Prefer this series to the 'Baby Ganesh' books. I was reading the first alongside this to get background to the characters. Really enjoy the mix of history and information regarding recent partition and the life of the first female police inspector in India. Looking forward to the next book. Thanks to Netgalley.

I could hardly believe my luck when I received a copy of Vaseem Khan’s latest novel in exchange for a review. What a privilege! I have read Khan’s Inspector Chopra series and, as expected, the adventures of Persis Wadia did not disappoint.

Khan’s narrative is refreshing, and always a delight. Their language and imagery always transports me directly to Bombay, but to enjoy this through the perspective of a female inspector (finally!) was a pleasure. Richly threaded with humour, intrigue and a good old-fashioned murder mystery, this book evokes a vintage-style feel, and is a treasure-hunt in itself.

Thank you again to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley, again, for this absolute delight!
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In this latest novel by Khan we see police inspector Persis return for her second literary outing a short seven months after her first appearance. She still lives at home with her father (above his book shop) her Auntie has not given up the idea that as a 27 year old she really needs to get married (thus ending her career). She also continues to work in the same, maverick, police office in Malabar House with her previous team of misfits and disgruntled. They are still passed all the politically sensitive, or otherwise, difficult cases in Delhi rejected by the more powerful. So Persis is asked to head up an investigation into the theft of an early copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy from the library of the British Asiatic Society.
“Just a book” it certainly is not. As one of the two earliest copies of this medieval treasure in the world it is much desired. Stories that Mussolini offered to buy it from the Society in the 1930s for a prodigious amount of money, have been followed by political requests from the Italian Government for its return. Unfortunately it appears that not only has the book been removed, but the Society’s curator of manuscripts John Healy has also disappeared. Under investigation by Persis it will become clear that he has left a trail of literary clues to its new hiding place. In the meantime another problem has surfaced, an unidentified white woman has been found dead on a railway line. In a personnel turf war Persis will be allocated oversight role of the investigation to be carried out by one of her colleagues she has been in dispute with. Not a happy situation. Ultimately the two crimes will merge.
It needs to be said as well that the Dante is highly desirable and a number of potential “owners” with dubious ethics (to put it mildly) will start to emerge. So the investigation will involve Persis moving through this shifting mass of characters who are not quite what they present themselves as. Just as she has to deal with evolving post partition politics and problems she now has to cope to with people’s back histories during the Second World War too. So this is the opportunity to muse on the fallout of war and the ongoing damage it can cause, but also perhaps on the morality of ownership of lands and antiquities into the longer term. Much of the collections of the British Asiatic Society are of course the relics of the heritage of the British East India Company.
But Persis has to follow the clues to find the book. These are literary in nature and they take readers through the historic buildings and landscapes of Delhi and its surrounds. The buildings were by this time becoming increasingly obsolete and even going out of use. But this part of the book is a wonderful and informed travelogue on the nature of the buildings of Empire and through them its rule. But crime has a tendency to turn to violence and men who have been through the war might have learnt some not so peaceful - possibly extremely violent – habits. These will emerge and Persis will have to work her way through these threats with surprisingly little professional support (and a great deal of luck).
This is crime fiction and so requires a certain degree of reader suspension of disbelief. But it is added to Persis and her friends, family and colleagues all starting to emerge as more solid and rounded characters here. But the real winner in this novel is of course the City of Delhi. That is the most wonderful and engaging aspect of this book. Does this novel appeal as much as the first? It might be said that is over-complicated, with too many sub-plot lines, some of which are developed in such detail as to maybe unbalance the book. But is it overall a “good read”, I think most readers of crime fiction that relies on character and place rather than gore would say yes.

This is the second book to feature Persis, the (fictional) first female police detective in Bombay.
I really like the character - her challenges and her ambitions are much clearer in this book.
The mystery involves a priceless missing manuscript, WWII spies, and a wonderful look at life in Bombay just after Indian independence.
She continues to be confused by her attraction to an Englishman, and complications arise when her former fiancé, who ran off to marry someone else, resurfaces. Her family's constant nagging is quite amusing as well.
This is a very good read, well written, and fast-paced.
Recommend for fans of Abir Mukherjee and Kwei Quartey.

