her own secrets though, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series to find out what they are.
I did think the way Vincent, the young street urchin, kept sneaking into the most unlikely places was a little unrealistic, but it didn't play too big of a role in the plot so I was able to overlook it.
I saw a few reviewers saying the "strange" vocabulary like "bint", "cove", and "rogering" used throughout the novel wasn't very historically accurate, but actually, they are. "Bint" is a derogatory British term that dates from the mid 19th century for a woman or girl, like "tart". "Cove" is an informal British term that dates from before the 19th century for a person, especially male. "Rogering" is British slang for having sex and dates from the early 18th century. The authentic language was precisely one of the things I loved about this novel, the author made a good effort to use real slang from the time period. Maybe some readers haven't seen these words used before because most historical novels they read aren't about whores who would use language like that? Or perhaps most historical novelists don't make as great an effort to incorporate authentic language because they don't want to alienate readers so some people aren't used to it (though that's not to say most historical novelists use anachronistic language).
The whole time I was reading the book, I was thinking it would make a great movie. Lot's of adventure and humor, and even the hint of a potential romance in the future. There's not a huge amount of depth, but it is a lot of fun, and sometimes that's just what I'm looking for.
Historical Readings & Reviews
I did think the way Vincent, the young street urchin, kept sneaking into the most unlikely places was a little unrealistic, but it didn't play too big of a role in the plot so I was able to overlook it.
I saw a few reviewers saying the "strange" vocabulary like "bint", "cove", and "rogering" used throughout the novel wasn't very historically accurate, but actually, they are. "Bint" is a derogatory British term that dates from the mid 19th century for a woman or girl, like "tart". "Cove" is an informal British term that dates from before the 19th century for a person, especially male. "Rogering" is British slang for having sex and dates from the early 18th century. The authentic language was precisely one of the things I loved about this novel, the author made a good effort to use real slang from the time period. Maybe some readers haven't seen these words used before because most historical novels they read aren't about whores who would use language like that? Or perhaps most historical novelists don't make as great an effort to incorporate authentic language because they don't want to alienate readers so some people aren't used to it (though that's not to say most historical novelists use anachronistic language).
The whole time I was reading the book, I was thinking it would make a great movie. Lot's of adventure and humor, and even the hint of a potential romance in the future. There's not a huge amount of depth, but it is a lot of fun, and sometimes that's just what I'm looking for.
Historical Readings & Reviews
February 19, 2012
A 4.5 star really!
When an important figure in the Disraeli government dies in a compromising position at the Lotus House, Victorian Madam, India Black has to act quickly to avoid any disruption to her business and reputation. Calling on the dubious talents of the odoriferous street urchin Vincent, she has a plan to remove the body discreetly, but is interrupted by government spy French. Blackmailed with the threat of losing the Lotus House she is drawn into his world of espionage to serve the British government.
It seems her “punter” was carrying important documents that put the government in a tricky situation with the Russians and they’ve gone missing! India and French end up in the most unlikely situations to save the day!
I bought this book hoping it would fill the huge hole left by my favourite Victorian female characters. I worship Amelia Peabody, love Lady Julia Grey, wait for the new Parasol Protectorate books with excitement and even read Emily Ashton (although they’re not my favourites!). I enjoy my strong, clever, sarcastic characters that thrive on disaster, near death and criminal activities. The other important factor in all these is also the strong, devastatingly cool and handsome male interest. So India Black, slightly different background to the others and I wasn’t at first convinced that it’d work, but despite my reservations (and I still think it referred to her professional activities a little too much and unnecessarily, which is why I docked half a star!) I really enjoyed it!
India has a high regard for herself and her talents, but the overall tone is light and humorous. French (we don’t find out his first name!) is suitably intelligent, devious and handsome, (yay!) but remains fairly mysterious. Although India acknowledges his looks and there is a spark between them, this first in the series doesn’t go down the romance route, which is probably better for future books if it develops into a long running series. Vincent, although thinly sketched, I’m sure will develop into a far more interesting character and some of India’s more colourful work colleagues and acquaintances will just have to reappear in later books.
