Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling

What should have been a leisurely dip in a quiet pond instead lands globetrotting adventurer Delilah Dirk and her partner, Selim, in the middle of a political conspiracy in this follow-up to 2013's Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant. The roots of their newfound predicament lie in England, currently embroiled in a bitter war with France, and involve a slimy major in the British Army who is tarnishing Delilah's reputation to obscure his own treachery. Despite Selim's reasoned warnings, Delilah itches for revenge; once in London, she's forced to endure her aristocratic mother, who is unaware of her daughter's wayward lifestyle. Can Delilah and Selim keep her secret safe while investigating the major, all without causing too much trouble? Cliff ups his game visually with a more nuanced and naturalistic style, and he doesn't miss a beat story-wise, keeping the swashbuckling front and center while adding new layers to his characters. It's the dynamic between Delilah and Selim, a headstrong woman and pliant man who remain platonic companions, that gives the book its compelling emotional center. Ages 12%E2%80%93up. Agent: Bernadette Baker-Baughman, Victoria Sanders & Associates. (Mar.)