A Hundred Thousand Dragons

June 14, 2010
At the start of Gordon-Smith's enjoyable fourth Jack Haldean mystery set in the 1920s (after 2009's As if by Magic), the former Royal Flying Corps pilot and mystery writer runs into a man who bears him a serious grudge, explorer Durant Craig, in the lounge of London's Claridge's Hotel. When Durant, "one of the few Englishmen to have been through the Yemen," denounces the dapper major as a coward, Jack makes no effort to defend himself, leaving the reader to wonder how the likable Jack could have offended his accuser. Jack retreats to Sussex for the weekend, to attend a country house party. Alas, the festivities are interrupted by an exploding car that Jack soon learns is a coverup for murder. While Jack tries to help his friends solve the crime, he also conceals relevant details about himself that could offer clues. A startling discovery, however, makes him realize he must reveal some unpleasant truths about his part in the Great War in order to thwart future killings. Traditional mystery fans will be well satisfied.

August 1, 2010

In 1920s London, writer-sleuth Jack Haldean's (As If By Magic) past comes calling when an archaeologist and Middle East expert he knew during World War I is murdered. Facing an episode from his past that humiliated and almost ruined him, Jack returns to Arabia to confront the demons he thought he had escaped. VERDICT Part traditional British mystery and part Indiana Jones adventure, this is filled with action as Jack attempts to save himself and those he cares about most.

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2010
A bit of postwar country-house mystery, a bit of Lawrence of Arabia, a bit of Indiana Jones, Gordon-Smiths latest is eccentric, unusual, suspenseful, and gripping. Just back from WWII, Jack Haldean agrees to meet his cousin Isabelle and her fianc', Arthur, for tea at the Savoy. But when the trio is introduced to the famous Arabian explorer Durant Craig, Jacks reaction is both bizarre and unexpected. Putting it down to the after-effects of war, Isabelle and Arthur persuade Jack to accompany them to a house party in rural Sussex. But at the party, the trio witnesses a gruesome car fire. Assuming its a tragic accident, Jack soon realizes its murder, and when Durant Craig turns out to have been present, Jack suspects the explorers involvement. What he cant know is that the murder will force him to revisit one of the most traumatic episodes of his life, compel him to return to the Arabian desert, and force him to confront an old and deadly nemesis. This satisfying mix of mystery and high-concept adventure features glamour, romance, action, style, and charm and is sure to appeal to a wide range of readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)