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Murder in Mahim
A young man's brutal murder in a railway station toilet propels retired journalist Peter Fernandes into an investigation with Inspector Jende. Peter, fearing his son's involvement, navigates a hidden world of desire, greed, and despair, guided by the flamboyant Leslie Siqueira, driven by fear, empathy, and curiosity about men who seek men.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2017
25 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pinto
78 books369 followersJerry Pinto is a Mumbai-based Indian writer of poetry, prose and children's fiction in English, as well as a journalist. His noted works include, Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb (2006) which won the Best Book on Cinema Award at the 54th National Film Awards, Surviving Women (2000) and Asylum and Other Poems (2003). His first novel Em and The Big Hoom was published in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
February 26, 2017
So I am the victim of this Murder who thought that as this mystery is written by Jerry Pinto then it will be good. Had Jerry Pinto's name not been there in the cover I don't doubt I would have touched this book. I mean it's just that for me 'Em and The big Hoom' was godly book and this was just something trashy.
Too stretchy.
Too dramatic.
Too much emulated (it seems) from Agatha Christie.
Too much TRIED to create suspense.
A men, with a stupid name Proxy, died in public urinal who was earlier appointed by some local police to stand in public toilet and try to lure some middle or upper class gay man, so that police can catch and extort some money. And a stupid trail mystery goes on who-killed-whom and dark tunnels through consensual sodomy performed.
It was like: I KILLED HIM BECAUSE HE EITHER MURDERED MY FRIEND or LIKE THEY DESERVED PUNISHMENT BECAUSE THEY DID INJUSTICE.
And little bit butter of gay-sex applied on the bread.
A very big disappointment.
Too stretchy.
Too dramatic.
Too much emulated (it seems) from Agatha Christie.
Too much TRIED to create suspense.
A men, with a stupid name Proxy, died in public urinal who was earlier appointed by some local police to stand in public toilet and try to lure some middle or upper class gay man, so that police can catch and extort some money. And a stupid trail mystery goes on who-killed-whom and dark tunnels through consensual sodomy performed.
It was like: I KILLED HIM BECAUSE HE EITHER MURDERED MY FRIEND or LIKE THEY DESERVED PUNISHMENT BECAUSE THEY DID INJUSTICE.
And little bit butter of gay-sex applied on the bread.
A very big disappointment.
November 24, 2021
If you like Christie-style murder mysteries, Bombay, literary references and learning new secrets about an old, familiar place, you'd probably enjoy this novel. Many readers have been disappointed by this project of Pinto's, expecting him to recreate the kind of magic he did with Em and the Big Hoom. But this is a totally different genre, a totally different book, that takes you on a tour of a Bombay subculture that's entirely different from the autobiographical subjectivity of Em and the Big Hoom. Though the source of the two tales is the same, it's as unfair to compare these two as it is to compare apples and oranges. Once you set your expectations aside, you can let this tale lead you by the hand into a different world. The middle portion of the plot really dips the buildup of the early pages, leaving the last act to clean up the mess pretty hastily. What kept my interest afloat throughout the choppy waters of the inconsistent pacing was Jerry Pinto's as-always impeccable writing. The man can somehow walk the line between wry observations, witticisms, profound philosophy and relatable narration in a way few other writers can. I found his craftsmanship more intriguing than the titular mystery.
December 12, 2023
4.5
A delectable gay murder mystery set in Mumbai that takes the reader on an adventurous journey across the underbelly of Gay Bombay while potently conveying the emotional, physical and financial toll of living in an institutionally homophobic country. Jerry Pinto sets the stage between the recriminalization (2013) and the second decriminalization (2018) of homosexuality in India. The story is narrated from the perspective of an empathetic 50-something straight man, an ex-journalist who is helping out his police friend with the investigation of a series of murders connected to a famous cruising spot. His ignorance of the gay subculture allows Pinto to fill in the necessary knowledge that an average straight reader would lack.
Sex workers feature prominently in the novel, and Pinto presents quite a nuanced analysis of their daily lives, and the loneliness, rage, and thrill they experience . There are as many notorious gays (the shocking stories of 'gay dirt' - honey trappers, and extortioners) as there are fabulous gays (Leslie being my favourite - he deserves a novel of his own). The protagonist's family is quite lovely as well, and his reaction to the possibility that his son might be gay was very authentic.
Though I have a good grasp of Indian queer history, I did not realise just how harrowing the lives of so many queer people turned out to be because of 377 (I am watching the Matt Bomer show Fellow Travelers which is a kind of companion piece to this novel, so many parallels!) and this novel was a real eye opener in that sense. The delicate balance between being a gripping crime thriller and an effective social drama is something that this novel manages admirably. I want someone to write a gay Chennai novel and it's enviable that Mumbai has a writer as accomplished as Jerry Pinto to paint its gay portrait.
