Catching Up on Book Reviews

 

Here I've been, chugging along posting just one book review per week. I know that you know that's just the tip of the iceberg, although I do admit to reading much less when Denis was in the hospital and our niece Karen was here. So... it's time to do a little catching up. 

These will be short reviews. I'll provide links to Amazon in each title in case you want to learn more about any of the books. Let's get started!

The Girl in Cell A by Vaseem Khan

eISBN: 9781399707725

Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd. © 2025

eBook, 515 pages

Standalone Thriller

Rating: D+

Source: Net Galley

My Thoughts: This standalone thriller is a departure for one of my favorite authors. 

Orianna Negi was convicted of murder at the age of seventeen. She's always maintained her innocence, even though she has dissociative amnesia. Released from prison on parole, she returns to Eden Falls to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

At 515 pages, The Girl in Cell A needed some editing. There were too many twists, too many turns, too many about-faces, and the book's length gave me plenty of time to tire of them all. If I'd warmed up to Orianna, I might've enjoyed the book more, but she left me cold. So did the rich and powerful Wyclerc family. (I think I've reached my saturation point on entitled rich folk.) The only reason why I kept reading was to find out the truth. In that, I was just as stubborn as Orianna. 

 

The Irish Convict by M.J. Lee

ASIN: B0CFFDRJRD

M.J. Lee © 2023

eBook, 287 pages

Genealogical Mystery, #10 Jayne Sinclair

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: M.J. Lee's genealogical mysteries consistently impress me. With his main character, Jayne Sinclair, he consistently centers engrossing mysteries around puzzles that can be unearthed when researching family history. 

In The Irish Convict, Jayne is in lockdown in Australia, and she agrees to research a well-known family's history. It should be easy, but it isn't. I love watching this character uncover the truth. Having helped my grandmother and mother in researching our own family history, I also know that she's giving valuable tips to anyone who might want to do the same. As always, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power

eISBN: 9780063281110

William Morrow © 2023

eBook, 304 pages

Multi-generational Fiction

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: A Council of Dolls covers almost two hundred years in the lives of Indigenous women, from the ancestral lands of the Lakota to twentieth-century Chicago. Readers learn of the lives of Sissy (born 1961), Lillian (born 1925), and Cora (born 1888) in part through the stories of the dolls they carried.

From life on their ancestral lands to Indian boarding schools to inner city Chicago, I found this book to be compulsive reading and, at times, emotionally draining. 

The Verifiers by Jane Pek

eISBN: 9780593313800

Vintage Books © 2022

eBook, 336 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #1 Claudia Lin

Rating: C+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: Claudia Lin is used to disregarding the expectations of her domineering Chinese mother, and she's certainly used to keeping secrets from everyone in the family. A lifelong mystery reader, Claudia believes she's landed her ideal job with Veracity, a referrals-only online-dating detective agency. When a client vanishes, Claudia breaks protocol to investigate and uncovers personal and corporate deceit.

I liked Claudia well enough; she has a penchant for comparing things to various books that I found enjoyable ("That man is harder to read than Finnegan's Wake"). I also enjoyed the insider's look at online dating services. But... there was something about the book that just didn't make me want to read more. 

City of Destruction by Vaseem Khan

eISBN: 9781399707671

Hodder & Stoughton © 2024

eBook, 359 pages

Historical Mystery, #5 Malabar House

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: After gunning down a man trying to assassinate the defense minister at a political rally, Detective Persis Wadia is tasked to hunt down the assassin's co-conspirators. Britain's MI6 immediately shunts her to the sidelines, but she rapidly picks up another case.

I really enjoy Khan's series set after India's Independence and the Partition. City of Destruction shows Persis learning a bit of spycraft as well as the relationship between Great Britain and India at this time. She's finally beginning to learn how to work as part of a team, but I am tiring of her knowingly running into danger without backup. Of course, this behavior can be laid at the feet of her fellow (male) officers, most of whom believe she has no business being there. This is a good, fast-paced read, even though it has a few too many (albeit excellent) similes.

Follow Me to Africa by Penny Haw

eISBN: 9781728295466

Sourcebooks Landmark © 2025

eBook, 304 pages

Historical Fiction, Standalone

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

My Thoughts: This dual-timeline historical novel was a match made in heaven for me. Inspired by the life of paleoanthropologist Dr. Mary Leakey, Follow Me to Africa moves from 1930s London to the Serengeti plains of 1980s Tanzania.

