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Kamil Rahman #3
The Detective
From the award-winning author of THE WAITER comes the third instalment in the Detective Kamil Rahman Mystery series.
When a tech entrepreneur from Shoreditch is found dead in a construction site, along with three skeletons which are discovered to be over a hundred years old, Detective Kamil Rahman sets out to prove himself on his first case for the Met Police.
Praise for the Detective Rahman series:
'A rip-roaring mystery that's engrossing from start to finish' - ABIR MUKHERJEE
'This detective waiter has all the ingredients for a great crime series' - SUN
'[Kamil is a] likeable inspector . . . We shall hear much more of him' - DAILY MAIL
'An elegantly constructed thriller' - THE TIMES
'Hugely entertaining' - ANN CLEEVES
'An outstanding debut' - SUNDAY TIMES
When a tech entrepreneur from Shoreditch is found dead in a construction site, along with three skeletons which are discovered to be over a hundred years old, Detective Kamil Rahman sets out to prove himself on his first case for the Met Police.
Praise for the Detective Rahman series:
'A rip-roaring mystery that's engrossing from start to finish' - ABIR MUKHERJEE
'This detective waiter has all the ingredients for a great crime series' - SUN
'[Kamil is a] likeable inspector . . . We shall hear much more of him' - DAILY MAIL
'An elegantly constructed thriller' - THE TIMES
'Hugely entertaining' - ANN CLEEVES
'An outstanding debut' - SUNDAY TIMES
400 pages, Hardcover
Published April 13, 2023
58 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
December 16, 2022
4+ stars
Kamil Rahman #3
Former Kolkata cop Kamil turned London waiter and cook at the Tandoori Knights restaurant is now serving in the Metropolitan Police Force as a DC alongside close friend DI Tamil Ismael. Kamil’s first day is deep end stuff when a body is found in a Fieldgate Street construction site which proves to be Sid Ram CEO of Aishtar Ltd, a tech company. Near his body is a very puzzling note and even more perplexing is in the same hole in which Sid is buried, more bodies are found which prove to be historic. Further inquiries into the tech firm reveals oddities, is the crime personal or is it to do the soon to be sold company? Are there any links to the older bodies or is it pure coincidence?
I like this series and I’m delighted that Kamil has made the detective grade in London though it’s far from an easy ride for him. This plot is much more meaty and complex than the first two books and is told at a brisk pace and has multiple layers. There’s the technology angle of the present day case which also takes several political directions, there’s the intrigue of how and why the earlier bodies are murdered which takes the plot into an intriguing DNA scenario, there’s racism and anti Semitism, there are algorithms and the security services and a very scary big brother potential. Phew! I hasten to add it doesn’t feel over burdened as everything connects cleverly.
Alongside this never a dull moment plot we get the mouth watering food at the Tandoor Knights and many a chuckle over owner Angelina’s T-shirts!!! They really are so witty and I laugh out loud on several occasions! If all this isn’t enticing enough for you then there’s a will he /won’t he Romance angle! It’s creative, pertinent and I like the emerging parallels between past and present. As the plot develops carnage ensues and it takes some inspiration to achieve breakthroughs and there are some good twists before we get to the big reveal.
My only (slight) negatives are there are a lot of characters to get your head around but I do get there in the end and some things are a teensy, weensy bit of a stretch but hey, it’s fiction and it’s good and most definitely an immersive read.
I recommend this series as the characters are very likeable and there’s also a liberal sprinkling of excellent humour.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Kamil Rahman #3
Former Kolkata cop Kamil turned London waiter and cook at the Tandoori Knights restaurant is now serving in the Metropolitan Police Force as a DC alongside close friend DI Tamil Ismael. Kamil’s first day is deep end stuff when a body is found in a Fieldgate Street construction site which proves to be Sid Ram CEO of Aishtar Ltd, a tech company. Near his body is a very puzzling note and even more perplexing is in the same hole in which Sid is buried, more bodies are found which prove to be historic. Further inquiries into the tech firm reveals oddities, is the crime personal or is it to do the soon to be sold company? Are there any links to the older bodies or is it pure coincidence?
I like this series and I’m delighted that Kamil has made the detective grade in London though it’s far from an easy ride for him. This plot is much more meaty and complex than the first two books and is told at a brisk pace and has multiple layers. There’s the technology angle of the present day case which also takes several political directions, there’s the intrigue of how and why the earlier bodies are murdered which takes the plot into an intriguing DNA scenario, there’s racism and anti Semitism, there are algorithms and the security services and a very scary big brother potential. Phew! I hasten to add it doesn’t feel over burdened as everything connects cleverly.
Alongside this never a dull moment plot we get the mouth watering food at the Tandoor Knights and many a chuckle over owner Angelina’s T-shirts!!! They really are so witty and I laugh out loud on several occasions! If all this isn’t enticing enough for you then there’s a will he /won’t he Romance angle! It’s creative, pertinent and I like the emerging parallels between past and present. As the plot develops carnage ensues and it takes some inspiration to achieve breakthroughs and there are some good twists before we get to the big reveal.
