Murder at the Mushaira

by Raza Mir

3 May 1857. India stands on the brink of war. Everywhere in its cities, towns, and villages, rebels and revolutionaries are massing to overthrow the ruthless and corrupt British East India Company which has taken over the country and laid it to waste. In Delhi, the capital, even as the plot to get rid of the hated foreigners gathers intensity, the busy social life of the city hums along. Nautch girls entertain clients, nawabs host mushairas or poetry soirees in which the finest poets of the realm congregate to recite their latest verse and intrigue, the wealthy roister in magnificent havelis, and the drinking dens of the city continue to pack in customers.

One morning, Kallu, a retainer at a Delhi haveli, cleaning up after a grand mushaira, discovers a poet stabbed to death with a polished agate dagger. Gruesome as it is, the murder appears to be a fairly run of the mill crime until anxious officials of the East India Company make it a matter of the highest priority.

Instructions are issued for the murderer to be found and arrested immediately. But who is the killer? The dead man had many enemies and the investigating officer Kirorimal Chainsukh soon discovers there are dozens of suspects, an equal number of motives, and waves of secrets and lies that threaten to overwhelm him. As the pressure on him to solve the crime increases, Chainsukh turns to Mirza Ghalib, poet laureate and amateur detective, for help.

Ghalib’s tools are his formidable intelligence, intimate knowledge of the machinations of Delhi high society, ferocious curiosity, and reliance on the new science of forensics that his friend the scientist Master Ramachandra has introduced him to. As Ghalib begins to collect evidence and dig into the case, he uncovers an ever-widening list of suspects, and a sinister conspiracy that involves many of Delhi’s most important men and women.

Set against the backdrop of India’s First War of Independence, Murder at the Mushaira is at once a brilliantly constructed murder mystery and the finest historical novel by an Indian author in recent times.

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

358 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Raza Mir is the author of Ghalib: A Thousand Desires, The Taste of Words: An Introduction to Urdu Poetry and the co-author of Anthems of Resistance: A Celebration of Progressive Urdu Poetry. He can be reached at urduwallah@gmail.com

Reviews

[Ankita Chauhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raza Mir's Murder at the Mushaira: Rediscovered the art of storytelling
Blog Link: https://soundingwords.blogspot.com/20...
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‘What! Who? How?’ Mirza realized he was babbling, but the news had hit his ears like a ringing slap. A Murder at the Mushaira? That was a first. Who had been killed? This was his community, his people.

‘Murder at the Mushaira,’ is an enthralling and unpredicted period drama. Raza Mir recasts Mirza Ghalib, poet laureate of the realm as detective, he is simply appointed as the chief investigator in horrific murder case of Janaab Sukhan Khairabadi.

Basically, the story of this historical fiction, set against the backdrop of the revolt of 1857. After celebrating a grand Mushaira at Delhi Haveli, a poet found stabbed to death, he was a nobleman. The cleaner found his body around the time of the Fajr prayer. It was not that distressing until the participation of high British officials, mutated it into preferential case.

Once our protagonist, Mirza Ghalib called for help, he initiated the investigation, and the world of all attendees of Mushaira, turned upside down. First it seemingly impossible to resolve the mystery, as there was many mistakes, and long list of suspects. By the time you think you have caught up to puzzle, it’s already fades away. The narrative of conspiracy entwines with myriads of secret and lies skyrockets this conundrum into compelling, entertaining and believable tale.

‘Murder at the Mushaira’ is a pleasure rush with an ambitious record of world we once knew. With enigmatic language, Mir managed to capture the shades of vibrant life of Delhi in 18th century. It is so rich with metaphors and words that shape the story in plausible ways. Mir’s fresh perspective offers an instant connect to reader. In spite of web of sub-plots and motifs, the story entrances you in the same way that theatre does. The writing is genius and scrupulous, especially witty dialogues and hidden insights, able to suck you in and creates an absorbing environment around.

At times, this book behaves as delicacy for admirers of Urdu poetry without dulling its thrill element. Raza Mir begins each chapter with Ghalib versus along with apt translations; after all, words were his weapon. It resonates so deeply within readers’ psyche that you feel breathing among those character. With amazing cadence Raza Mir succeeds in illuminating an experience profoundly.

Bas ke dushwaar hai har kaam ka assaan hona
Aadmi ko bhi mayassar nahin insaan hona

It’s impossible for all tasks to be facile, that’s all
People find it so tough to answer humanity’s call

Mir’s eloquent prose style tugs at the heart. Apart from the unusual plot, what stands out this novel, is amount of distinctive detailing. Raza Mir captured the meditating photographic reproduction of an era. I think, mere review is not enough to bottle the kindling ambers. Here, I have been drawing your attention to this piece, ‘Ramchandra was surprised to see how young Ratna Bai was. Hardly 30 years old, she was beautiful, but in a classical way, with none of the flamboyance that one would associate with a tavern owner. She was very fair skinned, giving further credence to rumors of British parentage of medium height with a dancer’s build, she was dressed simply in white Chudidaar Kurta with a brilliant multi color Chunni that must have been 8 feet long and 4 feet wide.’

In ‘Murder at the Mushaira, characters come to life, are kind and suspicious as well, the landscape is author’s mind while he pines to rediscover the pleasure of storytelling, Mir brilliantly shows how strongly interlaced anxieties and love can be, ‘Their nervous expressions dissolved into relief at the site of Mirza. He had always been a favourite of the domestics as he treated them with kindness unlike other members of the Ashraaf. Now he spoke to them with brusque kindness.’

One can judge ‘Raza Mir’s Murder at the Mushaira’ by its cover, a real pristine beauty. Yet, I genuinely suggest you to pick this phenomenal read, it would be an intoxicating experience. I loved this book to eternity and beyond.

Qaid-e-Hayaat –o-Band-e Gum asl main donon ek hain
Maut se pahle aadmi gham se najaat paaye kyon.


Can't thank you enough, Vivek Tejuja and Aleph Book Co. for the review copy.

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder at Mushaira" by Raza Mir has attracted my attention the moment I saw the cover photo. I was attracted to the Detective nature of Mirza Ghalib portrayed in the book.

As the name suggests, the story is based on a murder investigation that happened after a mushaira. Let me give you a little gist. One of the royal houses in Delhi had a tradition of holding mushaira during the month of Ramazan. The royal house is Iftikhar, and Miya Iftikhar had an unspoken grudge against Ghalib as Iftikhar's wife had a crush on Ghalib before her marriage. Murdered entity here is Khairadabaadi, who was a spy for Angrez and was killed just before he was supposed to give his report on newly introduced Kartoos. The story is strongly linked with the 1857 independence movement, and murder was making things more mysterious. Multiple people's lives and wealth were at stake if the case was not solved within a week. Readout how Ghalib with his unique style works on the case.

I was expecting a thriller based on simple historical fiction. But the book has much more to offer, it presents cultural fit, socio-economic scenario, slow death of Mughal Empire and rise of English rule, people's state, etc. e
Everything is portrayed wonderfully. The language is appropriate for the culturally-driven novel. The pace is medium too fast based on the plot's demand. Characters like Iftikhar & his wife, Umrao (Ghalib's wife), Inspector were given good space to get mature. You will find a strong flavor of historical facts while reading. The mystery behind the killing will keep you to edge.

I will say the book is a masterpiece. One may give time to enjoy this book. If you are a ghazal or poem lover you will find multiple stanzas throughout the book.

This wonderful book deserves 4.75 out of 5.

[Vanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at the Mushaira had me at Ghalib. I approached it with a giddy anticipation, familiar to the reader whose reading hours are confined by the trappings of the everyday, and emerged sated, reveling in the satisfaction of possessing an unerring judgement, a reading instinct that is slowly but surely getting sharper.

Now to the book. It’s a murder mystery set in the days of pre-independent India at a time when Indians were beginning to tire of the Imperial rule, their mindless cruelties and terrifying indifference towards the plight of the natives. These are days of turmoil, of revolt that’s simmering just beneath the surface, and yet, we know that even in the most turbulent of periods in history, even when a revolution is underway, there are people and milieus where celebrations big and small continue unabated and unaffected. And so the Nawabs continue to host mushairas, evenings of poetry and food and shall we say, decadence. It is on one such evening that a poet is murdered and nobody seems to have any clue as to what transpired. Police is set in motion, the Angrez are furious too, and nobody can make sense of anything.

Here comes in our hero, the poet laureate, Mirza Ghalib, appointed by one Kirorimal, the investigating officer, as the co-investigator of the case. Don’t be confused by my description, Ghalib is old and he frequently dodders, but his intellect is sharp as the dagger that pierced the murdered poet’s heart. As Ghalib descends on the crime scene, queasy yet persisting for Kirorimal’s sake, threads lining the mystery begin to unravel. The involvement of Company officials, their almost violent lashing out in the wake of the murder is no ordinary coincidence. As it so happens, there are many undercurrents beneath this mystery turned conspiracy. And if you’re expecting this to be a feckless, frothy read, dear reader, I would humbly point out that you couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Expect laughs, expect thrill, expect shers, but also expect depth and history and poignance.

[Debasmita B · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Updated rating - 4.5 stars but will give the author the benefit to have 5 stars on Goodreads)

Absolute star rating makes it difficult to properly praise books such as this one. The setting is too attractive and the author used it beautifully to add depth to the book. Delhi in 1850s, still mentally under a Mughal rule, or hoping to be, and the seeds of rebellion being sown across the country.

The title is a little misleading as the murder is just the preamble for what's to come, but the book is brilliant in weaving together historical landmark events from India's past with fiction, and conjures up characters in line with the times.

My only complaint was the language that sometimes got too flowery for me, but that doesn't hinder the experience of the book. The ending might be bittersweet because we know how the 1857 revolt ended, but we also know what the characters in the book don't - that 90 years later we'd achieve what they had set out for.

[Krutika · Rating 3 out of 5]

• r e v i e w •

Murder at the Mushaira is set during the pre-independence era, at a critical time when Indian soldiers began revolting against the British. So it comes as no surprise that Raza Mir writes in a rarefied manner, making it appealing to only a particular set of people. That and his ability to bring back few significant characters to life like Mirza Ghalib, the renowned poet whose work is still considered one of the best in the literary world scores brownie points. But my interest in this book ends just there. Although, Mir focuses on patriotism and paints a vivid picture of those who lived back in the days when Mushairas were conducted in palaces and mansions, a life when commoners fought for independence in their own little ways etc, this book is mainly supposed to be a murder mystery and with it comes a certain expectation of keeping the readers satisfied with how the plot unfolds. The motive, the act and the grand conclusion demands a satisfactory result which I found missing.

A poet is murdered at a Mushaira and our witty Mirza Ghalib is asked to assist in finding the murderer by Kirorimal, an investigating officer. Mirza is old but the twinkle in his eye and the mischievous smile playing on his lips reminds people of the handsome self he once was. But what appears to be a simple murder mystery proves to be a tangled one, much like a puzzle that refuses to shed clues. With the involvement of the officers working for the Crown, rebellious Indians who form a secret network to free their country and suspects who are quick to point fingers at others; Murder at the Mushaira takes us on a rather amusing ride. For someone like me who has read a fair share of murder mysteries, this book failed to make a mark. Albeit Mir impresses readers with his writing flair and the background of the story, it didn't quite live upto my expectations. Much of the story felt incessantly dragged, making me want to abandon it at more than one instance. My review is what one might term as an unpopular opinion but murder mysteries to me are either a hit or miss and this one falls under the latter part.

3.4/5.

[Smriti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have been great, but I feel like it got lost within it's self. Will explain in a more detailed review later. :)

[Amit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book that graced my shelf for 2 years before It finally called out to me . I am so glad it did .

The name suggests it is a murder mystery - ‘who dun it’. Yes it is . But then it is much more than that, it is a historical account of mutiny of 1857, story of many loves, of redemption, of greed , of friendship’s, of east India company, of sacrifices and of common people who are hero’s in their own right .
A book that is lyrical , characters nicely chiseled and the canvas beautiful. Author does a great job of tying all character threads and bringing them to a finite point as he ends the story.
Go read it .

[Madhulika Liddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delhi. The first few days of May, 1857. At the haveli of a poetry-loving nawab, a mushaira is organized, drawing the greatest poets from far and wide. The poet laureate, Mirza Ghalib, not best of friends with the nawab, declines, but stops by nevertheless, on his way back from meeting the nawab's daughter Zainab, whom he's teaching poetry. He also manages to put in his place the obnoxious poet Sukhan Khairabadi, who's being, as is to be expected, nasty...

And Khairabadi, it seems, was especially nasty to someone else too. Because the next morning, when a servant arrives at the hall where the mushaira had gone on into the wee hours of the morning, he finds Sukhan Khairabadi's corpse. The Naib-Kotwal of Chandni Chowk, when called in to investigate, turns to Mirza Ghalib, who has acquired quite a reputation as a detective. And Ghalib, in turn, brings in Master Ramachandra of the Delhi College, to use his scientific knowledge and ability to help with the forensics.

Murder at the Mushaira is not just about a murder which Mirza Ghalib investigates. Raza Mir, after all, has set this story in May 1857—it begins just a few days before the outbreak of the uprising that was to be the First War of Independence. The intrigue, the hectic plotting, the sudden triumphs and the equally sudden reversals, connects to the uprising, also form an important element of the plot.

That said, the murder mystery bit of this novel plays out well. Mirza Ghalib and Master Ramachandra are two people I’ve long imagined would be perfect historical detectives, and Mir does a very good job of making them (Ghalib, mostly, but Ramachandra as a sort of Watson) the sleuths here. There are red herrings, obscure clues, and plenty of wit here…

…until the novel takes a turn, and the mystery solved, jumps wholesale into the story of the gadar, the uprising. This is when the wit, while it’s still there, to some extent, becomes tempered with a poignancy and a desperation too, especially if you know how the uprising played out.

This was an unusual detective story, because the mystery and its detection only form the initial two-thirds (or a little more) of the book. And yet, I didn’t mind that. The storytelling is excellent, the pace is good, and there are several well-etched characters whom I found myself rooting for. Also, the adventures and minor mysteries surrounding the plotting of the uprising are interesting.

And Ghalib makes for a wonderfully endearing protagonist: somewhat eccentric, very witty, yet with depth: and his relationships with his wife Umrao, with his brother Yousuf, and his two adoptive granddaughters, are beautifully real. Bonus: each chapter begins with a couplet in Urdu, most (all?) by Ghalib, with an English translation.

This book needs prequels. I want more Ghalib-as-detective books.

[Chitra Ahanthem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at the Mushaira by Raza Mir is that rare book that is going to be loved by readers across genres:there is historical fiction and there is a murder mystery brought together by a writing that reflects a deep knowledge and understanding of the era the story is placed. Set in the time of the tumult leading to events in Dilli during May 1857 when discontent across British India was fermenting,this is a narrative that comes to life with a vibrant flourish. 

The writer takes you on a deceptive path: the aroma of food, the ambience,the bustle at the haveli of a rich and well known Nawab known for his largesse, the domestic lives of the women of the time,the clamour for poets to be recognized. Enter Mirza Ghalib who gatecrashes the mushaira, slightly exposing the social rivalry and personal jealousies and leads to the undercurrents of the socio political winds that are about. What follows then takes you to a world that is crumbling slowly, shimmering with discontent and distrust and nationalist fervour on one side and a foreign force that must close ranks to continue their rule and oppression.

There is a cast of 81 characters in the book but the writing never veers off from adding to the narrative.Through the conversations around the main protagonists, the author gives a look at the socio cultural identities, the social intellect of the times, the friction and forces of a brief unity that existed in 1857.This is more than just a historical fiction with a murder thrown in, rather it is writing that is well research and presented such that one is thoroughly captivated.This is one book that ought to make it to a screen adaptation as a series. 

Full review here: https://bookandconversations.wordpres...
   

[Deepan Maitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Murder at the Mushaira” inculcates a mighty nationalist perspective into our flesh and bones. It injects a sense of pointed independent spirit into our blood, sweeping across the whole canvas of India in the 1800s, when resistance against the outside colonial forces had started to condense.

The book is truly justified to be a splendid historical fiction. The fictionalization is so spontaneous, that it almost acts as true history in disguise. It glues the various common grassroot tremors that instigated the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, adding into them fresh doses of raw Indian feelings, sensitivity and might. The lens of the author focuses on an exotic set of characters from time to time, and it catches hold of the rise of new sentiments among them. The sentiments of loyalty, of fierce protectiveness and advancing nationalism.

The story is threaded on perhaps hundreds of anchor points. It is stringed with jewels and stones, with happenings bold and cowardly, with experiences dull or bright. But precisely speaking, this tangled mess also has a certain rhythm to which it dances, like the lute of the snake-charmer dazing the poisonous snake. This tangled mess of threads and ropes is seldom too asynchronous to handle. Rather, it appeals to us quite naturally, shifting attention as it moves from one part of the stage to another, letting the author zoom in and out.

The Delhi of 1857 was inhabited by Muslims and Hindus alike. The titular Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar had been seated on his regal throne, stripped off his influence or gallantry. His poet laureate Mirza Ghalib was a name heard far and wide, his Urdu poetry soothing ears till today. ‘Murder at the Mushaira’ casts Ghalib as an amateur detective, and he uncovers the mystery behind the curious murder of an attendee of the celebrated mushaira.

The mystery element in the story almost serves as an undertone. The primary standpoint that the story roots itself upon is the historical significance of the plot, shedding light upon the fact that the protest of 1857 was indeed a unanimous and much-awaited affair. The emotions that had fuelled this event had been derived from all parts of the population, since there were no social strata whom the colonial power had left to impose and impact. The author has thereby picked his characters from a multitude of backgrounds, allowing them to carry forward the story on their respective shoulders. Each of the characters have an interesting ancestry, they all have scandals attached to their past, but even then, they are memorable and induce a great deal of empathy. The most bizarre fact about them is that they are all trying to hide something from someone. Be it from the civil forces, or the British government, or their employer, or their spouses—all the men and women carry an air of secrecy. They have hot news that cannot be leaked, some have sensitive secrets that should be safeguarded and some have been privy to conversations they wish they hadn’t.

With this complex web of sub-plots and paths crossing one another, out comes a most surprising story of love, betrayal, affection and forgiving. There’s revenge in their voices, but very justified. Their actions reek with anger, with hostility—but they all are also very loyal, very compassionate and ultimately, they want a happy life for their dear ones.

Raza Mir’s book is so intricately observant and deeply consolidated, that there is no linearity in any of the ways the story progresses. It has the quality of being very emotion-driven, and so it hits right at the heart. It is so dazzlingly illuminating at points, that understanding all of it becomes an exciting, but tedious affair. Raza Mir captures the Indian way of living across all the senses. His portrayal of Delhi is so flamboyant and beautiful, that it ceases to be just a city, but transcends to become an experience in itself. Speckled with generous amounts of sensual Urdu poetry, he ensures that his book is a delight to read. The poetry in this book is a major driver of the plot, and it is poetry that gives sort of a respite to the incessant trauma. It is through poetry that we see pain getting rhythmised, it is through verses do we see the most unfortunate of massacres turning into the artistic muses of creative humans. Ghalib’s character is manifested with so much poetry, that he punctuates all his actions with certain beautiful pauses, several subtle introspections and many levels of deeper understanding. Ghalib is almost the hero here, the true protagonist who emerges dramatically amidst the tangled web of crowded subplots.

The story is infused with drama. More than the rising conflict between the existent Indian royalty and the colonial regime, there is a dramatic portrayal of personal clashes, of interpersonal wars that sow the seeds of much more turbulence to follow. The terror of the characters, the helplessness of the one who dies—it all somehow connects together into a picture, which although being stained and torn, is largely our own—aligned with our hearts.

Pleasing to the mind, to the imagination and to the thought, ‘Murder at Mushaira’ also twists itself to be deeply disturbing at points, churning out insecure, riveting emotions from the crevices of the readers. Such is the quality of the book; it almost gives off a distinctive, recognizable odour of the past: of India’s pre-independent history that can almost never be encompassed fully.

Thanks Aleph Book Company for the copy.

[Chaitanya Sethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grand mushaira conducted at the haveli of Nawab Iftikhar Hasan ends in the murder of one of the invited poets. This act of violence sets into motion a chain of events which pulls our protagonist, a fictional version of the famous poet, Mirza Ghalib, into a matter that goes much deeper than a murder mystery. Before he even knows it, he has stepped foot into a much larger machinery that is operating around the events leading to the rebellion of 1857.

I was fully hooked by the synopsis of this novel: a murder mystery set in Old Delhi with a poet-laureate acting as a novice detective. That was enough to capture my attention but I was more than happy that the plot also held it for 340 pages. It is a deliciously layered novel that doesn't reserve the meat of the action for a few pages. Rather, it peppers sufficient detail which it reveals every now and then to keep the reader intrigued. What I appreciate (and look for) in any mystery is whether the "big reveal" is hinged on a random clue that was never mentioned before. It's a buzzkill for me. This book didn't do that. It clearly laid out all the hints and details and brought them to the reader's notice when it was needed. It felt like your own detective skills were tested but your intelligence as a reader wasn't insulted. The side-plots eventually coalescing into the revolt of 1857 was also built up slowly but strongly.

I did have two minor issues. First, and this is applicable to a lot of Indian writers writing in the English language; there is a tendency to write in a manner of flourish that feels slightly tedious and unnecessary. It's more show-off than storytelling. And secondly, some minor characters end up doing things "coincidentally" to make the final puzzle pieces fit together. Quibbles, yes, I am aware. But I will emphasize that neither of them came in the way of my enjoyment of this book.

I thoroughly relished this nearly pitch-perfect historical fiction novel and I hope that the author comes out with more such stories. I can see myself bringing this book up as one of the more fun books and concepts that I've read in recent months.

[Sukanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't write as well as I used to (perks of learning a new language), but bear with me:

I often remark that my life is a little stuck in the CAA movement. That feeling of hope, that justice is around the horizon, is addictive. This book, for the most part, feels like that hope. This book also captures the heartbreak that comes with losing that revolution and having to live a life afterward. Of seeing comrades jailed and killed, while you survive and life free, although trapped under the villain's rule.


