An excellent series .
Kamil is now a detective in the metropolitan police , still living with Anjoli above the restaurant where he was previously a waiter and a chef.
The murder case he is investigating complex , but Kamil only realises the tangled web of deceit when his back is against the wall.
The writing is of an excellent calibre and the books keep getting better and better .
The characters are all amiable and engaging making the story relatable to the reader.
Eagerly anticipating the next in the series .
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK.

The third book in this ever improving series is a delight. The tension is kept up and builds as the story progresses. The tale is primarily about the murder of a entrepreneur but delves into many topics along the way making you think of many other ideas. A rich story.

The Detective is the 3rd book in the excellent series from Ajay Chowdhury featuring Kamil Rahman, previously a detective in the Indian Police and now a D.C. in the Met Police, following time as a waiter and then a cook on Brick Lane.

A tech boss is found dead on a construction site at a local mosque and a search of his home turns up sale documents for his company for £4 billion. Alongside him are the skeletons of two adults and a child from the turn of the 20th century.

As Kamil gets stuck into his his first murder investigation since joining the Met, it isn’t long before the victims start to stack up and Kamil finds himself fretting about whether his actions have endangered the probity of the investigation. Meanwhile Kamil’s friend Anjoli proves not only a worthy sounding board for Kamil to test out his theories but also takes it upon herself to identify the older skeletons with surprising results.

Ajay Chowdhury has a fantastic blend of plot, fabulous characters (it was a treat to be back with Kamil and Anjoli in Tandoori Knights) and twists. The ride isn’t quite as ‘strap yourself in’ as the previous books, but I really enjoyed this change of gear.

All 3 of the books would be great as a stand alone but it really is worth reading the set.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House, Vintage for an ARC. Hugely looking forward to the next instalment.

Rising from waiter to cook to detective Kamil Rahman’s career is on the up and this, the third in an excellent series is an intoxicating mix of police procedural, social and geopolitical history.

I loved the vivid and accurate descriptions of Whitechapel and Shoreditch and the way that his current investigation tied in with an horrific crime of a century ago.

Kamil is a fascinating character and one that is still developing as the series proceeds.

An excellent read and one to cherish.

Kamil Rahman has moved up in the crime fighting world since he left his job as a detective in Kolkata 5 years ago to start over in London. From humble beginnings as a waiter and then a cook in Brick Lane’s Tandoori Knights he’s now officially a detective at the Met after spending the two years of the pandemic studying.

Sid Ram, the CEO of Aishtar and a tech entrepreneur, is discovered dead on the property of a local mosque where they are about to build an extension. A folded A4 sheet of paper with an obscure message hinting at the dangers of AI technology is discovered with the body. The company was on the verge of a four-billion-dollar transaction. The previous evening, Sid and Gaby Fleischman, the Chief Marketing Officer, met with a journalist to try to prevent the sale from being leaked. The journalist didn’t show up and shortly after Sid was murdered. Is the killer looking to profit financially from the death of the company’s CEO, or is he looking to undermine the company’s work on artificial intelligence?

Full review: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.com/2023/04/19/the-detective-ajay-chowdhury/

Having enjoyed previous books I wasn't sure about moving him from India to London . However, it did work and is a very enjoyable read. The humour is still there as is the great storytelling

I need to give myself a sharp rap on the wrist,it’s not often that I read a series out of sequence but this was one of those occasions and I felt I really missed out on the lack of backstory. I did though manage to follow the storyline despite a little initial bafflement.
Kamil is definitely an original character and probably one of the most honest I’ve across in fiction. He admits to mixed feelings towards the two women in his life, Anjoli and Maliah. Anjoli was the one who I hoped he’d get together with, apart from anything else for her choice in T-shirts and her views on politicians.
Over the last few months I’ve wondered if the police force in this country would be shown in a similar way in fiction. In this novel it was, and it was often uncomfortable to read. I didn’t think that Tahir made life easy for Kamil but he shouldn’t have had to experience what he did. Even more upsetting was that the fictional account of his treatment was probably less severe than many officers in the police experience. Happily there were good officers amongst the bad and he did start to see attitude change.
There were two cases being investigated, the main one involving murders of businessmen who worked in the extremely confusing world of AI, which was being investigated by the police. The other, strangely, was being investigated by Anjoli and it was this investigation that captivated me most. Partly because I understood it but also because genealogy research is something I’m interested in. I loved reading how the past came together with the future and they could get a resolution.
If I could choose a favourite character from the book it would definitely be Anjoli. I hope that she features just as strongly in the two books I still need to read and the new one due next year.

