The Cobras of Calcutta

Decipherer's Chronicles #1

by Grant Sutherland

In the fifty years between 1757 and 1815, Britain lost an empire, won another and emerged from the epic Napoleonic wars as the greatest power the world had ever seen. But no empire comes about by accident. The spread of British power was fuelled by the ambition and zeal of a host of larger-than-life personalities. But while history records the actions of those who chose familiar public paths to make their mark, others who served under a necessary cloak of silence have left no memorials. There were men who gave their whole lives to these hidden struggles.

At the centre of these machinations lay one secret institution: the Decipherers - the code breakers, the interceptors of letters and messages, the analysers of intelligence - constantly locked in silent deadly combat with the Cabinet Noir, the Black Chamber, the secret agency of Britain's greatest enemy, France. Working tirelessly with the Decipherers was a small number of trusted agents whose secret trade carried by necessity into the deepest conflicts of empire and Alistair Douglas was one of them.

Genres: Historical Fiction, India, Historical

455 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

A native Australian, Grant Sutherland now lives in Herefordshire, England.

Reviews

[Idril Celebrindal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see how another person wouldn't enjoy this, but I loved it. The style was made to sound a little as if it were written by a man born in 1739 - a rather nice balancing act to keep it sounding authentic while still allowing the prose to flow smoothly for a modern reader. The author also did a good job of balancing the attitudes of the time with what would be offensive now.

The book took me a little while to get in to, I think because we are dropped so abruptly into the action, which is the English war with the Nawab of Bengal in 1756/1757, from the attack on Kasimbazar through the Battle of Plassey. Without any knowledge of the day-to-day life of the narrator, it's hard to know how out of the ordinary the initial events are, or how alarmed to be, though this did make the Calcutta section pretty effectively jarring. I had known of Clive and the Battle of Plassey without knowing any particulars, so knew the end we were going to reach without any idea how we were going to get there.

The battles were very well described. I was able to understand the narrator's personal experiences while still getting a clear sense of the tactical execution of the battle. I liked the narrator and I adored Mr and Mrs Watts. I thought there was a strong sense of time and place (though I have a thoroughly constructed fantasy India in my head from when I was in high school and obsessed with the Indian Rebellion of 1857, so it's possible I was filling in some blanks on my own).

Therefore I'm a little disappointed that the other 2 books in the series aren't set in India. However, revolutionary America is nearly as good, so I'll be continuing the series.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good start to the series. A little slow at times but a good reflection of the 'company' and the times.

[Louise Duckworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

No story. Rubbish

[Cats 274 · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author has an incredible talent of making everything utterly dull and boring.

[Christopher Everest · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find this genre of books (Historical Fiction) slightly difficult to get into especially at the beginning of a series. Except for Bernard Cornwell of course. I had originally bought the second in this series (without knowing) so I obviously couldn't read that first (God Forbid !) so I kindled the first book. It is set in India and although I knew edited highlights of Indian historiography basically I was a bit lost. Add on to that discomfort the Imperialist commerce-driven trade and politics of the 18th century and a hero/narrator who is conspicuously naive and unreliable so I took a while to warm to the book. It is very heavy on the politics on the period, machinations, inscrutability and double-dealing but the reason I bought the books was the subtitle The Decipherers Chronicles. Yes I know, very Dan Brown, but reasonably accurate to my mind and given that it takes the entire book for Mr Douglas the central character to decide to become a spy/secret agent rather than a soldier or a company man (East India Company not CIA)this is decidely cerebral rather than action-packed. This is not James Bond. This is stiff Upper Lip, Robert Clive, Black Hole of Calcutta, Broadsides from Ships of the Line, and blood flowing off the orlop deck. It is English and it is not a period of history in which we excelled morally. Capitalist Exploiters R Us but I did enjoy it. I hope the next book The Hawks of London will be easier and Mr Douglas resolves his lifestyle balances of service and duty. He does sketch though so he's obviously a good man.

[Robin Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

So whats this book like? and who is Grant Sutherland

GRANT SUTHERLAND is the author of two internationally published novels, DUE DILIGENCE and EAST OF THE CITY. A native Australian, he recently retired from his job as a stockbroker at the age of thirty-three and lives in Oxfordshire, England, where he now writes full-time

The Book,
Its good, its not a drag you along rip roaring ride like an eagles book or an iggulden, but its an ineresting look at life during the early days of Calcutta, the Siege by the then nawab and what followed and the tensions with the French as war breaks out in europe.
It also gives a great look at how easily a young mans passions can range during times of strife and war. Honour bound to do his bit.
It for me was also very interesting to see how the main character slowly gets to see the local spy network and how it works.
7/10...well worth a read...the next book will be on my to buiy list

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the 'olde' English writing style and the strong gentlemanly values of the main character. It was also interesting to note the minor role the main character played in larger historical events - this was much more believable than many stories where the hero changes the course of a battle. The setting in India at a very interesting historical period added well to the story. Colonists from various European countries vying for political control along with local factions provided a good backdrop for the book.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Diana Sandberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am told that the rest of this series is considerably better than this first one. I wonder if I'll agree, because I quite liked this one. I suppose it is a little slow, but very rich and with great characters. Looking forward to the next.

[S Glenn Krochmal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written nover on the runup the the Sepoy Mutiny from the eyes of the honourable East India Company's clerk.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half of this, it had interesting characters and much potential. By the time I was further on I got bored and I must admit that I stopped reading then.

[Pradeep Jayatunga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but for some reason not as exciting as one would expect a tale of this nature to be.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too slow and boring DNF.

[Gaye Sencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good romp in India during the war with France involving the black hole of Calcutta and Clive of India, detailed but enthralling