"Kuch yaqeen kuch gumaan ki Dilli,
anginat imtihaan ki Dilli
Bezubaani ka ho gayee hai shikaar, Asadullah ki Dilli"

The problem w historical fiction based in 1857 is that you know the British win at the end. So it's like reading about all the things you love about delhi, falling in love with Ghalib and the rest of them, all while knowing that failure is imminent. Despite that, this book felt like a balm to my nri, dilli loving heart. the poetry, the beauty, and the banter. the literal translations of phrases like "aapne is mehfil pe chaar chaand laga diye" made even the English feel hindustani. Ghalib's love for his wife made me weep. Descriptions of old delhi, delighted my heart.

There couldn't have been a better 55th book but time to watch Lagaan. The British need to lose.

[Swetha - a chronically perturbed mind · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️
I was not invested into the story in the beginning to be honest. Because, I had startedwith the hopes of reading a historical fiction, which was more of a murder mystery. The flowery and descriptive writing was not doing things for me either. But as I read on, I realised that the whole book was bringing alive a place lost in time.
The author has brought to life Delhi of 1857, which in theory was under the Mughal emperor, but was slowly succumbing to the British rule under the East India company. The foreigners who once had to be invited by specific invitations waltz around as if they own the place.
1857 marks the first Independence struggle, fuled by the Sepoy mutiny. The author has incorporated the organisation of the revolt into this murder mystery, as it also is a part of the same, making this into a beautiful rendition of the rebellion that our soldiers organised from different parts of the country, as the first every organised effort to overthrough the British.
The book shifts narrative POVs from Mirza, who plays a pivotal role in the investigation of the said murder,to characters borrowed from history and also fictionalised.
Do not go into the book expecting a murder mystery like I did. Because the book was most definitely more. The prose takes you back to the dust covered streets of Delhi, during the holy month of Ramazan, as they pray and fast, and also enjoy the company of poets.
This book was gifted to me in exchange of an honest review.

[Akshatha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story plot was good but not something that I like.

[Nikita Yadav · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure trove - the stories from my beloved Purani Dilli, the soul satifiating poetry of Mirza Ghalib in the larger context of the history of the 1857 revolt!
The book, pretty much like a good poetry, takes you through a myriad of emotions.

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: Murder at the Mushaira
Author: Raza Mir
Format: Kindle

My Thoughts:
As the story goes: The Ghalib of Raza Mir, in this novel set in eight days of May 1857, is an eager plotter as the conspiracy to rebel against the British develops. He is sucked into the narrative following the murder of a much-despised poet, Sukhan Khairabadi, at a mushaira. Before being killed, Khairabadi, spying for the British, had warned them by sending an ivory letter opener — "a signal of the gravest danger, the matter of utmost urgency".

This plot made me intrigued that Ghalib in real who was afraid of the British goes against the same British and solves the cases. Without much ado, I recommend this historical yet interesting murder fiction to everyone.

What to expect from the story?
Expect a fine and artistic murder story.
Expect a story filled with sweet surprises and bloody secrets.
Expect a story that has romance, love, relationships and revenge.
Expect Mirza Ghalib as the investigative officer and a detective to work on the murder mystery.

Who can read?
This book allured readers of historical fiction, murder stories and mostly to the people who love and admire Ghalib Saab! Every Urdu poetry lover has his explanation and reason for liking Mirza Ghalib. Similarly, in this book and every reader thus resonates and gets attracted to the story.

How good are the characters?
Mir has lived Ghalib in the story! Ghalib's verses in every story from Mir's pen is excellent to read. Every story has this rich Urdu language flavour, which draws the readers' minds closer to the story. Other than this, many characters I chose not to disclose or else it would become a spoiler are written with grace and equal action.

How good is the narration?
Being a murder mystery with the famous and historical characters of Ghalib, the story is an absolute treat. As the story progresses and the poet's death comes into the light, the story takes a drastic turn. Here, it is to be noted that Author Mir has taken extra care and interest in recreating the 1800's era with poise. Therefore, the narration sparkles like a gemstone, and it's shine in the form of colourful narration.

How good are the language and grammar?
The colloquial and rich language with adequate vocabulary adds more beauty to the narration of the story.

How good is the Author's writing style?
Author Mir's elegant style of writing with unusual plot allures the readers to the maximum level extent. The intrinsic detailing of the story, the nuggets of history, the story set up in a Haveli, the then riches and flashy lifestyle that can be imagined and visualised - all add up to the great writing. This happens to be my first book from author Raza Mir, and I am completely spellbound by his writing skills. But in contrast to the fictional setting, after the murder that unveils in the story, a greyish film flashes at every point. This is where the Author's experiences spark.