My only (slight) negatives are there are a lot of characters to get your head around but I do get there in the end and some things are a teensy, weensy bit of a stretch but hey, it’s fiction and it’s good and most definitely an immersive read.
I recommend this series as the characters are very likeable and there’s also a liberal sprinkling of excellent humour.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
April 22, 2024
3.3 stars
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April 15, 2023Third outing for Kolkata cop > Brick Lane waiter > Brick Lane cook > Met DC Kamil Rahman. As ever the setting is great, with a strong East London vibe and enjoyable characters, especially Anjoli and her T shirts. I loved the premise, which is all about tech startups and surveillance apps (there's a bunch of people you can see murdered without compunction), with a parallel plot about the murder of a Jewish family in the early 1900s. Strong themes of family and deracination and immigration, and everything that has been and continues to be wrong with Britain, and with the pursuit of money and power.
Lots to love but for me the plot was a bit wobbly. I think this is mostly because now Kamil is a policeman again, Anjoli just does not have a place in his investigations and it didn't feel plausible how she was incorporated. And the ending involving the historical plot really didn't work for me on a plausibility level (satisfying, yes, but not plausible). I don't know how well it works to have Kamil a policeman again in terms of plot structure, but I hope the author can iron out the wrinkles for the next book because overall this is a terrific series.
Lots to love but for me the plot was a bit wobbly. I think this is mostly because now Kamil is a policeman again, Anjoli just does not have a place in his investigations and it didn't feel plausible how she was incorporated. And the ending involving the historical plot really didn't work for me on a plausibility level (satisfying, yes, but not plausible). I don't know how well it works to have Kamil a policeman again in terms of plot structure, but I hope the author can iron out the wrinkles for the next book because overall this is a terrific series.
April 4, 2023
Kamil Rahman #3
On the verge of a four-billion-dollar-deal, a tech entrepreneur from Shoreditch is found dead on a construction site, which leads to the discovery of three skeletons over one-hundred-years-old. But as fresh bodies turn up, can Detective Kamal - along with his friend Anjoli - prevent another murder?
Kamil has succeeded in his dream to become a Detective in the Met. Exploring relationships and race in both his personal life and at work is a huge part of this story. with multiple crimes in the past and present, this story kept me on my toes. The story has been cleverly crafted, well researched, and has lots of twist and turns. Although there is a lot going on in this book, and it covers lots of topics, it's still easy to follow. I liked the authors writing style and the way he pulls you in without you even noticing. This series keeps getting better. I can't wait to see what's in store in the next edition.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #Vintage and the author #AjayChowdhury for my ARC of #TheDetective in exchange for an honest review.
On the verge of a four-billion-dollar-deal, a tech entrepreneur from Shoreditch is found dead on a construction site, which leads to the discovery of three skeletons over one-hundred-years-old. But as fresh bodies turn up, can Detective Kamal - along with his friend Anjoli - prevent another murder?
Kamil has succeeded in his dream to become a Detective in the Met. Exploring relationships and race in both his personal life and at work is a huge part of this story. with multiple crimes in the past and present, this story kept me on my toes. The story has been cleverly crafted, well researched, and has lots of twist and turns. Although there is a lot going on in this book, and it covers lots of topics, it's still easy to follow. I liked the authors writing style and the way he pulls you in without you even noticing. This series keeps getting better. I can't wait to see what's in store in the next edition.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #Vintage and the author #AjayChowdhury for my ARC of #TheDetective in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2024
An interesting addition to this unique series about a detective turned cook turned detective again. Detective Kamil Rahman, forced to flee to London after finding himself on the wrong side of a case in Kolkata, has been working in a Brick Lane restaurant to make ends meet while still getting involved (sometimes involuntarily) in criminal cases which seem to follow him around.
Kamil is now back working where he wants to be as a Detective Constable in the London Met and this book sees him working directly under his friend DI Tahir to solve the murder of a successful entrepreneur found shot and left in a pit on a building site.
The plot follows very topical themes. The company the victim worked for is looking to roll out a programme which uses Artificial Intelligence in a controversial setting and this might certainly provide a motive for the murder. However, other murders follow which could lead the force in another direction. The plot also brings into play the unease around the current situation in Israel and Palastine and shows how this influences the investigation.
What I particularly like about these books are the fabulous characters. I like Kamil, even though he's a bit of a whinger and a procrastinator in terms of his love life. Anjoli, his flat mate and potential love interest is my favourite character though with her feistiness and courage to take on the world. She is centre stage in a sub plot which links cleverly to the main story and elevates her as a main character for future books in the series.
The background to the story is well written and believable. It doesn't shy away from uncomfortable themes. Kamil has to deal with racism in the work place and also with his own conscience as he comes to realise that the initial outcome of the investigation might be flawed due to his actions. A very interesting premise as he has to decide whether to say something to put things right or leave things as they are which would enable him to be embraced as one of the team and make his work environment easier for him. A real dilemma for him.
