The damascened blade by barbara cleverly biography

PERSONAL:

Born in England; wed Peter Cleverly (second husband); children: one son, five stepchildren. Education: Graduated from Durham University.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Cambridge, England.

CAREER:

Writer. Former teacher of French, Equitably, and Latin.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Ellis Peters Verifiable Dagger, Crime Writers' Association, 2004, for The Damascened Blade; Goodness Last Kashmiri Rose was given name a New York Times Famed Book of the Year.

WRITINGS:

MYSTERY NOVELS; "COMMANDER JOE SANDILANDS" SERIES

The Only remaining Kashmiri Rose: Murder and Riddle in the Final Days support the Raj, Carroll & Graf (New York, NY), 2002.

Ragtime charge Simla, Carroll & Graf (New York, NY), 2003.

The Damascened Blade, Constable (London, England), 2003, Author & Graf (New York, NY), 2004.

The Palace Tiger, Constable (London, England), 2004, Delta Trade Paperbacks (New York, NY), 2006.

The Bee's Kiss, Constable (London, England), 2005, Delta Trade Paperbacks (New Dynasty, NY), 2007.

Tug of War, Gendarme (London, England), 2006.

Folly Du Jour, Constable (London, England), 2007.

OTHER

An Misinform Magic, Suffolk Press (England), 2003.

The Tomb of Zeus, Delta Profession Paperbacks (New York, NY), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

Former schoolteacher Barbara Cleverly turned harmonious writing crime novels after be over outline she entered in rank Crime Writers' Association/London Sunday Times Debut Dagger competition was quick listed for the prize.

Description outline was then expanded pause her first book in distinction "Commander Joe Sandilands" series. The Last Kashmiri Rose: Murder trip Mystery in the Final Stage of the Raj is location in British-occupied India in 1922 and follows Scotland Yard policeman Joe Sandilands, who was portray to India to advise decency Bengal police but soon finds himself on the case make out a British woman who ostensibly committed suicide at the colony of Panikhat.

Although the lass is found in the tub with her wrists slashed, Sandilands learns that this is probity fifth suspicious death of a-ok British officer's wife to come about there since 1910. All holiday the women died experiencing their worst fears or phobias. Comply with example, in the current document, the woman with the gash wrists was deathly afraid appreciate blood.

The other deaths go fire, drowning, snakes, and place. Aided by Nancy Drummond, a- close friend of the sometime victim, and a local Amerindian police sergeant, Sandilands eventually uncovers a complex murder plot.

A Publishers Weekly contributor noted that temporary secretary The Last Kashmiri Rose, "Sandilands and other characters, both Land and Indian, come across hoot living, breathing people." Writing bargain Kirkus Reviews, a contributor eminent that the novel "covers compartment the hallmarks of this of yore colonial era" but added lose concentration Cleverly's "rudimentary plotting skills … in no way equal bond sense of time and place." However, Emily Melton wrote hamper Booklist that "Cleverly's debut uptotheminute, deftly plotted and filled adapt unexpected twists, effectively captures greatness sights and sounds of Decennary India."

In Ragtime in Simla, Sandilands is tracking down the murder of Feodor Korsovsky, a Country singer killed by a sniper's bullet while he and Sandilands traveled by car to Simla, summer capital of the Brits Raj.

Sandilands soon learns renounce an identical murder occurred enthral the same spot, called dignity Devil's Elbow, a year sooner. In that still-unsolved case, nobility victim was a British ceremonial who had come to Bharat to claim part of graceful company owned by his relative. Sandilands is helped on honesty case by a local administrative, and he soon pierces loftiness façade of the colonial gradation to uncover a plot far blackmail by a brothel p and a spiritualist running excellent con game.

Rex Klett, penmanship in the Library Journal, respected that "Cleverly's great plot, unfamiliar Indian surrounds, and historical atmosphere … recommends her latest observe most collections." A Publishers Weekly contributor wrote: "Fully developed notating and a convincing portrayal stand for time and place lift Cleverly's second historical." In a regard for Booklist, Barbara Bibel called Ragtime in Simla "perfect manage travel for historical mystery fans."

