Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Midnight at Malabar House
Midnight at Malabar House | Vaseem Khan
10 posts | 8 read | 10 to read
'the leading character is the deftly drawn Persis Wadia, the country's first female detective. She's a wonderful creation and this is a hugely enjoyable book' - Ann Cleeves Bombay, New Year's Eve, 1949 As India celebrates the arrival of a momentous new decade, Inspector Persis Wadia stands vigil in the basement of Malabar House, home to the city's most unwanted unit of police officers. Six months after joining the force she remains India's first female police detective, mistrusted, sidelined and now consigned to the midnight shift. And so, when the phone rings to report the murder of prominent English diplomat Sir James Herriot, the country's most sensational case falls into her lap. As 1950 dawns and India prepares to become the world's largest republic, Persis, accompanied by Scotland Yard criminalist Archie Blackfinch, finds herself investigating a case that is becoming more political by the second. Navigating a country and society in turmoil, Persis, smart, stubborn and untested in the crucible of male hostility that surrounds her, must find a way to solve the murder - whatever the cost.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
kspenmoll
post image
Pickpick

Inspector Persis Wadis is the first woman to qualify as a police person in India during Partition.She works out of the Malabar House station,where the most “unwanted”police are sent.She is to investigate the murder of Sir James Herriot,an Englishman,who is involved in a top-secret investigation.The author draws with impeccable detail, a picture of India during the chaos of Partition-it‘s political rivalries,cultural,& religious turmoil.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cuilin I really enjoyed this. Will you read the series? 2mo
kspenmoll @Cuilin Yes, I hope to continue. Checking to see if my library has the next in the series. I enjoyed this, love the characters & learned so much! 2mo
57 likes2 comments
quote
kspenmoll
post image

Love this epigraph- fills me with good feelings about this book.💙 It is 1947 & Inspector Persis Wadia,India‘s first female police detective,is faced with a “sensational case.” Starting this tonight.#bookedintime #August

Cuilin Enjoy, I read it earlier this year and liked it. 3mo
57 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
VanessaCW
post image
Pickpick

The first in a series set in India during the 1950s just after the partition. I enjoyed this one. It has an intriguing mystery with a feisty Indian female police officer, the first of her kind, at the helm. Plus the historical aspect is very interesting. A good combination of fact and fiction. I‘m looking forward to reading the second in the series. I can recommend.

34 likes1 stack add
blurb
VanessaCW
post image

I‘m reading this with my local reading group. The theme was a book set in India. I‘ve heard great things about this series so I‘m looking forward to it.

25 likes1 stack add
review
MamaGina
post image
Pickpick

Many excellent historical mysteries are set in India and this newest series featuring India‘s first female detective inspector is an engaging entry into the category. Most I‘ve read are set during British rule but Khan sets his tale during Partition, a time of political, cultural and religious upheaval. I look forward to future installments of this series and learning more about this difficult and long reaching time in India‘s story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

23 likes2 stack adds
review
charl08
Pickpick

Recommended historical crime fiction.

Persis is the first woman to qualify as a police officer in newly independent India. Her first big case is the complicated murder of a British grandee, who was working on a top secret investigation. Can she solve the case, despite the prejudices of most of those around her (including her own colleagues)?

I'll definitely be picking up the next one!

34 likes1 stack add
quote
charl08
post image

In the branches of the tree behind her a brainfever bird sounded its piercing three-note call...

(brainfever bird - type of cuckoo)

Photo of bird from wikipedia

quote
charl08

She found words in her mouth. "You do well, my son, to cry ike a woman, for what you could not defend as a man." Campbell's brow corrugated into a frown. 'What? What was that?"

"They were the words that Boabdil's mother said to him as they left Granada, driven out after seven centuries of Muslim rule..."

32 likes1 stack add
blurb
charl08
post image

Just started...