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lzad's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
3.0
I’m so frustrated with this series. I love the stories and the main character Persis and learning about post-Independence India, but so much of the writing drives me nuts. At least the jarring introduction of historical facts into the tale didn’t bother me as much this time.
That said, the whole premise of the riddles seemed preposterous. Maybe if the riddles had been less complex I might have accepted them more easily, but I couldn’t picture a frantic, stressed police inspector going through the nitpicking of figuring them out - and there were a LOT. The story itself was too complex, with too many extraneous characters muddying the plot, especially at the end when everything is finally spelled out.
I was also bothered about documents being faxed - I didn’t know faxes existed in 1950s. In fact, they didn’t. They weren’t in use till 1964. Perhaps the author was referring to the pantelegraph, a precursor to the fax machine.
And what’s that bit about casually climbing over a 7’ wall in the middle of the night? Doesn’t seem realistic.
Finally, there’s a scene in a morgue where what appears to be a tattoo is discovered, but it turns out to be ink. But it’s not something simple; it’s a really long series of words and numbers. It would have gone all the way down the man’s thigh. And it was so complicated that it would have been easy to make a lot of mistakes. After all, writing on your own thigh is harder than writing on a piece of paper.
Normally I wouldn’t read further but I bought the first three books in the series so I’ll read the next one - but I’ll be mad about it.
That said, the whole premise of the riddles seemed preposterous. Maybe if the riddles had been less complex I might have accepted them more easily, but I couldn’t picture a frantic, stressed police inspector going through the nitpicking of figuring them out - and there were a LOT. The story itself was too complex, with too many extraneous characters muddying the plot, especially at the end when everything is finally spelled out.
I was also bothered about documents being faxed - I didn’t know faxes existed in 1950s. In fact, they didn’t. They weren’t in use till 1964. Perhaps the author was referring to the pantelegraph, a precursor to the fax machine.
And what’s that bit about casually climbing over a 7’ wall in the middle of the night? Doesn’t seem realistic.
Finally, there’s a scene in a morgue where what appears to be a tattoo is discovered, but it turns out to be ink. But it’s not something simple; it’s a really long series of words and numbers. It would have gone all the way down the man’s thigh. And it was so complicated that it would have been easy to make a lot of mistakes. After all, writing on your own thigh is harder than writing on a piece of paper.
Normally I wouldn’t read further but I bought the first three books in the series so I’ll read the next one - but I’ll be mad about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Murder, Colonisation, and War
tamara_joy's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, Torture, War, and Classism
veronique5199's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
<i> Thank you Netgalley, Vaseem Khan and Hodder & Stoughton for the Advanced reader copy. </i>
The Dying Day is the second novel in the Malabar House series. This book is set in 1950s India after the second world war and the independence of India. It follows Persis Wadia, India's first female police detective, in her investigation looking for the stolen Dante Manuscript. Various riddles lead her on a scavenger hunt through Bombay while the stakes are getting higher.
<b>Representation: </b> Indian main character, post independence India
<b>Content warnings: </b> murder, deaths, suicide, sexism, discrimination, World War two references,
CAWPILE Rating: 7.57 => 4 Stars
Characters: 7.5
Atmosphere: 7
Writing: 8
Plot: 8.5
Intrigue : 7
Logic: 7
Enjoyment: 8
I never read the first one but this did not alter my enjoyment of this book. I actually might go back and read the first novel.
I really enjoyed this treasure hunt of a book, It felt like the DaVinci Code set in India. Really enjoyed all the historical integration of post-independent India and WWII.
Parsis was a really interesting character to follow, being amazing at her job but having to fight discrimination being a woman in a men's world. Vaseem Khan also integrated the relationships and the views on relationships between Indian and English people at that time were really well.
I definitely can say I learned a lot of history from this novel.
The side characters were however a bit flat, I also constantly forget who was who and had to read a few lines before I remembered how they connected into the story
The mystery was also interesting and gave a great treasure hunt through Bombay where the stakes were getting higher and higher throughout the novel. That in the end the Nazi's were involved was not something I saw coming
I do have to say one of the lesser points was that as the reader you could not solve the riddles with the main character. Parsis constantly had eureka moments and would go to that place and there was not enough info for the reader to come to this ourselves.
The Dying Day is the second novel in the Malabar House series. This book is set in 1950s India after the second world war and the independence of India. It follows Persis Wadia, India's first female police detective, in her investigation looking for the stolen Dante Manuscript. Various riddles lead her on a scavenger hunt through Bombay while the stakes are getting higher.
<b>Representation: </b>
<b>Content warnings: </b>
CAWPILE Rating: 7.57 => 4 Stars
Characters: 7.5
Atmosphere: 7
Writing: 8
Plot: 8.5
Intrigue : 7
Logic: 7
Enjoyment: 8
I never read the first one but this did not alter my enjoyment of this book. I actually might go back and read the first novel.
I really enjoyed this treasure hunt of a book, It felt like the DaVinci Code set in India. Really enjoyed all the historical integration of post-independent India and WWII.
Parsis was a really interesting character to follow, being amazing at her job but having to fight discrimination being a woman in a men's world. Vaseem Khan also integrated the relationships and the views on relationships between Indian and English people at that time were really well.
I definitely can say I learned a lot of history from this novel.
The side characters were however a bit flat, I also constantly forget who was who and had to read a few lines before I remembered how they connected into the story
The mystery was also interesting and gave a great treasure hunt through Bombay where the stakes were getting higher and higher throughout the novel.
I do have to say one of the lesser points was that as the reader you could not solve the riddles with the main character. Parsis constantly had eureka moments and would go to that place and there was not enough info for the reader to come to this ourselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide, Racism, Sexism, and Colonisation
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