India Black (Madam of Espionage, #1)

Oct 29, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) by: Audra (Unabridged Chick)

Shelves: mystery, historical-fiction, owned-copy, received-for-review, autographed-copy, lol-worthy, best-of-2012, 2012-reads, 2012-reviews, excessive-fangirl-alert, reviewed, i-love-you-for-your-words, five-stars-for-you-glen-coco, you-talk-like-youre-from-london, this-is-how-to-write-a-series, an-antihero-is-still-a-hero, hf-england, you-clever-girl, actiontastic, pure-entertainment

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Excuse me if I am ~~extremely~~ a little fangirly right now. I just finished this whirlwind novel of adventure, humor and mystery just minutes ago, and friends, I am impressed. And in dire need of a reread, just for fun. And, now, I am a stalwart fan of both India Black and the author behind this highly creative and immensely fun novel, Carol K. Carr. Reading this was easy, entertaining, and so very fun; this is one of those novels that grabs you from t...more Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

Excuse me if I am ~~extremely~~ a little fangirly right now. I just finished this whirlwind novel of adventure, humor and mystery just minutes ago, and friends, I am impressed. And in dire need of a reread, just for fun. And, now, I am a stalwart fan of both India Black and the author behind this highly creative and immensely fun novel, Carol K. Carr. Reading this was easy, entertaining, and so very fun; this is one of those novels that grabs you from the very first page and never really lets go. Another of my done-in-one-sitting reads, India Black has set a high standard for the rest of the novels that will follow in this promising series from a talented author. I admit that I am not one for historical mysteries all that often - I usually stay more on the straight historical fiction side of the genre - but I will willingly make exceptions for any and all further India Black novels to come.

In such a fast-paced novel, with adventures and turnabouts and surprise revelations and secret pasts every other chapter, it is main character India that really makes the novel something really quite special. I truly enjoyed the fleshed-out secondary characters (French and Vincent are both, quite disparately charming fellows) and antagonists, but India is what makes this one of my best-of-2012 novels easily. India is a madam, among many, many other attributes (and vices). Skilled in multiple fields (I do enjoy a girl who can shoot a gun/defend herself/use her wits) and India does each and every one of those multiple times. She is the equal of her unofficial government counterpart, and her charm and humor had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. Smart, cunning and opportunistic, India is a fully-formed, distinct character, and one I related to quite easily - despite our very different backgrounds and attitudes. She bursts forth from the page with her witty comebacks and her handy way around a weapon. She is resourceful and wonderfully three-dimensional with her frank honesty, forthright attitudes - a heroine to remember in a sea of forgettable leads.

India is nicely complemented by her comrades-in-arms, the mysterious and charming French and the street urchin of questionable but useful talents, Vincent. The verbal and occasional real sparring between India and French is another highlight to this well-rounded novel. So often during my experience, I was tempted to update my status on GoodReads with a bon mot or a choice comment from either droll character. Their chemistry is palpable, their interactions full of authenticity, and though this is far from a romance novel, the attraction between the opposites works really well to add an extra layer of tension to a novel already brimming with it. French is a charismatic character, and one that kept me intrigued and very attentive through this all-too-short read of just under 300 pages. Not as open as India about his life, or even his name! - which is to be expected as she narrates the novel, often breaking the fourth wall to address her readers - but is still one that manages to hold his own against the formidable and crafty madam. Vincent adds a certain charm, if his role as a street smart urchin in a Victorian novel is somewhat formulaic, he does add to the novel another easily likeable and distinct character.

This is a mystery, but midway through the novel, that premise is readily concluded and then it's a madcap race of adventure through England and various hostage situations in a race against the agents of the tsar of Russia. India Black is by turns amusing, exciting, hilarious, and always full of constant surprises and upheavals. It's light and fun read and I can't stress enough how good of a time I had with this novel, from start to end. India Black is well worth a try if a feisty protagonist with a brain is high and a unique way around a retort are on your list of favorites. All the rest is an added bonus to a convoluted plot, populated with such vibrant characters.

(A copy of the novel was generously sent to me by the author to review. This in no way influenced my opinion. Because seriously: THIS BOOK IS AWESOME.)(less)

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Aug 23, 2011 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historic-fiction-1800s, historic-mystery

Find my favorite quotes and follow all my reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

I have a hard time with novels written in the first person. Properly executed, a narrative in this format can be powerfully compelling. The dilemma I face is more often than not, the author can’t pull it off. Too much introspection can drag down the pacing. Coupled with a boring character, an author is committing literary suicide. Carr does not have this problem. India’s clever banter and internal dialo...more Find my favorite quotes and follow all my reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

I have a hard time with novels written in the first person. Properly executed, a narrative in this format can be powerfully compelling. The dilemma I face is more often than not, the author can’t pull it off. Too much introspection can drag down the pacing. Coupled with a boring character, an author is committing literary suicide. Carr does not have this problem. India’s clever banter and internal dialogue were wickedly entertaining.

