Another fantastic book about Persia Wahdia - a great story which also spends more time on the relationships of the characters. Unexpected at times - I couldn't put it down.

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.

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.

A book that weaves complications but Persis persists.

An assassination prevented to a murder committed, with no obvious link, sets Persis on the road to her usual head on clash with authority (and her team) but with so many factors post Partition the who and the why begin to fall back to common denominators - leading to several parties with an interest in seeing Persis’s demise. A book that builds as you read and grips as you go - looking forward to the next one.

This series really is something special. I have learned more about india and its politics and culture from this series than from anything else. Vaseem takes the history and background of a country, countries at such a crux time and spins a fictional tale that really brings it all together. He has a lovely way with words and a way of telling you things whilst entertaining you and making you think at the same time.

Detective Persis Wadia, India’s 1st female detective’s cases in tumultuous young India

Detective Persis Wadia and Archie Blackfinch attend a rally held by the Defence Minister. She is there in an official capacity to help control the crowd. By chance, she spots a young man who appears hell-bent on getting to the front of the crowds. Persis’s detective instincts kick in and she makes her way to the front just in time to see the man raise a revolver. She manages to kill him, but not before he shoots – hitting Archie.

Persis is relegated from the case because of the death of the suspect, instead being given a case of a man burnt to death on the outskirts of the city. However, Persis can never obey orders and ends up becoming involved not just with solving the murder she’s assigned to but also the case involving the assassin she shot.

Persis is the most stubborn, complicated woman and I find myself feeling so irritated with her at times and yet, without her, the killers would never be found. However, this series is so much more than the story of Persis Wadia, first female detective in India, they take us back to the 1950s just after the split of India and Pakistan and the terrible turmoil in the country.

This series of books involving Persis Wadia would make a fantastic television series. Vaseem Khan has a way with words that draw pictures in one’s mind while reading. I have learnt so much about India’s history thanks to these novels.

Rony
Elite Reviewing Group

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 latest 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 instalment.

Persis Wadia is once again the main character. She's a strong and determined young woman, who - despite her previous successes - still faces hostility as India's first female detective. Her determined character is needed more than ever in this novel as Persis strives to track down a murderer, plus (despite being told NOT to investigate!) those behind an assassination attempt that leaves Archie Blackfinch in hospital.

As in the previous novels, there is plenty of historical detail - most of which I was totally unaware of. There's an interesting cast of characters, and the action moves between various beautifully described locations. 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.

City of Destruction marks a very welcome return to Bombay, for the fifth book in the wonderful 'Malabar House' series by Vaseem Khan.
Our protagonist is one Inspector Persis Wadia, who has the unique distinction of being India's first female detective. Persis encounters hostility on a daily basis and I love her strength and resistance in how she constantly strives to solve her cases and not succumb to the pressure of higher authorities. She is far from perfect and indeed her flaws form part of storyline, as we see Persis choose to fight on her own, rather than trust her colleagues, as she seeks justice.
Set in 1951, post-partition India continues to undergo a turbulent time, with tensions at a critical impasse with Pakistan. The action begins from the opening paragraph as Persis foils an assassination attempt plunges her straight into a political nightmare with MI6 and local intelligence. City of Destruction is a complex story, where moralistic dilemmas and the intricate Indian politics create a unique environment and is an absolute ‘must-read’.
The plot is clever full of attention grabbing twists, with plenty of authentic-sounding historical detail that completely engage the reader's attention. And of course, there is the personal aspect of the novel as Persis continues to struggle with the potential of a relationship with Archie – not least of which are the issues of a mixed-race relationship and inability for a married woman to work as a detective.
If you haven’t read the previous four books in the series, then you will have no trouble diving straight into this tale. But why deny yourself that pleasure?
I would recommend that you do so, for the sheer joy of the storytelling.
I'm excited for the next adventure for Persis!

The Malabar House series is really starting to come into its own and develop a clear and distinctive voice. Vaseem Khan is very good at finding fascinating little historical titbits and weaving them into multi-layered plots, and Persis is an increasingly interesting, if flawed, central character.
An assassination attempt plunges Persis into the murky world of Indian politics as tensions increase with Pakistan. Despite being assigned to investigate the burnt remains of a man found by the sea, she cannot step away from chasing up leads in the assassination case. This leads her to Delhi and a run in with MI6, gangsters and agitators.
The plot is exciting and had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing to the last few chapters. The political and historical information was fascinating and dealt with a complex period in Indian history that I knew little about. Khan has eased back on the endless slightly dodgy similes and manages a more consistent tone of voice. His descriptions of Bombay and Delhi were rich and vivid and there were some great new characters.
Persis herself is still a difficult character to like. Although she is showing signs of personal growth after the tough lessons from the previous book, she still excludes colleagues, takes stupid risks and fails to understand her own heart. I liked the way she started to confront her feelings for Archie but it's hard to develop a love story when the couple have barely had any time together in the last two books. I would have liked to see a little more of Malabar House - a little more team work and a little less dashing off alone, but I'm also starting to like her flaws and the way she grows as the series progresses.
Can't wait for the next in the series!

An excellent addition to this series. Persis, the only female police inspector in post-Partition India, confronts and shoots a would-be assassin. This leads to her being side-lined by her colleagues and British Intelligence. Without giving anything away she investigates, and uncovers crimes, injustices and continues to prove her worth to Malabar House.

With thanks to NetGalley and Holder & Stoughton

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.