The Star from Calcutta

Perveen Mistry #5

by Sujata Massey

A movie censor murdered, a leading lady vanished—the glamour, romance, and intrigue of the beginnings of Bollywood come to vivid life in the thrilling new installment of the Perveen Mistry historical mystery series.

India, 1922: Perveen Mistry, the only female lawyer in Bombay, has secured her biggest client yet: Champa Films, a movie studio run by director Subhas Ghoshal and his wife, Rochana, the biggest name in Indian cinema. In the public eye, Rochana is notorious for her beauty and her daring stunts—behind the scenes, she has recently left the studio in Calcutta that made her famous, and the studio owner is enraged by what he claims is a breach of contract. Rochana needs Perveen’s legal help to extricate Champa Films from the impending controversy.

To study Rochana’s glamorous world, Perveen attends a special screening and brings her film fanatic best friend, Alice Hobson-Jones. But in the aftermath of the event, one of the guests is found dead, and to make matters worse, Rochana has disappeared.

To protect her clients, Perveen begins to investigate the developing murder case, peeling back the glitz to reveal a salacious web of blackmail, deceit, and romantic affairs. For the first time in their friendship, Alice seems to be keeping a secret from Perveen. Is she hiding key information about the night of the murder? Will Perveen be able to detangle the truth from lies while protecting herself—and her closest friend?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, India, Historical Mystery, Historical, Audiobook

384 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

Sujata Massey is the author of historical and mystery fiction set in Asia. She is best known for the Perveen Mistry series published in the United States by Soho Press and in India by Penguin Random House India. In June, 2021, THE BOMBAY PRINCE, third book in the series, releases in the US/Canada and Australia/New Zealand; it will be published by Penguin India later the same month.

THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL, the first Perveen novel, was named a Best Mystery/Thriller of 2018 and also an Amazon Best Mystery/Thriller of 2018. Additionally, the book won the Bruce Alexander Best Historical Mystery Award, the Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery and the Mary Higgins Clark Award, all in 2019.

The second Perveen novel, THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE, won the Bruce Alexander Best Historical Mystery Award in 2020.

Sujata's other works include THE SLEEPING DICTIONARY (2013) and eleven Rei Shimura mysteries published from 1997-2014. For more about Sujata's books and a full events schedule, subscribe to her newsletter, http://sujatamassey.com/newsletter

Sujata lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with her family and two dogs. In addition to writing, she loves to travel, read, cook, garden and walk.

Reviews

[Book Riot Community]

Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:

I’m so happy to see Perveen Mistry return! She’s the only Parsi woman lawyer in 1920’s Bombay—inspired by the real life Cornelia Sorabji—and the star of this wonderful historical mystery series. This time around we get the exciting early days of Bollywood with a murder mystery + missing person case that involves a movie censor and leading lady! —Jamie Canaves

[Sarah Baenen · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a fan of this series, I struggled to finish this book. The first few chapters were full of promise as it seemed to focus on the ins and outs of the Indian film industry. However, most of the book was a rehash of the same plot points. The solution to the mystery was anticlimactic; the reveal just happens and Perveen’s investigation doesn’t even seem to matter much.

More importantly, for me, the characters also fell flat. Alice’s personality was grating and Perveen seemed like a device to move the plot forward, though at a glacial pace. The “twist” at the end was not enough to redeem the book because by then I had lost interest in these characters I once loved.

ARC from NetGalley

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kept reading because I’ve liked this series from the beginning but it was a bit of a slog… All the most interesting and enjoyable parts were jammed into the ending, and the rest was mostly just drawn-out repetitive tension and frustration between Perveen and her dad and Alice.

Hoping the next one will be more engaging all the way through again …

[Sneha Pathak (reader_girl_reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I became a fan of this series after reading the first novel. The second was somewhat disappointing but the third seemed to have given the series backmits mojo. I dnf-ed the fourth entry and while I found The Star from Calcutta - the fifth book in the series - much easier to finish, I feel that it's time the series come to a graceful end. The recent books seem to have a much more stronger historical side than the central mystery which seemed slow, ponderous and lost in the multiple threads of the narrative.