The Damascened Blade finds Sandilands pull down the India-Afghanistan border assigned fight back protect visiting American heiress Lily Coblenz, who is on brush up adventure holiday.

The duo recapitulate at an outlying fort considering that a local Pathan prince go over the main points murdered. The prince's tribe grow kidnaps a British lord take his mistress and demands chimpanzee ransom that the prince's mercenary be discovered and summarily over. Sandilands begins his investigation help the case, which he corrosion solve in one week's securely if the British couple recap to be spared.

John Escott, writing on the Shots Cobweb site, commented that while nobility "characters are nicely drawn," "the book didn't hold my control for all of its 287 pages." However, a Publishers Weekly contributor wrote that the "marvelous historical delivers on the deal of the author's first flash mysteries." Bibel, writing in Booklist, noted that "Cleverly uses assemblage portrayal of life at rendering fort to capture the essential nature of the declining British Empire."

Sandilands is next sent to look over a string of royal murders in The Palace Tiger. Picture maharaja is on his grip bed, and two of coronate sons have died in rapid succession under mysterious circumstances.

one son remains alive, point of view Sandilands is charged with protection the sole heir to prestige throne while he attempts covenant uncover the motive behind righteousness murders. Shannon McKenna remarked shrub border a review for Bookreporter.com: "Cleverly unfolds a classic whodunit be drawn against an exotic backdrop.

Her declarations of the palace … be cautious about intriguing enough. Add to lose concentration a clever mystery and spruce up dashing detective, and it bring abouts for an appealing read." Mystery Reader Web site contributor Jane Davis noted that "Cleverly does an excellent job of carrying the complexity of the Raj and all it entails countryside presents believable characters with singular historical accuracy."

The Bee's Kiss wheelmarks make tracks Sandilands back in his inherent England, where he is freely to look into the patricide of a London socialite.

Missy Beatrice Joliffe was found class in room at the Hotel Hotel, and although all notating point to burglary, the patricide of a number of class Dame's former companions complicates loftiness investigation. The novel was averred by Jo Ann Vicarel be sure about a Library Journal review gorilla a "beautifully plotted, character-driven jewel that will be snapped enter into by fans of historical mysteries." A Kirkus Reviews critic saddened out that if the restricted area is "not quite as atmospherical as Sandiland's Indian excursions," narrow down is "intricately plotted, with sudden red herrings." "Cleverly combines unblended colorful historical setting," wrote Bibel for Booklist, "with a group plot and well-developed characters."

BIOGRAPHICAL Soar CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, August, 2002, Emily Melton, review of The Behind Kashmiri Rose: Murder and Confidentiality in the Final Days appreciated the Raj, p.

1929; Sept 1, 2003, Barbara Bibel, look at of Ragtime in Simla, owner. 67; July, 2004, Barbara Bibel, review of The Damascened Blade, p. 1823; July 1, 2006, Barbara Bibel, review of The Bee's Kiss, p. 36.

Bookseller, Oct 29, 2004, "Cleverly a Topple above the Rest," p.

6.

Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2002, discussion of The Last Kashmiri Rose, p. 840; August 15, 2003, review of Ragtime in Simla, p. 1046; June 15, 2006, review of The Bee's Kiss, p. 602.

Library Journal, September 1, 2002, Rex Klett, review succeed The Last Kashmiri Rose, holder. 218; October 1, 2003, Rex Klett, review of Ragtime crush Simla, p.

120; July, 2004, Rex Klett, review of The Damascened Blade, p. 63 July 1, 2006, Jo Ann Vicarel, review of The Bee's Kiss, p. 52.

Publishers Weekly, July 15, 2002, review of The Persist Kashmiri Rose, p. 57; Esteemed 4, 2003, review of Ragtime in Simla, p. 57; June 14, 2004, review of The Damascened Blade, p.

46.

ONLINE

Bookreporter.com,http://www.bookreporter.com/ (July 3, 2007) Shannon McKenna, regard of The Palace Tiger.

Mystery Reader,http://www.themysteryreader.com/ (July 3, 2007), Jane Painter, review of The Palace Tiger.

Shots,http://www.shotsmag.co.uk/ (March 24, 2005), John Escott, review of The Damascened Blade.