This it is, the second review of a book written by L.T. Meade and Robert Eustace. This time, though, be prepared to meet the first female criminal mastermind they created together: the charming, beautiful, yet ruthless Mme. Koluchy.
“The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings” is, at the time of the story, run by a queen. Norman Hold, the first-person narrator of the tale met the mysterious and beautiful Katherine in his youth in Italy and fell under her spell. She introduced him to the organisation referred to as the Brotherhood of the Seven Kings and he became a member. It was only when he was part of a criminal deed that he realized what he’d gotten himself into, fled Italy, and returned to his home in England.
Years have passed, Hold has settled into his life and become a gentleman scientist, living off his fortune and doing his scientific research. Little does he know the Brotherhood will soon enter his life again. Then, at a friend’s party, he meets the woman who has been the talk of London, the Italian lady-doctor whose medicine and treatments can even cure those who the regular doctors have given up on. The woman who may demand high fines from her wealthy patients also treats the poor for free. A true angel of mercy - as beautiful and well-educated as she is kind and caring. The wonderful Mme. Koluchy. It takes him a moment to recognize her, but that recognition sends a shiver down his spine: Mme. Koluchy is none other than the mysterious Italian woman Katherine, the queen of the Brotherhood of the Seven Kings. She has recognized him, too, but pretends not to.
Hold acts immediately, fearing that Mme. Koluchy has come to conquer England after having full control over Naples and other areas of Italy already. She is the head of a large and dangerous organisation, after all. So he seeks out a friend who is a lawyer and tries to find out how to act against her.
Over the course of ten stories, Hold and his friend clash with Mme. Koluchy and her many agents. Some serve her willingly, as Hold once did, while others are held under her control through blackmail or other threats. More than once, she is the one who triumphs in the end, even if Hold and his friend might be able to soften the hit, they are not able to prevent it.
It takes a while before Mme. Koluchy decides to take steps against him and his friend, but Hold only escapes a gruesome execution by luck and loses his best friend to the ruthless mastermind. In the end, Mme. Koluchy even is in control of what happens to her - she is not to be judged by mere humans.
As “A Master of Mysteries”, which I reviewed already, the book is an easy read despite its age. The writing is smooth and flows well, the wording is not too old-fashioned. If you can read and enjoy the Sherlock Holmes stories, you won’t find “The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings” much of a bother in that department, either.
This time, unlike in the last book I mentioned, there is a definite rise in tension. While at the beginning it’s more about helping friends and acquaintances and only a little bit about crossing paths with Mme. Koluchy, she begins to take more of an interest after a while, attacking Hold and his friend directly. Stakes and tension rise with that.
The modern e-book version of this book has an index - which makes it slightly better than “A Master of Mysteries” - and lists all ten chapters one after another. Each chapter is a complete story and only loosely connected with the others. Things happen, but few of them have an overall influence above raising the overall tension. In most cases, Hold and his friend survive. In the beginning, it’s more likely for Mme. Koluchy to win whereas later on Hold wins more often, even though not always fully. It’s not over until the very end of the very last chapter, though - unlike a certain professor of mathematics, Mme. Koluchy does not die off-screen.
One thing which fascinated me about the book was that this is one of the first books with a female mastermind as its villain and it does a much better job at portraying its villain than a lot of modern stories which try for a similar character.
One point the authors make about Mme. Koluchy is that she is so well-integrated in high society because of her positive qualities. She is attractive (and attractive people run a smaller risk of being taken for evil), well-versed in social matters, an excellent singer, a lady-doctor who can and will cure almost all illnesses, and she seems caring and gentle. People are fascinated by her, even Hold was under her spell until that day on which he committed a crime for her.
She is in the middle of society, holds a house in one of the most wealthy neighbourhoods, gains entrance into the houses of the rich and influential by her reputation and by her skills as a doctor. Yet, all the time she is also the queen of the Brotherhood, the one in control of it. She is the one who moves her pawns across the playing field, ruthlessly sacrificing them when it suits her needs. They can be caught or killed - nothing will come back to haunt her, she’s above suspicion.
Her attractiveness is not along the lines of the femme fatale - she doesn’t seduce in a sexual way, she draws people in with her charms. Men and women find themselves fascinated by her and learn only too late they’re now under her control and will have to do as they are told. Fascination turns to fear as Mme. Koluchy stays in control.
“The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings” by L.T. Meade and Robert Eustace is a great read and a very interesting version of the mastermind trope. The book makes for a good read and can still, despite being more interconnected than “A Master of Mysteries”, be read slowly, a chapter at a time. It’s a good one for everyone who wants some action in their lives. Be aware that some methods Mme. Koluchy uses are not for the faint of heart - neither is her end. If you don’t worry too much about that, I can definitely recommend it. Find this one and “The Sorceress of the Strand” in the collection “Moriarty’s Rivals - 12 Female Masterminds” or as a standalone book.
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