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amazonanne's review against another edition
4.0
Really lovely book about a policeman (former Scotland Yard) who goes to India in 1919. He lives in Calcutta and is immediately thrown into a high-profile murder case.
Lots of great background on life in India under the British rule. Interesting characters. The case of who done it? is NOT easy to figure out. Great mystery in a different setting. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Lots of great background on life in India under the British rule. Interesting characters. The case of who done it? is NOT easy to figure out. Great mystery in a different setting. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
triple7sss's review against another edition
4.0
I am a sucker for most books set in the British/India colonial period and the time immediately after WWI is particularly fascinating. Strong setting and plot themes and a well-conceived mystery.
rahodges's review against another edition
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.75
ladydewinter's review against another edition
3.0
I quite enjoyed this, although I didn't find myself as engrossed in it as mich as I had hoped for. But it's a solid novel set in Kalkutta in 1919, and that alone made it worth reading. It's part historical novel, part mystery - the mystery is somewhat weak and you can spot the killer from miles away, but it was a very enjoyable read.
marigold_bookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I discovered Abir Mukherjee, a British-born author of Indian parents, serendipitously whilst browsing the Indian section at the wonderful Daunt Bookshop in Marylebone, London. Chatting to a young Indian Lady, I recommended Neel Mukherjee to her and she pointed me to Abir Mukherjee.
A Rising Man is a crime novel set in Calcutta in 1919, during the Raj. Detective Captain Sam Wyndham, recently arrived from Britain with an opium addiction following his experience on the western front in WWI, is assigned to resolve the murder of a high ranking British official. He sets out to do so with his assistant, the native but Cambridge University educated Sergeant Banerjee.
It was an easy but thoroughly enjoyable read, difficult to put down. I am not usually drawn to crime fiction, but I am unashamedly tempted to read the rest of the books in the Captain Wyndham series.
A Rising Man is a crime novel set in Calcutta in 1919, during the Raj. Detective Captain Sam Wyndham, recently arrived from Britain with an opium addiction following his experience on the western front in WWI, is assigned to resolve the murder of a high ranking British official. He sets out to do so with his assistant, the native but Cambridge University educated Sergeant Banerjee.
It was an easy but thoroughly enjoyable read, difficult to put down. I am not usually drawn to crime fiction, but I am unashamedly tempted to read the rest of the books in the Captain Wyndham series.
petert1648's review against another edition
4.0
I fond this a very enjoyable way of getting a view of India just after the First World War. It balances fairly standard detective story themes (Sam Wyndham is recently bereaved and has a jaundiced view of authority following 1st World War experiences) with political and historical content such as the rise of calls for Indian independence and the tension between violent and non-violent resistance. I found the interplay between the English Chief Inspector and his Bengali assistant worked well. It is in the well-worked tradition of buddy movies, as unlikely allies get to appreciate each other, but made a little deeper by the historical context.
pamela1221's review against another edition
4.0
After starting this series with book 3 I decided to go back and read the first two mainly because I love this character the is something so likeable about him even when he seems so damaged from the war, death of his wife and his blossoming addiction. When we meet him in this first murder mystery he is only 2 weeks in country and already rattling cages with his relentless pursuit of the truth.
What doesn't change is the dry wit of this author I love his style and observations. He has obviously nailed the period and the culture of his surroundings.
'Are Buchan's parties a common occurrence?'
'Oh yes,' she said, picking up the pencil once again from the desk. 'Once or twice a month, generally. I think it's got much to do with the climate and the Scottish temperament. If the mercury so much as touches eighty-five, they all go half-mad, resort to drink and raise hell.'
It didn't sound like such a bad life to me.
It is these characteristics of characters that are so enjoyable. He knows who he is writing about and that is so good. I had commented how much I liked how he wrote about the Scotsmen in this story only to find out that he grew up in Scotland, plus his knowledge and choices of malt whisky are spot on.
What doesn't change is the dry wit of this author I love his style and observations. He has obviously nailed the period and the culture of his surroundings.
'Are Buchan's parties a common occurrence?'
'Oh yes,' she said, picking up the pencil once again from the desk. 'Once or twice a month, generally. I think it's got much to do with the climate and the Scottish temperament. If the mercury so much as touches eighty-five, they all go half-mad, resort to drink and raise hell.'
It didn't sound like such a bad life to me.
It is these characteristics of characters that are so enjoyable. He knows who he is writing about and that is so good. I had commented how much I liked how he wrote about the Scotsmen in this story only to find out that he grew up in Scotland, plus his knowledge and choices of malt whisky are spot on.
biblioj's review against another edition
Very slow progression up to this point in the book, wanted to like it but just wasn't curious enough to continue
arielzeit's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent mystorical set in 1919 Calcutta. Sam Wyndham is a WWI vet, ex-Scotland Yard detective, opium addict, and recent arrival who gets to investigate the murder of a pillar of the British Raj. The author is first generation English, of Indian descent, and it's a bit surprising that his detective is English.