The bestselling author of the Mrs. Pollifax novels sweeps an intriguing new heroine into a captivating adventure of suspense, romance, and danger. With her anthropologist husband murdered and their caravan stolen, Caressa's choices are few: death by starvation, thirst, or murder, or a life of slavery. Disguised as an Arab boy, she embarks on a dangerous quest for freedom.
"A lushly romantic adventure story set in the North African desert in 1914, told by the impeccable Lady Treal as she reminisces in her London town house about her decidedly peccable past . . . Well-written, expertly plotted, perfectly paced."--Newsday

With her anthropologist husband murdered and their caravan stolen by fierce Tuareg tribesmen, Caressa has two choices: death or a life of slavery. Concealing her dangerous beauty beneath the faded robes of an Arab boy, she embarks on the adventure of her life, harassed by vicious nomads, slave traders and the envious witch doctor, Isa. Only a handful of carnival magic tricks stands between her and oblivion. Then she discovers an inner magic so mysteriously compelling that the desert people call her a sorceress. . . .

"Sheer reading pleasure."--Publishers Weekly