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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Set in the time of the British Raj post WWI, the story follows the arrival of Captain Sam Wyndham into Calcutta, the capital of Bengal and one of the jewels of the British Raj. It is here that Sam has come to join the imperial police force, and is thrust headfirst into the tinderbox that is Calcutta - a nexus of India and Bengal, of the white and “black” (in the British sense, very little differentiated the natives of India from the natives of Africa) and one of the most fascinating aspects of this historical mystery novel is the tone that Mukherjee is able to give Sam to make him a credible main character from Britain in India in 1919.
From the historical research on the British psyche in India, to the inclusion of Bengali culture and stereotypes of Bengal and the pencha ce of the people to spoken word, paradoxical natures, and the affinity for speaking out to those in power (a contrast to the favored Pathans and Punjabis employed by the British) and subtle differences between the Hindus and Muslims in social and economic power in Calcutta - Mukherjee transports the reader to Calcutta in its finest hour, and we are captivated by this city as a character as Sam attempts to solve the murder of a British official as the city prepares to fend off the growing independence movement across the dominion.
While the pacing at time felt off at various parts of the novel, and some characters that Sam interacted with did not seem fleshed out to provide more context, and at times the commentary on the role of the British in India seemed a bit too scripted to showcase the growing self awareness on the part of the British to their role and “moral superiority” to Indians to rule the Raj, this was an amazing debut for a South Asian British author to add a new layer of mystery and thrillers in a historical setting. Would gladly read more from this author and to follow this character.
From the historical research on the British psyche in India, to the inclusion of Bengali culture and stereotypes of Bengal and the pencha ce of the people to spoken word, paradoxical natures, and the affinity for speaking out to those in power (a contrast to the favored Pathans and Punjabis employed by the British) and subtle differences between the Hindus and Muslims in social and economic power in Calcutta - Mukherjee transports the reader to Calcutta in its finest hour, and we are captivated by this city as a character as Sam attempts to solve the murder of a British official as the city prepares to fend off the growing independence movement across the dominion.
While the pacing at time felt off at various parts of the novel, and some characters that Sam interacted with did not seem fleshed out to provide more context, and at times the commentary on the role of the British in India seemed a bit too scripted to showcase the growing self awareness on the part of the British to their role and “moral superiority” to Indians to rule the Raj, this was an amazing debut for a South Asian British author to add a new layer of mystery and thrillers in a historical setting. Would gladly read more from this author and to follow this character.
Whodunnits are successful primarily on the strength of their sleuth and the inventiveness of the crime. The reverse is also true.
So I found it hard to love this first of a series, where the detective we must hang our hat on is floundering, by turns decisive and self-excoriating, and generally ambiguous character. The crime, simultaneously, is uninventive - a stabbing in an alley where the deceased 'shouldn't' be - and the dead man hardly a person at all in the narrative.
One can hope that the following novels are more gripping, the characters more clear, but I'm not interested enough to find out.
So I found it hard to love this first of a series, where the detective we must hang our hat on is floundering, by turns decisive and self-excoriating, and generally ambiguous character. The crime, simultaneously, is uninventive - a stabbing in an alley where the deceased 'shouldn't' be - and the dead man hardly a person at all in the narrative.
One can hope that the following novels are more gripping, the characters more clear, but I'm not interested enough to find out.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It‘s 1919 and Captain Wyndham comes to British Bengal for a fresh start. There is nothing left for him back home and he is tormented by memories of his experiences at the frontlines of the Great War. He joins the British police in Calcutta and is plunged into a murder investigation on his first day. At his side is an Indian seargant that will be his sidekick for the 5-book series.
I’ve not been to Calcutta, but in terms of climate I‘m picturing Bangladesh, which was part of British Bengal. Hot and humid. I looked at some images from Calcutta and the British certainly tried to make a statement with their architecture.
Captain Wyndham is an approachable but tormented character. The other characters all remain in the sidelines, including his partner, Surrender-Not Banerjee. His actual first name is Surendranath, but his British superiors found that too difficult to pronounce. He is surprisingly idealistic, considering the casual racism he has to deal with. There is a famous Indian politician of the time with the same name, I‘m wondering if the author did that on purpose.
The historical setting and tone are believable and slightly grating. The British officers and civil servants are all pretty obnoxious, with the exception of Sam Wyndham, who is new to India and a little clueless about the social norms.
One of the female character is of Anglo-Indian descent, which made me think of the old movie Bhowani Junction with Ava Gardner. It‘s set after WWII, we are at the point of Britain preparing to release India into independence, but some of the themes are similar. Didn‘t know the movie was based on a book, might need to take a look at that: Bhowani Junction by John Masters.
Despite liking this, it is a DNF for me after 180 pages. It‘s well written and there is some humour in there as well. The world building, setting and historical background are good and so is the character development. But it‘s slow and maybe too close for me to reading another slow moving crime novel. I‘m bored with it and need something speedier. I read the last chapter for some closure and might return to this series, if I am in the right mood.
I’ve not been to Calcutta, but in terms of climate I‘m picturing Bangladesh, which was part of British Bengal. Hot and humid. I looked at some images from Calcutta and the British certainly tried to make a statement with their architecture.
Captain Wyndham is an approachable but tormented character. The other characters all remain in the sidelines, including his partner, Surrender-Not Banerjee. His actual first name is Surendranath, but his British superiors found that too difficult to pronounce. He is surprisingly idealistic, considering the casual racism he has to deal with. There is a famous Indian politician of the time with the same name, I‘m wondering if the author did that on purpose.
The historical setting and tone are believable and slightly grating. The British officers and civil servants are all pretty obnoxious, with the exception of Sam Wyndham, who is new to India and a little clueless about the social norms.
One of the female character is of Anglo-Indian descent, which made me think of the old movie Bhowani Junction with Ava Gardner. It‘s set after WWII, we are at the point of Britain preparing to release India into independence, but some of the themes are similar. Didn‘t know the movie was based on a book, might need to take a look at that: Bhowani Junction by John Masters.
Despite liking this, it is a DNF for me after 180 pages. It‘s well written and there is some humour in there as well. The world building, setting and historical background are good and so is the character development. But it‘s slow and maybe too close for me to reading another slow moving crime novel. I‘m bored with it and need something speedier. I read the last chapter for some closure and might return to this series, if I am in the right mood.
I get that the author is attempting to be historically accurate, but the constant racism in the main chanaracter's narration is a bit much to handle. Referring to Indians solely as "natives", misnaming the one Indian character etc.
Shouldn't have picked up a book set in colonised India narrated by a white British character.
Shouldn't have picked up a book set in colonised India narrated by a white British character.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated