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rieviolet's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
I'm really liking each installment in this series. The book is a real page-turner; the writing style isn't astounding but it is perfectly functional and immensely readable.
I appreciated the rich historical and cultural elements that recreated the setting of 1920s Bombay. Like the previous books in the series, there is also an interesting exploration of themes such as colonialism, sexism, and religious differences.
I've grown fond of the main character Perveen, so I enjoyed following her story, how she started making a name for herself professionally, as well as taking steps in her private life. I'm very keen to keep reading her adventures.
I appreciated the rich historical and cultural elements that recreated the setting of 1920s Bombay. Like the previous books in the series, there is also an interesting exploration of themes such as colonialism, sexism, and religious differences.
I've grown fond of the main character Perveen, so I enjoyed following her story, how she started making a name for herself professionally, as well as taking steps in her private life. I'm very keen to keep reading her adventures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Colonisation, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, Murder, Suicide attempt, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Child death, Ableism, Pregnancy, Blood, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Vomit, Racial slurs, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Sexual assault
bessadams's review
adventurous
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Blood and Police brutality
kloughlin's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Murder, Violence, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pregnancy, Child death, Rape, and Racial slurs
themaddiebee's review
adventurous
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Police brutality and Sexual assault
jentrythelibrarian's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
professorbadger's review
informative
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? It's complicated
4.0
The Bombay Prince is the third book in the Perveen Mistry series, which centers on the (fictional) first female solicitor in Bombay. I highly recommend the first book in the series, The Widows of Malabar Hill, and I enjoyed the picture of life outside Bombay in the second book. This one was a slower read.
Then again, one of the background themes was the overwhelming set of social rules that everyone must follow, so in some ways the cramped feeling of the story and the slightly formal feel of the writing made sense in light of the times they were describing.
As always, I came away knowing many new facts about Indian history and Parsi culture. And the author’s descriptions of settings are always memorable, and her character development gets stronger with every book.
Then again, one of the background themes was the overwhelming set of social rules that everyone must follow, so in some ways the cramped feeling of the story and the slightly formal feel of the writing made sense in light of the times they were describing.
As always, I came away knowing many new facts about Indian history and Parsi culture. And the author’s descriptions of settings are always memorable, and her character development gets stronger with every book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual assault and Racism
mandkips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Death
Minor: Sexual assault
allisonwonderlandreads's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The Perveen Mistry series continues to dive deeper into the experience of colonial power in 1920s India. In this third entry, the Prince of Wales' tour of India is accompanied by protest, riots, and police brutality. The historical and political threads of the plot were powerful, the beating heart of the narrative. It was impactful to see how Perveen struggles with the different political beliefs within her family circle and her own wish for Indian independence. The story features examinations of how race, class, and gender further complicated experiences of the freedom movement. Perveen faces fear and violence as tensions rise, and she must carefully consider her own safety, her reputation as the first woman solicitor in Bombay with the hope of a legacy for other women, and her moral, political views.
While the political heartbeat was steady and strong, the mystery meant to serve as the engine for this narrative fell a bit short for me. I continued to enjoy the legal details of the series. In this one, we accompany Perveen to a coroner's inquest, which was fascinating to see play out. However, I felt the mystery investigation stalled out in favor of broader commentary, and it lacked the punch of the previous two books in that regard.
From the character front, Perveen continues to be an inspiration and a complex, ambitious protagonist I love to cheer for. In terms of her personal life, I felt like the story in this book made little progress compared to its two predecessors. Her family and romantic relationships teetered onwards, stuck at various impasses due to the more pressing political concerns. While this was fair, I missed that more personal touch of involvement in Perveen's life. It did seem that the book was preparing us for future conflict with the potential for a love triangle. I look forward to seeing it play out, and I have my fingers crossed for a happy resolution for Perveen.
I'm deeply invested in this series. This just doesn't happen to be my favorite installment. To be fair, the first two books set an incredibly high bar. I still found the historical, sociopolitical commentary valuable and highly recommend the series.
While the political heartbeat was steady and strong, the mystery meant to serve as the engine for this narrative fell a bit short for me. I continued to enjoy the legal details of the series. In this one, we accompany Perveen to a coroner's inquest, which was fascinating to see play out. However, I felt the mystery investigation stalled out in favor of broader commentary, and it lacked the punch of the previous two books in that regard.
From the character front, Perveen continues to be an inspiration and a complex, ambitious protagonist I love to cheer for. In terms of her personal life, I felt like the story in this book made little progress compared to its two predecessors. Her family and romantic relationships teetered onwards, stuck at various impasses due to the more pressing political concerns. While this was fair, I missed that more personal touch of involvement in Perveen's life. It did seem that the book was preparing us for future conflict with the potential for a love triangle. I look forward to seeing it play out, and I have my fingers crossed for a happy resolution for Perveen.
I'm deeply invested in this series. This just doesn't happen to be my favorite installment. To be fair, the first two books set an incredibly high bar. I still found the historical, sociopolitical commentary valuable and highly recommend the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Colonisation, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
brittanysimmons7's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey is a perfect novel for those seeking a slow build, medium-paced cozy murder mystery with a strong female lead. The novel takes place in 1920s colonized India in Bombay. Bombay is visited by the Prince of the United Kingdom which brings on a series of events that ultimately lead to the death of one student, Miss Freny Cuttingmaster, at a college in Bombay and the imprisonment of another. While The Bombay Prince is a classic who-dun-it murder mystery there are also several other threads including the Parsi culture, a critic of colonization, feminism and a women's role within the workplace, family, and society at large. Perveen, our narrator, is the first female solicitor in Bombay. She shows the reader time and again that she is a force to be reckoned with and leads the reader to ultimately determine who killed Freny Cuttingmaster.
This novel is fabulous for those seeking to sink their teeth into a different culture without feeling like they are being overwhelmed facts.
Thank you NetGalley and Soho Press for providing me with a digital copy of The Bombay Prince in exchange for my honest review.
This novel is fabulous for those seeking to sink their teeth into a different culture without feeling like they are being overwhelmed facts.
Thank you NetGalley and Soho Press for providing me with a digital copy of The Bombay Prince in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
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