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Malabar House #5
City of Destruction
'Vaseem Khan writes with charm and wit, and an eye for detail that transports the reader entirely. I couldn't love this series more' CHRIS WHITAKER
'Historical fiction at its finest' MAIL ON SUNDAY
From the award-winning author of MIDNIGHT AT MALABAR HOUSE and THE LOST MAN OF BOMBAY comes a brilliant new mystery featuring the inimitable Persis Wadia.
Bombay, 1950.
A political rally ends in tragedy when Persis kills a lone gunman as he attempts to assassinate India's divisive Home Minister, a man calling for war with neighbouring Pakistan.
With the Malabar House team tasked to hunt down his co-conspirators, Persis is given a second case when the burned body of an unidentified white man is found on a Bombay beach. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard criminalist Archie Blackfinch, lies in a hospital fighting for his life, as all around him the country tears itself apart as a prelude to war...
'Historical fiction at its finest' MAIL ON SUNDAY
From the award-winning author of MIDNIGHT AT MALABAR HOUSE and THE LOST MAN OF BOMBAY comes a brilliant new mystery featuring the inimitable Persis Wadia.
Bombay, 1950.
A political rally ends in tragedy when Persis kills a lone gunman as he attempts to assassinate India's divisive Home Minister, a man calling for war with neighbouring Pakistan.
With the Malabar House team tasked to hunt down his co-conspirators, Persis is given a second case when the burned body of an unidentified white man is found on a Bombay beach. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard criminalist Archie Blackfinch, lies in a hospital fighting for his life, as all around him the country tears itself apart as a prelude to war...
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2024
169 people are currently reading
1401 people want to read
About the author
Vaseem Khan
55 books1,007 followersVaseem Khan is the author of two award-winning crime series set in India and the upcoming Quantum of Menace, the first in a series featuring Q from the James Bond franchise. His debut, The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020. In 2021, Midnight at Malabar House, the first in the Malabar House novels set in 1950s Bombay, won the CWA Historical Dagger. Vaseem was born in England, but spent a decade working in India. Vaseem is the current Chair of the UK Crime Writers Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
November 13, 2024
City of Destruction is the latest in the Malabar House novels starring India's first female police inspector, Persis Wadia.
I confess that I've struggled with Persis on occasion but this is probably simply that she is not Chopra (or rather Baby Ganesh). However she has grown on me over the years even though she is often quite difficult to like. I understand that she has to be harder than the men she works with but it has turned her into a loner who doesn't appear to trust anyone and that is quite often what makes her a difficult character to sympathise with.
In City of Destruction Persis puts herself on the line even more than usual. Having stopped an assassin she finds herself trying to piece together what made the would-be killer do what he did. She also has to figure out what happened to a man found burned to death. Who was he? What does the tattoo on his arm mean? Is there even a connection to the assassin? And what secrets are being hidden by all the people in her life?
City of Destruction had even more history crammed into it and the Author's Note is fascinating as it reveals which parts of the book are taken straight from fact.
I love Vaseem Khan's work and have been a fan for several years. I look forward to Persis' next case and seeing how things have changed at Malabar House as India gets used to independence and partition.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
I confess that I've struggled with Persis on occasion but this is probably simply that she is not Chopra (or rather Baby Ganesh). However she has grown on me over the years even though she is often quite difficult to like. I understand that she has to be harder than the men she works with but it has turned her into a loner who doesn't appear to trust anyone and that is quite often what makes her a difficult character to sympathise with.
In City of Destruction Persis puts herself on the line even more than usual. Having stopped an assassin she finds herself trying to piece together what made the would-be killer do what he did. She also has to figure out what happened to a man found burned to death. Who was he? What does the tattoo on his arm mean? Is there even a connection to the assassin? And what secrets are being hidden by all the people in her life?
City of Destruction had even more history crammed into it and the Author's Note is fascinating as it reveals which parts of the book are taken straight from fact.
I love Vaseem Khan's work and have been a fan for several years. I look forward to Persis' next case and seeing how things have changed at Malabar House as India gets used to independence and partition.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
Read
August 18, 2025I've enjoyed others in the series but this one has overuse of single-line paragraphs and elaborate similes which became obtrusive to the point it distracted me hopelessly from the story. I wonder if the line/copy editor on the series has changed? Pity because the setting is great and Persis is a nifty unlikeable heroine who makes consistently awful decisions.
December 20, 2024
The best so far. Whenever a Malabar House book is available, I end up reading the whole thing rather than pacing myself and savouring the story. It doesn’t really matter because I know I will reread at least a couple of times before the next one comes out. I love the descriptions of Indian life but more importantly the way Vaseem Khan is able to shine clarity on the complexity and nuances of Indian politics at the time. Many thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book.
December 23, 2024
Great addition to the series . Very fast read for me as I love the characters and the historical subject as well as the great descriptions of Bombay and Delhi after the partition . Enthralling in every aspect
September 12, 2025
What a ride. I have had no sleep since I could not put the book down and cannot form sentences. This is a very good and propulsive read! Our heroine is very much at risk in this action packed serial.
I was blessed with a bargain sale price of 99 cents from Amazon for this kindle book. Thank you!
I was blessed with a bargain sale price of 99 cents from Amazon for this kindle book. Thank you!
February 1, 2025
The Malabar House series remains one of my absolute favorites, and City of Death is another brilliant installment that further cements its excellence. Vaseem Khan captures 1950s India with incredible depth, weaving social commentary, history, and mystery into a compelling narrative.
🌹 What I Loved:
• The historical and cultural setting is vivid and immersive. The book doesn’t just tell a mystery—it brings post-Independence India to life, exploring its complexities with nuance and brilliance.
• Persis Wadia is an iconic protagonist. Smart, determined, and constantly pushing against societal norms, she’s both inspiring and deeply relatable. Her struggles with being a woman in a deeply patriarchal society still resonate today.
• The series is set in Mumbai, my favorite city in the world, and you can tell the author loves it just as much. The city itself feels like a character, brought to life through rich descriptions and historical depth.
• The mystery was well-crafted, blending real historical events with fiction in a way that kept me hooked from start to finish.
• As always, the book is laden with fascinating facts and commentary, making it not just a gripping story but also an insightful look into India’s past.
⭐️ Final Thoughts:
Vaseem Khan has done it again—City of Death is another stellar addition to an already phenomenal series. I need the next book immediately! If you love historical fiction, intricate mysteries, and strong female leads, you have to read this series.
🌹 What I Loved:
• The historical and cultural setting is vivid and immersive. The book doesn’t just tell a mystery—it brings post-Independence India to life, exploring its complexities with nuance and brilliance.
• Persis Wadia is an iconic protagonist. Smart, determined, and constantly pushing against societal norms, she’s both inspiring and deeply relatable. Her struggles with being a woman in a deeply patriarchal society still resonate today.
• The series is set in Mumbai, my favorite city in the world, and you can tell the author loves it just as much. The city itself feels like a character, brought to life through rich descriptions and historical depth.
• The mystery was well-crafted, blending real historical events with fiction in a way that kept me hooked from start to finish.
• As always, the book is laden with fascinating facts and commentary, making it not just a gripping story but also an insightful look into India’s past.
⭐️ Final Thoughts:
Vaseem Khan has done it again—City of Death is another stellar addition to an already phenomenal series. I need the next book immediately! If you love historical fiction, intricate mysteries, and strong female leads, you have to read this series.
April 19, 2025
Now this is such good work as historical fiction that I will forgive it for being another mystery...at least this is a police procedural. I may be rounding up slightly from 4.5 stars (the ending becomes a bit too convoluted and conspiracy-theory-ish for its own good), but the character work is superb, and you feel the visceral heat and grime of the back-corners of then-Bombay. Superb writing from cover to cover.
March 13, 2025
I borrowed this from the library not knowing it was a series and although I think it would have been good to get more background info on characters, it was still good as a standalone. I found it really hard to find the motivation to pick it up to read but once I did, it was hard to put down.
December 1, 2024
I really like the work of Vaseem Khan and CITY OF DESTRUCTION was a good story with a complex plot. But there were errors and poor word choices that made me read all the acknowledgements. I expect mistakes in the work of self-published authors but Khan is published by a professional company and has editors and beta readers. The most glaring error was a description of a counterfeit US $100 bill which contained the phrase In God We Trust. The story is set in 1950 post partition India while that phrase was not added to US paper money until 1957. No fact checking?
October 19, 2024
This was very much a take-it-or-leave-it story for me. It was an interesting insight into post-partition India; there was quite a lot of background information about India’s history and politics which was insightful, but didn’t really add to the story.
While the plot seemed solid (as far as I could tell), it also became quite convoluted. The detailed description of each new character stalled the pace a little for me, and this, along with copious analogies, regular interludes of exposition and background information (superfluous to the plot), created a feeling of detachment from the story, so I did find my attention wandering, and if I’m honest, I lost the thread quite a few times.
The main character is suitably flawed; a female police officer who’s stubborn, prone to emotional reactions and careless entanglements, who’s slow to admit her failings (at least publicly) and often fails to consider the wider consequences of her actions. If I’m honest, I found her a little irritating.
This one wasn’t really for me, but I appreciate the opportunity to listen to the audio ARC, and would like to thank NatGalley and Hodder and Stoughton audio. City of Destruction publishes on 28 November.
While the plot seemed solid (as far as I could tell), it also became quite convoluted. The detailed description of each new character stalled the pace a little for me, and this, along with copious analogies, regular interludes of exposition and background information (superfluous to the plot), created a feeling of detachment from the story, so I did find my attention wandering, and if I’m honest, I lost the thread quite a few times.
The main character is suitably flawed; a female police officer who’s stubborn, prone to emotional reactions and careless entanglements, who’s slow to admit her failings (at least publicly) and often fails to consider the wider consequences of her actions. If I’m honest, I found her a little irritating.
This one wasn’t really for me, but I appreciate the opportunity to listen to the audio ARC, and would like to thank NatGalley and Hodder and Stoughton audio. City of Destruction publishes on 28 November.
October 9, 2024
4 stars. The fifth instalment in the Malabar House series, sees Persis investigate an attempted assassination - she shot the assassin, but not before his bullet bad hit Archie Blackfinch, Persis’ on/off love interest… and so we’re into investigating that and also the case of a man who was found burned on nearby scrub land…
This is another great instalment in the series - though I do sometimes worry about Persis’ aggression, there are several times she imagines hitting or shooting people who frustrate her. Perhaps some yoga might help calm her 😉. We have a little intrigue in the form of someone from Archie’s past who shows up, and a few scrapes Persis gets into (and usually out of herself, sometimes with help). I did spot a few of the reveals, but to balance that out, I did get a bit lost in the final explanation of how they all tied together 😆. All in all, I’m already looking forward to the next book!
I received a free ARC copy of this book via NetGalley and the publishers, in return for an unbiased review.
This is another great instalment in the series - though I do sometimes worry about Persis’ aggression, there are several times she imagines hitting or shooting people who frustrate her. Perhaps some yoga might help calm her 😉. We have a little intrigue in the form of someone from Archie’s past who shows up, and a few scrapes Persis gets into (and usually out of herself, sometimes with help). I did spot a few of the reveals, but to balance that out, I did get a bit lost in the final explanation of how they all tied together 😆. All in all, I’m already looking forward to the next book!
I received a free ARC copy of this book via NetGalley and the publishers, in return for an unbiased review.
January 13, 2025
I enjoyed the historical background to this story .
I guessed the linking of the two cases about half way through the book . It didn’t spoil the story for me though .
I don’t find Archie’s wife believable would be my only character criticism .
The authors note at the end pointing out what actually happened is illuminating .
I guessed the linking of the two cases about half way through the book . It didn’t spoil the story for me though .
I don’t find Archie’s wife believable would be my only character criticism .
The authors note at the end pointing out what actually happened is illuminating .
August 3, 2025
i love these series and though sometimes i get a bit put off by vaseem khan's cuteness when explaining things, but all in all like his voice, love the story and the people and loved this one so much more, cause it is truth and then more.
November 28, 2024
4.5* City of Destruction - Vaseem Khan. A welcome return for Persis, India’s first female police officer in 1950s Bombay as the aftershocks of Partition continue.
At a political rally, a divisive minister is almost assassinated and Persis is right at the heart of the action. Quickly moved to one side, to allow colleagues and liaison from MI6 to investigate, Persis is given another murder to look into but it doesn’t prove any less complex.
This is a welcome return to a fantastic cast of characters. Persis is superb, along with her dad Sam and colleagues in Malabar House. Vaseem Khan’s plotting is intricate, interesting and full of interesting historical nuggets. The prose is perhaps a little too heavy with quips and similes but it doesn’t detract from a hugely enjoyable read.
For me this series is a must read. Each of the books would be a fine standalone but it’s such a great story arc and I’d firmly recommend reading all five in order.
I’ve had the pleasure of reading Vaseem Khan’s amazing forthcoming standalone, The Girl In Cell A, which is 5* brilliance and I’m hugely looking forward to his James Bond books featuring Q.
Thanks to the Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I was thrilled to receive it and loved every page.
At a political rally, a divisive minister is almost assassinated and Persis is right at the heart of the action. Quickly moved to one side, to allow colleagues and liaison from MI6 to investigate, Persis is given another murder to look into but it doesn’t prove any less complex.
This is a welcome return to a fantastic cast of characters. Persis is superb, along with her dad Sam and colleagues in Malabar House. Vaseem Khan’s plotting is intricate, interesting and full of interesting historical nuggets. The prose is perhaps a little too heavy with quips and similes but it doesn’t detract from a hugely enjoyable read.
For me this series is a must read. Each of the books would be a fine standalone but it’s such a great story arc and I’d firmly recommend reading all five in order.
I’ve had the pleasure of reading Vaseem Khan’s amazing forthcoming standalone, The Girl In Cell A, which is 5* brilliance and I’m hugely looking forward to his James Bond books featuring Q.
Thanks to the Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I was thrilled to receive it and loved every page.
January 23, 2025
Doesn't disappoint
I love this series . What I enjoy the most is when the author writes about his county.The passion and love for India comes through so well. There were many unexpected turns in this story,.Our heroine has grown so much since the onset of this series, is really commenable to see her maturity against formidable odds. Looking forward to what lies ahead.
I love this series . What I enjoy the most is when the author writes about his county.The passion and love for India comes through so well. There were many unexpected turns in this story,.Our heroine has grown so much since the onset of this series, is really commenable to see her maturity against formidable odds. Looking forward to what lies ahead.
December 29, 2025
Another good read in this series. Well plotted and paced thriller with some excellent historical background.
August 26, 2025
Stretching suspension of disbelief a tad too far…
In this latest iteration of the Malabar House mysteries, Inspector Persis Wadia is at her most bull-headed, reckless and disobedient. Although based on factual historical events, I found this plot to be the most contrived and least convincing of the Malabar series to date.
While policing a rally addressed by a firebrand Minister, Persis foils an assassination attempt, only to see the man she loves take a bullet to the head. For the remainder of this book, poor Archie remains in a coma. While this situation seems to bring Persis closer to acceptance of his importance to her, are we supposed to allow that it also unbalances her state of mind to the point of self-destruction?
As she follows the clues, Persis unravels an international conspiracy, linking the Delhi administration, British intelligence, a Bombay crime lord and a Nazi death camp survivor. At each stage, she defies direct orders, risks her own life and acts completely outside the chain of command.
The character arc suggests that Persis is reaching a point where her continual disregard of procedures will fatally jeopardise her career. Although it could be argued that, if her feelings for Archie overcome her doubts about the viability of a relationship between a white Brit and brown Indian in the 1950s, then the likelihood of dismissal from the police would leave her free to consider marriage and family life. Readers might have hoped that, with the passage of time into the 1960s, Persis would no longer be an outlier and that she might have been able both to marry and keep her job.
For me this novel was also tainted by what I see as a misstep in the evolution of the main protagonist. The possibility that she would have a one-night stand with another Brit was too far-fetched, given Persis’ strong-willed and self-disciplined resistance to deepening her connection to Archie. It is also disappointing to see her portrayed as someone who does not learn from experience and who continues to self-sabotage by disrespect for the chain of command and ill-considered and reckless solo escapades. Let’s hope that in the next (or last) instalment, Persis is allowed to show greater maturity and self-control along with fulfilment of her career and personal ambitions.
In this latest iteration of the Malabar House mysteries, Inspector Persis Wadia is at her most bull-headed, reckless and disobedient. Although based on factual historical events, I found this plot to be the most contrived and least convincing of the Malabar series to date.
While policing a rally addressed by a firebrand Minister, Persis foils an assassination attempt, only to see the man she loves take a bullet to the head. For the remainder of this book, poor Archie remains in a coma. While this situation seems to bring Persis closer to acceptance of his importance to her, are we supposed to allow that it also unbalances her state of mind to the point of self-destruction?
As she follows the clues, Persis unravels an international conspiracy, linking the Delhi administration, British intelligence, a Bombay crime lord and a Nazi death camp survivor. At each stage, she defies direct orders, risks her own life and acts completely outside the chain of command.
The character arc suggests that Persis is reaching a point where her continual disregard of procedures will fatally jeopardise her career. Although it could be argued that, if her feelings for Archie overcome her doubts about the viability of a relationship between a white Brit and brown Indian in the 1950s, then the likelihood of dismissal from the police would leave her free to consider marriage and family life. Readers might have hoped that, with the passage of time into the 1960s, Persis would no longer be an outlier and that she might have been able both to marry and keep her job.
For me this novel was also tainted by what I see as a misstep in the evolution of the main protagonist. The possibility that she would have a one-night stand with another Brit was too far-fetched, given Persis’ strong-willed and self-disciplined resistance to deepening her connection to Archie. It is also disappointing to see her portrayed as someone who does not learn from experience and who continues to self-sabotage by disrespect for the chain of command and ill-considered and reckless solo escapades. Let’s hope that in the next (or last) instalment, Persis is allowed to show greater maturity and self-control along with fulfilment of her career and personal ambitions.
April 22, 2025
I was really looking forward to this book, but it ended up being a frustrating read.
The biggest issue for me was the protagonist, Persis Wadia. Her inner thoughts often felt harsh and judgmental, describing others with comparisons like “frog hands” or calling someone a “rabbit with myxomatosis.” These remarks weren’t witty or insightful—they just made her difficult to connect with.
Another disappointment was how the book portrayed India. Nearly every description leaned into the negative—filth, dysfunction, and bleak imagery. Delhi is compared to a place of “wild pigs and jackals,” and characters constantly comment on how poorly Indians are treated. While I understand the book is set in a turbulent time, there was almost no balance or recognition of the country’s strength, culture, or resilience.
Lastly, the book is overloaded with historical exposition. While some context is helpful in historical fiction, here it feels excessive and often disrupts the plot. Long passages of background information slow things down and make the mystery hard to stay engaged with.
This could have been an interesting crime story with a strong setting, but it gets buried under a protagonist that’s hard to like, a one-note portrayal of India, and too much history that doesn’t drive the story forward.
The biggest issue for me was the protagonist, Persis Wadia. Her inner thoughts often felt harsh and judgmental, describing others with comparisons like “frog hands” or calling someone a “rabbit with myxomatosis.” These remarks weren’t witty or insightful—they just made her difficult to connect with.
Another disappointment was how the book portrayed India. Nearly every description leaned into the negative—filth, dysfunction, and bleak imagery. Delhi is compared to a place of “wild pigs and jackals,” and characters constantly comment on how poorly Indians are treated. While I understand the book is set in a turbulent time, there was almost no balance or recognition of the country’s strength, culture, or resilience.
Lastly, the book is overloaded with historical exposition. While some context is helpful in historical fiction, here it feels excessive and often disrupts the plot. Long passages of background information slow things down and make the mystery hard to stay engaged with.
This could have been an interesting crime story with a strong setting, but it gets buried under a protagonist that’s hard to like, a one-note portrayal of India, and too much history that doesn’t drive the story forward.
January 10, 2025
Persis is a wonderful character. A female Indian police inspector in the 1950s just after partition based in Bombay. I really enjoyed the humor and the plot of Persis killing a young assassin and finding out why he did what he did. Coupled with a murder of a man found burnt death.
The link of city of destruction to Silas Marner a George Elliot novel hooked me in as it was one of my favorite novels. The characters at the Malabar Police Station are entertaining as the descriptions of Bombay and the heat, buildings, slums and people.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The idea of MI6 behind a plot to get India to go to war with Pakistan is not that farfetched. Persis discovers the burnt body was a Jewish man who was in a concentration camp where he was an expert counterfeiter. The money he made was being used to finance an insurrection. The assassin was a man in the end made to do it when his girlfriend and child threatened with death.
The link of city of destruction to Silas Marner a George Elliot novel hooked me in as it was one of my favorite novels. The characters at the Malabar Police Station are entertaining as the descriptions of Bombay and the heat, buildings, slums and people.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The idea of MI6 behind a plot to get India to go to war with Pakistan is not that farfetched. Persis discovers the burnt body was a Jewish man who was in a concentration camp where he was an expert counterfeiter. The money he made was being used to finance an insurrection. The assassin was a man in the end made to do it when his girlfriend and child threatened with death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2025
3.5 stars
Vaseem Khan's historical mystery, City of Destruction, from the Malabar House series, highlights detective Persis Wadia in pursuit of answers on two crimes: the attempted assassination of the Minister of Defense and the murder of an unknown person whose charred body was left to be swept out to sea with the tide. While I really loved the setting in post-partition India, and the main character Persis Wadia, the first female detective in India, the story line did not have me flying through the pages in search of the clues that lead to solving the crime. The beginning of the book started off strong and the ending was nice and tidy, but the process was not as compelling for me and just did not draw me in. That said, this was my first Malabar House novel and it was so nice to read a book with a different setting and historical context. I will definitely be trying out another one in the series.
Vaseem Khan's historical mystery, City of Destruction, from the Malabar House series, highlights detective Persis Wadia in pursuit of answers on two crimes: the attempted assassination of the Minister of Defense and the murder of an unknown person whose charred body was left to be swept out to sea with the tide. While I really loved the setting in post-partition India, and the main character Persis Wadia, the first female detective in India, the story line did not have me flying through the pages in search of the clues that lead to solving the crime. The beginning of the book started off strong and the ending was nice and tidy, but the process was not as compelling for me and just did not draw me in. That said, this was my first Malabar House novel and it was so nice to read a book with a different setting and historical context. I will definitely be trying out another one in the series.
November 14, 2024
After a political rally ends with Persis killing a young man who has attempted to kill India's new defence minister, and leaves Archie Blackfinch fighting for his life, Persis is quickly relegated to the sidelines of the investigation and instead is handed the investigation into the death of a man who appears to have burned himself to death, but as always all is not as it seems. Vaseem Khan has done a great job in creating Persis, she is a great character but not a likeable one, not only is she incredibly arrogant but she also does some spectacularly stupid things, but because the author has done such a good job in creating her you do want to keep reading and you want to find out if she is right about what really happened and who was responsible, and if she will actually still be alive at the end of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
November 27, 2024
The Malabar House series is so good I read it twice. Once in audiobook, because Maya Soraya’s narration is just fabulous and it is her voice I hear when I read Persis Wadia in print. I read the books again in print because there is so much richness to them, such a strong sense of India and Pakistan’s independence struggles and the sense of history in the making that I find two readings are more rewarding to take in the level of rich detail that Vaseem Khan gives us in this stunning series.
It is, though, the character of Persis that keeps me on tenterhooks awaiting the next in the series. Persis has tenacity in spades – though some would call it stubbornness. She is very conscious of the trailblazing role she plays as India’s first woman detective and of the role model she has become for other young women. She also understands all too clearly why so many men resent her progress and are more than happy to impede her and even work to obstruct her efforts. Misogyny and jealousy sit side by side in the newly independent Indian Police force.
City of Destruction is set after partition, though some are still railing against partition. One proponent of reunification was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Azad had been a fierce proponent of independence, but his passion was to see Hindus and Muslims working together, side by side. It’s a controversial view and as a minister in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet, he often attracts controversy when he speaks at rallies.
Persis is contemplating her future when she is present at a protest at which Azad is speaking. As she looks over the crowd, she sees a young man reaching for a gun and realises he is about to attempt an assassination. Calling out for him to stop, he whirls around, lifts the gun and fires. Persis has no choice but to fire back. The young man dies, but before he does so he whispers a few words into Persis ear and slides an amulet into her hand.
When she stands up from the body, she realises that although the bullet missed her, it hit Archie Blackfinch, the Scotland Yard criminalist, with whom she has a personal relationship that is itself the cause of turmoil.
Persis can make nothing of the words this man uttered; they make no sense. As this is a high profile assassination attempt, Persis is of course immediately sidelined, despite being the one who shot the perpetrator. As her superiors frantically seek to gather information about who this shooter was and who is behind the attempt, Persis is asked to look elsewhere; into the case of a man whose burned body has been found at a beach. Though the authorities are pretty sure this is a case of self-immolation, Persis, upon examining the scene, has her doubts. This is a man who had no reason to take his own life nor did his actions suggest that as a possibility. It’s also clear upon further investigation that he has suffered a blow to the head.
And though she pursues this case, she is not prepared to sit back and watch others deal with what should by rights, also be her case. Keeping to herself the small details she has from this young would-be assassin; she sets out to follow her own trail. Devastated by Archie’s comatose state and further complicated by a new visitor to his bedside, she finds herself strangely alone in her endeavours this time. As Persis strives to find out more about these cases, she misses having the redoubtable Archie as a stable presence by her side.
Following her instincts she travels to Delhi to identify the would-be assassin. There she is intercepted by two British Intelligence agents, Julius Barnes and David Astor. They are working with the Indian Intelligence Office in Delhi on the assassination attempt and Persis is keen to find out what information they may have, so gets close to them.
Vaseem Khan weaves a spell-binding tale which operates beautifully on one level as a complex but fascinating dual murder-mystery, taut with suspense, high on adrenalin and full of intrigue. On another level it is a fascinating glimpse of India in a state of turbulence and change. Persis is the embodiment of this new India, young, eager and in a hurry to achieve equality, but not immune from making mistakes.
The characterisation in this historical murder mystery is really good and the prose is so readable. Vaseem Khan wields his pen lightly so that although the history, culture and turbulence of India is all there, it is infused with a prose that immerses you in the time and can still delight and amuse the reader with wonderful characters, warmth and humour. Persis’ colleagues in Malabar House prove to be more than interesting and Persis’ love for her father is tempered only be her frustration with him – usually for having a more interesting social life!
Verdict: City of Destruction is a first class read. It has depth, richness and the most glorious technicolour characters. Vaseem Khan’s creation of a fantastic puzzle as the key to solving his mysteries is clever and ingenious. I loved this book as I love the series and it is on my list as one of my books of the year.
It is, though, the character of Persis that keeps me on tenterhooks awaiting the next in the series. Persis has tenacity in spades – though some would call it stubbornness. She is very conscious of the trailblazing role she plays as India’s first woman detective and of the role model she has become for other young women. She also understands all too clearly why so many men resent her progress and are more than happy to impede her and even work to obstruct her efforts. Misogyny and jealousy sit side by side in the newly independent Indian Police force.
City of Destruction is set after partition, though some are still railing against partition. One proponent of reunification was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Azad had been a fierce proponent of independence, but his passion was to see Hindus and Muslims working together, side by side. It’s a controversial view and as a minister in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet, he often attracts controversy when he speaks at rallies.
Persis is contemplating her future when she is present at a protest at which Azad is speaking. As she looks over the crowd, she sees a young man reaching for a gun and realises he is about to attempt an assassination. Calling out for him to stop, he whirls around, lifts the gun and fires. Persis has no choice but to fire back. The young man dies, but before he does so he whispers a few words into Persis ear and slides an amulet into her hand.
When she stands up from the body, she realises that although the bullet missed her, it hit Archie Blackfinch, the Scotland Yard criminalist, with whom she has a personal relationship that is itself the cause of turmoil.
Persis can make nothing of the words this man uttered; they make no sense. As this is a high profile assassination attempt, Persis is of course immediately sidelined, despite being the one who shot the perpetrator. As her superiors frantically seek to gather information about who this shooter was and who is behind the attempt, Persis is asked to look elsewhere; into the case of a man whose burned body has been found at a beach. Though the authorities are pretty sure this is a case of self-immolation, Persis, upon examining the scene, has her doubts. This is a man who had no reason to take his own life nor did his actions suggest that as a possibility. It’s also clear upon further investigation that he has suffered a blow to the head.
And though she pursues this case, she is not prepared to sit back and watch others deal with what should by rights, also be her case. Keeping to herself the small details she has from this young would-be assassin; she sets out to follow her own trail. Devastated by Archie’s comatose state and further complicated by a new visitor to his bedside, she finds herself strangely alone in her endeavours this time. As Persis strives to find out more about these cases, she misses having the redoubtable Archie as a stable presence by her side.
Following her instincts she travels to Delhi to identify the would-be assassin. There she is intercepted by two British Intelligence agents, Julius Barnes and David Astor. They are working with the Indian Intelligence Office in Delhi on the assassination attempt and Persis is keen to find out what information they may have, so gets close to them.
Vaseem Khan weaves a spell-binding tale which operates beautifully on one level as a complex but fascinating dual murder-mystery, taut with suspense, high on adrenalin and full of intrigue. On another level it is a fascinating glimpse of India in a state of turbulence and change. Persis is the embodiment of this new India, young, eager and in a hurry to achieve equality, but not immune from making mistakes.
The characterisation in this historical murder mystery is really good and the prose is so readable. Vaseem Khan wields his pen lightly so that although the history, culture and turbulence of India is all there, it is infused with a prose that immerses you in the time and can still delight and amuse the reader with wonderful characters, warmth and humour. Persis’ colleagues in Malabar House prove to be more than interesting and Persis’ love for her father is tempered only be her frustration with him – usually for having a more interesting social life!
Verdict: City of Destruction is a first class read. It has depth, richness and the most glorious technicolour characters. Vaseem Khan’s creation of a fantastic puzzle as the key to solving his mysteries is clever and ingenious. I loved this book as I love the series and it is on my list as one of my books of the year.
February 27, 2025
War with Pakistan looms in post-Independence India
Four times in the less than 80 years of their joint history, India and Pakistan have gone to war. The first erupted when the ink was barely dry on the Indian Independence Act 1947 that resulted in the Partition of India into the two nations. But the cessation of the shooting war in 1948 left the causes unresolved. So it was no surprise that a hotheaded Indian Defence Minister would agitate for the resumption of the fighting as Vaseem Khan’s novel, City of Destruction, opens in 1950.
Then, a young would-be assailant attempts to assassinate him. He fails, but only because Inspector Persis Wadia of the Bombay Police shoots him dead in the act. With barely a pause, Persis then sets out to learn the assailant’s identify and determine whether he acted alone. Against orders, as usual. Because her boss at Malabar House, Roshan Seth, has assigned the assassination investigation to the brutal and incompetent detective who has been working to undermine her since Day One.
A stubborn female detective—India’s first—grabs hold of the case
The failed assassin misses Persis when attempting to defend himself. Instead, he shoots Archie Blackfinch, her on-again, off-again British love interest. Archie is the expert who set up Bombay’s outstanding forensic lab. He is in demand to do the same for Delhi, Calcutta, and other cities, but he now lies in a coma. Persis’s conflicted feelings for him prevent her from visiting him in the hospital. Overcompensating, she pours all her energy into investigating the assassin. And she persists even after two MI6 officers show up in her boss’s office, claiming to be working for the Delhi Intelligence Bureau to take over the assassination investigation. It’s her case, and nobody, but nobody, not Seth, and not the British interlopers, is going to take it away from her. And she will withhold the clues she turns up to give herself an edge.
A snapshot of urban India post-Partition
Naturally, Persis will eventually solve the case. It will take months of intense effort and inspired guesswork. And she will be forced to risk her life more than once as she works to disentangle a story that defies understanding until the final clues turn up. It’s devilishly complex. And in the telling author Vaseem Khan treats us to a detailed snapshot of urban India just three years after Partition. Then, the wounds inflicted in the separation are still raw, and the defence minister’s demands for war with Pakistan fall on receptive ears. But Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru will not act, knowing that the country’s economy cannot stand the strain.
City of Destruction is the fifth book in Khan’s outstanding Malabar House series of historical detective novels. The setting is Bombay’s smallest police station. Persis Wadia has been sent there to join others who are out of favor with the brass, some as punishment for their misdeeds, real or imagined, others (including Persis) simply because they don’t fit the bosses’ notion of proper police officers. Their punishment is to take on the politically sensitive and seemingly unsolvable cases nobody else in the Bombay police is willing to touch.
But Persis is a special case. As the country’s only female police detective, she faces sexism, even misogyny, at every turn—despite her stellar record of tackling and solving complex cases that baffle her colleagues and her boss. She is heroic but no classical hero. She’s impulsive, essentially friendless, hot-tempered, and almost pathologically incapable of following orders. These traits may help explain her success as an investigator. But they don’t make her easy to be around.
About the author
Vaseem Khan wrote seven novels and novellas about the Baby Ganesh Detective Agency, which feature a retired Mumbai police Inspector and his sidekick, a baby elephant named Ganesha. (I haven’t read any of these because the concept doesn’t appeal to me.) More recently, he has written the five novels in the Malabar House series, which are much more to my liking.
Khan was born in London in 1973 and studied accounting and finance at the London School of Economics. He worked for a decade in the Indian subcontinent as a management consultant. Since then he has been at University College London in the Department of Security and Crime Science.
Four times in the less than 80 years of their joint history, India and Pakistan have gone to war. The first erupted when the ink was barely dry on the Indian Independence Act 1947 that resulted in the Partition of India into the two nations. But the cessation of the shooting war in 1948 left the causes unresolved. So it was no surprise that a hotheaded Indian Defence Minister would agitate for the resumption of the fighting as Vaseem Khan’s novel, City of Destruction, opens in 1950.
Then, a young would-be assailant attempts to assassinate him. He fails, but only because Inspector Persis Wadia of the Bombay Police shoots him dead in the act. With barely a pause, Persis then sets out to learn the assailant’s identify and determine whether he acted alone. Against orders, as usual. Because her boss at Malabar House, Roshan Seth, has assigned the assassination investigation to the brutal and incompetent detective who has been working to undermine her since Day One.
A stubborn female detective—India’s first—grabs hold of the case
The failed assassin misses Persis when attempting to defend himself. Instead, he shoots Archie Blackfinch, her on-again, off-again British love interest. Archie is the expert who set up Bombay’s outstanding forensic lab. He is in demand to do the same for Delhi, Calcutta, and other cities, but he now lies in a coma. Persis’s conflicted feelings for him prevent her from visiting him in the hospital. Overcompensating, she pours all her energy into investigating the assassin. And she persists even after two MI6 officers show up in her boss’s office, claiming to be working for the Delhi Intelligence Bureau to take over the assassination investigation. It’s her case, and nobody, but nobody, not Seth, and not the British interlopers, is going to take it away from her. And she will withhold the clues she turns up to give herself an edge.
A snapshot of urban India post-Partition
Naturally, Persis will eventually solve the case. It will take months of intense effort and inspired guesswork. And she will be forced to risk her life more than once as she works to disentangle a story that defies understanding until the final clues turn up. It’s devilishly complex. And in the telling author Vaseem Khan treats us to a detailed snapshot of urban India just three years after Partition. Then, the wounds inflicted in the separation are still raw, and the defence minister’s demands for war with Pakistan fall on receptive ears. But Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru will not act, knowing that the country’s economy cannot stand the strain.
City of Destruction is the fifth book in Khan’s outstanding Malabar House series of historical detective novels. The setting is Bombay’s smallest police station. Persis Wadia has been sent there to join others who are out of favor with the brass, some as punishment for their misdeeds, real or imagined, others (including Persis) simply because they don’t fit the bosses’ notion of proper police officers. Their punishment is to take on the politically sensitive and seemingly unsolvable cases nobody else in the Bombay police is willing to touch.
But Persis is a special case. As the country’s only female police detective, she faces sexism, even misogyny, at every turn—despite her stellar record of tackling and solving complex cases that baffle her colleagues and her boss. She is heroic but no classical hero. She’s impulsive, essentially friendless, hot-tempered, and almost pathologically incapable of following orders. These traits may help explain her success as an investigator. But they don’t make her easy to be around.
About the author
Vaseem Khan wrote seven novels and novellas about the Baby Ganesh Detective Agency, which feature a retired Mumbai police Inspector and his sidekick, a baby elephant named Ganesha. (I haven’t read any of these because the concept doesn’t appeal to me.) More recently, he has written the five novels in the Malabar House series, which are much more to my liking.
Khan was born in London in 1973 and studied accounting and finance at the London School of Economics. He worked for a decade in the Indian subcontinent as a management consultant. Since then he has been at University College London in the Department of Security and Crime Science.
November 30, 2024
Each new Malabar House book is such a treat to look forward to; this is invariably crime fiction at its most immersive, intriguing and entertaining, and in Persis Wadia, Vaseem Khan has a complex, compelling character who is as important and engaging as the mystery – or mysteries – she has to solve. I would recommend reading the books in order if possible to fully appreciate the superb ongoing development of India's first female police detective but readers who start here can still expect to enjoy a deftly plotted, multifaceted story.
Vaseem Khan's portrayal of post-Partition India is exceptional; the socio-political dynamics of a country struggling to determine its place in a rapidly changing world is seamlessly woven into the storyline, giving readers an eye-opening insight into often little known aspects of India's history. The memories of the bloody horrors of Partition still linger and in City of Destruction, the fragile relationship between India and Pakistan dominates the discourse, particularly as the bellicose new defence minister, Rafi Azad is spoiling for war. Persis prevents an assassin from killing Azad but after being questioned by MI6, who are working closely with India's own intelligence services, she is quickly sidelined from the investigation into identifying the young man's co-conspirators. Persis, however, is not a woman who will roll over and accept orders, regardless of where they come from – especially as she has such a personal interest in the case.
In his dying moments, the gunman handed her an amulet before uttering his final words, "City of destruction" and she is determined to discover what he meant. The clever juxtaposition between Persis's personal turmoil and that of the country is fascinating; having been persuaded to stay in the police force, Persis is still trying to figure out her own place in the world and although greater understanding and less animosity means an all-out war between her and the other officers at Malabar House is more unlikely than it was previously, her single-mindedness results in her bumping heads with them several times during the course of the novel. Persis might be a trailblazer but Vaseem Khan ensures she is never portrayed as an idealised representative and her flaws, most notably her reckless recalcitrance means she is shown to be simultaneously both courageous and selfish. Meanwhile, she also has a further, more emotional reason to feel a responsibility towards the investigation as the incident left Archie Blackfinch in a critical condition and fighting for his life in hospital. Her layers of guilt and startling revelations about his personal life finds her forced to reflect upon her feelings towards him and her vulnerability in her private moments is captured magnificently.
She is initially guilty of neglecting her investigation into the murder of an unnamed white man whose burned body was discovered on a beach but eventually her innate empathy towards others and her desire to achieve justice for her victims sees her uncover further tragic information about the him. As well as being a candid exploration of India's past, City of Destruction also examines the perpetual exploitation of people across the world and there are some moving scenes throughout the book. However, while the subject matter is often intensely poignant or unsettlingly thought-provoking, there is humour interlaced throughout too and Vaseem Khan's descriptive wit is often delightfully Wodehousian in nature.
Persis must confront corruption, conspiracies, crime and sexual chemistry, and as her investigation takes her on a dramatic visit to Delhi before returning to Bombay, the transportive sense of place which is such a trademark of this series is as vibrant as ever. City of Destruction is one of those beautifully written, intelligent and gripping books which makes me grateful to be a reader; it's an outstanding read and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Vaseem Khan's portrayal of post-Partition India is exceptional; the socio-political dynamics of a country struggling to determine its place in a rapidly changing world is seamlessly woven into the storyline, giving readers an eye-opening insight into often little known aspects of India's history. The memories of the bloody horrors of Partition still linger and in City of Destruction, the fragile relationship between India and Pakistan dominates the discourse, particularly as the bellicose new defence minister, Rafi Azad is spoiling for war. Persis prevents an assassin from killing Azad but after being questioned by MI6, who are working closely with India's own intelligence services, she is quickly sidelined from the investigation into identifying the young man's co-conspirators. Persis, however, is not a woman who will roll over and accept orders, regardless of where they come from – especially as she has such a personal interest in the case.
In his dying moments, the gunman handed her an amulet before uttering his final words, "City of destruction" and she is determined to discover what he meant. The clever juxtaposition between Persis's personal turmoil and that of the country is fascinating; having been persuaded to stay in the police force, Persis is still trying to figure out her own place in the world and although greater understanding and less animosity means an all-out war between her and the other officers at Malabar House is more unlikely than it was previously, her single-mindedness results in her bumping heads with them several times during the course of the novel. Persis might be a trailblazer but Vaseem Khan ensures she is never portrayed as an idealised representative and her flaws, most notably her reckless recalcitrance means she is shown to be simultaneously both courageous and selfish. Meanwhile, she also has a further, more emotional reason to feel a responsibility towards the investigation as the incident left Archie Blackfinch in a critical condition and fighting for his life in hospital. Her layers of guilt and startling revelations about his personal life finds her forced to reflect upon her feelings towards him and her vulnerability in her private moments is captured magnificently.
She is initially guilty of neglecting her investigation into the murder of an unnamed white man whose burned body was discovered on a beach but eventually her innate empathy towards others and her desire to achieve justice for her victims sees her uncover further tragic information about the him. As well as being a candid exploration of India's past, City of Destruction also examines the perpetual exploitation of people across the world and there are some moving scenes throughout the book. However, while the subject matter is often intensely poignant or unsettlingly thought-provoking, there is humour interlaced throughout too and Vaseem Khan's descriptive wit is often delightfully Wodehousian in nature.
Persis must confront corruption, conspiracies, crime and sexual chemistry, and as her investigation takes her on a dramatic visit to Delhi before returning to Bombay, the transportive sense of place which is such a trademark of this series is as vibrant as ever. City of Destruction is one of those beautifully written, intelligent and gripping books which makes me grateful to be a reader; it's an outstanding read and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
January 2, 2025
An unusual start as Peris is involved in the case from the very beginning as she shoots the would-be assassin. Such close involvement means that, much to her chagrin, Peris is sidelined from the investigation and is destined to only play a minor role. However, as the young man was dying he passed her an amulet and muttered his final words, which Peris decides to keep to herself for now.
Instead, Peris is given a case of apparent suicide by self-immolation, an act which some protestors been carrying out. Peris quickly establishes that it is a case of murder made to look like suicide.
The backdrop is one of past wars and an impending war that hopefully can be averted. This is immediate post-colonial India, already fragmented following a war of partition that unleashed death and destruction. We will discover that war will suit some, whilst many hope for the status quo to be maintained and for people to make the best of their lives. The sub-continent is now going to be a quasi-battleground as part of the Cold War with geopolitics now having a hand in a volatile region. There are also unexpected links back to WWII which are wonderfully imagined and skilfully introduced into the storyline. There is also a rich symbolism with destruction by fire running throughout the story.
Two cases to test the first female detective, not only will her detective skills be stretched to the limit, but also her sense of morality, self-worth and desires for the future. A story that will end up with her asking as many questions of herself as of witnesses and suspects, as Persis starts the show signs of a new maturity developing.
Persis is still her headstrong self, regularly placing herself in harms way but managing to extricate herself largely unharmed. Will she ever listen to advice? So, there is plenty of risk and jeopardy throughout, with one outstanding set piece for readers to enjoy. Her unique position has played a part, with those wishing her to fail, almost to the point of her quitting, but as her father Sam says then they will have won. She irritates colleagues who point out that she is not a team player, advice she should take, but as Persis sees it most don’t want her on the team. As it is the amulet provides her with the link to solve the case and the dying words ‘City of Destruction’ expose the motivations with a quote she recognises from literature. She has been brought up in a bookshop so only she would likely pick up this link to an English Literature classic, which is cleverly inserted.
It proves to be an emotionally testing time for Persis as Archie is in a coma fighting for his life. They have gradually been getting closer, moving beyond mere friendship into courtship, as one of those mismatched odd couples who seem to be made for each other. However, as she sees it, any relationship is doomed due to racial and class differences, white colonists may have Indian mistresses but never wives. Archie being incapacitated throws her into emotional turmoil at precisely the wrong time, something exasperated by the arrival of his family. Here a lovely bit of conflict is introduced and Peris takes the bait. As the cases develop Persis sees her position being mirrored in others, in people whose prospects are much worse that hers, such that if he recovers, they may be able to forge a life together.
What I love about the series is the easy wit and humour that runs, seemingly effortlessly, throughout the story. There is word play, hilarious comparisons, elements of slapstick and a boss creating his own distillery in his office. The descriptions of the essence Indian street life capture the sights and sounds convincingly and certainly are far from sanitised.
Intelligent, insightful, humorous and written with great warmth, everything one could want from historical crime fiction.
Instead, Peris is given a case of apparent suicide by self-immolation, an act which some protestors been carrying out. Peris quickly establishes that it is a case of murder made to look like suicide.
The backdrop is one of past wars and an impending war that hopefully can be averted. This is immediate post-colonial India, already fragmented following a war of partition that unleashed death and destruction. We will discover that war will suit some, whilst many hope for the status quo to be maintained and for people to make the best of their lives. The sub-continent is now going to be a quasi-battleground as part of the Cold War with geopolitics now having a hand in a volatile region. There are also unexpected links back to WWII which are wonderfully imagined and skilfully introduced into the storyline. There is also a rich symbolism with destruction by fire running throughout the story.
Two cases to test the first female detective, not only will her detective skills be stretched to the limit, but also her sense of morality, self-worth and desires for the future. A story that will end up with her asking as many questions of herself as of witnesses and suspects, as Persis starts the show signs of a new maturity developing.
Persis is still her headstrong self, regularly placing herself in harms way but managing to extricate herself largely unharmed. Will she ever listen to advice? So, there is plenty of risk and jeopardy throughout, with one outstanding set piece for readers to enjoy. Her unique position has played a part, with those wishing her to fail, almost to the point of her quitting, but as her father Sam says then they will have won. She irritates colleagues who point out that she is not a team player, advice she should take, but as Persis sees it most don’t want her on the team. As it is the amulet provides her with the link to solve the case and the dying words ‘City of Destruction’ expose the motivations with a quote she recognises from literature. She has been brought up in a bookshop so only she would likely pick up this link to an English Literature classic, which is cleverly inserted.
It proves to be an emotionally testing time for Persis as Archie is in a coma fighting for his life. They have gradually been getting closer, moving beyond mere friendship into courtship, as one of those mismatched odd couples who seem to be made for each other. However, as she sees it, any relationship is doomed due to racial and class differences, white colonists may have Indian mistresses but never wives. Archie being incapacitated throws her into emotional turmoil at precisely the wrong time, something exasperated by the arrival of his family. Here a lovely bit of conflict is introduced and Peris takes the bait. As the cases develop Persis sees her position being mirrored in others, in people whose prospects are much worse that hers, such that if he recovers, they may be able to forge a life together.
What I love about the series is the easy wit and humour that runs, seemingly effortlessly, throughout the story. There is word play, hilarious comparisons, elements of slapstick and a boss creating his own distillery in his office. The descriptions of the essence Indian street life capture the sights and sounds convincingly and certainly are far from sanitised.
Intelligent, insightful, humorous and written with great warmth, everything one could want from historical crime fiction.
December 1, 2024
It is 1951 in Bombay, a city still recovering from the trauma and sectarian violence that followed independence and the partition of India in1947. Most Indians are happy that the British have been expelled, but not all are agreed about India’s relationship with their new neighbour, Pakistan: some want it reunited with India, some want it to remain separate, others want to wage war on it. As usual, politicians’ public statements do not necessarily coincide with their private aims and actions.
Inspector Persis Wadia, India’s first female detective, works out of Malabar House - the smallest and least auspicious police station in Bombay peopled by out-of-favour officers. When Persis shoots a young gunman intent on assassinating India’s new defence minister, Rafi Azad, male officers, Inspectors Oberoi and Fernandes, not Persis, are given the task of identifying the assassin’s partners in crime. Rosan Seth, Persis’ boss, sidetracks her into investigating a seemingly less important matter, the death of a white man found burned on some rocks in a posh area of Bombay. Who was he? Was he murdered or did he commit suicide?
Being highly intelligent and independently minded, Persis ignores her instructions and starts investing both the assassination attempt and the identity and reason for the death of the burnt man. A lead takes her to Delhi where she meets two MI6 officers, Barnes and Astor, who, theoretically at least, are supposed to be helping the new Indian Intelligence Service to find its feet. Impervious to obvious dangers, Persis risks life and limb as she tracks suspects. She also gets under the skin of her Malabar House colleagues, her superiors and MI6 alike. Her single-minded pursuit of justice pays off when the two investigations eventually become linked.
Persis has a complicated private life. The apparently insurmountable barriers of race, creed and family contribute to a constant struggle over her feelings for Archie Blackfinch, an English criminologist in Bombay to help set up a local forensic lab. Sadly, Archie is shot early in the story and is in a coma. Will he survive? And should he survive, any advance in their relationship is further complicated by the arrival of Archie’s wife from whom he is separated but not divorced.
City of Destruction is a delightful book, both entertaining and thought provoking. Vaseem Khan manages to weave the threads of politics, ancient and modern history and social commentary on the abject poverty and obscene riches in India, into a seamless whole. The story is populated by a wide variety of characters, the good - Persis and her family - the not so good, and the bad who are fighting to establish supremacy over various disreputable trades such as drug dealing, prostitution and money lending. Minor characters are often encapsulated in descriptions crafted to bring a smile to your face. Last, but not least, two complicated crimes are investigated. Although City of Destruction is the fifth book in the Malabar House series it can easily be read as a standalone. Having read it however, you might well want to seek out the previous four books in the series.
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Reviewer: Angela Crowther
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
Inspector Persis Wadia, India’s first female detective, works out of Malabar House - the smallest and least auspicious police station in Bombay peopled by out-of-favour officers. When Persis shoots a young gunman intent on assassinating India’s new defence minister, Rafi Azad, male officers, Inspectors Oberoi and Fernandes, not Persis, are given the task of identifying the assassin’s partners in crime. Rosan Seth, Persis’ boss, sidetracks her into investigating a seemingly less important matter, the death of a white man found burned on some rocks in a posh area of Bombay. Who was he? Was he murdered or did he commit suicide?
Being highly intelligent and independently minded, Persis ignores her instructions and starts investing both the assassination attempt and the identity and reason for the death of the burnt man. A lead takes her to Delhi where she meets two MI6 officers, Barnes and Astor, who, theoretically at least, are supposed to be helping the new Indian Intelligence Service to find its feet. Impervious to obvious dangers, Persis risks life and limb as she tracks suspects. She also gets under the skin of her Malabar House colleagues, her superiors and MI6 alike. Her single-minded pursuit of justice pays off when the two investigations eventually become linked.
Persis has a complicated private life. The apparently insurmountable barriers of race, creed and family contribute to a constant struggle over her feelings for Archie Blackfinch, an English criminologist in Bombay to help set up a local forensic lab. Sadly, Archie is shot early in the story and is in a coma. Will he survive? And should he survive, any advance in their relationship is further complicated by the arrival of Archie’s wife from whom he is separated but not divorced.
City of Destruction is a delightful book, both entertaining and thought provoking. Vaseem Khan manages to weave the threads of politics, ancient and modern history and social commentary on the abject poverty and obscene riches in India, into a seamless whole. The story is populated by a wide variety of characters, the good - Persis and her family - the not so good, and the bad who are fighting to establish supremacy over various disreputable trades such as drug dealing, prostitution and money lending. Minor characters are often encapsulated in descriptions crafted to bring a smile to your face. Last, but not least, two complicated crimes are investigated. Although City of Destruction is the fifth book in the Malabar House series it can easily be read as a standalone. Having read it however, you might well want to seek out the previous four books in the series.
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Reviewer: Angela Crowther
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
November 10, 2024
Oh yes. This book really hit the spot. Over the course of this series I've really taken Persis and Archie to my heart and I look forward to each new book with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Excitement because I know that Vaseem Khan can always be relied upon to deliver something very special. Trepidation because he has this nasty habit of putting my two beloved investigators in some very perilous situations. This book is now exception.
For anyone who has read the preceding book, Death of a Lesser God, will know that Persis really went through the ringer. At one stage, it felt as though her career as the first female investigator in India's police force might be over before it had a real chance to flourish. Thankfully, someone helps Persis see sense, although it's safe to say that her life is not set to get any better anytime soon. Whilst policing a political event, Persis shoots a young man who looks set to commit and assassination. In any other circumstances you would think this to be a good thing, but Persis becomes fixated on the young man and on a mysterious message he whispers to her just before he dies. As she sets out to find out the truth behind the young man's story, she finds herself facing danger once more, but this time without her trusted friend and companion, Archie, by her side.
I really love how the author brings to life post colonial India, drawing upon the rich, yet turbulent, history of the region in a way which both educates and entertains. Whilst this is all clearly fiction, it is rooted in fact, and the sense of place, and of the political machinations of Bombay are perfectly recreated. Once again, Vaseem Khan leads us away from the streets of Bombay, this time to New Delhi, and a setting which is a stark contrast to the place that Persis calls home, yet is every bit as dangerous, at least for her. This is a multi layered mystery, not just focusing on the attempted assassination, but also on the murder of a man who, from witness accounts, seems to have been a man with no enemies. Both cases were packed with intrigue, with the sense of threat a thrumming undercurrent from the start of the book to the end, creating a perfectly paced thriller that kept me completely rapt.
If there is one area that I really love this series for, aside from introducing me to a part of history that I know little of, and from which, it seems clear, we never learn, it is the characterisation. Without question, Persis, with her determination and obstinacy, is one of my favourite characters of the moment. And I love Archie Blackfinch, as so unlike Persis as you could possibly imagine, but with whom she still has such great chemistry. It's fair to say that he has a somewhat curtailed role to play in this latest investigation but, in spite of his not being physically by persis' side, his presence is felt in every single action and decision that she makes. But it is not just this enduringly addictive pair that make this a winning series. Everyone, from Persis' father, Sam, to her colleagues, Seth, Oberoi and Fernandes, adds a little something to the story in their own peculiar way, and they are so perfectly portrayed that I'm not sure the series would be the same without them.
With plenty of misdirection and surprises along the way, for Persis every bit as much as us readers, this was another absolutely fabulous mystery, but also one that felt like a bit of a pivotal moment in Persis' life. What it means for our heroine, I'm not sure, but I'm hoping Vaseem Khan has many more books in store for us to find out. And, if you are an audiobook fan, then I can highly recommend the audio narrated by Maya Soraya. I did a kind of combination of reading and listening to this and I can honestly say i was entertained from beginning to end. Definitely recommended.
For anyone who has read the preceding book, Death of a Lesser God, will know that Persis really went through the ringer. At one stage, it felt as though her career as the first female investigator in India's police force might be over before it had a real chance to flourish. Thankfully, someone helps Persis see sense, although it's safe to say that her life is not set to get any better anytime soon. Whilst policing a political event, Persis shoots a young man who looks set to commit and assassination. In any other circumstances you would think this to be a good thing, but Persis becomes fixated on the young man and on a mysterious message he whispers to her just before he dies. As she sets out to find out the truth behind the young man's story, she finds herself facing danger once more, but this time without her trusted friend and companion, Archie, by her side.
I really love how the author brings to life post colonial India, drawing upon the rich, yet turbulent, history of the region in a way which both educates and entertains. Whilst this is all clearly fiction, it is rooted in fact, and the sense of place, and of the political machinations of Bombay are perfectly recreated. Once again, Vaseem Khan leads us away from the streets of Bombay, this time to New Delhi, and a setting which is a stark contrast to the place that Persis calls home, yet is every bit as dangerous, at least for her. This is a multi layered mystery, not just focusing on the attempted assassination, but also on the murder of a man who, from witness accounts, seems to have been a man with no enemies. Both cases were packed with intrigue, with the sense of threat a thrumming undercurrent from the start of the book to the end, creating a perfectly paced thriller that kept me completely rapt.
