Midnight at Malabar House: Winner of the CWA Historical Dagger and Nominated for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year (The Malabar House Series)

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to really enjoy this book, you've got to somehow get past the fact the victim's name is James Herriot and somehow - somehow! She was determined and cared to find the truth, not just any answer served up to her for expedience. Her investigation takes her in different directions: Bombay’s socialite circle that includes the last of the British elite, different episodes of Indian freedom struggle, and the Partition riots, or — to be precise—specific crimes among them.

Midnight at Malabar House: Winner of the CWA Historical

For another excellent historical crime series, I can highly recommend the Captain Wyndham and Surrender-not Banerjee series by Abir Mukherjee set in the India of the 1920s. This is historical crime fiction at its best – a compelling mix of social insight and complex plotting with a thoroughly engaging heroine. The characters are wonderfully built, the setting of the book is vivid and Persis's personality is gold. His assistant is helpful, Archie begins examining the crime scene, Persis starts questioning guests. Archie is also smart, analytical, funny and quirky; there seems to be a hint of a possible romantic relationship there.

I thought that dichotomy of opinion to fact was rather insightful and at the same time so typical of our own times. Helped by British criminalist, Archimedes 'Archie' Blackfinch, Persis has to battle with her superiors, including her boss, the Superintendent of Police, Roshan Seth, untangle the lies and deception to uncover corruption, secrets, more murder, and engage in a high stakes gamble to reveal the truth at the end. So I would suggest reading something, even if it is to give yourself a refresher course via Google or Wikipedia. She does, however, get some help from a criminalist seconded from the British Met, ‘Archie’ Blackfinch, a rather diffident character who shows signs of an unreciprocated romantic interest in Persis. Wadia’s personal story—widowed father, annoying aunt, men around her—makes her an interesting character.

Midnight at Malabar House (The Malabar House Series): Khan Midnight at Malabar House (The Malabar House Series): Khan

Also, every time she arrives at a building, the author needs to tell us the whole history behind it. stars, rounded up because of all the informative historical background about the Partition and the first years of independent India - and of course, our heroine, Inspector Persis Wadia.I enjoyed Midnight at Malabar House which is an interesting mix of the historical and nefarious set at the start of the Indian nation. Jessica Fellowes’ series beginning with ‘The Mitford Murders’– a series of Golden Age-style murder mysteries in which the investigations are connected to the Mitford sisters in 1920s England.

Midnight at Malabar House Review Midnight at Malabar House Review

But as Sir James was British, and powerful, the guests are wealthy and powerful and impatient; it becomes apparent the case is a political landmine, and Persis must step carefully.This humorous series starts with ‘Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire’– a review of the latest book in the series ( ‘The Ghost Tree’) can be found here. There are several huge factors that would not keep me within this series, most of them are closely tied to writing style.