How entertaining is the book?
The story is set-up in the vibrant and pompous times of the 18th Century in Delhi. It is undoubtedly entertaining with interesting sub-plots and rich heritage of the then life popping up at every nook and corner of the story.

Final Verdict
A gripping historical fictional thriller!

Rating:
4/5

[Sarmistha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the beautiful city of Delhi,the murder mystery echoes with concerns of common people trapped between the colonial rulers and royal blood and the germinal tremors that led to an unforgettable historical event.The amazing poet Ghalib takes us on a thrilling journey across the bustling city pregnant with nationalism, exotic flavours and enriching language.
The author did a splendid job breathing in life into the story.The novel exposed the flickering joy that more often the privileged enjoy even in face of adversity.The flourishing poetic verses arouse a whole range of emotions.The engrossing layered plot-line will keep the readers glued to the book. But the large number of characters bogged down the pace of the tale and numbed the thrill to a considerable extent.
I will recommend the book to all the readers who want to peek into pre-independent India.

[Aali Pant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mirza Ghalib is the protagonist of this twist-laden, murder mystery, envisioned to cause a revolt against the British rule in India. Raza Mir has done full justice while presenting the character and personality of Mirza Ghalib artistically, the ambiance of mushaira has been described where one can feel to be a part of it, resting an elbow on the cushion and applauding the poet with "Waah Waah".

The book overall has been written where you transcend into the times of 1857, into the lanes of Delhi, into the home of Mirza Ghalib at Ballimaran, the coordinated efforts of rebels against the British, and despite all the hush-hush and quick movements, the blossoming love between several characters.

[Anushka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my best reads of the year so far. The storytelling is top-notch and if you, like me, have a thing for well-written historical fictions (think Wolf Hall trilogy), then you will be absolutely delighted. The character development is superb and there are several underlying threads which are not necessarily explored but they make this a much more layered read.

Mir recreates Delhi of 1857 quite well and yet manages to make it sound contemporary- in the sense that he avoids falling into the trap of cliched dialogues and motifs that most writers of Indian historical fiction adhere to. I ultimately gave in and finished reading it quite fast, but savor it if you can; this one is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Highly recommended for those who love historical fiction, poetry, Ghalib, Delhi of the past and generally well written prose.

PS. All this is not to say that the book is without flaws. However, I am absolutely willing to overlook those for the amount of fun I had reading this! The mystery itself is not the focal point and if you are reading it for the murder, you are in for a disappointment.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scintillating blend of fiction & history, intricately woven to evoke an entertaining & ultimately edifying experience. Many of the characters are readily recognisable from history, particularly to those who have perused William Dalrymple's tome, The Last Mughal. The POV perspectives of various minor characters, who ultimately play pivotal roles, are masterfully crafted.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a pleasure to read. So many sentences that felt like gifts.

[Sabita · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

I took up this book for a Meet the Author session of our Literary Group. I started off thinking this is a murder mystery which went on to appear like historical fiction with some romance thrown in for good measure. In other words, to me, it seemed that this book tries to be too many things to too many people. Also, the idea of Mirza Ghalib as sleuth did not sit very well with me – it was not too convincing. I would have much rather heard about Ghalib the poet, which was only restricted to the verses at the beginning of each chapter, which were beautiful even if not always understandable in relation to the context of that chapter.

The description of events starting off with the murder and the way it is solved and the threading through of the 1857 revolt – for me this was of secondary interest compared to the description of the characters and the relationships, which admittedly are maybe too many. That said, what’s quite impressive is that character development is very well done, even for some of the more minor characters in the book. I also liked the fleshing out of various relationships which has been done with finesse and subtlety. I did not care too much for the stories around the British personas - though the personality of Andrew Watson’s was interesting in its contrast to the rest of his countrymen, overall, it wasn’t as interesting as some of the others including Hyderi, Ramachandra, or even Zainab and Siraj.

The entire story was brought to life when we met the author and understood his approach and rationale behind the story – why he threaded together Ghalib and the 1857 revolt, why he wrote a mystery, the separation between fact and fiction, and his overall approach to writing including his interest in Ghalib. We were told this is one of the first historical fiction novels in the Indian context – while not so important for me, it is probably something that will drive a lot of interest in this book.