Set in1950 Bombay after the ‘Quit India Movement’ a priceless six-hundred-year-old copy of Dante’s ‘The Divine Comedy’ goes missing from Bombay’s Asiatic Society. It had been left in the care of British scholar and War hero, John Healy but to make matters worse, he is missing too.

Bombays first female Police Detective, Persis Wadia, is assigned the case. However, with dead bodies appearing, a series of riddles to decipher and too top it off having her own life in danger, it is not an easy case to solve, and it becomes apparent that she is not the only one looking for this priceless artefact.

I loved the premise of this story and although I have not read any other in this series, I was really looking forward to reading this book. Within the first couple of chapters I was intrigued, who wouldn’t be when an artefact goes missing and an unknown dead body appears? However, as much as I love reading historical fiction, the historical aspects of this story felt a bit stoic. I prefer history being woven into a story, whereas with this novel, as it is formally written, think Agatha Christie, they came across as rigid and didactic for me. Overall, it is a great story and filled with fun riddles to decipher, it just wasn’t quite right for me. However, if you are an Agatha Christie fan, then I would say give this a go!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc. I highly enjoyed the first Persia Wadia novel, so was super excited to delve into this. This touches upon feminism in a newly Partition India, effects of colonialism, and life in Bombay.
This opens with a robbery. One of the oldest editions of Dante’s Inferno, in Bombay, has been stolen. This leads Persia on a series of clues scattered over Bombay as she tries to track the supposed thief, an academic who’s gone missing. Along the way we have another murder case, that may or may not be linked.
I highly enjoyed this. I loved Persia’s relationship with Blackfinch, and the commentary on a newly formed India. I did find at times all the descriptions, especially about the buildings, started to wear me down and the revelation of the villain and the resolution wasn’t as satisfying as I’d hoped it’d be. Nonetheless this was a compulsive read and our protagonist is so engaging, I’m completed invested in her and want to know what’s going to happen to her in the series, so I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the next instalment. 4/5.

This is the second in Vaseem Khan’s Malabar House series, which follows Persis, India’s first female detective, shortly after partition.

A priceless copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy has gone missing from Bombay’s Asiatic Society, along with the man who was studying it. The case lands on Persis desk and pulls her into a clever thriller replete with riddles, cyphers, intricate plot and some very bad people (I don’t want to give too much away). It’s an absolute rollercoaster of a ride and fantastic from start to finish.

This is a very welcome return for all of the characters who had their first outing in Midnight at Malabar House. Both are excellent stand alones but it is worth getting a true feel for the people and the historical significance of Persis which is more prominent in the first book. The Dying Day is a step up with regards to plot and pace. I hugely enjoyed it.

Thanks to Hodder and Netgalley for an ARC.

Independence didn't exactly resolve India's issues. In 1950 Bombay the effects of war are still felt. In this book the author describes historical events, politics and people such as the Holocaust, Hitler, Ghandi and Mussolini as background information for his fictional story.

Dante's priceless and epic The Divine Comedy manuscript disappears with its caretaker, John Healy. Persis, Bombay's first female inspector, is flummoxed by the clues and begins digging. Archie Blackfinch helps with the investigation. George Fernandes, sub inspector, reluctantly joins in. Fernandes and Persis aren't exactly the best of friends and have a history which increases the tension. Angst isn't their only concern. When murder enters the picture emotions conflict and escalate and time isn't on their side. But they all pursue one thing.

I really like the paleography information and the puzzle within a puzzle. Indian tradition and perspectives are interesting to read in a mystery. If you seek original writing, do pick up this book.

My sincere thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fascinating book.

This is the second in Vaseem Khan's historical Malabar House crime fiction series, set in India in 1950, featuring the now famous ambitious Parsee Inspector Persis Wadia, India's first female police officer. Her fame has grown at a national level after events from the previous book, putting her under an uncomfortable spotlight, pushing her as a role model she is not keen to be, whilst at the same time derided for doing what is perceived as a man's job. She would rather just get on with her job which is her sole focus, she is not always a likeable personality, she is socially awkward, charmless, stubborn, feeling she has to constantly prove herself, and not at ease when it comes to her personal life, particularly as she had been betrayed the one time she had been in love. She is shying away from acknowledging the feelings she has for Archie Blackfinch, the English forensic scientist she works with, facing warnings from her family about becoming involved with a white British man, particularly given her high profile position. After WW2, India has undergone the horrors of partition that followed independence from Britain.

