Review of "Murder In Old Bombay: A Historical Mystery" by Nev March

 

After being injured in a battle in Karachi in the early 1890s, Anglo-Indian Army Captain Jim Agnihotri is slowly recovering in a hospital in Poona. During his recuperation, Agnihotri reads the Sherlock Holmes story 'The Sign of Four' and gets the sleuthing bug. Serendipitously Agnihotri finds a mystery to solve in 'The Chronicle of India' tabloid.



A letter to the editor from a Bombay resident named Adi Framji upbraids the newspaper for calling the deaths of his wife and sister suicides.



Adi insists that his 19-year old wife Bacha.....



.....and 16-year-old sister Pilloo - who fell from a university clock tower minutes apart - were murdered.



Upon being released from the hospital Agnihotri goes to Bombay, contacts Framji, and arranges to look into the deaths of Bacha and Pilloo, whose tragic passing cast a pall over the entire Framji family. While Agnihotri is investigating, he spends a lot of time in the wealthy Framji household, which consists of Adi,



his father and mother,



and his four remaining siblings,



including his pretty sister Diana, who just returned from a stay in England.



Agnihotri examines the scene of death, interviews witnesses, and attempts to track down suspects - aided in part by Diana, who thinks of herself as Watson to Agnihotri's Holmes. Agnihotri's queries upset SOMEONE, because he's viciously attacked and someone attempts to burgle the Framji house.

To pursue his inquiries Agnihotri has to travel around India, and - like Sherlock Holmes - dons disguises to remain incognito.



During one trip, Agnihotri even assists the army, which has a group of soldiers trapped in rebel territory.



As the story unfolds we see the contrast between the rich and poor in 19th century India as Agnihotri attends wonderful dinners and elegant parties at the Framji home,



then encounters starving children during his travels.



We also learn a bit about Indian history, like the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857; the uppity attitude of the British to Indians, Pakistanis, etc.; and native groups that wanted to overthrow the British Raj.

The book is part mystery, part travelogue, and part romance. Agnihotri inevitably falls for Diana, but is forbidden to pursue her because she's Parsee and he isn't. Agnihotri moons over Diana continually, which felt a bit too much like a Regency romance to me.

This is an engaging - though a tad meandering - historical mystery, recommended to fans of the genre.



Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Nev March), and the publisher (Minotaur Books) for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3 stars