This book has been lurking on Mt TBR for a while, and was exactly the thing as a fun, quick filler read for the early days of December, where it's actually RAINING here (YEAH)
From the Blurb:
He's tall, he's dark and, like the shark, he looks for trouble.
Or so he wishes. For with Queen Elizabeth newly established on her throne the now elderly secret agent is reaching the end of his scandalous career. Despite his fast-approaching retirement, however, queer events leave Box unable to resist investigating one last case.
Opening Lines:
The Hammerhead's mouth was jagged as a knife-wound. The ghostly form of the shark pressed itself against the wall of the glass tank, oblivious to the thrum of the generators and the pellucid light that dappled its pale flesh. Shadows moved like living things, leaping and sloping over the oppressively low ceiling and concrete walls of the Aquarium.
Lucifer Box. He's tall, he's dark and, like the shark, he looks for trouble.
Or so he wishes. For, with Queen Elizabeth newly established on her throne, the now elderly secret agent is reaching the end of his scandalous career. Despite his fast-approaching retirement, queer events leave Box unable to resist investigating one last case...
Why have pillars of the Establishment started dying in bizarrely reckless accidents? Who are the deadly pay-masters of enigmatic assassin Kingdom Kum? And who or what is the mysterious Black Butterfly?