India savvy business style recalled to mind Stockard Channing’s Mrs. Allworthy. Admittedly, India is a more likeable personality but birds of a feather none the less. I am interested to see where Carr takes the character next. Hopefully she will allow the madame to hire some muscle for Lotus House. I can’t help but wonder how long the series will last if India continues to leave the brothel in the hapless care of Mrs. Drinkwater.

If I have a complaint it is French. When I read the jacket blurb I imagined an individual much like Amanda Quick’s Tobias March. I know it isn’t wise to set expectations for a novel but I couldn’t help it. It really was my fault and as usual, I was disappointed. French pales in comparison to March in both audacity and sexuality. His relationship with India is companionable but lacked the chemistry one would expect between would-be lovers. He isn’t a bad character but his subtlety was easily overshadowed by the vivacious leading lady.

As compensation of sorts, Carr gives us Vincent. Not since Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist has a street urchin managed to work his way into my affections. He is a rather disgusting little blighter in appearance and lifestyle but utterly charming in character.

The mystery aspect of the novel was simplistic in nature but well executed. Victorian purists may be disappointed and even offended but those with a slightly naughty sense of humor are sure to find a laugh or two. A quick and entertaining read, I can’t help but recommend India Black. The novel is wonderful debut offering from a very promising author. (less)

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Jan 18, 2011 Tara Chevrestt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, historical-fiction, 2011-release, england

First of all, I LOVED the heroine, India. What a woman! I could spend hours typing quotes of all the witty, sarcastic, funny, and wise things she says or thinks throughout the book.. "Every word in this volume is the gospel truth. You can put your money on the counter and buy the book, or you can go to the devil. It's all the same to me."

"There's a natural affinity between politicans and whores, having, as they do, certain similarities, that breed a type of professional courtesy, if you will. Fo...more First of all, I LOVED the heroine, India. What a woman! I could spend hours typing quotes of all the witty, sarcastic, funny, and wise things she says or thinks throughout the book.. "Every word in this volume is the gospel truth. You can put your money on the counter and buy the book, or you can go to the devil. It's all the same to me."

"There's a natural affinity between politicans and whores, having, as they do, certain similarities, that breed a type of professional courtesy, if you will. For example, we share the same line of work; we each provide a service in exchange for something else. In my case, it's money, and for politicians, it's votes. We each exercise our charm and wile to convince our customers to pay us or vote for us, for we're in competition with others who can provide the same services. And we'll both do just about anything as long as the price is right. Frankly, I think it's a damned slur against the tarts to consign them to the social rubbish heap just for earning a living while praising the politicos as selfless public servants. At least bints arent' hypocritical; you'll never hear one of them blathering on sanctimoniously that they do what they do for the benefit of the British public."

However, the mystery/suspense aspect of it was disappointing. After a man dies in India's house of ill repute (Did I mention she is a whore and a pimp?), the rest of the novel is India, French (an agent), and Vincent (a dirty street urchin) running after a case that had been on the now dead client's body. The Russian's also want the case and so does the other side of the British party. So.. basically, a Russian gets the case, India gets the case back, loses it to the British, gets the case back, loses it to the Russians.. and so on.. Really, it all would have been much more exciting had there been more to it and for crying out loud, people, KILL the enemy when you get the case, don't stand there chattering about it! That's why you lose it all over again!

I enjoyed the narrative of India enough to still give this a four star. I will most likely attempt to get the rest of the series through my library simply to read more India wittisms, but unless the mysteries show improvement, I'm not likely to pay ten dollars a book for the series. (less)

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Aug 30, 2012 Sam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Although Madam India black had an undeniably acute use for language and wit (as did her author) and a keen sense for adventure, she didn't quite have the compelling characteristics I need to earn more than three stars. I enjoyed the book very much, dialogue most of all, but it was missing a certain dynamic that could have made it great. India's relationship with her fellow characters seemed strained, as though she were outside looking in, like a comentator. The dialogue was the only thing that g...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Free rated it 4 of 5 stars

I bought this book expecting something along the lines of the Lady Julia mysteries by Deanna Raybourn. And while this book does have the same light tone, and plenty of humour, I found there was a greater depth of research into the Victorian period than in the Lady Julia mysteries.

India s a delight as a character. French is a suitably romantic, somewhat droll male love interest. And the storyline itself is interesting, with poor India and French reaching their goal, only to have is snatched from...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Laphalene rated it 2 of 5 stars

India Black is a boss from hell, a shallow, mean spirited creature who thinks little of humanity and the world around her. I think the author was trying for a frank vulgarness to give things a funny, tell it like it is tone, and a lot of other reviewers talk about the narration's wit.

Let my put it this way- within the first chapter we are already well informed that as a madam, India Black thinks everyone in her employ is an addicted moron. For reasons I can't fathom, the authour decided the best...more India Black is a boss from hell, a shallow, mean spirited creature who thinks little of humanity and the world around her. I think the author was trying for a frank vulgarness to give things a funny, tell it like it is tone, and a lot of other reviewers talk about the narration's wit.

Let my put it this way- within the first chapter we are already well informed that as a madam, India Black thinks everyone in her employ is an addicted moron. For reasons I can't fathom, the authour decided the best possible thing she could refer to her employees as was "bints". This bit of historical slang is a lot closer to "bitch" or "cunt", and while the meaning once had slightly more positive connotations, at least implying desirability, it was still the sort of back handed compliment that comes from its origins, from an unpleasant slang term for native women (it's Arabic for daughter) and peculated through the language from the attitudes of the time. India Black sounds like the sort of pimp that anti-pimping laws were invented to stop.

Never fear, in addition to loathing and disrespecting her employees, India Black also loathes her customers, quick to remind us how above the work she is now even if of course she's still young and pretty and could just grab a protector on a moment's notice. We're reminded repeatedly that men are only to be led around by the nose and everything is settled by plunking a young lady in their lap. Not to be outdone by her low view of people in the face of temptation, she's actively dishonest, and one of her proofs that her employees are lacking in intelligence is that they will not fleece the customers as hard unless she pushes them, and only nice where it suits her purpose. So by chapter four, with an endless parade of disrespectful vulgarity tossed as if trying to shuck the very filth she sprung from and still nourishes herself with, India Black is well established as an unsympathetic sociopath who would probably sell her unconscious aged mother for the right price. In short, rather revolting instead of racy, and whomever the bad guys are they'd need to be pretty awful to top this platonic ideal of misanthropy.

And then there's the narrative inconsistency. The employees, initially described as a bunch of fools, appear to have just as much sound economic sense and survival skills as the protagonist in practice, and India Black in turn consuming whisky just about the rate of the employees she scorns for their vices. Endless talk of social hypocrisy while modelling it more strongly then anyone else does not endear the reader and I can't be sure this is what the author intended. The result is a starting tone that falls short of the happy hooker motif while missing something human sounding, a mess all over the place. Some of it is that I've lost the ability to snicker about kinky sex, so gags about clients wearing drag and wielding whips aren't inherently funny. I can't feel superior to fetishists, and I can't feel shocked either.

Chapter four and dirty London inserts herself as a character, a bit refreshing in all her unsavouriness, and the author doesn't do badly painting the setting, even if India Black appears to have no redeemable characteristics. The plot's got rolling and we're spared her endless whine about how the universe is conspiring to piss her off, in time to give what now comes across as a shrill, bad tempered bawd something to genuinely complain about, and some trim action scenes. A bit of oddness pops up with the narrator remarking that even Beau Brummel wouldn't have worn an outfit that bright (for course bloody not, the Regency era arbiter of men's fashion was famous for dark, tailored and sombre looks!) but that's picking nits. I'm also a bit less than convinced the Primeminister would meet with the protagonist personally over even a matter of immediate urgency to do with state security, or that the budget for a matter of national urgency would be reduced to one agent, a madam and a plucky urchin, or even that a war memo would be carried into a brothel during a Sunday visit, but a fast pace and more well written fights help.

What I'm not convinced is that there was any chemistry between French and India; to be exact French looked interested and India seemed way too self absorbed to notice. The urchin, Vincent, honestly seemed the most heroic of the lot, and his specialty seemed to be to drive the plot wagon. After a certain point the kid showing up was both a little preposterous and making me more interested in his story than another round of India hating everything and say, pathologically lying to bystanders.

This is the author's first published work. Keep watching because she's got a lot going on here, and a first work is very seldom a masterpiece, but her ability to place and move people is already pretty fantastic. If India Black was a bit less of a souless wonder this would have gotten a much higher rating and I'm expecting Carol K. Carr to get better over time.(less)

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Jan 28, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

Review Copy from Publisher

What I Loved:India was such a lovable, quirky, funny, smart, and off-beat lead character. She is definitely unique and her way of handling whatever gets thrown out her makes you laugh out loud then go hmm. It seems that every time she is thrown something new, dangerous, or slightly annoying (aka some of the people that work for her) -- she just rolls with punches with style that is all her own. She ranks as one of my favorite to read characters of all time!