This book is very accomplished. It reads as a fairly light weight detective story but covers a lot of ground in terms of linking it to major issues going on in the world. Highly recommended but I feel you do need to read the books in order to get the best from them.
Kamil is now back working where he wants to be as a Detective Constable in the London Met and this book sees him working directly under his friend DI Tahir to solve the murder of a successful entrepreneur found shot and left in a pit on a building site.
The plot follows very topical themes. The company the victim worked for is looking to roll out a programme which uses Artificial Intelligence in a controversial setting and this might certainly provide a motive for the murder. However, other murders follow which could lead the force in another direction. The plot also brings into play the unease around the current situation in Israel and Palastine and shows how this influences the investigation.
What I particularly like about these books are the fabulous characters. I like Kamil, even though he's a bit of a whinger and a procrastinator in terms of his love life. Anjoli, his flat mate and potential love interest is my favourite character though with her feistiness and courage to take on the world. She is centre stage in a sub plot which links cleverly to the main story and elevates her as a main character for future books in the series.
The background to the story is well written and believable. It doesn't shy away from uncomfortable themes. Kamil has to deal with racism in the work place and also with his own conscience as he comes to realise that the initial outcome of the investigation might be flawed due to his actions. A very interesting premise as he has to decide whether to say something to put things right or leave things as they are which would enable him to be embraced as one of the team and make his work environment easier for him. A real dilemma for him.
This book is very accomplished. It reads as a fairly light weight detective story but covers a lot of ground in terms of linking it to major issues going on in the world. Highly recommended but I feel you do need to read the books in order to get the best from them.
January 22, 2023
This is definitely the best book in the series so far.
It's not often you get a crime book that is so inclusive and representative of wider society and I really love that about these books. In The Detective, Chowdhury introduces a diverse cast of characters in a nuanced way that avoids stereotypical representations. and offers the reader insights into diverse Britain. The Detective, as well as being twisty and intriguing by linking a cold case with a current one, is easy to read with likeable characters and a storyling that will keep you hooked till the end.
It's not often you get a crime book that is so inclusive and representative of wider society and I really love that about these books. In The Detective, Chowdhury introduces a diverse cast of characters in a nuanced way that avoids stereotypical representations. and offers the reader insights into diverse Britain. The Detective, as well as being twisty and intriguing by linking a cold case with a current one, is easy to read with likeable characters and a storyling that will keep you hooked till the end.
June 3, 2023
3.75 / 5
I’ve not read the other two books, but this book can be read as a standalone (ish). I enjoyed the read, it’s different there’s always something interesting going on and ties in neatly at the end. It has structure and it’s well executed.
The plot follows Kamil, who was a former cop in India, turned waiter to cook to detective constable at the Met police force. The first day on the job, he gets called out to the murder of Sid Ram (who is the CEO of a tech company worth £4 billion) Alongside this, ancient bones are found on the site of the murder, so whilst the main plot is occurring we have a sub plot of establishing who those bone belong too which Anjoli takes on (Kamil’s friend/ more than friend partner/ complicated relationship). The plot builds up when more bodies are found and linked to Sid’s murder, of which it’s Kamils job to figure out who is responsible and bring them to justice.
I was quite surprised by this book, but I found it difficult to get into in the start. Maybe it’s the fact that I wasn’t too familiar with the characters from the start, there was a lot of overloading of information with the introduction of more characters that are brought in. So I did struggle the first 150 pages. Past this, it makes more sense since more information is revealed. But I was drawn to Kamils perspective. I do have to put a warning out that there is mention of politics and anti semitism throughout of the book. In the end, it starts to make more sense and the plot thickens.
Overall it’s not a bad read, I was surprised by the book I didnt think I would enjoy it since I struggled to get into it early on. But it picks up a lot. I like the police procedural aspect from Kamils perspective, makes it feel more personal almost as though you’re alongside him working on the case. I recommend this book if you want to still have that detective/ solving murdering aspect but experiencing it from in a different culture. I really liked the aspect of bringing in the Indian culture in the book and I learnt a lot about various religions alongside! Something different from the usual books I tend to go for!
I’ve not read the other two books, but this book can be read as a standalone (ish). I enjoyed the read, it’s different there’s always something interesting going on and ties in neatly at the end. It has structure and it’s well executed.
The plot follows Kamil, who was a former cop in India, turned waiter to cook to detective constable at the Met police force. The first day on the job, he gets called out to the murder of Sid Ram (who is the CEO of a tech company worth £4 billion) Alongside this, ancient bones are found on the site of the murder, so whilst the main plot is occurring we have a sub plot of establishing who those bone belong too which Anjoli takes on (Kamil’s friend/ more than friend partner/ complicated relationship). The plot builds up when more bodies are found and linked to Sid’s murder, of which it’s Kamils job to figure out who is responsible and bring them to justice.
