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kimveach's review
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I liked this book but felt it was slower than the first two mysteries in the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Murder
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
ashbreadin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Murder
Moderate: 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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