“The Fever Tree” by Richard
Mason. The author of “The World of Susie Wong” returns with a similar novel
that takes place in India and Napal instead of Hong Kong. Major Ronald Birkett of England is a cad. He
uses people for his own gain. Ex British military, now a secret communist, he
is a professional writer (the main character in Susie Wong was an amateur artist);
he is also an assassin, and his job is to kill the Nepalese king. While in
Delhi, India he meets Lakshmi Kapoor, an unhappy married woman looking for a
fling with an Englishman. She falls in love with Birkett, who dismisses her
affection, not relishing the idea of love. However, he slowly begins to fall in
love with the beautiful Indian girl, and she becomes a distraction, while
British intelligence might be on his trail. He sets up the kill using a local
Indian Embassy official, a young married man, and father of two, with communist
ties. The plan is to have the young man assassinate the king while he, Birkett,
is elsewhere. The fever tree is Birkett’s dream of the African plain where he
is a cheetah, a sleek, strong predator. This was another interesting story by
Mason, but lacks the beauty of “The World of Susie Wong”, as well as the
unforgettable characters from the earlier book. More literary than men’s action
novel, it is still a good read.