Seventeen-year-old Grace Clark's mother just died, and now she's been sent to help a father she barely knows on an archaeological dig at Olduvai Gorge. Here she meets the indomitable Mary Leakey, a scientist and rebel. With the help of Lisa the cheetah, Mary encourages Grace to think for herself, to choose what she wants to do before someone else does it for her, and she's stuck in a life she doesn't want. The friendship between Mary and Grace, the archaeology, the wildlife... marvelous. (And the Author's Notes and bibliography are must-reads.) I hadn't read a book by Penny Haw before, but now I'll be looking for more.

Am I all caught up now? Ummmm... nope! But I will get there eventually. Promise!

Did I tempt you with any of these books? Have you already read any of them? Which ones? What did you think of them? Inquiring minds would love to know!

The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck by Tarquin Hall

 

First Line: "Without doubt, this is the best day of my life!" declared Vish Puri to his executive secretary, Elizabeth Rani, as he sat beaming with pride behind his desk in his Khan Market office in New Delhi.

Vish Puri is euphoric-- he's won the long-coveted International Detective of the Year award. It's supposed to be a secret, but within hours it seems as though everyone in New Delhi knows, and his indomitable Mummy-ji announces that she's coming with him, and the lack of an official invitation isn't about to stop her.

To make matters even worse, a senior government bureaucrat gives him an undercover mission he can't refuse: track down India's most wanted fugitive, a billionaire pharmaceutical fraudster rumored to be hiding in London.

Puri is only spending a week in London, and he's already promised his wife that he won't work during this once-in-a-lifetime trip. But desperate times require desperate measures. Once in London, he enlists the help of his nephew Jags. Only time will tell if he can make the government official happy... as well as his wife and meddling mother.

~

It's been a long wait for this latest installment of the adventures of private investigator Vish Puri. I have missed the humor, the food, and the insider's look into life in India so much that I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck. I'm thrilled to say that the chubby private investigator's London experiences do not disappoint.

There is plenty of humor to be found in Puri's trip to London. He finds that the food is not up to his high standards, although he might make an exception for Harrods Food Hall. He's also not a fan of London's DYI (Do It Yourself) culture; he likes having things done for him wherever possible. With the help of his employees in New Delhi, Puri soon finds clues to the wanted man's whereabouts, and his detective work just manages to fly beneath the radar of his wife and mother because they have a "case" of their own. 

As much as I enjoy the mystery and the humor, I love Hall's insights into Indian culture, and this time it's Indian culture transported to England. If you're an armchair sleuthing foodie who likes strong mysteries filled with humor and the appreciation of other cultures, you will love Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri mysteries. Although it's not necessary to begin with the first book, don't be surprised if you read The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck and find yourself looking for all the others in this entertaining series. 

The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck by Tarquin Hall

eISBN: 9781448308200

Severn House © 2025

eBook, 224 pages

Private Investigator, #6 Vish Puri

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

Death in the Air by Ram Murali

 

First Line: Ro Krishna crouched on a white wooden dock and peered into the rapidly darkening Harrington Sound.

 

The American son of Indian parents, educated at all the best schools, at home in London's most exclusive clubs, Ro Krishna finds himself at loose ends when forced to leave a high-profile job. Deciding that he needs some R&R, Ro heads to Samsara, a world-class spa for the global cosmopolitan elite in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. 

 

However, the cast of characters Ro meets harbors a murderer among them. Maybe even more than one. As more people die, Ro finds himself a reluctant sleuth.

 

~

 

I had high hopes for Ram Murali's Death in the Air. Unfortunately, almost none of those hopes were realized. First of all, the writing style kept me at a distance. I felt like I was peering down at the stage from the nosebleed seats. This kept me from being fully engaged in the story.

 

Secondly, the setting in the Himalayan foothills was one of the major reasons why I chose to read this book. As far as the setting goes, Death in the Air could have been set anywhere. 

Thirdly, the cast of characters did nothing to engage my interest. They were an assortment of entitled young people swanning around the resort in designer clothing and jewels. Oh, and most of the men had great hair, too.

The only thing that truly interested me was the mystery itself even though one of the reveals at the end wasn't a surprise to me. Death in the Air is a mystery for the plot-driven reader, who should enjoy deducing whodunit. Alas, I am not a plot-driven reader.

Death in the Air by Ram Murali

eISBN: 9780063319325

HarperCollins © 2024

eBook, 368 pages

 

Amateur Sleuth, Standalone

Rating: C-

Source: Net Galley 

A Nest of Vipers by Harini Nagendra

 

First Line: "Where did all the animals go?" asked Miss Roberts, poking Kaveri with a bony finger.

 

It's 1922, and Edward, Prince of Wales, is visiting India. Due to rioting in other cities, security has never been tighter in Bangalore. Kaveri Murthy has been busy teaching women to read and solving small crimes that are brought to her attention, but a request for help brings her into the world of jadoo-- Indian street magic-- and a possible plot against the visiting prince.

 

~

 

I really enjoy Harini Nagendra's Bangalore Detectives Club mysteries, but I have to admit that my greatest enjoyment lies in immersing myself in the books' setting. A Nest of Vipers is no exception. 

 

Did I like trying to figure out what was going on amidst all the magicians, snake charmers, sleight-of-hand, and rope tricks? Yes, I certainly did. I also like the fact that, rather than trying to change his wife and her predilection for crime-solving, her husband, Dr. Ramu Murthy, plays a much larger role in this book. He's not only trying to keep her safe, but he also helps solve the mystery.

 

Kaveri is a wonderful character. She's a wealthy woman who does not see social status. She has friends from all walks of life and will help anyone-- especially downtrodden women from low castes. She is pursuing a degree in mathematics as well as teaching women to read and, with the help of her mother-in-law, running her household. And speaking of her mother-in-law, I am so glad that she has transformed from the stereotypical hateful witch to a staunch ally for Kaveri.

 

As I said earlier, I love immersing myself in Nagendra's setting. A Nest of Vipers brought home to me how volatile 1920s India was. Gandhi's writings were not allowed in libraries. Being in the independence movement was incredibly dangerous because there were so many spies on both sides. People could never be sure of whom they could trust. 

 

When you combine such an incredibly rich, layered setting with a mystery filled with twists and turns and such sympathetic characters, you have a winning series. After reading A Nest of Vipers, I can't wait to see what the next book will bring. If you like historical mysteries, I highly recommend Harini Nagendra. Start at the beginning with The Bangalore Detectives Club. Oh! A word of warning: the food is mouth-wateringly good. You might not want to read these books while you're hungry!   

A Nest of Vipers by Harini Nagendra

ISBN: 9781639366149

Pegasus Crime © 2024

Hardcover, 352 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #3 Bangalore Detectives Club

Rating: B+

Source: The Publisher

A Matrimonial Murder by Meeti Shroff-Shah

 

First Line: On the quiet, gulmohar-lined slopes of Mumbai's posh Temple Hill, Sarla Seth is a powerful name.

 

Radhi, a writer and traveler, has returned home to Mumbai's posh Temple Hill district after spending years living in New York City. Radhi has many ghosts to deal with, among them the disappearance of her American lover and the death of her parents twenty years ago in which she's always held herself responsible. To top it all off, she's suffering from writer's block, so when her agent lines up a book project for her, Radhi decides to take it.

 

The subject of the book is Mumbai's thriving and ultra-competitive marriage bureau business, and Radhi will be spending a week with Sarla Seth, the best matchmaker of them all. 

 

Radhi has barely begun interviewing all the employees when Sarla's investigator is found dead in her office at the marriage bureau. The problem is, no one is sure if the dead woman was the intended victim... or was it Sarla Seth herself? Radhi may be contracted to write a book, but she finds herself investigating a murder instead.

 

~

 

A Matrimonial Murder is the second book in the author's contemporary Temple Hill mystery series, and at times I felt that it would have been better had I read the first book (A Mumbai Murder Mystery) beforehand. However, I felt that way not because I was getting lost among the characters and the story, I felt it would have given me a slightly better understanding of the main character and her backstory.

 

Radhi has money. She's driven around Mumbai by her chauffeur, and she's found herself the subject of gossip in the rarefied air of the (fictional) Temple Hill district of Mumbai. After all, she's a thirty-year-old divorcee; she's had a white boyfriend, and... she's lived in the United States! Her sister Madhavi is a treasure even though Madhavi does have the mother-in-law from hell, a woman filled with feelings of entitlement and all the old prejudices that should have died lonely deaths years ago.

 

I enjoyed following Radhi around because of the in-depth look she gave me of present-day Mumbai and the detailed look at the matrimonial business of arranged marriages. I could see the clothing, wonder at the boxes of brightly-colored, patterned tissues, and feel my mouth water at the descriptions of all the food. For armchair traveling sleuths who love to learn about the cultures of other countries, A Matrimonial Murder is a treat.

 

The book also has a strong mystery that kept me guessing. Unfortunately, it also did something that really annoys me. What was it? Several times, Radhi found an important piece of the puzzle, and instead of sharing it with readers, she kept it to herself until the reveal at the end. Do writers do this because they think sharing the clues will help readers solve the mystery too soon, or are they wanting to play Agatha Christie and gather everyone in a room so the main character can Reveal All? For whatever reason, it annoys me because Christie could do it without being so obvious.

 

Strong mystery. Marvelous sense of place. An interesting main character. Something tells me that I'll be visiting Radhi in Mumbai again in the future. I just hope she starts sharing the clues she finds.

A Matrimonial Murder by Meeti Shroff-Shah

eISBN: 9781835263358

Joffe Books © 2024

eBook, 298 pages

 

Cozy Mystery, #2 Temple Hill mystery

Rating: B

Source: Net Galley

Death of a Lesser God by Vaseem Khan

 

First Line: They say some crimes can never be forgiven.

 

In less than two weeks, James Whitby will hang. Sentenced to death for the murder of Fareed Mazumdar, a prominent lawyer and former Quit India activist, Whitby insists he is innocent but holds very little hope that a white man will receive justice in post-colonial India.

 

His father forces a new investigation into the killing, and Inspector Persis Wadia is forced to work the case. She will be taken from Bombay to the old colonial capital of Calcutta where she uncovers a possible link to a second murder that occurred during the Calcutta Killings of 1946.

 

Are the two cases connected? Is James Whitby really innocent, or is Persis merely postponing the inevitable? Can a white man receive justice in post-colonial India?

 

~

 

Inspector Persis Wadia wants nothing to do with taking a look into the case of convicted killer James Whitby. India was controlled by British "justice" for hundreds of years. Surely, turnabout is fair play? But higher-ups in the Bombay Police and the government realize that, if no one makes sure that Whitby is really guilty, then they are no better than the whites who ruled them for so long. Besides, if anything goes pear-shaped, who better to put in charge of the investigation than the only woman on the police force, the woman everyone wishes would just disappear? Persis is the perfect scapegoat. 

 

Author Vaseem Khan continues his enthralling Malabar House historical series with this fourth book, Death of a Lesser God. He never fails to enlighten me about the history of the area, be it India's fight for independence, the gut-wrenching Partition riots, or the horrific Bengali Famine of 1943. This fourth book centers on a sensitive subject: ensuring that the former white oppressors receive justice even though they did not dispense it themselves when they were in power. And... how can you scream at someone to GO HOME when they were born in India? "How can I go back to a place I've never been?" says more than one white character.

 

Inspector Persis Wadia is led by an overwhelming ambition to succeed in a career where she's not wanted. She is so convinced of her mission that she blindly puts others in danger. Fortunately, Persis realizes these deadly traits and knows she has to fight them. Watching her character struggle and develop is one of the strengths of this series. She must also deal with a personal learning curve when she's put in charge of mentoring Seema, a young woman who wants more for herself than a life in abject poverty. Fortunately, the love triangle Khan has created isn't taking center stage in the story, since I've never cared for those. However, the triangle does highlight a cultural difficulty. Life would be much easier if Persis accepted her Aunty Nussie's choice of Darius. Her strong attraction to white Archie Blackfinch could be much more dangerous.

 

As compelling as the story is, I did have a couple of problems with it. There was a bit of deus ex machina at the end with various elements popping up just in time to save the day. Although they had been mentioned tangentially beforehand, their timing was so impeccable that I couldn't resist a tiny eye roll. In addition, similes run amok through most of the book. Now I love a good simile, but when I start counting them, it's not a favorable sign. But those two small complaints aside, Death of a Lesser God is a good addition to Persis Wadia's story. I'm looking forward to what she does next.   

Death of a Lesser God by Vaseem Khan

eISBN: 9781399707626

Hodder & Stoughton © 2023

eBook, 376 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #4 Malabar House mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey

 

First Line: Thursday, June 1, 1922. Sisters will fight.

 

Perveen Mistry, the only female solicitor in Bombay, attends a fundraiser for a new women's hospital when the grandson of a prominent businessman catches fire. The young boy's nursemaid, Sunanda, selflessly rushes to save him, putting herself in danger. Later, Perveen learns that Sunanda, who's still suffering from her burns, has been arrested on trumped-up charges made by a man no one seems to be able to find.

 

Perveen takes Sunanda on as a client and invites her to stay in the servants' quarters in her own home-- a home already filled with tension from Perveen's father worrying about taking on so much responsibility for a client and her brother and sister-in-law struggling to cope with a new baby.

 

Things become even more complicated when the women's hospital's chief donor dies suddenly and Dr. Miriam Penkar and Sunanda become the chief suspects in his death. Did someone powerful frame Sunanda to cover up another crime? How can Perveen prove Sunanda's innocence without endangering her own family?

 

~

 

For my money, Sujata Massey's Perveen Mistry historical series is one of the best ones out there. This talented writer never fails to take me deep into 1920s Bombay, India, and keep me there throughout her story. The Mistress of Bhatia House is no exception. This fourth book in the series delves deep into women's issues and, as a result, may bore some readers to tears. I must be mellowing in my twilight years because once this topic would have bored me, too, but definitely not this time.

 

Perveen's personal and professional lives continue to grow. Now she's wanting to be the world's best aunty to her brother's new baby, and her thoughts are bittersweet as she faces the fact that she will never have children of her own. She's also in a clandestine relationship with a former colonial civil service officer, but her personal life often takes a backseat to being Bombay's only female solicitor. Trying to navigate the minefield of the Good Old Boys Club filled with both white British colonials and wealthy Indian males is no easy task.

 

There's a lot going on in The Mistress of Bhatia House, and trying to deduce the identity of the killer is no simple task, but no matter how strong the mystery was, I found myself more deeply invested in the women's issues in the India of the 1920s-- A country where infant mortality is high, and thirteen-year-old girls die from giving birth to too many babies. A country where most women have never even seen a doctor and a country where most physical assaults against women are never reported.  Massey also does a marvelous job of portraying how the various religious groups coexist and the interactions between the castes.

 

If you like mysteries with strong female characters steeped in a specific time and place, I highly recommend The Mistress of Bhatia House. My mind is still with Perveen in Bombay, and I'm looking forward to the next book. 

The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey

eISBN: 9781641293303

Soho Press © 2023

eBook, 432 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #4 Perveen Mistry mystery

Rating: A+

Source: Net Galley

Murder Under a Red Moon by Harini Nagendra

 

First Line: Mrs Kaveri Murthy's emerald green velvet blouse showed off her strong shoulders, developed through hours of swimming in the Century Club pool.

 

Kaveri Murthy is astounded when her domineering and very traditional mother-in-law asks her to investigate a minor crime-- especially during a very inauspicious blood moon eclipse. Unfortunately, she stumbles over a body at the very beginning of her investigation.

 

Political upheavals mean that Bangalore is no longer a safe place to be a detective, even with the help of Kaveri's Bangalore Detectives Club, a group of friends comprised of nosy neighbors, an ex-prostitute, and a policeman's wife as well as street urchins who give Kaveri her own "Baker Street Irregulars". 

When her own life comes in danger, she knows she must work even faster to find the killer before she becomes the next victim.

~

It's amazing how much atmosphere author Harini Nagendra can add to her charming Bangalore Detectives Club mysteries with the occasional description of sari fabric, adding some flowers, and a mouth-watering meal or two. After being captivated by The Bangalore Detectives Club last year, I was happy to see no evidence of a sophomore slump in Murder Under a Red Moon. 

 

Along with Hindu customs and religious practices, Nagendra's characters show us life in a country with burgeoning resistance to British colonial rule and a growing women's rights movement. Kaveri's Dictionary and Kaveri's Adventures in the Kitchen at the back of the book are icing on the cake. The author effortlessly pulled me into this young woman's time and place, and I loved it.

Kaveri Murthy and her husband, Ramu, a doctor, are progressive thinkers, and it's a pleasure to be in their company even though it's merely as fly-on-the-wall status. They look for ways to help others. Kaveri's "detectives club" comprises women from all walks of life, from nosy neighbors whom she's teaching to read and write to a policeman's wife and an ex-prostitute. She's even wound up with a couple of street urchins who insist on helping her. And it's no wonder because, although Kaveri does love a good mystery to solve, she's even more determined to help those around her. When she sees someone in need, she immediately wants to help (and not in just a short-term way).

Kaveri's mother-in-law, Bhargavi, was a caricature in the first book in this series, but she's not in Murder Under a Red Moon. Nagendra fleshes her out and makes her three-dimensional. The author can also write a scene that makes the hair stand on the back of my neck. (I don't think I'll be sleuthing during a red moon eclipse any time soon.) If I have any quibble at all with Kaveri's second investigation, it's that the whodunit part was much too easy to deduce, but guess what? I don't care. It gave me more time to don a fresh sari and jump into Kaveri's Ford with her to gather clues... and hope that there would be some tasty rewards when we arrived back home. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!

 

Murder Under a Red Moon by Harini Nagendra

eISBN: 9781639363735

Pegasus Books © 2023

eBook, 300 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #2 Bangalore Detectives Club mystery

Rating: A-

Source: the publisher

The Lost Man of Bombay by Vaseem Khan

 

First Lines: March, 1950-- Tsangchokla Pass, Himalayan foothills. Have you lost your mind?

 

When the body of a white man is discovered frozen in a cave in the Himalayan foothills, he is christened the Ice Man by the media, and public interest runs high.

 

Inspector Persis Wadia investigates, trying to find out who the Ice Man is and why he was murdered. She soon pieces together clues left behind by the dead man that leads her straight into the heart of a conspiracy-- and more deaths.

 

~

 

The Lost Man of Bombay is the latest entry in one of my favorite historical series. Khan does an excellent job of portraying a post-World War II, post-Partition India remaking itself in its new era of independence. Persis Wadia has her first ride on an airplane as she searches for answers to the Ice Man's identity, but that's not all she has to contend with.

Her father has a new woman in his life, and Persis does not want to deal with it. The entire situation brings up too many memories... and too many questions about the future. Something else she does not want to deal with is Seema Desai, a young girl from the slums of Bombay whom she's supposed to mentor. And then there's Archie Blackfinch, the white forensics expert with whom she's fallen in love. Although I'd just as soon skip this romance, it does show that the prejudices of colonial India are still a significant factor in life there.

The mystery in The Lost Man of Bombay is excellent, and the book was powering its way to my Best Reads of 2022 list when everything came to a screeching halt. Persis had a "TSTL" (Too Stupid to Live) moment that disgusted me. She even knew she was being stupid and did it anyway. Yes, it showed her determination to succeed at all costs. Yes, it showed her bravery. Yes, it showed her tactlessness (once again). But oh how I hate those moments! Hopefully, she's learned from her experience and won't be so foolhardy in the future.

Despite her momentary lapse in judgment, The Lost Man of Bombay is an excellent read that immerses readers in a fascinating period of India's history in which the extraordinary Persis Wadia is carving a name for herself. I look forward to the next installment.

The Lost Man of Bombay by  Vaseem Khan

eISBN: 9781529341133

Hodder & Stoughton © 2022

eBook, 378 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #3 Persis Wadia mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon. 

Death in the East by Abir Mukherjee

 

First Line: The birds were killing themselves.

 

1905, London. Young Constable Sam Wyndham is walking his usual East End beat when he's summoned to the scene of a murder. It's Bessie Drummond, an old flame of Wyndham's. She's been found brutally beaten to death in her room with the door locked from the inside. Although Wyndham vows to bring her killer to justice, he's unsuccessful.

 

1922, India. Captain Sam Wyndham is in Assam, at the ashram of a monk who's been successful in curing people with addictions to opium. Wyndham knows he, too, must be successful in beating his addiction because his career is at stake. 

All is going well until Wyndham sees a man from his past in London. A man he believed to be dead. A man he never wanted to see again. And he knows that he's going to need the help of his friend and colleague Sergeant Banerjee because he's convinced this man from his past is out for revenge.

~

Abir Mukherjee's Wyndham & Banerjee historical mystery series has been one that I've greatly enjoyed, but I opened Death in the East with a bit of trepidation. You see, I have few "hot buttons" when it comes to my reading, but I'd rather not spend time with recurring characters who are alcoholics or drug addicts. Sam Wyndham's opium addiction had certainly worn the bloom off the rose of my reading enjoyment, and I was afraid Death in the East was going to be more of the same. 

 

Hallelujah, it wasn't!

 

To be honest, I'm more a fan of Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee than I am of Sam Wyndham. (The lazy Brits call the sergeant "Surrender-Not".) Banerjee doesn't appear until the end of the book, but what an ending he helps bring about!

The chapters occurring in 1905 London put readers in contact with a young, still idealistic Wyndham, one of those annoying men who always gives more credence to attractive women. (Do pretty females lie? Never! How could you think such a thing?) The London sections began to drag a bit, so I was happy when all the necessary backstory was given so the focus could remain in India. 

So far, I've made it sound as though I don't particularly like Sam Wyndham, and that's not true. He has one quote in Death in the East that I love:

I've never understood what drives the powerful to oppress the weak, or what need the many have to harass those different from them. Maybe it was just easier: to blame someone else, someone different, for all the shit that happened to you. Someone who couldn't answer back and point out the obvious: that your troubles were mostly caused by people who looked like you, not people who were different. Maybe that was why I'd always been on the side of the underdog. Some called it contrarian.  I just thought of it as being decent.

 

This is something that I could have said about myself, but what gives this quote even more emphasis is how Surendranath Banerjee turns it on its head at the end of the book. With flashes of humor and a very different perspective, Banerjee arrives to save the day. I love how this young man has grown over the course of this series. Wyndham always used to have the upper hand in their partnership, but Banerjee's confidence and abilities have grown, and he can easily stand shoulder to shoulder with the captain. 

Death in the East is a very satisfying story, from Wyndham's experiences with drug rehabilitation all the way to the conclusion of an event that has bedeviled the captain since 1905. Moreover, I am really looking forward to the next book in this series. I do believe that Surendranath Banerjee has some surprises in store for all of us, and I can't wait to find out what they are.

Death in the East by Abir Mukherjee

ISBN: 9781643134680

Pegasus Books © 2020

Hardcover, 417 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #4 Wyndham & Banerjee mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from The Poisoned Pen.

The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra

 

First Line: Mrs. Kaveri Murthy pulled out her oldest sari, nine yards of checked cotton in dark brown.

When spirited, intelligent Kaveri moved to Bangalore to marry handsome young doctor Ramu Murthy, she believed she had settled down to a quiet life of learning new recipes for her husband and trying to please her chronically displeased mother-in-law. But all that changed when she and Ramu attended a fancy dinner at the Century Club.

Escaping to the garden for some peace and quiet, Kaveri sees an altercation and, half an hour later, the garden is a murder scene.

When a vulnerable woman becomes the main suspect, Kaveri is determined to save her, so she begins conducting her own investigation with the help of Ramu and her neighbor Ooma Aunty. This investigation of hers will lead her to all sorts of different people and places, and to the realization that sleuthing in a sari isn't as hard as she thought it would be.

~

Even though I deduced the killer's identity early on, I found The Bangalore Detectives Club to be a thoroughly delightful read, and Soneela Nankani's narration was perfect. (Just enough of an accent for the pronunciation of names and to bring a true feeling of India to the story without causing any auditory confusion.)

Kaveri and her husband Ramu represent the burgeoning new India of the 1920s when Gandhi's fight for independence is taking root and British colonialism is waning. As Kaveri investigates the murder of the man in the Century Club garden, she's taken to one section of Bangalore after another and meets with people from all walks of life. Although her husband Ramu isn't old-fashioned in the way he treats her, Kaveri still manages to get to a neighborhood or two that makes him worry for her safety. These travels of hers not only further the investigation, but they allow readers to experience Indian culture which is something I always appreciate.

One instance of Indian culture in 1921 made me smile. If a person wanted milk delivered, the cow came to their house to be milked. Nothing like being able to get it straight from the source, eh? Harini Nagendra does an excellent job of showing readers both the old and the new. Ooma Aunty, an older woman who is Kaveri's neighbor, has lived all her life under the restrictions of the old ways, but she's willing (and wants) to learn the new. On the other hand, Kaveri's mother-in-law sounds like the stereotypical evil dragon woman who finds fault even while she's sleeping. Fortunately for me, the woman was out of town caring for a sick relative, and I didn't have to put up with her. I do have to admit that I'm not looking forward to meeting her. I wonder if Nagendra can give her an endless supply of out-of-town sick relatives to nurse?

The comparisons to Alexander McCall Smith are good ones. There's an authenticity and a joyfulness to this book that make it a delight to read, especially in audiobook format, and I'm certainly looking forward to seeing Kaveri and Ramu again.

The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra

Narrator: Soneela Nankani

ASIN: B09V72739R

Blackstone Publishing © 2022

Audiobook. 9 hours, 16 minutes.

 

Historical Mystery, #1 Bangalore Detectives Club mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Audible.

No Beast So Fierce by Dane Huckelbridge

First Lines from Prologue: We do not know the year. Nor does history record the poacher's name. But around the turn of the twentieth century, somewhere on the terai near the Kanchanpur District of western Nepal, a man made a terrible mistake.

 

In Nepal at the turn of the twentieth century, a poacher shoots a tigress in the mouth. The tigress survives, but her injuries mean that she has to find a different source of prey in order to survive. That source of prey? Humans. Moving in and out of the shadows, the tigress becomes extremely successful. By 1907, she has become the deadliest animal in recorded history with over 430 kills.

With government officials at a complete loss, a young local hunter is called upon to stop the tigress before she can strike again. The hunter is railroad employee Jim Corbett who must transform himself into a detective on the trail of a serial killer in order to put a stop to the Champawat Tiger. 

~

Part social history, part natural history, part conservation treatise, part detective story, No Beast So Fierce is a comprehensive description of the reign of terror one tigress had over sections of Nepal and India at the turn of the twentieth century. I had come across mentions of the Champawat Tiger several times in my reading, and since my reading was in fiction, I wasn't aware that this tigress was real. When I stumbled across Huckelbridge's book, I knew I had to read it, especially since tigers are one of my two favorite big cats.

One of the most important things Huckelbridge did for me in his book was to give me a much greater respect for tigers. I knew they were marvelous creatures but didn't really understand just how wonderful they are. A tiger is "nature's nearest equivalent to a short-range missile," and to put what the Champawat Tiger did into perspective, she "very nearly consumed the entire NBA."

Hearing this, many people would want nothing more than to kill the tigress and put an end to the whole thing. Done and dusted. No more thought required. The second important thing Huckelbridge does in No Beast So Fierce is to prove that the Champawat Tiger was an entirely man-made disaster. Through many thoughtless government decisions, the tigress's killing field was created, and for anyone interested in the natural world, it is fascinating to read how this was done.

The third important thing that Huckelbridge did was to bring Jim Corbett to my attention. The final scenes where he and the Champawat Tiger meet are extremely tense and almost gave me the impression that I'd fallen into a thriller, and although his success meant that Corbett became the Go-To man for tracking and killing man-eaters, fate had much more in store for him. Corbett wasn't just a killer. In fact, he became one of the stalwarts of the conservation effort to save the Royal Bengal tiger.

If you love wildlife and want to immerse yourself in an engrossing piece of history, I suggest reading No Beast So Fierce. It's an eye-opener and proves once again that if some species of wildlife becomes a "problem" we humans need to look to ourselves to see what we did to create it.

 

No Beast So Fierce: The Terrifying True Story of the Champawat Tiger, the Deadliest Animal in History

by Dane Huckelbridge

eISBN: 9780062678874

William Morrow © 2019

eBook, 304 pages

 

Non-Fiction, Standalone

Rating: B

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

The Dying Day by Vaseem Khan

 

First Line: The dog watched her as she toiled up the steps.

 

When one of the world's great treasures-- a six-hundred-year-old copy of Dante's Divine Comedy-- as well as the manuscripts curator goes missing, the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society calls in Inspector Persis Wadia. What she finds is a trail of cryptic clues that lead right to the first body.

As the death toll mounts, it becomes obvious that someone will do anything to possess the missing manuscript, and that someone doesn't care how many people die until this goal is reached.

~

 

After enjoying the first book in this series, Midnight at Malabar House, I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Dying Day. All but one part of the mystery kept me guessing, and I really can't go into what part it is or my reasoning behind how I knew because it would be giving too much away. One thing is certain: this book has a little something for all mystery lovers. Clues, codes, and ciphers for traditional mystery lovers as well as a harder edge and post-war darkness. All good stuff.

Khan assembles an interesting cast of characters which include the missing man, John Healy, various people who want the Divine Comedy manuscript for their own reasons, the president of the Asiatic Society, Neve Forrester, Archie Blackfinch, an English forensic scientist who is attracted to Persis, and Zubin Dalal, the charming man from her past. 

But The Dying Day is very much Persis Wadia's show. As Bombay's first female inspector, she is always having to prove herself, and it comes as a complete shock to her that organizations for women's rights think she is a role model. Give a speech? Are they nuts? We get to see her persistence as well as her ability to decipher codes. Her dedication as well as her temper. And we get to glimpse inside that walled-off heart of hers.

The Dying Day is a wonderful look at 1950s Bombay (Mumbai) and Persis Wadia is more than capable of holding my attention through (hopefully) many more books in this series.

The Dying Day by Vaseem Khan

eISBN: 9781529341072

Hodder & Stoughton © 2021

eBook, 400 pages

 

Historical Mystery, #2 Persis Wadia mystery

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

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.

~

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