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Kamil Rahman #2
The Cook
'A refreshing and welcome addition to the world of detective fiction' Abir Mukherjee
'A real surprise... It is not just the descriptions of food that leave you hungry for more' The Times
Kamil Rahman is a cook in a Brick Lane restaurant. But he used to be a detective back in Kolkata.
And somehow trouble still knows how to find him.
When a young woman Kamil knows is murdered the police are convinced her boyfriend is the culprit. Kamil isn't so sure and feels he has no choice but to start his own investigation. Meanwhile, his friend and restaurant manager, Anjoli, is troubled by a rise in the number of homeless deaths in their local area.
Initially the cases seem unrelated, but as the duo dig deeper, they discover connections that stretch from London to Lahore.
Together they take on the indifference of the authorities to the homeless and the casual racism that pervades the investigation of killings of Muslims - all while trying to stop a supremely intelligent murderer who always seems to be several steps ahead of them.
From the award-winning author of The Waiter comes the second page-turning mystery starring detective-turned-cook Kamil Rahman. For readers of Anthony Horowitz, Robert Galbraith and Elly Griffiths.
'A real surprise... It is not just the descriptions of food that leave you hungry for more' The Times
Kamil Rahman is a cook in a Brick Lane restaurant. But he used to be a detective back in Kolkata.
And somehow trouble still knows how to find him.
When a young woman Kamil knows is murdered the police are convinced her boyfriend is the culprit. Kamil isn't so sure and feels he has no choice but to start his own investigation. Meanwhile, his friend and restaurant manager, Anjoli, is troubled by a rise in the number of homeless deaths in their local area.
Initially the cases seem unrelated, but as the duo dig deeper, they discover connections that stretch from London to Lahore.
Together they take on the indifference of the authorities to the homeless and the casual racism that pervades the investigation of killings of Muslims - all while trying to stop a supremely intelligent murderer who always seems to be several steps ahead of them.
From the award-winning author of The Waiter comes the second page-turning mystery starring detective-turned-cook Kamil Rahman. For readers of Anthony Horowitz, Robert Galbraith and Elly Griffiths.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2022
67 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 12, 2022
Kamil Rahman #2
This is a good follow-up to The Waiter and I like the format the author is developing in the storytelling. The amateur sleuths are back with a new mystery this one involves the deaths of some homeless people and the murder of student nurse Salma.
Kamil is back in London on a “Vindaloo Visa“, cooking at the Tandoori Knights restaurant in Brick Lane, which Anjoli is now managing. Along with Naila Alvi, also a student nurse and a friend of Anjoli , they tag themselves The Three Duskyteers – love it! Kamil is rather enamoured with Naila but there’s a complication, isn’t there always!
There’s much to praise in the series. The characters are wonderful, Kamil is very likeable, he is trusting and trustworthy and his relationship with Anjoli is fantastic. I love the humorous banter between those two which makes you smile, their relationship seems very natural and lovely.
DS Tahir Ishmael is another character to like, his name dropping of fictional detectives when in conversation with the sleuths is funny and clever and yes, of course it’s unlikely they will find out as much as they do before the cops but it’s a very entertaining process. There is never a dull moment in the briskly paced plot. There are some good twists in the storytelling, one you definitely don’t see it coming!
In addition, I like the multicultural element which is a feature I really enjoy. The food angle is an equally delicious ingredient and makes you want to put in an order to your nearest Indian restaurant!
Overall, it’s hard to make your mark in a crowded mystery and thriller market but I think the author has carved himself a good niche.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Vintage, Havill Secker for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is a good follow-up to The Waiter and I like the format the author is developing in the storytelling. The amateur sleuths are back with a new mystery this one involves the deaths of some homeless people and the murder of student nurse Salma.
Kamil is back in London on a “Vindaloo Visa“, cooking at the Tandoori Knights restaurant in Brick Lane, which Anjoli is now managing. Along with Naila Alvi, also a student nurse and a friend of Anjoli , they tag themselves The Three Duskyteers – love it! Kamil is rather enamoured with Naila but there’s a complication, isn’t there always!
There’s much to praise in the series. The characters are wonderful, Kamil is very likeable, he is trusting and trustworthy and his relationship with Anjoli is fantastic. I love the humorous banter between those two which makes you smile, their relationship seems very natural and lovely.
DS Tahir Ishmael is another character to like, his name dropping of fictional detectives when in conversation with the sleuths is funny and clever and yes, of course it’s unlikely they will find out as much as they do before the cops but it’s a very entertaining process. There is never a dull moment in the briskly paced plot. There are some good twists in the storytelling, one you definitely don’t see it coming!
In addition, I like the multicultural element which is a feature I really enjoy. The food angle is an equally delicious ingredient and makes you want to put in an order to your nearest Indian restaurant!
Overall, it’s hard to make your mark in a crowded mystery and thriller market but I think the author has carved himself a good niche.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Vintage, Havill Secker for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Read
May 16, 2022Very enjoyable second book in a highly promising series. Kamil, a disgraced Kolkata detective, fled to London ending up working as a waiter in a Brick Lane curry house and getting mixed up in a murder. He's now a cook in the same place, and still doing off-the-books sleuthing. Good fun with a lovely well-realised East London setting and South Asian culture and peoples, and a good detective/sidekick combo, plus some fun running gags in Anjoli's T-shirts and cop Tariq's limitless fictional-sleuth-based insults.
April 18, 2022
Kamil Rahman #2
Kamil Rahman is a cook on a Brick Lane restaurant. But he used to be a detective back in Kolkata. When a young woman Kamil knows is murdered, the police are convinced her boyfriend is the culprit, Kamil isn't so sure and feels he has no choice but to start his own investigation. Meanwhile, his friend and restaurant manager, Anjoli, is troubles by the rise in the number of homeless deaths in their local area. Initially the cases seem unrelated, but as the duo dig deeper, they discover connections that stretch from London to Lahore.
Kamil Rahman is now a cook in an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane, London. He used to be a detective in Kolkata, India. He has an almost girlfriend, Naila. But when a friend of Naila's is murdered, Kamil is pulled in to investigate her death. The story is mostly told from Kamil's perspective. There's also a rise in the amount of deaths among the homeless men in the area. This is a descriptively written book. The main characters are likeable and believable. This is a cleverly crafted story that's filled with twists and it's unpredictable. I can't wait to see what the next book will involve.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #VintagePublishing and the author #AjayChowdhury for my ARC of #TheCook in exchange for an honest review.
Kamil Rahman is a cook on a Brick Lane restaurant. But he used to be a detective back in Kolkata. When a young woman Kamil knows is murdered, the police are convinced her boyfriend is the culprit, Kamil isn't so sure and feels he has no choice but to start his own investigation. Meanwhile, his friend and restaurant manager, Anjoli, is troubles by the rise in the number of homeless deaths in their local area. Initially the cases seem unrelated, but as the duo dig deeper, they discover connections that stretch from London to Lahore.
Kamil Rahman is now a cook in an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane, London. He used to be a detective in Kolkata, India. He has an almost girlfriend, Naila. But when a friend of Naila's is murdered, Kamil is pulled in to investigate her death. The story is mostly told from Kamil's perspective. There's also a rise in the amount of deaths among the homeless men in the area. This is a descriptively written book. The main characters are likeable and believable. This is a cleverly crafted story that's filled with twists and it's unpredictable. I can't wait to see what the next book will involve.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #VintagePublishing and the author #AjayChowdhury for my ARC of #TheCook in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2023
4 stars. This was a very good follow through to the writer's brilliant debut in the series, The Waiter. The Cook features Kamil Rahman, a disgraced Kolkata detective who has since relocated to London, and works at an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane. Besides him, a lot of characters whom we met in the first book find place here as well.