The angle of Colin and Perveen, their will they won't they, has become somewhat tiresome and while I appreciated the focus on Alice's personal life in this title, I felt that it was dragged too much and much too obvious to everyone except Perveen. I find it interesting how two writers writing broadly in the same genre can hit upon similar themes and plot points at the same time. The Star From Calcutta is set in the background of the world of early Indian cinema, as was The Burning Grounds by Abir Mukherjee published in November 2025. And - spoiler alert - the relationship between the star and her closest caretaker as well as their backgrounds were quite similar.

[Beachreader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read all of the Perveen Mistry mystery series and have really enjoyed the glimpses into Indian culture and life. But this latest book is a big disappointment. it was a struggle to finish the book.

I have several complaints and the biggest is about the story itself--it is very boring and drawn out. There are too many characters and I didn't care what happened to any of them, other than Perveen.

There is a big shift in some of Perveens relationships, especially the close one she has always had with her father. In this story he is so dismissive of her to the point of being mean.

Her best friend Alice Hobson-Jones is cast in a different role. She is now an atagonist and is very unkind to Perveen.

I don't understand why the author changed these two longstanding relationships. The only person Perveen can count on is herself, although her friend Colin is supportive most of the time.

The plot is too complex and doesn't work well. The author said she had problems delivering this book in her usual timeframe. That is usually a sign that the story is flawed and needs a lot of rewrites. The editor should have nixed this one.

[Bill Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed most of the books in this series…this one much less so. The writing, the plot, and the characterization all are lacking. I’m glad Perveen and Colin are finding their way together as a couple…otherwise, this barely held my interest to finish it.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is my favorite currently-being-written mystery series right now, and I really enjoyed this installment. Indian filmmaking, the rainy season, Perveen's complications in love and friendship--plus a twist at the end I did not see coming! Whew! I love how vividly Massey evoked the world and her characters. I have a yen to read through the rest of the books again, but I also have her short fiction to enjoy about Perveen's time at Oxford!

[Celia Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1920s India, this series offers an interesting look into the ethnic and cultural groups making up India's native population under British colonial rule. Perveen Mistry is Oxford educated and India's first female lawyer. In this installment she and her father are hired by one of India's first film production studios to defend a possible breach of contract but what should be an interesting look at the early days of Bollywood turns into an interminably slow read.

Perveen attends a party at the studio with her starstruck friend Alice and the next morning a film vendor is found dead and the star of the latest production and ride of the studio owner has vanished. Perveen's investigation turns into a murder investigation but it moves along haphazardly and slowly.

The story takes place during monsoon season and perhaps the endless rain and mud drag the story down. This is a disappointing series entry.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Nolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute banger.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the fifth book in the Perveen Mistry series, and I've read most of the prior books. I love Massey's writing and this historical mystery series in particular. I think most work well as standalones, too, although it would be nice to read the first book in the series, The Widows of Malabar Hill, to get more detailed background about Perveen.

The series is set in the 1920s in India and the main character, Perveen, is the only female lawyer in Bombay. The books I've already read do a great job of mixing history and entertainment. This book involves the movie industry in India. A film star has disappeared, and a movie censor is killed. What starts as a breach of contract case becomes something much more complex with Perveen and her friend Alice right in the middle of it. Many people seem to be hiding things and it's up to Perveen to get to the truth.

I love this author and this series, and this book has an intriguing premise. The Indian film angle of the book is fun, and the story also tackles a few serious issues. I always learn a lot about this time in history in India and still recommend this excellent series even though this one seemed to move more slowly than the prior books I've read.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from Soho Press and NetGalley, but my review is voluntary and unbiased. .

[Maria Almaguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fifth book in a unique mystery series, featuring a female attorney in 1920s India (based on a real person), continues the story of Perveen Mistry, the daughter of a Parsi attorney. You must read the books in order as each book builds on developing stories about all the characters. This story explores India's early film and motion picture industry, with Perveen and her father representing a famous actress and her husband's film company in a contract dispute. When a murder complicates things, Perveen investigates. What's fascinating about this series is also the Indian cultural and historical facets of the period, including the different religious sects and expected protocols, things I know nothing about. Massey has also written many other books; this series is her newest and I look forward to reading more.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perveen and her father’s law firm take on a film studio as a client. The behind-the-scenes look at the early years of Indian cinema is fascinating.

