A Darker God
Authors: Barbara Cleverly
PRAISE FOR BARBARA CLEVERLY’S
AWARD-WINNING NOVEL
FOLLY DU JOUR
“Cleverly’s fine seventh 1920s historical to feature Scotland Yard’s Joe Sandilands (after 2007’s
Tug of War)…
[an] engaging sleuth … a puzzling whodunit.”
—Publishers Weekly
THE TOMB OF ZEUS
“Award-winning author Cleverly debuts a captivating new series…. In the tradition of Agatha Christie, the characters are complex and varied…. Riveting.”
—Romantic Times
“With a spirited, intelligent heroine, a glorious exotic setting, a clever plot, loads of archaeological detail and a touch of romance, there’s nothing not to like in this crisply told first book of a new series by the author of the Joe Sandilands mysteries.”
—The Denver Post
“The crisp writing and depth of characterization should please traditional mystery fans.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Ellis Peters Dagger winner Cleverly sweeps readers onto the isle of Crete in 1928.”
—Booknews
from The Poisoned Pen
“Contains enough deceptive clues to keep readers guessing till the very end … Cleverly draws on a wealth of historical detail and breathtaking scenery while ingeniously weaving ancient mythology, illicit love, greed, long-fueled revenge, and a convincing romantic subplot into an entertaining mystery. For all its complexity, following the threads of
The Tomb of Zeus
makes for a fascinating new literary find.”
—The Strand Magazine
TUG OF WAR
“Despite her mastery at vivid scene-setting, Cleverly never loses sight of the historical puzzle that is central to her story. Simply put, it’s a stunner.”
—M
ARILYN
S
TASIO,
The New York Times Book Review
“Cleverly continues to present fine historical mysteries with complex plots, well-developed characters, and colourful settings. Whether Sandilands is solving crimes in France, Raj-era India, or Jazz Age London, he is emerging as one of the most engaging heroes in the history-mystery genre.”
—Booklist
“Impressive … Cleverly maintains the high standards set by earlier Sandilands tales, blending a sophisticated whodunit with full-blooded characters and a revealing look at her chosen time and place.”
—Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“Puzzle-lovers will be appeased by the tale’s crafty convolutions.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Fans of Charles Todd, take note: Barbara Cleverly’s Joe Sandilands series is every bit as good, and in many ways better.
Tug of War
, the sixth book, is simply terrific. It has fine characters and, in post–First World War France, a great setting. But it’s the plot, devious and brilliant, that keeps this novel moving…. All this densely plotted, beautifully written history builds into an excellent mystery with a murder and love story at its heart…. A lot of fun.”
—
The Globe and Mail
“Cleverly re-creates the atmosphere of the shattered world…. Vivid detail.”
—Booknews
from The Poisoned Pen
“Cleverly depicts well the ‘tug of war’ of her story…. The reappearance of Dorcas Joliffe from
The Bee’s Kiss
contributes quite a bit of pleasure, spice and commentary to the story. She is a worthy honorary niece to Joe and an equally worthy partner in sleuthing. Next book, please, Ms. Cleverly.”
—
Mystery News
THE BEE’S KISS
Nominated for a Macavity Award for Best Historical Mystery
“Stellar … As always, [Cleverly] scrupulously plays fair, and the careful reader who puts the pieces together will be gratified with a logical and chilling explanation.”
—Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“The Bee’s Kiss …
certainly satisfies.”
—Entertainment Weekly
“Intriguing … another enjoyable read.”
—Mystery News
“Cleverly combines a colorful historical setting … with a complex plot and well-developed characters…. Make[s] a natural for fans of Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody.”
—Booklist
“Atmospheric … intricately plotted, with red herrings and a denouement that depends on a Lanvin dress.”
—Kirkus Reviews
THE DAMASCENED BLADE
Winner of the 2004 CWA Historical Dagger Award—Best Historical Crime Novel
“Introduces an intelligent author and an interesting investigator. The Indian setting is expertly exploited and the climactic scenes are full of satisfying twists.”
—Morning Star
(
UK
)
“[The Damascened Blade]
is set to bring the author into the big league…. The writing and accuracy of scene are astonishing.”
—Bookseller
“This marvelous historical delivers.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This excellent historical mystery gains immediacy in light of the recent events in the region.”
—Booklist
AN OLD MAGIC
“Spellbinding.”
—The New York Times
“
A
pacy and evocative novel. Well-researched historical detail combines with an intriguing contemporary story line. An enjoyable read.”
—J
ANE
A
DAMS,
author of
The Greenway
and
Heat Wave
“A compelling tale.”
