Captain Sam Wyndham who lost his wife while serving in WWI, has joined the Imperial Police Force in India. While he does not speak the language, he works with a native British educated Brahmin, Sergeant Surrender-not Banerjee. The two work well together and are assigned to investigate the murder of a high-ranking, powerful civil servant, Alexander MacAuley. They arrest a terrorist named Sen believed responsible. However, as they investigate further they realize that Sen is not the culprit. So who is?
The Captain finds himself in a bind because as the new man in the force, he could lose his standing, even his job. However, his superior believes in him and supports further investigation. A Military group named Section H disagrees and moves the man into their prison. Because Sen is responsible for other crimes, the Captain's supervisor lets the man be hanged as a political compromise but the captain has made an enemy of the leader of Section H. There more, much more to this read including a budding romance between the Captain and a young woman of British and Indian background who is ostracized by both sides. The Captain encounters racism, politics, stuffy British beliefs and strict laws as he just tries to do his job. I enjoyed the read so much I ordered the second in the series.
The Captain finds himself in a bind because as the new man in the force, he could lose his standing, even his job. However, his superior believes in him and supports further investigation. A Military group named Section H disagrees and moves the man into their prison. Because Sen is responsible for other crimes, the Captain's supervisor lets the man be hanged as a political compromise but the captain has made an enemy of the leader of Section H. There more, much more to this read including a budding romance between the Captain and a young woman of British and Indian background who is ostracized by both sides. The Captain encounters racism, politics, stuffy British beliefs and strict laws as he just tries to do his job. I enjoyed the read so much I ordered the second in the series.
Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
Captain Sam Wyndham no longer works for Scotland Yard. His former commander in what is now known as World War I has offered him a position with the police in Calcutta.
First-time author Abir Mukherjee takes us to a land halfway around the world, at a time 100 years ago. Colonial powers still control a majority of the countries of the world, while local citizens have limited to no power. Some locals dislike that system enough to want to do something to change it â by talk, or by force. Case in point â a senior consulate official has been found murdered, with a note warning about the status of England's colony stuffed into his mouth.
Mr. Mukherjee shows a talent for painting a scene with his words, so that the reader will feel like they are IN the environment rather than simply reading about it. The same is true for his characters â we are not dealing with people who are entirely saintly nor unredeemably wicked. The âgood guysâ have their faults, while the antagonists show some redeeming social qualities.
I've caught onto this series late enough that the second book in the series has already been released, as has a standalone novel by the author; I plan to acquire and read them sooner rather than later.
First-time author Abir Mukherjee takes us to a land halfway around the world, at a time 100 years ago. Colonial powers still control a majority of the countries of the world, while local citizens have limited to no power. Some locals dislike that system enough to want to do something to change it â by talk, or by force. Case in point â a senior consulate official has been found murdered, with a note warning about the status of England's colony stuffed into his mouth.
Mr. Mukherjee shows a talent for painting a scene with his words, so that the reader will feel like they are IN the environment rather than simply reading about it. The same is true for his characters â we are not dealing with people who are entirely saintly nor unredeemably wicked. The âgood guysâ have their faults, while the antagonists show some redeeming social qualities.
I've caught onto this series late enough that the second book in the series has already been released, as has a standalone novel by the author; I plan to acquire and read them sooner rather than later.
