The Pinnacle

by Abir Mukherjee

WELCOME TO THE PINNACLE.

A place where murder meets luxury and the world’s most privileged depend on the most desperate.
Every floor has its secrets...

Washed-up American heart-throb George Abercrombie hates India, even from the rarified heights of his apartment on the 68th floor of the Pinnacle, Mumbai’s grandest luxury skyscraper. He hates the noise, he hates the heat and maybe he’s even grown to hate his much younger wife, the newest queen of Bollywood, Sweety Sahota.

When George wakes from a drunken stupor to find Sweety murdered in their bedroom, he knows he will be the prime suspect. But why have her computer and her phone disappeared without a trace? As George scrambles to piece together the night, others in the building are covering their tracks. Sweety’s assistant must find who is blackmailing her, and a servant who knows too much goes on the run.
'A towering thriller’ Mark Billingham

'A deliciously twisting plot’ Lucy Foley

Abir Mukherjee 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, India, Indian Literature, Suspense

Audible Audio

First published June 18, 2026

About the author

Abir Mukherjee is the Times bestselling author of the Sam Wyndham series of crime novels set in Raj era India. His debut, A Rising Man, won the CWA Endeavour Dagger for best historical crime novel of 2017 and was shortlisted for the MWA Edgar for best novel. His second novel, A Necessary Evil, won the Wilbur Smith Award for Adventure Writing and was a Zoe Ball Book Club pick. His third novel, Smoke and Ashes, was chosen by the Sunday Times as one of the 100 Best Crime & Thriller Novels since 1945. Abir grew up in Scotland and now lives in London with his wife and two sons.

Reviews

[Shannon Moeser · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PINNACLE by Abir Mukherjee is the first book to be placed in my "2026-favourites" folder. I believe it's Mukherjee's best thus far, and I have given several of his books a 5 star rating. I give this one a 5+ star rating.

To reach this pinnacle for me (pun intended), a novel must have:
1) Excellent writing;
2) Well-rounded characters; and
3) Social relevance.

THE PINNACLE has, in addition, lots of humour, which adds to its enjoyment. I laughed many times while reading the first chapter and continued laughing throughout the book, even though there were also numerous serious scenes. It is this conjunction of humour and deep issues that gives the whole its strength. (Like the combination of strengths and flaws that create the well-rounded characters.)

Brief Synopsis

George Abercrombie was once a top-rated Hollywood action star, but he's aging, plus he pissed off the newly elected US president. Consequently, George is now reduced to promoting whisky (and other products) in commercials being filmed in India. Why India? Because George married his beautiful (and much younger) co-star, Sweety, while making his last movie. Sweety was, and is, a Bollywood star, who gets plenty of work in India. So, because of George's problems at home in America, they have moved to India, where they bought an apartment in the Pinnacle, a 70-story marble tower that is home to many VIPs living in Mumbai.

Their marriage isn't perfect. Still George loves Sweety, and consequently when he finds her dead—murdered—the morning after he spent the night sleeping off a bender on the sofa, he is reasonably sure he didn't kill her in a drunken rage, even though they had quarrelled before he went out drinking with his pals. Who killed her? Possibly his PA, Amit, who had brought him home the night before and was now missing.

The story is told from the perspectives of George, Amit, and Glenda (Sweety's PA). The question is who killed Sweety, and why.

Mystery, Thriller, or Social Commentary

Although structured as a mystery, I was quite sure I knew who was behind Sweety's murder by the 15% point in the story, and I think that many readers will identify the most likely villain from clues presented in early chapters. This is not a mystery; it's a thriller, following the travails of the main characters as they seek to discover the truth. It was their actions and the repercussions of these actions that kept me quickly turning pages, engrossed until the end, during this long, complex book.

I think that it works superbly as a thriller mainly because of the intersection of humour and social commentary throughout the narrative.

Plus, Mukherjee is a great writer. He uses imagery skillfully. Not only visual imagery; he also constantly evoked smell and sound images that greatly increased my enjoyment of THE PINNACLE.

This novel is about sexism, about extreme wealth inequality—that is occurring NOW—in India. It is highly relevant. Yet it made me laugh while contemplating these uneasy circumstances.

Highly recommended!!

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

[Jamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pinnacle is a contemporary murder mystery set in a luxury Mumbai high-rise, where a fading Hollywood actor, George Abercrombie, finds himself the prime suspect when his Bollywood star wife, Sweety Sahota, is found murdered in their apartment after a night he can barely remember. From there the story fans out, taking in missing evidence, uneasy staff, and a building full of people with reasons to keep things hidden.

I have read all of Abir Mukherjee’s books, so it was initially a bit of a jolt to find myself in the present day rather than the 1920s world of the Wyndham and Banerjee series. That said, the shift settles quite quickly. The humour is still there, and George’s weary cynicism is not so far removed from Sam Wyndham’s, just refracted through a different setting and set of problems.

Mukherjee handles the bigger themes—sexism and the gulf between extreme wealth and those who serve it—with a light touch. They sit in the background rather than driving the plot, which keeps the book moving at a steady pace. There are also some sharp asides, particularly the comments on the “fictional” US president, which felt rather on the nose, and I did laugh at the recurring need to “call Sal”.

It is an engaging, neatly constructed mystery with a broad cast and a strong sense of place. I am not sure it quite has the depth or distinctiveness of his earlier historical novels, but it is a solid, readable entry in a new direction.

[Victoriakor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Очень симпатично, но мало про высотку!

[Jackthedad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.

I've enjoyed a few books by Abir Mukherjee so I was keen to read this one. He tells a good story well and it's not often I get the chance to read a story set in India. Some of the characters felt a bit 'caricature' but it didn't spoil the story which had enough twists and a satisfying ending, even though I'd guessed who the villain was. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[Mary Picken · Rating 5 out of 5]

bir Mukherjee’s The Pinnacle opens with a washed-up Hollywood star waking beside the murdered body of his glamorous Bollywood wife. From there, the novel titlts at full speed with hardly a space for breath.

Set around Mumbai’s most prestigious luxury skyscraper, the Pinnacle becomes more than a backdrop; it is a glittering monument to wealth, power and corruption, where every floor conceals a secret and every resident appears to have something to hide.

The Pinnacle is a genuinely propulsive read. Mukherjee’ structures the story around’s story encompasses multiple viewpoints, among them George Abercrombie, Sweety’s assistant Gemma, and George’s servant Amit. These viewpoints create constant propulsion. Just as one storyline reaches a moment of tension, the narrative switches elsewhere, forcing us to continue. The plot unfolds through a succession of revelations, missing evidence, blackmail schemes, hidden relationships and desperate attempts to stay one step ahead of both the police and far more dangerous adversaries.

The relationship between George Abercrombie and Sweety Sahota is the emotional core of the novel. Their marriage is built upon a fascinating reversal of fortunes. George, once a major Hollywood action star, has become yesterday’s news. Forced to leave the US, he’s now reduced to fronting advertising campaigns in India, while Sweety’s star has continued to rise; she is now Bollywood royalty. The resulting imbalance in their partnership fuels resentment, insecurity and mutual distrust. George’s bitterness over his fading celebrity contrasts sharply with Sweety’s growing success, creating a marriage under immense strain long before murder enters the picture. Then there’s Chunky Malhotra, Sweety’s old boyfriend. Is he back in the picture? Their marriage is a sharp commentary on fame, ageing, gender expectations and the fragility of status.

Mukherjee makes superb use of setting. Mumbai emerges in vivid contrast: the opulence of penthouses and celebrity lifestyles sits alongside poverty, overcrowded streets and the lives of those who serve the wealthy. The Pinnacle expertly explores the gulf between privilege and desperation, with the glittering skyscraper acting as a microcosm of modern India.

While George Abercrombie starts as the novel’s focal point, two of the most compelling characters are Amit and Gemma, whose perspectives broaden the story beyond the privileged world of celebrity and wealth. Through them, Mukherjee explores the lives of those who exist in the shadows of the rich and powerful, giving the novel a depth that elevates it above a conventional murder mystery.

Amit, a servant in the Pinnacle, is the most vulnerable to the consequences of Sweety’s murder. He has knowledge that others would prefer remained hidden, and finds himself drawn into a dangerous web of suspicion and pursuit. His storyline injects a palpable sense of urgency into the narrative. Unlike George, whose wealth affords him some protection, Amit has little power and few resources. Every decision he makes carries potentially devastating consequences, and his precarious position creates really suspenseful sequences. Through Amit’s character, Mukherjee highlights the stark inequalities that underpin the luxury on display throughout the novel. Amit represents the many thousands of workers whose underpaid labour sustains the lifestyles of the elite while leaving these same workers exposed to exploitation and danger.

Gemma is a bridge between the worlds of celebrity and ordinary life. As Sweety Sahota’s assistant, she enjoys access to glamour and influence, yet she is an outsider, without any oof the wealth and status that surrounds her. Her discovery of blackmail adds another layer of intrigue to an already complex plot. Gemma’s chapters work really well in maintaining the novel’s pace because they continually introduce fresh questions and complications. Intelligent, resourceful and often operating under immense pressure, she proves to be as resourceful as any investigator.

Together, Amit and Gemma provide perspectives that counterbalance George’s often cynical and self-absorbed viewpoint. Their stories reveal the human cost of the secrets hidden within the Pinnacle and reinforce one of the novel’s central themes: that beneath every display of luxury lies a network of people whose lives are far more precarious.

By investing these characters with genuine emotional depth, Mukherjee ensures that the novel’s suspense is driven not only by the mystery of who killed Sweety Sahota, but also by concern for the fates of those caught in the aftermath.

Although dealing with the very serious crimes of murder, exploitation, corruption and abuse of power, this book is frequently very funny. George’s self-deprecating cynicism made me laugh, while the social satire skewers celebrity culture, politics and extreme wealth. Abir Mukherjee’s humour runs right through the novel, appearing in the darkest moments and preventing the story from becoming overly grim. Rather than undermining the suspense, the comedy sharpens it by making the characters feel more human and memorable. I especially loved the frequent references to ‘better call Sal,’ George’s agent.

Verdict: This is a book made for the big screen. The Pinnacle succeeds as both a propulsive thriller and a pointed social satire. Its intricate plotting, vividly realised setting, dark humour and relentless pacing combine to produce a novel that feels incredibly cinematic. Mukherjee has produced a thriller that is fabulously entertaining whilst exposing the fault lines beneath a world built on glamour, privilege and power. A must read and very highly recommended.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of this author’s 1920s Wyndham & Banerjee detective series, so I was super excited to read this. A contemporary setting and a thriller rather than an investigation sounds very good.
George used to be a Hollywood film star handing out autographs and posing for the paparazzi, but he pissed off the wrong people in the US and now he is living in Mumbai doing mediocre commercials. His wife Sweety is a pretty, young Bollywood star who can and will outshine him. One morning he wakes up and finds her dead in bed. Now what?

In the Wyndham & Banerjee series, the stories satirize and critique the colonial setting and show how ridiculous and hypocritical it is. Here, it’s the immense wealth inequality that gets put through the ringer. George and Sweety are celebrities with billions in the bank. Assistant Gemma is just a working class American. Employee Amit is an Indian man barely getting by. The things George takes for granted are luxuries to Gemma and the things he doesn’t even bother with are the things Amit depends upon for survival.
As in his other series, the author creates an immersive setting from the gilded luxury apartments to the seedy alleys. Then, he fillets the workings of this unfair setting with sharp humour and a lot of irony. This particular combination is something that made me love his other series and it’s just as great here. The book is filled with little jokes about walkie talkies, king Midas getting drunk with French monarchs and shady agent Sal Copeland the third (grandson of equally shady agent Sal Copeland from 1926)

The perspective changes between George, assistant Gemma and other employee Amit worked well to obscure the truth. George was drunk that night, Gemma is blackmailed and Amit is in trouble with a crime boss. All of them act like they did not kill her, all of them suspect the other two. The author is great at revealing information at the right time, offering hints and posing questions in a way that kept me reading. This was not meant to be a detective with a protagonist following clues, but rather a suspenseful story of three secretive people with a murder between them. I wanted a thriller, and this book delivered it hands down.

None of them are particularly likeable people, but all of them are well written characters with the good and bad traits that come with being rich/an assistant/a poor man.
George isn’t outright awful, but too much of a coward to acknowledge that he isn’t great either. He thinks too highly of himself and not enough of other people. Sweety is Ms Sahota, not Mrs Abercrombie. Maybe she actually liked him, maybe she just wanted to marry him to make it big in the states. She disapproves of George letting the staff in the rich people elevator but interacts with them as people in a way that he doesn’t.
Amit is a sleaze who just wants to get by, doesn’t mind taking what his rich employers won’t miss and is a clever improviser. But is he actually that bad, or did he just learn from the worst? Gemma is the only character I didn’t fully grasp. Her plot is deeply intertwined with her loving some guy, yet I haven’t the faintest clue why they are in a relationship. I understand that she just wants to enjoy the fun and delights of being with him, very fair, but I didn’t understand why she stuck with him the entire time. We’re just meant to accept that she has a deep relationship with some man and it is never explained?
They all turned it around in the end, and I liked how they all ended up.

