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Midnight at Malabar House: Winner of the CWA Historical Dagger and Shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year (The Malabar House Series) Kindle Edition

by Vaseem Khan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 3,815 ratings

*** WINNER OF THE CWA SAPERE BOOKS HISTORICAL DAGGER 2021 ***

'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

'This is historical crime fiction at its best - a compelling mix of social insight and complex plotting with a thoroughly engaging heroine. A highly promising new series' Mail on Sunday

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.

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  1. Book 1 of 6
    Malabar House
  2. Print length
    344 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Hodder & Stoughton
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    20 Aug. 2020
  7. File size
    6.5 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 6 books in this series.

From the Publisher

Midnight at Malabar House
Death of a Lesser God
Discover the Malabar House series
Midnight at Malabar House
The Dying Day
The Lost Man of Bombay
Death of a Lesser God
Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars 3,815
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,961
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,692
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,054
Price £10.11 £9.19 £9.19 £8.79
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Product description

Review

A gripping tale ― CrimeSquad.com

A quirky murder mystery... full of colourful characters and insightful details about human motivation ― Irish Examiner

Praise for the Baby Ganesh series ― .

I can't imagine anybody not enjoying this book... the same winning blend of thrills, charm and local colour as Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. ― Reader's Digest

Outstanding. I've always been a fan of Vaseem Khan but this latest offering is something special and something new. Vaseem is totally at the height of his powers with this novel which combines a flair for history, time and place with a genius for mystery. A novel for our times ― Imran Mahmood

Delightful, joyous ― Shots Magazine

Stylish, thrilling and masterfully told ― Chris Whitaker

Midnight at Malabar House is an exciting departure for Vaseem Khan, a history-mystery with a marvellous new detective duo. The blend of classic tropes - including a maverick cop, a mysterious cipher, and a victim who gave plenty of people reasons to commit murder - and a wonderfully evoked setting in post-Partition India makes for a highly entertaining and informative read ― Martin Edwards

A sparkling debut with a zippy plot and an endearing set of characters ― The Lady

Vaseem Khan's new book is an absolute treat from start to finish. A satisfying murder mystery and a fascinating evocation of India just after Partition, it also introduces the clever, endearing (and somewhat stubborn) Detective Persis Wadia to the world. I'm already looking forward to her next case ― Antonia Hodgson

There have been many insipid imitators of the Alexander McCall Smith formula, grafting a cosy mystery into a depiction of a foreign culture dripping with local colour, but Khan has the quirkiness and hint of grit to make his portrayal of modern Mumbai memorable ― Sunday Express

Delightful ― Good Housekeeping

Khan's distinctive new protagonist is clearly here to stay ― Financial Times

A compelling mystery set in a fascinating period in India's tumultuous history. Inspector Persis Wadia, the India's first female detective, is gutsy, stubborn and ideally suited to navigate both the complexities of a murder in Bombay's high society and the politics of a police force that want to see her fail. A stunning start to brand new series from one of the UK's finest writers ― M.W. Craven

There are plentiful fascinating characters ― Sunday Times Crime Club

A beautifully complex plot and an Agatha Christie-ish denouement make for a thoroughly satisfying read, and a burning desire to see what's next for Persis ― Observer

A cracking mystery set in a fascinating historical era ― Elly Griffiths

Keeps things heart-warming while tackling corruption at the highest levels and violent crime at the lowest. Endearing and gripping, it sets up Inspector Chopra - and the elephant - for a long series. ― The Sunday Times

This is historical crime fiction at its sharpest, set on the brink of independence and during a dramatic period of the subcontinent's history ― The Sunday Times

Midnight at Malabar House is a first-rate murder mystery set in a post-partition India. In Persis Wadia, India's first female police detective, and Archie Blackfinch, a Scotland Yard forensics expert, Vaseem Khan has created a partnership that should hopefully run and run. Clever, thrilling, this is a novel to be savoured ― William Ryan

The stabbing of an English gentleman at a New Year's Eve party in the early hours of 1950 sounds like a Golden Age murder mystery, and Murder at Malabar House has all the suspects, twists and red herrings that we'd expect. But this is India, just after partition, and 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

A most beguiling series ― Financial Times

It is a beautifully written exploration of Wadia's struggle to be accepted as a detective in a male-dominated culture, while navigating a country in turmoil. A thrilling murder mystery, it also wonderfully evokes a turbulent period of India's history ― Daily Express

An excellent start to a series featuring Inspector Persis Wadia, India's first woman police detective ― Daily Mirror

It is the absolute answer to any doom or gloom we might be feeling. ― The Bookseller Paperback Preview

Enchanting ― Woman & Home

This is historical crime fiction at its best - a compelling mix of social insight and complex plotting with a thoroughly engaging heroine. A highly promising new series ― Mail on Sunday

A cast of intriguing characters that it will be a joy to see develop. But the greatest strength is the setting in the teeming city of Mumbai, from which the colour and atmosphere flows out of every page in this enjoyable, whimsical tale ― Daily Express

Chopra, diligent, incorruptible and not entirely at ease with shiny new India, is a delight, as is his redoubtable wife, Poppy - and Ganesha the elephant, once he has cheered up a bit, proves a very useful ally indeed. Utterly charming ― Guardian

A most beguiling series ― Financial Times

About the Author

Vaseem Khan is the author of two crime series set in India: the Baby Ganesh Agency series, and the Malabar House historical crime novels. His first book, The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, was a Times bestseller and has been translated into 15 languages. Midnight at Malabar House won the CWA Historical Fiction Dagger in 2021.


In 2018, he was awarded the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Award for Literature. Vaseem was born in Newham, but spent a decade working in India as a management consultant.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B081SK1S7K
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodder & Stoughton
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 20 Aug. 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.5 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 344 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1473685499
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 6 ‏ : ‎ Malabar House
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 3,815 ratings

About the author

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Vaseem Khan

Vaseem Khan

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Vaseem Khan is the author of two award-winning crime series set in India, the Baby Ganesh Agency series set in modern Mumbai, and the Malabar House historical crime novels set in 1950s Bombay. His first book, The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020, and is translated into 16 languages. The second in the series won the Shamus Award in the US. In 2018, he was awarded the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Award for Literature. Vaseem was born in England, but spent a decade working in India. In 2021, Midnight at Malabar House won the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger, the world’s premier award for historical crime fiction. His latest book is The Lost Man of Bombay.

For more information about the world of his books please visit vaseemkhan.com where you can also keep abreast of Vaseem’s latest goings-on, competitions, events, and extracts from upcoming books via his newsletter.

Website: http://vaseemkhan.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VaseemKhanUK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VaseemKhanOfficial/

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
3,815 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a good detective novel with beautifully drawn characters and an engaging historical backdrop that helps understand India's complex history. The writing style receives positive feedback, and customers like the setting. The story pace receives mixed reactions, with several customers finding it not as compelling.

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ReadabilityCharacter developmentHistorical backgroundWriting stylePacingStory pace
48 customers mention ‘Readability’48 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a thrilling and amusing detective story with a decent plot.

"...A good read" Read more

"Great read!" Read more

"This was chosen for my book club. Excellent read. Would recommend." Read more

"...Interesting story, characters and dialogue. I enjoyed reading it." Read more

29 customers mention ‘Character development’26 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the beautifully drawn characters and strong female protagonist, with one review highlighting the interesting portrayal of an Indian woman police officer.

"...Great characters too!" Read more

"...Interesting story, characters and dialogue. I enjoyed reading it." Read more

"...knack of writing vivid and colourful pictures of India with beautifully drawn characters, buildings and places, blending all this into a fast moving..." Read more

"...Anti British at times Times are a changing .I liked the very strong minded policewoman who had to fight her way through Male chauvinism I can’t..." Read more

23 customers mention ‘Historical background’23 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical background of the book, noting its evocative portrayal of the setting and era, with one customer highlighting how it helps understand the complex history of India.

"Beautifully written and a great story. I also found the history woven into it fascinating and a gentle education on a subject of which I was..." Read more

"...I applaud the history lessons that he offers. 3...." Read more

"...to various emotions, relationships and usually some fascinating factual or historical background, germane to the story, which gives the reader an..." Read more

"...The historical background is fascinating but the plot is plodding...." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Writing style’11 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, finding it well-crafted and easy to read, with one customer noting its good portrayal of Bombay.

"Beautifully written and a great story...." Read more

"Fantastic book, can be read on its own even though it’s part of a series. A good read" Read more

"...Really well written and enjoyable!" Read more

"...Vaseem Khan has the knack of writing vivid and colourful pictures of India with beautifully drawn characters, buildings and places, blending all..." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Pacing’6 positive0 negative

Customers like the pacing of the book, particularly appreciating the setting.

"Vassem Kahn the perfect writer for the times...." Read more

"Liked the setting very much. Obviously character of female detective in India very refreshing and amusing. Her battle with old prejudices etc...." Read more

"Excellent and unusual crime fiction set in India in 1950..." Read more

"Good in parts..." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Story pace’8 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several finding the story not compelling, while one customer describes it as fast-paced.

"...The story is set soon after partition in 1947 and a map at the start explains the process (although I had to admit to being confused by it)...." Read more

"...2. The first half is a drag...." Read more

"Believable characters, with a story that was easy to follow but also with a backdrop of real interesting historical context. What more could you want." Read more

"Descriptions of Bombay were good, but the story not as compelling as I had expected" Read more

Stunning new read
5 out of 5 stars
Stunning new read
Having read the baby Ganesh mysteries this book grabbed my attention as the protagonist was feeling!I was not let down-I love inspector but fell in love with the vibrancy of the description of an era that I have only had des roped to me-I felt that I was experiencing the heat and felt at one with the characters-a soulful and enjoyable read and can’t wait for the next one!
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Barbara
    5.0 out of 5 stars A joy to read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Beautifully written and a great story. I also found the history woven into it fascinating and a gentle education on a subject of which I was woefully ignorant.
    Great characters too!
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  • Michael Hawtin
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 June 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Fantastic book, can be read on its own even though it’s part of a series. A good read
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and unusual crime fiction set in India in 1950
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 September 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I have read and enjoyed other books by Vaseem Khan; fun and whimsical books set in India. However this book, set in Bombay shortly after partition, is both a great crime fiction read, and taught me a lot about the end of the British colonial period and teething troubles in the new India. It also defies expectations of policing investigation set in early 1950 as casting the main character as India’s first female police detective. Really well written and enjoyable!
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  • Janice Staines
    4.0 out of 5 stars An India reinventing itself...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 April 2021
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This story is set in India in the late 1940s/early 50s at a time where everything is in flux. The British ruling classes have mostly left and we see a New India emerging, but one that is still coming to terms with the Politics, and religious tensions of Partition.

    Add to this heady mix a feisty female police officer trying to make an impression in an all male institution. And, now throw in, at the stroke of midnight, on New Year’s Eve, a murder taking place in a full house of revellers.

    The author paints a vivid picture of this new world. A world where privilege and entitlement rubs shoulders with beggars and land workers trying to scrape a living at a time of drought. All the sights, sounds and smells are brought to life for the reader as the murder investigation gets underway.

    What Khan conjures up for us is almost a Christie-esque scene - the big house party, full of potential suspects; the gruesome murder; the victim - minus his trousers and the final scene where the police officer lures her suspects to gather for the final showdown where the killer is finally revealed.

    It is a beautifully crafted book, with an almost comfortable, ‘Sunday evening TV’ feel about it. Interesting story, characters and dialogue. I enjoyed reading it.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Boingboing
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good in parts
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2022
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I am concerned about coincidences between this book and Sujata Massey's Perveen Mistry series of novels which were published a couple of years before Vaseem Khan's.

    Perveen is 'India's first woman lawyer'. Persis Wadia is 'India's first woman detective'.
    Perveen and Persis are both based in Bombay.
    Both are Parsee women - a convenient way to explain away their willingness to be so unconventional it would seem; a part of local society but also apart from local society.
    Both fight the sexism and prejudices of their colleagues.
    Both are tenacious in their determination to find justice.
    Both have unfortunate past love affairs.
    The only key difference is that Perveen's stories predate Persis Wadia's by around 30 years.

    I know that trends in writing are not unusual but the coincidences between these two series are more striking than most.

    But................let's put that aside and get on with the book.

    Pluses:
    1. The setting, just after the end of Empire, is an interesting one, as is our dead victim.
    There's still a great deal of festering resentment to unpack and examine. Most of the Brits have gone home but our dead man has been investigating crimes associated with Partition. Might he be a 'good egg' who really cares about India, or will Persis find he's rather more out for himself? He's murdered at his own New Year's Eve party, left without his trousers, with a slit throat and the burning embers of some hastily incinerated papers in his fireplace.