The Cook takes the story of Kamil further and we know that by now he has been promoted to a cook at the restaurant and seems to be trying to find some kind of solace in cooking. Besides, there seems to be something budding between him and Naila, the niece of one of the other workers at the restaurant, and he has found a friend in Anjali, even though there is some confusion of feelings towards her. Kamil becomes involved in yet another murder when he and Naila end up being the ones who discover the dead body of one of Naila's classmates. Egged in by both Naila and Anjali, Kamil starts investigating parallely to the police. Anjali, on the other hand, is distressed at the sudden rise in deaths of homeless people in their locality, and feels that these deaths are not natural, even though no one else is willing to believe her. She too asks for Kamil's help and as Kamil wraps these two investigations, he comes across connections that he'd never imagined.
The Cook is fast paced and the mystery is quite solid. The characters here are people you start to care for by the end of the book. I would love to read more novels in the series. The novel works perfectly as a standalone, but if you've read the previous one, you will get a better idea of the events referred to time and again in the novel. But even if you choose to dive into novel 2 first, you will enjoy it on its own and perhaps it will make you curious enough to pick up book one. Recommended.
The Cook takes the story of Kamil further and we know that by now he has been promoted to a cook at the restaurant and seems to be trying to find some kind of solace in cooking. Besides, there seems to be something budding between him and Naila, the niece of one of the other workers at the restaurant, and he has found a friend in Anjali, even though there is some confusion of feelings towards her. Kamil becomes involved in yet another murder when he and Naila end up being the ones who discover the dead body of one of Naila's classmates. Egged in by both Naila and Anjali, Kamil starts investigating parallely to the police. Anjali, on the other hand, is distressed at the sudden rise in deaths of homeless people in their locality, and feels that these deaths are not natural, even though no one else is willing to believe her. She too asks for Kamil's help and as Kamil wraps these two investigations, he comes across connections that he'd never imagined.
The Cook is fast paced and the mystery is quite solid. The characters here are people you start to care for by the end of the book. I would love to read more novels in the series. The novel works perfectly as a standalone, but if you've read the previous one, you will get a better idea of the events referred to time and again in the novel. But even if you choose to dive into novel 2 first, you will enjoy it on its own and perhaps it will make you curious enough to pick up book one. Recommended.
April 10, 2022
I really enjoyed the first novel featuring ex-detective, turned waiter (now promoted to cook) at Tandoori Knights, so I was thrilled to receive the second to review. Kamil is still working in Brick Lane, alongside Anjoli, who featured in the first novel. Anjoli is now managing the restaurant, while Kamil is discovering a new talent for cooking delicious food. The banter, and friendship, between these two give the characters depth, while they are joined by a third, the beautiful Naila, studying , a nursing at Kings and who has definitely caught Kamil’s eye.
When Kamil and Naila find her fellow student, Salma, murdered, they are again plunged into an investigation. Labelling themselves, ‘The Three Duskyteers,’ they set out to discover who – and why – Salma was killed. DS Tahir Ishmael is another fun character, a detective who tends to drop fictional characters into his speech and make fun of Kamil while admiring his tenacity. Meanwhile, of course, Kamil still hankers after ‘real’ police work, after being forced to leave Kolkata to come to London.
Although Chowdhury has a light, comedic touch, to his writing and dialogue, this is an intelligent mystery which deals with some dark topics, from controlling marriages and the expectations on women from the Pakistani and Bengali community that Rahman writes about, through to the plight of London’s homeless. For alongside the murder of Salma, is the fact that so many of the homeless around Anjoli and Kamil’s restaurant, seem to be dying suddenly. Add to the excellent characters and plot, is the intriguing ending of this novel, which offers both the author and his central character, the loveable Kamil, a chance to extend his investigative role. I look forward to reading more of his adventures, wherever the author decides to take Kamil in future. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
When Kamil and Naila find her fellow student, Salma, murdered, they are again plunged into an investigation. Labelling themselves, ‘The Three Duskyteers,’ they set out to discover who – and why – Salma was killed. DS Tahir Ishmael is another fun character, a detective who tends to drop fictional characters into his speech and make fun of Kamil while admiring his tenacity. Meanwhile, of course, Kamil still hankers after ‘real’ police work, after being forced to leave Kolkata to come to London.
Although Chowdhury has a light, comedic touch, to his writing and dialogue, this is an intelligent mystery which deals with some dark topics, from controlling marriages and the expectations on women from the Pakistani and Bengali community that Rahman writes about, through to the plight of London’s homeless. For alongside the murder of Salma, is the fact that so many of the homeless around Anjoli and Kamil’s restaurant, seem to be dying suddenly. Add to the excellent characters and plot, is the intriguing ending of this novel, which offers both the author and his central character, the loveable Kamil, a chance to extend his investigative role. I look forward to reading more of his adventures, wherever the author decides to take Kamil in future. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
March 3, 2023
This is the second book in the series featuring Kamil Rahman, a former police detective from Kolkata still trying to solve crimes whilst working in an Indian restaurant in London's Brick Lane.
The reasons for his fall from grace in India and his move to the UK were covered in the first novel, The Waiter. Well now Kamil has been promoted to Cook in the restaurant managed by his companion, Anjoli, but crimes seem to follow him around and he can't pass by the opportunity to use his skills to help capture the bad guys.
Kamil and the feisty Anjoli are fabulously developed characters and there is a dramatic new love interest introduced. However, although there is a very surprising twist at the end of the book, I didn't think this was as good as the first in the series. The storyline was not as comprehensive and there was a little too much repetition. That said, the concept for the book is very original and the London background is appealing as are the descriptions of the many tasty dishes being prepared for the restaurant. This is a good series for crime fans looking for something slightly different.
The reasons for his fall from grace in India and his move to the UK were covered in the first novel, The Waiter. Well now Kamil has been promoted to Cook in the restaurant managed by his companion, Anjoli, but crimes seem to follow him around and he can't pass by the opportunity to use his skills to help capture the bad guys.
Kamil and the feisty Anjoli are fabulously developed characters and there is a dramatic new love interest introduced. However, although there is a very surprising twist at the end of the book, I didn't think this was as good as the first in the series. The storyline was not as comprehensive and there was a little too much repetition. That said, the concept for the book is very original and the London background is appealing as are the descriptions of the many tasty dishes being prepared for the restaurant. This is a good series for crime fans looking for something slightly different.
July 22, 2022
Thrilling
October 2, 2022
I enjoyed The Waiter so much and was looking forward to read The Cook.
In this second instalment of the series, we get more into the characters mind and life.
Kamil finds himself into the middle of a new crime investigation and is trying his best to help the detectives to solve this crime.
I think the author has an amazing talent to draw attention to details in the most unexpected ways and the characters and story just feels like is running flawlessly.
With a great mix of good and bad vibes, lots of suspense and thrilling moments, this one is no exception a must read story for any thriller lovers. I know I’ll be looking forward to any follow up books by him on this series.
🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
In this second instalment of the series, we get more into the characters mind and life.
Kamil finds himself into the middle of a new crime investigation and is trying his best to help the detectives to solve this crime.
I think the author has an amazing talent to draw attention to details in the most unexpected ways and the characters and story just feels like is running flawlessly.
With a great mix of good and bad vibes, lots of suspense and thrilling moments, this one is no exception a must read story for any thriller lovers. I know I’ll be looking forward to any follow up books by him on this series.
🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
February 3, 2023
Not a great read but I’ll read the next one to see what happens
March 5, 2025
My wife is a big fan and I am just at the beginning of the journey. I read and enjoyed "The Waiter' and so this was the obvious next choice.
I am pleased that I read the other first as I learnt much from it although I have forgotten much of the actual storyline.
.
So our hero has progressed from waiter to chef at Tandoori Knights in Brick Lane, but maybe he still wishes that he was a detective and may be would prefer to be back in Kolkata.
In this story we learn more about Indian traditions and customs especially the food, to add to what we discovered in the first book. We perhaps also learn something about the homeless in our own capital city.
The story sees a new love interest come into Kamil's life and together with Anjoli they make up 'the three duskyteers' to try and find the killer of a friend. The story grows from there .
Another enjoyable read.
May be I am being to pickie but I am having a bit of a problem picturing Kamil now. He was a successful detective (inspector? ) in Kolkata before, as explained in the previous book, he lost his job and came to London for a new and different start.. So presumably he must have been a reasonably mature professional policeman. So why does he come across here as almost a fumbling adolescent?
As a side note, not every author gets the chance to namecheck a namesake as a serial killer.
I am pleased that I read the other first as I learnt much from it although I have forgotten much of the actual storyline.
.
So our hero has progressed from waiter to chef at Tandoori Knights in Brick Lane, but maybe he still wishes that he was a detective and may be would prefer to be back in Kolkata.
In this story we learn more about Indian traditions and customs especially the food, to add to what we discovered in the first book. We perhaps also learn something about the homeless in our own capital city.
The story sees a new love interest come into Kamil's life and together with Anjoli they make up 'the three duskyteers' to try and find the killer of a friend. The story grows from there .
Another enjoyable read.
May be I am being to pickie but I am having a bit of a problem picturing Kamil now. He was a successful detective (inspector? ) in Kolkata before, as explained in the previous book, he lost his job and came to London for a new and different start.. So presumably he must have been a reasonably mature professional policeman. So why does he come across here as almost a fumbling adolescent?
As a side note, not every author gets the chance to namecheck a namesake as a serial killer.
June 12, 2022
I was really looking forward to this novel, as I love crime fiction and thought that the premise sounded really promising. Unfortunately, for me this one missed the mark, chiefly because I couldn’t really care about the characters much.
Similarly, I felt that the themes of the novel - domestic abuse, violence against those living on the streets and homelessness - deserved a more series approach than the tone of the novel provided. I have nothing against cosy crime but this was neither one thing nor the other.
Not a terrible book by any means but not great either.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Random House UK, Vintage for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Similarly, I felt that the themes of the novel - domestic abuse, violence against those living on the streets and homelessness - deserved a more series approach than the tone of the novel provided. I have nothing against cosy crime but this was neither one thing nor the other.
Not a terrible book by any means but not great either.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Random House UK, Vintage for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2023
Loved this one more than the debut. Anjoli is still the queen of the series with her quirky, humorous as well as super-kind nature and I really loved her tshirts.
The plot in this book is also more interesting and complex than the former although it ended a bit abruptly. The way they found the main evidence at the end of the story was a bit too convenient for my liking but everything fitted nicely. So all's well that ends well. But it wouldn't have hurt to have a bit more of Kamil-Anjoli duo during the crime solving.
Really excited to read "The Detective", the 3rd book of this fantastic series and I hope we won't lose the dynamics of Kamil and Anjoli when Kamil is actually joining the Met police.
The plot in this book is also more interesting and complex than the former although it ended a bit abruptly. The way they found the main evidence at the end of the story was a bit too convenient for my liking but everything fitted nicely. So all's well that ends well. But it wouldn't have hurt to have a bit more of Kamil-Anjoli duo during the crime solving.
Really excited to read "The Detective", the 3rd book of this fantastic series and I hope we won't lose the dynamics of Kamil and Anjoli when Kamil is actually joining the Met police.
May 19, 2022
Overall, despite its having a decent plot and potentially interesting characters, this book was not really to my taste. I don't think that should put anyone else off reading it - my taste is by no means everyone's.
Kamil Rahman appeared first in "The Waiter", and although I prefer to read books in order, when the publishers via Netgalley kindly offered me Kamil's second outing to review, I decided to read it first. I feel that may have been my mistake.
Reviews of "The Waiter", explicitly mention the vivid interweaving of cultures by alternating between past events in Kolkata and the present in London being so enjoyable. However, unlike the first book, the action here is based solely in London, and I found it very hard to engage with the characters and the communities. Even though I the fault may be with me, (in that the age and background of the players is well outside my demographic), I think the author should have made me engage more, and thus given me more of an interest in things about which I know little. I have the slight impression that the author said all he wanted to about the characters in the first book, (perhaps an indication that they are a little shallow?). Even the themes of homelessness and domestic abuse - which are shocking and ever-present in our society - failed to raise the emotions in the way they should have.
Despite the good story, I felt Kamil's investigation came across as implausible; the concept of a familiar crew getting together to solve a mystery on their own smacked almost of a children's story. All books with "amateur detectives" have these kinds of inherent problem - I heard one experienced author saying: "why would a person in reality accept being questioned by anyone other than the police?". However, again, I think it's the author's job to answer that question, and make me suspend my disbelief.
Despite all this, I am still keen to read "The Waiter", and I hope we might get improved characterisations as the series - and the author - progress.
Kamil Rahman appeared first in "The Waiter", and although I prefer to read books in order, when the publishers via Netgalley kindly offered me Kamil's second outing to review, I decided to read it first. I feel that may have been my mistake.
Reviews of "The Waiter", explicitly mention the vivid interweaving of cultures by alternating between past events in Kolkata and the present in London being so enjoyable. However, unlike the first book, the action here is based solely in London, and I found it very hard to engage with the characters and the communities. Even though I the fault may be with me, (in that the age and background of the players is well outside my demographic), I think the author should have made me engage more, and thus given me more of an interest in things about which I know little. I have the slight impression that the author said all he wanted to about the characters in the first book, (perhaps an indication that they are a little shallow?). Even the themes of homelessness and domestic abuse - which are shocking and ever-present in our society - failed to raise the emotions in the way they should have.
Despite the good story, I felt Kamil's investigation came across as implausible; the concept of a familiar crew getting together to solve a mystery on their own smacked almost of a children's story. All books with "amateur detectives" have these kinds of inherent problem - I heard one experienced author saying: "why would a person in reality accept being questioned by anyone other than the police?". However, again, I think it's the author's job to answer that question, and make me suspend my disbelief.
Despite all this, I am still keen to read "The Waiter", and I hope we might get improved characterisations as the series - and the author - progress.
May 29, 2022
3.5/5
Less of police-procedural in this one. More of detection work. But overall better than "The Waiter". All tied up cleanly by the end.
Less of police-procedural in this one. More of detection work. But overall better than "The Waiter". All tied up cleanly by the end.
December 28, 2022
Oh how I missed the snark Kamil has.
To be honest, I did NOT see the ending coming. And I like how it was a cliffhanger cause now I have to wait till April for the third part.
Exciting stuff. I love it.
To be honest, I did NOT see the ending coming. And I like how it was a cliffhanger cause now I have to wait till April for the third part.
Exciting stuff. I love it.
October 6, 2024
3.5 Stars.
So much better than part 1, even though the predictability factor is still there. But even then, the narrative is extremely engaging. The predictability factor might also be because of the fact that I’m reading too many whodunnits.
So much better than part 1, even though the predictability factor is still there. But even then, the narrative is extremely engaging. The predictability factor might also be because of the fact that I’m reading too many whodunnits.