It was great to meet Kamil and Anjoli again and see how lockdown had affected them. Kamil is now a detective in the Met, having done his training between the last book and this one. HIs first day begins with a murder of a high profile company CEO. Having to realise he has to now investigate using proper police processes isn't easy, but with Anjoli as a sounding board, his friend and now boss, DI Tahir Ismail supporting him, Kamil finds his feet. He makes mistakes along the way, but his instinctive policing bears fruit. I can't wait for further adventures. #netgalley #TheDetective

I have to say I did miss the Cook and the quirky way he worked. But Kamil Rahman is on his first case for the police and this he takes seriously but still has his own way of thinking which I like.... This is a highly technical case so brush up on your technology class. although fiction it does have a thought-provoking idea within it.
A historical case is also present in this plot that eventually joins with the here and now to bring some dimension to the case....
Ajay Chowdhury this was brilliant, it seems you are evolving from your first books into a more sophisticated writer and I love it five stars from me and i look forward to the next one

I do so enjoy reading this author's books,what wonderful indepth characters he writes about.
I cannot praise this book enough.
A pacy read,a fresh look at police detective work and the work of pathologists. Absorbing, riveting I could not wait to read the next chapter.

Having read the previous two books in the series I was looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint .
It was as well written and entertaining as the others although it did need some concentration to keep on top of all the tech stuff.
I was pleased to see that Kamil was now officially solving crimes as he was finally in the police force and I appreciated the up to date and relevant circumstances of the book with its AI and post pandemic references.

The third book in this wonderful crime/ gastronomic series, that really requires to be read in order, ie, The Waiter and The Chef, in order to appreciate how far the central character Kamil Rahman has travelled in order to achieve his dream of becoming a policeman.
A dual time line book, set in pre- war 1913, and present day London.
A Jewish immigrant family fall foul of an ambitious department store owner. He wants to buy their business, a small shop next to his, so he can use the land for his store expansion. However, things go badly wrong for Avram, Malka and Leah. We are treated to a very descriptive history of Brick Lane in London and the immigration of the Jewish community, along with notes on Religion, culture, food and Antisemitism.
Present day finds Kamil is now a Detective Constable, in the Met Police service. He has been warned that he will have to work harder, run faster, sleep less in order to survive the institutional racism that is prevalent in the Met. There are really involved details of such racist practices throughout this novel. He and his now boss, Tahir are called out to the discovery of a body on a building site. Whilst the CSI officers are on the scene, three skeletons are discovered underneath the rubble.
I thought the procedural details were good, perhaps you had to suspend disbelief in some areas, but there was a great human touch involved in finding out all about the life of the three skeletons . I did guess the relevance about 16% into the story, but it was still engrossing, informative with intricate detail and explanation.
I loved the ABC rules, Assume nothing, Believe nothing and Check everything!!
I am still intrigued by the on/ off relationship between Kamil and Anjoil, but I do miss the descriptions of the food. The Tech world , surveillance added a new dimension, I honestly did get lost at times!
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House,Vintage the publishers for my advance digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.

Overall 4.5*

In book 3 we find Kamil now officially a detective with the Met and his first case involves not only the murder of a tech entrepreneur but also an historical murder of 2 adults and and child. The latter is of more interest to his ex boss Anjoli and so she heads off trying to find out what happened. The author has woven an intricate tale and what I really liked about it was the highly descriptive parts of London just before WW1 broke out plus the historical information about the plight of the Jews, many of whom had fled their native countries and arrived in Britain. He also alerts the reader to the racism which is still going on in everyday life as well as in the police force.
I really like all of the food references too which might have you salivating as you read!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

Kamil Rahman was a police inspector in India before he left to move to the UK. When he first moved to the UK he worked as a waiter, and then as a chef. He is now Detective Kamil, after completing his training to become a police officer in the UK. When Kamil worked in a restaurant, he did so alongside Anjoli, his landlord, boss, and good friend, who he had more than just feelings of friendship for. Now that he no longer works alongside her, Kamil wonders if they can move their friendship into something more. However, Kamil first has to start his new job in the London police force.

On his first day on the job, he attends a case with his boss and friend, (and fellow token Indian on the force) DI Tamil Ismael. They investigate a body at a construction site, shot, but no apparent robbery as a motive. During the recovery of the body old human bones are also recovered, adding to the mystery. The body turns out to be that of Sid Ram, CEO of Aishtar Ltd. Kamil unearths paperwork showing that the company is on the verge of a four billion dollar sale. Kamil and Tamil must find out who benefits from the CEO's death if the sale still goes ahead. Who had the motive to kill him? Who makes the most money from it? What they start to uncover shocks them.

This is the third instalment in the Kamil Rahman series, and we are seeing Kamil settling into life in the UK, and starting to rebuild what he lost in India. This story is set between two timelines, with Kamil trying to solve the mystery of the modern murder, and Anjoli gripped by the discovery of the bones at the construction site when it is discovered they are approximately 100 years old and unclaimed. The two stories start to entwine in an unexpected manner, bridging the two timelines in a very interesting way. Kamil is struggling with his new job, his love life, and his role in investigations.