The murder plot goes on a bit longer than necessary when it could have easily been more crisp.The delay after unmasking the real killer to bring him to justice seemed implausible. But these minor quibbles aside, this is a very unique and hilarious queer novel that ought to be more famous.
Highly recommended.
A delectable gay murder mystery set in Mumbai that takes the reader on an adventurous journey across the underbelly of Gay Bombay while potently conveying the emotional, physical and financial toll of living in an institutionally homophobic country. Jerry Pinto sets the stage between the recriminalization (2013) and the second decriminalization (2018) of homosexuality in India. The story is narrated from the perspective of an empathetic 50-something straight man, an ex-journalist who is helping out his police friend with the investigation of a series of murders connected to a famous cruising spot. His ignorance of the gay subculture allows Pinto to fill in the necessary knowledge that an average straight reader would lack.
Sex workers feature prominently in the novel, and Pinto presents quite a nuanced analysis of their daily lives, and the loneliness, rage, and thrill they experience . There are as many notorious gays (the shocking stories of 'gay dirt' - honey trappers, and extortioners) as there are fabulous gays (Leslie being my favourite - he deserves a novel of his own). The protagonist's family is quite lovely as well, and his reaction to the possibility that his son might be gay was very authentic.
Though I have a good grasp of Indian queer history, I did not realise just how harrowing the lives of so many queer people turned out to be because of 377 (I am watching the Matt Bomer show Fellow Travelers which is a kind of companion piece to this novel, so many parallels!) and this novel was a real eye opener in that sense. The delicate balance between being a gripping crime thriller and an effective social drama is something that this novel manages admirably. I want someone to write a gay Chennai novel and it's enviable that Mumbai has a writer as accomplished as Jerry Pinto to paint its gay portrait.
The murder plot goes on a bit longer than necessary when it could have easily been more crisp.The delay after unmasking the real killer to bring him to justice seemed implausible. But these minor quibbles aside, this is a very unique and hilarious queer novel that ought to be more famous.
Highly recommended.
January 3, 2018
My second novel by Jerry Pinto, the first was Em and the big Hoom, which made me a fan.
This one, though seemingly a murder mystery, deals with the Indian scenario of male homosexuality, a difficult matter, which is often brushed under the carpet.
Peter is a retired journalist, who often helps out his childhood friend, Inspector Jenda, and this time too is dragged into the murder investigation of a man found slain in a public toilet in Mahim. Soon his proclivity and livelihood are uncovered, and Peter comes to know a lot about male homosexuals and their habits. He is also personally affected as his uncle Leslie is a proclaimed gay, and he is worried about his son Sunil, who behaves mysteriously.
Soon other deaths follow, and various flaws of Indian culture and subculture are exposed.
This was an informative read.
Would have been a five star read, if not for the slight feel of discontinuity between sentences and events, and mild boredom somewhere in the latter pages.
Why I chose this book?
Saw the book at 35% discount on Amazon, and decided anything written by Jerry Pinto is surely going to be above average.
This one, though seemingly a murder mystery, deals with the Indian scenario of male homosexuality, a difficult matter, which is often brushed under the carpet.
Peter is a retired journalist, who often helps out his childhood friend, Inspector Jenda, and this time too is dragged into the murder investigation of a man found slain in a public toilet in Mahim. Soon his proclivity and livelihood are uncovered, and Peter comes to know a lot about male homosexuals and their habits. He is also personally affected as his uncle Leslie is a proclaimed gay, and he is worried about his son Sunil, who behaves mysteriously.
Soon other deaths follow, and various flaws of Indian culture and subculture are exposed.
This was an informative read.
Would have been a five star read, if not for the slight feel of discontinuity between sentences and events, and mild boredom somewhere in the latter pages.
Why I chose this book?
Saw the book at 35% discount on Amazon, and decided anything written by Jerry Pinto is surely going to be above average.
May 19, 2023
Jerry Pinto's murder mystery with a journalist as the protagonist gives him an excuse to explore the most interesting character in the book - Mumbai city. When a brutal murder investigation in a public toilet in Matunga comes the way of retired journalist Peter, who has just discovered his son is homosexual, he gets pulled into the city's gay circuit and corruption.
Showing off his research, the book loses it's interest in the murder at hand, which seems to be solving itself without too much investigative work and more by providence. Characters just confess or willingly tell things to random journalist. The taboo around homosexuality relegates the characters to the dark and prone to exploitation and humiliation. More often than not, the social commentary stands out and there is an indirect messaging on Article 377 and it's implications.