July 9, 2023
A refreshing impression of struggling communities in east London from the perspective of Muslim Bangladeshi ex detective. He doubts himself and constantly compares his current life with past aspirations. An ingenious plot, looking forward to next in series- The Detective
June 12, 2022
Takes time to get going, a slow burner, but ratchets up the pace in the latter half. There's no Kolkata connection in this episode, as it's set completely in London, maybe that's what I wished was there. Has the potential to grow into a long series.
February 11, 2023
DNF 33%
I did not enjoy the main character and his POV whatsoever, which made continuing with the mystery too much of a slog. I've got issues with the cardboard dialogue and the flat writing, but far and away, it's the writing of women that I absolutely cannot stand. Perhaps, having not read the first book in the series, I am missing some context but I doubt there is anything I could learn that would change my opinion.
Rant begins now...
The Hero is Kamil, a mid 30's ex-detective now working as a cook in London, and trouble seems to follow him around. No issues there. Yet shortly after meeting him, we learn that he is sneaking around with a 21yo nursing student, the niece of his employer. Not illegal, but kinda gross. She's promptly described in food terms, "intelligent cardamom green eyes... chai latte skin, hazelnut hair... a wide strawberry-red mouth" which all makes me feel like women are something to be consumed, considering he does the same for other female characters as well. The eyes are of particular note, described as "piercing green eyes... under cinnamon lashes"- wow, so pretty, he really loves these green eyes, so much so as to describe them as: "a relic of a goat-herding ancestor violated in the mountains of the Kyber by an officer in Alexander the Great's army two thousand years ago."
Mmmm dreamy, violation eyes. Kamil is getting his fill of them by snatching opportunities for Kisses and Cuddles with the alluring Naila, and attempting to line her up for a dirty weekend away.
But oh, yeah, a murder has happened! A university friend of Naila's (but don't worry, she was nowhere near as pretty and pleasant as Naila, the writer makes sure to establish that, including that she looked "twenty years older in death")
No trouble, though, he's got plenty of excuses to investigate with Naila as his tag-along, and oh great there's more opportunities for gag-worthy descriptions of Kissing and Cuddling like a pair of teenagers. Between his job, his young paramour and this murder mystery, he's a busy dude! But don't worry, there's plenty of room on the page for Kamil to dwell on his will-they-won't-they dynamic with Anjoli- another single hottie describable in food terms. Great! Anjoli knows all about his little dalliance with Naila and she's supportive, of course, maybe even jealous... but she's too cool and quirky to let any complicated feelings she might have interfere with their working relationship or his budding romance with Naila. Damn, it's so hard to figure out these feelings, he definitely needs to get that dirty weekend scheduled with Naila so he knows what to think.
A theme really emerges here, with Kamil the star of his own show, two hot women revolving around him and offering constant validation, time spent navel-gazing about his own dreams and desires and very little thought given to what other people might have going on. It very quickly starts to feel quite self-serving as a text where a male reader, (or perhaps writer) has a great time fancying himself a hero whilst pretty, emotional, available women swirl alluringly around him.
But if you think maybe I'm overreacting, I'll chuck some more evidence on the fire here. If these women are anything less than perfectly accommodating, or dare to talk too long, Kamil finds reason to be annoyed. When Naila talks to him about work, he writes it off as "an improbable tale of life on the front line of the NHS" and notes that he is "never sure whether to believe these stories." And it's not only Kamil: another male character speaks of the dead student nurse that she was "slipping," "in danger of failing," "might have made a good nurse," and "was desperate enough," and our genius sleuth takes a moment to realise that this character has been "subtly" insulting the dead girl. Then later a religious official, another male, recounts that the considered the victim was "making things up... to be the centre of attention," and was never sure whether to believe her.
This has put me off male authors for a bit. Won't pick up anything else in the series.
I did not enjoy the main character and his POV whatsoever, which made continuing with the mystery too much of a slog. I've got issues with the cardboard dialogue and the flat writing, but far and away, it's the writing of women that I absolutely cannot stand. Perhaps, having not read the first book in the series, I am missing some context but I doubt there is anything I could learn that would change my opinion.
Rant begins now...
The Hero is Kamil, a mid 30's ex-detective now working as a cook in London, and trouble seems to follow him around. No issues there. Yet shortly after meeting him, we learn that he is sneaking around with a 21yo nursing student, the niece of his employer. Not illegal, but kinda gross. She's promptly described in food terms, "intelligent cardamom green eyes... chai latte skin, hazelnut hair... a wide strawberry-red mouth" which all makes me feel like women are something to be consumed, considering he does the same for other female characters as well. The eyes are of particular note, described as "piercing green eyes... under cinnamon lashes"- wow, so pretty, he really loves these green eyes, so much so as to describe them as: "a relic of a goat-herding ancestor violated in the mountains of the Kyber by an officer in Alexander the Great's army two thousand years ago."
Mmmm dreamy, violation eyes. Kamil is getting his fill of them by snatching opportunities for Kisses and Cuddles with the alluring Naila, and attempting to line her up for a dirty weekend away.
But oh, yeah, a murder has happened! A university friend of Naila's (but don't worry, she was nowhere near as pretty and pleasant as Naila, the writer makes sure to establish that, including that she looked "twenty years older in death")
No trouble, though, he's got plenty of excuses to investigate with Naila as his tag-along, and oh great there's more opportunities for gag-worthy descriptions of Kissing and Cuddling like a pair of teenagers. Between his job, his young paramour and this murder mystery, he's a busy dude! But don't worry, there's plenty of room on the page for Kamil to dwell on his will-they-won't-they dynamic with Anjoli- another single hottie describable in food terms. Great! Anjoli knows all about his little dalliance with Naila and she's supportive, of course, maybe even jealous... but she's too cool and quirky to let any complicated feelings she might have interfere with their working relationship or his budding romance with Naila. Damn, it's so hard to figure out these feelings, he definitely needs to get that dirty weekend scheduled with Naila so he knows what to think.
A theme really emerges here, with Kamil the star of his own show, two hot women revolving around him and offering constant validation, time spent navel-gazing about his own dreams and desires and very little thought given to what other people might have going on. It very quickly starts to feel quite self-serving as a text where a male reader, (or perhaps writer) has a great time fancying himself a hero whilst pretty, emotional, available women swirl alluringly around him.
But if you think maybe I'm overreacting, I'll chuck some more evidence on the fire here. If these women are anything less than perfectly accommodating, or dare to talk too long, Kamil finds reason to be annoyed. When Naila talks to him about work, he writes it off as "an improbable tale of life on the front line of the NHS" and notes that he is "never sure whether to believe these stories." And it's not only Kamil: another male character speaks of the dead student nurse that she was "slipping," "in danger of failing," "might have made a good nurse," and "was desperate enough," and our genius sleuth takes a moment to realise that this character has been "subtly" insulting the dead girl. Then later a religious official, another male, recounts that the considered the victim was "making things up... to be the centre of attention," and was never sure whether to believe her.
This has put me off male authors for a bit. Won't pick up anything else in the series.
February 2, 2023
The lead character(s) in any murder mystery series really needs to be memorable. Kamil Rahmann certainly is but not in any good way. It’s one slight thing in The Cook’s favour that Ajay Chowdhury has set his murders amonsgt a minority ethnic group centred around an Indian restaurant. The food is definitely the best bit. Mention of multiple Indian dishes some familiar some not made me hungry and moved me to look up some online recipes. The choice of victim group too is a winner but that’s about it for dredging up any positive comments for this rather lamentable book. Might explain why my secondhand copy had been discarded from library stock after only a year in print without anyone actually reading it!
