Inspector Persis, India’s first female detective policeman is summoned from above assigned to reexamine a sensitive case of an Englishman due to be hanged for thr murder of a prominent lawyer. India post independent f recovering from the turmoil and blood shed of partition that created Pakistan, her investigation could stir vested interests and upset political and racial sensitise. The condemned Janes Whitby has a weathy industrialist father who has pulled strings for the re investigation which needs a low profile. Persis feels she is made to take it in as being expendable if things go wrong. As she discovers, the case is linked to events in Calcutta where James father, lives as well as the lawyer new moved to Bombay where he was murdered. Her investigation reveals a complex relationships, treachery, blackmail, and murders. Events that involve the secrets of powerful individuals determined to keep their secrets, In exposing the truth at the cost of barely escaping with her life she is left wondering if she should resign.

Whenever I open up a book by Vaseem Khan I know that I am going to get two things from whatever follows - entertainment and education. Drawing on the history of pre and post partition India, Vaseem Khan has created another absolutely brilliant mystery that sees Inspector Persis Wadia facing one of the biggest challenges of her career, this time without the might or weight of the Police Force to back her up.

I love the character of Persis Wadia. Vaseem Khan has created a strong, independent and culture defying heroine for his series, and each time we meet her I know that we are in for one heck of a ride. This time around, Persis is tasked with conducting a semi-covert investigation into the murder of a prominent lawyer, for which a man, James Whitby, has been convicted and now faces the death penalty. It's a highly political case, largely because Whitby is seen to be representative of Colonialism and, the victim, is perceived to be a staunch patriot, part of the Quit India movement. Looking back over what happened, reopening wounds, is bound to ruffle more than a few feathers. Finding herself cast out from the force, suspended after her investigations come to light in order to appease the baying crowd, Persis travels to Calcutta to continue her enquiries, and to get a better understanding of the victim, hoping this will lead her to the ultimate truth.

This book is full of twists and turns, and a high level of jeopardy, especially for Persis and her young mentee, Seema, as they continue their digging. That sense of threat really keeps the pace, mystery and tension high. And that's important this time around as, despite the circumstances - man on death row who may or may not be guilty - James Whitby is not necessarily the most sympathetic of characters. He is almost placidly awaiting his fate, accepting and resigned in a way that you might not expect from someone who might be innocent. There is something there though, some spark of intrigue that made me wonder just what Persis would uncover, and this, and the mystery that is building around the whole case, kept me complete invested. There are some scenes when everything seems hopeless, others where the adrenalin is pulsing and the action coming at a particularly fast pace, all of which combine to make a thoroughly entertaining read.

Vaseem Khan is a master at scene setting, and through a beautifully descriptive narrative he transports us to 1950's Calcutta and some of the more remote and isolated areas of India. I always feel as though I am learning more about the culture and history of this vast continent the more i read, and yet it never feels as though I am being taught, the history lessons, as such, embedded in the action, driving the story forward rather than causing it to pause. And with his ability to create characters who thrill and apall, I'm always left satisfied by the story. I loved seeing Persis feeling so conflicted this time around by affairs of the heart. It is no longer her very complicated relationship with Archie Blackfinch that dominates her thoughts, her cousin Darius making a surprise return. I'm completely intrigued to see how that all plays out, especially given that any notion of romance could put paid to a career that she has fought so hard achieve in the first place.

A very welcome, pacy and menace laden addition to the series and definitely recommended.

"The British in India believed themselves a race of gods - lesser gods, but gods nonetheless. They consider their fall to be against the natural order of things."

In Vaseem Khan's latest in his Malabar House series, a well researched blend of fact and fiction, it is 1950 in a India that has experienced great turbulence since independence, rivers of blood have flown with partitian. Religion has spearheaded a hatred that has neighbour killing neighbour, corruption and nepotism abounds, particularly amongst the police and politicians. Amongst most Indians, there is a need to underline that the country has moved on from the British era and the likes of the despised rich, exploitative colonialists like Charles Whitby whose attitudes have refused to alter. Whitby's power may be waning, but with his son, James, set to hang, after being convicted of the murder of lawyer Fareed Mazumdar, he manages to secure a police review, which ADC Amit Shukla has directed Inspector Persis Wadia to conduct secretly.

