The palace tiger - Barbara Cleverly

India, 1922. At the request of the Maharajah, an old ally of the British, Scotland Yard detective Joe Sandilands finds himself in the princely state of Ranipur. A man-eating tiger is terrorising the northern villages, and he is to join a hunting party to kill it. But the quality of the weaponry supplied raises Joe's suspicions. While the Holland & Holland rifle is perfect for tiger, the issue of a Browning M man-stopping pistol is odd to say the least!

In Ranipur, the Maharajah is dying, and the succession unclear. His first son is dead, killed by a panther. But the circumstances are unclear - was it misadventure, or is a killer prowling the corridors of the palace? Then a second son dies, leaving only one (the favourite in British eyes) who is just twelve. Can Joe and Edgar ensure his survival?

Amid the glittering and luxurious court, with its array of powerful, scheming characters, and under the mocking eye of the ruthless chief of state police, Joe must find his way through the maze of intrigue to corner, at last, the palace tiger.

Fourth in the Joe Sandilands series