To sum up…it’s a fun, fast paced read with strong lead characters. The cover is also really pretty, but a bit too “romance” for the style of the writing. I’ve already bought the second book and although it hasn't completely stopped me wishing for many more (and immediate) Amelia and Julia books, I found it a really enjoyable read.
When an important figure in the Disraeli government dies in a compromising position at the Lotus House, Victorian Madam, India Black has to act quickly to avoid any disruption to her business and reputation. Calling on the dubious talents of the odoriferous street urchin Vincent, she has a plan to remove the body discreetly, but is interrupted by government spy French. Blackmailed with the threat of losing the Lotus House she is drawn into his world of espionage to serve the British government.
It seems her “punter” was carrying important documents that put the government in a tricky situation with the Russians and they’ve gone missing! India and French end up in the most unlikely situations to save the day!
I bought this book hoping it would fill the huge hole left by my favourite Victorian female characters. I worship Amelia Peabody, love Lady Julia Grey, wait for the new Parasol Protectorate books with excitement and even read Emily Ashton (although they’re not my favourites!). I enjoy my strong, clever, sarcastic characters that thrive on disaster, near death and criminal activities. The other important factor in all these is also the strong, devastatingly cool and handsome male interest. So India Black, slightly different background to the others and I wasn’t at first convinced that it’d work, but despite my reservations (and I still think it referred to her professional activities a little too much and unnecessarily, which is why I docked half a star!) I really enjoyed it!
India has a high regard for herself and her talents, but the overall tone is light and humorous. French (we don’t find out his first name!) is suitably intelligent, devious and handsome, (yay!) but remains fairly mysterious. Although India acknowledges his looks and there is a spark between them, this first in the series doesn’t go down the romance route, which is probably better for future books if it develops into a long running series. Vincent, although thinly sketched, I’m sure will develop into a far more interesting character and some of India’s more colourful work colleagues and acquaintances will just have to reappear in later books.
To sum up…it’s a fun, fast paced read with strong lead characters. The cover is also really pretty, but a bit too “romance” for the style of the writing. I’ve already bought the second book and although it hasn't completely stopped me wishing for many more (and immediate) Amelia and Julia books, I found it a really enjoyable read.
June 23, 2016
India Black is a whore and she is completely honest about it. But she owns, and runs her own brothel as it is much better sit back and sip her whisky while counting the cash than to earn it flat on her back. Her entry into international espionage begins when one of her regular clients dies ‘on the job’ so to speak. Turns out the little black briefcase he was carrying has secret documents that the British don’t want to fall into the hands of the Russians – and it looks like it is the Russians who now have them!!! The rest of the story is a none-stop chase sequence as she teams up with a British agent to recover the documents.
Intermingled with the edge-of-your-chair, and often humorous, chase scenes, are long-winded political lectures and way too much detailed historical background that seemed almost out of place and jarred you back from the excitement and into the classroom! It is these scenes that brought my rating from 4 stars to a 3 stars.
Intermingled with the edge-of-your-chair, and often humorous, chase scenes, are long-winded political lectures and way too much detailed historical background that seemed almost out of place and jarred you back from the excitement and into the classroom! It is these scenes that brought my rating from 4 stars to a 3 stars.
February 20, 2012
Excellent first novel. I was amused and enthused from the first chapter. The book is categorised as an "historical mystery" but there really isn't much mystery involved. A lot of the story reads a bit like keystone cops play spy, but truly, I found the book entertaining and the characters interesting enough for me to care what happened to them. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
January 6, 2018
This was really a fun book! A very unusual character that just makes you laugh out loud.