I was quite surprised by this book, but I found it difficult to get into in the start. Maybe it’s the fact that I wasn’t too familiar with the characters from the start, there was a lot of overloading of information with the introduction of more characters that are brought in. So I did struggle the first 150 pages. Past this, it makes more sense since more information is revealed. But I was drawn to Kamils perspective. I do have to put a warning out that there is mention of politics and anti semitism throughout of the book. In the end, it starts to make more sense and the plot thickens.
Overall it’s not a bad read, I was surprised by the book I didnt think I would enjoy it since I struggled to get into it early on. But it picks up a lot. I like the police procedural aspect from Kamils perspective, makes it feel more personal almost as though you’re alongside him working on the case. I recommend this book if you want to still have that detective/ solving murdering aspect but experiencing it from in a different culture. I really liked the aspect of bringing in the Indian culture in the book and I learnt a lot about various religions alongside! Something different from the usual books I tend to go for!
June 6, 2023
If you’re looking for a moreish detective series to add to your reading menu, then the tantalising books starring disgraced Kolkata detective Kamil Rahman could provide a tasty treat. The insidious threat of rampant technology adds extra spice in this excellent third helping, where Rahman is now a fresh new Detective Constable with the Met Police in London, after stints as a waiter then cook at an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane.
Ajay Chowdhury, who was himself a tech entrepreneur (the founder or CEO of some hugely successful startups, eg Shazam) before becoming a crime writer, spins an engrossing tale in The Detective where Rahman is part of a team investigating the murder of a tech CEO whose company was on the verge of a secret $4 billion sale. But why would a company that creates algorithms for a dating site be so valuable? As cloak and dagger events hamper the investigation, and Kamil’s friend-or-more Anjoli digs into the discovery of three century-old skeletons, another murder turns up the heat.
The Detective is rip-roaring crime novel that nicely balances humour and Kamil’s personal misadventures with serious issues including the tension between privacy and security, and prejudices modern and ancient. A flavourful and filling slice of crime.
[This review was first written for Good Reading magazine]
Ajay Chowdhury, who was himself a tech entrepreneur (the founder or CEO of some hugely successful startups, eg Shazam) before becoming a crime writer, spins an engrossing tale in The Detective where Rahman is part of a team investigating the murder of a tech CEO whose company was on the verge of a secret $4 billion sale. But why would a company that creates algorithms for a dating site be so valuable? As cloak and dagger events hamper the investigation, and Kamil’s friend-or-more Anjoli digs into the discovery of three century-old skeletons, another murder turns up the heat.
The Detective is rip-roaring crime novel that nicely balances humour and Kamil’s personal misadventures with serious issues including the tension between privacy and security, and prejudices modern and ancient. A flavourful and filling slice of crime.
[This review was first written for Good Reading magazine]
June 12, 2023
The 3rd and best book of this vibrant and relevant series so far sees the now DC Kamil Rahman continuing his new life in the Uk as he grows from Chef to newly minted Detective Constable.
In a book that feels extremely up to the minute, this thriller set just after our world starts trying to get back to normal following the COVID lockdowns is full of hi tech, Artificial Intelligence and the deeper reaches of that industry. And politics…and of course plenty of dead bodies.
Again Ajay Chowdury really brings Indian culture to London and his books, as this story that also has deep roots in the past, and in religion, really shines.
It’s clever, intelligent, very well written and Chowdury and his protagonist grow by the book, ably assisted by some great backing characters. My only niggle is I don’t feel much for the love triangle that intersects much of the story, but it does add depth to the story and Kamil himself.
Fine Stuff
4⭐️
In a book that feels extremely up to the minute, this thriller set just after our world starts trying to get back to normal following the COVID lockdowns is full of hi tech, Artificial Intelligence and the deeper reaches of that industry. And politics…and of course plenty of dead bodies.
Again Ajay Chowdury really brings Indian culture to London and his books, as this story that also has deep roots in the past, and in religion, really shines.
It’s clever, intelligent, very well written and Chowdury and his protagonist grow by the book, ably assisted by some great backing characters. My only niggle is I don’t feel much for the love triangle that intersects much of the story, but it does add depth to the story and Kamil himself.
Fine Stuff
4⭐️
April 18, 2023
I need to give myself a sharp rap on the wrist,it’s not often that I read a series out of sequence but this was one of those occasions and I felt I really missed out on the lack of backstory. I did though manage to follow the storyline despite a little initial bafflement.
Kamil is definitely an original character and probably one of the most honest I’ve across in fiction. He admits to mixed feelings towards the two women in his life, Anjoli and Maliah. Anjoli was the one who I hoped he’d get together with, apart from anything else for her choice in T-shirts and her views on politicians.
Over the last few months I’ve wondered if the police force in this country would be shown in a similar way in fiction. In this novel it was, and it was often uncomfortable to read. I didn’t think that Tahir made life easy for Kamil but he shouldn’t have had to experience what he did. Even more upsetting was that the fictional account of his treatment was probably less severe than many officers in the police experience. Happily there were good officers amongst the bad and he did start to see attitude change.
