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Cool Day for Killing
When the Sultan of Shahbaddin is murdered by revolutionaries, his daughter, Sheila Raden, struggles to protect the valuable Raden tiara from Chinese agents
- GenresCrime
185 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 1984
About the author
H. Rider Haggard
1,973 books1,132 followersSir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and the creator of the Lost World literary genre. His stories, situated at the lighter end of the scale of Victorian literature, continue to be popular and influential. He was also involved in agricultural reform and improvement in the British Empire.
His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.
Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.
His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.
Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 20, 2015
William Haggard wrote this in 1968. In today's world of political correctness no publisher would look at it. A Cool Day for Killing in concerned with the fictional island of Shabadeen, formerly ruled benevolently by the British Raven family. But now that will no longer do. The natives want to claim their own. But the natives are either Malay or Chinese. Britain has a political interest in the outcome but has no high regard gor either side.
Harry Duke is the Minister responsible, though seeking a resolution at arm's length. Charles Russell is the Head of the Security Executive whom Dukeenlists as an ally. There are also two Ravel descendants, Sheila and Oliver.
The plot teeters on the brink of implausibility from time to time and has to be rescued by too much reliance on coincidence, which cost it two stars. But there is much pleasure to be had from Haggard's delineation of the English upper middle classes in the twilight of empire, all stiff lips and gentlemanly conduct, a world of nods and winks where everyone knows his place.
Not recommended for 21st Century liberals but very enjoyable for others.
Harry Duke is the Minister responsible, though seeking a resolution at arm's length. Charles Russell is the Head of the Security Executive whom Dukeenlists as an ally. There are also two Ravel descendants, Sheila and Oliver.
The plot teeters on the brink of implausibility from time to time and has to be rescued by too much reliance on coincidence, which cost it two stars. But there is much pleasure to be had from Haggard's delineation of the English upper middle classes in the twilight of empire, all stiff lips and gentlemanly conduct, a world of nods and winks where everyone knows his place.
Not recommended for 21st Century liberals but very enjoyable for others.
September 9, 2013
Quite enjoy the character of Charles Russell. Spy stories without a great deal of action at times. Demand a bit more of the reader than Fleming
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews