This is one of Jacky’s shorter adventure being under 400 pages but is stuffed to the brim with exploits as only Jacky can do.

The title is a bit misleading as Jacky’s adventures take place in Asia only half the book but she makes the most of her time there. After the cliffhanger from the last narrative where a big typhoon strikes all aboard, Jacky is swept away and her friends are sure she’s left for dead.

But you know Jacky she pops up like a cork and ends up on the shores of Burma with her orphan, Ravi. There she quickly ingratiates herself with the natives by taking down the badmash and his tyranny over the fishermen, taking his luxerious yellow boat as prize before going over to Chinese territory where the ‘kingpin” of trade, Chen lee or Chopsticks Charlie takes a shine to her many skills as a tool to increase his wealth.

Though these adventures are nice, Jacky is desperate to get back home to share the good news of her apparent resurrection. So she strikes a deal with Charlie, offering a chance for him to put himself in the king’s favor by bringing the treasures of the Orient to the british museum. It’s a hard bargain but you know Jacky has her ways.

Just in time too because not only does she reunite with her sea dad and the Sea Brotherhood but they have terrible news that since her apparent death, Jaimy has lost his sanity, becoming the Black Highwayman of vengence. He has already killed Agent Biffel and Flasby’s next on his list unless the British Crown gets him first. It’s Jacky to the rescue!

Unfortunately, while Jacky always manages to entertain her time in London with her schemes and takedowns of London politicos are less interesting than her sea-faring adventures. You know, Meyer excells when he details the distant lands she journeys and the wonders she gets to see. London doesn’t have that same flair no matter how much she enjoys her home. Honestly it’s a bit disappointing considering what the title implies. Alas there’s also no return of Ching Shih either.

However, it does have its delightful historical cameos as Jacky uses her Mississippi gambling skills to catch the third Crown Prince’s eyes, meets the King, goes over Baskervilles of Sherlock fame and faithful Higgins finds enjoyable company in the arms of Lord Byron himself. Befitting the orientalism and fascination with the exotic that Jacky takes full advantage of with her tattoo. The glitteratti of London is in full swing and its just awesome that this cockeny guttersnipe now lays on the King of England.

Also Lord Allen returns and Jacky must contend with her own warring feelings and constancy as her “Brothers” Davy and Jon rarely team up to verbally take her down about her procrastination. It’s a rare moment of self-reflection for her which is nice as she is growing older and with how many scrapes she gets into, changing a few of her ways would probably a good way to avoid the hangman’s noose.

As for Jaimy, even though he is off the page for most of it. His exploits add a new dashing and tortured layer to his character that make him an even more intriguing match for Jacky. I’m liking him more already.

So as one can imagin, Jacky does get her man but her man is so riddled with trauma and blackouts, he doesn’t believe she’s back but another ghost of his muddled mind. Will he remember her? Who knows because Jacky is sent away once more with Lord Allen in tow for another mission for that blasted Crown. Until next time. . . .