There were two cases being investigated, the main one involving murders of businessmen who worked in the extremely confusing world of AI, which was being investigated by the police. The other, strangely, was being investigated by Anjoli and it was this investigation that captivated me most. Partly because I understood it but also because genealogy research is something I’m interested in. I loved reading how the past came together with the future and they could get a resolution.
If I could choose a favourite character from the book it would definitely be Anjoli. I hope that she features just as strongly in the two books I still need to read and the new one due next year.
Kamil is definitely an original character and probably one of the most honest I’ve across in fiction. He admits to mixed feelings towards the two women in his life, Anjoli and Maliah. Anjoli was the one who I hoped he’d get together with, apart from anything else for her choice in T-shirts and her views on politicians.
Over the last few months I’ve wondered if the police force in this country would be shown in a similar way in fiction. In this novel it was, and it was often uncomfortable to read. I didn’t think that Tahir made life easy for Kamil but he shouldn’t have had to experience what he did. Even more upsetting was that the fictional account of his treatment was probably less severe than many officers in the police experience. Happily there were good officers amongst the bad and he did start to see attitude change.
There were two cases being investigated, the main one involving murders of businessmen who worked in the extremely confusing world of AI, which was being investigated by the police. The other, strangely, was being investigated by Anjoli and it was this investigation that captivated me most. Partly because I understood it but also because genealogy research is something I’m interested in. I loved reading how the past came together with the future and they could get a resolution.
If I could choose a favourite character from the book it would definitely be Anjoli. I hope that she features just as strongly in the two books I still need to read and the new one due next year.
October 11, 2023
The Detective by Ajay Chowdhury is the third book in the Kamil Rahman series and in this book we see as a serving police officer in the Met. In his first case as a London police officer, Kamil is involved in the death of a tech entrepreneur from Shoreditch who company was involved in a multi million pound deal. Three skeletons were also discovered below the body, which were 100 years old. There are more bodies which mount up all from the same tech company. It is then up to Detective Kamil and his new boss and friend , Anjoli to solve the murder. Another successful storyline in this police series, with interesting characters and intriguing storylines. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more in the series. Highly recommended
June 17, 2023
This is such a great series, I loved that in this book we see Kamil in his new role.
The dynamics between the staff team really held my interest and following them as they solved the cases, the twists are so good and can’t wait to see what Kamil faces look.
The dynamics between the staff team really held my interest and following them as they solved the cases, the twists are so good and can’t wait to see what Kamil faces look.
August 7, 2025
As usual with this author’s books, as soon as i started, I binged it 😄 very gripping story and the killer is never who you think it is.
Thanks for the acknowledgement Ajay! I look forward to more wild goat algorithms in fiction.
Thanks for the acknowledgement Ajay! I look forward to more wild goat algorithms in fiction.
April 24, 2023
I liked the first two in the series very much, but this one had too many ideas/themes and his politics seemed added on with a shovel rather subtly interwoven and seemed to get in the way.
June 15, 2023
The Detective is the third book in Ajay Chowdhury's Detective Kamil Rahman series. It's the first I've read and while I have no doubt that returning readers will enjoy the ongoing development of the characters, I'm happy to confirm it can also easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone.
Although set in the present day, the novel actually opens on New Year's Eve 1913; the world stands on the brink of war but a young immigrant Jewish family believe they have cause to celebrate their new lives in England. What then takes place here leads to a clever sub-plot which really helps to emphasise how the East End, around Brick Lane in particular, has long become home to immigrants. Properties which once belonged to Jewish residents are now owned by the South Asian community who live, work and worship there.
Racial tensions are sensitively explored throughout The Detective, whether through Kamil Rahman's personal experiences as a newly qualified detective in the Met or on a wider scale, looking at both Anti-Semitism and racism in this country, and the enduring conflict between Israel and Palestine. When the body of a tech entrepreneur is discovered on a building site, followed by further deaths, Kamil is initially excited to have his first case and convinced he will soon uncover the truth. Of course, it's not quite so straightforward and it's disheartening but not surprising to see some of his problems come about due to the attitude of his fellow officers. Although some of their behaviour can be explained as indignation and anger at a rookie being given a prime role in the investigation, there is definitely a racist element too. It's intriguing to see how Kamil deals with this, especially as despite being new to the Met, he is an experienced police officer who dealt with horrific cases back in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, the motive behind the increasing body count remains a mystery despite several leads and Ajay Chowdhury offers an authentically plausible examination of the potentially terrifying consequences of governments and other agencies using AI, algorithms and surveillance in the name of national security. The Detective is set in a slightly fictionalised UK but the hard-line, ambitious Tory Home Secretary will definitely seem familiar. The backdrop then is one of suspicion and pressure and as the novel progresses, it's never clear just what the break in the case will be – or what rules Kamil will end up bending...
