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The Traitor's Bargain
Paperback
Mystery & ThrillerHistorical FictionLiterary Fiction
Publisher Price: $16.99
ISBN13: 9781764129909
Publisher: Emberline Books
Published: Aug 4 2025
Pages: 250
Weight: 1.00
Height: 0.68 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Historical Novel Society Editor's Choice
Featured in the January 2026 issue of Kirkus Reviews Magazine
A critically acclaimed historical novel of intrigue, betrayal, and empire set in eighteenth-century Bengal.
The Traitor's Bargain unfolds during the turbulent years surrounding the Battle of Plassey and its aftermath - the conflict that transformed the British East India Company from a trading enterprise into a formidable political power in India.
In the summer of 1757, Bengal, jewel of the East, stands on the edge of a precipice. The East India Company, once mere merchants, manoeuvres to unseat a dynasty. The young Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah finds himself surrounded by treachery. A powerful banker pulls unseen strings. A nobleman, torn between loyalty and survival, faces a fateful choice. A Company officer begins to question the masters he serves. And the son of an aristocrat rises to lead a peasant revolt.
Their lives converge in a crucible of shifting power and rising rebellion, as the fury of a devastated land collides with the ambitions of foreign merchants. Every decision becomes a wager, and every betrayal brings its reckoning.
Based on real events and grounded in meticulous research, The Traitor's Bargain offers a vivid portrait of ambition, betrayal, resistance, and moral compromise at a moment that reshaped the political fate of the subcontinent.
Critical Acclaim for The Traitor's Bargain
A pleasure to read, with rich descriptions and nuanced characterization. - India Edghill, Historical Novel Society
The author has clearly done his research... he makes complicated political manoeuvring easily understandable. - India Edghill, Historical Novel Society
An enthralling story of nationalism filled with historical touches and lush details... Roy smoothly mingles historical figures with fictional characters. - Kirkus Reviews
Rajat Roy brings an original and genuine flair to his historical suspense novel... a fun and engaging read from start to finish... unreservedly recommended for community and public library historical fiction collections. - Midwest Book Review
Historical fiction at its finest... words woven with beauty and power. - IndieReader
A pleasant mix of authentic history and highly enjoyable fiction...The writing style of Roy is poetic and compels one to read it from the beginning till the end. - Muse India
Complete editorial reviews, together with links to the original publications, are available at the Emberline Books website.
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