Calcutta, 1837. Young
Ensign William Avery is tasked by his employers - the East India Company - to
track down disgraced agent Xavier Mountstuart, lost to the jungle. Forced to
take with him dissolute, disillusioned, errant genius ex-officer Jeremiah
Blake, Avery is sure their mission is doomed. When their search leads them into
Kali-worshipping, Thugee territory, survival depends upon trust. Fighting for
their lives, the pair close in to their elusive quarry only to discover the
horrifying truth behind their mission. With death and danger on all sides, is
it too late to save themselves?
“M.J. Carter has
cooked up a spicy dish: a pinch of Moonstone, a dash of Sherlock and a soupçon
of Fu Manchu added to a rich stew of John Masters. A splendid romp” - William Dalrymple
“A splendid novel
with an enthralling story, a wonderfully drawn atmosphere, and an exotic
mystery that captivated me” - Bernard
Cornwell
“A rattling good
yarn” - A. N. Wilson, Financial Times
“The Strangler Vine
is a considerable achievement, which left me waiting impatiently for a promised
sequel” - The Times (London)
Published by
Penguin. Priced in local currencies.