Simla 1922. While the rest of India bakes in the hot season, up in the pine-scented coolness of the Himalayan hills the English have recreated a v...
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reviews
Jan 17, 2010
Mike
rated it: 
The second installment of the Sandilands chronicles is as entertaining as the first. There may even be a few more twists and turns in this second tale. Sandilands can't seem to make it out of India. The wily Sir George Jardine pulls the Scotland Yard Commander into another murder investigation--the brother of an heiress to a East India company has been shot by a sniper. As Sandilands enters the picture he meets a renowned Russian tenor who is set to perform at the Gaiety Theatre in Simla. An
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Sep 07, 2007
LJ
rated it:
RAGTIME IN SIMLA – VG
Barbara Cleverly
Scotland Yard Commander Joseph Sandilands, a World War I hero, has accepted an invitation to spend his vacation at the guesthouse of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal in Simla, the summer capital of the British Raj. A noted Russian opera singer who will be performing there shares a ride with him from the train station in the governor's car. As they climb the steep mountain road, a sniper kills the singer and Sandilands' vacation turns into an inve More...
Barbara Cleverly
Scotland Yard Commander Joseph Sandilands, a World War I hero, has accepted an invitation to spend his vacation at the guesthouse of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal in Simla, the summer capital of the British Raj. A noted Russian opera singer who will be performing there shares a ride with him from the train station in the governor's car. As they climb the steep mountain road, a sniper kills the singer and Sandilands' vacation turns into an inve More...
Nov 04, 2011
Commander Joe Sandilands is looking forward to spending a month in Simla, the summer capital of the British Raj. But behind the sparkling facade of social life in Simla he finds a trail of murder, vice and blackmail.[return][return]Enjoyable little effort, one of a series it appears judging by the back page. Just out of the first world war and a visit to Simla, and there's investigations into the murder of a newly arrived international singing star.
Apr 05, 2010
Kim
rated it:
The mystery in this book was really well done, I thought. Twisty and satisfying. The atmosphere lacked a little something, as the plot and characters took up so much space, there wasn't much room to explore Simla. I missed the native policeman from the first book and thought the police "sidekick" in this one was pretty boring. But it had me interested and kept me reading more than most books of its kind.
Mar 08, 2009
Laura
rated it: 
I really like this series, rich in historical detail. My only quibble with this particular book in the series is that the "surprise" ending stretches credibility a bit. (Actually read in trade paperback/selected the wrong good reads cover and have no idea how to fix that short of starting all over.)
Nov 06, 2009
willievans
rated it: 
I've been on a bit of a mystery kick lately and Cleverly's Commander Joe Sandilands series is just the ticket. Great historical fiction. Fun whodunit plots. Easy reads. Perfect for this busy time of year when you might only have a few minutes a day to sit down with a book.
Feb 06, 2012
Ian
rated it: 
Slightly disappointing is this one, the second of the author's books I read, after the excellent 'Palace Tiger'. Don't get me wrong, its still a very good mystery thriller set against the backdrop of colonial India, with the usual well researched cultural references of the time, from women's fashion and jazz to weaponry and machinery. The plot is as usual very complex with endless twists and turns till the very end, compelling one to read on just to find out if the culprit gets captured. But it
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Jul 31, 2010
Tia
rated it:
Maybe I should have given this 3 stars because it was slow moving and easy to figure out most of the "mystery", but the setting and the time frame were so interesting. I think this would make a good movie and Tom Ford could do the costumes!
Mar 11, 2011
Suzanne
rated it:
One of the best stories I've read in a long time. I enjoyed the twists. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist would send me down a different path. I'm looking forward to reading more stories by this author.
Dec 05, 2008
Linda
rated it:
Read one, read em all. Good but soon after I can't remember who's in which book etc. The first in the series is probably the most memorable simply because it was the first I read.
Sep 07, 2008
Kellie
rated it:
(#2 in the Joe Sandilands Series)-This was OK. There was something missing. Although, I can’t put my finger on it. Joe is summoned back to Simla (from London) by Sir George. There are 2 unsolved murders and George wants Joe to help Charlie solve them. There are a lot of twists and turns. Cleaverly does a good job with describing history and Simla, India. That is very interesting. The murder plot is also interesting and mistaken identities and dangerous people change variably through out
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May 02, 2011
Amy
rated it:
This was a very cleverly written who done it novel. Set in an exotic location with all kinds of mysterious characters and an intricately woven plot, it was a great read.
Oct 12, 2011
Harry
rated it:
Clever plotting, sympathetic characterizations. A very satisfying mystery. Cleverly richly evokes the time and place in which set set her story.
Oct 02, 2011
Madonna
rated it:
I am liking this series. I sometimes need to reread the history parts since I'm not as aware of the history as I should be.
Apr 28, 2009
Magda
rated it:
My enjoyment of this book increased with each sneaky turn the plot took. Another fun Sandilands novel.
Dec 30, 2011
Michele
rated it:
I enjoyed this story: interesting plot, interesting characters, interesting setting.
Aug 31, 2011
Laura-nassidesa
rated it:
Interesting characters, good luck twists, one of the better books in the series
Feb 16, 2011
Marilyn
rated it:
Fun series, if a bit obvious. Many of the lead characters in this book are strong women, some of whom I'd love to join for a cup of tea.
Apr 16, 2009
Lou
rated it:
Consistently good series with Joe Sandiland, the early ones set in India are the best
Dec 17, 2009
Writerlibrarian
rated it:
This second novel of Barbara Cleverly, featuring Commander Joe Sandilands delivered quite an intriguing and twisted mystery with a pretty good gallery of characters, well fleshed out (even the secondary characters). All have their little spotlight part. This second novel is better constructed, less out of nowhere twists and turns and delivers a solid mystery with an exotic and lush background that you can almost smell and touch. Looking forward to the next one : The Damascened Blade.
