India Black is Back!

Oh India, how we adore you! You're unapologetically blunt, you'd rather receive a fine piece of nickel-plated artillery than a pearl necklace as a gift, poor French's finer sensibilities don't stand a chance against your gleefully antagonistic views of respectability, and you finally get the chance to dash around in trousers (though not the handsome silk-lined garment you had in mind). Always, you make our time with you a delight.

Murder and a threat to the security of the princely states are up in the air this time around, and India is delighted to answer the call for Queen and country ... especially as Lotus House is currently under siege by the Dowager Marchioness of Tullibardine, the "old trout's" man, and an army of pampered collies. With revelations flying left and right, the denizens of her establishment preparing for mutiny, and her relationship with French reaching a point where something's got to give it's no wonder that India would be relived to get to work solving another of Dizzy's puzzles!

Carr finally hit her stride with this series in book three, and here she shows her ability to maintain a good thing while continuing to improve upon success. India's personality and unforgettable voice were the indisputable hooks for these stories from page one of the debut, but now everything else about them are coming up to snuff and doing our lovable heroine justice. Happily, it looks as though there is much more to look forward to, as Carr has built upon the original story arcs and the big questions of India's place in the world, what choice she will make for herself, and how she and French can possibly bridge the gap are not going to be easily resolved. Bravo!