As for George, I described him to a friend as: What if Sam Wyndham married Estelle?? And he was acxused of murdering her?? And he was allowed to say fuck
His narration is nearly identical, filled with the jaded bitterness of a man who used to be happy but now spends his days hating everything. Yet Sam Wyndham was a world war 1 veteran with PTSD in a time when shell shock was considered for weaklings and everybody he cared for died, so I’ll begrudge him his cynicism. In fact, it made him realistic and somewhat sympathetic. George on the other hand is rich and famous, thinks he can make an award-worthy film and has no particular reason to be dramatic.
I did feel like Sweety’s death is genuinely impactful for his character. Sam Wyndham’s dead wife has always been a faceless plot device, but George’s thoughts and feelings about Sweety have a real depth to them which I missed in Sam.
In the second half, he proved himself significantly different from Sam, and I was happy to see him develop into his own character.
I still maintain he and Sam should start a whiskey-and-complaining-club though.

[Pudsey Recommends · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder on the 68th floor of Mumbai's most exclusive skyscraper, a washed-up American heartthrob, a Bollywood queen, and an entire building full of people desperately covering their tracks. This book had me from the blurb alone, and it more than delivered.

George Abercrombie is the kind of narrator you love to hate: a fading Hollywood star married to Sweety Sahota, Bollywood's biggest rising name, and utterly convinced he's the wronged party in his own life. When he wakes from a drunken stupor to find Sweety murdered in their bedroom, his computer and phone missing, and his personal assistant nowhere to be found, he becomes both suspect and unreliable narrator in equal measure.

What makes this book sing is the structure. Told across three POVs (George, Gemma the PA, and Amit, who gives us the staff's-eye view of the building) Mukherjee uses the format to dismantle privilege from every angle. George moves through Mumbai filtering everything through film comparisons and casual, unexamined bias, noticing the microaggressions and small cruelties around him and consistently choosing to do nothing. It's an uncomfortable, well-observed choice of narrator, and Mukherjee never lets him off the hook for it. As George muses to himself at one point, watching one more thing he should object to and doesn't, he reasons it's simply "not his country, not his problem."

The book is sharply, sometimes painfully funny. Mukherjee's eye for satire is razor-precise, particularly when it comes to the absurdities of extreme wealth and the way the very rich narrate their own decency to themselves. At one point George offers up his own innocence by way of explaining that he's "practically a Buddhist," as though that settles the matter of whether he's capable of murder. It's the kind of line that had me chuckling on public transport, exactly because he means it completely sincerely.

But for all the satire, this never tips into mean-spirited territory. Gemma's storyline, in particular, carries real weight: a woman in her late thirties, isolated in a country not her own, having an affair with a married government minister and getting blackmailed for it, has to weigh between betraying her employer and protecting her own survival. Her chapters hit a different, more aching register than George's, and the contrast does a lot of work in showing how differently privilege and precarity move through the same building.

Amit's chapters are where the book's social conscience really comes through most clearly. As one of the people who serves the residents of these gated towers rather than living in them, his perspective cuts through the satire of George's sections and the desperation of Gemma's to show us the building from underneath, quite literally. He's no straightforward "good person" either; he's caught up in the theft of items from the crime scene, and his own self-interest complicates things considerably. But that moral murkiness is exactly what makes him feel real rather than symbolic, and his sections are where Mukherjee's interest in who gets to be innocent, and who never had that luxury to begin with, comes through most clearly. It's a real skill, too, the way Mukherjee folds in this level of social detail and rich characterisation without ever once dragging the book's pace down.

Then there's Miss Singh, the detective brought in to investigate, and easily one of the best parts of the book. Watching her exist in this hyper-male, hyper-monied world, simply being good at her job and being underestimated for being a woman while doing it, is hugely satisfying.

Mukherjee doesn't let Mumbai become mere backdrop. The city is rendered with real texture: the traffic, the heat, the staggering gulf between the gated towers and the streets below, and the quiet colonial residue running underneath all of it. It's the kind of social awareness that elevates this well past a straightforward whodunit into something more interested in who gets to be innocent, and why.

The mystery itself unspools at a confident pace, the reveal lands with real punch even when you've half-suspected pieces of it, and the ending left me satisfied without everything being too neatly tied up. A properly entertaining, socially sharp thriller, and I'll absolutely be picking up Mukherjee's backlist (Hunted, apparently, is a must) off the back of this one. #pudseyrecommends

Huge thanks to Vintage and Vintage Books Influencers for the advance copy.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Abercrombie woke up hungover, his wife is dead, and instead of immediately calling the police, he’s basically like… “let me emotionally process this with vibes and denial.” Sir. Be serious. This man is a walking PR nightmare wrapped in a whiskey endorsement deal, and I was OBSESSED with how aggressively unhelpful he is at every turn.

The Pinnacle really said, what if we locked a bunch of morally questionable people in a luxury skyscraper and then let capitalism, ego, and poor decision-making do the rest. And honestly… it kind of slaps.

George is our main disaster, a washed-up American movie star clinging to relevance like it’s a toxic ex. His wife, Sweety Sahota, is a Bollywood icon who has fully outpaced him in fame, success, and basic competence. Their marriage? Tense. Their vibe? Passive-aggressive with a side of resentment. So when she turns up murdered and George was blackout drunk the night before, it’s less “who could have done this?” and more “oh no… it really could have been you, my guy.”

But the story doesn’t just sit with George, thank GOD, because that man needs supervision. We also follow Sweety’s assistant, who is being blackmailed and having the worst time imaginable, and a servant who knows way too much and is like one bad choice away from becoming a cautionary tale. Everyone is stressed. Everyone is lying. Everyone has secrets. It’s basically Succession energy but with more murder and fewer tailored suits… although still a concerning number of tailored suits.

And here’s the thing, the multiple POVs? Delicious. The way their stories slowly start clicking together felt like watching dominoes fall in slow motion while someone whispers, “this is going to end badly,” and you’re like, I KNOW BUT I CAN’T LOOK AWAY. Each perspective adds a new layer of tension, and I loved how distinct their voices felt. You always knew whose mess you were currently witnessing.

But oh my GOD, these people. I did not like them. Not even a little. And I know that’s the point, I respect the craft, I support women’s wrongs, I get it. But at a certain point I was like, if all of you disappeared into the Mumbai skyline, I would simply nod and continue my day. It’s less emotional attachment and more anthropological observation. I’m studying them. Like a nature documentary. “Here we see the rich man making yet another terrible choice in his natural habitat…”

Also, the book has THOUGHTS. Big thoughts. Important thoughts. And it is going to make sure you hear them. Wealth inequality, celebrity culture, Western entitlement, all of it is here and it’s sharp and relevant and sometimes… a little loud. Not wrong, just occasionally like being in a conversation where someone keeps repeating the same excellent point but with increasing intensity. I’m with you. I promise. You can take a sip of water.

The mystery itself is interesting because it’s not really playing hard to get. I had my suspicions early, and I wasn’t wildly off. But the tension doesn’t come from shocking twists as much as it comes from watching these characters dig themselves deeper and deeper into holes of their own making. It’s less “who did it?” and more “how is this going to blow up in everyone’s face?” which, frankly, is a vibe I respect.

What really worked for me, though, was the humor threaded through all this chaos. It’s subtle, it’s biting, and it sneaks up on you in the middle of all the mess. George’s internal commentary alone had me side-eyeing him like I was watching a man confidently make the worst possible choices and then act surprised about it. The satire is doing work here, and when it hits, it really hits.

By the end, I felt like I’d just binged a very expensive, very messy limited series where everyone is a little bit terrible and the building itself deserves a supporting actor credit. It’s smart, it’s sharp, it’s occasionally a bit heavy-handed, but it’s also genuinely entertaining in that “I need to know how this ends even if I don’t trust any of you” way. 3.5 stars.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Trust Absolutely No One, Including the Man Passed Out on the Couch

Huge thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the ARC, this was chaotic in a way that felt like being invited to gossip about strangers and I fully accepted the invitation.

[Amie Derricott · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Abercrombie is a washed up Hollywood actor trying to keep his career alive by appearing in adverts. His wife Sweety is a huge Bollywood star and the sweetheart of all India. They live in the exclusive Pinnacle apartments in Mumbai, a building so exclusive you have to show ID to even enter. On the night George is hoping to save face by doing a BBC interview with Sweety, she bails on him for some mysterious purpose and the interview goes terribly, so George heads off to drown his sorrows. When he wakes up on the sofa the following morning feeling more than a little worse for wear, he has only patchy memories of the night before. Confused about why their apartment is so cold, George stumbles off to their bedroom, only to discover Sweety has been murdered. Did he do it?
Sweety’s PA Gemma has been contacted by a mysterious figure demanding she give them Sweety’s laptop, or they will make public a compromising video of her with Ashok, a married member of parliament. Does she hand it over?
Amit, Georges bumbling manservant is on the run. He’s got himself in hot water with the local gangsters and, after stealing money and jewellery from Sweety and George, he is trying his best to get out of Mumbai as fast as possible. He was the last person in George and Sweetys apartment, could he be responsible?
Set over four days, we follow all three characters as the whole of Mumbai mourns Sweety’s death and they try to figure out who is responsible and what their motives were.
This book was a really cleverly written thriller that combines the murder mystery element with some pretty critical observations about wealth, celebrity and inequality in Mumbai, and probably most of India. Although the titular Pinnacle skyscraper is the scene of the crime, and we return to it repeatedly throughout the book, a lot of the action takes place on the streets of the city itself where the absolute extremes between the extravagance of the building and the poverty everywhere else are really evident. It is also highlighted through the characters themselves – George has absolutely no concept of the value of money yet Amit (and the other servants) are all too aware of how little they have.
The mystery element itself is incredibly well constructed with all of the various suspects, hidden agendas and all these little breadcrumbs of clues hinted at all throughout. I had my suspicions quite early on who I thought was the culprit, and I was partially right, but it didn’t spoil the rest of the book for me as the motivations for the murder don’t become clear until almost the end. I also really liked how he managed to slip quite a lot of humour into the book, without it becoming farcical and maintaining the serious nature of the murder and other themes.
This is the first book by Mukherjee that I’ve read, but it’s definitely not going to be the last, and I have in fact bought Hunted to read next!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Abir Mukherjee sets out to write something different, he doesn't mess about. Far removed from his historical Sam Wyndham series, or even last years utter thrill-fest, Hunted, The Pinnacle is a brilliant locked room/penthouse murder mystery, with a wealth (no pun intended) of brilliant characters, a hearty dose of mystery, a criminally cutting core, and a whole lot of humour to boot. From the very first page I was completely drawn in and, in spite of many of the characters leaving a bit/lot to be desired, utterly addicted to their trials and tribulations.

This is, more or less, the story of actor George Abercrombie, whose career is fading faster than he cares to admit, and his wife, actress, Sweety Sahota, whose star is very much still on the ascendency. At least until someone cuts her career, and life, very short. Although, from initial appearances, and owing to the security around the exclusive complex, George must be suspect number one, there is an unspoken agreement between George, whose perspective informs a good portion of the story, the author, who seems to have been having a real blast in torturing his characters, and me, the reader, that George cannot possibly be guilty. That is too easy. Too neat. To guaranteed to wrap up what really did shape up to be one heck of an entertaining read too quickly. I didn't always like George - he doesn't make it easy - but I believed in his innocence in no small part owing to the fact he didn't appear to have the competence to get away with murder, nor quite the stupidity to put himself so squarely in the frame if he had.

Well, that and the other key suspects in this wickedly smart game. There is Sweety's P.A., Gemma, whose point of view is another of the key focuses of the book, and George's rather inept, and suspect, assistant, Amit, whose attempts to escape the city lead to some of the key moments of humour, as well as some of the tension and trouble in the book. Of the three, Gemma is perhaps the most likeable, but even that was a stretch at times. And yet, all three were compelling, and each scene reads with a very unique voice, the author bringing all of their character flaws to life, and leaving me equal parts amused and frustrated by some of the choices they make.