His friendship with Anjoli is one of the most fascinating aspects of the book and not just because he gives her more information about an ongoing murder case than a civilian presumably should be privy to. They have a history of investigating together and it's Anjoli's interest in the discovery of the near-century old skeletons which results in the poignant and brilliantly contrived sub-plot. Anjoli's restaurant and Kamil's previous job as a chef means there are several mouthwatering descriptions of food which adds further colour to the story (and left me feeling very hungry!) Kamil is a superb lead character, not least because he doesn't always make the wisest choices and Anjoli's perceptive counsel and humour – often via the slogans on her T-shirts – ensures she is immensely likeable too. However, she isn't always easy to read and their will-they-won't-they relationship adds an extra dimension to the storyline.
The complex, exciting plot, exploration of a number of topical issues and the excellent, insightfully flawed cast of characters meant I raced through the pages of The Detective and I highly recommend this compelling, atmospheric and surprising mystery thriller.
Although set in the present day, the novel actually opens on New Year's Eve 1913; the world stands on the brink of war but a young immigrant Jewish family believe they have cause to celebrate their new lives in England. What then takes place here leads to a clever sub-plot which really helps to emphasise how the East End, around Brick Lane in particular, has long become home to immigrants. Properties which once belonged to Jewish residents are now owned by the South Asian community who live, work and worship there.
Racial tensions are sensitively explored throughout The Detective, whether through Kamil Rahman's personal experiences as a newly qualified detective in the Met or on a wider scale, looking at both Anti-Semitism and racism in this country, and the enduring conflict between Israel and Palestine. When the body of a tech entrepreneur is discovered on a building site, followed by further deaths, Kamil is initially excited to have his first case and convinced he will soon uncover the truth. Of course, it's not quite so straightforward and it's disheartening but not surprising to see some of his problems come about due to the attitude of his fellow officers. Although some of their behaviour can be explained as indignation and anger at a rookie being given a prime role in the investigation, there is definitely a racist element too. It's intriguing to see how Kamil deals with this, especially as despite being new to the Met, he is an experienced police officer who dealt with horrific cases back in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, the motive behind the increasing body count remains a mystery despite several leads and Ajay Chowdhury offers an authentically plausible examination of the potentially terrifying consequences of governments and other agencies using AI, algorithms and surveillance in the name of national security. The Detective is set in a slightly fictionalised UK but the hard-line, ambitious Tory Home Secretary will definitely seem familiar. The backdrop then is one of suspicion and pressure and as the novel progresses, it's never clear just what the break in the case will be – or what rules Kamil will end up bending...
His friendship with Anjoli is one of the most fascinating aspects of the book and not just because he gives her more information about an ongoing murder case than a civilian presumably should be privy to. They have a history of investigating together and it's Anjoli's interest in the discovery of the near-century old skeletons which results in the poignant and brilliantly contrived sub-plot. Anjoli's restaurant and Kamil's previous job as a chef means there are several mouthwatering descriptions of food which adds further colour to the story (and left me feeling very hungry!) Kamil is a superb lead character, not least because he doesn't always make the wisest choices and Anjoli's perceptive counsel and humour – often via the slogans on her T-shirts – ensures she is immensely likeable too. However, she isn't always easy to read and their will-they-won't-they relationship adds an extra dimension to the storyline.
The complex, exciting plot, exploration of a number of topical issues and the excellent, insightfully flawed cast of characters meant I raced through the pages of The Detective and I highly recommend this compelling, atmospheric and surprising mystery thriller.
April 11, 2023
Kamil Rahman was a police inspector in India before he left to move to the UK. When he first moved to the UK he worked as a waiter, and then as a chef. He is now Detective Kamil, after completing his training to become a police officer in the UK. When Kamil worked in a restaurant, he did so alongside Anjoli, his landlord, boss, and good friend, who he had more than just feelings of friendship for. Now that he no longer works alongside her, Kamil wonders if they can move their friendship into something more. However, Kamil first has to start his new job in the London police force.
On his first day on the job, he attends a case with his boss and friend, (and fellow token Indian on the force) DI Tamil Ismael. They investigate a body at a construction site, shot, but no apparent robbery as a motive. During the recovery of the body old human bones are also recovered, adding to the mystery. The body turns out to be that of Sid Ram, CEO of Aishtar Ltd. Kamil unearths paperwork showing that the company is on the verge of a four billion dollar sale. Kamil and Tamil must find out who benefits from the CEO's death if the sale still goes ahead. Who had the motive to kill him? Who makes the most money from it? What they start to uncover shocks them.
This is the third instalment in the Kamil Rahman series, and we are seeing Kamil settling into life in the UK, and starting to rebuild what he lost in India. This story is set between two timelines, with Kamil trying to solve the mystery of the modern murder, and Anjoli gripped by the discovery of the bones at the construction site when it is discovered they are approximately 100 years old and unclaimed. The two stories start to entwine in an unexpected manner, bridging the two timelines in a very interesting way. Kamil is struggling with his new job, his love life, and his role in investigations.
