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Bombay Monsoon
It’s 1975 and Danny Jacobs, an ambitious American journalist, has arrived in Bombay on a new assignment. Timing couldn’t be worse—or for a journalist—better. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, fearing a coup, has declared a state of emergency. Throw in an assassination of a police officer by a Marxist extremist, then complicate everything with a hot, unexpected romance—for a reporter’s dream come true—or his worst nightmare.Perfect for fans of Ken Follett and Steve Berry
320 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2022
34 people are currently reading
1090 people want to read
About the author
James W. Ziskin
12 books157 followers2021 Barry Award WINNER TURN TO STONE for Best Paperback Original
2021 Macavity Award WINNER for Best Historical Mystery TURN TO STONE
2017 Anthony Award WINNER of Best Paperback Original HEART OF STONE
2017 Macavity Award WINNER of Sue Feder Memorial Best Historical Novel HEART OF STONE
2021 Edgar Award finalist for Best Short Story, “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement”
2021 Anthony Award finalist for Best Short Story, “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement”
2021 Agatha Award finalist for Best Short Story, “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement”
2021 Macavity Award finalist for Best Short Story, “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement”
2021 Sue Grafton Memorial Award finalist TURN TO STONE
2021 Lefty Award finalist for Best Historical Mystery TURN TO STONE
2019 Anthony Award finalist for Best Paperback Original A STONE’S THROW
2019 Lefty Award finalist for Best Mystery A STONE’S THROW
2018 Macavity Award finalist for Sue Feder Memorial Best Historical Novel CAST THE FIRST STONE
2018 Anthony Award finalist for Best Paperback Original CAST THE FIRST STONE
2018 Lefty Award finalist for Best Mystery CAST THE FIRST STONE
2017 Anthony Award winner of Best Paperback Original HEART OF STONE
2017 Macavity Award winner of Sue Feder Memorial Best Historical Novel HEART OF STONE
2017 Edgar Award finalist for Best Paperback Original HEART OF STONE
2017 Lefty Award finalist for Best Mystery HEART OF STONE
2016 Anthony Award finalist for Best Paperback Original STONE COLD DEAD
2016 Barry Award finalist for Best Paperback Original STONE COLD DEAD
2016 Lefty Award finalist for Best World Mystery Novel STONE COLD DEAD
2015 Anthony Award finalist for Best Paperback Original NO STONE UNTURNED
2021 Macavity Award WINNER for Best Historical Mystery TURN TO STONE
2017 Anthony Award WINNER of Best Paperback Original HEART OF STONE
2017 Macavity Award WINNER of Sue Feder Memorial Best Historical Novel HEART OF STONE
2021 Edgar Award finalist for Best Short Story, “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement”
2021 Anthony Award finalist for Best Short Story, “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement”
2021 Agatha Award finalist for Best Short Story, “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement”
2021 Macavity Award finalist for Best Short Story, “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement”
2021 Sue Grafton Memorial Award finalist TURN TO STONE
2021 Lefty Award finalist for Best Historical Mystery TURN TO STONE
2019 Anthony Award finalist for Best Paperback Original A STONE’S THROW
2019 Lefty Award finalist for Best Mystery A STONE’S THROW
2018 Macavity Award finalist for Sue Feder Memorial Best Historical Novel CAST THE FIRST STONE
2018 Anthony Award finalist for Best Paperback Original CAST THE FIRST STONE
2018 Lefty Award finalist for Best Mystery CAST THE FIRST STONE
2017 Anthony Award winner of Best Paperback Original HEART OF STONE
2017 Macavity Award winner of Sue Feder Memorial Best Historical Novel HEART OF STONE
2017 Edgar Award finalist for Best Paperback Original HEART OF STONE
2017 Lefty Award finalist for Best Mystery HEART OF STONE
2016 Anthony Award finalist for Best Paperback Original STONE COLD DEAD
2016 Barry Award finalist for Best Paperback Original STONE COLD DEAD
2016 Lefty Award finalist for Best World Mystery Novel STONE COLD DEAD
2015 Anthony Award finalist for Best Paperback Original NO STONE UNTURNED
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
October 19, 2022
James Ziskin, award winning author of the Ellie Stone Mystery series, has turned his attention to India in his most recent book. Ziskin takes us back to 1975 and follows the adventures of Dan Jacobs, a newspaper reporter, who has recently been sent to India and arrives during the beginning of the Monsoon season as well as the State of Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi after the courts ruled her 1971 election was illegally won. Gandhi declares a state of emergency and all news is censored. It is in this arena that Dan operates, but his bigger issues it that he has fallen in love with Sushmita, the girlfriend of his neighbor. We follow Dan's exploits as he attempts to cover and report on news events, as well as running from a terrorist who he interviewed for the wire services and who has now changed in mind and wants Dan dead. Oh, and he also gets involved in a major criminal investigation. Lots of excitement here as Dan stumbles from one problem to another. It is a quality effort, and I hope this leads to more books involving Dan and India. The plotting is very tight, the characters well developed and should definitely be a hit with Ziskin's Ellie Stone fans, it will also be a hit for those who are new to his works!
For my full review and author interview go to www.viewsonbooks.com
For my full review and author interview go to www.viewsonbooks.com
October 21, 2022
Bombay Monsoon is an unusual story covering romance, cultural adjustment & crime. The descriptions of places, people & habits are very authentic, though somewhat selective. The story falls short though, and the finish especially so.
Danny Jacobs works for the news agency UNI and lands in Mumbai on an assignment in 1975. As he adjusts to a new place, he meets Willy Smets and his girlfriend Sushmita. Willy runs a successful business related to import and export of goods. Willy & Sushmita are very helpful in getting Danny adjusted. There are also Harlan and Brigit who are on visits to India like Danny. Shortly after, emergency is declared in India with severe restrictions on liberties. This is probably the most controversial period in the history of Independent India where the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, after some adverse court verdicts and mounting political opposition assumed a lot of power, enacted new laws and jailed many of her political opponents. The press was censored, and all stories of UNI go through censorship. Danny finds himself getting attracted to Sushmita and a relationship ensues. There is also a threat he faces, after an interview with a radical – Bikas. There is also a plot involving drugs and human trafficking.
Non-Indian authors writing stories based in India always arouse my curiosity. There is a lot of local context, and while not all of it is favourable, it is nevertheless based on reality, especially of the period the novel is set in. The author makes it a point to provide elaborate references to places and food items. The story is told from Danny’s perspective, and he is the good guy (at times comes across as pretentious), while many regressive dialogues are given to a few others. The author is so focused on building the cultural context, that unfortunately the story develops very slowly and is just about average overall. The last section is especially disappointing.
In the afterword, the author warns that democracy needs safeguarding, so that we do not see a period such as that between 1975-77 in India. The story being set during the period of the emergency is a nice touch, though I feel the story did not fully exploit the possibilities (a book which explores the concept of liberties and power well I feel is ‘The R Document’ by Irving Wallace).
My rating: 3.25 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
Danny Jacobs works for the news agency UNI and lands in Mumbai on an assignment in 1975. As he adjusts to a new place, he meets Willy Smets and his girlfriend Sushmita. Willy runs a successful business related to import and export of goods. Willy & Sushmita are very helpful in getting Danny adjusted. There are also Harlan and Brigit who are on visits to India like Danny. Shortly after, emergency is declared in India with severe restrictions on liberties. This is probably the most controversial period in the history of Independent India where the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, after some adverse court verdicts and mounting political opposition assumed a lot of power, enacted new laws and jailed many of her political opponents. The press was censored, and all stories of UNI go through censorship. Danny finds himself getting attracted to Sushmita and a relationship ensues. There is also a threat he faces, after an interview with a radical – Bikas. There is also a plot involving drugs and human trafficking.
Non-Indian authors writing stories based in India always arouse my curiosity. There is a lot of local context, and while not all of it is favourable, it is nevertheless based on reality, especially of the period the novel is set in. The author makes it a point to provide elaborate references to places and food items. The story is told from Danny’s perspective, and he is the good guy (at times comes across as pretentious), while many regressive dialogues are given to a few others. The author is so focused on building the cultural context, that unfortunately the story develops very slowly and is just about average overall. The last section is especially disappointing.
In the afterword, the author warns that democracy needs safeguarding, so that we do not see a period such as that between 1975-77 in India. The story being set during the period of the emergency is a nice touch, though I feel the story did not fully exploit the possibilities (a book which explores the concept of liberties and power well I feel is ‘The R Document’ by Irving Wallace).
My rating: 3.25 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
October 23, 2022
James Ziskin is a prolific author, but this is the first book of his that I’ve read. It’s a stand-alone historical mystery that takes place in 1975 India, just when Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency. She was in danger of losing her position, so what better way to retain power? As part of the SOE, news is being censored.
Danny Jacobs is an American reporter, recently sent to Bombay. He’s no novice, having formerly reported in Vietnam and Chile. He has recently interviewed a bombing suspect, who now regrets talking to Danny and letting him take pictures. This regret takes the form of his threatening Danny to get his hands on those photos. But for someone who’s been on the line of fire elsewhere, here, he comes across as a wuss and with an initial sense of moral ambiguity.
Meanwhile, Danny has made friends with the couple living in the penthouse of his apartment and soon that friendship leads to a romance with the woman. I was worried the romance would take over the book but then came a twist which renewed my interest.
