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India Black and the Widow of Windsor A Madam of Espionage Mystery Carol K Carr Books

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India Black and the Widow of Windsor A Madam of Espionage Mystery Carol K Carr Books

I'm in the middle of reading three other books, and I really *like* those books. But when India Black and the Widow of Windsor arrived, the sequel to the first India Black novel I reviewed a few weeks ago, I "just took a look at it" -- and fell right in. So much for my serious plans for this weekend.

Here's the setup: Queen Victoria attends a seance in which Dear Departed Prince Albert tells her she should spend Christmas at her Scottish castle, Balmoral, blissfully unaware that the Scottish nationalists are using it as an opportunity to assassinate her. Her staff are less sanguine, and want to keep an eye on the Obvious Suspects. The British spy French is sent to hobnob with the Queen's guests among the nobility. The castle's staff also need to be investigated -- which is where India Black comes in. Our heroine -- whom you will remember is the madam of a London brothel -- is set up to be a lady's maid to an old woman so she can gossip with the rest of the people belowstairs. And, ideally, to find the assassins so she can save the empire.

All that could be told as a serious historical novel, and probably a very good one. But what makes this so special -- and a no-hesitation-at-all 5 star rating -- is India Black's character. She is a hoot, with a wry wit (kept mainly to herself), a big dollop of cynicism, and a love of adventure. The bagpipes wake her up the first morning, which India's roommate describes as "the voice of the Highlands." India contemplates: "The voice of the Highlands sounded a great deal like a wagon wheel in need of grease, but one doesn't hope to have a rational discussion with a Scot about the Great Highland War Pipe. Sane people do not make musical instruments out of a sheep's bladder and a bundle of reeds. What prompts a bloke to pick up an internal organ from ovis aries and squeeze it in the first place?"

Looking for a great lighthearted escapist historical novel? You just found one. But DO start with the earlier book in the series. You could get away with not knowing about India's earlier adventure, but it'd help to have the context. That's another 5-star novel, so it's no hardship.


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India Black and the Widow of Windsor A Madam of Espionage Mystery Carol K Carr Books Reviews

India Black and the Widow of Windsor is a worthy sequel to Ms. Carr's first book (India Black A Madam of Espionage Mystery). This time Mr. French convinces India (the madam of Lotus House) to accompany him to Balmoral Castle where Queen Victoria has decided to spend the Christmas holidays. They are there to ferret out members of a Scottish dissident group who have openly threatened to assassinate the Queen. As part of her "disguise," India masquerades as ladies' maid to the Dowager Marchioness of Tullibardine who is one of "Vicky's" distant cousins. Unfortunately, the doddering marchioness is addicted to snuff and as she's nearly blind, she's often unable to distinguish the difference between her snuff and other grainy substances such as pepper, sugar, etc. The sneezes that follow her indulgence are historic and nearly as messy as a hurricane. Needless to say, India does not enjoy cleaning up after her employer. India hasn't lost her tongue-in-cheek manner of describing the people around her. She says of the marchioness, "One thing I knew for sure I'd have to keep the old bag away from the gun room; there was no telling what might happen if she filled her sinuses with a hefty dose of gunpowder. She might even level the castle."
Her relationship with French is still complicated and contentious. She's not interested anything other than a spying partnership with him but neither is she immune to his charms. ("Dear French. Always so solicitous of my feelings, except when he isn't.")
Vincent, the smelly, but efficient street urchin, makes another appearance assisting French and India on their mission. Of him, India says, "Frog-faced, crack-voiced and wily as a hen-killing weasel, he was a good lad to have on your side, the only disadvantage being that he smelled like a troop of infantrymen who'd made a forced march from Karachi to Calcutta without soap and water while subsisting on rancid monkey." Still, Vincent is loyal - when he's not distracted by food - and helps save the day again.
Of herself, India says, "In my defense, I need only point out that I am a woman and thus entitled to entertain as many logical inconsistencies as I please."
If you're looking for a fun read with moments of outright laughter, India's your girl!
I absolutely adore the books in the Madam of Espionage series, and this book is no exception.

Our irrepressibly pragmatic madam is at it again, helping out Queen and Country for little or no personal profit. Not so pragmatic at all, until you factor in a certain gentleman spy who incites her interests and a sense of rivalry.

This time India is in Scotland, in close proximity to the Queen herself, trying to ferret out exactly who it is that may be plotting to kill the Queen. Amid a lot of disenchanted comments regarding the wealth of tartan on display, India just that. Althought unlike earlier forays, she pretty much thrashes around wildly until pretty much annoying the would-be assassin into coming forward - if only to get rid of India.

If you are looking for a simpering heroine with a pure heart and inane prattle, this is not the book for you. If you appreciate an adult woman with no teengirl illusions, a pragmatic approach to live in the Victorian era and a devastatingly ironic wit, you have come to the right book.

Its a crime that this series has been haphazardly jammed into the historical romance genre by a publisher who had no idea what else to do with it. This is historical mystery, and a damned good one. Classifying it as romance of any type pretty much hides it from its target audience.
I'm in the middle of reading three other books, and I really *like* those books. But when India Black and the Widow of Windsor arrived, the sequel to the first India Black novel I reviewed a few weeks ago, I "just took a look at it" -- and fell right in. So much for my serious plans for this weekend.

Here's the setup Queen Victoria attends a seance in which Dear Departed Prince Albert tells her she should spend Christmas at her Scottish castle, Balmoral, blissfully unaware that the Scottish nationalists are using it as an opportunity to assassinate her. Her staff are less sanguine, and want to keep an eye on the Obvious Suspects. The British spy French is sent to hobnob with the Queen's guests among the nobility. The castle's staff also need to be investigated -- which is where India Black comes in. Our heroine -- whom you will remember is the madam of a London brothel -- is set up to be a lady's maid to an old woman so she can gossip with the rest of the people belowstairs. And, ideally, to find the assassins so she can save the empire.

All that could be told as a serious historical novel, and probably a very good one. But what makes this so special -- and a no-hesitation-at-all 5 star rating -- is India Black's character. She is a hoot, with a wry wit (kept mainly to herself), a big dollop of cynicism, and a love of adventure. The bagpipes wake her up the first morning, which India's roommate describes as "the voice of the Highlands." India contemplates "The voice of the Highlands sounded a great deal like a wagon wheel in need of grease, but one doesn't hope to have a rational discussion with a Scot about the Great Highland War Pipe. Sane people do not make musical instruments out of a sheep's bladder and a bundle of reeds. What prompts a bloke to pick up an internal organ from ovis aries and squeeze it in the first place?"

Looking for a great lighthearted escapist historical novel? You just found one. But DO start with the earlier book in the series. You could get away with not knowing about India's earlier adventure, but it'd help to have the context. That's another 5-star novel, so it's no hardship.