The Palace Tiger

Joe Sandilands #4

by Barbara Cleverly

India, 1922: Joe Sandilands, Scotland Yard detective, is staying with Governor Sir George Jardine in Simla when there is some unexpected news. Sir George sends Joe off to the Princely State of Ranipur in the company of Edgar Troop, an experienced hunter, at the request of the Maharajah, an old ally of the British. A man-eating tiger is terrorizing the northern villages, and the two men are invited to join a hunting party in the forest. But the quality of the weaponry with which Sir George supplies him raises Joe’s suspicions. The rifle will be perfect for the tiger, but why has he also been issued with the small Browning M pistol, designed for use on human targets?

The Maharajah is dying and the succession is unclear. His first son has recently been killed in a panther-related incident. Then a second son dies dramatically before Joe’s eyes. The third and last remaining son—the favorite successor in the eyes of the British—is only twelve years old.

In the luxurious setting of the Maharajah’s court with its array of powerful, scheming characters, Joe must track down a clever murderer—all under the mocking and hostile eye of the ruthless Chief of State Police.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, India, Historical, Fiction, Crime

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 2004

About the author

Barbara Cleverly was born in the north of England and is a graduate of Durham University. A former teacher, she has spent her working life in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk; she now lives in Cambridge. She has one son and five step-children.

Her Joe Sandilands series of books set against the background of the British Raj was inspired by the contents of a battered old tin trunk that she found in her attic. Out of it spilled two centuries of memories of a family – especially a great uncle who spent a lot of time in India – whose exploits and achievements marched in time with the flowering of the British Empire.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fast read...I was through it almost before I knew it. Some old friends here, notably Edgar Troop and Sir George from a few of the other "Sandilands" mysteries.
Some slightly annoying features are starting to crop up as I read through this series. There is always a feisty female, usually American, but sometimes British, who entices Joe Sandilands into intimacy of at least one sort or another. She is such a stereotypical character that I am getting bored with her type and wonder why Joe (who is so quick in other respects!) is so slow to realize what she's up to! In this book, "she" is the American wife of the Majarajah's second son. He is killed most dramatically right before her (and Joe's) eyes, before he can even make it into town. Sound familiar? It is a very similar scenario to the opening of "Ragtime in Simla!" That annoyed me. Surely there's more than one way to introduce murder in a sensational way!
Joe's brief is to discover what is going on with the succession in this princely State. Once he arrives, there are more deaths resulting in more chaos and confusion. On top of murder, court intrigues and power plays, a hunt is organized to shoot a man-eating tiger which has been terrorizing a few out-lying villages. During the hunt, Joe is the hero of the hour as well as the dupe of the day! More death ensues. The hunters return home only to find a dying Maharajah, a depleted treasury and courtiers scrambling to keep or increase their political influence.
This book was fast-paced for sure and had some endearing characters (the Maharajah's 12-year-old son, for one,) but it lacked cohesion and development. It ran over the top of some areas that needed more exposition to enhance the reader's grasp of such things as the women's quarters and life removed from regular society. Greed needs no explanation, but personal descent from honor to unscrupulousness does require more motivation than was shown here.
The last chapter (not the exposure of the killer) was powerful and poignant. In this story, the deft writing lifts a mediocre tale from bland to worthwhile, if not quite as good as the first three in the series.

[Elli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite author and a fascinating place, both in history and the country itself. Each state is like it's own country, and Joe Sandilands roving policeman from Scotland yard, but spending time in India is sent to visit a colleague in the north who has just received an order to look into a situation in a neighboring state. Turns out to be a very exciting adventure, especially since the present ruler is dying of cancer and his position is sought after by a number of people for a number of reasons. It takes place early last century. The characters are all 3 dimensional and can clearly be real to the reader. I felt I knew them, but there were some surprises. And not all of them pleasant. But Cleverly uses many facets to her personalities. Few are just all good or all bad. There is are the traits of humanity to balance the characters as unique individuals that you meet and get to know in various degrees as their part of the story. With each book I feel I have made a visit to the time and place.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Cleverly has written a series of detective novels set in the 1920's, several of India, some of Britain and wherever nearby her gentleman or lady detective-protagonists roam. She's excellent of her genre. She provides a top-notch plot with several plausible alternative villains, well-drawn eccentric characters, flowing prose and a literate vocabulary. Those who wonder whether some of the excesses depicted in the fictional princely state in this book can find the source material in her preface.