Ziskin does a good job painting a solid picture of the times and place. The pacing was uneven, with the story dragging at times. Character development was also somewhat lacking, but that seems to be the norm of books that are more thrillers than mysteries. The plot took on a predictable path with Danny being asked to help in a criminal investigation. I found a key point in the almost ending unbelievable.
My thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview for an advance copy of this book.
Danny Jacobs is an American reporter, recently sent to Bombay. He’s no novice, having formerly reported in Vietnam and Chile. He has recently interviewed a bombing suspect, who now regrets talking to Danny and letting him take pictures. This regret takes the form of his threatening Danny to get his hands on those photos. But for someone who’s been on the line of fire elsewhere, here, he comes across as a wuss and with an initial sense of moral ambiguity.
Meanwhile, Danny has made friends with the couple living in the penthouse of his apartment and soon that friendship leads to a romance with the woman. I was worried the romance would take over the book but then came a twist which renewed my interest.
Ziskin does a good job painting a solid picture of the times and place. The pacing was uneven, with the story dragging at times. Character development was also somewhat lacking, but that seems to be the norm of books that are more thrillers than mysteries. The plot took on a predictable path with Danny being asked to help in a criminal investigation. I found a key point in the almost ending unbelievable.
My thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview for an advance copy of this book.
January 21, 2023
My thanks to Oceanview Publishing for a review copy of this book via Edelweiss.
Bombay Monsoon (2022) is a piece of historical fiction with a thriller/mystery element, set in India in 1975 during the period when the then PM Indira Gandhi had declared an Emergency.
Twenty-six-year-old Danny Jacobs is an American journalist working with United News International and has arrived in India hoping for a challenging experience. While his immediate boss isn’t the most supportive, he manages to secure an interview with a Marxist extremist, while also through a contact fixes an appointment to interview an important opposition politician. But before the second interview materialises, Emergency is declared and Danny finds himself confined to Bombay and local stories. A censor is posted in the office who removes anything deemed in any way critical of the government. At home, on the other hand, his new ‘servant’ Ramu is arrested for suspicious activities, leaving Danny to manage on his own.
Alongside, Danny meets Willy Smets, a businessman who lives in the same apartment block and begins to socialise with him. But before long, he finds himself falling for Smets’ beautiful companion Sushmita. Danny also meets other expats, an air hostess on stopover Birgit, obnoxious and racist fellow American Russell Harlan, and the warm-hearted and friendly Janice, receptionist at Danny’s office, who has taken to the country and found love here as well. As Danny is balancing his feelings, the story he is working on, and social life, the interview with the Marxist extremist begins to become a threat as the man seems to have changed his mind, especially as Danny took pictures, and he is willing to kill Danny to retrieve them. Also, pursuing his feelings for Sushmita, who appears to reciprocate presents its own dilemmas.
Bombay Monsoon turned out to be a book which got me reading right from the start. Interestingly, the properly thriller elements don’t begin to really kick in for a fair way into the book, yet just following Danny’s story as he navigates his way through his work, social life, and increasingly gets distracted by his feelings for Sushmita did keep me reading. We have developments in terms of Ramu’s mysterious dealings and the pictures Danny has got of the Marxist extremist to hold our interest, and one does wonder about the course the matter with Sushmita will take. Once the thriller aspects do start to play out, the plot does begin to get more interesting. There were some surprise aspects in the mystery thread that I didn’t see coming and one part which I worked out somewhat differently to what it actually turned out to be, so I enjoyed the outcome (though there are certain uncomfortable elements to it as well).
Danny makes for an interesting main character, a little out of his depth in a new place and situation, perhaps; ambitious and righteous but also rather naïve when it comes to matters of the heart for one knows as he pursues his affair with Sushmita, something is bound to go wrong (of course, I guessed wrongly in what way this would be so). Other characters give us far more surprises, turning our very different from what they appear at first glance.
The author does the sense of time and place rather well; as Emergency is declared, we see civil liberties and press freedom being curtailed, opposition politicians arrested and detained, and every industry, including the films feel its impact, the latter coming through when Danny starts to work on a story on the film industry (references to popular movies, stars and songs of the time made this thread fun, even though I’m not much of a movie buff). We also get some glimpses of Bombay, but more so of Pune where part of the action takes place. I must also make a special mention of food and snacks which are referenced aplenty, whether everyday meals (dal, rice and veggies), Parsi delicacies (berry pulao, for instance) or baked goodies (Shrewsbury biscuits). While these elements are well done and the author’s message (drawing a parallel with recent incidents in the United States) of the need to preserve democracy at all costs does come across, the Emergency and its consequences remain somewhat a background or tangential element, not entirely central to the main plot.
Still, with an interesting (even if not especially surprising) mystery/thriller element, and good feel of period and place, this made for an entertaining read which held my interest all through.
Bombay Monsoon (2022) is a piece of historical fiction with a thriller/mystery element, set in India in 1975 during the period when the then PM Indira Gandhi had declared an Emergency.
Twenty-six-year-old Danny Jacobs is an American journalist working with United News International and has arrived in India hoping for a challenging experience. While his immediate boss isn’t the most supportive, he manages to secure an interview with a Marxist extremist, while also through a contact fixes an appointment to interview an important opposition politician. But before the second interview materialises, Emergency is declared and Danny finds himself confined to Bombay and local stories. A censor is posted in the office who removes anything deemed in any way critical of the government. At home, on the other hand, his new ‘servant’ Ramu is arrested for suspicious activities, leaving Danny to manage on his own.
Alongside, Danny meets Willy Smets, a businessman who lives in the same apartment block and begins to socialise with him. But before long, he finds himself falling for Smets’ beautiful companion Sushmita. Danny also meets other expats, an air hostess on stopover Birgit, obnoxious and racist fellow American Russell Harlan, and the warm-hearted and friendly Janice, receptionist at Danny’s office, who has taken to the country and found love here as well. As Danny is balancing his feelings, the story he is working on, and social life, the interview with the Marxist extremist begins to become a threat as the man seems to have changed his mind, especially as Danny took pictures, and he is willing to kill Danny to retrieve them. Also, pursuing his feelings for Sushmita, who appears to reciprocate presents its own dilemmas.
Bombay Monsoon turned out to be a book which got me reading right from the start. Interestingly, the properly thriller elements don’t begin to really kick in for a fair way into the book, yet just following Danny’s story as he navigates his way through his work, social life, and increasingly gets distracted by his feelings for Sushmita did keep me reading. We have developments in terms of Ramu’s mysterious dealings and the pictures Danny has got of the Marxist extremist to hold our interest, and one does wonder about the course the matter with Sushmita will take. Once the thriller aspects do start to play out, the plot does begin to get more interesting. There were some surprise aspects in the mystery thread that I didn’t see coming and one part which I worked out somewhat differently to what it actually turned out to be, so I enjoyed the outcome (though there are certain uncomfortable elements to it as well).
Danny makes for an interesting main character, a little out of his depth in a new place and situation, perhaps; ambitious and righteous but also rather naïve when it comes to matters of the heart for one knows as he pursues his affair with Sushmita, something is bound to go wrong (of course, I guessed wrongly in what way this would be so). Other characters give us far more surprises, turning our very different from what they appear at first glance.
The author does the sense of time and place rather well; as Emergency is declared, we see civil liberties and press freedom being curtailed, opposition politicians arrested and detained, and every industry, including the films feel its impact, the latter coming through when Danny starts to work on a story on the film industry (references to popular movies, stars and songs of the time made this thread fun, even though I’m not much of a movie buff). We also get some glimpses of Bombay, but more so of Pune where part of the action takes place. I must also make a special mention of food and snacks which are referenced aplenty, whether everyday meals (dal, rice and veggies), Parsi delicacies (berry pulao, for instance) or baked goodies (Shrewsbury biscuits). While these elements are well done and the author’s message (drawing a parallel with recent incidents in the United States) of the need to preserve democracy at all costs does come across, the Emergency and its consequences remain somewhat a background or tangential element, not entirely central to the main plot.
Still, with an interesting (even if not especially surprising) mystery/thriller element, and good feel of period and place, this made for an entertaining read which held my interest all through.
December 1, 2022
Nothing is as it seems!
Danny Jacobs, a journalist caught up in Bombay as Irandi Ghandi declares an Emergency to help save her party and her power. Democracy in India is at a standstill. Ghandi rounds up her opposition as the whole country faces upheaval
A beautiful young Indian woman, Sushmita leaves him breathless
Her companion, a Belgian it turns out, Willy Smets, takes to Danny like father to son
An ugly American, Russell Harlan Jr., a gorgeous German Lufthansa hostess, and Danny’s manservant of a few days, Ramu and Police Inspector Lockhande. Then there’s his boss Frank’s secretary, Janice.
All form a nexus around which we, along with Danny, are whirled.
One of Danny’s first stories, still on the back burner, was an interview with a bomb maker and terrorist. An unfortunate photo leaves Dan in a precarious position.
A dive into Indian and European society and culture in 1975 India where nothing is as it seems, cultural differences aside.
An intriguing thriller embedded in a culture where nothing is at it seems. So enjoyed this!
