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ironsandwine's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
therealkathryn's review against another edition
3.0
A good read about a British policeman investigating a murder in 1920s India. Some elements felt over-familiar but on the whole a decent first effort. Will look for others in the series.
1czcoulson's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Already read years ago- in the mood for comfort reading right now, and this is an easy, but not simplistic story. The mystery series takes place during the British Raj in India, so that is a complicated history, and may be uncomfortable, with good reason.
marie_gg's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good first novel about a serial killer in colonial India; this writer will no doubt improve with future books.
eososray's review against another edition
4.0
In 1920’s India a forward looking Scotland Yard detective is drawn into a mystery involving the suspicious death of a Bengal Grey’s wife. The more he discovers, with the help of the Collector’s wife Nancy, about the past 12 years in Panikhat the more foul play is discovered.
I really enjoyed the story. The time period, the setting and all the characters were impeccable. The detective Joe Sandilands is smart, thoughtful and mostly quick witted. He handles the detecting well, jumping from clue to clue in a shrewd and ordered fashion. The supporting cast was interesting and fit into the story well, I especially liked the character of Naurung Singh, the Indian havildar assigned as interpreter, guide and assistant. The love interest was sufficiently sweet, without playing too large a role in the tale and the narrative didn’t get bogged down in to many details and asides. This was an enjoyable read that kept me up ‘til 2am to find out what happened.
I really enjoyed the story. The time period, the setting and all the characters were impeccable. The detective Joe Sandilands is smart, thoughtful and mostly quick witted. He handles the detecting well, jumping from clue to clue in a shrewd and ordered fashion. The supporting cast was interesting and fit into the story well, I especially liked the character of Naurung Singh, the Indian havildar assigned as interpreter, guide and assistant. The love interest was sufficiently sweet, without playing too large a role in the tale and the narrative didn’t get bogged down in to many details and asides. This was an enjoyable read that kept me up ‘til 2am to find out what happened.
annebrooke's review against another edition
3.0
This book is great about Indian life in the 1920s and the descriptions are powerful - I just didn't think much of the plot which was definitely overwrought. And I didn't much like the main policeman character either. So an average read for me.
charityjohnson's review against another edition
2.0
I don't think this was as good as her subsequent book (Palace Tiger). A bit thick with the expatriate hedonism, diverting from the plot.
thisbookishcat's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.0
A thoroughly entertaining novel that will keep you on your toes to say the least. The only reason I'm giving this 4 instead of 5 stars is because at times I found the writing style to be a bit difficult to read, but other than that it was a top-notch novel! I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in early 20th-century pieces involving mystery, murder, and potentially foreign-to-you locations.
shrrawat's review against another edition
4.0
The Last Kashmiri Rose is a tale of murder and mystery set during the decline of the British Raj.
When I found that this book was the author's debut novel, I was really surprised. The style of writing, the complex and intricate plot, the round characters, all of this seemed like the work of a seasoned veteran to the literary world. I have seen very few books that captivate you so suddenly and keep you in that state until the very end. And yet this one seemed to do the trick. While I could suspect who the perpetrator was, I was constantly questioning myself as to whether my assumptions were correct. But it wasn't just the mystery that intrigued me. The drama aspect of the book was also interesting, with one hidden history after another, serving to advance the plot. The final edition of drama near the end was also startling, as it played a major role in the mystery section as well, in a way that I feel very few would suspect.
The only thing that keeps me from turning my rating of 4.5 into a perfect 5 (curse Goodread's rating system and it's not allowing half a star), is some of the Hindustani terms used to enhance the tone and setting. Being Indian myself, I can understand these terms, but I think that without a glossary, it might be a little daunting to one not used to the language.
When I found that this book was the author's debut novel, I was really surprised. The style of writing, the complex and intricate plot, the round characters, all of this seemed like the work of a seasoned veteran to the literary world. I have seen very few books that captivate you so suddenly and keep you in that state until the very end. And yet this one seemed to do the trick. While I could suspect who the perpetrator was, I was constantly questioning myself as to whether my assumptions were correct. But it wasn't just the mystery that intrigued me. The drama aspect of the book was also interesting, with one hidden history after another, serving to advance the plot. The final edition of drama near the end was also startling, as it played a major role in the mystery section as well, in a way that I feel very few would suspect.
The only thing that keeps me from turning my rating of 4.5 into a perfect 5 (curse Goodread's rating system and it's not allowing half a star), is some of the Hindustani terms used to enhance the tone and setting. Being Indian myself, I can understand these terms, but I think that without a glossary, it might be a little daunting to one not used to the language.