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By Russell James
$2.99 Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: March 02, 2011
Words: 104,838 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458031075

Short description

In this black comedy ‘Lord Clive’ inveigles Jane Strachey into helping him sell British ‘Lord of the Manor’ titles to Americans. Among his gulls are a shrewd businessman, a hell-fire preacher and a New York gangster. When lawyers pounce and guns start to fire, Strachey finds she need more than good looks and smart words to save her skin. ‘A brilliant page-turner,’ said the Times.

Extended 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 and his glamorous girlfriend, 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. Will she 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 vil.. (Read more) ‘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 and his glamorous girlfriend, 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. Will she 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
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Tags

thriller, comedy, british, scotland, english, lord, black comedy, devon

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