I complained about another writer, of thrillers, who exceeded my alloted suspension-of-disbelief. One must, of course, go along with the universe described by the author. If the hero is known to leap tall buildings in a single bound, so be it. Sometimes, however, an author desperate for a plot has trouble being plausible within his own usual universe. So far, Cleverly has not made me cringe.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barbara Cleverly's Joe Sandilands series is about a British detective and former army man working in India during the time of the Raj. I found the first three of the series to be unique and colorful, portraying the evocative, fragrant era of 1920s India. As I've found with other series (such as those by Patricia Cornwell and Sue Grafton), though, this one is struggling to maintain its originality and verve. My interest is waning a bit.

The book opens up with an exciting scene: a person-eating tiger attacks a small Indian village girl. Soon we move onto the lives of the British ruling class in India and Joe Sandilands is sent by his supervisor down to a Northern territory where the ruling maharaja is dying.

I enjoyed the scenes of Joe engaging with Lizzie and Madeline, as well as the scene when Bahadur catches him by surprise while he was sleeping. But much of the story got bogged down in detail, especially the scenes involving just the British. At times I found myself ready for the book to be over so I could move onto something else, which is not a particularly good sign.

So I've been vacillating between 2 and 3 stars but ultimately decided on 3 because it was good...but not great. I'll read more of Cleverly--the Sandilands series has a unique premise and setting, and all of the characters--Indian, British, and American in this book--are equally considered as possible perpetrators.

I find also that Cleverly writes interesting, strong women characters, and it's clear to me that this series (although masculine in many ways because of the era) was written by a woman.

[Sorcha · Rating 3 out of 5]

second of her books that I have now read - realised in once she started describing the tiger hunt and I thought "I've read this scene before......." (In "Ragtime in Simla"). Not exactly the same, and I suppose that many of the tiger hunts in upper class Raj era India were all much the same, so poor comparisons cannot be necessarily drawn. It would be interesting to know if she presents a variation of this set piece in any of her other books where by I would then think she was being a little lazy or uninspired.[return][return]Anyway, the book itself is enjoyable as Commander Joe from Scotland Yard, having remained in India for longer than his planned 6 months, is sent out to investigate the deaths of two of the three sons of the Maharajah, who himself is dying and therefore his succession is in doubt. Some of the characters are lightly drawn, and tend to make short appearances, only to disappear again, making for quite a lightweight set of potential suspects when it comes to a head.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, Of the four I've read, this was not my favorite. It still has the wonderful sense of place, of culture, of interesting characters, of native tribes -- but the mystery itself got a bit tedious because there were so many different versions of what may have happened, that although close to the confusion of real life, it simply bored. The ending wrapped it all up (mostly), but I felt as though I had been in a constant windstorm of ideas and theories before the final result. These books do have a lot of intrigue often attributed to understanding the machinations of a completely foreign culture. That part is fascinating.

She is such a good writer, however. I shall forge on to #5.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

(If you're sensitive to animals being harmed, know that the episode with the actual tiger isn't too graphic.)

I enjoyed this overall. Last book, Joe was at the edge of the world in the stark and barren North West frontier, now he's in a sumptuous royal court, and I did enjoy all the description - peacocks, giant chess boards, royal jewels.

I feel like Joe was a bit more human in this one - lots of fears, anxieties. Barbara also revealed that Joe is 26 or 27 years old, which is crazy because I was imagining him pushing 40. Something I really love about Barbara is that her mystery series really feels like a series. A secondary character from book 2, Ragtime in Simla, is back for a major part of the story.