The developments in the romantic storyline between Perveen and Colin are fantastic. Finally!

Perveen’s best friend Alice has a bigger role, too.

An all-around wonderful addition to the series!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weakest entry in the series. A lot of missed opportunities and Perveen was whinier and not as strong about pursuing leads and ideas. Worst of all was the ending, which was simply crazy lucky.

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disappointing outing for this author. The plot is overly complicated, implausible and frankly, not compelling.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a three-year absence Perveen Mistry returns in THE STAR FROM CALCUTTA. She is now a partner in her father's law firm and becoming something of a known quantity in her native Bombey. But while a few take her seriously as a lawyer, she still has to maneuver amongst those who treat her as unserious or a curiosity. Regardless of how others see her, readers will welcome back one of the most intriguing characters in a current mystery series.

The scene-setting is typically one of the strongest attributes of author Sujata Massey's work and 1920s India is fertile ground for her work. THE STAR FROM CALCUTTA introduces India's nascent movie industry, with all its drama and over-the-top characters. After a new motion picture company engages the Mistry law firm, Perveen becomes immersed in the industry's excesses and secrets.

A murder at a party Perveen would have done well to avoid is centerstage for this story. There are at least two strong parallel plotlines in this novel, however. First, Perveen's ongoing romance with Colin. It is progressing, but at a glacial pace. Second, there is the tale of Perveen's friend Alice, the daughter of a top British official and a young woman with a secret (that really isn't much of a secret). Alice's life has complications upon complications. She is Perveen's friend, but one of the few weaknesses in this book is how acquiescent Perveen is in the face of multiple ill-considered demands made by Alice throughout. It is obvious to Perveen, and us, that Alice is usually only making more trouble for herself, but Alice barges forward. It is not unusual for Perveen to pay the price for these random expectations.

In the end, the crime at the center of this novel comes to a suitable conclusion, thanks to Perveen, and Alice seems to be on the path to finding peace. Don't know what's going to happen with Colin but that's what future books are for.

[Jagruti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always exciting to followup with and root for Parveen Mistry. This book was engaging and fun, and as always, the history bits about the film industry were so interesting. Also I am so happy with Alice's arc IYKYK!

[Sneha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice!
I loved the old Indian cinema backdrop!

[Thureka · Rating 3 out of 5]

· · ─ · ·
POV: 3rd Person - Single
Format: Digital

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this series, so I'm bummed that this one was such a slog to get through. The mystery was muddled and no one seemed to really care about it, especially me. The story itself was very anticlimactic. Here's hoping the next one is better.

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is stilted and the characters are so two dimensional. I’m not sure why I keep reading the new books in the series.

[Sue-Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perveen Mistry is a fascinating character. She is a partner in her father’s law firm and the first and only female lawyer admitted to the bar in Mumbai.

The earlier books in this series were well-written. Perveen lives according to many of the traditions of her people yet her best friend is a member of the British aristocracy and the man she loves is also English. She cannot have an open relationship with him because she is married and formally separated from her husband, a man who abused her physically and emotionally.

In this novel. Perveen and her father are hired to contest a lawsuit. An Indian filmmaker is asserting that his company’s most famous female star, Rochanna Gochsl, has left his company and broken her contractual obligations. Rochanna’s husband has started a new film company and finished a new film starring Rochanna. He invites Perveen to a pre-release party where a British police officer, a film censor, is murdered.

The historical setting and characters are well-researched and fascinating. The book seems scattered and the mystery is subpar. Unlike the earlier books, the story doesn’t build up much suspense. The earlier books in the series were much better.

[Cari Zuckerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this 5th installment of the Perveen Mistry series, Perveen and her father are hired as lawyers by the Champa Film Company. Its star, Rochana, who is married to its producer Subhas Ghoshal may be in trouble with a previous employer over a contract. What seems like a straightforward case turns deadly when a film censor is found dead on the film studio’s property following a viewing party. That same night, Rochana goes missing.

I found this book to be a bit disjointed. I wasn’t always sure of why things were happening and how they tied into the story. The mystery sort of solved itself instead of Perveen doing the solving. I do really enjoy the characters of Perveen, Alice, and Colin in the series and I love the setting of 1920s India so I will likely continue to read future installments. As always with the series, the historical context was interesting. This one was just a bit slow and meandering for me and I would have thought the focus on making films in 1920s India would have been a little more interesting.

[Michelle Ardillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2025/12/26...

[Mal Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bombay's sole female lawyer investigates a murder in Bollywood during the Raj

The American motion picture industry, which we know as “Hollywood,” began in the early 1910s when filmmakers migrated to California. By 1915, they had established a global cinema hub. But filmmaking grew early in India, too. The first Hndi-language feature film produced there, launching “Bollywood,” was in 1913. And that fledgling industry, which featured fiercely competing production companies, is the setting for Sujata Massey’s intriguing murder mystery novel, The Star from Calcutta. It’s the fifth in her winning historical mystery series set in 1920s Bombay. In this engaging story, the young attorney Perveen Mistry, Bombay’s first female lawyer, leads the investigation.

A big-name film star needs legal help

The year is 1922. Twenty-four-year-old Perveen Mistry, with a degree in the law from Oxford University, has joined her father, Jamshedji Mistry, the senior partner in their family law practice. They are visiting a prospective client, Champa Films. “We will meet with the owner, Subhas Ghoshal, and his wife,” Jamshedji tells her, “an actress from Calcutta. They’ve got a new film called Queen of Hearts coming out in a few weeks.” The wife, it turns out, is the big-name star, Rochana.

Rochana has quickly emerged as a leading light in Indian cinema. She stands out, because “most of the stars in India had international backgrounds. Jewish girls like Ruby Myers, now called Sulochana, and the Anglo-Indian Patience Cooper rode high on the top of the theater marquees.”

But Rochana, and Champa Films, are threatened because her previous employer in Calcutta, “the infamous ABC, properly known as Abhijit Bipin Chatterjee,” is threatening legal action for an alleged breach of contract. He owns one of Champa’s leading competitors, a much larger company. But little do Perveen and Jamshedji suspect that what seems a simple case requiring them to negotiate a settlement will turn into a high-profile murder investigation.

At a preview of the new film, the police censor is murdered

Rochana and Subhas invite the Mistrys to attend a private premiere of the new film. Perveen knows that her best friend Alice Hobson-Jones, the daughter of the British Raj governor, regards Rochana as her favorite actress. So she invites Alice to join them. But the evening turns disastrous when government film censor Joseph Morgan, a police sergeant, is found dead. To compound the challenge, Rochana vanishes.

Did she murder Morgan? Or was it the cinematographer, who had loudly argued with him after the screening? Or did someone else take action to protect their job at Champa Films from a hostile censor? Perveen investigates. And, doing so, she uncovers a web of blackmail, deceit, and romantic affairs lurking beneath the glittering surface.

Massey’s tale offers a compelling portrait of life at the pinnacle of success in colonial India. And her story is suspenseful to a fault, defying any reader to anticipate the truth that lies behind the murder.

The historical setting

The roots of Indian cinema lie as far back in the past as those in the United States. Here, Thomas Edison’s rudimentary film camera reached the market only in 1893. The first copyrighted film shown in the US, Blacksmith Scene, appeared that same year. But around the globe, an Indian photographer made a film of scenes from a stage show he’d witnessed. It reached audiences just five years later, in 1898, under the title The Flower of Persia.

The first narrative feature film was the 70-minute The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) about the famous bushranger Ned Kelly. It was produced in Australia. (Hollywood released its first full-length features only six years later.) But the first feature-length film screened in India was the silent film Raja Harishchandra (1913). Growth came quickly thereafter. “By the 1930s, the Indian film industry as a whole was producing over 200 films per year.”

Today, Mumbai is one of the world’s largest film production centers. Bollywood—the term that technically denotes Hindi-language films alone, not those in other Indian languages—comprised a dozen principal production companies that together released a total of 364 films in 2017. The Indian film industry as a whole produced 1,986 feature films. And that total climbed to more than 2,500 in 2025, the largest of any country.

About the author

Born in Sussex, England, in 1964, Sujata Massey is the Anglo-American author of 16 mystery novels, including the five to date in the Perveen Mistry series. (She emigrated to the US with her family at the age of five.) Massey graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in writing. After a career as a journalist in Baltimore and two years as an English teacher in Japan, Massey won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel for her debut in the genre in 1997.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best written and smartest historical series being created at the moment. In these books, featuring female lawyer Perveen Mistry in 1920s India, Massey has been able to highlight women’s issues in a way that still resonates with readers, even though we live a century out from the events in the novels. While these books are never a scolding polemic, these are issues Perveen lives with and so they become a natural part of the story.

This novel is more of a straight up traditional mystery than some of the other books, and it’s no less enjoyable for it. As the book opens, Perveen and her father – whose firm she works for – meet with a movie producer who is worried that his most bankable star (and wife) is in breach of contract. The producer, Subhas, asks Perveen and her father to see what they can do to resolve the issue. To that end, Subhas invites Perveen to a party and screening at his home slash movie studio to see what she can discover.

While her father is uninterested in the cinema, Perveen could not be more excited, especially with the chance of meeting Subhas’ wife, the movie star Rochana. She invites her friend Alice along as Alice is also a fan of Rochana’s. Alice and Perveen have been friends since university days and Alice and her family have ended up in Bombay, though their friendship is not completely welcomed by Alice’s family, who are part of the Anglo-Indian upper crust.

Nevertheless, the women head to the party and Alice and Rochana seem immediately taken with one another, to Perveen’s puzzlement. However, Perveen is busy doing a little investigating at the request of her host, seeking out an unpleasant man who is a film censor. She gets an earful about him from the bartender and is less than charmed when she does talk with him.

The evening progresses with the film being shown and to Perveen’s dismay, Alice’s progressive drunkenness and seemingly unexplainable attachment to Rochana – and Rochana’s to her. Eventually both women press Perveen to spend the night as Alice’s dog, Diana, will be wanted for a film test first thing in the morning. Reluctantly, Perveen agrees, leaving Alice for bed, but not before sending her driver home with the signed legal contract and payment from Subhas.
When she wakes up, she can’t find Alice, though she does discover Diana, and taking her out, Diana leads her to the small zoo on the property where Perveen discovers the film censor’s body. This is the most traditional element in this traditionally told tale – the most unpleasant person being wiped off the canvas early – and the rest of the book begins to concern itself not only with the mystery, but with Alice and Perveen’s longstanding friendship, which now seems strained and endangered.

Their friendship becomes the theme of the book. Massey is incredibly gifted at portraying emotional relationships, and her gift does not fail her here. While Perveen has her own secret and socially unacceptable relationship with Colin (encountered in The Satapur Moonstone), Alice’s inclinations are the even more socially unacceptable: she loves women. Her mother is constantly throwing men her way to no avail, and Alice works as a dean at a local college. Both she and Perveen would have been anomalies in 1920’s India, but Massey makes them seem absolutely at home and as though they belong where they are.

The resolution of the crime is connected to the friendship of Perveen and Alice, and this is another step in Perveen’s growth as a human, as she learns both the value and the limitations of friendship. Of course, this is also a fun look at the infancy of Bollywood, struggling at the time to compete with the Western filmmaking world. As always, a Massey book is a deeply intelligent and satisfying read.

[Aastha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I don't know why I keep doing this to myself.

Except for A Murder on Malabar Hill, the first book, all the others in this series have been major disappointments, and yet, I keep returning for my love for old Bombay, and the tiny hope that maybe this time Massey would have a compelling plot.

And she fails to deliver. Every. Single. Time.

Massey's strength is her research, but for historical mysteries, it's a necessary condition - never a sufficient one. Her descriptions of Bombay rains, pastries from Yazdani, the food at Perveen's are delightful, and that's pretty much where it stops. The mystery is almost always forgettable, and overshadowed by what is going on in our heroine's personal life. The first book was great because of the story of her oppressive marriage. In the last one, there was the sensitive topic of childbirth and postpartum depression.