In fact, there is possibly only one character who I warmed to instantly, and given Miss Singh's icy cool exterior, that's no mean feat. Sent to save George's overly pampered backside, the no nonsense approach and clinical precision brought a smile to my face. In a book which really does highlight the inequality of gender politics in India, the fact that the sharpest, most focused, person in the room came fully loaded with XX chromosomes is very welcome. When you strip away the humour, and some of the almost keystone cops style failings of Amit's escape attempts, this is a book with a very serious underlying message, one all too sadly 'on trend' as it were, and, perhaps because of that, the true adversary in this book is easy to identify. But, you know what, that doesn't matter. There are many red herrings, much misdirection, that cast doubt upon early assertions, an, ultimately, I was really enjoying the ride.

The tension builds throughout, Abir Mukherjee raising the stakes right to the final few chapters, surprising even this most suspicious of readers in the end. And, speaking of ends, it was one of those kind of endings that left a satisfied smile upon my face, everyone getting the finale they deserved, more or less. If you love a witty, standalone thriller, with characters whose flaw are amplified to a point that they actually become kind of endearing, and where the mystery lasts right to the end, this is one I can highly recommend. It is very different from its predecessor, but a brilliant way to while away a few hours.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well... didn't this book lead me all round the houses and back again - and I went willingly... on occasion dizzily, but willingly...
We start with past-his-prime Hollywood actor George Abercrombie being a bit miffed with Queen-of-Bollywood wife Sweety Sahota as she tells him that she will not be attending his interview with the BBC that night as she has a meeting she can't/won't move. This drives him to drink, and drink, and go out and drink some more. An evening culminating in him being assisted home by Amit, his assistant, who left him sleeping it off on the sofa of their apartment.
Next morning, he wakes up to find Sweety dead in their bed. He's pretty sure he didn't kill her but there is a smidge of uncertainty, no, it couldn't have been him. But there's what looks like blood on the shirt he was wearing... OMG what should he do He knows that fingers will point his way... But there's jewellery and money missing and so is Amit...
And so begins a story chock full of secrets, lies, misdirection, obfuscation, dysfunctional behaviour, and pretty much everything else you'd expect from a book of this genre. As George tries to keep one step away from jail and also, at the same time, try and work out who killed his wife. Meanwhile Sweety's assistant (who used to be George's) Gemma has a big secret of her own, and Amit owes the wrong people. So much going on for DI Vikram Gill to cut through...
I did enjoy this book. It's not my first by this author, I have read and would recommend Hunted, although I haven't yet got round to his series books yet, they are on my tbr. My only real bugbear is that pacing was a bit hit and miss. I know it should match the story, and for the most part, it does, but there were some parts that I felt dragged a wee bit. That said, it didn't put me off too much and, by the time we approached the end, we were well back on track come the ending.
Characters were well drawn and, within their duplicity, all played their parts well. I connected to George right from the off, although I was never really convinced that he was in any way in anything but mild peril throughout, despite what was intimated in the synopsis. I also loved Roxanne!
All in all a thoroughly decent thriller which did keep me on my toes throughout and left me wholly satisfied at the end. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[GemsLiteraryGems · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Abercrombie is an aging Hollywood actor who in recent years has fallen into obscurity, unlike his second wife Sweety Sahota. She's the reigning queen of Bollywood and so George has been forced to move to Mumbai to support her career, while he is stuck peddling dreadful Indian Whisky. They've moved into The Pinnacle, one of the most exclusive, and therefore secure, places to live in the city. Following an argument, George goes on an all night bender only to wake up the following day to find his shirt covered in blood and Sweety dead in their bed. Could he really have killed her? He can't seem to remember even getting home and given how the building has CCTV and security guards, the police can't seem to place the blame on any one besides George and their, now missing, staff. But with Sweety's jewellery, phone and laptop missing, he certainly thinks someone else is involved. If only he can stay out of prison long enough to work it out. What he doesn't know is that someone is also blackmailing Sweety's PA to get her to find the missing devices before they release sex tapes of Gemma and one of the country's most prominent politicians. What is on the computer that means that people will kill, steal and blackmail to get their hands on?

The Pinnacle is a mystery set against the backdrop of Mumbai, a city full of intrigue and danger. Abir Mukherjee explores the huge disparity between the elite and poorest in Indian culture. With those barely able to survive providing services for the ultra-rich, there's always going to be a danger lurking below the surface once someone is able to bribe them to do their bidding! There's plenty of political debate in the book, with George not being a fan of his unnamed American president, who thinks he is the best at everything (can't think who he's based on...). Indian politics, similarly to British ones, centre around division and racism fueling hatred between the lowest earners in society. As for the mystery, I wrote down when I thought I knew the who and why, which were both within the first 1/4 of the book, and I was correct. Yes I do read a lot of murder mysteries, so I'm bound to spot huge red flags of clues, but even so I was expecting a few more twists and turns. It is a fun ride, and an interesting dive into Indian life, particularly in the audiobook where the voice actor is great, I just hoped for a bit less of the characters chasing all over the city and a few more plot twists.

[Ridgerunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This murder mystery thriller put me in a good mood from the word go. The main character is George Abercrombie an ageing Hollywood film star living in a luxury tower block in Mumbai having married a Bollywood actress. The scenario reminded me of the George Clooney film Jay Kelly in which he plays an ageing film star who only ever lived for his work and for himself and finds his life fallling to bits in a foreign country. I liked the film and I liked this book too.
George makes lots of interesting and amusing comments on various aspects of his life and that adds a lot of enjoyment to this light hearted thriller. In a similar vein the author pokes fun at certain people especially the “fictional” President of the USA and I hope that the author is not planning to visit that country in the near future! It feels light hearted but throughout the book the differences in the lives of the poor and rich in Mumbai are always being brought to our attention. But I suppose the differences are much greater there than they are in the UK where I live so it is hard for them not to be mentioned often.
George’s beautiful wife Sweety , the darling of Indian cinema , is killed and George and his sleekit servant Amit are two of the suspects. Sweety’s PA Gemma also has a lot going on her life and end up being blackmailed. And Amit also has a complicated life and all these conflicts intertwine. It never gets ridiculously silly and as there are not too many characters it is not too difficult to work out some of the plot twists.
But the main enjoyment is not in working out whodunnit but enjoying the quality of the writing , the social commentary and revelling in the warm knowledge of how miserable a life the rich and powerful often have.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintagefor the ARC

[Karen Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

 
The Pinnacle Abir Mukherjee

5 stars

Another great story highlighting the difference between the rich and the poor in Mumbai

I have only read one previous book by this author and really enjoyed it despite it being the 6th in a series. When I saw this author come up on Netgalley I really wanted to read more by him and it was even better that it is a stand alone story.