February 18, 2018
This is more of a caper than a mystery or spy story. But it's fun and I enjoyed it. Told in the first person, the book has as its heroine India Black, former prostitute and now madam of an upscale brothel frequented by men of the upper levels of society. This is the first in what looks to be a series of India Black adventures and in this one it's 1876 and a War Office employee dies of a heart attack in the company of one of India's girls. Unfortunately, his sachel with sensitive information goes missing as does the girl he had been with.
The information in the sachel must not fall into the hands of the Russians. As a matter of fact, Prime Minister Disraeli doesn't even want it falling into the hands of former P.M. Gladstone. (When you read the book you'll find out all the international and national intrigues and politics of the day to put all this into perspective.) Disraeli and British agent French (French is his last name, no first name available) conscript India into helping them recover the sensitive papers by helping her to dispose of the dead body far from her brothel and then blackmailing her. So the adventures begin.
It's a whirlwind of action beginning at the Russian embassy and from there we have carriage chases across the wintry landscape from London to the coast and from the coast the adventure continues onto the water. All this is told in India's excellently dry and witty voice. She's funny, she's cheeky, she's saucy, she's self-assured and intrepid and the story has many a LOL moment even while she and French are on quite a dangerous mission in which their lives are often in peril.
There are 5 more adventures with India and French that follow this, counting novels and novellas, and I've read them all. But there have not been any new ones for some time now, unfortunately. We're left in limbo with regard to India and French's possible romance.
The information in the sachel must not fall into the hands of the Russians. As a matter of fact, Prime Minister Disraeli doesn't even want it falling into the hands of former P.M. Gladstone. (When you read the book you'll find out all the international and national intrigues and politics of the day to put all this into perspective.) Disraeli and British agent French (French is his last name, no first name available) conscript India into helping them recover the sensitive papers by helping her to dispose of the dead body far from her brothel and then blackmailing her. So the adventures begin.
It's a whirlwind of action beginning at the Russian embassy and from there we have carriage chases across the wintry landscape from London to the coast and from the coast the adventure continues onto the water. All this is told in India's excellently dry and witty voice. She's funny, she's cheeky, she's saucy, she's self-assured and intrepid and the story has many a LOL moment even while she and French are on quite a dangerous mission in which their lives are often in peril.
There are 5 more adventures with India and French that follow this, counting novels and novellas, and I've read them all. But there have not been any new ones for some time now, unfortunately. We're left in limbo with regard to India and French's possible romance.
October 10, 2017
INDIA BLACK was an entertaining historical mystery/espionage novel. India is the madam of Lotus House. Her problems begins when one of her clients dies in her house. The gentleman is a regular Sunday afternoon client. India's first plan is to move his body so that she and her house don't attract the attention of the law. She enlists a street urchin named Vincent and plans are going well until French interferes.
French is an agent for the Prime Minister and agrees to help move the body and arrange for it to be discovered if India will turn over to him the briefcase of government papers he had with him when he arrived at the house. This sound like a wonderful deal to India who just wants all of this to go away so that she can get back to her business.
Unfortunately, the briefcase and the girl who was with the client have both disappeared. The adventures of India and French as they try to recover the missing briefcase are all told by India in an irreverent and cheeky style and takes them to the Russian Embassy and on a break-neck trip across England in a blizzard.
The action is non-stop and laced with humor. A madam's take on the politics of the day make this an informative story as well especially when filtered through India's point of view. I liked the relationship between French and India. I liked that they both had secrets. I was especially curious about India's since she seems to have more education than the usual woman who grows up on the streets in a poor part of London.
I am eager to continue this series to find out more about India and French.
French is an agent for the Prime Minister and agrees to help move the body and arrange for it to be discovered if India will turn over to him the briefcase of government papers he had with him when he arrived at the house. This sound like a wonderful deal to India who just wants all of this to go away so that she can get back to her business.
Unfortunately, the briefcase and the girl who was with the client have both disappeared. The adventures of India and French as they try to recover the missing briefcase are all told by India in an irreverent and cheeky style and takes them to the Russian Embassy and on a break-neck trip across England in a blizzard.