A Oceanview ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Danny Jacobs, a journalist caught up in Bombay as Irandi Ghandi declares an Emergency to help save her party and her power. Democracy in India is at a standstill. Ghandi rounds up her opposition as the whole country faces upheaval
A beautiful young Indian woman, Sushmita leaves him breathless
Her companion, a Belgian it turns out, Willy Smets, takes to Danny like father to son
An ugly American, Russell Harlan Jr., a gorgeous German Lufthansa hostess, and Danny’s manservant of a few days, Ramu and Police Inspector Lockhande. Then there’s his boss Frank’s secretary, Janice.
All form a nexus around which we, along with Danny, are whirled.
One of Danny’s first stories, still on the back burner, was an interview with a bomb maker and terrorist. An unfortunate photo leaves Dan in a precarious position.
A dive into Indian and European society and culture in 1975 India where nothing is as it seems, cultural differences aside.
An intriguing thriller embedded in a culture where nothing is at it seems. So enjoyed this!
A Oceanview ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
January 3, 2023
i downloaded from netgalley due to title. i love India, i wrote a thriller based in India and i traveled a lot there.
but... the idea of the book is interesting - base it in very turmoil period. but beside great knowledge of food, habits of locals i found it quite sloppy. in plot. take about quarter of book to start moving, relations between sexes are without sensitivity. trying to be sort of british espionage but not with much success.
but... the idea of the book is interesting - base it in very turmoil period. but beside great knowledge of food, habits of locals i found it quite sloppy. in plot. take about quarter of book to start moving, relations between sexes are without sensitivity. trying to be sort of british espionage but not with much success.
July 20, 2022
I received an arc from NetGalley.
This book is a historical fiction set in India. And it does that setting really well. The descriptions of the country, the food and the customs were super interesting to me. But unfortunately, that's where my positives end.
This book follows a journalist who, when starting an affair with his friend's girlfriend, gets caught up in a criminal network. Almost all of our main characters' motivations focus on sleeping with his friend's girlfriend. Yes, his friend is an awful person, but 1) he didn't know that when he decided to sleep with his girlfriend and 2) there's really no excuse for sleeping with your friend's girlfriend, or cheating for that matter.
Danny is a very unlikable character, imo. He is incredibly hypocritical in how he judges other people's racism while being completely unaware of this own. We have many scenes that go something like this.
"We were alone. Well, except for the servants. But no one here ever counts the servants. I hate how they treat them like they don't even exist and don't count them."
Dannny, you didn't count them. You are exactly the same as all those people, with the exception that you occasionally lament about it. Oh, why is everyone around me so racist? Yes, I do act the same, but what choice do I have? Oh how horrible.
Then some investigators decide to clue him in on what a horrible person his friend is, the selling a little girl's virginity type level of evil, and what does Danny do? Well, nothing really. Until he realises that this might mean he can take the girlfriend for himself, then suddenly his game. Everything he does is for Sushmita.
This book is presented as a historical mystery, which sounds awesome, but really there isn't actually very much of a mystery. If anything, this reads like a romance. And an insta-lovey, no development type of romance at that. There is so little interaction between the two main characters before they decide to sleep together, and the most time we actually read about them being together is when they sneak around to sleep together. There was no chemistry (except for sexual, I guess) and this felt a lot more "hot girl so I want her" than actual I care about this person.
Continuing on that, the mystery unfolds around Danny, without him doing much or making actual decisions. He's a very passive main character, despite being an investigative journalist. Everything just happens to him, and even then the other characters have to explain everything to him, because he can't figure things out for himself.
The actual interesting mystery, the "emergency" declared by the government and its effects on journalism and the people of India/ the democracy serve just as a background for Danny's love story. I guess people familiar with the history of India might not care as much, but for me, the politics, the world events, the things happening in India were WAY more interesting than whatever Danny and Sushmita were up to.
The writing is fine, and the setting and descriptions are great, but unfortunately the plot and characters were lacking, making this a rather dull book.
This book is a historical fiction set in India. And it does that setting really well. The descriptions of the country, the food and the customs were super interesting to me. But unfortunately, that's where my positives end.
This book follows a journalist who, when starting an affair with his friend's girlfriend, gets caught up in a criminal network. Almost all of our main characters' motivations focus on sleeping with his friend's girlfriend. Yes, his friend is an awful person, but 1) he didn't know that when he decided to sleep with his girlfriend and 2) there's really no excuse for sleeping with your friend's girlfriend, or cheating for that matter.
Danny is a very unlikable character, imo. He is incredibly hypocritical in how he judges other people's racism while being completely unaware of this own. We have many scenes that go something like this.
"We were alone. Well, except for the servants. But no one here ever counts the servants. I hate how they treat them like they don't even exist and don't count them."
Dannny, you didn't count them. You are exactly the same as all those people, with the exception that you occasionally lament about it. Oh, why is everyone around me so racist? Yes, I do act the same, but what choice do I have? Oh how horrible.
Then some investigators decide to clue him in on what a horrible person his friend is, the selling a little girl's virginity type level of evil, and what does Danny do? Well, nothing really. Until he realises that this might mean he can take the girlfriend for himself, then suddenly his game. Everything he does is for Sushmita.
This book is presented as a historical mystery, which sounds awesome, but really there isn't actually very much of a mystery. If anything, this reads like a romance. And an insta-lovey, no development type of romance at that. There is so little interaction between the two main characters before they decide to sleep together, and the most time we actually read about them being together is when they sneak around to sleep together. There was no chemistry (except for sexual, I guess) and this felt a lot more "hot girl so I want her" than actual I care about this person.
Continuing on that, the mystery unfolds around Danny, without him doing much or making actual decisions. He's a very passive main character, despite being an investigative journalist. Everything just happens to him, and even then the other characters have to explain everything to him, because he can't figure things out for himself.
The actual interesting mystery, the "emergency" declared by the government and its effects on journalism and the people of India/ the democracy serve just as a background for Danny's love story. I guess people familiar with the history of India might not care as much, but for me, the politics, the world events, the things happening in India were WAY more interesting than whatever Danny and Sushmita were up to.
The writing is fine, and the setting and descriptions are great, but unfortunately the plot and characters were lacking, making this a rather dull book.
June 25, 2022
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Bombay Monsoon. Expected publication date - Dec 6th 2022
Danny Jacobs is a young and ambitious American journalist who's just arrived in India in 1975 on a new assignment. Against the backdrop of a state of emergency, declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Danny is thrown into a mix of events, including the assassination of a police officer and an illicit and unexpected romance.
What I loved...
📚 I am not always a fan of historical fiction but this was a pleasant surprise. The novel was well-paced and detailed enough to keep me drawn in without being overwhelmed with details. The characters were such a varied cast and each one was given enough attention and development to truly captivate your attention.
📚 I loved the backdrop of India and the subtle, intertwined historical perspectives. While this story could've taken place anywhere in the world, the author paid appropriate tribute to the country he chose as the story's base.
What I didn't love...
📚 There were occasional times when the details seemed a bit rambling and ultimately, unnecessary. This book could've been a little shorter without sacrificing any of the storyline.
If you liked this review and like Bookstagram accounts, I would love it if you choose to follow me on Instagram @breatheinbookstt
www.instagram.com/breatheinbookstt
Danny Jacobs is a young and ambitious American journalist who's just arrived in India in 1975 on a new assignment. Against the backdrop of a state of emergency, declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Danny is thrown into a mix of events, including the assassination of a police officer and an illicit and unexpected romance.
What I loved...
📚 I am not always a fan of historical fiction but this was a pleasant surprise. The novel was well-paced and detailed enough to keep me drawn in without being overwhelmed with details. The characters were such a varied cast and each one was given enough attention and development to truly captivate your attention.
📚 I loved the backdrop of India and the subtle, intertwined historical perspectives. While this story could've taken place anywhere in the world, the author paid appropriate tribute to the country he chose as the story's base.
What I didn't love...
📚 There were occasional times when the details seemed a bit rambling and ultimately, unnecessary. This book could've been a little shorter without sacrificing any of the storyline.
If you liked this review and like Bookstagram accounts, I would love it if you choose to follow me on Instagram @breatheinbookstt
www.instagram.com/breatheinbookstt
June 11, 2022
Bombay Monsoon is a fantastic historical book to read. Danny Jacobs, an American journalist in 1975, caught a new assignment in Bombay, and Danny Jacobs landed in Bombay worse time for the community. However, fantastic time for an ambitious journalist. Bombay was in a state of emergency after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi feared a coup. The readers of Bombay Monsoon will continue to follow Danny Jacobs to find out what happens.
Bombay Monsoon is the first book I have read by James W. Ziskin. Bombay Monsoon was an enjoyable book to read. I also like the way James W. Ziskin structured the book letting the reader know the date and time so they can picture it in their minds. I did engage with the plot and characters of Bombay Monsoon. I love James W. Ziskin's portrayal of his characters and how they interact with each other throughout this book. Bombay Monsoon was well written and researched by James W. Ziskin. I like James W. Ziskin's description of the settings of Bombay Monsoon, which allowed me to imagine living in Bombay during the 1970s.
The readers will learn about living in Bombay in the '70s. Also, the readers will learn about prejudice in the Indian Society.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC copy for an honest review. I recommend this book.
