An Ambush of Tigers
Fresh from their dazzling Indian wedding, Nell and Rav return to a frost-kissed Finchmere, ready to celebrate their union in the woodland Nell loves most. But as the estate prepares for the Festive Finchmere Christmas Market, a deadly snare lies in wait.
Before the festivities can begin, a shocking revelation surfaces: their families were fatally intertwined centuries before the couple ever said "I do." As poison strikes their guests and newlywed bliss turns to terror, Rav faces the agonizing prospect of losing everyone he holds dear. Desperate to save her husband and their future, Nell must rely on her ecological expertise to hunt down the murderer. Lacking the evidence to expose the truth, she realizes she has only one option left: to set a dangerous trap of her own.
- Nell - Rav’s wife, ecologist
- Rav - Nell’s husband, ecologist
- Aanya - Rav’s sister, 21
- Will - Aanya’s boyfriend, Jasbir's business partner
- Marla - Rav’s sister, 40’s
- Otto - Marla’s husband
- Jasbir - Rav’s cousin
- Denver - Jasbir’s girlfriend
- Shushi - Rav’s grandmother
- James - Police officer, Nell's friend, Shannon’s boyfriend
- Shannon - James’s girlfriend, Nell’s frenemy
- Rakesh and Neeta - Rav’s parents
- Shushi’s sister Noor dies.
- Rav and Nell get married in India with Rav’s family present.
- Rav, Nell and several family members take a train back to Finchmere for their blessing with Nell's family.
- Jasbir brings his newt, Tiny, on the trip.
- Shushi sees a picture of the Bagha Da Dil (a golden tiger sculpture) on Rav’s phone and gets very upset.
- Shushi dies on the train of a suspected heart attack.
- Rav tells Nell about the Bagha Da Dil: It is believed to be a gift from the Maharajah to his second wife, and it was stolen over two centuries ago during a time of war in which Rav’s fourth great-grandfather, Vishal, witnessed a British man kill someone and take it.
- Rav found the sculpture at the end of a treasure hunt at Finchmere that was organized by one of Nell's ancestors.
- Nell is angry that Rav kept this information about their family histories from her.
- Denver finds a bloody pigs head on her and Jasbir's bed.
- Nell and Rav hear a scream during the night, they find Will in his room surrounded by vomit.
- They hear another scream and find Jasbir in the same condition.
- Will and Jasbir are rushed to hospital.
- Nell checks the seed room to see if any poisons are missing.
- Rav finds a bag of seeds from Finchmere’s seed bank in Denver and Jasbir’s room.
- James arrests Denver for the poisonings but releases her due to lack of evidence.
- Rav tells Nell they had a sister named Shardaal who drowned at age nine after falling into a stream while playing with Rav, Marla and Jasbir.
- Jasbir recovers and returns to Finchmere but Will dies in hospital.
- Aanya is poisoned and rushed to hospital.
- Nell sets up some of her wildlife cameras in the house to try and catch the culprit.
- Marla had a fiancé, Paul, who died while she was at university.
- Nell agonizes about how to return the Bagha Da Dil and what else she can do to make right the wrongs of her ancestors.
- Rav uncovers that Marla and Otto met at AA after Paul's death and that Otto was Paul’s best friend.
- Aanya recovers and returns to Finchmere.
- James tells Nell and Rav that when Marla worked in medical research with Will and Jasbir, someone died in relation to a medical trial she was conducting and that person was Paul.
- At the time Marla was investigated but not charged with any wrong-doing but it ruined her career.
- Nell figures out that Jasbir’s “great crested newt” (Triturus cristatus) is actually a rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) whose skin secretions are highly poisonous.
- Nell takes water samples from the newt’s tank for the police to test to confirm the poison source.
- Nell switches Jasbir's newt with a real great crested newt in case the poisoner tries again.
- The police find a small bottle of tetrodotoxin and take it in for testing.
- The facts come out: Noor’s solicitor gave Shushi a letter containing three secrets Noor took to her grave - the truth about Paul’s death, Marla’s investigation, and how Shardaal died.
- Marla admits to poisoning Jasbir’s drink but only to warn him off because she knew he killed Shushi and stole the letter but she had no proof.
- Will drank Jasbir’s drink after Jasbir claimed it tasted funny - but Jasbir had already added tetrodotoxin, ensuring Will would die and Marla would believe she caused it.
- Noor’s letter stated that Jasbir gave Paul the drugs, then convinced Marla it was a suicide attempt and that she should take the blame to spare Paul’s family.
- Noor believed that Jasbir also caused Shardaal’s accident in order to save her and get praise and attention.
- Marla is the one who put the pig head in Jasbir and Denver’s room.
- Jasbir poisoned Aanya to keep Marla in line.
- Nell prevents video proof of Jasbir trying to poison Marla’s water pitcher.
- Jasbir is arrested.
- Rav's parents arrive the next day and Nell and Rav have their blessing.
- Shannon works out a plan for repatriation for the Bagha Da Dil.
An Ambush of Tigers is another delightful read in the Nell Ward mystery series. We rejoin Nell and Rav in the whirlwind events immediately following their long-awaited wedding and most of the story takes place at the familiar Finchmere Estate.
While familiar faces do return, they play minor roles compared to several new characters we meet who are Rav’s family members. These in-laws bring a new dynamic to the events of the book.
I was somewhat disappointed that this book is much lighter on the ecology than previous books, however, it is still very heavy on the mystery. The plot is tight, engaging, and kept me guessing.
If you are looking for a great mystery that balances a strong puzzle with excellent character work, this is a solid addition to the Nell Ward series.
- Nell and Rav - Alive - Looking forward their next chapter as newlyweds
- Marla - Alive - Determined to clear her name in Paul's death and restart her career
- Otto - Alive - Supporting Marla
- Aanya - Alive - Grateful to Nell for saving their family
- Shushi - Dead - Poisoned with tetrodotoxin by Jasbir
- Jasbir - Alive - Arrested for Will's murder
- Denver - Alive - Leaves Finchmere after Jasbir's arrest
- Will - Dead - Poisoned with tetrodotoxin by Jasbir
- Shardaal - Dead - Drowned at age nine
- Shannon - Alive - Working with Nell on the repatriation of the Bagha Da Dil
- Death
Publisher: Embla Books
ASIN: B0F6SQQC9S
Publication Date: December 9, 2025
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.Contribute Your Spoils
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