In 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.

4 stars. The fifth instalment in the Malabar House series, sees Persis investigate an attempted assassination - she shot the assassin, but not before his bullet bad hit Archie Blackfinch, Persis’ on/off love interest… and so we’re into investigating that and also the case of a man who was found burned on nearby scrub land…

This is another great instalment in the series - though I do sometimes worry about Persis’ aggression, there are several times she imagines hitting or shooting people who frustrate her. Perhaps some yoga might help calm her 😉. We have a little intrigue in the form of someone from Archie’s past who shows up, and a few scrapes Persis gets into (and usually out of herself, sometimes with help). I did spot a few of the reveals, but to balance that out, I did get a bit lost in the final explanation of how they all tied together 😆. All in all, I’m already looking forward to the next book!

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

City of Destruction is the 5th book in the Malabar House series set in 1950s India. Persis is investigating the attempted assassination of the defense minister and trying to identify a body found on the beach. Her investigations take her from Bombay to Delhi. Khan's evocative prose brings both cities to life and the well-researched historical background adds depth to the plot. Persis has some narrow escapes as she links the 2 seemingly separate cases. A twisty plot full of religious factions and political intrigues including the involvement of MI6 make this a thrilling read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange of an unbiased review.