Unable to tell her colleagues and boss what she is doing, it is not long before she is making front page newspaper headlines, branded a traitor, and generating protests outside the station. Persis finds herself despairing when no support is forthcoming from the police, leaving her feeling used and abused, havving her reconsidering her future in the force. However, she does feel that James deserves justice just as much as other Indians, as she grits her teeth in her determination to uncover the truth. Persis has little idea of just how dangerous this will be, on a case that will take her to Calcutta, crossing the paths of powerful gangsters and politicians, will she able to save the life of James Whitby? Furthermore, Persis has to contend with the absence of her grumpy father, Sam, who is on honeymoon, and Archie Blackfinch is away, and will she live to regret succumbing to Seema Desai's pleas to be allowed to accompany her to Calcutta and help her?

This is my favourite in this remarkable historical crime series, the plotting is complex and asks fundamental quenstions of the newly emerging India where your religion can be a death sentence, who is allowed to be Indian? James may be white, but he does not support his father's heinous past nor share his toxic belief in white superiority, born in India, he identifies as a Indian, it is the only place he considers home. As far as Persis is concerned, he is as deserving of justice as any other Indian as she races against time to try and prove he is not a killer, in a case that is to test her to her very limits and have her examining and reflecting on her personal life and some of her most problematic qualities. This is a hard hitting stellar addition which immerses the reader in the troubled India of 1950 through the lens of a case that hits at the heart of the who and what India is shaping up to be. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Fourth novel in the Malabar House series.
Set in 1950’s Bombay, James Whitby is sentenced to death for the murder of a prominent lawyer.
In an attempt to save his son, Charles Whitby forces a new investigation into the killing.
Inspector Persis Wadia, the first female officer in the Indian Police force together with her mentee Seema are given the case.
She is headstrong and determined and has a track record of solving difficult cases.
A clever historical crime fiction novel, beautifully written with a witty plot, full of situational humour that helps lighten the book.
A superb thriller tackling social issues in a remarkable country at a momentous time in it’s history.
Thanks @vaseemkhanuk @hodderbooks & @netgalley for the eARC

I appear to have missed an episode of Persis's life (no idea why) so some of this book was less clear to me than it should have been had I read The Lost Man of Bombay but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this book at all.

In this book Persis is tasked with proving that a young man condemned to death is actually innocent. Unfortunately the young man is a white, rich and the son of a man who is disliked intensely. The Indian authorities want to ensure that justice is done in their newly independent country. Persis unfortunately appears to be expendable in this equation as she can tell no one who has given her this job.

What follows is a pretty break-neck speed investigation that puts Persis and her mentee, Seema in danger from some very unsavoury elements. Not only is she mixing with dangerous men, she is far from home in Calcutta where the investigation takes many turns.

There are lots of twists, red herrings and heaps of action but has Persis bitten off more than she can chew. She not only has a man's life to save but she has to referee the animosity between potential suitors - Archie Blackfinch and her cousin, Darius. She really has got her work cut out this time.

I enjoyed this book much more than the first two. Vaseem Khan has developed Persis over the past few novels and she's a much more rounded and likeable character now. She's still no Baby Ganesh but that elephant was always going to be a hard act to follow. Still I shall be excited to read the next book starring Persis.

Definitely recommend for fans of Khan whether they've read the previous books or not.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance review copy.