The action is non-stop and laced with humor. A madam's take on the politics of the day make this an informative story as well especially when filtered through India's point of view. I liked the relationship between French and India. I liked that they both had secrets. I was especially curious about India's since she seems to have more education than the usual woman who grows up on the streets in a poor part of London.
I am eager to continue this series to find out more about India and French.
August 30, 2013
What a delightful read this turned out to be. Set in 1876 London this was less of a mystery and more of a series of political capers centering around some highly sensitive government documents. The book caught my attention with the very first two lines of the Preface, and I rarely even notice the Preface in books.
"My name is India Black. I am a whore."
To be fair, India has left "the game" so to speak in favor of running her own bordello, The Lotus House. In a time when most women passed from their father's homes to that of their husband's with nary a skill to their name but how to gossip, sing, and knit, India is quite proud of her independence. She knows exactly who she is and she makes no apologies for it. She's not a whore with a heart of gold either. India isn't sentimental or soft-hearted. Rather she's quite the pragmatist and I quite liked this about her.
The story kicks off when a VIP government official quite unceremoniously dies in her bordello while sampling the er, services. During the ensuing commotion, the case belonging to said government official and containing the aforementioned highly sensitive government documents goes missing. And so before she can say "Bloody hell!", India finds herself pulled into a political game of who's-got-the-case.
Rounding out the cast is Vincent, a young street urchin whose reputation and body odor precedes him, and the enigmatic Mr. French, the handsome British agent who helps India (or not, if India is to be believed, lol). I really loved all of India's interactions with French. They sparked for me from their first meeting and on through the rest of the book.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of your acquaintance," I said.
He gave a throaty laugh. "I can assure you, there will be little pleasure involved."
His grip tightened. "And whatever you do, hold onto to that case."
"That's the plan?" I asked, in some exasperation. "I try to outpace four ruffians in a blizzard?"
"You're right. That's a bloody awful plan," French said. His tone matched mine. "I'm sure I can think of something else if you give me a minute." He pretended to think. "Ah yes. Here it is." He paused for effect. "I could always take the case and leave you to your own devices."
India spends quite a bit of time complaining about French in her internal monologue but me thinks the lady doth protest too much. I am definitely looking forward to reading more about them as much as I am to see what new adventures India, French and Vincent will get up to. This was an exciting, humorous, and thoroughly entertaining spy romp and I'm hooked.
"My name is India Black. I am a whore."
To be fair, India has left "the game" so to speak in favor of running her own bordello, The Lotus House. In a time when most women passed from their father's homes to that of their husband's with nary a skill to their name but how to gossip, sing, and knit, India is quite proud of her independence. She knows exactly who she is and she makes no apologies for it. She's not a whore with a heart of gold either. India isn't sentimental or soft-hearted. Rather she's quite the pragmatist and I quite liked this about her.
The story kicks off when a VIP government official quite unceremoniously dies in her bordello while sampling the er, services. During the ensuing commotion, the case belonging to said government official and containing the aforementioned highly sensitive government documents goes missing. And so before she can say "Bloody hell!", India finds herself pulled into a political game of who's-got-the-case.
Rounding out the cast is Vincent, a young street urchin whose reputation and body odor precedes him, and the enigmatic Mr. French, the handsome British agent who helps India (or not, if India is to be believed, lol). I really loved all of India's interactions with French. They sparked for me from their first meeting and on through the rest of the book.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of your acquaintance," I said.
He gave a throaty laugh. "I can assure you, there will be little pleasure involved."
His grip tightened. "And whatever you do, hold onto to that case."
"That's the plan?" I asked, in some exasperation. "I try to outpace four ruffians in a blizzard?"
"You're right. That's a bloody awful plan," French said. His tone matched mine. "I'm sure I can think of something else if you give me a minute." He pretended to think. "Ah yes. Here it is." He paused for effect. "I could always take the case and leave you to your own devices."