At the Bombay Royal Asiatic Society at Horniman Circle, a priceless copy of Dante's Divine Comedy has gone missing, assumed to be stolen by their celebrated British Curator of Manuscripts who has gone missing at the same time, John Healy, a survivor from a prisoner of war camp in WW2, a traumatic experience that left him a changed man. There are political implications, putting Wadia under pressure to find Healy and recover the valuable manuscript for which Mussolini had offered £1 million pounds but had been rebuffed. She finds herself following a trail of cryptic clues and riddles left behind by Healy, leading to the manuscript, which seems strange given that he had taken it. She has a second case, her boss, Roshan Seth has appointed George Fernandes, who she is still furious with after he had betrayed her, leading to a fraught and awkward joint investigation of a murdered white woman left on the tracks.

Khan evokes a post-war India that is finding its feet, reconfiguring a new relationship with a Britain who is in the throes of losing its empire. His research of this period is impeccable, making this fascinating and colourful period of history come vibrantly alive, the mix of cultures and religion, along with the social norms and attitudes of the time. His central protagonist, the flawed and prickly Persis Wadia, feels like an authentic creation, having to constantly battle misogyny and a male world that would diminish and make invisible her achievements, she is a loner, much like Healy, whose past is slowly revealed in the book. This is turning out to be a wonderfully engaging and atmospheric historical series that I strongly recommend to both historical fiction fans and crime and mystery readers. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

As usual in my reviews I will not spoil the book by rehashing the plot (there are plenty of reviews like that out there already!) Instead, I recommend that you read it for yourself!

This is the sequel to Vaseem Khan's earlier novel "Midnight at Malabar House", which I enjoyed, so I was delighted to be invited to read this novel.

Persis Wadia is once again the main character. She's a strong and headstrong character who doesn't help her own case by some of her behaviour, but given that - as India's first female detective - she faces hostility (both overt and hidden) from many sides, some of it is understandable! It was good to learn more about her background, and her attitude to relationships is more understandable given her past. I found her character more likeable in this novel (in spite of her rudeness, which I now feel is a form of self defence), and was also pleased to see more of Archie Blackfinch.

I really enjoyed this book - there are multiple mysteries, murders, a suicide (that may not be all it seems), plenty of authentic-sounding historical detail, and an interesting cast of new characters as well as those we've met before. Once again, there is plenty of detailed description, so that you can easily picture the settings and characters.

Looking forward to the next in the series - and am also hoping to read some of Vaseem Khan's other "Baby Ganesh" series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Okay. Let me just put this out there - I really loved this book. Why am I saying this so plainly? Well, because I'm not really sure how to review the book and do it justice without risking some spoilers. This is a very clever, puzzling, historical mystery, with brilliant characters, a lot of suspense and a lot of tragedy, wrapped up in a story that touches upon a part of history that will remain memorable for all of the wrong reasons.

At the heart of the story we have the mystery of the missing manuscript - an ancient and priceless copy of Dante's The Divine Comedy. No only has the book disappeared, but so has the reputed scholar who was working on it. The simple answer is the most obvious - the scholar, one John Healy, took the book. If that is the case then why would he be leaving a series of clues that appear to be leading police directly back to the missing tome? That is exactly what Inspector Persis Wadia needs to work out in a hunt for a book that turns more dangerous with every new clue.

I loved the blend of mystery and police investigation in this book. Not only do we have Persis and the team trying desperately to find the book to stave off some kind of diplomatic incident between India and the Italian Government, but we also have the increasingly cryptic clues left by Healy. A mystery within a mystery. Add to this a separate murder investigation and the pressure is certainly on the team. It's not helped by the fact that as India's first female Inspector, Persis faces an uphill battle in gaining the respect and support of her team. It's a very believable dynamic,one which helps to shape Persis's character as every interaction seems like a very personal battle, another moment where she needs to prove her worth.