Strong female characters are a weakness for me. And Persis is the only female police officer in India got a special place in my heart. I like lots the Malabar series the author is a brilliant writer who can portrait the places in a epic way. This book is the 4th but can be read alone I loved the characters it transport me to the places a brilliant book from the saga I definitely recomend. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Hodder & stoughton for let me read this arc in a exchange of a honest review

Inspector Persis Wadia is the first female officer in the Indian police service, a move seen as enlightened and forward thinking by politicians, but the reality is this bastion of masculinity has no idea what to do with her. So, she finds herself sidelined into the backwater of Malabar House where problems are parked and careers go to die, hopefully quietly. Except Persis is headstrong, driven and a very good detective, a combination that makes her difficult to control after the countrywide publicity of her appointment. She is developing a track record of solving difficult cases despite the obstacles put in her way, so the best they can do is try to manage her expectations. Here she is given the task of an off-the-books style investigation into the case of James Whitby who is due to be executed in eleven days for the murder of an Indian lawyer.

The regular cast of characters also appear too. Her father Sam is away on his honeymoon and so is busy making the lives of everyone he meets miserable, so we read about brief cantankerous outbursts of his. Criminalist Archie Blackfinch is touring India helping to set up crime labs in major cities, but of course he is on hand to provide case cracking insight. He is not the only man seeking Persis’ affections though, as she crosses paths with her much changed cousin Darius, who aunt Nussie has been trying to matchmake her with for years. Persis’ young ward Seema is looking after Sam’s bookstore, making changes, successful ones at that, which are going to shock him on his return. When Persis must work solo on the case, Seema pleads to join her and together, they get into much hot water.

The timing of the stories is critical in making it such a fascinating series. The immediate post WWII period was one of great upheaval across the globe, whilst the fighting didn’t encroach much into Indian territory, its men served in the commonwealth armies and there was a devastating famine in Bengal. This was the period of independence for India, which was followed by internal fighting and the partitioning of land on largely religious basis with the formation of Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). A huge mixing pot of faith, ethnicity, class and caste that is liable to boil over at any time is artfully used by the author to bring colour, depth and complexity to his stories. He deftly marshals multiple strands to produce a story that is fascinating, informative, nuanced and above all entertaining.

The central nub of the story appears at the beginning as a question before the blub; ‘Can a white man receive justice in post-colonial India?’ Persis is of course something of an idealist, a believer in truth and that justice will naturally follow. Something she pursues doggedly, although in this case there are unanticipated consequences and collateral damage of the human kind. In the end we see a chastened and reflective Persis, one who has learned a lesson the hard way. Others are much more sanguine; justice is now for Indians and past injustices at the hands of white colonials are neither forgotten nor forgiven.

The story is packed full of humour, be it situational, dialogue or his speciality the amusing description, such as describing a piece of cheese as being hairier than a Greek grandmother. There are so many of these it almost becomes too much to take in. All great knockabout stuff which helps to lighten a novel packed with serious messages.

India is of course a mini continent, and the reader is treated to much more than just life in Bombay. A good deal of the action happens around Calcutta and here Persis and Seema are very much innocents abroad. Then they become more like fish out of water as they find themselves away from the city. Here in the mangroves, they must battle extreme weather, nature itself and come across doughty and courageous natives.

Intelligent, witty and set in a remarkable country at a momentous time in its history, Death of a Lesser God is everything you want in historical crime fiction.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher in making the eARC available in exchange for a fair review.

The fourth instalment of this detective series sees Persis and Archie in Calcutta investigating a case that appears straightforward with a white man James Whitby convicted and awaiting the gallows. In her investigations, she comes across the mysterious death of an American GI and she is exposed to a murky Calcutta criminal underworld. Vaseem Khan provides a wonderful insight into India after partition with race, caste system and the patriarchy all contributing to the complex ongoing conflicts as a nation tries to develop after colonialism. He does so without preaching and gives his readers a complex plot that is well worth the read. Not many have the ability to mix history and crime in such an engaging way. A very satisfying read.