Most of us know Jerry Pinto after his beautifully written Em and the big Hoom. In that context, this book seems like an half hearted attempt though I understand the effort it must have taken to uncover the Indian male homosexuality circuit.
Aside, the title kept bugging me. If it is alliteration they were going for can't it have been Murders in Mumbai or even Matunga for accuracy?
Showing off his research, the book loses it's interest in the murder at hand, which seems to be solving itself without too much investigative work and more by providence. Characters just confess or willingly tell things to random journalist. The taboo around homosexuality relegates the characters to the dark and prone to exploitation and humiliation. More often than not, the social commentary stands out and there is an indirect messaging on Article 377 and it's implications.
Most of us know Jerry Pinto after his beautifully written Em and the big Hoom. In that context, this book seems like an half hearted attempt though I understand the effort it must have taken to uncover the Indian male homosexuality circuit.
Aside, the title kept bugging me. If it is alliteration they were going for can't it have been Murders in Mumbai or even Matunga for accuracy?
Read
October 14, 2017"Em and the Big Hoom" is a favourite book largely thanks to how sensitively Jerry Pinto deals with the issue of a person's mental health and its impact on their near and dear. Murder in Mahim, in terms of premise, is vastly different and as the title would suggest, a murder mystery. But once again, it is the sensitivity that the author displays in treating both the subject and the subjects that takes it beyond other fare in the genre.
It would be unfair to compare this to his previous work simply because of the massive genre shift. I also feel that it might not have worked simply as a murder mystery because once the plot progresses, second guessing becomes rather easy. Two things worked in its favour. The pace of the narrative is tight. The author doesn't stretch any suspenseful plot points beyond its worth, and in that sense, respects the reader's smarts. The other part is the nuanced detailing. A subculture of Bombay truly comes to life in the book. (yes, I recognise the irony here) The author makes the effort to get the reader to empathise with the characters and their complexities. That goes for the city too - as represented by its people and places, and even the time of the day when it is seen.
The balance that the author tries to find is between a reflective commentary on how sexuality is perceived by society, and a gripping murder mystery. Largely this is achieved, though sometimes one feels that the two themes take turns in dominance, and the mix isn't homogenous. Also, given the great job in detailing, it is a little surprising to see the author making errors in keeping surnames consistent and making mistakes when namedropping celebrities.
However, all things considered, time well spent.
It would be unfair to compare this to his previous work simply because of the massive genre shift. I also feel that it might not have worked simply as a murder mystery because once the plot progresses, second guessing becomes rather easy. Two things worked in its favour. The pace of the narrative is tight. The author doesn't stretch any suspenseful plot points beyond its worth, and in that sense, respects the reader's smarts. The other part is the nuanced detailing. A subculture of Bombay truly comes to life in the book. (yes, I recognise the irony here) The author makes the effort to get the reader to empathise with the characters and their complexities. That goes for the city too - as represented by its people and places, and even the time of the day when it is seen.
The balance that the author tries to find is between a reflective commentary on how sexuality is perceived by society, and a gripping murder mystery. Largely this is achieved, though sometimes one feels that the two themes take turns in dominance, and the mix isn't homogenous. Also, given the great job in detailing, it is a little surprising to see the author making errors in keeping surnames consistent and making mistakes when namedropping celebrities.
However, all things considered, time well spent.
January 8, 2025
Rating: 4.25/4.5
The language was initially hard to digest because it was something I have heard as speech, not read it on paper. But as I read further, I got more comfortable with it.
Jerry Pinto wove a very intricate web of Bombay at night. Through his words, he creates a visual of the city and brings it alive, only to show us how sinister and dark it can get, haboring secrets nobody who lives under lights is ready for. He wraps the reader in this web and pulls us into this universe that's an eternal tragedy, created by the rotting system that won't let anyone out of norm exist peacefully. Or sometimes even exist. He brought forth how broken the system is, with no solution or relief for the reader, thus leaving us devastated and thinking right to the end.
I was on the edge of my seat throughout, waiting with baited breath as every new reveal hit me hard and left me wanting more. And the reveal did not disappoint at all! I had guessed some pieces of it but Pinto managed to shock me anyway, if not with a reveal I couldn't guess, then with the sheer depravity a human being could stoop to. I could feel my reading slump melt away.
Some of the things I would criticise though:
1. The language would come across as pretty crass sometimes, which I do concede could be a product of the time it was written in and also sometimes realistic to what the characters might speak like
2. The book tended to overexplain stuff sometimes through Peter's thought process instead of letting the clear implications reach the reader as is which could get a little tedious at times
3. The book very openly criticised the Bombay police but painted Jende as this exception which diluted the portrayal of systemic rot a little.
Overall though, a great first read for 2025!
The language was initially hard to digest because it was something I have heard as speech, not read it on paper. But as I read further, I got more comfortable with it.
Jerry Pinto wove a very intricate web of Bombay at night. Through his words, he creates a visual of the city and brings it alive, only to show us how sinister and dark it can get, haboring secrets nobody who lives under lights is ready for. He wraps the reader in this web and pulls us into this universe that's an eternal tragedy, created by the rotting system that won't let anyone out of norm exist peacefully. Or sometimes even exist. He brought forth how broken the system is, with no solution or relief for the reader, thus leaving us devastated and thinking right to the end.
I was on the edge of my seat throughout, waiting with baited breath as every new reveal hit me hard and left me wanting more. And the reveal did not disappoint at all! I had guessed some pieces of it but Pinto managed to shock me anyway, if not with a reveal I couldn't guess, then with the sheer depravity a human being could stoop to. I could feel my reading slump melt away.
Some of the things I would criticise though:
1. The language would come across as pretty crass sometimes, which I do concede could be a product of the time it was written in and also sometimes realistic to what the characters might speak like
2. The book tended to overexplain stuff sometimes through Peter's thought process instead of letting the clear implications reach the reader as is which could get a little tedious at times
3. The book very openly criticised the Bombay police but painted Jende as this exception which diluted the portrayal of systemic rot a little.
Overall though, a great first read for 2025!
February 4, 2018
Have you ever taken almost an entire year to finish a book? I seem to have started reading this in March'17 and finished it in Feb'18. Now, let that speak only of my nimble reading skills and state nothing about the author or his writing.
jerry Pinto never ceases to amaze with the kind of versatile content he can dish out. Em and the Big Hoom struck a massive chord with me, and I would not miss another one by the same author for anything under the sun. But the fact that he wrote a murder mystery shook the bejeezus out of me - almost like a whodathunkit moment.
You can tell Pinto is a sensitive writer and the treatment he gives his subjects and his plot is perhaps his USP. Em and the Big Hoom revolved around mental health - it was heart wrenching and beautiful at the same time, how he had spun that tale. Murder in Mahim takes you through the everyday lives of a subculture in Mumbai one is not even aware of. Every character is well detailed and has a defined role in his stories. There is no clutter, and I personally find joy in the way he defines the chemistry between any two characters.
Lovely read!
jerry Pinto never ceases to amaze with the kind of versatile content he can dish out. Em and the Big Hoom struck a massive chord with me, and I would not miss another one by the same author for anything under the sun. But the fact that he wrote a murder mystery shook the bejeezus out of me - almost like a whodathunkit moment.
You can tell Pinto is a sensitive writer and the treatment he gives his subjects and his plot is perhaps his USP. Em and the Big Hoom revolved around mental health - it was heart wrenching and beautiful at the same time, how he had spun that tale. Murder in Mahim takes you through the everyday lives of a subculture in Mumbai one is not even aware of. Every character is well detailed and has a defined role in his stories. There is no clutter, and I personally find joy in the way he defines the chemistry between any two characters.
Lovely read!
November 7, 2021
I hugely liked Em and the big Hoom by Jerry Pinto. So when I came across the title, I wanted to read it for 2 reasons: It is a murder mystery and it had been written by Jerry Pinto. But the book was a disappointment at many levels. First, it was a half-baked murder mystery...the plot wasn't that sophisticated and at times, it was a little dumb. Secondly, even the writing was a bit uneven. A 'he' is called a 'she' in the same sentence. I don't think you could call this a literary novel either. So u get it, it is half-baked in more ways than one. If you are interested in understanding how the Mumbai Gay scene/underworld works, perhaps this might hold your interest. I have an academic interest in almost anything, so it was an ok read for me by and large in that sense.
November 5, 2019
The book is an easy read, keeps the reader intrigued. The story line touches the struggles of homosexuals preceding the abrogation of Article 377. There are a few gaps that can mostly be overlooked.
It is a preferred read if one reads about twenty four books in a year but not if someone reads only two or three in a year.
It is a preferred read if one reads about twenty four books in a year but not if someone reads only two or three in a year.
August 23, 2017
Advice - Read it in one go, and start seeing Matunga station differently. Interesting, well-written, characters could have been fleshed out a little better I felt, especially Sunil
October 4, 2023
I got interested in Jerry's work after listening to the 8-hour podcast with Jerry and Amit Varma. I decided to learn more about Jerry's work because the 8-hour conversation was so interesting, and I was fascinated by Jerry's worldview.