Narratively, I feel like there were some loose ends. What happened to Madeleine I think is fair and intentional ambiguity, but I was disappointed that Joe didn't go back and tell the first queen who killed Bishan, like he said he would. That entire scene felt entirely pointless. The offhand comments of "hmmm, maybe so-and-so put the snake there as vengeance for the death of so-and-so" without anything coming to fruition. Even to the end, I don't really understand what Lois and Shubhada each did or not do, which was a disappointment. Not sure what the Lal Bai scenes contributed, except maybe for some local color.

In the rest of the series it seems that Joe returns to London and then France. Not sure if I'll continue the series. I feel like we've all read way way too much of books set in London, and I feel like post-first world war France will be too sad. Maybe someday.

I enjoyed reading it, but it didn't have the emotional impact of book 3 for me.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandilands was teamed~up with Edgar Troop, an adventurer whom the reader met in Ragtime in Simla... and although one of spy~master Jardine's agents, Joe still had ambivalent trust issues towards him. Their destination was the fiefdom of Ranipur and would be under the 'regency' of a man named Claude Vyvyan, another of Jardine's recruits, since the remaining heir was still 12 years old and could be molded along the British Raj's interests or so Sir George would have planned. The present ruler was still alive though dying and his 2 eldest legitimate sons were dead, shadowed by suspicious and unexplained circumstances. Though the official reason for their presence was a hunt for a man~eating tiger terrorizing the countryside, Joe was instructed to look over the lay of the land and to also watch out for two~legged man~eaters of homo sapiens... and uncannily enough, they were treated to a welcome of spectacular flying maneuvers that ended in the pilot's death... it was sabotage. Bahidur, the youngest and though illegitimate, he was the apparent heir. He grew up at the zenana and thus was accustomed to the harem's intrigues and chicken coop spite and this proved perilous for him... for though knowledge of secrets was powerful, he was also vulnerable. Combined with the pageantry and pomp of a princedom's apparent opulence... the dangers and shadowy scheming... greed and ambition... possessions and positions... etc... all these help to make this one another evocative vehicle to fire the reader's vicarious foray into a most colourful imagination.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know that this book was part of a series when I found it in the library, and it didn’t matter because it works as a standalone book. The author introduces us to India in 1922 when there were numerous small kingdoms presided over by Maharajas. This story concerns a series of deaths of heirs to the throne of Ranipur. The oldest son dies in a terrible accident with a panther, the second son dies when the small plane he was flying crashes during an aerial maneuver and the only remaining son, a young boy old twelve is the son of a concubine, and not legitimate. The third son is smart and talented, and perhaps the succession is being manipulated. Against the background of India with it’s customs, food, and culture so different from the English who have great influence at this time, Joe Sandilands, a representative of the English overseers, comes to learn what is happening in Ranipur.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Palace Tiger by Barbara Cleverly is the fourth book of the Joe Sandilands mystery series, set in 1922 India. Joe Sandilands, a Scotland Yard inspector, expects to return shortly to England. However British Governor Sir George Jardine has yet another mission for Joe. He is sent to Ranipur, a Princely State, to investigate suspicious events. The Maharajah is dying; his eldest son and heir has been killed. A tiger is attacking and killing children of nearby villages. Before Joe's eyes, the second heir dies. On a royal tiger hunt, Joe is unable to prevent the death of the third heir. Intriguing, deceptive female characters with selfish, nefarious objectives provide ample red herrings and plot twists for Joe to unravel. Not to mention the fearsome chief of royal police. Who can be trusted? A fascinating tale of British occupation in India, rich with period detail. Inspired by the author's family mementos; her great-uncle served in British India.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 in the series featuring a Scotland Yard detective in 1920s India during the last days of the British Raj. Here, there is word that the presumed heir to a small but fairly wealthy kingdom is dead in seemingly accidental circumstances. The next in line is a much better prospect, objectively, but for his American wife who has no patience with the cultural traditions especially as regards how women should behave. Joe Sandilands is sent to investigate discretely, though he has no real authority. Learning the truth is important because the current Maharaja is dying and it's necessary to the British governance to know who the heir will be.