I do love Persis Wadia as a character. She is someone I can actually identify with. Not the same circumstances at all, and I faced far less resistance, but I had the dubious honour of being the first woman appointed to a Managerial operational role in a previous company. It's that need to be taken seriously, to prove yourself every bit as worthy as the male counterparts, whilst not wanting to accept concessions or seen as a role model just because of being female that certainly rings true. It makes for a real point of conflict with her colleague Archie Blackfinch too. That, and his simply being British, makes the clear chemistry between the two fun to watch but difficult for them to navigate. They are such opposites - Persis so serious whilst Archie is far more laid back, almost clumsy in his manner, but they make a perfect pair and I love reading about them.

There is a really serious side to this book, taking us back into Healy's past and a dark part of history. I really enjoy the way the author brings history to life within the books without overloading the reader with detail. The darkness, the atrocities are clear, the detail enough to give the story context but leaving scope for readers to go and do their own further reading should they desire. Not that this particular part of history is ever far from our minds. The narrative is pitched perfectly, the description of the history and of the setting, putting readers front and centre in the story, even when it is not necessarily comfortable to be there. Through the depiction of the surroundings and the characters, the author really brings India, and beyond, to life.

With so many people determined to get their hands on The Divine Comedies, there are no end of suspects, and Vaseem Khan skilfully lays out all the motivations whilst leaving the real danger hidden in plain sight. There is a sense of jeopardy, especially for Persis, and as the full truth is unveiled, you realise just how deadly it could all get. The suspense is maintained until the last and I was completely engaged in the story to the very last, defiant page.

Loved it. Please tell me we are getting a book three?

This was such a delightful mystery. Set in India shortly after independence, and with a protagonist who’s the first woman detective in India, there’s a ton of stuff going on even before you get to the mystery. Vaseem Khan handles the character of Persis, the protagonist, really well, and it’s hard not to like and respect her. The mystery itself, being centred around a series of riddles, was a little different from a lot of mystery plots and I enjoyed it very much. I didn’t guess what was going on, but I pretty much never do so that’s not saying much. I did find that I completely trusted Persis to get to the bottom of things, though, and I had a great time watching her do it. I definitely want to read more of these books!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Dying Day, the second novel set in 1950 to feature Inspector Persis Wadia, the first female officer in the Bombay Police.

Persis is called in when the Asiatic Society discovers that a priceless 600 year old copy of Dante’s Divine Comedy is missing, along with its curator, renowned academic John Healy. Uncovering a trail of cryptic clues Persis is soon on the hunt, but it gets more complicated with a series of murders.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Dying Day, which has a plot much broader in scope than I imagined from the blurb, and, more importantly, an excellent style that lured me in from page one and never let go.

The novel is told entirely from Persia’s point of view so the reader gets to live the events with her. Obviously as the first woman in the police service she is viewed as a trailblazer, but she sees herself as more stubborn, not so concerned with women’s rights as proving her naysayers wrong. She is an unlikely heroine, but actions prove louder than words as she attacks and solves her cases. Her voice is strong, not just in her ability to solve cases, but in her doubts, fears and dithering over her love life. In short she’s wonderful.

The plot is really interesting. What an imagination the author has to marry a complicated plot to historical fact and characters seamlessly and at the same time bring Bombay to life. I love all the snippets of fact he includes and yet I didn’t recognise the real life characters incorporated into the novel. The author has an engaging style of writing, so I never wanted to put the book down. The language is easy to read but not simple, seems vivid and there is some sly humour to further engage the reader. The plot has reveals on a regular basis, spurring the curiosity, and the turns it takes when broadening out are eye popping, but not fantastical or unbelievable given the setting and timeframe. I think it’s a tour de force that gets everything right.

The Dying Day is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is definitely trickier and more complex than the first book! Riddles galore in this, none of which I am clever enough to unravel. But, no matter - Inspector Persis Wadia is relentless and clever and soon begins to unpick the trail that has been left behind by William Huxley, the Bombay Royal Asiatic Society's head curator who has stolen the Society's priceless copy of Dante's 'Divine Comedy'. Finding his body on the top of a sarcophagus, however, throws Persis for a bit of a loop. Why would he leave clues behind that would lead to a dead-end (so to speak)?

