City of Destruction is the fifth book in the popular Malabar House series, written by Vaseem Khan. I haven’t read the earlier four books, so hoped the book would read well as a standalone.

Persis Wadia is immensely proud to be the first female Police Inspector in India. Unfortunately, not many of her colleagues share her enthusiasm and confidence in her appointment. India in 1950, just 3 years after the many horrors of Partition, is a tricky place for a strong willed, ambitious woman to thrive. An attempt on the life of the new charismatic, but divisive, defence minister, places Persis in the heart of a highly political crime, and subsequent investigation.

The book worked well as a standalone, I felt that the author provided all of the backstory I needed, to understood the relationship between the characters. Persis is so determined to succeed, to be taken seriously by the systematic patriarchy; that she behaves recklessly, and doesn’t learn from her mistakes. Her decision making in her private life is also quite questionable.

I enjoyed the narration, provided by Maya Soraya. I really felt Persis’ frequent annoyance and frustration, through Maya’s voice.

The author’s words painted all the sights, sounds and smells of India, in the turbulent, early post Partition years. I felt it was a slow burning, solid read. I must admit I felt a little lost in the story at times. Sometimes, the historical and political scene setting, distracted me from the storyline itself. 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

Not a bad plot but very slow going and confusing in parts I had to re listen to a few chapters where I lost interest and missed bits

This was very much a take-it-or-leave-it story for me. It was an interesting insight into post-partition India; there was quite a lot of background information about India’s history and politics which was insightful, but didn’t really add to the story.
While the plot seemed solid (as far as I could tell), it also became quite convoluted. The detailed description of each new character stalled the pace a little for me, and this, along with copious analogies, regular interludes of exposition and background information (superfluous to the plot), created a feeling of detachment from the story, so I did find my attention wandering, and if I’m honest, I lost the thread quite a few times.
The main character is suitably flawed; a female police officer who’s stubborn, prone to emotional reactions and careless entanglements, who’s slow to admit her failings (at least publicly) and often fails to consider the wider consequences of her actions. If I’m honest, I found her a little irritating.
This one wasn’t really for me, but I appreciate the opportunity to listen to the audio ARC, and would like to thank NatGalley and Hodder and Stoughton audio.

n the 5th of his historical fiction mystery series set in the 195os by Vaseem Khan, we are in the midst the turbulence of an independent India, with a separate Pakistan that has many overtly seething. This includes Azad, the defence minister in Nehru's government, giving inflammatory, yet popular, pro war speeches promoting unification at protests, as the colonial legacy in the region persists. I read and listened to this on audio, ably narrated by Maya Saroya, although I did on occasions wish that she had injected a greater sense of drama to the narrative. Persis Wadia is the first woman police detective in the force, a target for many, such as misogynists and those who strongly believe it to be the sphere for men alone. She considers quitting but decides to continue at Malabar House.

Persis's attention is caught by a young man at a protest, forced to shoot him dead when he attempts to assasinate Azad, a act that results in the shooting of Scotland Yard criminalist, Archie Blackfinch, who ends up in a coma in hospital. In emotional turmoil, she keeps secret the amulet pushed into her hand and the last words he whispers, were they simply the despairing lament of a dying man or something more? There is huge pressure to identify the man, investigate motives and possible co-conspirators, but she is not on the team and is given the case of a burned man at a beach, self immolation is not uncommon, but something about this feels wrong, as she becomes convinced it is murder. Could there possibly be any connections between the 2 cases?

The determined Persis, some might say foolhardy, goes rogue, going to Delhi to identify the would be assassin, and becomes embroiled in dealings with British intelligence agents, Julius Barnes and David Astor, there to support the Delhi Intelligence Bureau. Persis mostly operates as a loner in the complex investigations, slowly joining the many pieces of the puzzle together, never losing her sense of focus, despite the challenges she faces emotionally and professionally. As usual, Khan weaves an intricate and engaging story that immerses the reader in the India and its problematic issues in this historical period. I can recommend this to readers interested in this era, and to those simply looking for a great intriguing mystery, in what is a terrific addition to a brilliant series. The audio and the book are great! Many thanks to the publisher for an ALC and ARC.

I have just finished this audiobook, the narration by Maya Saroya was excellent.

I hadn’t realised this was part of a series and read it as a standalone.

Persis is a brilliant character and I have totally enjoyed being transported to a different time and place which you can feel with every page. The story slowly unfolded and I liked the literary references used to piece the story together.

I will definitely read more in this series.

4.25⭐️

Malabar house no 5

This is my first book in this historical mystery series. In fact it’s my first book by the author. It reads well as a standalone. I had the audiobook read by Maya Saroya who is excellent

It features India’s first female detective Persis Wadia set in Bombay in 1950 where a political rally ends in disaster.

It’s a slow burn mystery with good plot complexity. It gives some flavour of the time period but doesn’t dwell heavily on the historical aspect, although it’s quite politically orientated which is eye opening. I gelled with Persis I was really rooting for her, as she doesn’t have it easy. She is one smart individual. It was interesting reading about the level of police corruption then. I really enjoyed the romantic connection.

I really enjoyed this, I’d like to catch up with the audiobooks.