George Abercrombie is a fading star reduced to doing whisky commercials but is married to one of the most famous Bollywood stars, Sweety Sohota and they are living in luxury in The Pinnacle, the most glamorous block of apartments in Mumbai. However when George wakes up on the couch after a very heavy drinking session which he cannot even remember, he discovers his wife in their bedroom dead. He is not even sure if he is the murderer although when his assistant, Amit, disappears with some of Sweety's money and jewellery suspicion falls on him. The third potential suspect is Sweety's personal assistant Gemma who has also vanished with a computer that contains the information needed to discover the truth. Gemma has been having an affair with a high-ranking Indian politician and is now being blackmailed into releasing the computer or letting everyone know about her affair.

The story is told from the viewpoint of all 3 main suspects and I really could not work out what had happened and the discovery was totally unexpected.

I really enjoyed this book, not only for the plot but also for the way the author incorporates the differences between the lives of the rich and famous and the really poor people in Mumbai. His descriptions of the city and its inhabitants makes you feel you are actually there.

I recommend this book and will certainly continue to read any further books by this author.


Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this one to start with but it didn't take long to intrigue and engross me. It got better and better as the story evolved. The writing was delicious - incisive wit and social commentary, set in Mumbai, India and covering all levels of society from the extremely wealthy and privileged to the very poorest.

George Abercrombie is an over-the-hill actor who has fallen out of favour in Hollywood and has moved to the titular Pinnacle (a luxury apartment block) with his young rising-star Bollywood wife - Sweety Sahotra, who is found murdered at the start of the book. There are several candidates for the perpetrator including George and the two Personal Assistants - Amit and Gemma. The story is told from the viewpoints of these three characters.

There is quite a lot of humor in the book, and I loved the bits about the unnamed US president ("That's a beautiful question", "he doesn't like me", "no-one loves the Indians more than me"). Also the mysterious 'fixer' Miss Singh, who seems to have access to everywhere, knows all the right people and uses wit, charm and quick thinking to get out of some tricky situations. The author also has much to say on the casual racism and assumptions made between the various races, religions and nationalities ("Maybe she had never been shot at before, but she was from America so that was unlikely").

The plot had plenty of action and mystery. The perpetrator was revealed near the end - I had more than an inkling of who was behind it all, but it was pleasing that all loose ends were tied up and there was a satisfactory ending.

I can really see this being made into a film. It has such a good plot, great characters and some amazing locations. Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

When screen actor George Abercrombie wakes up from a drunken stupor, in his luxury Mumbai apartment in The Pinnacle, to find his wife, Sweety, dead and his clothes covered in blood he can only draw one conclusion.

The trouble is he cannot remember a thing from the previous night; his wife's laptop and phone are missing as are Gemma, her personal assistant and Amit, their servant. George has no idea what has happened but he knows that if he is blamed for Bollywood darling, Sweety's murder, then the Indian public will tear him apart - literally.

George must piece together the events of the previous night, track down the missing members of the household and find tbd guilty party before he is captured.

With a little help from his agent George begins his race against time but who is working against him and just what was Sweety up to the night before with another actor, Chunky Malhotra?

The Pinnacle runs at breakneck speed throughout as Gemma, Amit, George, several bad guys and the police chase each other around Mumbai until the surprising conclusion.

I have only read one previous Abir Mukherjee and was not carried away by the characters but this book is far superior. It really does feel like you are trying to catch your breath throughout as the blame for Sweety's murder rebounds from one suspect to another. The characters were interesting too - George, the washed up Hollywood heartbroken, Gemma - the PA with secrets, Amit - the wily servant who won't take fate lying down along with assistance from the mysterious Miss Singh and the OTT Roxanne Bunglewalla.

Really enjoyable. Definitely recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House UK for the digital review copy.

[Alissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. The characters were unlikable but didn’t make up for it by being entertaining, the tone was negative throughout, and it seemed to have been written in part to criticize the current state of US politics. I don’t even disagree with the soapbox the author is on, I just think it was out of place in this book.

The story is told from three perspectives, an American actor rapidly losing his A-list (B-list?) status who hates living in India and just about everything else, an American personal assistant who is happily having an affair with a right wing Indian politician/jerk, and an Indian assistant from a remote village who is a sexist small-time criminal. The rest of the cast are also all unpleasant in some way, some thoroughly.

There were a bunch of internal monologues and asides about the current state of America that felt out of place in this story. I agreed with all of them, so I’m not making this criticism because I think the author is wrong. I just don’t understand why it was in this book about a murder in India. It felt like the author was shoehorning it into his book more as a way to publish political commentary than to enhance the plot or add depth to the characters.

There were things I did like. The descriptions of Mumbai were interesting. The apartment towers with their suspended swimming pool made for a cool setting. The incorporation of Indian slang and vocabulary was fun and I learned terms I had not heard before. But these were not enough to overcome the generally miserable tone of this book and the unlikeability of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Little, Brown, and Company for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Washed up American actor George Abercrombie is reduced to advertising gigs promoting Indian whiskey, while his wife Sweety's career has really taken off. They live in Mumbai, in the luxurious building known as The Pinnacle. George is resentful of Sweety's success, and when he wakes one morning after a night on the town, to find her dead, fingers are pointed at him as her murderer. However, her phone, her computer, her assistant and George's assistant are all missing and as George scrambles to make sense of everything, it appears that other might also be guilty of the crime.
The story is told from George's perspective and also that of Gemma, Sweety's PA and Amit, George's PA. Through these three characters the reader is able to see across the spectrum of life in modern India. Each character has very much their own voice and their own take on life and the clash of cultures and wealth is interesting and relatable. The social differences bring with it several instances of humour too.
The plot unfolds cleverly and at pace and although it isn't so hard to guess who was guilty, the way the story is told keeps the readers interest. I really enjoyed the settings and especially the contrasts between gold trim penthouses and dirt poor alleyways and goat poo smelling trucks.
The writing is excellent and although the book involves male chauvinism, abuse of power and the 'me too' movement, it is not heavy handed and the touches of humour lighten the mood.
I've enjoyed this author's books previously and I think this is another excellent offering from him.
With thanks to the author, Netgalley and Vintage Books for an early copy in return for an honest review.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pinnacle is a deliciously sharp thriller that peels back the glossy façade of Mumbai’s most exclusive skyscraper to reveal the rot humming beneath its marble floors. From the 68th‑floor perch of washed‑up Hollywood heart‑throb George Abercrombie, the novel opens with a jolt: a drunken awakening, a murdered wife, and a luxury apartment suddenly feeling far too small.