Interpersonal relationships and believable character dialogue just aren’t the author’s strongpoints. Aunty Alaya’s reaction to being told her beloved husband Salim Mian of many years is dead and probably murdered is devoid of any normal emotion whatsoever – (‘I was expecting something …he was not well’) – the whole thing skimmed over. And other negative events when relayed between characters are similarly glossed over without reaction. The deadpan delivery leaves the reader wondering if all the characters in The Cook are all on high doses of Valium or lobotomised and incapable of normal human emotions.
And as for The Cook himself Kamil Rahman’s crass ineptitude as a detective leads one to conclude that anyone he strongly suspects will most likely prove to be innocent, and his failure not once but on multiple occasions to contact the actual police when something dangerous or threatening has happened ultimately costs lives. He is frankly dire and the only decent detectives are his friends Anjoli and Naila. Kamil himself is so bad you begin to wonder if he should be charged with manslaughter and jailed. At least then one character in the book would be brought to justice.
And don’t get me started on Kamil’s laughable emotional intelligence which reaches peaks of idiocy after the serial killer is unveiled and he continues to half hanker after a close relationship with them. Really?? Well why not – at least it might mean he is taken out of the frame permanently by the psychopath and save readers from any future offerings in this lamentable series. Though a few more slapstick tweaks (not many are needed) and this could turn into a far better comedy perhaps a la Bollywood than it is murder mystery. Not saying much.
The only good bit of writing comes right at the end in the Epilogue – it’s quite chilling. Maybe the editors should have suggesting starting there, ditching the rest and doing a complete re-write.
One of the more interesting things to come out of this book was finding out that Ajay Chowdhury the author is also the name of the accomplice cum possible victim of the real life French serial killer Charles Sobhraj known as The Serpent whose true life story makes for far more interesting reading than this book. Make of that coincidence what you will….
Ditch ‘The Cook’ read an Indian cookery book instead.
Interpersonal relationships and believable character dialogue just aren’t the author’s strongpoints. Aunty Alaya’s reaction to being told her beloved husband Salim Mian of many years is dead and probably murdered is devoid of any normal emotion whatsoever – (‘I was expecting something …he was not well’) – the whole thing skimmed over. And other negative events when relayed between characters are similarly glossed over without reaction. The deadpan delivery leaves the reader wondering if all the characters in The Cook are all on high doses of Valium or lobotomised and incapable of normal human emotions.
And as for The Cook himself Kamil Rahman’s crass ineptitude as a detective leads one to conclude that anyone he strongly suspects will most likely prove to be innocent, and his failure not once but on multiple occasions to contact the actual police when something dangerous or threatening has happened ultimately costs lives. He is frankly dire and the only decent detectives are his friends Anjoli and Naila. Kamil himself is so bad you begin to wonder if he should be charged with manslaughter and jailed. At least then one character in the book would be brought to justice.
And don’t get me started on Kamil’s laughable emotional intelligence which reaches peaks of idiocy after the serial killer is unveiled and he continues to half hanker after a close relationship with them. Really?? Well why not – at least it might mean he is taken out of the frame permanently by the psychopath and save readers from any future offerings in this lamentable series. Though a few more slapstick tweaks (not many are needed) and this could turn into a far better comedy perhaps a la Bollywood than it is murder mystery. Not saying much.
The only good bit of writing comes right at the end in the Epilogue – it’s quite chilling. Maybe the editors should have suggesting starting there, ditching the rest and doing a complete re-write.
One of the more interesting things to come out of this book was finding out that Ajay Chowdhury the author is also the name of the accomplice cum possible victim of the real life French serial killer Charles Sobhraj known as The Serpent whose true life story makes for far more interesting reading than this book. Make of that coincidence what you will….
Ditch ‘The Cook’ read an Indian cookery book instead.
May 3, 2022
We first met Kamil in The Waiter - and for best experience I'd recommend you read that first. He is in the UK on a "vindaloo visa" and has been upgraded from Waiter to Cook, working in the kitchen of Tandoori Knights, a curry house in Brick Lane, which is where we find him in this book's opening.
But, in his previous life, back in Kolkata, he was a detective inspector with the police. Something he desperately misses, as was evident in the first book and will be reinforced herein.
So, one night a girl comes into the restaurant for a take away. She is known to Naila (Kamil's sort of girlfriend) and so, when it is discovered that she has left her phone, they offer to return it to her. When they get there, well, it isn't pretty. She's been murdered.
And so begins another investigation that Kamil & Anjoli inveigle themselves into. Anjoli being Kamil's boss at the restaurant and his sidekick from the first book. Ably assisted by Naila as she has connections.
Meanwhile, Anjoli also has her own mission. It appears that there is a rather worrying rise in deaths of homeless people in their local area. Only noticed when two they know of sadly die unexpectedly. The police don't seem too concerned but Anjoli is and takes it upon herself, also with Kamil, to try get their attention further.
I loved The Waiter and I lived this book just as much. I remember from my first outing with this author that he has a tendency to slip in colloquial terms throughout the book and that I found it a bit annoying until I got used to it. Here I was prepared for, and expecting more of the same so it really didn't irk me at all.
I also remember connecting to both Kamil and Anjoli well in the series opener and I am pleased to say that that connection remains solid and, indeed, after finishing this book, probably a bit more reinforced. Their "relationship" with DS Tahir Ishmael is important to facilitating the story and the author does a cracking job of it - I especially love the banter between all three of the main characters. And I also like the development of them through this book.
The stroyline is also both interesting and intriguing and kept me on my toes throughout. Guessing and second guessing and, well, pretty much giving up on that as I had no idea where we were going. But, when we got there, instead of it being out of left field, it all made sense, perfectly. And I did kick myself for missing some signs along the way.
All in all, a cracking follow up, marking this series as definitely one to keep an eye on. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
But, in his previous life, back in Kolkata, he was a detective inspector with the police. Something he desperately misses, as was evident in the first book and will be reinforced herein.
So, one night a girl comes into the restaurant for a take away. She is known to Naila (Kamil's sort of girlfriend) and so, when it is discovered that she has left her phone, they offer to return it to her. When they get there, well, it isn't pretty. She's been murdered.
And so begins another investigation that Kamil & Anjoli inveigle themselves into. Anjoli being Kamil's boss at the restaurant and his sidekick from the first book. Ably assisted by Naila as she has connections.
Meanwhile, Anjoli also has her own mission. It appears that there is a rather worrying rise in deaths of homeless people in their local area. Only noticed when two they know of sadly die unexpectedly. The police don't seem too concerned but Anjoli is and takes it upon herself, also with Kamil, to try get their attention further.
I loved The Waiter and I lived this book just as much. I remember from my first outing with this author that he has a tendency to slip in colloquial terms throughout the book and that I found it a bit annoying until I got used to it. Here I was prepared for, and expecting more of the same so it really didn't irk me at all.
I also remember connecting to both Kamil and Anjoli well in the series opener and I am pleased to say that that connection remains solid and, indeed, after finishing this book, probably a bit more reinforced. Their "relationship" with DS Tahir Ishmael is important to facilitating the story and the author does a cracking job of it - I especially love the banter between all three of the main characters. And I also like the development of them through this book.
The stroyline is also both interesting and intriguing and kept me on my toes throughout. Guessing and second guessing and, well, pretty much giving up on that as I had no idea where we were going. But, when we got there, instead of it being out of left field, it all made sense, perfectly. And I did kick myself for missing some signs along the way.