India spends quite a bit of time complaining about French in her internal monologue but me thinks the lady doth protest too much. I am definitely looking forward to reading more about them as much as I am to see what new adventures India, French and Vincent will get up to. This was an exciting, humorous, and thoroughly entertaining spy romp and I'm hooked.
March 10, 2011
3.5 stars
India Black is a well-written and entertaining read, featuring a no-nonsense, street-wise, and book-smart whore-turned-madam who is the namesake of the book. While I do like India and her voice, there was something about her that felt off, and after thinking about it I've come to realize that I really don't know her that well. I find that odd because the book is told first-person. Even though this is the first in the series and some authors may not want to divulge everything about a character, I think there needed to be more tidbits about India. What's her history? How did she grow up? Was she groomed to be a whore? Etc., etc., etc. Besides, French is the secretive one, we don't need two mysterious characters in one book. As for the attraction between India and French promised on the back of the book, well, it wasn't there. Now there's the promise for that in the future, but there weren't enough scenes with the two of them together for anything to actually happen except some minor discussions about the issue(s) at hand, some bantering, and a decent amount of bickering -- though luckily not too much of the latter to annoy.
The plot is fine, but there's really nothing new to distinguish it from others in Victorian mysteries. Actually, the book doesn't feature any mystery what-so-ever and it's more of a chase to retrieve top secret government documents; I've heard the term caper thrown around and that sounds about right for this book. After a while I felt like I was in Groundhog Day -- same scenarios popped up under different circumstances, but all with the same outcome, which became tiring. The historical facts would have been better served had they been more smoothly incorporated into the story rather than dropped in big chunky lumps that often bored me (and I like history). The atmosphere of the book was fairly well-done, though it seemed a bit too polished and clean, so a little more grit would have given it some needed realism. The main character is a madam who can't possibly live in best neighborhood, and no matter how well-mannered, groomed, or intelligent she may be, she has to live in a tough place.
While I do have those minor issues about the book, the question is, "Would I read the next book in the series?" Yes, I believe so, because overall, I did enjoy this foray into India Black's world and it has the makings of a very interesting series.
India Black is a well-written and entertaining read, featuring a no-nonsense, street-wise, and book-smart whore-turned-madam who is the namesake of the book. While I do like India and her voice, there was something about her that felt off, and after thinking about it I've come to realize that I really don't know her that well. I find that odd because the book is told first-person. Even though this is the first in the series and some authors may not want to divulge everything about a character, I think there needed to be more tidbits about India. What's her history? How did she grow up? Was she groomed to be a whore? Etc., etc., etc. Besides, French is the secretive one, we don't need two mysterious characters in one book. As for the attraction between India and French promised on the back of the book, well, it wasn't there. Now there's the promise for that in the future, but there weren't enough scenes with the two of them together for anything to actually happen except some minor discussions about the issue(s) at hand, some bantering, and a decent amount of bickering -- though luckily not too much of the latter to annoy.
The plot is fine, but there's really nothing new to distinguish it from others in Victorian mysteries. Actually, the book doesn't feature any mystery what-so-ever and it's more of a chase to retrieve top secret government documents; I've heard the term caper thrown around and that sounds about right for this book. After a while I felt like I was in Groundhog Day -- same scenarios popped up under different circumstances, but all with the same outcome, which became tiring. The historical facts would have been better served had they been more smoothly incorporated into the story rather than dropped in big chunky lumps that often bored me (and I like history). The atmosphere of the book was fairly well-done, though it seemed a bit too polished and clean, so a little more grit would have given it some needed realism. The main character is a madam who can't possibly live in best neighborhood, and no matter how well-mannered, groomed, or intelligent she may be, she has to live in a tough place.
While I do have those minor issues about the book, the question is, "Would I read the next book in the series?" Yes, I believe so, because overall, I did enjoy this foray into India Black's world and it has the makings of a very interesting series.
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