Murder in Mahim is my first read of Jerry Pinto. Frankly its not very gripping or thrilling as I had expected. But I still persisted through because I found his gaze and voice interesting. I am fascinated by Mumbai and to look at Mumbai thru the lens of a murder investigation procedure and the sub-culture of gays and cruelty caused by Section-377 is definitely worth a read.
Murder in Mahim is my first read of Jerry Pinto. Frankly its not very gripping or thrilling as I had expected. But I still persisted through because I found his gaze and voice interesting. I am fascinated by Mumbai and to look at Mumbai thru the lens of a murder investigation procedure and the sub-culture of gays and cruelty caused by Section-377 is definitely worth a read.
January 25, 2024
4.5 - Great writing style, intriguing and interesting development of the story and characters (yet the language was simple) and the Mumbai-ness!
It's been ages since I've read a book set in Mumbai and the writer paints a perfect picture of the city and the class divide using only the way each of them spoke (or at times dressed)...
I didn't read it as a mystery but more as a drama, focusing on character development-all the main characters were portrayed so well that they seemed quite real and relatable.
I will surely keep coming back to read Mr. Pinto's other books.
.
It's been ages since I've read a book set in Mumbai and the writer paints a perfect picture of the city and the class divide using only the way each of them spoke (or at times dressed)...
I didn't read it as a mystery but more as a drama, focusing on character development-all the main characters were portrayed so well that they seemed quite real and relatable.
I will surely keep coming back to read Mr. Pinto's other books.
.
December 8, 2024
A well researched take on the extortion, blackmailing, sex racket and various forms of corruption related to gay persons and activists.
This book is mostly plot driven. Didn't feel the writing very convincing. My bad. Shouldn't have read Em and the big hoom earlier, which raised the expectations.
A voluntarily retired journalist (Peter) joins his friend, inspector Jende to dig further into a murder of a young guy, in a public toilet in Matunga. The plot unfolds multiple aspects of homosexuality.
Trivia:
I don't recall the protagonists full name but i do remember a side character, journalist, with the name Jotin Perry. Rings a bell? If it doesn't, the full name gets repeated at least 4 times (Jotin Perry <=> Jerry Pinto)
Overall:
If you think about "the murder", it's the book which got murdered after 50%! By introducing a series of (not so) mysterious murders!!
I regret picking this.
August 29, 2017
Gripping read and excellent story telling around Mumbai and a view of another facet of the city. Towards the end however, I felt the story became very predictable. Finished in one go!
July 8, 2017
Feeling letdown by this book. It doesn't read like Jerry Pinto's. It's a book that's neither here nor there - it's not a murder mystery that's thrilling and it's not a literary work that made any impact on me. I was expecting it to be one of those!
It's a discourse on homosexuality and gay rights, and the fallout of Sec 377. My problem is why bring a murder mystery into it? Either stick to the murder and go the crime genre way or stick to the literary genre where you explore and unravel people and their relationships in the backdrop of homosexuality in contemporary India. When these two collide, it's not a good thing. The book lost focus on the crime AND on the characters.
So yeah...2.5 at most, the 0.5 because of the author.
It's a discourse on homosexuality and gay rights, and the fallout of Sec 377. My problem is why bring a murder mystery into it? Either stick to the murder and go the crime genre way or stick to the literary genre where you explore and unravel people and their relationships in the backdrop of homosexuality in contemporary India. When these two collide, it's not a good thing. The book lost focus on the crime AND on the characters.
So yeah...2.5 at most, the 0.5 because of the author.
March 2, 2018
Took a long time to read this book as I had significant personal and professional interruptions. Typical Jerry Pinto's writing about Mumbai, his style of neat slick humour, mingling with sadness at times, vivid descriptions of the over-loved and oft-written Mumbai, its people, but what is beautiful is the character sketches of the main people in it.
Silly readers would compare this book with Em and the Big Hoom, which is so much more intense, quite personal, and it took almost twenty years to get released; Pinto worked on it meticulously. If you want to so much compare it with other books, just for the heck of it, pick up those which are about Mumbai.
Silly readers would compare this book with Em and the Big Hoom, which is so much more intense, quite personal, and it took almost twenty years to get released; Pinto worked on it meticulously. If you want to so much compare it with other books, just for the heck of it, pick up those which are about Mumbai.
March 5, 2024
I love these books, the ones that gives you a glimpse about a world so much different than your everyday one, but still so true for many!
