The Damascened Blade (Joe Sandilands Murder Mysteries)
by Barbara Cleverly
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Book Summary Information
Author: Barbara CleverlyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-08-30
ISBN: 038533950X
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Delta
Book Reviews of The Damascened Blade (Joe Sandilands Murder Mysteries)
Book Review: "E'en Do and Spare Not!"
Summary: 5 Stars
In this, the third book in Barbara Cleverly's mystery series, we are introduced to Lily Coblenz, a rather spoilt American heiress who is determined to see the wild and untamed side of British-occupied India. Unsatisfied with the refinements and all-too-familiar comforts of Simla, the British government includes her in a convoy headed for the front-line fort at Gor Khatri on the border of Afghanistan - where our protagonist/detective Joe Sandilands is enjoying a well-earned rest in the company of his friend James Lindsay (commander of the fort).
Now he finds himself under orders to indulge Miss Coblenz in her desire for adventure and excitement, as well as help James the influx of guests arriving at the fort, including James's pregnant wife, a female doctor who has won the respect of the local tribes, a handsome Pathan prince, and a boorish English bureaucrat. It would all seem complicated enough, except that at this time (the 1920s, between the two World Wars) there is a tentative peace between the borders of the two countries - one that is put in extreme jeopardy when one of the party's number ends up dead.
Now Sandilands finds himself in a precarious position: even though the death seems to be entirely accidental, Lily divulges some disturbing evidence that suggests there was more sinister activities at work; and when the temperamental friend of the murder victim takes a hostage and disappears into the precipitous hills surrounding the fort, Joe has only a limited amount of time to discover the murderer before an important British official is killed in retribution. Combining tribal warfare, political intrigue, a vivid portrayal of time and place, and what is perhaps her most suspenseful plot (in fact, I would go so far as to say that "The Damascened Blade" falls more under the "action/thriller/adventure" genre than the "mystery" one) Cleverley presents yet another riveting read.
Joe and Lily make a good pair in this installment (he seems to get a female sidekick in every book, at least the three that I've read thus far) with a nice balance of bickering and teamwork, and are surrounded by plenty of intriguing characters - though they are introduced in rather quick succession, making it a bit tricky to sort them all out. As usual, I'm not sure how historically correct her look into Pathan culture is - but I have enough faith in her storyteller abilities to assume that it's reasonably accurate - and she paints a fascinating portrait of another culture entirely removed from Western comprehension.
On the whole this is an immensely rewarding story in which everything from a lap-dog's bite marks to the traditional concept of "badal" in which each death must be avenged, is used to great effect. As usual Cleverly manages to incorporate a thought-provoking topic, this time exploring how the never-ending cycle of violence and vengeance can systematically destroy lives, no matter how strong the urge for honour or personal retribution.
I'm currently in the middle of the next Joe Sandilands novel The Palace Tiger, and enjoying every word.
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