Asoka's Alibi

When an elephant becomes the prime suspect in a sacred murder, only one man can tame the beast-and the chaos that follows. In Asoka's Alibi, Volume 2 of The Complete Adventures of Ben Quorn, Talbot Mundy returns to the fevered streets and sunscorched jungles of Narada for a pulse¿pounding saga of loyalty, treachery, and old¿world superstition colliding with modern daring. Ben Quorn-the hard¿fisted, Philadelphiäborn "Gunga sahib" who alone can master the mighty Asoka-must outwit temple Brahmins, a fanatical killer named Maraj, and crooked officials who would see the Ranee deposed. With the Ranee at stake and the city on the brink of riot, Quorn races from palace plots and jungle hideouts to the obscene rites of Kaligaon, where fire, flood, and revenge reshape fate. Alongside allies both noble and venal-Blake, Bamjee, Rana Raj Singh, and the indomitable Virginia Blackstone-Quorn fights to prove an elephant's innocence and to hold a fragile throne. A riveting blend of pulp adventure, colonial mystery, and exotic atmosphere, Asoka's Alibi is classic Talbot Mundy: cinematic action, moral complexity, and unforgettable characters. Ideal for readers of vintage thrillers and historical adventure.