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Danger At Dahlkari
Lauren Gray leaves England for exotic India after finishing school, but on the way her caravan is attacked by ritual murderers and her life barely saved, she begins her great adventure.
281 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 10, 1975
About the author
Jennifer Wilde
47 books96 followersJennifer Wilde is a pseudonym of T. E. Huff (Thomas Elmer Huff). He also wrote under the names Edwina Marlow and Beatrice Parker.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 24, 2021
In terms of the romance genre, this is a must read up there with Katherine, Gone with the WindDragonwyck, and quite of Mary Stewart books.
Danger at Dahlkari is an exciting romantic, suspense tale that will keep you on your toes. While traveling from England to India, the H is quite the intelligent, Victorian rule-breaker and brings along an equally saucy enchanting second banana heroine to charm the readers.
The h is confronted with two alpha heroes that she must choose from while dealing with being back in India. She was born there and shipped off to England when her parents died. She's back to stay with her parents' close friends ,and not only has to deal with her two swains but the serious turmoil with the Thugs (a real group that worshiped Kali and strangled infidels with a yellow scarf) threatening the area.
I read (and re-read) this book at least 25-30 years ago, and I can pull the plot as well as the characters' dynamics out of my memory like it was yesterday. Like Glendraco, Nine Coaches Waiting and Rebecca, some of these classic plots stay with you.
Danger at Dahlkari is an exciting romantic, suspense tale that will keep you on your toes. While traveling from England to India, the H is quite the intelligent, Victorian rule-breaker and brings along an equally saucy enchanting second banana heroine to charm the readers.
The h is confronted with two alpha heroes that she must choose from while dealing with being back in India. She was born there and shipped off to England when her parents died. She's back to stay with her parents' close friends ,and not only has to deal with her two swains but the serious turmoil with the Thugs (a real group that worshiped Kali and strangled infidels with a yellow scarf) threatening the area.
I read (and re-read) this book at least 25-30 years ago, and I can pull the plot as well as the characters' dynamics out of my memory like it was yesterday. Like Glendraco, Nine Coaches Waiting and Rebecca, some of these classic plots stay with you.
May 16, 2018
This was sooooo good! It reminded me so much of some of Mary Stewart's stories. I've been looking for an author with a similar style for a while now and I finally found one! : ) I can't wait to read some of Marlow's other books. The author writes under a million pen names so I should have plenty to choose from. Lol
February 22, 2026
***only spoilery if you've never read a Gothic before**
In all but the heroine, this novel forcibly reminded me of a Madeleine Brent romantic suspense. Exotic locale, deadly adventure, and a mysterious hero who isn't what he seems and who doesn't really interact meaningfully with the heroine until over halfway through. And she goes on a long dangerous trek with him. Like "Madeleine", the romance is on the light side. It also reminded me of many other T.E. Huff (aka at least 3 other female pseudonyms) titles in its usual tropes. Although we are told Lauren is intelligent, scholarly, headstrong, brave, and sensible what we only usually see is naive, hysterical, and silly when it comes to her romantic relationships. Her companion, Sally, is the force to be reckoned with throughout most of the book. Also, the author employs his usual bait and switch with the heroes. Of course, the real hero is immediately apparent to even a semiconscious reader from his first appearance. So that means we know who the villain is as well. There is an interesting reveal at the end that came as a surprise to me.
Despite going over very well-traveled ground, it is well-written and paced with an engaging semi-humorous voice that T.E. Huff (Jennifer Wilde) is known for and which is virtually indistinguishable from Madeleine Brent's first-person voice. Readers who liked this book would adore Madeleine Brent And Madeleine Brent devotees would find enough similarities with Madeleine to find much to enjoy in this particular title. **3 1/2 stars**
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
In all but the heroine, this novel forcibly reminded me of a Madeleine Brent romantic suspense. Exotic locale, deadly adventure, and a mysterious hero who isn't what he seems and who doesn't really interact meaningfully with the heroine until over halfway through. And she goes on a long dangerous trek with him. Like "Madeleine", the romance is on the light side. It also reminded me of many other T.E. Huff (aka at least 3 other female pseudonyms) titles in its usual tropes. Although we are told Lauren is intelligent, scholarly, headstrong, brave, and sensible what we only usually see is naive, hysterical, and silly when it comes to her romantic relationships. Her companion, Sally, is the force to be reckoned with throughout most of the book. Also, the author employs his usual bait and switch with the heroes. Of course, the real hero is immediately apparent to even a semiconscious reader from his first appearance. So that means we know who the villain is as well. There is an interesting reveal at the end that came as a surprise to me.
Despite going over very well-traveled ground, it is well-written and paced with an engaging semi-humorous voice that T.E. Huff (Jennifer Wilde) is known for and which is virtually indistinguishable from Madeleine Brent's first-person voice. Readers who liked this book would adore Madeleine Brent And Madeleine Brent devotees would find enough similarities with Madeleine to find much to enjoy in this particular title. **3 1/2 stars**
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
December 2, 2017
Although not on a level with books like THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN, this one, taking place in 1800s India, is definitely the kind of fun and exciting escape romance that appeals to me.
Thomas E. Huff (1938-1990) published 23 Gothic and historical romance novels from 1968 to 1989, writing under the pen names Edwina Marlowe, Beatrice Parker, Katherine St. Clair, T.E. Huff and Jennifer Wilde, depending upon the genre of the novel. Apparently the e-books are all being credited to Jennifer Wilde, so you'll find Gothics and historical romance by her.
