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sevensins's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thinkivist's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sandylc's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Our main character continues to put herself, and sometimes others, in dangerous situations but manages to emerge alive. The historical background, India post-colonialism, is one of the main attractions of the series. The plot is intricate and well thought out with all loose ends neatly tied. Not sure if I believe one of the character's development, or was I just not paying attention?
nicjohnston's review against another edition
4.0
4.5* Death of a Lesser God is the 4th outing for Persis, India's first female police officer and it is another page turning, rip roaring thriller from Vaseem Khan.
James Whitby, Indian born to a British father who embodies all that was bad about the British in pre-Partition India, find himself on death row with days to go. As a white man accused of murdering a prominent Indian lawyer there is little sympathy and no support for his cause. Until his father pulls strings and Persis is tasked with secretly re-examining the case against James. Thrust into a den of inequity in her native Bombay, she has the fight of her life when the trail leads her to corruption and gangsters in Calcutta.
Drawing on the chaos of India finding its feet after Partition and not shying away from the apparently religious atrocities and underhand politics, Death of a Lesser God is a brilliant insight into the era while wrapped in another brilliant story.
The pace doesn't let up and the writing is top notch (save for a few too many 'dad jokes'). However, it a return to this fantastic cast of characters which is the biggest treat. Persis is a fabulous protagonist and she now has a sidekick in the sparky Seema. It perhaps lacked airtime for some of the wider cast of characters from the earlier books, notably Persis dad and the grumpy Aunt Nussie.
While this is a fantastic series and is best read as a set, this would equally work as a standalone thriller.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for and ARC.
James Whitby, Indian born to a British father who embodies all that was bad about the British in pre-Partition India, find himself on death row with days to go. As a white man accused of murdering a prominent Indian lawyer there is little sympathy and no support for his cause. Until his father pulls strings and Persis is tasked with secretly re-examining the case against James. Thrust into a den of inequity in her native Bombay, she has the fight of her life when the trail leads her to corruption and gangsters in Calcutta.
Drawing on the chaos of India finding its feet after Partition and not shying away from the apparently religious atrocities and underhand politics, Death of a Lesser God is a brilliant insight into the era while wrapped in another brilliant story.
The pace doesn't let up and the writing is top notch (save for a few too many 'dad jokes'). However, it a return to this fantastic cast of characters which is the biggest treat. Persis is a fabulous protagonist and she now has a sidekick in the sparky Seema. It perhaps lacked airtime for some of the wider cast of characters from the earlier books, notably Persis dad and the grumpy Aunt Nussie.
While this is a fantastic series and is best read as a set, this would equally work as a standalone thriller.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for and ARC.
vampirefwoodstock's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
ellenarcher22's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kate66's review against another edition
4.0
I appear to have missed an episode of Persis's life (no idea why) so some of this book was less clear to me than it should have been had I read The Lost Man of Bombay but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this book at all.
In this book Persis is tasked with proving that a young man condemned to death is actually innocent. Unfortunately the young man is a white, rich and the son of a man who is disliked intensely. The Indian authorities want to ensure that justice is done in their newly independent country. Persis unfortunately appears to be expendable in this equation as she can tell no one who has given her this job.
What follows is a pretty break-neck speed investigation that puts Persis and her mentee, Seema in danger from some very unsavoury elements. Not only is she mixing with dangerous men, she is far from home in Calcutta where the investigation takes many turns.
There are lots of twists, red herrings and heaps of action but has Persis bitten off more than she can chew. She not only has a man's life to save but she has to referee the animosity between potential suitors - Archie Blackfinch and her cousin, Darius. She really has got her work cut out this time.
I enjoyed this book much more than the first two. Vaseem Khan has developed Persis over the past few novels and she's a much more rounded and likeable character now. She's still no Baby Ganesh but that elephant was always going to be a hard act to follow. Still I shall be excited to read the next book starring Persis.
Definitely recommend for fans of Khan whether they've read the previous books or not.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance review copy.
In this book Persis is tasked with proving that a young man condemned to death is actually innocent. Unfortunately the young man is a white, rich and the son of a man who is disliked intensely. The Indian authorities want to ensure that justice is done in their newly independent country. Persis unfortunately appears to be expendable in this equation as she can tell no one who has given her this job.
What follows is a pretty break-neck speed investigation that puts Persis and her mentee, Seema in danger from some very unsavoury elements. Not only is she mixing with dangerous men, she is far from home in Calcutta where the investigation takes many turns.
There are lots of twists, red herrings and heaps of action but has Persis bitten off more than she can chew. She not only has a man's life to save but she has to referee the animosity between potential suitors - Archie Blackfinch and her cousin, Darius. She really has got her work cut out this time.
I enjoyed this book much more than the first two. Vaseem Khan has developed Persis over the past few novels and she's a much more rounded and likeable character now. She's still no Baby Ganesh but that elephant was always going to be a hard act to follow. Still I shall be excited to read the next book starring Persis.
Definitely recommend for fans of Khan whether they've read the previous books or not.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance review copy.
margaret21's review against another edition
3.0
Well. Vaseem Khan writes a good pacey yarn, with engaging characters: I'm quite happy for the baddies to be very very bad, because the goodies are not always very very good. Our heroine, Persis, the only female Police Inspector in 1950s India is flawed indeed - headstrong and gauche in equal measure, but we root for her anyway. I very much enjoy this glimpse of life in post-Colonial India, where the undeniable failings of the British are at risk of being replicated by the new Indian elite. This time, Persis has been charged with re-opening the case of an Englishman going to the gallows for the murder of an Indian lawyer and activist. And she has to work quickly and with little backing and support: this man will die soon, and it would be no good discovering that he's innocent once he's dead. Excitement mounts. But. And for me it's a big but. Crisis follows crisis. Persis finds herself in impossible situations time after time. And time after time, improbably provident rescue arrives just at the very last moment. It all gets just a bit too frenetic. Nevertheless, this is a dashing story, a good involving read. Just ... maybe put the brakes on a little bit, Vaseem Khan? Oh, and - let's avoid a spoiler alert. Don't let that letter which Persis writes at the very end of the book get delivered. Please.
dogearedandfurry's review against another edition
4.0
This series goes from strength to strength, I think. Good characters, an intricate and clever plot (and occasional lapses in following it were my fault), and a clear love and knowledge of India and its history. Well recommended if you like strong women, intelligent stories and a vivid setting.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.