The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

 

First Lines: "Well done." Perveen Mistry spoke aloud as she slid the signed contracts into envelopes.

 

It's November 1921, and India is becoming increasingly restless under British colonial rule; therefore, solicitor Perveen Mistry is not surprised when riots break out in Bombay when the Prince of Wales arrives to begin his four-month-long tour of the country. What does shock her is the death of young Parsi college student Freny Cuttingmaster who'd come to Perveen's office only days before for a legal consultation. 

 

Perveen, feeling guilty that she'd not been able to help the young woman in life, is determined to help Freny's family through this period of intense grief. When the coroner confirms that the young woman's death was a homicide, Perveen wants to bring the killer to justice, but it won't be easy. Due to the riots, it's not safe traveling the streets of Bombay. There are gangs of roaming protesters, and the British have called in forces to bring everything under control and to keep the Prince of Wales safe.

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Anyone who enjoys historical mysteries, strong female lead characters, and learning about a fascinating period in India's history must read Sujata Massey's excellent Perveen Mistry series. The Bombay Prince is the third and latest in the series and after reading it, I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Perveen's life.

Yes, we learn more about the customs of the Parsi. Yes, we learn about Gandhi's influence during this period when India began to actively seek independence. Yes, we learn about the effect of the Prince of Wales' visit on the country, but we mostly get to immerse ourselves in Perveen Mistry's life. (For those of you who may be wondering, both the Prince of Wales and Gandhi stay very firmly on the far periphery.) Perveen, the first female lawyer in Bombay, is based on a real person, Cornelia Sorabji, and Perveen is fascinating.

As I tried to figure out who killed Freny Cuttingmaster, I couldn't help but see how carefully Perveen had to deal, not only with the British who were in control of the government but also with all the males she came in contact with. She's confronted with a double whammy: sexual and religious bias, and both constantly throw up roadblocks in her path to justice. Perveen daily walks through a minefield with her wits as her only protection. Fortunately, the woman can think on her feet.

As the mystery unfolds, readers are reminded that no place in Bombay is ever completely quiet, that the new steel wardrobes are preferable because they help prevent mildew, and that women had to be tough if they wanted a higher education. But there's so much more to The Bombay Prince than learning the random facts that are so skillfully woven into the story or trying to unravel a very well-plotted mystery. There is the rich tapestry of characters. Perveen has a developing relationship with someone that should prove very interesting in future books, and Massey introduces two new characters that I certainly hope to see more of: the American journalist J.P. Singer, and the elderly Mr. Dass who certainly knows his way around a library.

If you're already a fan of Sujata Massey's series, you're going to enjoy The Bombay Prince. If you haven't feasted upon the series yet, don't delay. But start at the beginning with the award-winning The Widows of Malabar Hill, and prepare to find yourselves experiencing Bombay in the 1920s. I envy anyone reading these books for the first time!

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

eISBN: 9781641291064

Soho Press © 2021

eBook, 360 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #3 Perveen Mistry mystery

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley