AUTHOR : Abir Mukherjee

OUTLINE : A war-scarred British detective in colonial Calcutta hunts a politically charged murder, uncovering the shadowy underbelly of the British Raj amid rising unrest.

My Rating – 4/5,
Pages – 397,
First Published – 05, May 2016,
Language – English,
Genres – Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, India, Crime, Historical, Historical Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Detective, Thriller

Story Snapshot (No Spoilers):

Captain Sam Wyndham, a former Scotland Yard detective, arrives in Calcutta carrying the scars of the Great War and the hope of starting over. Appointed to lead a newly formed police post, he barely has time to adjust to his unfamiliar surroundings before being pulled into a chilling murder case that exposes the darker layers of the British Raj.

The killing of a senior British official, with a threatening note demanding the British leave India, sends shockwaves through an already unstable colonial system. As political unrest simmers, Wyndham teams up with two very different colleagues: the openly prejudiced Inspector Digby and the sharp, British-educated yet Indian-born Sergeant Banerjee, one of the few Indians in the new CID. Their investigation takes them from the opulent drawing rooms of British elites to the grim, smoke-filled opium dens of Calcutta, revealing secrets at every turn.

My Experience:

It is powered by solely my experience with book, zero sponsorship, zero bribe, not even a bookmark involved (forget about free copy of book).

When it comes to choosing my next read, I usually put my faith in Amazon reviews, and this book is a classic example of that gamble paying off. The plot is engaging and the characters are interesting enough to keep you turning pages, though the storytelling does follow a somewhat predictable path. Still, it makes for a solid one-time read, perfect for a relaxed stretch of free time. And if stories set during the British Raj catch your interest, this one definitely deserves a spot on your list.

Winner of the Harvill Secker–Daily Telegraph Crime Writing Competition, this novel pulls you straight into a moody, tension-filled world where crime and history walk hand in hand. It sets the tone for a promising historical crime series, rich in atmosphere, sense of place, and quiet moral dilemmas simmering beneath the surface.

Have you already read this book, or is it on your reading radar? I would love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share them in the comments below.