[Aditi Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres to read because it combines my love for history and literature. Reading historical fiction is like a dream come true because it lets you inhabit that world for a bit. I enjoyed reading this book not only because of its genre, but also because of the way it’s written. The ‘murder’ is just an entry point into the larger landscape of the book, which explores a semi-fictional account of the unfolding of the Revolt of 1857 in Delhi. Each character is thoroughly fleshed out and has their own quirks, the narrative is clever and poetic, just like the protagonist Mirza Ghalib, and it ebbs and flows at the right places. My favourite part(s) of the book were the poetic couplets each chapter starts with. The most interesting thing for me was to understand the consciousness of people living at the time when the Revolt broke out because we often have a tendency to read history not only through grand narratives, but also with a certain disregarding passivity. Knowing that the author did his research really well for the book, there’s a certain truth to the way he’s portrayed the sensibilities of the time, ofc, intermingled with his own colourful imagination. My only problem reading the book was that in parts it felt unnecessarily stretched, and sometimes while reading the characters it was very clear that they were imagined from a very contemporary perspective? (It could just be my own bias towards figures from that era too). Overall, it was a really fun read. Special mention to one of the most gorgeous book covers I’ve come across in a while, it was partly the reason I was so tempted to pick this book up at the bookstore.

[Pulkit Garg · Rating 5 out of 5]

1857 isn't just a year for us Indians - it's an emotion, a symbol of our struggle against our then colonial overlords and the atrocities committed by the British in the 200 years they ruled here.
Raza Mir's book thus pays a true homage to this. The book starts off with a murder mystery in Shahjahanabad, solved by yours truly Mirza Ghalib and quickly becomes embroiled in the Revolt, showing how it wasn't just kings and queens, but ordinary people who came from a myriad of backgrounds were actually the backbone of the Revolt, risking their lives and their homes. It is wonderfully researched and fantastically written, making it a treat for all those who love history and love a classic whodunit as well.
Each character gets their own space, yes even the Brits, making almost everybody the protagonist.
I was crying towards the end, mostly because of the impact of the way the British are shown to destroy Delhi and brutally kill all those who took part in the rebellion, and it once again compels us to think about what if we had won the year?
(Also the scenes between Umrao Begum and Ghalib and the angst between Hyderi Begum and Mohan Lal Zutshi made this book so much better)

[Sujanroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely unconventional novel set in Old Delhi the period just before the 1857 Uprising. And surprise, surprise... the chief protagonist as an amateur detective is none other than Mirza Ghalib.

Peppered with Ghalib's poetry and featuring interesting vignettes of lives in those times, it has been an amazing read.

I can well imagine it as a Web Series with Naseeruddin Shah as Ghalib and Ratna Pathak Shah as his long suffering wife.

On the other side Anupam Kher as Nawab Iftekhar and Kiron Kher as Roshan Ara Begum, Ghalib's lost love!

I found myself translating the dialogues into Urdu in my head and enjoyed the sheer unconventionally creative warp and weft if the book.

It touches many of the things I love - a good whodunit, history, sher-o-shayari and tehzeeb. It felt that the author had written the book with me in mind.

[Akankshya Bhuyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so rich in history with an inclusion of fair amount of mystery and terrible heartache in the end. This book revealed the heartbreaking aftermath of the revolt of 1857 and how it awakened the need to live in a free country amongst their fellow Indians, when the Britishers had infiltrated the prominent regions of India.

It is a beautiful narration with each and every character getting their own space to grow on the reader and be mourned in their death (if they happen to die which most of the characters do) It not only tells a fictionalized murder mystery but also all the true historical moments that surround the story. A must read but please be prepared for your heart to sink because it doesn’t end well as we all already are aware of it.

[Shivani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this to be a murder mystery. While that constitutes about 30% of the book, it is actually historical fiction set against the backdrop of the 1857 mutiny. Enjoyable in parts and I absolutely LOVED all the female characters - Umrao, Zainab, Hyderi, Ishrat among others. Was good to see at least some of them having agency in the 1800s.
The book starts getting rambly with too many side characters and sub-plots midway which is where I found my attention drifting.
A decent read if you enjoy history, historical fiction and Urdu poetry.

[Noor Anand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written and beautifully descriptive novel set in Delhi during the 1857 mutiny. Reimagining the famous poet Ghalib as a detective out to solve a crime that takes place during a poetic mushaira, makes for interesting reading.

However, the title and set-up of this book is a bit misleading. The novel is not a murder mystery - the murder is but incidental to a historical novel.

[Sadiq Kazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant depiction of the last days of the Mughal empire. The intrigue, the rebellion, the culture of 'tehzeeb' and then the classy and yet curious poet laureate of the Mughal court, Mirza Ghalib! As suspense, this may not be a classic, but in the detailing of that era, this book scores!

[Malahat · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book but I just expected a lot more. Didn’t really excite me.