The story is well written, with a lot going on with every page turn, at times almost too much, keeping track of it all took some concentration! As with the previous books, food plays a big part, but not as much as before. Still enough to tantalise if you are hungry however! You don’t need to have read the previous books to follow this one, but you will have a deeper understanding of the characters and their motives in this one if you have. This story doesn’t steer away from the racism Kamil faces on the force, from antisemitism faced by other characters, historical conflicts etc.
At times I found myself raising an eyebrow at the plausibility. Anjoli’s role in the investigation at times surely would not be allowed or would invalidate procedures? Kamil being allowed to run off on some of the leads he did on his first case on his first job with the London police, despite his previous experience, again a little unusual? Putting some of these doubts aside, I was thoroughly entertained by this book, and could not stop reading until I found out who did it, and why. I was fully engrossed in the tangle of suspects, and as confused as Kamil at all the twists the case took!
*I received this book for review from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.
On his first day on the job, he attends a case with his boss and friend, (and fellow token Indian on the force) DI Tamil Ismael. They investigate a body at a construction site, shot, but no apparent robbery as a motive. During the recovery of the body old human bones are also recovered, adding to the mystery. The body turns out to be that of Sid Ram, CEO of Aishtar Ltd. Kamil unearths paperwork showing that the company is on the verge of a four billion dollar sale. Kamil and Tamil must find out who benefits from the CEO's death if the sale still goes ahead. Who had the motive to kill him? Who makes the most money from it? What they start to uncover shocks them.
This is the third instalment in the Kamil Rahman series, and we are seeing Kamil settling into life in the UK, and starting to rebuild what he lost in India. This story is set between two timelines, with Kamil trying to solve the mystery of the modern murder, and Anjoli gripped by the discovery of the bones at the construction site when it is discovered they are approximately 100 years old and unclaimed. The two stories start to entwine in an unexpected manner, bridging the two timelines in a very interesting way. Kamil is struggling with his new job, his love life, and his role in investigations.
The story is well written, with a lot going on with every page turn, at times almost too much, keeping track of it all took some concentration! As with the previous books, food plays a big part, but not as much as before. Still enough to tantalise if you are hungry however! You don’t need to have read the previous books to follow this one, but you will have a deeper understanding of the characters and their motives in this one if you have. This story doesn’t steer away from the racism Kamil faces on the force, from antisemitism faced by other characters, historical conflicts etc.
At times I found myself raising an eyebrow at the plausibility. Anjoli’s role in the investigation at times surely would not be allowed or would invalidate procedures? Kamil being allowed to run off on some of the leads he did on his first case on his first job with the London police, despite his previous experience, again a little unusual? Putting some of these doubts aside, I was thoroughly entertained by this book, and could not stop reading until I found out who did it, and why. I was fully engrossed in the tangle of suspects, and as confused as Kamil at all the twists the case took!
*I received this book for review from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.
May 29, 2023
Thanks to Harvill Secker for the gifted proof of this title in return for an honest review and spot on the book tour.
This is the third in the Kamil Rahman Mystery series, but like any good series, it works very well as a standalone novel. I haven't read any of the previous two, and I'm sure you may appreciate the little things more if you have read them, but I didn't find it affected the reading of this one at all.
As a white Englishwoman, it is not always obvious to me how important multicultural characters in fiction can be, but I can completely appreciate Ajay's portrayal of multicultural London. But you don't feel as if you're reading characters who are Indian or Israelian for example, in the same way that I don't read characters as English or French, say. They're just fabulously written characters who just shine off the page, but I can appreciate how important seeing multicultural protagonists, especially to younger readers, is.
There is this naturalness between our main character of Kamil and his colleague Tahir that I loved. It was a professional relationship built on friendship and that was an interesting route to take. I also liked the addition of the dynamic between Jamil and his flatmate Anjoli. She was a great addition to the cast and I really enjoyed reading about her and their relationship.
My one issue, slightly, is there's a little too much freedom with what can be done or shared. I'm not 100% sure as I'm not a police officer, but my assumption is if you're a police officer on a murder case, you can't just be telling non-officers what's going on and let them in to pathologist laboratories. Maybe this is something that has been built on from the other books, and maybe it's not a huge issue, but it was just this little niggle I had whilst reading it. But the rest of it felt so real it could have been lifted straight from the East End. In fact, halfway through reading it I noticed police cars driving past and my instinct was to think they were driving to this imaginary crime scene.
It is quite involved with many characters and subplots. In the hands of a less experienced author this could have made it convoluted and confusing. But Ajay has managed to balance it all so perfectly that it reads seamlessly.
It is full of twists and turns and red herrings, with multiple suspects. If you're anything like me, I had no cluse who it could have been. I've read a lot of whodunnits recently and you'd think I'd be getting better at spotting all the clues, but I'm not. This is real edge of your seat stuff, waiting for the next target.