Well, this author by any name seems to have written some good books, if I can judge by this one which was first published in 1975. Reading this was like watching a spectacular action/adventure/romance movie set in Colonial India of the 1800s. No exact year is given but I assume it takes place in late 1830s or the 1840s because it's the time when Captain William Sleeman (a real historical person) has almost eliminated the threat of Thugs in the country, those blood-thirsty robbers and killers of travelers and worshippers of the goddess Kali.
Heroine Lauren Gray left India at the age of 12 when her parents died of cholera. She has spent seven years at an academy for young ladies in Bath and is now returning to India at the request of Dollie McAllister, her mother's best friend and wife of Captain Reggie McAllister, who is executor of Lauren's parents' estate and the British captain in charge of Dahlkari, a fictional (I believe) British outpost near the last bastion of Thuggee territory.
On the way from Delhi to Dahlkari by caravan, Thugs attack and murder everyone but Lauren and her companion and friend Sally, who have unbelievably but fortunately been out exploring the jungle when the attack occurs. So the two girls set off walking to Dahlkari, with parasols handcrafted from leaves and bags (made from underskirts) filled with fruit.
Pretty much down to their last resources, they are rescued by a mysterious, tall, rugged, cold-blooded, cruel-looking, ruthless (all these are the girls' take on him) native who is, fortunately, not a Thug and gets them safely to Dahlkari, where he leaves them on the outskirts of the post and rides away into the horizon (or somesuch).
So they get to Dahlkari, are reunited with Dollie and Reggie but the adventures don't end here. There are handsome soldiers to meet, balls and picnics and outings to the ruins of Karbala, meetings with a rich, powerful, sexually-magnetic Rajah, a taciturn, aloof agent working for William Sleeman to uncover the last of the Thugs, a tiger hunt with the Rajah, more Thuggee attacks, and, oh, so much more.
The romance has Lauren torn between two virile and sexually attractive men (again the description is through Lauren's POV), the story is fraught with dangers and deceptions and I found it to be a delightful, exciting read. It's pretty easy to guess who Lauren will end up with at the end because of how they first meet, but there was one secret about one of the characters that totally surprised me.
Thomas E. Huff (1938-1990) published 23 Gothic and historical romance novels from 1968 to 1989, writing under the pen names Edwina Marlowe, Beatrice Parker, Katherine St. Clair, T.E. Huff and Jennifer Wilde, depending upon the genre of the novel. Apparently the e-books are all being credited to Jennifer Wilde, so you'll find Gothics and historical romance by her.
Well, this author by any name seems to have written some good books, if I can judge by this one which was first published in 1975. Reading this was like watching a spectacular action/adventure/romance movie set in Colonial India of the 1800s. No exact year is given but I assume it takes place in late 1830s or the 1840s because it's the time when Captain William Sleeman (a real historical person) has almost eliminated the threat of Thugs in the country, those blood-thirsty robbers and killers of travelers and worshippers of the goddess Kali.
Heroine Lauren Gray left India at the age of 12 when her parents died of cholera. She has spent seven years at an academy for young ladies in Bath and is now returning to India at the request of Dollie McAllister, her mother's best friend and wife of Captain Reggie McAllister, who is executor of Lauren's parents' estate and the British captain in charge of Dahlkari, a fictional (I believe) British outpost near the last bastion of Thuggee territory.
On the way from Delhi to Dahlkari by caravan, Thugs attack and murder everyone but Lauren and her companion and friend Sally, who have unbelievably but fortunately been out exploring the jungle when the attack occurs. So the two girls set off walking to Dahlkari, with parasols handcrafted from leaves and bags (made from underskirts) filled with fruit.
Pretty much down to their last resources, they are rescued by a mysterious, tall, rugged, cold-blooded, cruel-looking, ruthless (all these are the girls' take on him) native who is, fortunately, not a Thug and gets them safely to Dahlkari, where he leaves them on the outskirts of the post and rides away into the horizon (or somesuch).
So they get to Dahlkari, are reunited with Dollie and Reggie but the adventures don't end here. There are handsome soldiers to meet, balls and picnics and outings to the ruins of Karbala, meetings with a rich, powerful, sexually-magnetic Rajah, a taciturn, aloof agent working for William Sleeman to uncover the last of the Thugs, a tiger hunt with the Rajah, more Thuggee attacks, and, oh, so much more.
The romance has Lauren torn between two virile and sexually attractive men (again the description is through Lauren's POV), the story is fraught with dangers and deceptions and I found it to be a delightful, exciting read. It's pretty easy to guess who Lauren will end up with at the end because of how they first meet, but there was one secret about one of the characters that totally surprised me.
December 25, 2018
Oh yes, that's how you spell it! Sorry for the mispelling on my other review of Nine Buck's Row. Second only to that book, my top favs for Huff/Marlowe/Wilde's books.
Great setting, fun characters, good tension. He wrote some great female characters in this one, so much better than some of his other books. Feisty, can shoot guns, and sass.
It's a little dated now, but really, such fun to read and re-read!
Great setting, fun characters, good tension. He wrote some great female characters in this one, so much better than some of his other books. Feisty, can shoot guns, and sass.
It's a little dated now, but really, such fun to read and re-read!
April 28, 2013
i liked the plot of the indian caravans, the god kali, thugs, misterious male rider. there was romance but again not as much as i would've liked.
tom e huff aka edwina marlow really gets me with his writing, i could perfectly visualize the india
tom e huff aka edwina marlow really gets me with his writing, i could perfectly visualize the india
September 25, 2011
Loved this book as a teenager. It's pretty dated now and I can't imagine that I'd like it if I read it for the first time now. But it brings back happy memories.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews