Brad W. (bewilbered) reviewed Murder in Old Bombay (Captain Jim and Lady Diana, Bk 1) on + 36 more book reviews
The first 150 pages of this novel feel very much by-the-numbers, and despite its major award, it suffered by comparison with Sujata Massey and Abir Mukherjee, etc. But if you start to get bored, and I agree with Cathy C. that you might, stick with it because the book takes some very surprising turns, goes into satisfying emotional territory, and capitalizes well on all the groundwork laid in the beginning. Rewarding read ... eventually.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Based on a true story, Murder in Old Bombay does bring the caste system and divided loyalties of India to life. Agnihotri, half Indian and half white, isn't fully accepted in either world. Suffering from PTSD, he does channel Sherlock Holmes in his ability to don disguises and gather information from various (sometimes warring) sources.
My favorite part of the book occurred when Agnihotri was on one of his fact-finding missions and wound up gathering a group of displaced children. If a child needed help, he simply could not turn that child away. Two of the children, in particular, shone brightly: the little girl Chutki, and the little boy Birju-- both of whom had the hearts of lions. Chutki's experiences really highlighted the problem of the caste system in India.
There is a lot to like in Murder in Old Bombay: Agnihotri's kind heart, those children, a devious mystery to unlock. There's a romance involved that I'm not convinced was entirely necessary, although it does show that even in 1892, there were some forward-thinking families in Bombay. I feel as though I'm giving this book faint praise because... although there's a lot to like about it, it didn't really engage me and make me want to read more about Agnihotri or any of the other characters. Of course, your mileage can certainly vary!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
My favorite part of the book occurred when Agnihotri was on one of his fact-finding missions and wound up gathering a group of displaced children. If a child needed help, he simply could not turn that child away. Two of the children, in particular, shone brightly: the little girl Chutki, and the little boy Birju-- both of whom had the hearts of lions. Chutki's experiences really highlighted the problem of the caste system in India.
There is a lot to like in Murder in Old Bombay: Agnihotri's kind heart, those children, a devious mystery to unlock. There's a romance involved that I'm not convinced was entirely necessary, although it does show that even in 1892, there were some forward-thinking families in Bombay. I feel as though I'm giving this book faint praise because... although there's a lot to like about it, it didn't really engage me and make me want to read more about Agnihotri or any of the other characters. Of course, your mileage can certainly vary!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