Bombay Monsoon is the first book I have read by James W. Ziskin. Bombay Monsoon was an enjoyable book to read. I also like the way James W. Ziskin structured the book letting the reader know the date and time so they can picture it in their minds. I did engage with the plot and characters of Bombay Monsoon. I love James W. Ziskin's portrayal of his characters and how they interact with each other throughout this book. Bombay Monsoon was well written and researched by James W. Ziskin. I like James W. Ziskin's description of the settings of Bombay Monsoon, which allowed me to imagine living in Bombay during the 1970s.
The readers will learn about living in Bombay in the '70s. Also, the readers will learn about prejudice in the Indian Society.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC copy for an honest review. I recommend this book.
October 3, 2022
A great mystery and a peek into 1975 India make for a fascinating read. Highly recommended!
January 11, 2023
James Ziskin, author of good mystery series about a female reporter set in 1960s, has written a standalone mystery set in 1975 India when democracy was seeminly lost. From the descriptions, you can tell he's intimately familiar with life in India. Pungent smells of spicy, delicious foods, crowded streets, perilous roads and the pervasive colorism provide a backdrop to a harrowing story of foreign reporter acclimating to life there while thrown into the middle of a high stakes who-can-I-trust game. Take a trip to India via Ziskin's Bombay Monsoon. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2023
I picked this up on a whim from the library but overall it was a disappointment. 1970s India, during the Emergency seemed like a great backdrop for a novel about a western journalist caught up in intrigue. But the characterization just didn’t live up to the promise. Danny, the main character, supposedly a young but seasoned journalist, seems to stumble along like a doofus, seemingly without much curiosity about his suave Bombay neighbors, a worldly Belgian man and his beautiful Indian girlfriend.
Of course Danny falls in love with the girlfriend, has a heartbreaking affair, the Belgian turns out to be a gangster, danger ensues, yadda, yadda. Not very believable. It read more like a screenplay rather than a novel.
Of course Danny falls in love with the girlfriend, has a heartbreaking affair, the Belgian turns out to be a gangster, danger ensues, yadda, yadda. Not very believable. It read more like a screenplay rather than a novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2023
I really liked Bombay Monsoon. It was much different than James Ziskin's other books. Was nice to see he had other worlds and characters to show his audience. Throughout the book you could see how fond the writer is of India. The descriptions made me feel like I was there during the monsoon season even.
That time in history was full of things in India the average American could never experience. I felt like I got a glimpse of the period and country. The characters were multi dimensional and you could feel like you were there watching the story unfold. Especially when they drive over the ghats.
I found myself cheering Danny on and how he felt.
Great book.
That time in history was full of things in India the average American could never experience. I felt like I got a glimpse of the period and country. The characters were multi dimensional and you could feel like you were there watching the story unfold. Especially when they drive over the ghats.
I found myself cheering Danny on and how he felt.
Great book.
May 29, 2023
DNF--I just couldn't get past the narrator's hang ups.
December 6, 2022
Review of Bombay Monsoon by James W. Ziskin
My thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the advanced reader’s uncorrected proof in exchange for this honest review.
I am a big fan of historical fiction, but this book did not feel so much like historical fiction as just a romance tale destined to be a disaster. I was a senior in high school in 1975. I would imagine that a diligent history teacher probably tried to discuss the “Emergency” declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to no avail from his uninterested senior students. I knew that Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, but I knew nothing else about what was going on in that far away country and having no interest in world politics. My mind was set on graduating and preparing to go away to college. Thank goodness for Ziskin for filling in my lacking education in this regard.
I have also heard about the monsoon season in this part of the world. Talk about having no understanding about such a thing! Except for one year, I have always lived in West Texas. Rain like this is unknown and completely out of my sphere of understanding. I felt myself being envious of the torrential rains described every day in this story…which I know is crazy.
Please do not misunderstand my comment above about “a romance tale destined to be a disaster.” I am not a fan of romance novels, but this romance was interesting and well-told. The romance takes place in the midst of budding friendships with people who turn out to be sketchy characters or government investigators (both Indian and American). Who can you trust? No one it seems.
Danny Jacobs is an American journalist and main character. Unfortunately, he was my least favorite character. He makes repeated bad decisions based mainly on his heart instead of his head. He is old enough to know better. It is also very possible (probable) that I just do not understand men of his age. I enjoyed every single woman character from the love-interest to the office secretary and all female characters in between. These women are interesting, different, and intelligent.
The pace of the novel is perfect. There are some narrative spots that some might find too wordy, but I did not mind. Ziskin has frequently visited and lived in India and does describe in detail the towns and cities. Having never been to India, I truly enjoyed these descriptions. The terrifying description of ascending/descending the Western Ghats is amazing! I do NOT want to experience that ride.
So…ignoring my general impatience with Danny, I still enjoyed this book.
Star rating: 4 stars
My thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the advanced reader’s uncorrected proof in exchange for this honest review.
I am a big fan of historical fiction, but this book did not feel so much like historical fiction as just a romance tale destined to be a disaster. I was a senior in high school in 1975. I would imagine that a diligent history teacher probably tried to discuss the “Emergency” declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to no avail from his uninterested senior students. I knew that Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, but I knew nothing else about what was going on in that far away country and having no interest in world politics. My mind was set on graduating and preparing to go away to college. Thank goodness for Ziskin for filling in my lacking education in this regard.
I have also heard about the monsoon season in this part of the world. Talk about having no understanding about such a thing! Except for one year, I have always lived in West Texas. Rain like this is unknown and completely out of my sphere of understanding. I felt myself being envious of the torrential rains described every day in this story…which I know is crazy.
Please do not misunderstand my comment above about “a romance tale destined to be a disaster.” I am not a fan of romance novels, but this romance was interesting and well-told. The romance takes place in the midst of budding friendships with people who turn out to be sketchy characters or government investigators (both Indian and American). Who can you trust? No one it seems.
Danny Jacobs is an American journalist and main character. Unfortunately, he was my least favorite character. He makes repeated bad decisions based mainly on his heart instead of his head. He is old enough to know better. It is also very possible (probable) that I just do not understand men of his age. I enjoyed every single woman character from the love-interest to the office secretary and all female characters in between. These women are interesting, different, and intelligent.
The pace of the novel is perfect. There are some narrative spots that some might find too wordy, but I did not mind. Ziskin has frequently visited and lived in India and does describe in detail the towns and cities. Having never been to India, I truly enjoyed these descriptions. The terrifying description of ascending/descending the Western Ghats is amazing! I do NOT want to experience that ride.
So…ignoring my general impatience with Danny, I still enjoyed this book.
Star rating: 4 stars
August 14, 2022
Bombay Monsoon is a thriller set in post-Partition India in the mid 1970s. An ambitious young American journalist, Danny Jacobs, arrives in Bombay on a new assignment. He’s tossed into a maelstrom of events during which the prime minister, Indira Gandhi, fearing a coup, declares a “state of emergency” to save her office. On top of that, a police officer is assassinated by a Marxist extremist. Then Danny embarks on a hot, unexpected, yet very complicated romance with a lovely woman, Sushmita.
The novel is well-paced, and the setting, India, is well-described as are its foods and atmosphere. I spent time in that part of the world in 1977, close enough to the time frame of the book, and testify that the repercussions of Partition were—and are—still rebounding in Pakistan and India as well as the emotional fatigue brought on by days of endless rains during the monsoons. The book highlights the multiple prejudices of Indian society including the importance of light skin in India and the caste system and relating them to similar problems in American society. The characters are varied and quite interesting, ranging from drug dealers to policemen to US DEA agents, and their roles frequently shift, adding nuance to their personalities. Danny himself is an unreliable narrator and has his own misconceptions and mindsets to overcome. He is rather passive and allows things to happen to him rather than working toward a specific goal.
The novel is well-paced, and the setting, India, is well-described as are its foods and atmosphere. I spent time in that part of the world in 1977, close enough to the time frame of the book, and testify that the repercussions of Partition were—and are—still rebounding in Pakistan and India as well as the emotional fatigue brought on by days of endless rains during the monsoons. The book highlights the multiple prejudices of Indian society including the importance of light skin in India and the caste system and relating them to similar problems in American society. The characters are varied and quite interesting, ranging from drug dealers to policemen to US DEA agents, and their roles frequently shift, adding nuance to their personalities. Danny himself is an unreliable narrator and has his own misconceptions and mindsets to overcome. He is rather passive and allows things to happen to him rather than working toward a specific goal.
November 2, 2023
Der Klappentext war schon mal vielversprechend, und das Cover hat es mir auch angetan – ich war zwar noch nie in Indien, aber das steht noch auf meiner Bucket List, und so musste ich das Buch lesen. Ich habe die englische Ausgabe gelesen, aber da ich auf deutsch rezensiere, hier noch mal kurz der Inhalt auf deutsch:
Wir sind in Bombay, 1975. Danny Jacobs ist Expatriat aus den USA, frisch in Indien eingetroffen, und gerade dabei, sich einzugewöhnen. Er ist Journalist, hat aus vielen Kriegs- und Krisengebieten berichtet, und sein erster Coup in Indien ist ein Interview mit einem Terroristen, der natürlich anonym bleiben will. Danny gelingt es trotzdem, ein Foto von ihm zu machen – ein Bild, eine Filmrolle, die noch ziemlich bedeutsam für ihn werden soll….