All in all, a cracking follow up, marking this series as definitely one to keep an eye on. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
February 20, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage for an advance copy of The Cook, the second novel to feature Kamil Rahman, a former detective inspector with the Kolkata police turned cook in an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane, London.
When Kamil finds Salma’s murdered body, not long after he talked to her, and her boyfriend comes under suspicion he is determined to investigate and get justice for her. At the same time his friend Anjoli is getting worried about the number of homeless people dying and wants Kamil to investigate the deaths as potential murder.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Cook, which has an absorbing plot, likeable characters and an interesting background with different cultures and the issue of homelessness.
The novel is mostly told from Kamil’s first person point of view and this works really well as he helps the reader navigate situations that may be outside their personal experience. I know nothing about London, homelessness or faith, so his commentary was helpful in acclimatising me to his world, which I did easily. He is a lovely man with a well judged line in light humour and the nous to see himself clearly. He has regrets about no longer being a police detective, but his attachment to Anjoli makes him want to continue working in her family’s restaurant. He is, as you might guess, a romantic dreamer and even a new girlfriend can’t destroy his attachment to Anjoli. She’s the one who is fiercely independent and supplies the one liners.
The plot is interesting. The two strands divide Kamil as he is much more interested in Selma’s murder and has little to go on in the homeless deaths, but then, Anjoli. The plot seems well put together, switching between the two and throwing in a few twists that muddy the waters in ways the reader couldn’t expect. The solution is a masterclass in misdirection and I loved it. Although the novel deals with some serious issues the tone is light enough to reinforce them without weighing it down. I think this is a special skill.
The Cook is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
When Kamil finds Salma’s murdered body, not long after he talked to her, and her boyfriend comes under suspicion he is determined to investigate and get justice for her. At the same time his friend Anjoli is getting worried about the number of homeless people dying and wants Kamil to investigate the deaths as potential murder.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Cook, which has an absorbing plot, likeable characters and an interesting background with different cultures and the issue of homelessness.
The novel is mostly told from Kamil’s first person point of view and this works really well as he helps the reader navigate situations that may be outside their personal experience. I know nothing about London, homelessness or faith, so his commentary was helpful in acclimatising me to his world, which I did easily. He is a lovely man with a well judged line in light humour and the nous to see himself clearly. He has regrets about no longer being a police detective, but his attachment to Anjoli makes him want to continue working in her family’s restaurant. He is, as you might guess, a romantic dreamer and even a new girlfriend can’t destroy his attachment to Anjoli. She’s the one who is fiercely independent and supplies the one liners.
The plot is interesting. The two strands divide Kamil as he is much more interested in Selma’s murder and has little to go on in the homeless deaths, but then, Anjoli. The plot seems well put together, switching between the two and throwing in a few twists that muddy the waters in ways the reader couldn’t expect. The solution is a masterclass in misdirection and I loved it. Although the novel deals with some serious issues the tone is light enough to reinforce them without weighing it down. I think this is a special skill.
The Cook is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 21, 2022
I will start by saying I have not read Chowdhury’s first novel starring detective-turned-cook Kamil Rahman, The Waiter. However, after finishing The Cook, it is most definitely going onto my ‘To Read’ list!
Kamil Rahman is a cook in an Indian restaurant in London. He has left his old life behind, in Kolkata, India. No longer a detective, he has fully immersed himself into the simple joys of cooking excellent food. His friend and the restaurant manager Anjoli is trying to build the reputation of the restaurant, and Kamil is doing his part by making the food shine. Kamil is happy with how life is going, and has an almost girlfriend in Naila, which he is still trying to figure out.
But then a friend of Naila’s is found murdered. Unfortunately found by Kamil. It should be easy enough to let the police get to the bottom of it. But there are complications. So with Anjoli encouraging him, and Naila and Anjoli as his sidekicks, Kamil gets pulled into investigating the death. Meanwhile Anjoli is trying to convince Kamil and the London Detectives that there is something suspicious happening with the rise in deaths of homeless men in the area. As Kamil starts to uncover more in his investigation the threads become more tangled and the murderer is not quite as simple as it seems.
I really enjoyed this read, it is unique in what it offers. It really paints a picture with words of the areas the action takes place in, and the characters are beautifully developed. Then the food - do not read if you are hungry! The attention to detail in all aspects is wonderful. It was brilliant to read a crime drama where there were so many multicultural elements, such a diverse cast of characters, seeing a mosque and Imam framed in such a positive community support manner, and working with the Catholic church to help those less fortunate.
Overall it was a wonderful read, and I look forward to seeing the next steps in Kamil's career. Perhaps an accompanying cook book would be great?
*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.
Kamil Rahman is a cook in an Indian restaurant in London. He has left his old life behind, in Kolkata, India. No longer a detective, he has fully immersed himself into the simple joys of cooking excellent food. His friend and the restaurant manager Anjoli is trying to build the reputation of the restaurant, and Kamil is doing his part by making the food shine. Kamil is happy with how life is going, and has an almost girlfriend in Naila, which he is still trying to figure out.
But then a friend of Naila’s is found murdered. Unfortunately found by Kamil. It should be easy enough to let the police get to the bottom of it. But there are complications. So with Anjoli encouraging him, and Naila and Anjoli as his sidekicks, Kamil gets pulled into investigating the death. Meanwhile Anjoli is trying to convince Kamil and the London Detectives that there is something suspicious happening with the rise in deaths of homeless men in the area. As Kamil starts to uncover more in his investigation the threads become more tangled and the murderer is not quite as simple as it seems.
I really enjoyed this read, it is unique in what it offers. It really paints a picture with words of the areas the action takes place in, and the characters are beautifully developed. Then the food - do not read if you are hungry! The attention to detail in all aspects is wonderful. It was brilliant to read a crime drama where there were so many multicultural elements, such a diverse cast of characters, seeing a mosque and Imam framed in such a positive community support manner, and working with the Catholic church to help those less fortunate.
Overall it was a wonderful read, and I look forward to seeing the next steps in Kamil's career. Perhaps an accompanying cook book would be great?
*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.
April 12, 2022
"I searched for words to stem the flow and all I came up with was, 'Look, we can all blame ourselves. One action leads to another, which leads to do third, and before you know it, the mosque has been razed. That's life. We would never do anything if we didn't want our actions to have consequences.' But I don't think any of us were convinced."
Six months after the last case, former Kolkata police detective, Kamil Rahman, is now the cook at his family friends' restaurant, Tandoori Knights, on Brick Lane, London. His friend Anjoli Chatterjee is managing the restaurant whilst her parents are in Kolkata visiting a sick relative. The sudden murder of newcomer, beautiful, green-eyed, Naila's (the head waiter's niece over from Lahore) nursing classmate, Salma, causes Kamil to return to investigating. Anjoli is more busy with the restaurant, so Kamil enlists Naila's help, hoping romance will blossom whilst they sleuth. Anjoli has concerns, following the deaths of homeless people in the area is she right to see a pattern to their deaths? Who wanted student Salma dead and why, and will Kamil get to the bottom of it?
Book two of the Kamil Rahman culinary detective series picks up a short while after the first book ended, with another murder investigation, although I do think this could be read as a standalone story. Filled with the tastes and smells of Indian and Pakistani food, humour and the lives of the main characters and their friends, Kamil and Anjoli's close friendship is interrupted by the arrival of Naila, who appears to be making a life for herself away from controlling influences in Lahore. Complex and multi-layered with a number of interlinked investigations, it's a pleasure to follow likeable and honest Kamil as he uses his detective skills to help the Metropolitan Police Detective, also a friend of Anjoli's, Tahir. Marked by tragedies, progress is made until the culprit is unmasked, and let's just say it was not who I expected! Another thoroughly enjoyable read, I look forward to book three.
