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A review by stuartjrodriguez
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
5.0
This is an excellent novel, and Perveen Mistry is my new favorite detective.
Neither mysteries nor period pieces are what I usually read, but this novel grabbed me from the get-go and weaves together an captivating mystery that also puts front-and-center the culture and society of 1920s India.
Massey is a strong and confident storyteller, and the mystery she tells is a fascinating one: three devout Muslim wives are left widowed when their husband dies. The wives and their husband were clients of Perveen’s lawyer father, but Purveen, as a female solicitor, has much greater access to the wives than her father or the police do. When another household member dies, it’s up to her to solve the crime, as the English-led police force is satisfied with arresting a minor character who may not have been involved.
Massy’s worldbuilding is fantastic, and her characters are deep and well realized. 1921 Bombay feels rich and lived-in, and you can taste and smell the city as Perveen Mistry does. Perveen herself is an outstanding protagonist: she’s richly textured and characterized, at times confident and at others unsure of the right course of action—but she always strives to do the right thing and is more than capable of getting herself out of jams.
Lastly, I listened to this on audiobook, and Soneela Nankani’s narration fantastic, and she brings an excellent performance to each of the novel’s characters.
If you like mysteries, or period pieces, or great storytelling and characters, or any combination thereof, you should read the heck out of this book.
Shelftalker Blurb: I loved this novel! Sujata Massey is a strong, confident storyteller, and this captivating historical mystery, set in 1920s Bombay, features superb worldbuilding, great characters, and a riveting plot. Perveen Mistry is a richly written protagonist, and I highly recommend this for mystery fans looking for a fresh take on the genre!
Neither mysteries nor period pieces are what I usually read, but this novel grabbed me from the get-go and weaves together an captivating mystery that also puts front-and-center the culture and society of 1920s India.
Massey is a strong and confident storyteller, and the mystery she tells is a fascinating one: three devout Muslim wives are left widowed when their husband dies. The wives and their husband were clients of Perveen’s lawyer father, but Purveen, as a female solicitor, has much greater access to the wives than her father or the police do. When another household member dies, it’s up to her to solve the crime, as the English-led police force is satisfied with arresting a minor character who may not have been involved.
Massy’s worldbuilding is fantastic, and her characters are deep and well realized. 1921 Bombay feels rich and lived-in, and you can taste and smell the city as Perveen Mistry does. Perveen herself is an outstanding protagonist: she’s richly textured and characterized, at times confident and at others unsure of the right course of action—but she always strives to do the right thing and is more than capable of getting herself out of jams.
Lastly, I listened to this on audiobook, and Soneela Nankani’s narration fantastic, and she brings an excellent performance to each of the novel’s characters.
If you like mysteries, or period pieces, or great storytelling and characters, or any combination thereof, you should read the heck out of this book.
Shelftalker Blurb: I loved this novel! Sujata Massey is a strong, confident storyteller, and this captivating historical mystery, set in 1920s Bombay, features superb worldbuilding, great characters, and a riveting plot. Perveen Mistry is a richly written protagonist, and I highly recommend this for mystery fans looking for a fresh take on the genre!