Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ADVENTURE AMIDST AN ANCIENT MUDEROUS CULT..., 2 Dec 2002
This is a marvelous novel of adventure based loosely on fact. The book details the Thuggee cult of India, known as The Deceivers. Members of this cult worshipped the goddess, Kali, and were called Thugs. They were known to each other by way of secret phrases and rituals. Thugs were an organized group of professional thieves with a most interesting modus operandi. They would murder innocent travelers by garroting them with a weighted scarf, relieve them of their worldly possessions, and then bury them, so that they would seem to have vanished off the face of the earth. This killer cult flourished for centuries in India, until the British, with the cooperation of the existing Indian government of the time, decimated their ranks, making them a curious relic of India's colorful pastThe events in the book take place in early nineteenth century India, circa 1825. William Savage, a newly married Englishman in charge of civil administration for a specific Indian district, inadvertently comes across this murderous cult in action and narrowly escapes death at their hands. Subsequently, he investigates, but his efforts prove futile. Savage ultimately decides to infiltrate this cult, disguised as a native of India. He is able to do so with the help of a Thug who has become disenchanted with the cult. It is Savage's intent to garner the requisite information necessary to wipe out this widespread evil society. William Savage, leaving his now pregnant wife, manages to infiltrate a society heretofore unknown to Englishmen. He calls himself Gopal and, under the training of his Thug informant, is able to successfully make the transition. So completely does he immerse himself in the culture and activities of the cult, that he is in danger of losing himself to its tenets. His Thug informant realizes this and, ultimately, sets in motion a series of events that make Savage/Gopal realize the grasp that the cult has exerted upon his mind. What happens to Savage will keep the reader turning the pages of this book. This is a wonderful and unusual adventure story told by a master storyteller. Grounded in a little known, though fascinating, segment of Indian history, this well crafted novel will hold the reader in its thrall.
|
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
ADVENTURE AMIDST AN ANCIENT MURDEROUS CULT, 21 Sep 2001
This is a marvelous tale of adventure based loosely on fact. It tells the story of the ancient Thuggee cult of India, known as The Deceivers. Members of this cult worshipped the goddess, Kali, and were called Thugs. They were known to each other by way of secret phrases and rituals. Thugs were an organized group of professional thieves with a most interesting modus operandi. They would murder innocent travelers by garroting them with a weighted scarf, relieve them of their worldly possessions, and then bury them, so that they would seem to have vanished off the face of the earth, This killer cult flourished for centuries in India, until the British with the cooperation of the existing Indian government of the time decimated their ranks, making them a curious relic of India's colorful past.The events of the story take place in early nineteenth century India, circa 1825. William Savage, a newly married Englishman in charge of the civil administration for a specific Indian district, inadvertently comes across this murderous cult in action and narrowly escapes death at their hands. Subsequently, he investigates, but his efforts prove futile. It is Savage's intent to infiltrate this cult, disguised as a native of India. He is able to do so with the help of a Thug, who has become disenchanted with the cult. It is Savage's intent to garner the requisite information necessary to wipe out this widespread evil society. William Savage, leaving his now pregnant wife, manages to infiltrate this secret society, heretofore unknown to Englishman. He calls himself Gopal and, with his fluency in Hindi and under the training of his Thug informant, is able to successfully make the transition. So completely does he immerse himself in the culture and activities of the cult, that he is in danger of losing himself to its tenets. His Thug informant realizes this and, ultimately, sets in motion a series of events that make Savage realize the grasp that the cult has exerted upon his mind. What happens to Savage will keep the reader enthralled. This is a wonderful and unusual adventure story by a master storyteller. Grounded in a little known, though fascinating, segment of Indian history, this is a well crafted, gripping story.
|
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I don't know why this book is out of print, 1 April 2005
A gripping thriller set in early 19th century colonial India. The protagonist is a decent British official who tries to understand the people he governs, despite lack of confidence in his own abilities. Confronted by the terror of the murderous cult of the goddess Kali whose followers prey on travellers, he goes underground as a 'mole' to record the murders with the aim of eventually rooting out the organisation. In doing so he has to become an Indian and comes to know himself in wrestling with his conscience. A well-written book which hits the buttons for action, history and psychology - I don't know why it's out of print.
|
|
|
|
by John Masters
by John Masters
by John Masters
by Lindsey Davis
