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ptaradactyl's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite so far? I have always liked Suren as a character, so I enjoyed getting his exasperation with Sam more directly. You knew he had to be rolling his eyes and keeping his opinion to himself frequently. Both characters are maturing in the series
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, this was FANTASTIC!
For one, I was happy to see to what lengths Sam is going to go to keep Surendranath safe and free. But also because the danger was personal and I think that, as much as I love Sam, Surendranath is my favourite character.
But there are also political intrigues, betrayals, and, as always, a deep immersion in the time and place in which the story is happening. India is boiling with tension and the death of a minor religious leader has the power to set it on fire. Having an Indian member of the Imperial Police pointed as the killer doesn't really help.
Sam is doggedly trying to prove Surendranath's innocence by finding the real culprits, all of that when both of them are on the run. Sam has proven here his friendship, risking everything for his friend and yet... he still doesn't really understand him ~sigh~
Another great choice was that, this time, we have both points of view narrating the story, which gives us a better insight into the motives of the characters. And shows in a brighter light the conflict between these two friends, which is, in essence, the conflict between the British Empire and India.
And, by the end of the book, there is still a lot left unresolved on a personal level.
I really hope there will be more books coming. *sits anxiously waiting for more books*
For one, I was happy to see to what lengths Sam is going to go to keep Surendranath safe and free. But also because the danger was personal and I think that, as much as I love Sam, Surendranath is my favourite character.
But there are also political intrigues, betrayals, and, as always, a deep immersion in the time and place in which the story is happening. India is boiling with tension and the death of a minor religious leader has the power to set it on fire. Having an Indian member of the Imperial Police pointed as the killer doesn't really help.
Sam is doggedly trying to prove Surendranath's innocence by finding the real culprits, all of that when both of them are on the run. Sam has proven here his friendship, risking everything for his friend and yet... he still doesn't really understand him ~sigh~
Another great choice was that, this time, we have both points of view narrating the story, which gives us a better insight into the motives of the characters. And shows in a brighter light the conflict between these two friends, which is, in essence, the conflict between the British Empire and India.
And, by the end of the book, there is still a lot left unresolved on a personal level.
Spoiler
The day was grey and the seagulls called out in complaint against the rain. I pulled my overcoat tight, grabbed my case and descended the gangplank onto the soil of France. Taggart’s return had vindicated me. In the eyes of the British, I was exonerated. That though did not mean that all was forgiven; at least not from my side. I had worked these past years for a system which I now realised was built to keep my people in subjugation, regardless of morality, regardless of the cost. It was a system I would no longer work for.
I would go home.
But not just yet.
I really hope there will be more books coming. *sits anxiously waiting for more books*
nocto's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I can't fault this one. It's another excellent entry in the series. I like that this series doesn't have the thing going on that makes some mystery series feel like sitcoms - where nothing is allowed to change, where you know whatever decisions the characters make they are going to be reset by the end of the episode so that you can eventually watch/read all of them out of order without noticing that anyone has aged or changed. I'm probably being unfair on sitcoms (which aren't really one of my specialist subjects) there, especially since even I can think of counter-examples without trying very hard! Anyway, what I mean is that this series feels like one you want to read in order as things just might change enough that one book out of order would spoil the others.
And I love that we get more than just Sam Wyndham in this book. His sergeant Surendranath Banerjee gets to narrate a lot of this book and it's very much his story. Suren gets accused of murder and things get complicated fast! I really enjoyed the story and how it came together. The two handed narration keeps the suspense up and the plot moving at all times. I think it helped that I read most of the book by candlelight in a power cut which cut me off from all the distractions of the modern world and let me concentrate on 1920s Calcutta and Bombay. I wouldn't exactly recommend having no power and no mobile signal but it's great for getting on and reading and having little else useful that you can do. It was lovely to be absorbed in a book and not at all bothered about the power coming back.
Great characters, evocative setting and a cracking plot. Well written to boot. Not sure I can ask much else of a book.
And I love that we get more than just Sam Wyndham in this book. His sergeant Surendranath Banerjee gets to narrate a lot of this book and it's very much his story. Suren gets accused of murder and things get complicated fast! I really enjoyed the story and how it came together. The two handed narration keeps the suspense up and the plot moving at all times. I think it helped that I read most of the book by candlelight in a power cut which cut me off from all the distractions of the modern world and let me concentrate on 1920s Calcutta and Bombay. I wouldn't exactly recommend having no power and no mobile signal but it's great for getting on and reading and having little else useful that you can do. It was lovely to be absorbed in a book and not at all bothered about the power coming back.
Great characters, evocative setting and a cracking plot. Well written to boot. Not sure I can ask much else of a book.
debsd's review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
5.0
Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to read all of the books in this series, I have only read the first, but this book was easily read as a standalone novel, and made me more determined to read the books that I haven’t had the time to read.
The novel is dual narrative with both Sam and Suren revealing the predicament they face. It is evident immediately to the reader the danger that Suren faces,in many ways before he does. His accusers are British, he is Indian and despite him being a police officer he is in danger of going to the gallows. Regardless of the fact that he is innocent. The more you read Suren’s account, you see how betrayed he feels by the system and by his colleagues who just assume he is guilty because of his religion.
With Sam, you see the determination to prove that Suren is innocent, the frustration at some of the decisions made and his increasing reliance on some brilliant female characters.
Because I haven’t read all of this series it was a joy to see Sam without his opium addiction. I could see him as an officer who was coping without the need for the drug and the guilt at needing it. Part of his story is upsetting, his memories of his war experience, but I also got a lot of enjoyment out of his cynicism and frustration when things didn’t entirely go got plan.
This novel shows how powerful a tool manipulation is. And how even though it takes place a 100 years ago it could just as easily happen today. There were times I felt chilled at the danger innocent people faced for being duped by those who had power and the means.
But it also showed a fascinating country with some wonderful characters. There were so many who made an impression on me, many of whom were probably invisible to the ones who had authority or a better life.
The novel is dual narrative with both Sam and Suren revealing the predicament they face. It is evident immediately to the reader the danger that Suren faces,in many ways before he does. His accusers are British, he is Indian and despite him being a police officer he is in danger of going to the gallows. Regardless of the fact that he is innocent. The more you read Suren’s account, you see how betrayed he feels by the system and by his colleagues who just assume he is guilty because of his religion.
With Sam, you see the determination to prove that Suren is innocent, the frustration at some of the decisions made and his increasing reliance on some brilliant female characters.
Because I haven’t read all of this series it was a joy to see Sam without his opium addiction. I could see him as an officer who was coping without the need for the drug and the guilt at needing it. Part of his story is upsetting, his memories of his war experience, but I also got a lot of enjoyment out of his cynicism and frustration when things didn’t entirely go got plan.
This novel shows how powerful a tool manipulation is. And how even though it takes place a 100 years ago it could just as easily happen today. There were times I felt chilled at the danger innocent people faced for being duped by those who had power and the means.
But it also showed a fascinating country with some wonderful characters. There were so many who made an impression on me, many of whom were probably invisible to the ones who had authority or a better life.
bookwormbev17's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
nonna7's review against another edition
2.0
I lost patience with this one. I didn't like the back and forth chapters. What the Indian police officer does is just plain stupid and the whole thing dragged.
natty_books's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0