Avarice of Empire

16th (Queen's) Lancers

It is 1865 and Charles Agnew wants a life of daring adventure. Avarice of Empire is his untold true story.

Steamships, railways, and telegraph networks are the great innovations of the age. France is constructing the Suez Canal in Egypt. India labours under the yoke of colonial tyranny. Russia’s territorial reach has yet to exceed its grasp.

Sophia Munro is determined to challenge the prejudices of Victorian society and to make her name as pioneering photographer. Micky Lavelle has retired from soldiering to raise a family. He dreams of finding gold.

Charles longs to honour his brother’s sacrifice and earn their father’s respect. He sees his chance when a British cavalry regiment known as the Scarlet Lancers is ordered overseas.

Invisible enemies will confront them all.

 

Avarice of Empire by C.Q. Turnstone will be published in March 2025 by Brindle Books.

 

Story Locations

Reader Feedback

“An engaging and beautifully written story that captivates with its historical detail and draws the reader into the lives of an intriguing group of people from the past.”

“Superb storytelling and I learnt loads. Love the twists and connections. Fascinating.”

“Fantastic historical detail…”

“I really love your writing style… I am in awe of your talent!”

“I like how you have so respectfully dealt with the appalling racism of those times.”

“I liked how you captured [Charles’s] relationship with his sister throughout the story…”

“I found the history and detail about locations particularly insightful…”

“I don’t usually read historical fiction, but I really enjoyed this and I learned a lot. The amount of research that’s obviously gone into it is incredible!”

 
In memory of Captain Charles Agnew who died by the hand of an assassin in Egypt 22nd March 1873 (Canterbury Cathedral)

A stone tablet in Canterbury Cathedral’s south aisle reads:

IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN CHARLES AGNEW WHO DIED BY THE HAND OF AN ASSASSIN IN EGYPT 22nd MARCH 1873

Every day for the past century and a half that unique turn of phrase has made people stop and wonder…

  • Who was Captain Charles Agnew?
  • What was he doing in Egypt?
  • How and why was he killed, and by whom?

Answering all those questions, Avarice of Empire is a work of biographical historical fiction and C.Q. Turnstone’s debut novel.

 

Colours at Canterbury Cathedral

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