My first book talking about gays and gay communities (this one is set in Bombay), even though it tried to teach us not to put people in boxes and think about sexuality as a more fluid term. Regardless if we agree with this or not, the book gave a glimpse into the lives of those who live the horrid life of hiding and being terrorized by authorities, with some twists to fit the mystery/detective genre.
My first book talking about gays and gay communities (this one is set in Bombay), even though it tried to teach us not to put people in boxes and think about sexuality as a more fluid term. Regardless if we agree with this or not, the book gave a glimpse into the lives of those who live the horrid life of hiding and being terrorized by authorities, with some twists to fit the mystery/detective genre.
April 22, 2023
A gripping murder mystery based in Mumbai. Not only it gives a flavour of the places of this city, but also throws light on the sub-cultural context - police and corruption, blackmailing and extortion, murder and more murders, sexuality and exploitation, Sec 377 and more. The subject can be gory at times as it deals with the marginalised society and looked-upon reality of what some people can call their ‘profession’. Makes me wonder if I am reading a script of a Hindi film.
May 4, 2017
More of an investigative journalist's records of the Mumbai male homosexual prostitution scene than a murder mystery. Quick read, well written in the sense that I didn't feel like putting it down until it was done. However, mostly predictable at crucial points. It pushes the anti-377 agenda to the very end and I think this could have been done more artfully, and perhaps more effectively, if the author hadn't tried too hard. Planning to read Pinto's other books, this was my first from him.
March 9, 2018
Much as I love Jerry Pinto's keen observations and insights on the urban mindspace, this one wasn't quite my cup of tea. It's not as effective a mystery as I would have liked, but the relationships between the protagonist Peter and his wife, his son and his classmate, had a lovely texture to them.
November 8, 2021
Wonderful book: Pinto never disappoints. Talk about gender, fluidity sexuality, religiosity, city-esque angst; talk about trains and trams - quite a read.
October 31, 2020
An average crime fiction. Only positive is the take on homosexually and intersection of class and caste. The hidden spaces of subaltern homosexuals etc. Too liberal to the extent of boring.
May 6, 2023
Jerry Pinto unleashes his mastery over the language and story telling to craft a tale about Murder and Mayhem (and hence the play on the word and the place), where the murder is essentially in the background, and the subtext is more important, about how an entire community is marginalised, looked down upon and hence rendered unsafe. The murder thus is an actual series of killings and the shunning of a people. A good read, for the city, for its people, for conversations that live in hope for another day.
May 14, 2018
First up, a little rant.
I started off looking for the character of Peter D'Souza only to have a Peter and Millie and their son Sunil Fernandes. Turns out the blurb writer, bless his/her soul, couldn't be bothered about the correct surname. Even the blurb itself wasn't too accurate in who helps whom to solve the crime how much. The obvious question is, did said blurb writer even bother reading the book? Or was he/she in a hurry? Too many blurbs to write?
Then comes the print itself. I have been noticing this with newer prints, books from the past 2-3 years, with Indian publishing houses, that there's a hell of a lot of misprinting. There are typos, bad grammar, repeated words, missing words, form for from, what have you! Maybe the publishing industry is going through a crisis and is not able to pay good proofreaders or hire good printers. But it takes a lot away from the reading experience, a bit like driving on a road where the occasional pothole needs to be avoided.
As for the story itself, this isn't Em and The Big Hoom. That was a lot more personal for Pinto, and it was a different kind of book. Do not go looking for something like that.
This is a lot more into Mumbai, crime, LGBTQI, sec 377, you get my point. To put them all together it is a look at Mumbai's LGBTQI scene, with 377 hovering in the background menacingly (think the big black thing in Stranger Things 2), all of this through a crime thriller.
There isn't so much thrill here, as something is missing in that. Even the mystery part doesn't hold up too well. But hey, better a murder mystery to talk about things no one talks about than a humanities lesson, no? I liked how Pinto starts off describing the little things in Mumbai initially, just that after a point, all that goes off the window and he goes only into the main plot. Some meandering would've set up the story a lot better and have also gotten Mumbai itself a lot more into the story, apart from just having to provide the localities and the beaches for the action. Might have added a few dozen pages.
All in all, it works in some parts, doesn't in others.
I started off looking for the character of Peter D'Souza only to have a Peter and Millie and their son Sunil Fernandes. Turns out the blurb writer, bless his/her soul, couldn't be bothered about the correct surname. Even the blurb itself wasn't too accurate in who helps whom to solve the crime how much. The obvious question is, did said blurb writer even bother reading the book? Or was he/she in a hurry? Too many blurbs to write?