Aber zuerst einmal lässt sich das Leben in Bombay eher unspektakulär an. Danny treibt sich in den „Expat-Kreisen“ herum, und lernt hierbei den charismatischen Belgier Willy Smets kennen, sowie dessen indische Lebensgefährtin Sushmita. Danny verliebt sich – und zwar komplett. Sushmita wird zur Obsession, und die beiden beginnen hinter Willys Rücken eine leidenschaftliche Affaire. Schon bald zeigt sich, dass Willy zur organisierten Kriminalität gehört, und das Leben und Lieben von Danny wird gefährlich.
Ich merke gerade, der Plot dieses Krimis lässt sich nicht so ohne weiteres zusammenfassen, hier hat der Autor nämlich ein brillantes Netz geknüpft, und viele Fäden laufen zusammen. Im Mittelpunkt ist Danny, der als Reporter eigentlich nur die Wahrheit aufdecken will und ansonsten ganz gerne ein friedliches Privatleben hätte – allein, es ist ihm nicht vergönnt. Peu a peu wird er immer tiefer in einen Sumpf aus Lügen und Kriminalität verwickelt, und nichts ist so, wie es erscheint. Sehr intelligent geplottete Story, viele kleine Nebenschauplätze, viele kleine Nebendarsteller, und es läuft alles in ein grosses Gesamtbild zusammen; und der Leser weiss aber erst ziemlich zum Ende hin, wer hier welches Spiel spielt.
1975 war in Indien das Jahr der „Emergency“, als Mrs Gandhi mit einem Politstreich die Macht (wieder)erlangt hatte, und diese Zeit bildet hier den zeitgeschichtlichen Hintergrund. Danny als Journalist bekommt die Auswirkungen der Emergency natürlich auch hautnah zu spüren, denn auch in seinem Zeitungsbüro wird ein Zensor der indischen Regierung installiert, der es ihm und seinen Kollegen schwer macht, News zu veröffentlichen. Das fand ich persönlich einen sehr interessanten Hintergrund, und der Autor geht im Nachwort (der „Author’s Note“ ) darauf auch noch einmal ein.
Und natürlich ist es die Jahreszeit des Monsoons – die indische Regenzeit im frühen Sommer ist der zweite Hintergrund der Story. Der Monsoon setzt auch die Stimmung: der Regen wütet tagelang, und die Bewohner sind gezwungen, in ihren Häusern zu weilen….
Ja, ich fasse zusammen: Das war richtig gut. Der Autor kennt sich in Indien sehr gut aus, hier merkt man, da hat jemand Ahnung von Land und Leuten, von denen er schreibt. Man ist als Leser direkt mit Danny im Indien der 70er Jahre, die Atmosphäre kommt super rüber. Ich war vom ersten Kapitel an drin im Geschehen. Das Spannungslevel ist jederzeit hoch, und ich fand alle Charaktere, egal ob Haupt- oder Nebendarsteller, gut gezeichnet. Mit Danny sind wir an der Seite eines weissen Expats, und mit Sushmita und Ranjit sehen wir auch das Indien der Inder. Hat mir richtig gut gefallen.
Noch ein paar Worte zum Stil: ich (als Nicht-Muttersprachlerin) fand den Stil gut und flüssig lesbar, und einen Ticken elegant. Es war auch rein sprachlich eine Freude, diesen Roman zu lesen.
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem Verlag für das Vorab-Leseexemplar! Ich werde das Buch definitiv weiterempfehlen!
Wir sind in Bombay, 1975. Danny Jacobs ist Expatriat aus den USA, frisch in Indien eingetroffen, und gerade dabei, sich einzugewöhnen. Er ist Journalist, hat aus vielen Kriegs- und Krisengebieten berichtet, und sein erster Coup in Indien ist ein Interview mit einem Terroristen, der natürlich anonym bleiben will. Danny gelingt es trotzdem, ein Foto von ihm zu machen – ein Bild, eine Filmrolle, die noch ziemlich bedeutsam für ihn werden soll….
Aber zuerst einmal lässt sich das Leben in Bombay eher unspektakulär an. Danny treibt sich in den „Expat-Kreisen“ herum, und lernt hierbei den charismatischen Belgier Willy Smets kennen, sowie dessen indische Lebensgefährtin Sushmita. Danny verliebt sich – und zwar komplett. Sushmita wird zur Obsession, und die beiden beginnen hinter Willys Rücken eine leidenschaftliche Affaire. Schon bald zeigt sich, dass Willy zur organisierten Kriminalität gehört, und das Leben und Lieben von Danny wird gefährlich.
Ich merke gerade, der Plot dieses Krimis lässt sich nicht so ohne weiteres zusammenfassen, hier hat der Autor nämlich ein brillantes Netz geknüpft, und viele Fäden laufen zusammen. Im Mittelpunkt ist Danny, der als Reporter eigentlich nur die Wahrheit aufdecken will und ansonsten ganz gerne ein friedliches Privatleben hätte – allein, es ist ihm nicht vergönnt. Peu a peu wird er immer tiefer in einen Sumpf aus Lügen und Kriminalität verwickelt, und nichts ist so, wie es erscheint. Sehr intelligent geplottete Story, viele kleine Nebenschauplätze, viele kleine Nebendarsteller, und es läuft alles in ein grosses Gesamtbild zusammen; und der Leser weiss aber erst ziemlich zum Ende hin, wer hier welches Spiel spielt.
1975 war in Indien das Jahr der „Emergency“, als Mrs Gandhi mit einem Politstreich die Macht (wieder)erlangt hatte, und diese Zeit bildet hier den zeitgeschichtlichen Hintergrund. Danny als Journalist bekommt die Auswirkungen der Emergency natürlich auch hautnah zu spüren, denn auch in seinem Zeitungsbüro wird ein Zensor der indischen Regierung installiert, der es ihm und seinen Kollegen schwer macht, News zu veröffentlichen. Das fand ich persönlich einen sehr interessanten Hintergrund, und der Autor geht im Nachwort (der „Author’s Note“ ) darauf auch noch einmal ein.
Und natürlich ist es die Jahreszeit des Monsoons – die indische Regenzeit im frühen Sommer ist der zweite Hintergrund der Story. Der Monsoon setzt auch die Stimmung: der Regen wütet tagelang, und die Bewohner sind gezwungen, in ihren Häusern zu weilen….
Ja, ich fasse zusammen: Das war richtig gut. Der Autor kennt sich in Indien sehr gut aus, hier merkt man, da hat jemand Ahnung von Land und Leuten, von denen er schreibt. Man ist als Leser direkt mit Danny im Indien der 70er Jahre, die Atmosphäre kommt super rüber. Ich war vom ersten Kapitel an drin im Geschehen. Das Spannungslevel ist jederzeit hoch, und ich fand alle Charaktere, egal ob Haupt- oder Nebendarsteller, gut gezeichnet. Mit Danny sind wir an der Seite eines weissen Expats, und mit Sushmita und Ranjit sehen wir auch das Indien der Inder. Hat mir richtig gut gefallen.
Noch ein paar Worte zum Stil: ich (als Nicht-Muttersprachlerin) fand den Stil gut und flüssig lesbar, und einen Ticken elegant. Es war auch rein sprachlich eine Freude, diesen Roman zu lesen.
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem Verlag für das Vorab-Leseexemplar! Ich werde das Buch definitiv weiterempfehlen!
July 14, 2022
James W. Ziskin is the author of the award-winning
Ellie Stone Mysteries Series
, yet somehow I hadn't read any of his work before getting an advance copy of Bombay Monsoon from NetGalley and Oceanview publishing. I love well-crafted Historical Fiction and Thrillers, and this book is all of that.
We are introduced to Danny Jacobs, an ambitious young journalist who recently arrived in Bombay, as he sets out to make his professional mark and adjust to life as an ex-pat in a country that still holds on to a "servant" under-class. Aided by the notes left by his predecessor, Danny contacts and interviews a man who claims to have set the bomb that killed a police officer in support of Marxist extremists. In an unguarded moment, Danny captures the bomber's face on film - a piece of evidence the bomber and the people behind him cannot permit becoming public.
We share Danny's discomfort as his egalitarian views get challenged by the complex social norms in Indian society. Each new acquaintance has a part in the mystery, from his penthouse neighbour Willy Smets with his exotic mistress Sushmita to Danny's bigotted compatriot Harlan and even his servant Ramu. Not everyone is what they seem - and misplaced trust can be fatal.
The historical setting of the story is "The Emergency" declaration following the court-ordered nullification of Indira Gandhi's 1975 election. The actions that the Indian government took affected human rights and civil liberties at the time, and indirectly impact this storyline. I found it worthwhile to take a break and read up on those major events since the book does assume some familiarity with them, yet thankfully doesn't bog us down with the details. I expect that Ziskin will have a lot more to draw from that period in future books in this series.
I had a personal interest in the setting of the book because while I haven't spent as much time in India as Ziskin has, I've spent considerable time between Mumbai and Pune and the locales were familiar to me. I feel that he has captured the geography exceptionally well, especially the (still!) harrowing road up and down the Ghats. A setting that was well-grounded in reality and characters with only regular human capabilities and weaknesses made the story very accessible and believable. On the other hand, some may find that too much time is spent on the descriptions of scenery and food.
I was slightly disappointed in the way the central mystery storyline ended - it felt like a movie adaptation where a sudden ending trope replaces chapters of revelation to fit time constraints. I'm left imagining that dozens or hundreds of pages were cut from an earlier draft that might have shown how the criminal network reacted to Danny's escape and helped move the story to its conclusion more gradually.
Overall, Bombay Monsoon is extremely enjoyable. The historical setting is interesting and invites a bleak comparison to and warning for present-day politics. The main characters are accessible and feel real, and most importantly, the action is engaging. I'm looking forward to reading what Danny Jacobs does next!
We are introduced to Danny Jacobs, an ambitious young journalist who recently arrived in Bombay, as he sets out to make his professional mark and adjust to life as an ex-pat in a country that still holds on to a "servant" under-class. Aided by the notes left by his predecessor, Danny contacts and interviews a man who claims to have set the bomb that killed a police officer in support of Marxist extremists. In an unguarded moment, Danny captures the bomber's face on film - a piece of evidence the bomber and the people behind him cannot permit becoming public.
We share Danny's discomfort as his egalitarian views get challenged by the complex social norms in Indian society. Each new acquaintance has a part in the mystery, from his penthouse neighbour Willy Smets with his exotic mistress Sushmita to Danny's bigotted compatriot Harlan and even his servant Ramu. Not everyone is what they seem - and misplaced trust can be fatal.
The historical setting of the story is "The Emergency" declaration following the court-ordered nullification of Indira Gandhi's 1975 election. The actions that the Indian government took affected human rights and civil liberties at the time, and indirectly impact this storyline. I found it worthwhile to take a break and read up on those major events since the book does assume some familiarity with them, yet thankfully doesn't bog us down with the details. I expect that Ziskin will have a lot more to draw from that period in future books in this series.
I had a personal interest in the setting of the book because while I haven't spent as much time in India as Ziskin has, I've spent considerable time between Mumbai and Pune and the locales were familiar to me. I feel that he has captured the geography exceptionally well, especially the (still!) harrowing road up and down the Ghats. A setting that was well-grounded in reality and characters with only regular human capabilities and weaknesses made the story very accessible and believable. On the other hand, some may find that too much time is spent on the descriptions of scenery and food.
I was slightly disappointed in the way the central mystery storyline ended - it felt like a movie adaptation where a sudden ending trope replaces chapters of revelation to fit time constraints. I'm left imagining that dozens or hundreds of pages were cut from an earlier draft that might have shown how the criminal network reacted to Danny's escape and helped move the story to its conclusion more gradually.
Overall, Bombay Monsoon is extremely enjoyable. The historical setting is interesting and invites a bleak comparison to and warning for present-day politics. The main characters are accessible and feel real, and most importantly, the action is engaging. I'm looking forward to reading what Danny Jacobs does next!
December 11, 2022
The author of the Ellie Stone mysteries, James W. Ziskin has won Anthony and Barry awards, and the Macavity Award for Best Historical Novel. BOMBAY MONSOON launches his series set in summer 1975 Bombay (renamed Mumbai in 1995), the monsoon season.
A budding news agency had reassigned young American journalist Dan Jacobs from Vietnam and other Asian countries. India’s only female prime minister has declared The Emergency, censoring news venues and appointing herself the authority to cancel elections. “India is an enchanting place, but it can be overwhelming to foreigners.”
What’s a journalist not allowed to publish news to do? Promising anonymity, Danny interviews, and surreptitiously photographs, a thug named Bikas who assassinated the relative of a police official. A few days later, Bikas wants the undeveloped film and trashes Danny’s apartment while searching for it. “People were vigilant and distrustful. Of each other, of the police, of me.”
Similarities of two MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL characters are evident. Danny Jacobs appears to be from the mold of journalist-author John Berendt (John Kelso in the film version). Beguiling Willy Smets, who throws lavish parties for expats in Bombay, somewhat resembles Savannah’s Joe Odom.
Willy invites Danny to the penthouse for one of his parties, where he meets exotic Sushmita, Willy’s mistress. Danny is smitten and tells himself it is only platonic feelings, although she “was clever, sexy, and…complicated.” The attraction is mutual…and complicated. The journalist raises an eyebrow when his host vaguely mentions that he is in the import-export business.
Bomber-thug Bikas makes it evident that Danny’s journalistic life is coming to an end. Make that simply life. Sushmita aids him to escape to the mountainous city of Poona (renamed Pune), where she owns a bungalow purportedly inherited from a forebear. Insufferable bigot Russ Harlan, flight attendant Birgit and even “untouchable” servant Ramu either have polar opposite doppelgängers or are not whom they seem to be. They appear throughout this geopolitical plot set in the dazzling multicultural-ethnic-linguistic subcontinent.
The panoramic view of India is truncated when the jigsaw pieces are assembled. Astute readers will recall each character and scene as the plot cuts to the chase. Literally. A chair-gripping car chase down harrowingly narrow mountain roads will have readers begging for a film adaptation. Please, Mr. Ziskin?
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
A budding news agency had reassigned young American journalist Dan Jacobs from Vietnam and other Asian countries. India’s only female prime minister has declared The Emergency, censoring news venues and appointing herself the authority to cancel elections. “India is an enchanting place, but it can be overwhelming to foreigners.”
What’s a journalist not allowed to publish news to do? Promising anonymity, Danny interviews, and surreptitiously photographs, a thug named Bikas who assassinated the relative of a police official. A few days later, Bikas wants the undeveloped film and trashes Danny’s apartment while searching for it. “People were vigilant and distrustful. Of each other, of the police, of me.”
Similarities of two MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL characters are evident. Danny Jacobs appears to be from the mold of journalist-author John Berendt (John Kelso in the film version). Beguiling Willy Smets, who throws lavish parties for expats in Bombay, somewhat resembles Savannah’s Joe Odom.
Willy invites Danny to the penthouse for one of his parties, where he meets exotic Sushmita, Willy’s mistress. Danny is smitten and tells himself it is only platonic feelings, although she “was clever, sexy, and…complicated.” The attraction is mutual…and complicated. The journalist raises an eyebrow when his host vaguely mentions that he is in the import-export business.
Bomber-thug Bikas makes it evident that Danny’s journalistic life is coming to an end. Make that simply life. Sushmita aids him to escape to the mountainous city of Poona (renamed Pune), where she owns a bungalow purportedly inherited from a forebear. Insufferable bigot Russ Harlan, flight attendant Birgit and even “untouchable” servant Ramu either have polar opposite doppelgängers or are not whom they seem to be. They appear throughout this geopolitical plot set in the dazzling multicultural-ethnic-linguistic subcontinent.
The panoramic view of India is truncated when the jigsaw pieces are assembled. Astute readers will recall each character and scene as the plot cuts to the chase. Literally. A chair-gripping car chase down harrowingly narrow mountain roads will have readers begging for a film adaptation. Please, Mr. Ziskin?
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
December 11, 2022
The author of the Ellie Stone mysteries, James W. Ziskin has won Anthony and Barry awards, and the Macavity Award for Best Historical Novel. BOMBAY MONSOON launches his series set in summer 1975 Bombay (renamed Mumbai in 1995), the monsoon season.
A budding news agency had reassigned young American journalist Dan Jacobs from Vietnam and other Asian countries. India’s only female prime minister has declared The Emergency, censoring news venues and appointing herself the authority to cancel elections. “India is an enchanting place, but it can be overwhelming to foreigners.”
What’s a journalist not allowed to publish news to do? Promising anonymity, Danny interviews, and surreptitiously photographs, a thug named Bikas who assassinated the relative of a police official. A few days later, Bikas wants the undeveloped film and trashes Danny’s apartment while searching for it. “People were vigilant and distrustful. Of each other, of the police, of me.”
Similarities of two MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL characters are evident. Danny Jacobs appears to be from the mold of journalist-author John Berendt (John Kelso in the film version). Beguiling Willy Smets, who throws lavish parties for expats in Bombay, somewhat resembles Savannah’s Joe Odom.
Willy invites Danny to the penthouse for one of his parties, where he meets exotic Sushmita, Willy’s mistress. Danny is smitten and tells himself it is only platonic feelings, although she “was clever, sexy, and…complicated.” The attraction is mutual…and complicated. The journalist raises an eyebrow when his host vaguely mentions that he is in the import-export business.
Bomber-thug Bikas makes it evident that Danny’s journalistic life is coming to an end. Make that simply life. Sushmita aids him to escape to the mountainous city of Poona (renamed Pune), where she owns a bungalow purportedly inherited from a forebear. Insufferable bigot Russ Harlan, flight attendant Birgit and even “untouchable” servant Ramu either have polar opposite doppelgängers or are not whom they seem to be. They appear throughout this geopolitical plot set in the dazzling multicultural-ethnic-linguistic subcontinent.
The panoramic view of India is truncated when the jigsaw pieces are assembled. Astute readers will recall each character and scene as the plot cuts to the chase. Literally. A chair-gripping car chase down harrowingly narrow mountain roads will have readers begging for a film adaptation. Please, Mr. Ziskin?
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
A budding news agency had reassigned young American journalist Dan Jacobs from Vietnam and other Asian countries. India’s only female prime minister has declared The Emergency, censoring news venues and appointing herself the authority to cancel elections. “India is an enchanting place, but it can be overwhelming to foreigners.”
What’s a journalist not allowed to publish news to do? Promising anonymity, Danny interviews, and surreptitiously photographs, a thug named Bikas who assassinated the relative of a police official. A few days later, Bikas wants the undeveloped film and trashes Danny’s apartment while searching for it. “People were vigilant and distrustful. Of each other, of the police, of me.”