George is a wonderfully messy narrator—self‑absorbed, bitter, and painfully aware that he’ll be the first name on every suspect list. But the beauty of the book lies in how quickly the story widens. The building itself becomes a character, full of people who depend on its wealth while hiding their own secrets in its shadows. Sweety’s assistant scrambling to outrun a blackmailer, a servant fleeing with knowledge no one wants exposed—each thread adds another layer to the building’s glittering, dangerous ecosystem.

The contrast between privilege and desperation is handled with a deft, almost cinematic touch. Every floor has its own story, its own stakes, and the tension builds as these lives begin to intersect in ways that feel both inevitable and deeply satisfying. The result is a thriller that moves with pace but still lingers on atmosphere—the heat, the hauteur, the sense that luxury can be its own kind of trap.

Sleek, twisty, and wonderfully character‑rich, The Pinnacle is a murder mystery wrapped in glamour and grit, proving that even the highest floors can’t escape the darkest secrets.

With thanks to Abir Mukherjee, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Peter Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Abercrombie lives on the 68th floor of The Pinnacle, in Mumbai, India. This is the finest luxury skyscraper in the city, and he hates it.
He lives there with his Bollywood wife Sweety Sahota. She is a superstar in the Indian film industry, whilst he is a washed-up American actor doing commercials.
So when he wakes one morning from a heavy drinking session, his life is turned upside down, Sweety is dead in their apartment and George hasn’t got a clue what happened. Surely he didn’t kill her, did he? If not him, who?
In a short space in time there are a few suspects, including himself. He starts to track down her personal assistant who has also vanished. It seems a missing computer holds the key to answer the question of his wife’s death, but the assistant has it in her possession, and she is being bribed to give it up or face ruin.
In a race against time can both parties find the answers they are looking for, because there are powerful people who will do anything to stop the truth coming to light.
This new book by Abir Mukherjee is the ultimate example of a unputdownable thriller.
I started in the morning and didn’t put it down until I finished it.
He captures the rich and poor parts of Mumbai perfectly, with a great cast of characters and a setting to die for, along with his razor sharp wit throughout the book.
This is one of the best books I’ve read this year and I highly recommend it.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all of this author’s previous books & I had high hopes for this one, even though by his own admission it is definitely different. A standalone modern day crime mystery set in Mumbai.

George Abercrombie is an aging Hollywood action hero, hanging on the coat tails of much younger wife & Bollywood superstar, Sweety Sahota. They move to The Pinnacle, a dual towered monument to excess in Mumbai. Sweety can continue acting & George is reduced to endorsing products in advertising campaigns. One morning, George awakes on the sofa, after a night of excessive drinking, & goes in search of his wife. He finds her murdered on their bed. He’s certain he didn’t do it or did he?

What follows is George’s efforts to prove his innocence, as well as his PA, Amit, who is also under suspicion & has disappeared. The solving of the crime is carried out at pace against the background of sexism, racism & the huge economic gulf between those who have & those who have not. The seedy criminal underworld is painted with aplomb & reading in the vernacular did make me smile. Some other author’s names are scattered throughout & the US president’s speech made me visualise the orange one all too clearly.

The Wyndham & Banerjee series will always have my heart, but this is a well constructed new direction & an entertaining read.

[Gemlovesbooks_x · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Vintage for the Arc!

This was my first book by Abir Mukherjee, but it certainly won’t be my last.

A gripping thriller set in Mumbai, this is much more than just a whodunnit. It explores the stark contrast between the city’s wealthy elite, who live in luxurious sky scrapers like “The Pinnacle” and its poorest residents, adding real depth to the story. The setting was brilliantly brought to life and I could vividly picture Mumbai, and The Pinnacle, throughout.

The story centres on George Abercrombie, a washed-up actor married to one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, Sweety Sahara. After a drunken night out, George wakes to discover that his wife has been brutally murdered. With no memory of what happened, he has no idea who could have wanted her dead, but the biggest problem is that he can’t even rule himself out as a suspect.

Told through the perspectives of the three main suspects, the story is packed with tension, twists, and relentless momentum. The action never lets up, making it incredibly difficult to put down.

This is one of those books that completely immerses you, feeling more like a film playing out in your head than words on a page. It’s a little different from what I’d usually pick up, but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. A fast-paced, cinematic thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end. 📚✨

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* The Pinnacle - Abir Mukherjee. A fun high octane thriller set in the world of the Mumbai super rich.

George Abercrombie, washed up Hollywood star, has hit rock bottom doing adverts for Indian whiskey - whiskey which he deplores. Living with his Bollywood superstar wife, Sweetie, they enjoy the existence of the super-rich looking out at Mumbai from their penthouse suite in The Pinnacle. When Sweetie lets George down, he goes on a bender and wakes on the sofa the next morning. His life is about to be turned upside down. Sweetie is dead. And he has no idea who is responsible or if it could be him.

Abir Mukherjee’s second standalone and this time he returns to the country of his famous series - India. Apparently inspired by the bonkers happenings in Mumbai’s luxurious tower blocks during lockdown, this is a rip roaring ride.

The reader has several characters who could be the perpetrator but no clear motive. And almost everyone involved has a deeper secret that they are clinging to. Abir is brilliant at creating tension and this book takes that skill to the next level. The last third is smart and breathless. It’s huge fun.

Abir is a must read author for me (I saw him as a debut author in Harrogate with A Rising Man) and his books are all fantastic.

Thanks to Random House, Vintage and Netgalley for an ARC.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of death, corruption, and the film industry set in India. There are lots of cultural and social references that have been woven into the story, and it makes for very interesting reading.

The Pinnacle is a modern building with keycode entry systems, security and is a luxury living complex. Safe and secure for those who reside in it. One couple are James Abercrombie, a has-been American actor who moved to Mumbai with his now wife, Sweety Sahoto, who is a star in her own right in the Bollywood film industry.

After a row, James has a drinking session, the next day he wakes to find the body of Sweety, dead, murdered, and he has no idea how, why or who did it. James is classed as a has-been, an outsider, and when reports start to come in, he doesn't know which way to turn. A key character in this story is Amit, a sort of assistant to James, not particularly liked by most people, but he is also in the frame.