Then comes the print itself. I have been noticing this with newer prints, books from the past 2-3 years, with Indian publishing houses, that there's a hell of a lot of misprinting. There are typos, bad grammar, repeated words, missing words, form for from, what have you! Maybe the publishing industry is going through a crisis and is not able to pay good proofreaders or hire good printers. But it takes a lot away from the reading experience, a bit like driving on a road where the occasional pothole needs to be avoided.
As for the story itself, this isn't Em and The Big Hoom. That was a lot more personal for Pinto, and it was a different kind of book. Do not go looking for something like that.
This is a lot more into Mumbai, crime, LGBTQI, sec 377, you get my point. To put them all together it is a look at Mumbai's LGBTQI scene, with 377 hovering in the background menacingly (think the big black thing in Stranger Things 2), all of this through a crime thriller.
There isn't so much thrill here, as something is missing in that. Even the mystery part doesn't hold up too well. But hey, better a murder mystery to talk about things no one talks about than a humanities lesson, no? I liked how Pinto starts off describing the little things in Mumbai initially, just that after a point, all that goes off the window and he goes only into the main plot. Some meandering would've set up the story a lot better and have also gotten Mumbai itself a lot more into the story, apart from just having to provide the localities and the beaches for the action. Might have added a few dozen pages.
All in all, it works in some parts, doesn't in others.
July 24, 2021
I wrote a longform piece on queer fiction from India for The Chakkar: ‘In fiction, one finds the opportunity to utter the unsayable’ – An exploration of Queer Literature from India. This review is borrowed from the same.
An amazing story well told
The empathy and language that one perhaps demands from the characters when they are exhibiting nonnormative desires in a story can always be found in a Jerry Pinto work. Murder in Mahim (Speaking Tiger, 2018) is a testimony of Pinto’s prowess of exceptional storytelling and handling queer love without trivialising it. Instead, he leverages the blind spots that exist in the heteronormative upbringing to invent a language that’s engaging and not judgemental, not even for his story’s antagonists.
Or perhaps, Pinto never cherishes the binary of good and bad; he says things as is. In the murder mystery involving a hustler, whose body has been found in Mumbai’s Matunga Road railway station, and a Fernandes family that gets to know from the newspaper that their son is gay or an activist (or worse, both), the narrative uses various intersections and plotlines to throw questions at its readers, involving them not only in doing the guesswork in this murder mystery but to build an alternate universe where each one is respected for who they are.
In Pinto’s world there is no place for judgement. He writes with an empathy that one seeks in LGBTQIA+ narratives. Murder in Mahim also fills gap in the Indian queer literature of narratives that rarely go beyond exploring the intimate pains of living either a dual or compromised life. I am certain Pinto’s words will work as a springboard for guiding the futures of Indian queer literature.
An amazing story well told
The empathy and language that one perhaps demands from the characters when they are exhibiting nonnormative desires in a story can always be found in a Jerry Pinto work. Murder in Mahim (Speaking Tiger, 2018) is a testimony of Pinto’s prowess of exceptional storytelling and handling queer love without trivialising it. Instead, he leverages the blind spots that exist in the heteronormative upbringing to invent a language that’s engaging and not judgemental, not even for his story’s antagonists.
Or perhaps, Pinto never cherishes the binary of good and bad; he says things as is. In the murder mystery involving a hustler, whose body has been found in Mumbai’s Matunga Road railway station, and a Fernandes family that gets to know from the newspaper that their son is gay or an activist (or worse, both), the narrative uses various intersections and plotlines to throw questions at its readers, involving them not only in doing the guesswork in this murder mystery but to build an alternate universe where each one is respected for who they are.
In Pinto’s world there is no place for judgement. He writes with an empathy that one seeks in LGBTQIA+ narratives. Murder in Mahim also fills gap in the Indian queer literature of narratives that rarely go beyond exploring the intimate pains of living either a dual or compromised life. I am certain Pinto’s words will work as a springboard for guiding the futures of Indian queer literature.
February 9, 2020
How can a man write with so much empathy?
Murder in Mahim may be detective fiction, but it was so much more to me. A close look at the gay community at a time when homosexuality was still illegal. A portrait of a city that means different things to different people. Also a parenting manual at some level.
Murder in Mahim may be detective fiction, but it was so much more to me. A close look at the gay community at a time when homosexuality was still illegal. A portrait of a city that means different things to different people. Also a parenting manual at some level.
February 7, 2017
This gets three stars simply because I had weirdly high expectations from Jerry Pinto after the ethereal "Em And The Big Hoom".
This is a decent murder mystery--eminently readable and compelling and eye opening, with occasional bursts of strange melancholy. Alas, however, it's no "Em..."