If there is one area that I really love this series for, aside from introducing me to a part of history that I know little of, and from which, it seems clear, we never learn, it is the characterisation. Without question, Persis, with her determination and obstinacy, is one of my favourite characters of the moment. And I love Archie Blackfinch, as so unlike Persis as you could possibly imagine, but with whom she still has such great chemistry. It's fair to say that he has a somewhat curtailed role to play in this latest investigation but, in spite of his not being physically by persis' side, his presence is felt in every single action and decision that she makes. But it is not just this enduringly addictive pair that make this a winning series. Everyone, from Persis' father, Sam, to her colleagues, Seth, Oberoi and Fernandes, adds a little something to the story in their own peculiar way, and they are so perfectly portrayed that I'm not sure the series would be the same without them.
With plenty of misdirection and surprises along the way, for Persis every bit as much as us readers, this was another absolutely fabulous mystery, but also one that felt like a bit of a pivotal moment in Persis' life. What it means for our heroine, I'm not sure, but I'm hoping Vaseem Khan has many more books in store for us to find out. And, if you are an audiobook fan, then I can highly recommend the audio narrated by Maya Soraya. I did a kind of combination of reading and listening to this and I can honestly say i was entertained from beginning to end. Definitely recommended.
November 20, 2024
It's hard to find a better historical crime fiction series than the Malabar House series from Vaseem Khan. These books are a heady mix of historical fact, mystery stories and the progression of our lead characters; Persis Wadia and Archie Blackfinch. You will be hard pressed to find a more diverse and unlikely crime fighting duo than these two. Persis; the first female detective in India, with a rich cultural background, having seen the rise of India and neighbouring Pakistan, and also the terror and destruction caused by recent events. Archie Blackfinch, the staid British detective, based in the heat of India, but still dresses like the formal Englishman that he is.
In City of Destruction Persis is without her trusty sidekick for most of the story. The novel begins with an attempted assassination. A gunman attempts to shoot the country's defence minister, a man who is dividing the nation with his calls for war. Persis blocks the assassination, but the young gunman is killed. Whilst it is clear that she was only doing her job, she struggles with his death, especially as he spoke to her with his dying breath and thrust something into her hand that is very mysterious.
And so, Persis, in her usual headstrong way takes on this case, even though she's informed by her superiors that she shouldn't. Members of the British MI6 service have been drafted in and it's clear that Persis is not wanted on the scene. This does not stop her and she finds herself becoming more and more involved; determined to find out more about the lone gunman and who was controlling him.
Meanwhile, a white man's body is found on the rocks by the sea. Burnt beyond recognition, but killed from a blow to the head. Persis is given this case, and whilst she'd rather be involved in the political drama, it's not long before this case also consumes her.
This is a complex and multi woven story, with some incredibly well created characters. It is filled with Khan's humour, some of his descriptions, especially of people made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. Despite Persis' many flaws, one cannot help but really like her, her determination to get to the bottom of things, to find justice, to face danger and to keep going is so admirable.
I do like to see the other side of her though. The times when she is at home with her father Sam, in their bookshop. Her memories of her late mother, and of course, her constant musings about Archie, and especially when she discovers that he may not have been entirely truthful with her in the past.
The writing is charming, fascinating, educating. The plot line is skilful and gripping and the characters are a joy. The sense of place is so colourful, you can almost smell the streets of Bombay. Highly recommended.
In City of Destruction Persis is without her trusty sidekick for most of the story. The novel begins with an attempted assassination. A gunman attempts to shoot the country's defence minister, a man who is dividing the nation with his calls for war. Persis blocks the assassination, but the young gunman is killed. Whilst it is clear that she was only doing her job, she struggles with his death, especially as he spoke to her with his dying breath and thrust something into her hand that is very mysterious.
And so, Persis, in her usual headstrong way takes on this case, even though she's informed by her superiors that she shouldn't. Members of the British MI6 service have been drafted in and it's clear that Persis is not wanted on the scene. This does not stop her and she finds herself becoming more and more involved; determined to find out more about the lone gunman and who was controlling him.
Meanwhile, a white man's body is found on the rocks by the sea. Burnt beyond recognition, but killed from a blow to the head. Persis is given this case, and whilst she'd rather be involved in the political drama, it's not long before this case also consumes her.
This is a complex and multi woven story, with some incredibly well created characters. It is filled with Khan's humour, some of his descriptions, especially of people made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. Despite Persis' many flaws, one cannot help but really like her, her determination to get to the bottom of things, to find justice, to face danger and to keep going is so admirable.
I do like to see the other side of her though. The times when she is at home with her father Sam, in their bookshop. Her memories of her late mother, and of course, her constant musings about Archie, and especially when she discovers that he may not have been entirely truthful with her in the past.
The writing is charming, fascinating, educating. The plot line is skilful and gripping and the characters are a joy. The sense of place is so colourful, you can almost smell the streets of Bombay. Highly recommended.
October 16, 2024
In the 5th of his historical fiction mystery series set in the 195os by Vaseem Khan, we are in the midst the turbulence of an independent India, with a separate Pakistan that has many overtly seething. This includes Azad, the defence minister in Nehru's government, giving inflammatory, yet popular, pro war speeches promoting unification at protests, as the colonial legacy in the region persists. I read and listened to this on audio, ably narrated by Maya Saroya, although I did on occasions wish that she had injected a greater sense of drama to the narrative. Persis Wadia is the first woman police detective in the force, a target for many, such as misogynists and those who strongly believe it to be the sphere for men alone. She considers quitting but decides to continue at Malabar House.
Persis's attention is caught by a young man at a protest, forced to shoot him dead when he attempts to assasinate Azad, a act that results in the shooting of Scotland Yard criminalist, Archie Blackfinch, who ends up in a coma in hospital. In emotional turmoil, she keeps secret the amulet pushed into her hand and the last words he whispers, were they simply the despairing lament of a dying man or something more? There is huge pressure to identify the man, investigate motives and possible co-conspirators, but she is not on the team and is given the case of a burned man at a beach, self immolation is not uncommon, but something about this feels wrong, as she becomes convinced it is murder. Could there possibly be any connections between the 2 cases?
The determined Persis, some might say foolhardy, goes rogue, going to Delhi to identify the would be assassin, and becomes embroiled in dealings with British intelligence agents, Julius Barnes and David Astor, there to support the Delhi Intelligence Bureau. Persis mostly operates as a loner in the complex investigations, slowly joining the many pieces of the puzzle together, never losing her sense of focus, despite the challenges she faces emotionally and professionally. As usual, Khan weaves an intricate and engaging story that immerses the reader in the India and its problematic issues in this historical period. I can recommend this to readers interested in this era, and to those simply looking for a great intriguing mystery, in what is a terrific addition to a brilliant series. The audio and the book are great! Many thanks to the publisher for an ALC and ARC.
Persis's attention is caught by a young man at a protest, forced to shoot him dead when he attempts to assasinate Azad, a act that results in the shooting of Scotland Yard criminalist, Archie Blackfinch, who ends up in a coma in hospital. In emotional turmoil, she keeps secret the amulet pushed into her hand and the last words he whispers, were they simply the despairing lament of a dying man or something more? There is huge pressure to identify the man, investigate motives and possible co-conspirators, but she is not on the team and is given the case of a burned man at a beach, self immolation is not uncommon, but something about this feels wrong, as she becomes convinced it is murder. Could there possibly be any connections between the 2 cases?
The determined Persis, some might say foolhardy, goes rogue, going to Delhi to identify the would be assassin, and becomes embroiled in dealings with British intelligence agents, Julius Barnes and David Astor, there to support the Delhi Intelligence Bureau. Persis mostly operates as a loner in the complex investigations, slowly joining the many pieces of the puzzle together, never losing her sense of focus, despite the challenges she faces emotionally and professionally. As usual, Khan weaves an intricate and engaging story that immerses the reader in the India and its problematic issues in this historical period. I can recommend this to readers interested in this era, and to those simply looking for a great intriguing mystery, in what is a terrific addition to a brilliant series. The audio and the book are great! Many thanks to the publisher for an ALC and ARC.
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