As the story continues, there are some shocking surprises, which are woven nicely into the story and show different attitudes and experiences, as well as the wealth divide. Given that Sweety was a national figure and adored, the truth needs to come out as soon as possible for those who are innocent. But who is innocent?

This is a murder, mystery and thriller story set in India. It is a good pace, lots of twists and some surprising developments. It is one I would be very happy to recommend.

[Big Bertha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mumbai. Hot, chaotic and home to washed out Hollywood actor George Abercrombie and his younger wife Sweety Sahota a Bollywood star. Their luxurious penthouse apartment on the 68th floor of the Pinnacle offers little in the way of solace, he hates Mumbai and he hates the whisky adverts that are his main source of income.

George has a problem, he doesn't remember anything about the evening before, there's blood on his shirt and his wife is dead in their bed.

From the opening pages I loved this novel, not only a murder mystery but also a journey through the streets of Mumbai portraying the noise, the heat, the characters and the jostling crowds in glorious technicolour. Told from three perspectives the additional narrative from Georges assistant Amit and Sweety's PA Gemma adds depth and intrigue as each of them have their own part to play in hunting down a murderer.

A great read from start to finish, the mystery intrigued and whilst some of the characters were a bit stereotypical I loved the wider picture of Mumbai, its social economic divide and the real sense of place I got whilst reading this novel.

My thanks to Random House UK for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Pinnacle. Loved it, I tell you. It is definitely one of my favourites from this year, and as I hadn't previously read anything by Abir Mukherjee, it was a great starting point. 💻🇮🇳
I know you want to know what I loved about The Pinnacle. Everything peeps, everything, but mainly:
- The location, which is Mumbai, (a place I'm only familiar with thanks to The Best Marigold Hotel and its sequel.)
- The fact that this is a crime thriller.
- The wonderful characters. From the best to the worst, I loved them all. 💻🇮🇳
I suppose you want to know what it's about. Without giving too much away, The Pinnacle is a skyscraper in Mumbai, where the uber rich reside, safe in the knowledge that its security is state of the art. Then one of its residents, the queen of Bollywood, is found dead in her apartment, stabbed whilst she slept. 💻🇮🇳
What follows is a twisty tale that takes us through the streets of Mumbai, where we encounter many colourful characters. There is also a subplot, involving the dead woman's PA. 💻🇮🇳
There's a lot of humour throughout, verging on slapstick at times, but somehow, it felt right. 💻🇮🇳
I really loved The Pinnacle. I hope you do too.
Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Mumbai where the rich live in huge tower blocks like The Pinnacle, surrounded by security, whilst many less privileged Mumbaikars live in the most dreadful of conditions. Living in their penthouse are husband and wife George Abercrombie and Sweety Sahota. He is an American actor, once highly popular in the US and now plying his trade doing commercials in Mumbai whilst Sweety is Indian and a newly successful and in demand Bollywood actress. There are a lot of characters to follow but it wasn’t too difficult.

Briefly, George wakes up on the sofa one morning, after a massive drinking session, and finds Sweety murdered in their bed, jewellery and devices stolen and his servant Amit missing. Meanwhile DI Vikram Gill is running the murder investigation, Sweety’s assistant Gemma’s is being blackmailed, Amit owes the wrong people and George is trying his dammdest to stay out of jail!

I really enjoyed the difference perspectives between the haves and the have nots. I spent a short time working in Mumbai and the contrasts have been accurately and authentically portrayed. Full of dark humour and social commentary/satire this is a fast paced and exciting thriller full of secrets and lies. Just about everyone is hiding something. An entertaining read.
4.5⭐️

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐

Really liked this thriller! It's the first of Mukherjee's works I've read.

I was constantly trying to puzzle through the hints to figure out the ending before it happened.

I did feel like the antagonist(s) could've used some more elaboration since as it was they fell a bit flat for me. Their motivations didn't go much further than 'because they're bad'. Would've been interesting if they had some clear ulterior morives beyond that, too.

I liked the interconnections between everything and how those were slowly revealed further and further.

Some decisions by characters that seemed random at the time and were later revealed to have been part of some secret ploy were fun (in hindsight, when they happened it had me yelling 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!' at the book), but it also felt like that plot device was a bit overused, the whole 'ha the reader thought this but actually the character is way smarter and did this instead 😏'.

Overall I'd recommend this book!! Can't wait for it to come out so I can start recommending it to friends and customers who like thrillers!

Big thank you to Van Ditmar for giving me a copy of the ARC of this book.

[Lady Fancifull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite my cup of Chai 3.5

I requested this as a digital ARC because I have found Mukherjee’s 1920’s Calcutta set Wyndham and Banerjee series absorbing and immersive. This one with its more modern setting within the Bollywood and Hollywood film industry didn’t really draw me in, despite Mukherjee’s excellent twisty plotting.

My absorption in that historical series was an absorption in a far more alien time and, primarily, in the complexity and layers of the principal characters, Surendernath Banerjee and Sam Wyndham, and, specifically, the developing friendship between them, despite the challenges of class, race and culture.

In The Pinnacle, the characters and the relationships seem much more superficial – a failing American film star married to a blazingly adored and successful Bollywood actress, and a background of the kind of seedy misogynistic power imbalance that has been uncovered with Weinstein, Trump, Epstein et al

Because I never really got absorbed by any of the characters in this one, who are less nuanced than those in the Calcutta novels, this stayed purely as a whodunnit journey for me, without emotional involvement, despite the issues

[Nerys Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Abercrombie is a washed-up Hollywood actor now more famous for coffee and whisky advertisements rather than box-office hits. He's been persuaded by his wife, Indian actress Sweety Sahota, to move to her home country; Sweety said it would help his career but it seems to have been more of a boost for hers. The couple are living in one of the most exclusive addresses in Mumbai, The Pinnacle.

When George wakes up after a drunken night out and discovers Sweety's murdered body in their bedroom he is sure that their servant, Amit, committed the crime. Amit is trying to avoid someone he owes money to but is soon apprehended by the police and arrested for murder. Gemma, Sweety's PA, has her own problems; someone is blackmailing her and are desperate to get their hands on Sweety's laptop. The three try to discover who killed Sweety by themselves while also avoiding apprehension by the police.

Loved this book. Loads going on which keeps you page-turning. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley UK, Random House UK/Vintage and Abir Mukherjee for the eARC of this book in return for an honest review.