    2. The exploration of not only Partition in 1947 but also unrest in the Punjab arising from the infamous Jallianwallahbagh Massacre back in 1919 is to be commended. There aren't enough books looking at those important events and the massacre and its impact on one of the characters is handled in a very interesting way. The sins of the father are still very much visited on the son. Khan also manages to squeeze in murderous behaviour in Burma during WW2. I applaud the history lessons that he offers.

    3. After a very slow start, the book picks up pace in the second half and the plot thickens considerably. I was very close to spotting the killer but not quite there - right reasons, wrong person. I always appreciate a story that logically leads us to a rational conclusion

    Cons:
    1. Persis is not a convincing female protagonist. There's very little about her that suggests the author really has any idea how to write a female character. Aside from the odd bit of flirtation with her British side-kick, you could pretty much go through the book, switch the pronouns and replace her with a man. I didn't buy her as an authentic character at all.

    2. The first half is a drag. It's a slow plod around Bombay as we're introduced to a wide cast of characters, none of whom really get going until over halfway through.

    3. The tactic of "let's give the case to the least experienced detective who's sure to screw it up but then again, maybe not" is straight out of the book of classic procedural devices for Indian crime novels. It popped up a few days ago in the last book I read (The Waiter by Ajay Chowdhury) and it was so obvious as to be almost insulting.

    In short, it's a mixed batch of a book. I will read the next two - possibly in the wrong order - and see if they develop further. I'd prefer my 'first woman detective' to be a bit more three dimensional. Let's see if she improves with familiarity.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • G. Donald
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it. When's the next one coming out?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2020
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I have read the entire Baby Ganesh Agency series by the same author and loved every one of them. It was an easy decision to buy Midnight at Malabar House and it more than lived up to my expectations. Vaseem Khan has the knack of writing vivid and colourful pictures of India with beautifully drawn characters, buildings and places, blending all this into a fast moving, intriguing story that locks you in until you reach the conclusion with great satisfaction and sometimes surprise. During that process, you are treated to various emotions, relationships and usually some fascinating factual or historical background, germane to the story, which gives the reader an insight into some of India's many stories. I love these books and I look forward to seeing more from this series and this new central character, Persis Wadia. If you want to whizz through a book with ease and enjoyment, this is for you. A great holiday read.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Johnny
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 July 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    An interesting police story in Post Partition India
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  • Raymond Twitchett
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting background and held my attention throughout the book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 May 2021
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    loved this book The storyline very interesting Looking through the eyes of th Indian population who seemed to hate the English . Perhaps it was very naive of me to think that we were welcome and could not wait for us to leave But saying that The British were not very nice and thought they were better Colonialism
    I didn’t let it put me off even though it felt very Anti British at times Times are a changing .I liked the very strong minded policewoman who had to fight her way through Male chauvinism I can’t wait for the second book
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • janacx
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Indian atmosphere
    Reviewed in Spain on 25 July 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Love his books. The baby Ganesha series is very good too
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  • ANIL RAMACHANDRAN
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in India on 5 June 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    A great read! Vaseem Khan takes us back to a world which we only read of in cold history books - and creates a whole new context to set the crime in. Great characters, well etched out and a detective who stands apart. A new genre is emerging- South Asian vintage crime - set in the context of a colonial/ post colonial era, where the interplay between the jewel in the crown of the Empire and the crimes of the people inhabiting it , is the focal point. A must for lovers of crime and colonial history!
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read
    Reviewed in the United States on 17 February 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I've always loved India, and recently have discovered some fine detective fiction set in India. (I also love detective fiction/mystery). The Blue Mumbai series is one. This is another. Was absolutely delighted with this story. I didn't know right from the start who the killer was, was surprised by the twist of the ending, and absolutely adored the characters. Persis is a little hard to like from time to time; she's got that unbending streak the young and idealistic often have. But she's REAL. I also enjoyed all the side characters, and of course, adore Archie. This writer is a well-read, well-educated person and I loved catching the literary references. I learned more about Partition. I already knew quite a lot but got some new perspective. And there were a few laugh out loud funny moments. I particularly adored the instance of her walking into the bookstore and finding a camel standing there, and her father reading at his desk, steadfastly ignoring the presence of the camel, visited (literally) upon him by her father's long-time rival as the latest in a running series of a war of practical jokes. Truly one of those moments that make a book special, and illuminate characters beautifully. Chef's kiss!
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  • McRob
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Read!
    Reviewed in Canada on 22 July 2023
    Verified Purchase
    My first read by this author and I found it very well written and informative as to the changeover from British rule in the late 40's. A well researched book with an interesting plot line. I will definitely read more in this series!
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  • Buchdoktor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Persis Wadia - Polizistin in Bombay 1949 - starker Einstiegsband
    Reviewed in Germany on 10 July 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Als in Bombay am Neujahrsmorgen 1950 James Herriot nach seiner Kostümparty erstochen aufgefunden wird, alarmiert seine Haushälterin Madame Lal nicht etwa die Kriminalpolizei, sondern die Einheit mit Indiens erster Polizistin Persis Wadia. Persis ist in dieser Einheit ruhiggestellt worden, weil die öffentliche Meinung in Form der Tageszeitung überzeugt ist, dass Frauen Männern nun einmal intellektuell unterlegen wären und Polizistinnen keine Ausnahme darstellen. Persis ist wegen ihres Geschlechts auf dem Abstellgleis gelandet, ihre Kollegen allerdings wegen dienstlicher Vergehen. Kollege Oberoi führt lebendig das Gehabe der Brahmanen-Kaste vor und wird mit Sicherheit nicht Persis Befehlen folgen. Fernandes erschoss die falsche Person, Birla gilt als religiöser Hindu, Haq vertritt die muslimische Community und der Brite Blackfinch wird sich als besonders herausfordernd für Persis zeigen, weil er ihr in seiner direkten Art sehr ähnlich ist. Er weilt als Berater und Ausbilder von Kriminaltechnikern im Land – von ihm als Vertreter der ehemaligen Kolonialmacht könnte man sich unangenehm kontrolliert fühlen. Die Vielfalt des Teams und der tägliche Balanceakt, alle Kulturen einzubeziehen, weckt Neugier, wie Persis ihren spektakulären Fall anpacken wird. Die Mitte 20Jährige lebt mit ihrem alleinerziehenden Vater Sam über dessen Buchhandlung. Sam Wadia gehört zwar der Brahmanenkaste an, genügt mit seinem bescheidenen Buchladen allerdings nicht deren Ansprüchen. Damit Persis „endlich versorgt“ sein wird, will Tante Nussie sie mit einem Cousin verheiraten, übersieht dabei jedoch, dass ihre Nichte sich zwar mit einer arrangierten Ehe abfinden könnte, jedoch nicht damit, dass die Polizei keine verheirateten Frauen beschäftigt.