Unfortunately, this book doesn't even have that. A movie critic is murdered at a film party, and the lead actress flees with the help of Perveen's best friend Alice. Perveen follows her usual way of investigating, and crucial things such as the location of this actress are revealed to her by chance, and not because of her investigative prowess. The murderer just confesses to her towards the end, when there was no need - he was already on his way to another country. It makes little sense, and it's far from the only plot point that defies logic. Another irritating thing is our heroine's constant foolhardiness - she loves putting herself in danger (like her confrontation with ABC here) and is always saved by someone in the end. If only the plot itself were as strong as our heroine's plot armor.

Then there is the question of her English beau Colin Sandringham and their many many "long kisses" and embraces... Nobody asked for this. Colin could just be a helpful acquaintance or friend to further the story and it would have been fine. I have never cared about the star crossed lovers plotline, and could do without descriptions of their make out sessions. It's grating to read about the characters doing the deed in a dingy ferry cabin right after the heroine has a painful confrontation with her best friend. It's questionable behaviour for a respectable woman in 1925, and takes one right out of the yesteryear setting.

The one interesting bit in this book was about Alice and her sexuality, but her life isn't explored enough. This is also a character that behaves in odd (though somewhat understandable) ways, to the point of being almost antagonistic. Perveen and Alice do reconcile in the end, but it seems rushed, and the latter faces no consequences for throwing the former under the bus to save herself. I would have expected a proper confrontation between the two and for Perveen to call Alice out, but none of that really happens.

All in all, a mediocre affair, much like most others in this series. If you want a good mystery, you are better off skipping this. If only Massey had put in the same effort in crafting a proper mystery as she did when describing Perveen's saris...

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape to the movies....

And that's exactly what Sujata Massey has us do in The Star from Calcutta. We're given a front row seat with plenty of popcorn at the ready. Massey takes us back to 1922 when India was first emerging in its beginning stages of Bollywood. The films were of short duration but packed with plenty of action and beautiful faces.

We'll meet up with Perveen Mistry of Mistry Law. Perveen is an Oxford graduate and the only woman lawyer of her time in Calcutta. Thanks to her father, Perveen is given a partnership in the firm. But Perveen still runs into the bias placed against women who pursued a legal career at this time.

Mistry Law is chosen to represent Champa Films poised to release their latest film, Queen of Hearts, starring the popular Rochana in the lead role. Perveen is invited to a lavish soiree at the home of Rochana and her filmmaker husband, Subhas Ghoshal. In attendance is Joe Morgan, a British officer who works in the censor office of the local police. It is his job to view films and eliminate questionable scenes from movies. Subhas is anxious to get his film out to the public intact.

But here's a scene from its own horror movie: Joe Morgan is found murdered on the grounds of the Ghoshal estate. Then Rochana goes missing under some dubious circumstances. Has she been abducted or even worse murdered herself? Perveen is determined to find the answer even if it means putting herself in danger.

The Star from Calcutta is the fifth book in the Perveen Mistry Series. It's not my favorite and stands at a 3.5 Stars kicked up to 4 Stars because I still stand by Perveen. The earlier books are far better and you should begin there. The Star from Calcutta suffered from the weight of taking on too many avenues. Massey (an excellent writer) decided to give us tons of backstories on filmmaking in India in its early stages. The book highlighted the films too much and that overshadowed the mystery at large. It became a heavy prospect with Perveen on the outskirts. Nevertheless, do check out Sujata Massey's earlier books in this series. They are, indeed, top-notch.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to SoHo Press (Penguin Random House) and to the talented Sujata Massey for the opportunity.

[LittleReadsLFL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for a ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I had been eagerly anticipating the release of the fifth installment in Sujata Massey’s Perveen Mistry series, and I immediately dove in as soon as I got my hands on it. About halfway through, however, I noticed myself slowing down—not because my interest waned, but because I didn’t want the story to end.

Set in 1920s India, this novel once again follows Perveen Mistry, a sharp and determined attorney working alongside her father. What continues to make Perveen such a compelling protagonist is not only her intelligence and perseverance, but also the rare support she receives from her family in an era when opportunities for women were so limited. Throughout the series, her legal work has repeatedly drawn her into complex murder investigations, and this book is no exception.

