Product Description
‘Lord Clive’ bought his lordship at a ‘Lord of the Manor’ sale where titles fetch anything from two thousand to two hundred thousand pounds. Why not buy another cheap and sell it high? Why stop at only one customer? When some of his American buyers, each of whom imagines himself an English lord, come to England to inspect their property Clive leaves the beautiful Jane Strachey to handle them.
But Clive was careless who he sold to, and among his victims are a shrewd businessman, a hell-fire preacher and a vicious New York gangster. So when lawyers pounce and guns slide from their holsters, Strachey finds she needs more than good looks and a silver tongue to save her skin. Can she deal with this on her own – or is she about to lose her shirt too?
A brilliant page-turner from "the best of Britain's darker crime writers" - The Times
A fast-paced caper, full of black humour and double-crossing action of the highest calibre... James has a knack for the vernacular of his larger-than-life villains and provides laughs by the barrelfull. Could make a great movie, in the right hands." - The Guardian
Although he is better known for his work in noir, this is a much lighter read. Skilfully he reveals his characters' motives both good and bad, and then playfully subverts them. It is refreshing to read a thriller that is not weighed down by the bleak worldview held by Patricia Cornwell, Barbara Vine et al. A real rollicking romp of a book with interesting twists and turns. A light, humorous, very readable book. - NewBooks magazine
I haven't laughed so much in years. A really brilliant read. - Mike Jecks, medieval crime author
But Clive was careless who he sold to, and among his victims are a shrewd businessman, a hell-fire preacher and a vicious New York gangster. So when lawyers pounce and guns slide from their holsters, Strachey finds she needs more than good looks and a silver tongue to save her skin. Can she deal with this on her own – or is she about to lose her shirt too?
A brilliant page-turner from "the best of Britain's darker crime writers" - The Times
A fast-paced caper, full of black humour and double-crossing action of the highest calibre... James has a knack for the vernacular of his larger-than-life villains and provides laughs by the barrelfull. Could make a great movie, in the right hands." - The Guardian
Although he is better known for his work in noir, this is a much lighter read. Skilfully he reveals his characters' motives both good and bad, and then playfully subverts them. It is refreshing to read a thriller that is not weighed down by the bleak worldview held by Patricia Cornwell, Barbara Vine et al. A real rollicking romp of a book with interesting twists and turns. A light, humorous, very readable book. - NewBooks magazine
I haven't laughed so much in years. A really brilliant read. - Mike Jecks, medieval crime author
Synopsis
'Lord Clive' bought his lordship at a 'Lord of the Manor' sale where titles fetch anything from two to two hundred thousand pounds. Why not buy another cheap and sell it high? Why stop at only one customer? Clive leaves the beautiful Jane Strachey to handle his American buyers, each of whom imagines himself a lord. But Clive was careless who he sold to, and among his victims are a shrewd businessman, a hell-fire preacher and a vicious New York gangster. When lawyers pounce and guns slide from their holsters Strachey finds she needs more than good looks and a silver tongue to save her life. A brilliant page-turner from 'the best of Britain's darker crime writers' (The Times)