    Persis versucht noch in der Nacht die 48 zur Party eingeladenen Vertreter der Elite Bombays und 19 Angestellte zu vernehmen; die Gruppe der Reichen und Mächtigen lässt sich das allerdings nicht bieten. Schicht für Schicht blättert sie Herriots Biografie auf, die die Teilnahme am Burmakrieg ebenso umfasst wie seine brisanten Recherchen zu Kriegsverbrechen und Gewalttaten gegen die Zivilbevölkerung während der „Partition“ (der Aufteilung Britisch-Indiens aufgrund religiöser und ethnischer Auseinandersetzungen), und sein Talent, Menschen in Not von sich abhängig zu machen. Persis braucht nicht nur Herriots Akten, sie muss seine weiteren Geschäfte analysieren und fragt sich, warum er einen Termin mit einem Nachtclub-Besitzer vereinbarte. Chef und Commanding Officer Roshan Seth ist jedenfalls der Meinung, dass der Fall sich als politische Landmine entpuppen und sie alle ihre Stelle kosten wird, da niemand einschätzen kann, was Herriot genau getrieben hat. Schließlich führt eine Spur Persis sogar nach Amritsar im Himalaya, wo die Grenzziehung 1947 Hindus, Sikhs und Muslime zu umfangreichen Fluchtbewegungen zwang.

    Fazit
    Persis Ermittlungen stürzen mit James Herriot eine Stütze der Gesellschaft von ihrem Sockel, zwingen Vaeem Khans Leser:innen aber auch, sich mit dem indischen Frauenbild auseinanderzusetzen oder der Frage, wie britisch bzw. indisch eine Person sein kann, die in Indien geboren und in England erzogen wurde. Persis entpuppt sich als taffe Person, die dringend lernen muss, nicht sofort auszusprechen, was sie denkt. Durch den historischen Hintergrund und die kulturelle Vielfalt der Figuren ein komplexer, humorvoller Roman, der absolut neugierig macht, wie es in den Folgebänden mit Persia und ihrer Truppe weitergeht.
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