2 of my favo...more

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Jul 05, 2011 drey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, fantasy

India Black is a madam, and she makes absolutely no excuses for it. Multiple times, in fact... And there's no escaping it, either--she is the title character after all. In this Carol K. Carr offering, the madam becomes embroiled in espionage when an unfortunate patron departs this life while in the clutches of one of India's "ladies"...

I'm not sure why she decides to dump the body, but she's discovered by a British agent while doing so, and finds out that the poor departed had something very imp...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Rea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, mystery

First of all, on the cover art here on Goodreads, India has eyes... on my cover her face gets cut off at the nose. I am very disappointed! I would have rather liked to have had eyes on her face.

Moving on, this is a story full of dry wit, an attempt at English humour that almost gets there but not quite. Having said this, it is very, very hard to replicate another culture's humour and I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone succeed 100%. The author obviously attempted to make the writing English too a...more

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Mar 03, 2011 Barbara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery-thriller

Oh me oh my--I sooo wanted to like this book. It sounded just my thing. Alas, it did not work for me. Maybe I had on my grouchy pants when I was reading it, I don't know....
My biggest complaint was that the author was trying too hard.
The idea was really clever, if not too original. The story is told in the first person by our main character, the madam of a Victorian era London brothel that caters to a 'good' segment of society (minor nobility, government officials, military officers, etc).
Alas,...more

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Jan 29, 2011 Kristy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Well I liked the book, sort of, but it wasn't what I expected. India was funny. She was very outspoken and definitely had a different sort of outlook on life. But a major part of the story was missing! Part of the description on the back of the book was this.

"But it is their own tempestuous relationship they will have to weather as India and French attempt to reset the mutual attraction between them-an attraction that can prove as deadly as the conspiracy entangling them..."

This is talking abou...more

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Oct 10, 2010 Jane Litte rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great narrative voice of the protagonist. India Black is a former whore and now madam of the Lotus House preferring "to herd my own flock of tarts than waste my youth and good looks servicing an assortment of randy gentleman." She could be a mistress but she likes her independence

Still, I wouldn’t trade Lotus House for the world. There may be easier ways of earning a sou: I could allow some pedigreed ass to keep me in French perfume and silk gowns, tucked away in a cozy pied-à-terre in St. John’

...more Great narrative voice of the protagonist. India Black is a former whore and now madam of the Lotus House preferring "to herd my own flock of tarts than waste my youth and good looks servicing an assortment of randy gentleman." She could be a mistress but she likes her independence

Still, I wouldn’t trade Lotus House for the world. There may be easier ways of earning a sou: I could allow some pedigreed ass to keep me in French perfume and silk gowns, tucked away in a cozy pied-à-terre in St. John’s Wood, and driving a four-in-hand along Rotten Row. But I like my freedom.

Unfortunately, one of her patrons dies at the Lotus House and to keep the reputation of her house clean, she arranges for the body to be removed. Said body belongs to someone who had some valuable papers on him and when those papers go missing, India Black is recruited by Disraeli (Dizzy) and a Mr. French (attached to the PM's office) to retrieve those papers.

Essentially this is spy caper / murder mystery and we follow India Black, a street wise orphan, Valenti, and Mr. French as they try to outwit Russian spies and save Britain. I particularly liked the ending. As bright as India is, she doesn't catch all the connections between the clues she finds and the people who are around her, but I liked that. It seemed reasonable for a madam to be observant but to not know exactly how to put the puzzle pieces together.

There may be a romance in the future between the mysterious Mr. French and India but a reader will like/hate this book based upon their response to India. She's pragmatic, sarcastic, and world weary.

There were related articles extolling the virtue of Bowser; his first at Oxford, his prowess at rugby and cricket, his service to Queen and country; all the usual twaddle when respectable public Tories die. Just once, I’d like to read the real obituary: “Bloody fool, drunkard, poltroon and lout. Enjoyed buggering stable boys. Voted Liberal more than once.” Now that would be worth reading.

(less)

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May 08, 2011 Farin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Where to start with India Black?

If you're expecting a very correct Victorian novel, do not pick this up. You will be disappointed and annoyed. The language, in particular, is not true to the period and will drive purists crazy.

That said, I absolutely loved this book, which, I'm excited to find, is the first in a series!

The novel begins with the fabulous sentence "My name is India Black. I am a whore." Actually, she's the madame of Lotus House, and she's thoroughly comfortable with her lifestyle....more

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Mar 10, 2011 faeriemyst rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, historical-fiction-19th-century, historical-fiction-england, library-loan

3.5 stars

India Black is a well-written and entertaining read, featuring a no-nonsense, street-wise, and book-smart whore-turned-madam who is the namesake of the book. While I do like India and her voice, there was something about her that felt off, and after thinking about it I've come to realize that I really don't know her that well. I find that odd because the book is told first-person. Even though this is the first in the series and some authors may not want to divulge everything about a cha...more 3.5 stars

India Black is a well-written and entertaining read, featuring a no-nonsense, street-wise, and book-smart whore-turned-madam who is the namesake of the book. While I do like India and her voice, there was something about her that felt off, and after thinking about it I've come to realize that I really don't know her that well. I find that odd because the book is told first-person. Even though this is the first in the series and some authors may not want to divulge everything about a character, I think there needed to be more tidbits about India. What's her history? How did she grow up? Was she groomed to be a whore? Etc., etc., etc. Besides, French is the secretive one, we don't need two mysterious characters in one book. As for the attraction between India and French promised on the back of the book, well, it wasn't there. Now there's the promise for that in the future, but there weren't enough scenes with the two of them together for anything to actually happen except some minor discussions about the issue(s) at hand, some bantering, and a decent amount of bickering -- though luckily not too much of the latter to annoy.

The plot is fine, but there's really nothing new to distinguish it from others in Victorian mysteries. Actually, the book doesn't feature any mystery what-so-ever and it's more of a chase to retrieve top secret government documents; I've heard the term caper thrown around and that sounds about right for this book. After a while I felt like I was in Groundhog Day -- same scenarios popped up under different circumstances, but all with the same outcome, which became tiring. The historical facts would have been better served had they been more smoothly incorporated into the story rather than dropped in big chunky lumps that often bored me (and I like history). The atmosphere of the book was fairly well-done, though it seemed a bit too polished and clean, so a little more grit would have given it some needed realism. The main character is a madam who can't possibly live in best neighborhood, and no matter how well-mannered, groomed, or intelligent she may be, she has to live in a tough place.

While I do have those minor issues about the book, the question is, "Would I read the next book in the series?" Yes, I believe so, because overall, I did enjoy this foray into India Black's world and it has the makings of a very interesting series.(less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Molly Hall rated it 5 of 5 stars

Whenever I go to the library to either pick up a book or return those I've finished, I always take five or ten minutes to roam the stacks. It's a favorite pastime that has become my small moment of 'literary meditation'. And every so often, one of these wanderings will offer up an undiscovered gem. This happened last week when I chanced upon India Black by Carol K. Carr. Something about the spine just jumped out at me. (It was probably the gorgeous gaslamp at the top.) And after I read the descr...more Whenever I go to the library to either pick up a book or return those I've finished, I always take five or ten minutes to roam the stacks. It's a favorite pastime that has become my small moment of 'literary meditation'. And every so often, one of these wanderings will offer up an undiscovered gem. This happened last week when I chanced upon India Black by Carol K. Carr. Something about the spine just jumped out at me. (It was probably the gorgeous gaslamp at the top.) And after I read the description, I had to open to the first page, just to get a sense of the writing. This is what greeted me:

"My name is India Black. I am a whore. If those words made you blush, if your hand fluttered to your cheek or you harrumphed disapprovingly into your beard, then you should return this volume to the shelf, cast a cold glance at the proprietor as you leave, and hasten home feeling proper and virtuous."

And with that, I was hooked, and the book promptly came home with me. After those opening lines, it just got better and better. India Black is, indeed, a whore. Or, to be more precise, the madam of an establishment called Lotus House. When one of her clients winds up dead in an upstairs bedroom, she immediately takes steps to eliminate any evidence of the man's presence. Dead men in a house of ill repute isn't exactly good for business. But there turns out to be much more to this dead man than meets the eye and India is soon embroiled in a deadly game of political intrigue between Russian and British agents intent on recovering the military secrets the dead man carried.

Set in 1876 London, India Black is an enormously entertaining read. India is a character you immediately like: smart, independent and resourceful, she's not about to let any man, even the Prime Minister himself, tell her what to do. Possessed of a sharp tongue and rapier wit, she's a heroine who's easy to cheer for. The book is rife with near laugh-out-loud one-liners. One of my favorites occurs when India rouses her housekeeper, Mrs. Drinkwater, from a gin-induced haze:

'"You scared me half out of my wits, you did," Mrs. Drinkwater said. I refrained from commenting that such an event must have left her devoid of any.'

It's remarks like that, that make India such a memorable character and the story so much fun to read.

The book also does an excellent job of incorporating actual historical details into the plot, particularly the animosity between William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli, both former Prime Ministers of England. It's no secret that the two men despised one another and had very differing ideas on how the country should be run. There is also some political references to the Turks and the Christians and the Ottoman Empire, as well as British and Russian military strategy. It can be a little confusing at times, but it is never lengthy and never distracts from the story.

Aside from the formidable India, there is the dapper and mysterious French, the British secret agent assigned to work with India. Ever the calm, cool and collected sleuth, he is a very intriguing romantic interest. The attraction between the two is obvious, but understated, and I look forward to seeing how it develops. There is also Vincent, the young street urchin. Sly and cunning as a fox, you can't help but love this bedraggled child of the streets. With deft fingers and quick feet, he won't hesitate to relieve you of both your watch and wallet. But beneath the layers of dirt, beats a heart of gold.

If you're looking for a new and original entry into the Victorian mystery genre, India Black is one of the best.(less)

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Dec 04, 2012 BooksnWool rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: victorian-romp, reviewed

A whirlwind romp through Victorian London and across the Channel, involving a whole swag of famous Victorians, plus sexy gentleman spy French and India Black, a very bad girl who provides a refreshing view of stuffy, hypocritical Vistorian Society. There are ball gowns, brothels, Russians with guns, creaking ships, snow, dead bodies and street Arabs all rolled together into a delicious pudding just right for a cold winter's night.

Best of all, though the main character is the madam of the Lotus h...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut, library-book, historical, mystery, world, romance

3.5 stars, really. This is a good descriptive mystery. I can't call it cozy, since it involves a lot of shuttling around England in winter, and I can't call it a romance, even though the main character is the madam of a brothel. It's not quite a thriller, though there is plenty of peril. I guess historical mystery will have to do.

I liked the characters, and the descriptions of scene placed the reader nicely into Victorian England. Sometimes there's a little too much history dumped at one time,...more

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Feb 05, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

Though billed as a "mystery", there really wasn't much to to tie it to that genre (I think it was more of an action/thriller). The unique, humorous voice of India is definitely what drives the novel; she is honest about her position in life and a genuine breath of fresh air as a heroine. India is a whore and a businesswoman, and not above using her skills if she needs to - much more of a pragmatic woman than her silly simpering fellow Victorian sisters.(I swear, if I read another book about a yo...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Willow Brook rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book started out promisingly with a first person narrator, India, who is a brothel owner in 1870's London. When one of the customers dies while with a prostitute, he turns out to be a government official who carried with him with a briefcase full of vital state secrets. India just wants to get rid of the body before her brothel's reputation suffers or she is accused of wrong doing. However, she is pulled into a scheme to track down and recover the missing case of documents. Among those who...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Bree T rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, library-reads, series

Don’t be fooled by that well-bred looking woman on the cover there. While she is beautiful and well dressed, India Black is a whore. And she tells you so in the second sentence! Shamelessly upfront and honest about it, she has mostly retired from the profession herself these days and runs a brothel, preferring to sit back and count the cash rather than be flat on her back for it. She keeps an organised house, well appointed with good whiskey and cigars and attractive, clean and well kept girls t...more Don’t be fooled by that well-bred looking woman on the cover there. While she is beautiful and well dressed, India Black is a whore. And she tells you so in the second sentence! Shamelessly upfront and honest about it, she has mostly retired from the profession herself these days and runs a brothel, preferring to sit back and count the cash rather than be flat on her back for it. She keeps an organised house, well appointed with good whiskey and cigars and attractive, clean and well kept girls to draw in the punters of a certain class and it’s a lifestyle that is working well for her.

Until a client dies whilst in the throes of passion with one of her girls.

Turns out said client was in possession of some rather sensitive papers at the time of his death and they, along with the whore he was visiting, have now gone missing, disappearing into the night. Sir Archibald Latham (referred to as Bowser by India and her girls for his penchant for dressing up as the Prince Consort) was from the War Office and the disappearance of sensitive papers regarding war-type things has the British Prime Minister of the time, Benjamin Disraeli desperate to get them back before the Russians do, or before his arch enemy, former PM William Gladstone sees the contents. So India is enlisted by French, a mysterious agent of the government and Disraeli to help in getting the papers back. They know the Russians have them, but they also know the Russians haven’t actually read them yet. India needs to call upon all her old tricks to distract the Russian operative in possession of the documents and then steal them back and deliver them to French.

India, her professional reputation and her livelihood on the line, has no chance but to go along with this plan. From then on it’s a game of cat and mouse as the English side (India and French) try to outwit the Russian side, get outwitted themselves by a dopey clergyman intent on saving the soul of India’s girls, and then fight to regain the upper hand (which they do, and then lose it several times only to regain it again etc, over the course of the novel). While all this is going on, India and the enigmatic French (known to the reader and India by only his last name) are having a battle of wits and power struggle amongst themselves.

Clever – that’s the first word that comes to mind upon finishing this book. The writing is very, very clever. This wasn’t so much a recommendation to me as it was me being curious about it after hearing someone describing their enjoyment of it and deciding I had to read it. Having recently become a fan of the Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourn I thought I might enjoy this and I wasn’t wrong. But this novel is definitely more than those and while Lady Julia and India do share a few vaguely similar traits, India is clearly a more definitive and sarcastic voice.

Sassy and intelligent, we aren’t told in this book how India comes to fall into prostitution but she has the brains and business know how to get herself out of it and become the madam instead. She’s a really interesting protagonist voice, especially for the setting of the novel in Victorian England. Her sharp wit and and dry narrative provide a lot of really memorable quotes and it’s also a style that doesn’t grate, in a way that is sort of similar to the voice of Alexia Tarabotti in Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate novels. The humour and tone are maintained through the whole journey with never a falter and each new page is as enjoyable as the previous. Although India could easily have become quite irritating, Carr is skillful in drawing her character and she remains simply charming and funny and with just enough spice to make her willing to do things that ordinary Victorian maidens wouldn’t but not stupid enough that you think she should’ve been dead from the first chapter.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m quite a sucker for a mysterious man and French fits the bill. Appearing in the dead of night full of cryptic comments and vague assistance, he reappears to convince India to take part in the plan that the British government have concocted to retrieve the papers and then remains close by throughout the rest of the attempts to secure the papers. He warms to India throughout their journey together and although their interactions are laced with sarcasm, it’s easy to see where the author is going with them. There’s nothing happening in this novel but their possible developing relationship (for want of a better term) is definitely one of the things that’s keeping me excited for the second book in the series, due out in October 2011.

If there is one thing that is lacking in this novel it’s not the quality of the mystery but the execution. There’s only so many times two groups of people can steal documents off each other before they both start to look faintly ridiculous and unfortunately, the characters do cross that line! With French supposedly some British government agent/spy type character and the Russians having their equivalent, it’s amusing how often each side takes the papers only to have them snatched back by the other. I think that perhaps this book goes 2 steps too far in this cat and mouse back and forth game which is a bit of a shame because the rest of it is so awesome.

If Carr can make the actual plot execution in the next novel just that tiny bit tighter then I think she’ll have a flawless piece of work. And even with the slight nitpick that I had with this novel, it in no way detracted from my enjoyment. I borrowed this from the local library but I think I’m going to have to buy it because it’s definitely a novel that I can see myself re-reading again and again.(less)

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Feb 17, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was recommended to me by Amazon, so I picked it up at my local library (I've been burned too many times by new authors!) I would, however, pay for India's next outing (I'm sure India would approve - buyer beware and all that, but a girl's got to make a living. . .) Carol Carr has produced a sharp, funny, wry, self-reliant heroine in India and an intriguing potential hero in French, the secret agent accompanying her in much of her adventures. The plot is summarized above, so I won't reh...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Anachronist rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: those-pesky-three-stars

What I liked:

The main character of the story is Miss India Black, an intelligent whore with lots of dry humor and a fairly cynical view on life. I loved her narrative voice (as the book is told from her perspective) because it was brutally honest, outspoken and wickedly entertaining. However, the fact that India, once a working girl, now the owner of a brothel, is in peace with her inner self, accepting her fate without any remorse or second thoughts, I liked the best. She makes absolutely no ex...more

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Dec 14, 2010 E. Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

India Black is certainly not your typical heroine, and thank goodness for that. She is full of fire and spit, and well-capable of keeping up with French in this, what appears to be the first book of their espionage adventures. (Is book two out yet? I just wanted to keep adventuring with them by the time I reached the end of this one.)

What amazes most about this debut novel is the voice of its heroine. Told in the first person, there will likely be no middle ground for readers–they will either lo...more

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May 17, 2011 Leslie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Carr's debut novel features a feisty madam - literally - who becomes involved in a clandestine tangle between spies for Disraeli's government and Russia in this enjoyable historical mystery. India Black is the abbess of Lotus House, an establishment catering to gentlemen's amorous needs. Smart, efficient, and likable, India decided some time ago that running a brothel is far superior to working in one and, as she owns Lotus House, is now enjoying the fruits of her girls' labor.