Six months after the last case, former Kolkata police detective, Kamil Rahman, is now the cook at his family friends' restaurant, Tandoori Knights, on Brick Lane, London. His friend Anjoli Chatterjee is managing the restaurant whilst her parents are in Kolkata visiting a sick relative. The sudden murder of newcomer, beautiful, green-eyed, Naila's (the head waiter's niece over from Lahore) nursing classmate, Salma, causes Kamil to return to investigating. Anjoli is more busy with the restaurant, so Kamil enlists Naila's help, hoping romance will blossom whilst they sleuth. Anjoli has concerns, following the deaths of homeless people in the area is she right to see a pattern to their deaths? Who wanted student Salma dead and why, and will Kamil get to the bottom of it?
Book two of the Kamil Rahman culinary detective series picks up a short while after the first book ended, with another murder investigation, although I do think this could be read as a standalone story. Filled with the tastes and smells of Indian and Pakistani food, humour and the lives of the main characters and their friends, Kamil and Anjoli's close friendship is interrupted by the arrival of Naila, who appears to be making a life for herself away from controlling influences in Lahore. Complex and multi-layered with a number of interlinked investigations, it's a pleasure to follow likeable and honest Kamil as he uses his detective skills to help the Metropolitan Police Detective, also a friend of Anjoli's, Tahir. Marked by tragedies, progress is made until the culprit is unmasked, and let's just say it was not who I expected! Another thoroughly enjoyable read, I look forward to book three.
March 21, 2022
The Waiter was one of my favourite crime novels of last year and I was really excited to see that Ajay Chowdhury had written a new story about the ex-detective Kamil Rahman. Kamil is now a cook in The Tandoori Knights restaurant on Brick Lane in London and is feeling almost content with his new life. Then he discovers a customer of the restaurant murdered in her flat. The girl was a fellow student with his girl friend and he is persuaded to begin his own investigation into her death. At the same time, there is a mysterious spike in deaths among the homeless men in their area. The two things seem to be completely unconnected but things are definitely not as they seem.
The previous novel was set both in Pakistan and London but this one is very firmly based in London and we get a vivid picture of the area around Brick Lane and the other parts of the city that Kamil visits as part of his investigation. I loved the attention to detail in the settings and the double plot works brilliantly. The depiction of the homeless men really brings home their situation although it doesn’t overpower the narrative. It’s also great to have such a positive role for the mosque and the Imam and to see the part that these play in the lives of many people.
Kamil is a really likeable character who wants to do the right thing and is unsure what his path in life is. Anjoli, his friend and manager of the restaurant is also a brilliantly vivid character who definitely knows her own mind and will not let the issue of the homeless deaths be ignored.
Amateur detectives who get members of the public to talk to them are always a bit dubious but the author deals with this well by Kamil using his status as a detective and also his friendship with one of the police officers actually investigating the crime.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to find out what happens to Kamil next.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The previous novel was set both in Pakistan and London but this one is very firmly based in London and we get a vivid picture of the area around Brick Lane and the other parts of the city that Kamil visits as part of his investigation. I loved the attention to detail in the settings and the double plot works brilliantly. The depiction of the homeless men really brings home their situation although it doesn’t overpower the narrative. It’s also great to have such a positive role for the mosque and the Imam and to see the part that these play in the lives of many people.
Kamil is a really likeable character who wants to do the right thing and is unsure what his path in life is. Anjoli, his friend and manager of the restaurant is also a brilliantly vivid character who definitely knows her own mind and will not let the issue of the homeless deaths be ignored.
Amateur detectives who get members of the public to talk to them are always a bit dubious but the author deals with this well by Kamil using his status as a detective and also his friendship with one of the police officers actually investigating the crime.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to find out what happens to Kamil next.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 28, 2022
My thoughts about Ajay Chowdhury’s The Cook the story is very well-crafted, very cleverly written with unpredictable intelligent and shocking twists and surprises. It is completely unputdownable from the front cover to the back one. The author has maintained a fixed kind of pattern for storytelling. The story and suspense chug ahead with amazing twists and turns, keeping the predictability at bay. Ajay Chowdhury’s The Cook will keep you at the edge of your seat till the end. Writer Ajay Chowdhury yet again delivers an outstanding follow up to the excellent The Waiter, Ajay Chowdhury’s The Cook’s story begins with when a young woman Kamil knows is murdered the police are convinced her boyfriend is the culprit. Kamil isn’t so sure and feels he has no choice but to start his own investigation. Meanwhile, his friend and restaurant manager, Anjoli, is troubled by a rise in the number of homeless deaths in their local area. The cases seem unrelated and as the duo dig deeper, discovering tentacles that stretch from Lahore to London, they find themselves in grave danger. Together they take on the indifference of the authorities to the homeless and the casual racism that pervades the investigation of killings of Muslims – all while a supremely intelligent murderer is manipulating events to stay several steps ahead of them. Ajay Chowdhury’s The Cook Is a modern suspense drama with a relatable plot and characters. The narrative is fast-paced and will keep you on the edge the entire time. I would like to say thank you to Author Ajay Chowdhury, Publishers Vintage Books and Netgally for kindly letting me read and review this spectacular thriller, I’ve enjoyed reading. The Cook is already one of my favourite thriller’s of this year. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💥💥💥💥💥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
May 2, 2022
The Cook By Ajay Chowdhury(Kamil Rahman #2)
The Cook is the Sequel to the fantastic Waiter. We find Kamil disgraced Kolkata Detective, now promoted to cook at Tandori knights restaurant in Brick Lane, London, when he becomes entangled in yet another murder investigation and one that has more layers than an onion he may use in his delicious Indian cooking.
Anjoli his sidekick, is back and the chemistry between these two characters crackle and pop like pepper in a pan. They are a joy to spend time with. Chowdhury words leaps of the page and I can almost smell the aroma of the kitchens and see the life that's bustling around the London east end.
The book moves along at a blistering pace with quick, punchy chapters with a delightful mystery woven into it.
This is an expertly written whodunit and one that will keep you guessing right up to the very end. Chowdhury builds on what has gone before and the character development of the two main players is top notch as their budding romance simmers just under the surface of the main story.
This is a great series and Chowdhury has carved himself a place in an overcrowded market with his multicultural leads and his love of the Indian cuisine and culture. He is writing crime at the very top end.
I loved every page of it and would happily have gone back for seconds and feel my face with more of this delightful book.
An outstanding piece of work, it is so hard to write a sequel, but to excel on his first book shows true genius, well worth your time and hard-earned cash.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage, Havill Secker and especially Ajay Chowdhury for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
The Cook is the Sequel to the fantastic Waiter. We find Kamil disgraced Kolkata Detective, now promoted to cook at Tandori knights restaurant in Brick Lane, London, when he becomes entangled in yet another murder investigation and one that has more layers than an onion he may use in his delicious Indian cooking.
Anjoli his sidekick, is back and the chemistry between these two characters crackle and pop like pepper in a pan. They are a joy to spend time with. Chowdhury words leaps of the page and I can almost smell the aroma of the kitchens and see the life that's bustling around the London east end.
The book moves along at a blistering pace with quick, punchy chapters with a delightful mystery woven into it.
This is an expertly written whodunit and one that will keep you guessing right up to the very end. Chowdhury builds on what has gone before and the character development of the two main players is top notch as their budding romance simmers just under the surface of the main story.
