The Devil in Amber (Lucifer Box, Book 2)
Mark Gatiss
Language: English
Pages: 158
ISBN: B005O6PD2K
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
The fabulous Lucifer Box returns for another round of spirited, pun-heavy sleuthing in this devilishly decadent sequel to the acclaimed The Vesuvius Club.
Lucifer Box — portraitist, dandy and terribly good secret agent — is feeling his age. He's also more than a little anxious about an ambitious younger agent, Percy Flarge, who's snapping at his heels. Assigned to observe the activities of fascist leader Olympus Mons and his fanatical followers, or "Amber Shirts," in F.A.U.S.T. — The Fascist Anglo-United States Trinity (an acronym so tortuous it can only be sinister) — in snowbound 1920s New York, Box finds himself framed for a vicious, mysterious murder.
Using all of his native cunning, Box escapes aboard a vessel bound for England armed with only a Broadway midget's suitcase and a string of unanswered questions: What lies hidden in the bleak Norfolk convent of St. Bede? What is "the lamb" that Olympus Mons searches for in his bid for world domination? And what has all this to do with a medieval prayer intended to summon the Devil himself?
From the glittering sophistication of Art Deco Manhattan to the eerie Norfolk coast and the snowcapped peaks of Switzerland, The Devil in Amber takes us on a thrilling, delicious ride that pits Lucifer Box against the most lethal adversary of his career: the Prince of Darkness himself.
Semper Fidelis: A Novel of the Roman Empire (Medicus, Book 5)
The Silver Branch (The Dolphin Ring Cycle, Book 2; The Roman Britain Trilogy, Book 2)
‘You tell me. Favourite haunt of yours, by all accounts. We got a tip-off from the owner. You and the stiff came in some time ago, high as kites by his account.’ ‘He’s lying—’ ‘Checked into your usual room. Started getting up to…whatever it is you chaps get up to,’ continued Flarge, hatefully. ‘Lovers’ tiff ensues and…well…’ He gestured towards the corpse. ‘Funny thing,’ he grinned suddenly. ‘My Pa always said he supposed men like you shot themselves. Turns out, you shoot each other!’ I
hard to believe. ‘Really? Don’t tell me that cook of yours is a maestro trained at Delmonico’s?’ He gave a throaty laugh and his grey skin puckered unpleasantly about the eyes. ‘No, sir. But we do have wireless. And we picks up all kinds of chatter on a lonely night. All kinds of chatter…Mr Box.’ I felt suddenly cold. As cold as though I’d been standing on the prow of the rusty old vessel and Atlantic spray had covered me head to foot. ‘Aha,’ I said at last. Corpusty rubbed at his chin and it
favour New York?’ She shook her head, still glum. ‘The Stiffkey is my only home.’ I sat down on the bunk, gesturing round at the grim interior. ‘I can understand that. I mean, why would you want to live anywhere else?’ She looked at me with her huge, tragic eyes. ‘Yes. I would miss the bright lights.’ Suddenly she grinned and her melancholy beauty was instantly transformed into something altogether delightful. The smile was infectious and I returned it with enthusiasm. Aggie knew nothing of
pinkish light of evening. My boots crunched through the drifts as I made my way towards it, then I paused, gaze averted, letting the memories wash over me. I circled the memorial, the names standing out clearly. PTE JOHN ROPER (small, keen, delightful), PTE SAMUEL FORTUNE (gloomy, Welsh, loyal to a fault), SGT JEREMIAH FORRESTER (good man in a tight spot), PTE INNES COPELY (no, didn’t remember him)… The next face of the stonework ran on in the same fashion, the inscribed names picked out by
towards the tantalizing night beyond. I felt queasy with bending so low, my legs cramping appallingly and the rough tunnel mortar scraping against the nape of my neck, but all at once I was through and breathing stunningly fresh air. I turned round at once and dragged first Agnes, then Delilah, then Flarge after me. We lay dazed for a long moment, retching and coughing and shaking our heads. Above us, the star-packed night sky was immense and wonderful. There was a distant percussion from