Asoka's Alibi

An American elephant trainer finds himself caught in a deadly web of intrigue in a remote Indian principality. Ben Quorn has earned an unlikely reputation as the reincarnation of a legendary hero simply by taming Asoka, the most dangerous elephant in captivity. But when a religious fanatic's suicide-by-elephant triggers a murderous conspiracy, Quorn must flee into the jungle with his beloved beast-both now marked for death.

Behind the chaos lurks Maraj, a master of the ancient art of Thuggee who has perfected something far more sinister than mere murder: he compels his victims to kill themselves. The temple Brahmins want the young Ranee deposed, and they're willing to let Maraj work his dark craft on anyone who stands in their way. With a progressive queen fighting to modernize her kingdom, a lovesick prince offering his sword, and a British Resident walking a diplomatic tightrope, Quorn must somehow prove his elephant innocent of murder while staying alive long enough to expose the real killer.