This is a great series and Chowdhury has carved himself a place in an overcrowded market with his multicultural leads and his love of the Indian cuisine and culture. He is writing crime at the very top end.
I loved every page of it and would happily have gone back for seconds and feel my face with more of this delightful book.
An outstanding piece of work, it is so hard to write a sequel, but to excel on his first book shows true genius, well worth your time and hard-earned cash.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage, Havill Secker and especially Ajay Chowdhury for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 1, 2022
3.5*
The Cook is the 2nd outing for Kamil Rahman, once a detective in Kolkata and now working in a family restaurant on Brick Lane.
When a friend of a friend drops into the restaurant to pick up a takeaway, she leaves her mobile phone behind. Kamil volunteers to take her phone to her flat, setting off a chain of events that he couldn’t have imagined. Meanwhile homeless people are dying at an apparently increased rate in the streets close to the East London Mosque and Kamil becomes inadvertently caught up in finding out if there is something untoward going on.
Rejoining Kamil and some of the characters from the previous book (The Waiter), particularly his flat mate and boss Anjoli and Detective in the Met was an absolute joy. There is a genuine warmth between the characters and Ajay Chowdhury is honed in providing realistic dialogue. The descriptions of the fantastic food from the restaurant were also a huge plus point.
The plot zips along and I welcomed that it was less wham-bam than the first book. After a slightly hesitant start, I was hooked and read it over 2 days. The reveal is a little bit of a stretch, but nonetheless the book is hugely enjoyable. It would work well as a stand-alone but I would always recommend starting at the beginning. My one slight irk was that I couldn’t recall Kamil’s backstory from the first book and it would have been great to have a short recap threaded into the early part of the book.
Thanks to Harvill Secker, Vintage, PRH and Netgalley for the ARC. I genuinely hope this book will be a hit.
The Cook is the 2nd outing for Kamil Rahman, once a detective in Kolkata and now working in a family restaurant on Brick Lane.
When a friend of a friend drops into the restaurant to pick up a takeaway, she leaves her mobile phone behind. Kamil volunteers to take her phone to her flat, setting off a chain of events that he couldn’t have imagined. Meanwhile homeless people are dying at an apparently increased rate in the streets close to the East London Mosque and Kamil becomes inadvertently caught up in finding out if there is something untoward going on.
Rejoining Kamil and some of the characters from the previous book (The Waiter), particularly his flat mate and boss Anjoli and Detective in the Met was an absolute joy. There is a genuine warmth between the characters and Ajay Chowdhury is honed in providing realistic dialogue. The descriptions of the fantastic food from the restaurant were also a huge plus point.
The plot zips along and I welcomed that it was less wham-bam than the first book. After a slightly hesitant start, I was hooked and read it over 2 days. The reveal is a little bit of a stretch, but nonetheless the book is hugely enjoyable. It would work well as a stand-alone but I would always recommend starting at the beginning. My one slight irk was that I couldn’t recall Kamil’s backstory from the first book and it would have been great to have a short recap threaded into the early part of the book.
Thanks to Harvill Secker, Vintage, PRH and Netgalley for the ARC. I genuinely hope this book will be a hit.
May 1, 2022
I didn’t realise until I was well into the book that this is the second in the Kamil Rahman series, following on from The Waiter. It was a great read and works as a stand-alone; a sort of police procedural/crime with a bit of cooking thrown in for good measure. The main character used to be a detective in Kolkata but is now working as a cook in a London restaurant. Well written with some humorous touches and some great characters. I particularly liked DS Tahir Ishmael, a lothario detective with a tendency to mention fictional detective, usually at the expense of Kamil.
Briefly, Kamil, Anjoli the restaurant manager and Naila a student nurse are self labelled ‘The Three Duskyteers’ and are investigating why Salma, a friend and nursing colleague of Naila, was murdered. Alongside this complex investigation, Anjoli is concerned about the number of homeless men dying unexpectedly but seemingly with no suspicious circumstances, and they are also looking into this. But when Naila is threatened they wonder just how far the killer will go to protect their identity?
Although this seems quite a light read it does cover other darker aspects of life for women living in some communities where they are treated as second class citizens and are basically controlled by the men in their lives. Also the issue of homelessness, particularly in large cities like London and the way they are ignored by a lot of society. There are plenty of suspects but for once I didn’t get the right one! In fact I didn’t have a clue. This was a really good read, I enjoyed it a lot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Briefly, Kamil, Anjoli the restaurant manager and Naila a student nurse are self labelled ‘The Three Duskyteers’ and are investigating why Salma, a friend and nursing colleague of Naila, was murdered. Alongside this complex investigation, Anjoli is concerned about the number of homeless men dying unexpectedly but seemingly with no suspicious circumstances, and they are also looking into this. But when Naila is threatened they wonder just how far the killer will go to protect their identity?
Although this seems quite a light read it does cover other darker aspects of life for women living in some communities where they are treated as second class citizens and are basically controlled by the men in their lives. Also the issue of homelessness, particularly in large cities like London and the way they are ignored by a lot of society. There are plenty of suspects but for once I didn’t get the right one! In fact I didn’t have a clue. This was a really good read, I enjoyed it a lot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
May 18, 2025
A very enjoyable crime investigation novel, the second one in the series, although it can be read independently.
We meet again the ex-detective from Kolkata Kamil and his friend and "partner in investigation", Anjoli. It's been a few months since the first novel and, in the meantime, Kamil has re-trained as a cook and is now trying to start a new life in London. Anjoli has left her job in market research and is now running the family restaurant, while her parents are away in India. After a customer is murdered, Anjoli encourages Kamil to look into it. At the same time, she becomes suspicious after some homeless people in the area die in not very clear circumstances. Both investigations overlap and, at some point, cause some friction between the two protagonists.
Overall, I'd say that this second book retains all the good or promising features from the first one and, at the same time, the writing has improved. So, while in the first story some of the pieces didn't fit very well and some bits needed some polish, here everything goes smoothly. The author has managed to combine the crime investigation and the personal stories of the main characters in a fine blend, with multicultural London in the background adding to the mix. The result may not be perfect (is anything perfect?), but it certainly made for a very enjoyable read for me.
As an aside, applause to the tribute paid to crime fiction in the form of all the friendly nicknames used by DS Ismail when addressing Kamil (from the more obvious Poirot, Jessica Fletcher or Miss Marple to Dalgiesh, Father Brown... I'm not sure I could place them all!).
We meet again the ex-detective from Kolkata Kamil and his friend and "partner in investigation", Anjoli. It's been a few months since the first novel and, in the meantime, Kamil has re-trained as a cook and is now trying to start a new life in London. Anjoli has left her job in market research and is now running the family restaurant, while her parents are away in India. After a customer is murdered, Anjoli encourages Kamil to look into it. At the same time, she becomes suspicious after some homeless people in the area die in not very clear circumstances. Both investigations overlap and, at some point, cause some friction between the two protagonists.
Overall, I'd say that this second book retains all the good or promising features from the first one and, at the same time, the writing has improved. So, while in the first story some of the pieces didn't fit very well and some bits needed some polish, here everything goes smoothly. The author has managed to combine the crime investigation and the personal stories of the main characters in a fine blend, with multicultural London in the background adding to the mix. The result may not be perfect (is anything perfect?), but it certainly made for a very enjoyable read for me.
As an aside, applause to the tribute paid to crime fiction in the form of all the friendly nicknames used by DS Ismail when addressing Kamil (from the more obvious Poirot, Jessica Fletcher or Miss Marple to Dalgiesh, Father Brown... I'm not sure I could place them all!).
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