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debbiemv's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ben_miller's review against another edition
4.0
This entry in the Wyndham/Banerjee series has the new narrative wrinkle of dueling timelines: a young Wyndham investigating a murder in London's East End, and the present-day Wyndham detoxing from opium in a remote ashram in mountainous Assam.
Strangely (or perhaps not) I found the ashram storyline gripping and the historical murder storyline boring. Having gotten to know Sam Wyndham over three books, his battle with addiction and the rigorous ashram lifestyle was more compelling to me than a sepia-toned murder mystery that I know I'm only reading about because it's eventually going to catch up with him. Unfortunately, Mukherjee devotes more time and energy to the less interesting of the two narratives.
Halfway through, the plotlines merge and the Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee finally arrives on scene from his ancestral home in Dhaka, no longer content to be called "Surrender-not." Like Sam, he is a changed man, but for different reasons. The highlight of this book is a series of chapters, covering about 40 pages, in which the newly self-confident Surendranath icily interviews the suspects while clad in a homespun dhoti. These hill-station Britishers are affronted at being relentlessly questioned by a man who appears to them to be a servant, and for the reader it's not only a thrilling bit of mystery writing but a cathartic moment of liberation for a well-liked character.
Like the other books in this series, it has some sustained periods of excellence and some dead spots. It is the only mystery series that I actively keep up with as it's released, so take that for what it's worth.
Strangely (or perhaps not) I found the ashram storyline gripping and the historical murder storyline boring. Having gotten to know Sam Wyndham over three books, his battle with addiction and the rigorous ashram lifestyle was more compelling to me than a sepia-toned murder mystery that I know I'm only reading about because it's eventually going to catch up with him. Unfortunately, Mukherjee devotes more time and energy to the less interesting of the two narratives.
Halfway through, the plotlines merge and the Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee finally arrives on scene from his ancestral home in Dhaka, no longer content to be called "Surrender-not." Like Sam, he is a changed man, but for different reasons. The highlight of this book is a series of chapters, covering about 40 pages, in which the newly self-confident Surendranath icily interviews the suspects while clad in a homespun dhoti. These hill-station Britishers are affronted at being relentlessly questioned by a man who appears to them to be a servant, and for the reader it's not only a thrilling bit of mystery writing but a cathartic moment of liberation for a well-liked character.
Like the other books in this series, it has some sustained periods of excellence and some dead spots. It is the only mystery series that I actively keep up with as it's released, so take that for what it's worth.
roshk99's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the previous Wyndham mysteries as this one goes little off the beaten path. Battling his opiod addiction and an unexpected visitor from his past, Sam tackles a mystery in Assam. This book was more about his struggle within than the crime without, so not as satisfying intellectually with an ending that is purposefully bittersweet.
usbsticky's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a big fan of this series. The setting is the British Raj around 1922. Captain Wyndham is a captain of the CID in Calcutta and Sergeant Banerjee is his assistant.
In this book Wyndham goes to an ashram in Assam to kick his opium addiction. While he is there, murder happens and his sergeant appears and is tasked to solve the murder.
This book is a little different in that there are two timelines. There is an earlier one in 1905 England where Wyndham is a young constable and he is involved in solving a murder in Whitechapel, where there is a large Jewish immigrant community.
Spoilers
The two timelines alternate and you find out how they mesh after the middle of the book. I'm not a big fan of alternating timelines or POV's because I have to reset every chapter, even though the two timelines is essential to the plot of the book, well kind of. He could have explained the first timeline in a single explanatory chapter at the end.
I like this series because I like the British Raj setting, the characters, the relationship between Wyndham and Banerjee and the mystery. The author's spiel kind of spoiled the enjoyment of this book for me. The locked door mystery was ok and everything else was just ok.
In this book Wyndham goes to an ashram in Assam to kick his opium addiction. While he is there, murder happens and his sergeant appears and is tasked to solve the murder.
This book is a little different in that there are two timelines. There is an earlier one in 1905 England where Wyndham is a young constable and he is involved in solving a murder in Whitechapel, where there is a large Jewish immigrant community.
Spoilers
The two timelines alternate and you find out how they mesh after the middle of the book. I'm not a big fan of alternating timelines or POV's because I have to reset every chapter, even though the two timelines is essential to the plot of the book, well kind of. He could have explained the first timeline in a single explanatory chapter at the end.
I like this series because I like the British Raj setting, the characters, the relationship between Wyndham and Banerjee and the mystery. The author's spiel kind of spoiled the enjoyment of this book for me. The locked door mystery was ok and everything else was just ok.
saraheholtom's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rollerskate's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mxmrow's review
3.0
Enjoyable cosy crime novel but only 3 stars as it is not a genre I get that into.
booktwitcher23's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best historical mystery I read this year.
It's an unputdownable book, gripping and entertaining and I kept turning pages as fast as I could because I wanted to know what was going to happen.
It's well written, well researched and the cast of characters are well thought and interesting.
I loved the well crafted plot and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
It's the first book I read in this series and I had no issues with the characters or the plot. I think it can be read as a standalone.
I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's an unputdownable book, gripping and entertaining and I kept turning pages as fast as I could because I wanted to know what was going to happen.
It's well written, well researched and the cast of characters are well thought and interesting.
I loved the well crafted plot and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
It's the first book I read in this series and I had no issues with the characters or the plot. I think it can be read as a standalone.
I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
wendoxford's review against another edition
4.0
This novel shook the series on its head! Crimes in London 1905 and in an isolated spot in Assam 1922, at a de-tox centre equivalent, no Calcutta backdrop.
I found the plotting riveting alongside the progression of the characters as India ebbs and flows in the end of empire tidal wave.
Place, character and period detail really drove this story.
I found the plotting riveting alongside the progression of the characters as India ebbs and flows in the end of empire tidal wave.
Place, character and period detail really drove this story.