'Loot held me spellbound from the first page...an expertly-plotted, deeply affecting novel ' Maggie O’Farrell

‘A cinematic novel of empire, colonialism and romance’ GUARDIAN

WONDER
Under orders from the ruler of Mysore, young toymaker Abbas has created a spectacular mechanical tiger, unlike anything the world has ever seen.

LOVE
Abbas’ achievement opens up the opportunity of a new life, but most importantly it leads him to Jehanne, a determined young woman with ambitions of her own.

WAR
When British soldiers ransack the city in April 1799, Abbas’s precious creation is looted, lost to the Empire. Now he and Jehane must embark on an extraordinary quest across the seas to Europe, to reclaim his legacy.

‘Vivid and witty’ Observer

‘Highly recommended’ Mail on Sunday

*LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA GOLD CROWN AWARD*

"[An] epic sweep of a novel, which travels from India to Europe in the company of a fascinating range of characters...Niftily constructed, the novel packs in doomed romance, the horrors of colonialism and palace plots" - Daily Mail

"Addictively absorbing" - New York Times Book Review

"A real-life object of fascination — an 18th-century automaton depicting a tiger biting into an Englishman’s neck — is the basis for this novel...lush with the sights, sounds and smells of India, France and England, and always laced with Dickensian wit" - Washington Post, *Ten Best Books of the Year*

"Elegantly crafted and beautifully written, James’s exciting adventure story considers the legacy of colonial oppression and the ownership of plundering historical artifacts. Highly recommended" - Mail on Sunday

"'A novel about the pleasures of artifice...a vivid and witty reimagining of an episode of history that continues to shape the present" - Observer

"James's ravishing prose and trademark blend of lyricism and suspense animate this ingenious caper meets politically acute coming-of-age story" - Oprah Daily