Flowering Judas

Staged in the bustling world of London's corporate elite, Palmer's (Old Money) fourth novel is a witty modern-day fairy tale that spoofs the genre with elan: there's a strong-willed and resourceful heroine, a knight in shining pinstripes and a dastardly fish-eyed villain. PR expert Charmian Sinclair isn't looking for any prince charming. A fiercely independent socialite, she already travels in all the right circles (composed, in part, of the four charming married lovers she keeps on call--one for each night of the week). But her libertinism is starting to stale when her beloved brother-in-law Oliver is wrongly fired from his executive post at Circumference, one of London's major corporations. While Charmian's sister consults a psychic regarding her husband's future, Charmian commences her own clever campaign to avenge Oliver's treatment--by infiltrating the ranks of the corrupt bankers via networking through her various boyfriends. As Charmian exacts her revenge on Circumference, other players move in for their own strikes, including one corporate exec who may be able to teach her a thing or two about the game. Palmer's portrayal of Charmian's exploits among London's power brokers is colorful and polished, with a solid sense of time and place. Engaging characters and lush atmosphere add up to delightfully fresh and frolicsome fun. (Oct.)