As their fearless leader, Hermione Herbert cheerfully
responds to the various concerns of her dowsing team in the
early dawn of a June morning in 1933 as they assemble in a
low tide, neglected part of the River Thames in London.
Doris is very nervous and Col. Swinton is anxious to get
started. While they are looking for precious metals, they
are shocked by what they find. True to its intent, the
dowsing rod had found gold, but it is a seemingly ancient
coin stuffed in the mouth of a young woman they discovered
buried in the mud!
Given the strange nature of the case, it is quickly handed
over to Scotland Yard, and then to Assistant Commissioner
Joe Sandilands. With the World Economic Jamboree set to
start, London, England is awash with top political movers
and shakers from around the globe and Scotland Yard's
resources are stretched to their limit. Not only does
Sandilands need to investigate this murder, but he also is
assigned to ensure that nothing untoward happens to Senator
Cornelius Kingstone, commonly regarded as President
Roosevelt's right hand man. As if that isn't tricky enough
in juggling his time, Joe is astonished to discover that
Kingstone's bodyguard, William Armiger, and he used to be
in the British Army together (and not always under the best
of circumstances). Will they be friend or foe in their
dealings to keep the American Senator safe?
As Joe attempts to get some background info from Armiger,
he wonders why no one seems concerned about Kingstone's
beautiful girlfriend, the temperamental Natalia Ivanova,
who has not been seen recently. Where is she? Is there a
linkage to the missing toe?
A SPIDER IN THE CUP, the eleventh book in British writer
Barbara Cleverly's Joe Sandilands Investigation
series, is
a captivating blend of murder and pre-World War II politics
and intrigue. As a skilled storyteller, Cleverly instantly
pulls you into the sights and sounds of London in 1933
which is still mired in the Great Depression, yet where
those with wealth know where to spend it as they gamble on
where to place their bets in a world that seems destined
for another war.
As A SPIDER IN THE CUP is the first book in the series I
have read, I can attest to it working well as an intriguing
stand-alone mystery. Given that and after so enjoying this
novel, I am anxious to delve into the rest of the series
and to find out more about the background of some of the
characters, especially that of Joe and his lively sister,
Lydia. Finding a new mystery series I really like is
always a great treat for me and particularly one where the
characters come to life so authentically, yet all with
their own quirks and individuality. I also found Joe
Sandilands to be a terrific protagonist. He is a skilled
and thoughtful investigator; yet, prone to taking risks
while hallmarking them with his penchant for defusing tense
situations with a drool sense of humour and the odd pun.
Fans who like political thrillers or police procedural
novels with intricate and intriguing plots may find A
SPIDER IN THE CUP to their liking! Do check it out! I
found this to be a real page turner - I hope you do, too!
Enjoy!
At dawn one morning in 1933, an amateur dowsing team
digging the banks of the Thames for precious metals
unearths the body of a young woman with a priceless gold
coin in her mouth and a missing toe. The case falls on
Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard Joe Sandilands's
turf, but he's been given another assignment and a very
high-profile one.
London is hosting a historic global economic conference to
try to solve the global Depression, and political tensions
are running very high, as very influential participants are
starting to take positions allied with or staunchly against
the rapidly militarizing Germany. Sandilands's job is to
protect and keep an eye on the visiting American senator
Cornelius Kingstone, right-hand man to President Roosevelt,
throughout the conference.
When a strange set of coincidences link the river bank body
to the senator, Joe realizes his assignment is much bigger
than he'd thought, and that Senator Kingstone is caught up
in a very dangerous game one that might cost not just one
but thousands of lives.
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