Avarice of Empire

Avarice of Empire by C.Q. Turnstone

Avarice of Empire is the untold true story of an extraordinary life immortalised by the hand of an assassin.

Charles Agnew is a British cavalry officer as talented as he is spirited. He longs for a glorious adventure and his father’s respect. The chance comes in 1865 when a regiment nicknamed the Scarlet Lancers is ordered to set sail for India and join the garrison in Bangalore.

While the subcontinent labours under the tyranny of colonial rule, steamships, railways, and telegraph networks are the celebrated innovations of the age. Russia is indulging its appetite for new territory in Central Asia, and a revolutionary canal is being carved through the Egyptian desert.

Charles follows his instinct and journeys towards a promising future. His reward is the loyalty of many true friends, including Sophia Munro, a pioneering photographer who defies the stifling conventions of Victorian society, and Micky Lavelle who dreams of finding gold.

But with opportunity comes risk, and Charles will get far more than he bargained for.

 

Avarice of Empire by C.Q. Turnstone will be published on 6th March 2025 by Brindle Books.

 
*** KINDLE EDITION NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER HERE ***

 

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.

 

16th (Queen's) Lancers

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