Seven assassins. One election. The fate of the British Empire hangs in the balance. Felix Grey returns in a high-stakes historical mystery of power, politics and murder.
Prime Minister Felix Grey is still reeling from the fallout of his last ordeal, which left his home secretary dead and his own reputation in tatters. With a general election looming, a fragile Labour party emerging, and an odious Tory leader waiting to seize power, he would rather retreat than fight. Duty, however, and the quiet pressure of King Edward VII, leave him with no choice.
As tensions rise at home, danger gathers abroad. In India, demands for independence grow louder, and a shadowy group of seven assassins is dispatched to strike at the heart of the British establishment. Their targets include senior politicians and even the king himself. The message is clear: empire will not be preserved without bloodshed.
Relying on his wits and a loyal circle of allies, Felix must uncover the conspiracy before it tears the country apart. Felix Grey and the Seven Assassins is the second novel in this historical crime series, combining political intrigue, real historical figures, and a high-stakes assassination plot into a fast-paced, witty caper that will delight fans of classic historical mysteries and intelligent, plot-driven fiction.
My thoughts: Prime Minister Felix Grey is up for re-election, and then he’s warned that a team of assassins from India are in Britain with the hope of striking a blow for independence and he’s on their list.
With the help of his friends and loyal steward Humphrey, Felix plans to find the potential killers and stop their plan, protecting the king and staying alive himself too.
There’s a visiting Swami as well, and while he purports the importance of ahimsa (non-violence to all living things), Felix isn’t sure that he isn’t involved in some way.
I really enjoyed this book, Felix is a great protagonist and his friends are all fascinating too – especially Alfred, the young man Felix rescued in the previous book. He’s investigating the secret office through the Downing Street fireplace, as it seems someone else has been accessing it. He’s also taken up photography, accompanying Felix on his campaign as his official photographer, and learning to read thanks to Felix’s housekeeper.
This book covered a complicated period of time, as India attempted to wrest control of its destiny from the British, and the principles of non-violent protest clashed with those who were willing to do anything to achieve their goals.
Felix is much more moderate than the real politicians of the time, and more willing to listen to people and understand their point. He might not be able to do much as the rest of the Establishment was against home rule for India, but he’s not completely beyond redemption. I’m looking forward to the next book.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 