In this installment, Perveen becomes entangled in the world of a film studio and its movie crew. As the studio’s attorney, she is naturally pulled into the aftermath of a murder, navigating both the investigation and the intricate relationships within the early film industry. This setting adds a fresh and fascinating dimension to the story, blending glamour with tension and intrigue in a way that feels both immersive and unique.

I will admit, I went into this book hoping it might finally be the one where Perveen could openly pursue her feelings for Colin. Unfortunately, that storyline remains as complicated as ever, with her still forced to keep her emotions hidden. While this was a bit disappointing, it also adds emotional depth and keeps the tension alive, leaving me invested in what lies ahead for her.

Overall, this is another captivating addition to the series. Sujata Massey continues to skillfully weave together historical detail, engaging mystery, and rich character development. I’m already looking forward to the next installment—and still hoping that Perveen will ultimately find the happiness she deserves.

[Wictoriane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bombay, 1922. Perveen est mandatée par "Champa Films", le studio dirigé par le réalisateur Subhas Ghoshal pour éclaircir la position professionnelle de son épouse Rochana, une actrice très connue qui n'hésite pas à se battre avec une épée, qui joue sans doublure avec des animaux impressionnants comme le tigre apprivoisé Tora ou un crocodile, et qui vient de quitter l'ancien studio "ABC productions" de Calcutta qui l’a rendue célèbre et qui invoque désormais une rupture de contrat déloyale. De son côté Rochana affirme n'avoir signé aucun contrat qui la lie à ABC. Lors d'une soirée de présentation du dernier film de Rochana "Queen of Hearts" (dont on apprend plus tard qu'il dure 29 minutes), Perveen découvre le corps d'un homme et donne l'alerte. Or cet homme, le sergent Joseph Morgan, était un policier travaillant pour le bureau des censures cinématographiques. Tandis que la police enquête sur les circonstances de cette mort, Perveen qui est obligée de faire profil bas pour ne pas attirer l'attention, cherche à savoir qu'elles étaient les motivations de cet homme présent à la soirée de "première" sans y être invité, et qui plus est, agissait étrangement en cachant son identité et se comportant de façon grossière avec certaines personnes dont Rochana. Pire encore ! Rochana disparaît le lendemain du drame et sa meilleure amie Alice semble lui cacher des faits très importants.

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Je n'ai pas été déçue de cette nouvelle histoire qui poursuit l'idée de l'auteur de mettre en scène une jeune femme parsie, séparé de son mari abusif, qui développe une relation amoureuse avec un anglais rencontrée dans la seconde aventure : La malédiction de Satapur.

Pour une lecture plus agréable, je vous invite à lire mon article complet et illustré :
https://lecturesencontrepoint.blogspo...

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Rating is 3.5 stars]

I love Perveen Mistry and I love Massey’s tales of 1920s India and the struggles of a young female solicitor in such a patriarchal society. But I was very disappointed in this book.

The writing doesn’t seem as crisp - in places it seems trite and treacly: for example, Perveen’s eyes tearing up at her father’s compliments during a business meeting. It took a while for the characters to become interesting and I never felt I knew them. The scenes describing Alice’s relationships were heavy-handed, not at all subtle, though the revelation of sisterhood was a satisfying surprise.

Perveen awakens from 24 hours in a coma and isn’t groggy or in pain. She’s just as sharp as ever, eager to talk about the case with her father. This seems so unlikely. And I expected more from the presence of the tiger, and the unlocked zoo gate - never explained. It’s like introducing a gun in the first act but never using it. I also wanted a confrontation with the other producer about what happened to Bubbles.

In one of the earlier books Perveen’s estranged husband is dying of syphilis. No further mention is made of him in the subsequent books but she’s still married. He should have died several books ago….

It’s unfortunate that this book came out around the same time as Abir Mukherjee’s The Burning Grounds. It too revolves around an actress with a mysterious background. That publishing schedule is probably frustrating for both authors.

I loved the first three books in this series. I’m tempted to reread them to remind myself of how good they are. I’m already looking forward several years till the next Perveen book comes out. I hope it’s as good as the first ones.