—S
IMON
S
CARROW,
author of
Under the Eagle
and
The Gladiator
“
A
gripping read … unputdownable.”
—SALLY SPEDDING,
author
of Wringland
and
Come and Be Killed
RAGTIME IN SIMLA
“Fully developed characters and a convincing portrayal of time and place lift Cleverly’s second historical…. The author’s talents seem capable of transcending any shift in scene.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Captivating and enchanting. Attractive, magnetic, duplicitous women grab all the best roles in
Ragtime in Simla
. Between the natural beauty of the setting and the seductiveness of the women, it’s a wonder that Joe Sandilands gets out of Simla with heart and mind intact.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“Ragtime in Simla
contains enough scenes of smashing action in and around the marvelously invoked Simla to delight even Rudyard Kipling.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Ms. Cleverly deftly transports readers to an exotic locale filled with intrigue, suspense, and characters skilled in the art of deception. This is a perfect travel companion for historical mystery fans.”
—Booklist
“Cleverly gets credit for a fresh and fascinating setting. She gives her tale a final flip that will leave readers guessing and surely keep Joe Sandilands busy for many books to come.”
—Rocky Mountain News
THE LAST KASHMIRI ROSE A
New York Times
Notable Book
“Spellbinding debut mystery … embellished by the vivid colonial setting … and enriched by characters too complicated to read at a glance.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“An accomplished debut in a historical mystery that has just about everything: a fresh, beautifully realized exotic setting; a strong, confident protagonist; a poignant love story; and and exquisitely complex plot.”
—The Denver Post
“An impressive debut … an engrossing tale of serial murder. Classic whodunit fans should look forward to Cleverly’s future efforts.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A well-plotted … enjoyable read … The atmosphere of the dying days of the Raj is colorfully captured.”
—The Sunday Telegraph
(London)
“A strongly evocative narrative, sensitive characterizations, artful dialogue, and masterly plotting make for an excellent first historical.”
—Library Journal
“A clever debut … The reader will get a strong sense of life in India for the British in the early part of the last century. At the same time, they will be treated to a puzzling mystery that demands their attention and keeps the pages briskly turning.”
—Deadly Pleasures
“A formidable and likeable first novel. Ms. Cleverly is going places.”
—Literary Review
“Deftly plotted and filled with unexpected twists, effectively captures the sights and sounds of 1920s India and provides a fascinating look at the social and political climate of the time.”
—Booklist
“An ambitious, charming first novel.”
—The Buffalo News
“The best mystery I have read in years! The denouement is so good, even the most experienced reader will not guess the ending.”
—Mysterious Women
THE JOE SANDILANDS MYSTERIES
The Last Kashmiri Rose
Ragtime in Simla
The Damascened Blade
The Palace Tiger
The Bee’s Kiss
Tug of War
Folly du Jour
THE LAETITIA TALBOT MYSTERIES
The Tomb of Zeus
Bright Hair About the Bone
To my good-humoured, eagle-eyed editor, Kate Miciak
PROLOGUEMycaenae. 1200 B.C
.
T
he watchman fastened his sheepskin cloak more tightly around his shoulders before he set about climbing the ladder up to the palace roof. It was autumn now and the wind off the sea was a flenching knife to his old carcase these nights. He crept on all fours, staying below the line of the pediment as he’d been instructed, to reach the wool-stuffed cushion he kept up there. He lowered his skinny buttocks onto it, grateful for the warmth it had retained from the day. Cross-legged and stiff-backed, he sat exposed in the northern corner, training his gaze on an arc of hills running between north and east.
The queen herself had told him in which direction to look and what he was to watch out for.
Back in the summer when he’d been glad enough to be posted up here, she’d even climbed the ladder after him, fancy oiled-wool skirts bundled up around her knees, linen undergarments rustling, sandaled feet slapping, unhesitating, on the treads, so eager was she that he should not misunderstand a word of her instructions. A sudden blast of the hot royal breath on his ankles as he hauled himself upwards had almost caused him to miss a rung but he’d held tight and made it up onto the roof.
“Never mind the moon and the stars, you old goat!” she’d told him. “I know what you shepherds are like! Stargazing zanies, the lot of you!
It’s fire
you’re to keep an eye out for. The signal. It will start far away on Mount Ida, above Troy, and from there will bounce across to the rock of Lemnos and on to Mount Athos.” She counted out the names, holding up her fingers in front of his face, mouthing the words as though he were a child learning his lesson. “Mount Makistos will take up the tale, then Messapion, Kithairon, the headland over the Saronic Gulf, and finally it will flare on the head of the Black Widow over there.”
