William Savage, an area official in the East India Company discovers a mass grave. When his superiors show little interest he decides to hunt down and infiltrate the murderers. Part boys-own-adventure channelling Lawrentian-like mystical experiences, William’s story brings a version of 1820’s India to life. A country that tolerated the act of Suttee & the putting to death of some prisoners by reluctant trampling elephant.

Apparently over 1 million travellers were murdered by Thuggee followers, who raised the act of befriending and then mugging into a quasi-religious experience.

A fascinating story, but I couldn’t quite believe the characters of William & his incredibly understanding wife, and this wasn’t a page-turner for me. ( )

One night, Captain William Savage of the East India Company witnesses a murder. In seeking out the murderers, he finds his efforts frustrated, and soon comes to realize that a criminal conspiracy has been operating right under his nose. To stop the killings, he will have to infiltrate the group that goes by the name of The Deceivers.

That story is loosely based on the Thuggee (meaning deceivers) of India, who strangled and robbed travellers on the roads. Savage is something of an unlikely hero--he doesn't figure himself particularly brave or commanding--but when he discovers the crimes, he sees no choice but to make himself pass as an Indian and join a Thuggee band.

The Deceivers is a fairly straightforward suspense/adventure tale, where the upstanding protagonist finds the hero inside as he faces a terrible evil. The setting is well realized, and the foe portrayed in an interesting manner.

I must admit I didn't find Capt. Savage entirely compelling as a hero, in part because the threat wasn't always well defined. The physical threat, yes, but Deceivers puts equal weight on the spiritual/psychological threat Savage is under while pretending to be a Thug, without really making the life of a Thug sound as if it would be tempting to Savage. Instead it opts for some weak supernaturalism, and a somewhat vague struggle between Eastern and Western gods.

(One might also accuse Masters of some colonial revisionism, but I'd just urge any reader not to treat the novel as a serious portrayal of 19th Century India.)

Overall, with its interesting locale and heroic protagonist, The Deceivers makes for a pretty entertaining adventure story. ( )