IN BRIEF - CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULTS' Michael Peinkofer Die indische Verschwörung (The Indian Conspiracy) Verlag Carl Ueberreuter, July 2006, 288 pp ISBN: 978-3-8000-5243-1 Here is quite a phenomenon: a historical novel published in Austria, set in Victorian London and linked with events in India in the year preceding the outbreak of the Mutiny. It opens with the theft of a mysterious precious stone from the British Museum and a thrilling chase across the rooftops. Involved thereafter are Faginesque mudlarks, an upright British officer on leave from the Indian Army, his spirited sixteen-year-old daughter, an Indian boy called Sepoy (a historical character) and, finally, the Thugs. Aimed primarily at young readers, it does not avoid serious themes. A takeaway to suit many tastes. Michael Peinkofer was born in Germany in 1969 and is a popular writer of historical novels and also a translator and film journalist. Previous works include: Bruderschaft der Runen (Lübbe, 2005) - also published in Romanian, Russian, Czech and Turkish Translation rights available from Verlag Carl Ueberreuter GmbH Alser Str. 24 1090 Vienna, Austria Tel: +43 1 40 444 172 E-mail: hauser@ueberreuter.at Contact: Andrea Hauser Carl Ueberreuter is the largest private publishing house in Austria and was founded in 1946. Ever since then it has been publishing high-quality books for the age group eight to fifteen years.