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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
This is a classic-style mystery novel which takes place in India in 1919 and revolves around an English police officer recently back from WWI. The mystery is compelling. The main character is a bit flat. This book will feel familiar and meet all the expectations of a mystery novel fan. As a mystery novel fan, I really enjoyed this and I look forward to continuing the series.
Toyed with giving this book four stars but it wasn’t quite there. It’s got the makings of a really good series of crime novels and I’m definitely going to read the next two books as I’m sure they just get better. In nutshell the story follows a police officer posted to 1920s India solving a crime involving a white diplomat. The Setting was great and the storyline interesting but at times my mind wandered and I felt the plot needed some more twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. Great characters through and I’m looking forward to their next adventure!
informative
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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:
Yes
I’ve not read any of this series so it was good to start at the beginning
I'm not usually fond of flawed detective has personal demons, especially not the addiction type. I liked the evocation of the period in India, and I believe that it was a somewhat nuanced portrayal of what the British (maybe) believed they were doing, and why the people of India would strenuously object. I'll read another.
adventurous
informative
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:
Complicated
This was a well done crime thriller, but what makes it interesting is that it's a story about a white British man in the Raj written by a British person of Indian descent. And I'm not going to pretend that that makes it unique but by virtue of being crime fiction it has scope to critique the power structures of justice in Calcutta at the time with a relatively full understanding of where all parties were coming from - for better or worse. Honestly I wound up more interested in the politics of it all than the crime
Slow paced too widespread a plot to be that slow and also be effective
A fantastic debut. Rich setting and complex characters. Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical mysteries. The main character, Captain Sam Wyndham stands out for his unexpectedly acerbic commentary on his job, his addiction, and life in Bengal. The growing partnership between Sam and his sergeant, Surrender-not Banerjee, is also a fantastic element that serves to explore the tension between the British who are losing the grip of their colonial rule, and the frustration of the Indians. The development of this series is going to be a pleasure to read.