The story is well written, with a lot going on with every page turn, at times almost too much, keeping track of it all took some concentration! As with the previous books, food plays a big part, but not as much as before. Still enough to tantalise if you are hungry however! You don’t need to have read the previous books to follow this one, but you will have a deeper understanding of the characters and their motives in this one if you have. This story doesn’t steer away from the racism Kamil faces on the force, from antisemitism faced by other characters, historical conflicts etc.

At times I found myself raising an eyebrow at the plausibility. Anjoli’s role in the investigation at times surely would not be allowed or would invalidate procedures? Kamil being allowed to run off on some of the leads he did on his first case on his first job with the London police, despite his previous experience, again a little unusual? Putting some of these doubts aside, I was thoroughly entertained by this book, and could not stop reading until I found out who did it, and why. I was fully engrossed in the tangle of suspects, and as confused as Kamil at all the twists the case took!

*I received this book for review from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

This is my favourite so far in the series featuring Kamil and Anjoli.
Kamil is now a detective in the Metropolitan police ,based at Bethnal Green, so near to Brick Lane and the Tandoori Knights restaurant. Kamil is investigating the murder of an Israeli businessman and old remains are found with them. While Kamil investigates the new murder, Anjoli finds out about the old remains. There's lots of information about AI and the history of the East End, which makes the book more interesting. Kamil and Anjoli are great together, their relationship is very entertaining.

Up to the minute subjects, AI, murder, genealogy and history covered in a serious but quirky way. It certainly entertained and kept me reading. Loved the detectives , flawed, damaged but still human underneath it all. Well worth a read. More please.

The third book in the excellent Kamil Rahman series finds Kamil as a new detective in the Metropolitan police. I enjoy the characters in this book and the intriguing relationship dynamics. A cold case intertwines with a current murder and leads to an exploration of socio-political and technological issues, all of which make this novel contemporary and relevant. The mystery builds and twists to an impactful reveal. Lighter moments give this detective police procedural a cosy crime vibe, despite the darker issues raised through the characters and events.

I like the relevant exploration of contemporary issues, the diverse characters and the compelling mystery in this story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Another enjoyable instalment of this series - and Kamil is now a Detective after a covid-spanning couple of years in training. This should make for a more realistic approach given he now has a responsibility to be investigating, but there’s still quite a bit of “hmm really, would that happen”?

I say that like it’s a bad thing, which isn’t the case - it’s part of the series charm and I’m invested in the characters. We have a complex web of AI, politics, Israeli / Palestine relations, the history of Brick Lane and its shift from a predominantly Jewish area… Arguably too much to fit in, and the side investigation by anjoli is perhaps a reach to far, but I’m very much looking forward to the next part, which is set up nicely.

He really needs to get a grip of his love life though.

The Detective by Ajay Chowdhury is the latest adventure for Kamil Rahman who is now a detective working for the metropolitan police in London. Kamil still lives above the restaurant which Anjoli is now running with a new head chef.

In this thriller the recently appointed CEO of a tech company in London is found on a building site having been brutally murdered. Kamil and his boss Tahir begin the investigation and very quickly have to learn about the new AI technology that the firm has developed which is viewed as controversial by its critics. Meanwhile, Kamil is frustrated with his relationship with Anjoli as she initiates her own investigation into

This is an ambitious book by Chowdhury in which he looks at the plight of Jewish immigrants to England in the early 20th century alongside the more recent Israeli / Palestinian conflict.

I enjoyed this latest mystery which name-checks a lot of latest tech innovations however frustratingly omits other basic techniques which should have used to progress the investigation (use of cell tower data to locate a burner phone).

Book 3 in The Detective Kamil Rahman Series and read well as a stand-alone. By way of background Kamil left India where he was a police inspector and has been working in a restaurant alongside Anjoli, his landlord but also a woman who he has long held romantic feeling for. However, he has finally achieved his dream to become a policeman in England and is about to start his new job. This is a well written and constructed police procedural novel, although there are quite a lot of characters to get your head around it’s good to see such a diverse cast. Set in two timelines, the present and 1913, the latter is introduced through a shocking prologue.

Briefly, day one in the job and Kamil and his boss and friend DI Tamil Ismael go to investigate a shooting. When the body is recovered some old human bones are found which turn out to be two adults and a child. The shooting victim is Sid Ram CEO of Aishtar Ltd, a high technology company which in the midst of a sale of the company. Whilst the police are investigating the shooting Anjoli is looking into the older skeletons and she makes a dreadful discovery.

This was a really good read. With undertones throughout of racism and antisemitism this made for uncomfortable reading at times. I loved the touches of humour, Anjoli’s t-shirts deserved a book of their own! I really enjoyed the subplot and would have liked more, I’m greedy like that. There is also a romance situation going on when Kamil’s former fiancée contacts him to say she is London; he’s a bit of a wimp in the romance stakes to be honest. An enjoyable and entertaining read with something in it for everyone.