This is a decent murder mystery--eminently readable and compelling and eye opening, with occasional bursts of strange melancholy. Alas, however, it's no "Em..."
May 27, 2024
I recently read Murder in Mahim by Jerry Pinto. As the title assures us there is a murder though not exactly in Mahim but in a men’s toilet at the Matunga Road Station. This toilet as it turns out is a cruising spot for gay men. The story follows retired journalist, Peter D’Souza as he assists his friend, Inspector Jende in solving this murder.
It is the perfect set-up to dive into the underground gay culture of Mumbai. I saw my city through a different lens. I saw familiar places like Shivaji Park, and Gateway of India at Colaba, where I have been going since childhood, transform in the pages of this book. As the book is set during the period homosexuality was re-criminalized in India, the dangerous and sinister aspect of trying to exist and fulfil one’s desires comes across quite starkly in the book.
The social commentary, be it the portrayal of discrimination against gay people or the overly aspirational attitude of our youth engendered by social media is on point in this book. And yet, I felt that something was missing in the book. The story did not feel immersive. I am still trying to work out the reason I felt this way. Maybe it was because I kept comparing this book to Em and the Big Hoom, a brilliant autobiographical story by Jerry Pinto. That book brought tears to my eyes. But this was not the only reason.
This book was meant to be a murder mystery but the investigative aspect of it was lost somewhere in Peter’s introspections. I had trouble with the book because it felt clinical and distant. Peter’s character seemed very detached from it all. While his relationship with his wife, and his reaction to his son being something other than entirely heterosexual felt real and I was able to connect with that aspect, he was very disconnected from the rest of it. The murder, the injustice the various characters faced and the danger of living a gay life, unfolded at a distance. The mystery part of the book just didn’t work. The climax too became overly convoluted and not in a clever or satisfying way. I lost interest by the end and just wanted to get to the end.
And books about murder can be written where the murder is a mere starting point for a much larger picture. An example could be the Perveen Mistry books by Sujata Massey. She creates pre-independence Mumbai and tackles all kinds of social issues from domestic abuse to racism all while solving the murder. And the murder is not the most important aspect of the books but the stories are immersive and engaging. For me, Murder in Mahim missed the mark here. I mostly feel I had too many expectations from this book because of who the author is and what his previous book was able to achieve.
If you are looking for a thrilling murder mystery with a lot of heart, this one might not be the best pick. But if you are a fan of the author, are interested in Mumbai and its subcultures, and don’t mind a less-than-stellar mystery, this book will work for you.
For more such reviews visit https://bookishexperiences.wordpress.com
It is the perfect set-up to dive into the underground gay culture of Mumbai. I saw my city through a different lens. I saw familiar places like Shivaji Park, and Gateway of India at Colaba, where I have been going since childhood, transform in the pages of this book. As the book is set during the period homosexuality was re-criminalized in India, the dangerous and sinister aspect of trying to exist and fulfil one’s desires comes across quite starkly in the book.
The social commentary, be it the portrayal of discrimination against gay people or the overly aspirational attitude of our youth engendered by social media is on point in this book. And yet, I felt that something was missing in the book. The story did not feel immersive. I am still trying to work out the reason I felt this way. Maybe it was because I kept comparing this book to Em and the Big Hoom, a brilliant autobiographical story by Jerry Pinto. That book brought tears to my eyes. But this was not the only reason.
This book was meant to be a murder mystery but the investigative aspect of it was lost somewhere in Peter’s introspections. I had trouble with the book because it felt clinical and distant. Peter’s character seemed very detached from it all. While his relationship with his wife, and his reaction to his son being something other than entirely heterosexual felt real and I was able to connect with that aspect, he was very disconnected from the rest of it. The murder, the injustice the various characters faced and the danger of living a gay life, unfolded at a distance. The mystery part of the book just didn’t work. The climax too became overly convoluted and not in a clever or satisfying way. I lost interest by the end and just wanted to get to the end.
And books about murder can be written where the murder is a mere starting point for a much larger picture. An example could be the Perveen Mistry books by Sujata Massey. She creates pre-independence Mumbai and tackles all kinds of social issues from domestic abuse to racism all while solving the murder. And the murder is not the most important aspect of the books but the stories are immersive and engaging. For me, Murder in Mahim missed the mark here. I mostly feel I had too many expectations from this book because of who the author is and what his previous book was able to achieve.
If you are looking for a thrilling murder mystery with a lot of heart, this one might not be the best pick. But if you are a fan of the author, are interested in Mumbai and its subcultures, and don’t mind a less-than-stellar mystery, this book will work for you.
For more such reviews visit https://bookishexperiences.wordpress.com
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