Similarities of two MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL characters are evident. Danny Jacobs appears to be from the mold of journalist-author John Berendt (John Kelso in the film version). Beguiling Willy Smets, who throws lavish parties for expats in Bombay, somewhat resembles Savannah’s Joe Odom.
Willy invites Danny to the penthouse for one of his parties, where he meets exotic Sushmita, Willy’s mistress. Danny is smitten and tells himself it is only platonic feelings, although she “was clever, sexy, and…complicated.” The attraction is mutual…and complicated. The journalist raises an eyebrow when his host vaguely mentions that he is in the import-export business.
Bomber-thug Bikas makes it evident that Danny’s journalistic life is coming to an end. Make that simply life. Sushmita aids him to escape to the mountainous city of Poona (renamed Pune), where she owns a bungalow purportedly inherited from a forebear. Insufferable bigot Russ Harlan, flight attendant Birgit and even “untouchable” servant Ramu either have polar opposite doppelgängers or are not whom they seem to be. They appear throughout this geopolitical plot set in the dazzling multicultural-ethnic-linguistic subcontinent.
The panoramic view of India is truncated when the jigsaw pieces are assembled. Astute readers will recall each character and scene as the plot cuts to the chase. Literally. A chair-gripping car chase down harrowingly narrow mountain roads will have readers begging for a film adaptation. Please, Mr. Ziskin?
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
July 1, 2022
The title of the book attracted me to pick up since I live in Bombay, moreover, it's historical fiction.
The book is presented in the form of a journal with a time stamp.
The author captured the city during the 70s so well. Despite many high-rise builds and metro stations, Bombay Akka Mumbai is still the same in many parts.
This story is based on the political situation in India during the 70s when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister who ordered an emergency in which India's democracy(the world's largest democratic country) was shaken up. Civil liberties were curtailed, the press was censored, political opponents were jailed, and so on.
Though it's mentioned as historical fiction, the book looks like a memoir of an American journalist who spent his life in Bombay (now Mumbai)during the 70s.
How Daniel Jacobs known as Danny dragged into the drug smuggling and human trafficking case by both the CBI as well as the smuggler himself. Danny was invited by Willy Smets(the smuggler) for his party, there he falls in love with Sushmita who is Smets's lover.
Danny's helper Ramu/Ranjit who is a CBI official, makes him work closely with Willy to find out his dealings.
Ranjit and Danny were successful in their mission?
This book covers, love, betrayal, political situation, the life of high-class Indian women, colorism, and more.
The Indian dialect is used and captured so nicely.
The author transported me to Bombay in the 70s. The book is gripping from beginning to end. It will keep you hooked till you finish the last page. It's a great pleasure to read this book.
The author did not touch much about the political situation during emergency. I was expecting more on that.
The book is presented in the form of a journal with a time stamp.
The author captured the city during the 70s so well. Despite many high-rise builds and metro stations, Bombay Akka Mumbai is still the same in many parts.
This story is based on the political situation in India during the 70s when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister who ordered an emergency in which India's democracy(the world's largest democratic country) was shaken up. Civil liberties were curtailed, the press was censored, political opponents were jailed, and so on.
Though it's mentioned as historical fiction, the book looks like a memoir of an American journalist who spent his life in Bombay (now Mumbai)during the 70s.
How Daniel Jacobs known as Danny dragged into the drug smuggling and human trafficking case by both the CBI as well as the smuggler himself. Danny was invited by Willy Smets(the smuggler) for his party, there he falls in love with Sushmita who is Smets's lover.
Danny's helper Ramu/Ranjit who is a CBI official, makes him work closely with Willy to find out his dealings.
Ranjit and Danny were successful in their mission?
This book covers, love, betrayal, political situation, the life of high-class Indian women, colorism, and more.
The Indian dialect is used and captured so nicely.
The author transported me to Bombay in the 70s. The book is gripping from beginning to end. It will keep you hooked till you finish the last page. It's a great pleasure to read this book.
The author did not touch much about the political situation during emergency. I was expecting more on that.
July 18, 2022
Come for the India feels, leave for the plot...
A mystery/misfortune by chance novel, Bombay Monsoon is tale of American journalist Danny Jacobs, who finds himself in 1970s India ruled with an iron fist by Indira Gandhi. As he learns to navigate the country, its people, its customs, Danny quickly finds himself embroiled in multiple spots of bother: an extremist who threatens his life, an unfriendly policeman, a burglar servant, a short-tempered boss, strange expats, and overfriendly neighbours all quickly populate this story. Can Danny figure what's truly happening before his loses his job, himself.. or even his life?
As an Indian, I enjoyed the attention detail by the author towards the time period, the food, the regions, languages. It was very easy to be transported in my mind's to the Danny's Mumbai and Poona haunts, by how vividly they were described, The characters that populate the book seem familiar, as if you might cross paths with them in any Indian city, adding to depth of the book.
As for the story itself, it stumbles and staggers in terms of pace - a lot of time is spent setting up the characters before getting to the heat of the mystery and predicament that Danny faces. The historical background is interesting but doesn't really impact the plot much. The supporting characters all seem equally shady / sleazy / unknown and as the book approaches the close of the plot, it becomes hard to decipher the direction of the end. Perhaps this is intentional, but it does drawn the inevitable conclusion of 'That's it?'.
Overall an easy read and a unique story that could have had a touch more substance or character development.
(Received an eARC from Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing. All opinions in this review are my own.)
A mystery/misfortune by chance novel, Bombay Monsoon is tale of American journalist Danny Jacobs, who finds himself in 1970s India ruled with an iron fist by Indira Gandhi. As he learns to navigate the country, its people, its customs, Danny quickly finds himself embroiled in multiple spots of bother: an extremist who threatens his life, an unfriendly policeman, a burglar servant, a short-tempered boss, strange expats, and overfriendly neighbours all quickly populate this story. Can Danny figure what's truly happening before his loses his job, himself.. or even his life?
As an Indian, I enjoyed the attention detail by the author towards the time period, the food, the regions, languages. It was very easy to be transported in my mind's to the Danny's Mumbai and Poona haunts, by how vividly they were described, The characters that populate the book seem familiar, as if you might cross paths with them in any Indian city, adding to depth of the book.
As for the story itself, it stumbles and staggers in terms of pace - a lot of time is spent setting up the characters before getting to the heat of the mystery and predicament that Danny faces. The historical background is interesting but doesn't really impact the plot much. The supporting characters all seem equally shady / sleazy / unknown and as the book approaches the close of the plot, it becomes hard to decipher the direction of the end. Perhaps this is intentional, but it does drawn the inevitable conclusion of 'That's it?'.
Overall an easy read and a unique story that could have had a touch more substance or character development.
(Received an eARC from Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing. All opinions in this review are my own.)
December 9, 2022
The ugly American is always an innocent. It’s innocence that makes him ugly. Danny Jacobs is not only an innocent, he’s polite. He doesn’t ask personal questions. He takes everyone at their word, at the surface. It’s not that he has no experience; he’s a foreign correspondent for a young and rising news service. He’s been dangerous places. He even has a shrapnel scar on his butt from Vietnam. What he lacks is suspicion, and it’s a nearly fatal flaw in Bombay in 1975.
(The action takes place during the Emergency which Indira Ghandi imposed to keep power, a time when democracy and truth were suspended, a time in which a young new correspondent was discouraged from asking personal questions.)
But his neighbors are friendly. Everyone he meets is friendly, including a wealthy upstairs neighbor who’s in “import-export” and his stunningly beautiful girlfriend whom Danny falls hard for--even some people he’d rather not be friends with, including even an uglier American than himself who keeps turning up in his path. But all these people DO ask personal questions. They all know everything there is to know about Danny, including some dangerous secrets he’s certain ARE secret.
Bombay Monsoon is like skating on thin ice. No one is who they present themselves as. Even as the truth is slowly peeled away, the reader has to ask: have we finally reached the truth? It’s a tale of constant betrayal with more twists and turns than the hair-raising mountain roads Danny must navigate. And he’s never in the driver’s seat.
To tell you more would spoil the surprises. Head out to the bookstore now.
(The action takes place during the Emergency which Indira Ghandi imposed to keep power, a time when democracy and truth were suspended, a time in which a young new correspondent was discouraged from asking personal questions.)
But his neighbors are friendly. Everyone he meets is friendly, including a wealthy upstairs neighbor who’s in “import-export” and his stunningly beautiful girlfriend whom Danny falls hard for--even some people he’d rather not be friends with, including even an uglier American than himself who keeps turning up in his path. But all these people DO ask personal questions. They all know everything there is to know about Danny, including some dangerous secrets he’s certain ARE secret.
Bombay Monsoon is like skating on thin ice. No one is who they present themselves as. Even as the truth is slowly peeled away, the reader has to ask: have we finally reached the truth? It’s a tale of constant betrayal with more twists and turns than the hair-raising mountain roads Danny must navigate. And he’s never in the driver’s seat.
To tell you more would spoil the surprises. Head out to the bookstore now.
