Review
Praise for The Blood Royal :
βFor a series writer to break the bounds of chronology requires courage, and Barbara Cleverly is not afraid to take that bold step.... Cleverly's intrigues absorb the reader's mind, and her spare but elegant prose serves her well. Joe, as always, is the epitome of determination, intelligence and charm, and Lily is a character the reader will want to see again in this spellbinding series.ββ Richmond Times-Dispatch
βCleverly underscores the idea that the actions of great nations can be substantially less noble than the nations themselves; it is a fine writer who can make her readers reflect on such concepts.... Compelling and effectively written; with each chapter, the reader is drawn further into the narrative and the darkness of the time.... Another very good read from Barbara Cleverly.ββ _The Strand Magazine
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βA darkly glamorous thriller.ββ Kirkus Reviews
βLovers of golden age mysteries will revel in this jarring meeting of the insouciant upper crust and the roiling masses.ββ Booklist
βBarbara Cleverly mysteries are addictive, and The Blood Royal is highly recommended.β**** β Historical Novels Review
Praise for Barbara Cleverly:
"Despite her mastery at vivid scene-setting, Cleverly never loses sight of the historical puzzle that is central to her story. Simply put, it's a stunner."β _New York Times
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"Spectacular and dashing. Spellbinding."β _New York Times Book Review
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"Excellent.... Golden age fans who appreciate deceptive storytelling enhanced by the kind of in-depth characterization lacking in Agatha Christie will be more than satisfied."β Publishers Weekly Starred Review
"This series and its hero age well: the perspicacious Sandilands exhibits an arresting combination of Mary Russell's discernment and Chief Inspector Wexford's tenacious certainty."β Booklist Starred Review
"Cleverly's crisp prose and solid cast of supporting characters ... make the book a delight to read."β _Denver Post
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"Stylish and intricate.... Cleverly has perfect pitch for period and place, whether her hero is unearthing evil in India, England or France."β Richmond Times-Dispatch
"A great blood and guts blockbuster."β Guardian
"Atmospheric ... intricately plotted."β Kirkus Reviews
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. She is the author of seven books in the Joe Sandilands series, including The Last Kashmiri Rose , Folly du Jour and Strange Images of Death. Her Joe Sandilands series, set against the background of the Indian Empire, was inspired by the contents of a battered old tin trunk that she found in her attic.