An enjoyable read -- fairly quick with a good plot. Just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and yet the ultimate solution is completely logical and satisfying.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Although Joe is on leave, Sir George "suggests" he should accompany Edgar Troop to Ranipur for an upcoming tiger hunt. The Maharaja of Ranipur is ill (an dying), his eldest son recently died in somewhat suspicious circumstances, and Sir George wants a British presence on hand, despite the fact that they have no authority there. Even as Joe and Edgar arrive another death occurs, this one to the second son — who leaves an American widow, but no children. The Maharaja's only remaining son is only twelve, and the child of a concubine, not a wife. But Joe is determined to protect young Bahadur, even as he tries to unravel this convoluted mystery. Fascinating and hard to put down. Highly recommended.

[Karen Hufman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it moved kind of slow, I was interested in the world created by the author. The story takes place in the 1920's in a territory still run by an Indian prince (at the time, some areas were considered British territories and some were still under the 'control' of various Indian royalty - although they each had a British regent who held some sway over them). Joe (a Scotland yard detective) gets asked to go with a colleague to look into the death of a prince who was in line to take over for his father. Another tragedy happens soon after his arrival and he spends the majority of the book meeting the major players. It was an interesting world to catch a glimpse of.

[Suzannah Hoppe-washburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery set in India, although the main character is British. I found the conclusion to be lacking a "bad guy" as every mystery should have. There were perhaps too many "bad guys" and as a result the characters were a bit weak. The story was complicated, with so many different twists that it was not engrossing. Even as a historical fiction goes, I felt that it got too bogged down with everything the author was trying to convey.

[Linda Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

The two eldest sons of the Maharajah have been killed. The third is a small boy of 12 who is illegitimate. Sandilands is sent to investigate the killings to see if they are really accidents. Can Sandilands sort it all out without falling foul of the local police, the British Resident and the Maharaja himself?
There are a few twists in this one and is rather bloody in the way the Indian sub-continent can be. A fun easy read with plenty of wonder descriptions of the countryside.

[Bob Deysach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth in the Sandiland series and the third one I've read. This was the best so far - of a group I really enjoy. Again a well-defined plot, a rich set of characters and the cultural differences that make India such a fascinating country. As with most mysteries, the "who done it" part keeps the story moving forward, but, when all is said and done, it is the journey that is the best part of a novel. The author does not talk down to the reader and appears to appropriately believe he/she should be armed with a dictionary increase knowlege unfamiliar foreign practices that are often left unexplained.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Joe is still in India and still being asked to investigate, this time while visiting a friend :P

As always, I enjoyed a lot the adventure, but also the very evocative setting, and the sense of Indian's culture. The characters are, as always, very interesting. A delightful read.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read any books in this series for several years when I was reminded of it. I think this was one of the more enjoyable of the ones I've read. There were a number of possibilities to explain several deaths and I was surprised by the solution. The characters and situations are interesting.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the Joe Sandilands series, especially those set in India during the Raj. This was an excellent addition to the series with multiple murders of Rajput royalty and one murderer or more than one. Recommend the series. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Leslie Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complicated characters and story. Detective Joe Sandilands is sent on another vacation to look around and observe and report. Great India history and culture references. Interesting village, palace and settings described in detail. Living and life customs for a royal prince and his family.

[John Mosman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, the detail of the Raj and British India is wonderful. Sandilands solves another series of murders.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - enjoyed it when it got going but took a while to get going!

[Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many twists!

[Abra Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever murder mystery set in British controlled India. Good writing, amazing vocabulary (I had to look up many words) and good story.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh…

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into this book unlike the three previous books it was a slower build to action.

[Helen Geng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 2.5

Read May 2022

Another one for Goodreads.com

[Tracey S Choat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fascinating read

Joe is sent to a Maharaja's palace to discover clues to the deaths of the Maharaja's sons. Read this series!

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this! Loved the location and the various personalities

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too complicated for my taste, but enjoyed reading another book in this series.