This is a wonderful series and this has to be the best yet. From Bombay to Calcutta, Persis is given the impossible task of saving a white man from execution of an Indian lawyer. This does not go down well given the hubris of Indian independence. Persis (as usual) overcomes the severest obstacles in her search for the truth, putting herself and others in severe danger. This was an an exciting and absorbing read, descriptions of the mango swamps south of Calcutta very evocative. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

This series goes from strength to strength, I think. Good characters, an intricate and clever plot (and occasional lapses in following it were my fault), and a clear love and knowledge of India and its history. Well recommended if you like strong women, intelligent stories and a vivid setting.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

This is the 4th book in the Malabar House series and this time the focus changes from Bombay to Calcutta as Persis tries to prove the innocence of a white man found guilty of murder.
I have enjoyed all the books in this series, finding the setting, both the period and the place, fascinating. An interesting supporting cast of characters has started to develop, from the misfit detectives at Malabar House, to the vividly drawn members of Persis' family. My main problem with the series has been the central character of Persis herself. She is a difficult character to like - a cold fish, obsessed with her work, convinced of her own righteousness and often unfeeling in her treatment of others. I find her a difficult obstacle to overcome in these books.
With this in mind, I was dismayed to find Persis stripped of most of her supporting characters- her father on his honeymoon, Archie away with work and most of the other characters barely mentioned. Instead she is totally absorbed in discovering the truth of the death of a prominent local lawyer. She takes stupid risks, both with her own safety and that of the people she involves in her case. And this despite being warned about the dangers of the men she's investigating.
But just as I was despairing of her character, she hits some hard realities that force her to assess the choices she has made and take a long hard look at herself and her life.
The ending of this book was really tense and exciting, with some great set pieces. Calcutta was an exciting new backdrop to explore, brought vividly to life, although the author does have a tendency to rely far too much on sometimes dodgy similes for his descriptions of both people and places!
All in all, I felt this was a good step forward for both the character and the series, with promise for interesting changes to come in the next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing a digital review copy in exchange for a fair review of this book.

This book is the fourth in a brilliant series but could be read alone.
India's first female police officer Persis is on another case which no one else wants.
Sent to Calcutta to check that the death sentence of the son of a deeply unpopular English businessman Persis uncovers much that is not good about the new independent India and much that is.
Once again we are in a world that is beautifully written with characters that are believable in their awkwardness.

About a year ago I started to read the first book in this series, Midnight at Malabar House, and it has quickly moved to the top of my favourite series list as the storytelling and writing is excellent.

Set in Bombay in 1950 Death of a Lesser God is another very worthy addition to the series as once again Persis Wadia is faced with a complex investigation.

The author recreates 1950s India with a great touch and uses his cast of characters with Persis leading the way to create a complex but engaging tale.

If you like historical crime fiction then this is the book and series for you. If you don’t then give it a try as you won’t be let down.

A fabulous read.

4.5* Death of a Lesser God is the 4th outing for Persis, India's first female police officer and it is another page turning, rip roaring thriller from Vaseem Khan.

James Whitby, Indian born to a British father who embodies all that was bad about the British in pre-Partition India, find himself on death row with days to go. As a white man accused of murdering a prominent Indian lawyer there is little sympathy and no support for his cause. Until his father pulls strings and Persis is tasked with secretly re-examining the case against James. Thrust into a den of inequity in her native Bombay, she has the fight of her life when the trail leads her to corruption and gangsters in Calcutta.

Drawing on the chaos of India finding its feet after Partition and not shying away from the apparently religious atrocities and underhand politics, Death of a Lesser God is a brilliant insight into the era while wrapped in another brilliant story.

The pace doesn't let up and the writing is top notch (save for a few too many 'dad jokes'). However, it a return to this fantastic cast of characters which is the biggest treat. Persis is a fabulous protagonist and she now has a sidekick in the sparky Seema. It perhaps lacked airtime for some of the wider cast of characters from the earlier books, notably Persis dad and the grumpy Aunt Nussie.

While this is a fantastic series and is best read as a set, this would equally work as a standalone thriller.

Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for and ARC.