March 25, 2022
Politics, crime, and a sadness-tinged romance combine in Ziskin’s thriller set in 1970s India. Our protagonist is Danny Jacobs, an eager but naïve journalist at the Bombay office of an American newspaper. A state of emergency has been declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (this really happened), and with civil liberties suspended and unrest growing, there’s plenty to report back to New York. Censorship of the press is part of the Emergency’s decrees, however, so Danny must tiptoe during his investigation into a bomb that killed a policeman. At work and socially, he associates with other foreigners—they call themselves expats though some are immigrants—one of them Willy Smets, a rich Belgian who at first seems to do little but says he’s in “Import Export. Dull stuff.”
Not dull at all is Willy’s girlfriend, Sushmita, whom Danny adores and for whom he is willing to trash his career and maybe even lose his life. He’s in way over his head romantically and culturally—Sushmita has a knack for letting him know when he’s pulling a white-savior act—and, as the book goes on, readers will despair that he can ever make a sensible move. (Whether readers can themselves survive scenes in which he’s driven on the ghats, the world’s most dangerous road, is another matter.)
With real watch-through-your-hands scariness, hairpin turns in plot, and oh, that romance, this is one to savor.—Henrietta Verma
For more reviews of new crime fiction, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, First Clue: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/First...
Not dull at all is Willy’s girlfriend, Sushmita, whom Danny adores and for whom he is willing to trash his career and maybe even lose his life. He’s in way over his head romantically and culturally—Sushmita has a knack for letting him know when he’s pulling a white-savior act—and, as the book goes on, readers will despair that he can ever make a sensible move. (Whether readers can themselves survive scenes in which he’s driven on the ghats, the world’s most dangerous road, is another matter.)
With real watch-through-your-hands scariness, hairpin turns in plot, and oh, that romance, this is one to savor.—Henrietta Verma
For more reviews of new crime fiction, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, First Clue: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/First...
December 5, 2022
By James W. Ziskin, takes place in a world of intrigue, passion, and atmosphere. It’s a young reporters dream job—or his worst nightmare. His name is Denny Jacob’s and he’s the new guy at UNI, or United News International in Bombay, India, where he’s desperate for a big story to make a name for himself. The year is 1975 and the country is in turmoil. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi has declared a state of emergency in order to prevent a coup, the wire service is subjected to an in-house censor who imposes a virtual news black-out, the weather is unbearably hot and the food, although tasty, is mostly unfit to eat. There’s also that pesky Marxist bomber who managed to kill a federal police officer. He granted an interview with photographs to the young man, but has second thoughts. Shortly after, bomber and reporter are being hounded by the police. But Denny’s real problems start when he meets a man named Willy Smets, his mysterious and shifty landlord, whose beguiling girlfriend, Sushmita immediately captures the young American’s interest . . . and the feeling is mutual, as well as deadly. Soon Denny Jacob’s life and career are in peril. Then, on top of everything else, the monsoons begin dumping their endless and torrential rains.
With a lively cast of characters, authentic descriptions of time and place coupled with non-stop action, Bombay Monsoon will capture the readers hearts and minds in Chapter one and never let go!!
With a lively cast of characters, authentic descriptions of time and place coupled with non-stop action, Bombay Monsoon will capture the readers hearts and minds in Chapter one and never let go!!
December 13, 2022
James Ziskin’s gripping novel takes place during the summer of 1975 in an India shaken by political unrest. We see Bombay and nearby Poona (as they were still called then) through the eyes of a newly arrived young American reporter, Danny Jacobs. Danny is unsure of himself but entranced by the sophistication of other expats. One of these is his mysterious older neighbor, Willy Smets, whose job Danny doesn’t understand but whose beautiful and much younger Indian mistress, Sushmita, he immediately falls in love with.
Danny’s India is both lush and frightening. Bombay Monsoon moves at a lively pace, and the story’s air of unsolved riddles and disturbing secrets engages the reader from start to finish. I took particular delight in the characters: Danny, who grows and changes as he has to confront a world he doesn’t understand; charming Sushmita, who is one woman with Danny and another with Willy Smets; Willy himself, a chameleon of a man whom Danny and the reader keep desperately trying to pin down; and a host of other fascinating figures, Indian, American, and European, who give the book its depth.
This is one to buy, read fast, and savor afterwards. Highly recommended!
Danny’s India is both lush and frightening. Bombay Monsoon moves at a lively pace, and the story’s air of unsolved riddles and disturbing secrets engages the reader from start to finish. I took particular delight in the characters: Danny, who grows and changes as he has to confront a world he doesn’t understand; charming Sushmita, who is one woman with Danny and another with Willy Smets; Willy himself, a chameleon of a man whom Danny and the reader keep desperately trying to pin down; and a host of other fascinating figures, Indian, American, and European, who give the book its depth.
This is one to buy, read fast, and savor afterwards. Highly recommended!
September 9, 2022
In 1975, for 21 months, the world's largest democracy was anything but a democracy. In fact, Indira Ghandi, in order to defend herself against an accusation of electoral fraud that would have removed her from power, had Article 352 of the Constitution enacted, thus suspending public freedoms and elections. Against the backdrop of these events, the story unfolds of Danny Jacobs, a young and ambitious American journalist who, despite his experience as a war correspondent, is evidently not prepared for the strange, sometimes murky atmosphere of the Indian subcontinent, its elusive characters, its trafficking, the strangeness that is the caste division, its gurus and what is almost an adoration for white skin. In search of a scoop and constrained by the bonds of censorship, he inevitably falls in love with Sushmita, a refined Indian woman who is the mistress of a European tycoon. A woman who hides many secrets, among which the best kept is her true identity.
A very well-written, intriguing novel that carries an exotic perfume.
A very well-written, intriguing novel that carries an exotic perfume.
November 20, 2022
1975 Danny is bold, a bit brash and new to Bombay. He has come as a journalist at a
time of press restructions with Indira Gandhi trying to hold onto power, in whatever
way possible. The government does not like criticsm and very soon Danny is drawn into
a maelstrom of intrigue, not just political but into a world of drug dealing, manipulative
deals, ruthless big time dealers who will not hesitate to kill any opponent.
in addition he is attracted to a local girl, who is already someone else's mistress.
Not the best way to cement alliances in a very fast moving world.
Danny is in way over his head and to extricate himself and come out alive is hard.
The story is fast moving, covering terrorism, drug trafficking, corruption in the
government and whether the woman whom Danny is in love with is using him for her own
reasons.
Nicely displaying the naivety of a newly arrived American and how gullible one can be
when transported out of one's usual environment, the story is fast paced and interesting.
time of press restructions with Indira Gandhi trying to hold onto power, in whatever
way possible. The government does not like criticsm and very soon Danny is drawn into
a maelstrom of intrigue, not just political but into a world of drug dealing, manipulative
deals, ruthless big time dealers who will not hesitate to kill any opponent.
in addition he is attracted to a local girl, who is already someone else's mistress.
Not the best way to cement alliances in a very fast moving world.
Danny is in way over his head and to extricate himself and come out alive is hard.
The story is fast moving, covering terrorism, drug trafficking, corruption in the
government and whether the woman whom Danny is in love with is using him for her own
reasons.
Nicely displaying the naivety of a newly arrived American and how gullible one can be
when transported out of one's usual environment, the story is fast paced and interesting.
July 4, 2022
In this historic fictional story, Danny Jacobs is a young American journalist who has arrived in Bombay in 1975 on a new assignment. He befriends enigmatic expat neighbour Willy Smets. Willy is charming and rich. As he spends more time with Willy, Danny falls hard for Willy's girlfriend Sushmita and the two begin a clandestine relationship. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi conducts a virtual coup by declaring an Emergency. With the monsoon rains falling, Danny ponders what to do about his growing obsession with Sushmita as he works on a big story about the assassination of a police officer by a Marxist extremist.
This is a compelling story of courage, love, and betrayal. The 1975 setting in India is vividly described. Danny Jacobs is a flawed protagonist who soon finds both his career and life are in danger. Danny finds it hard to judge who to trust & how to move forward.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing. All opinions listed here are my own.
This is a compelling story of courage, love, and betrayal. The 1975 setting in India is vividly described. Danny Jacobs is a flawed protagonist who soon finds both his career and life are in danger. Danny finds it hard to judge who to trust & how to move forward.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing. All opinions listed here are my own.
May 25, 2022
Wow! My first time with James, and what a love story he paints amidst the landscape of India.
What I love, apart from the accurate portraits of Bombay life circa the 70s (you know, the social paradigms etc), is his fondness for the intricacies of Indian cuisine. My mouth was watering for veg khana on many occasions.
And my god, Sushmita (main girl), penned by James, down to her sexyest details had me wondering whom he based this characters looks on.... But I digress..
So, poor Danny (main boy), may he find the love of his life who turns out to be a..... Well..you best read this novel...plenty of twists and thrills to keep you glued to your Kindle.
Good fun!
Many thanks to Oceanview publishing and NetGalley for this advanced review copy🙏
What I love, apart from the accurate portraits of Bombay life circa the 70s (you know, the social paradigms etc), is his fondness for the intricacies of Indian cuisine. My mouth was watering for veg khana on many occasions.
And my god, Sushmita (main girl), penned by James, down to her sexyest details had me wondering whom he based this characters looks on.... But I digress..
So, poor Danny (main boy), may he find the love of his life who turns out to be a..... Well..you best read this novel...plenty of twists and thrills to keep you glued to your Kindle.
Good fun!
Many thanks to Oceanview publishing and NetGalley for this advanced review copy🙏
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