Title: India Black and the Gentleman Thief
Author: Carol K. Carr
Series: 4th (India Black
Pages: 320
Published: February 4th 2014
by Berkley Trade
ISBN: 9780425262481
Source: Publisher for honest review
Description: India Black’s double
life operating a high-class brothel and running high-stakes espionage
for Her Majesty’s government can take its toll. But there’s no rest for
the weary—particularly when an international conspiracy comes knocking… India Black is one of Victorian London’s most respected madams—not a
bloody postmistress. So when Colonel Francis Mayhew forwards a seemingly
innocuous shipping bill to her address, she’s puzzled. And when three
thugs bust down her door, steal the envelope, and rough up both her and
fellow agent French…well, that’s enough to make India Black see red.
The veteran spies soon discover that Mayhew has been butchered in his
own bedroom. An impromptu investigation leads them to London’s docks,
where India makes a startling discovery she can’t bear to tell the
rakish French—she has a history with their chief suspect, the gentleman
thief who once stole her heart…
I Give This ...
I was a little afraid that India and French has bitten off more than they could chew this time around. This case got sticky really quickly.
One of the things I love most about this series is that nobody seems to think twice about India and French investigating any of these things. Even at the War office, they manage to look at things they probably had no business looking at. A pretty face and a lot of charm seems to take a person a long way in Victorian England. I found this case to particularly nasty. This is the type of thing that gets people killed really quickly to protect those in charge. India and French manage to get themselves out of situations this time around, but I think there are some debts to be repaid. Much to French's dismay.
While, I enjoy the mystery that surrounds this series, what keeps me coming back are the characters themselves. There are times I forget what kind of Business India is in (although she uses the term whore quite frequently in this book), she carries herself with such grace. But, I don't think that anybody could possibly forget that India can handle herself in almost any situation. I think that her and French make an excellent team, in more ways than one. I'm not one for adulterous relationships, but I kind of wish French would discard his duties already. It's obvious that attraction is there. Marriage shouldn't just be about duty to ones family!
I particularly enjoyed Dowager Marchioness of Tullibardine this time around. She's chaotic enough to throw India's entire world into a tailspin. She marches in and basically takes over Lotus House and there's not a damn thing India seems to be able to do about it. I am curious of the Marchioness is aware of the effect she has or if she is the way she is.
A fresh book in the series. Sometimes, you get this many books into a series and it starts to feel like to same old same old. Not here! I already have my eye on the next book in the series. French and India have to get together eventually!
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