Death of a Lesser God is the fourth book in the Malabar House series and it doesn't disappoint. Vaseem Khan is an excellent writer who vividly portrays India in the early post colonial years.
This murder mystery is another case for Inspector Persis Wadia and the complex plot moves from Bombay to Calcutta and the Sundarbans, domain of the Bengal tiger. The story is well-paced and weaves in real events such as the 1946 Calcutta Killings, black American GIs in Bengal during World War Two and the place of Jews in India. A hugely enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.”

Persis is the only female police officer in India. Although she meets much prejudice because of her gender she overcomes all of it and gets results.
James Whitby has been found guilty of murder and is awaiting execution when Persis is tasked with reviewing the evidence to ensure that the conviction is right.
Her desire for justice takes her far from home in Bombay to Calcutta and more danger than she could have imagined.
This is a story of prejudice, not just against Persis for being a woman, but against the white man in the newly independent India. It takes Persis to the dark side of the city and takes all of her strength and intellect to decide whether or not Whitby is right to protest his innocence.

I’m a big fan of this series, and I’m fascinated by Indian history and culture, so I was excited to read this and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. Khan mixes his police procedurals with a history class so seamlessly you hardly notice the lesson! This is book 4 in The Malabar House Series, set in Bombay in 1950, featuring Inspector Persis Wadia, the first female police officer in India and this time she is given a seemingly impossible job, but Persis doesn’t do impossible. She is a powerhouse of a woman; stubborn, determined, intelligent and capable she jumps in feet first, without thinking at times, but she always gets the job done. Or does she?

Briefly, Persis is looking into the murder of lawyer Fareed Mazumdar. James Whitby has been found guilty and sentenced to death and she has only 11 days to prove whether or not he was the killer. Her investigations lead her to Calcutta and another murder case, that of an America GI and an Indian singer. How are the murders connected? Can Persis unravel this complex case in time?

Written in the manner of the time there are comments and racial slurs in the book that would not be acceptable today but which show just how much things have changed, although not as much as it should have. The storyline is intricate and at times violent, but never gratuitously so, and this is gently balanced out by touches of wonderful wry humour. Beautifully written and insightful this is a gritty and fascinating look at India post partition and an enjoyable police procedural. Loved it.

“My name is James Whitby and I have been convicted of a crime I did not commit.”

Inspector Persis Wadia finds Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Shulka waiting for her outside her office in Malabar House. He wants her to reopen the case of murder brought against James Whitby for the murder of Fareed Mazumdar, a lawyer who originally lived in Calcutta (now changed to Kolkata). It seems impossible because all the evidence points to James Whitby. However, Persis reopens the case and, with it a can of worms pointing to Fareed Mazumbar’s time living in Calcutta (Kolkata).

I have loved all the books in this series. I love how Vaseem Khan captured India and newly separated Pakistan in the 1950s. He includes so much history of the troubled times that the country was facing at the time. However, it’s not just the history; it’s the countryside, the way people lived and tolerated the hated English who stayed on after independence.

Vasheem Khan paints perfect word pictures of all the characters, with the main protagonist being Inspector Persis Wadia. What a woman!

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

Another excellent book in this series. Persis is a strong character, easy to empathise with. The plot is quite complicated and fast paced, with magnificent action packed scenes at the end. Having travelled to India this book made me want to return. I love Vasem Khan’s style of writing; he is the master of the metaphor. I do hope there are more books to follow the adventures of Persis.

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 fourth book in Vaseem Khan's "Malabar House" series; as I've read and enjoyed the previous novels, I was delighted to be invited to read this latest instalment.

Persis Wadia is once again the main character. She's a strong and determined young woman, who faces hostility as India's first female detective, even after her previous successes in the role. Her headstrong and determined character is once more front and central in this novel, as she faces difficult challenges.

This time round some of the challenges she faces are way out of her control - namely the way the justice system is working post independence. In this case, the challenge is a race against time to review the case of a condemned man - and to discern whether his skin colour and heritage have played a part in his conviction.

I really enjoyed this book - as in the previous novels, there is plenty of historical detail, and an interesting cast of characters both new and old. The writing is so evocative at times that you can picture the settings and characters.

Looking forward to the next in this excellent series.

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