Alas, when a long...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Fluffychick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, historical-fiction

A 4.5 star really!
When an important figure in the Disraeli government dies in a compromising position at the Lotus House, Victorian Madam, India Black has to act quickly to avoid any disruption to her business and reputation. Calling on the dubious talents of the odoriferous street urchin Vincent, she has a plan to remove the body discreetly, but is interrupted by government spy French. Blackmailed with the threat of losing the Lotus House she is drawn into his world of espionage to serve the Br...more A 4.5 star really!
When an important figure in the Disraeli government dies in a compromising position at the Lotus House, Victorian Madam, India Black has to act quickly to avoid any disruption to her business and reputation. Calling on the dubious talents of the odoriferous street urchin Vincent, she has a plan to remove the body discreetly, but is interrupted by government spy French. Blackmailed with the threat of losing the Lotus House she is drawn into his world of espionage to serve the British government.

It seems her “punter” was carrying important documents that put the government in a tricky situation with the Russians and they’ve gone missing! India and French end up in the most unlikely situations to save the day!

I bought this book hoping it would fill the huge hole left by my favourite Victorian female characters. I worship Amelia Peabody, love Lady Julia Grey, wait for the new Parasol Protectorate books with excitement and even read Emily Ashton (although they’re not my favourites!). I enjoy my strong, clever, sarcastic characters that thrive on disaster, near death and criminal activities. The other important factor in all these is also the strong, devastatingly cool and handsome male interest. So India Black, slightly different background to the others and I wasn’t at first convinced that it’d work, but despite my reservations (and I still think it referred to her professional activities a little too much and unnecessarily, which is why I docked half a star!) I really enjoyed it!

India has a high regard for herself and her talents, but the overall tone is light and humorous. French (we don’t find out his first name!) is suitably intelligent, devious and handsome, (yay!) but remains fairly mysterious. Although India acknowledges his looks and there is a spark between them, this first in the series doesn’t go down the romance route, which is probably better for future books if it develops into a long running series. Vincent, although thinly sketched, I’m sure will develop into a far more interesting character and some of India’s more colourful work colleagues and acquaintances will just have to reappear in later books.

To sum up…it’s a fun, fast paced read with strong lead characters. The cover is also really pretty, but a bit too “romance” for the style of the writing. I’ve already bought the second book and although it hasn't completely stopped me wishing for many more (and immediate) Amelia and Julia books, I found it a really enjoyable read. (less)

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May 23, 2011 Minsma rated it 3 of 5 stars

As Jia said about this book on DearAuthor.com, whether or not you like this book may depend on whether or not you like the first person narrator's voice. I happened to really like it. India Black, a Victorian-era London madam, is drawn unwittingly into an elaborate spy caper involving stolen War Office plans, a handsome British agent, and Russian spies.

Her jaded, witticism-cracking voice is just as snarky and cynical as you might expect someone of that profession to be, and I was completely dra...more

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Feb 07, 2011 Elysium rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, historical, read-in-2011, victorian, for-review, favorites

India Black is owner of a brothel named Lotus House and her life is disrupted when a regular customer is found dead in her establishment. Thinking that the death will be bad for business and she decides to dispose the body. She gets help from a street kid named Vincent but they are caught by an English spy named French. India learns that the dead was high-ranking government official and was carrying important papers. Goverment thinks she will be useful to getting the papers back so India and Fre...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Leya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-book

I was hooked right from the beginning. I absolutely loved the first paragraph of the book. It is written the first person and it took a me little time to get used that but India's voice maintained my interest. And then the story truly began.

This book has a great deal of interesting characters. There's India, a young madam who is the proud proprietor of Lotus House, there's French a British spy who gets India involved in this whole scheme, Calthorp the clergyman that wants to help the ladies of...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Niffer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, historical-fiction

I was disappointed by this book. I was looking for a serious mystery and instead got Janet Evanovich does Sherlock Homes. Maybe if I had been expecting a less serious book I would have been less disappointed. I don't know. There were a lot of plot weaknesses, IMO. I felt as though the initial plan crafted by the characters was weak (no wonder it didn't work) and India's motivation to continue after the initial plan felt very contrived. For someone who repeatedly talked about how important it was...more

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May 10, 2011 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: swapped-donated

Reading India's words is like speaking with my aunt. She says whatever pops into her head and puts a sharp edge on it. Unfortunately, I think the sharp edge dulls as the book progresses.

While India had a smart mouth, the person herself didn't seem all that street smart. I'm hoping she will learn as she goes?

I liked the humor and the action, but, for me, I think the explanation of the complicated political situation could have been simplified. There was a point where the book didn't really involv...more

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India Black (Madam of Espionage Mysteries #1)

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