All is not as it seems, however, and Persis is relentless. Along with resolving the theft that she has been tasked with, there is the relationship question mark hanging over her and Archie Blackfish. I'd like to see her throw some caution to the wind, but religious, societal, and broken heart strictures are hard to overcome.

Vaseem Khan is one of my favourite authors these days so it goes without saying that I will definitely be keeping this series at the top of my TBR pile.

The Dying Day is set in post-colonial, newly independent India in the bustling metropolis of Bombay.

Persis Wadia India’s first police detective is entrusted with the case of a missing manuscript, a 600-year-old copy of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy from the Royal Asiatic Society. Seemingly stolen by the celebrated scholar John Healy. She uncovers a series of riddles left apparently by Healy. She is assigned to supervise another case, that of a dead white woman found on rail tracks. Both mysteries are neatly tied together in the end.

Persis Wadia first women inspector in a predominantly men’s world encounters biases at every turn. She is brash, at times rude and does not mince her words. The atmosphere of post-independence India is well captured. I especially savoured the way the riddles were incorporated into the story, feels like a treasure hunt giving a feel of Da Vinci code. The only thing which was not needed was the freemason part which did not add anything to the story. Another thing that could have been avoided was the way characters broke into monologues giving long explanations.

A very nice mix of location, story, and writing. This is pretty fun and includes some humor along the way. Readers are bound to learn a little as well. This book will probably click with a lot of mystery fans.

Thanks very much for the ARC for a fair review!!

This is second in series featuring the post-independence Bombay detective Persis Wadia. The first one was a murder mystery and this one takes the treasure hunt track.

This is an interesting series but the books have some rough edges and could use some trimming. The period setting is definitely unusual but there are parts where the author seems to over-explain things and people. Just a Wikipedia style information overload (something that was present in book 1 of the series as well where a couple of paragraphs of Jawaharlal Nehru's independence speech is pasted verbatim). I understand that all the readers may have different knowledge of the topics so it is better to cater to the lowest common denominator but I ended up breezing through some sections due to that.

Ingenious, Delightful And Elegant....
Ingenious, delightful and elegant mystery from the very talented pen of Vaseem Khan. A priceless, literary manuscript vanishes and the case lands upon the desk of Persis Wadia. The trail of clues begins. Steeped in rich historical detail, wonderfully drawn characters, an intricate and cleverly compiled plot and much wry humour this is simply a joy. It really doesn’t get much better.

I read and thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, and I really enjoy Vaseem Khan’s writing, so I was delighted to receive a copy of the second book in the Persis Wadia series. I wasn’t disappointed, it is a fantastic book.

There is a fantastic sense of place, Khan’s writing really does appeal to the readers’ senses and invokes the sights, sounds, and smells of post-war, post-independence, post-partition India and I love that aspect of the novels. Also, as a quite voracious reader, it makes me very happy that Persis’ father runs a bookshop, which Persis uses like a reference library, to help her solve elements of the cases she works on.

I am fully invested in the lives of the characters, even those that are quite unlikeable, but I love Persis and I am quite desperate for her and Archie to get together. I also love her father and her aunt, who really makes me laugh with her constant attempts at matchmaking. This time we meet other characters from Persis life, including the man who broke her heart.

The case/s that Persis has to solve are well thought through, intriguing and I really could not put the book down. It really is a page turner!

I really love this series, the setting is fabulous, the cases the team at Malaga’s House have to solve are really interesting, the political interference adds a further dimension and the characters, particularly Persis and Archie are wonderful. Moreover, it is great to read a series that gives a voice to woman in a very male dominated world. I cannot wait for the third instalment.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for an ARC, in return for a honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An intelligent, clever novel, beautifully written, full of the essence of post partition India and laden with background history and theology.

Vaseem Khan has referenced many book titles and authors in Persis’ search to unravel the cryptic riddles in this book, bringing authenticity to the story. It was difficult not to get sidetracked to check each of these novels, which will encourage further reading.

A brilliant and totally absorbing book. Thank you Vaseem Khan.