Caravan

“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“Gilman’s best . . . A tribute to the artful power of simple, old-fashioned storytelling in the hands of a master.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A real corker . . . Filled with romance, action, adventure and drama . . . This is a completely romantic novel that never slows in its mad rush to a poignant and delicate conclusion. Gilman’s words soar with the energy of a bomb and yet impact with the delicacy of a handful of goose down. A throwback to the days when authors wrote to tell a tale, Caravan deserves a wide audience.”—Ocala Star-Banner

“Excellent . . . exciting . . . This is a romantic novel of a special kind—one that tells of exotic places and evokes interest that lingers like a remembered fragrance. . . . The background is rich in description and the sensual overtones are acceptable for readers of all ages.”—The News (Southbridge, MA)

“Exciting, dramatic . . . An old-fashioned novel of danger, mystery, and intrigue—a romance-adventure story colorfully told by a skillful writer.”—Ormond Beach ObserverDorothy Gilman (1923–2012) was the author of 14 Mrs. Pollifax novels, including The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, the series debut; Mrs. Pollifax Pursued; Mrs. Pollifax and the Lion Killer; Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist; and Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled. She was also the author of many other novels, among them Thale’s Folly.