Now I obviously won't go into too much detail for fear of spoiling it, but there is a very heavy AI presence in this story, and the worrying thing is, this world is beginning to reflect this, and there is this concern that we're relying on AI too heavily considering we don't always know how to fully control it. Yes we may use it for good, but what is to stop those using it for evil? This is something I am more than happy to leave in the pages of a book.
I read it in less than 24 hours. It was fantastic and I can't wait for the next one - at least I hope there's a next one.
This is the third in the Kamil Rahman Mystery series, but like any good series, it works very well as a standalone novel. I haven't read any of the previous two, and I'm sure you may appreciate the little things more if you have read them, but I didn't find it affected the reading of this one at all.
As a white Englishwoman, it is not always obvious to me how important multicultural characters in fiction can be, but I can completely appreciate Ajay's portrayal of multicultural London. But you don't feel as if you're reading characters who are Indian or Israelian for example, in the same way that I don't read characters as English or French, say. They're just fabulously written characters who just shine off the page, but I can appreciate how important seeing multicultural protagonists, especially to younger readers, is.
There is this naturalness between our main character of Kamil and his colleague Tahir that I loved. It was a professional relationship built on friendship and that was an interesting route to take. I also liked the addition of the dynamic between Jamil and his flatmate Anjoli. She was a great addition to the cast and I really enjoyed reading about her and their relationship.
My one issue, slightly, is there's a little too much freedom with what can be done or shared. I'm not 100% sure as I'm not a police officer, but my assumption is if you're a police officer on a murder case, you can't just be telling non-officers what's going on and let them in to pathologist laboratories. Maybe this is something that has been built on from the other books, and maybe it's not a huge issue, but it was just this little niggle I had whilst reading it. But the rest of it felt so real it could have been lifted straight from the East End. In fact, halfway through reading it I noticed police cars driving past and my instinct was to think they were driving to this imaginary crime scene.
It is quite involved with many characters and subplots. In the hands of a less experienced author this could have made it convoluted and confusing. But Ajay has managed to balance it all so perfectly that it reads seamlessly.
It is full of twists and turns and red herrings, with multiple suspects. If you're anything like me, I had no cluse who it could have been. I've read a lot of whodunnits recently and you'd think I'd be getting better at spotting all the clues, but I'm not. This is real edge of your seat stuff, waiting for the next target.
Now I obviously won't go into too much detail for fear of spoiling it, but there is a very heavy AI presence in this story, and the worrying thing is, this world is beginning to reflect this, and there is this concern that we're relying on AI too heavily considering we don't always know how to fully control it. Yes we may use it for good, but what is to stop those using it for evil? This is something I am more than happy to leave in the pages of a book.
I read it in less than 24 hours. It was fantastic and I can't wait for the next one - at least I hope there's a next one.
December 3, 2022
‘The Detective’ is the third entry in the Detective Kamil Rahman series (following on from the award winning ‘The Waiter’ and ‘The Chef’ – if you haven’t read them, you could still read this one, but really, you should check those out first; not just for narrative clarity, but because they are so good…)
We’re post pandemic – and a lot has changed since book two: and not just the fact Kamil is able to carry out his crime investigations in an official capacity – and it’s a busy first day on the job as a tech entrepreneur is found shot dead, alongside three more bodies from a historic murder.
The Detective is a multi-layered beast of a novel: moving from the previous novels’ more personal investigation into officialdom, but also through its considerations around institutionalised racism, historical wrongs, current worries around privacy, oh – and a consideration on Israeli Palestinian conflict. All with some subtle commentary on socio-political- technology issues…
There’s a lot to take in, but it never comes at the expense of a good mystery and the polemics are expressed through three dimensional characters.
Moving from amateur sleuth to police procedural does require a few instances of belief suspension – would the police/ special branch/ parliament/ NDA wary tech companies be happy for a civilian side kick like Anjoli (Kamil’s ex-restaurant boss and will-they-won’t they-romance) to ‘tag along’: maybe not, but I was happy to go along with it.
Similarly, there’s a key plot point which involves a bit of pandemic familiar tech that to those of us who are really familiar with it might cause a ‘hmmm, not sure that would really work’ but these were the only minor nit picks I had with the book – otherwise it’s a worthy successor to the first two books in the series that manages to balance (as unlikely as this sounds) an almost cozy crime feel with some serious matters and violent acts. That’s a balancing act I haven’t seen many authors be able to pull off.
The ending suggests there are more to come in the series and I for one look forward to whatever they author comes up with next.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the chance to read this.
We’re post pandemic – and a lot has changed since book two: and not just the fact Kamil is able to carry out his crime investigations in an official capacity – and it’s a busy first day on the job as a tech entrepreneur is found shot dead, alongside three more bodies from a historic murder.
The Detective is a multi-layered beast of a novel: moving from the previous novels’ more personal investigation into officialdom, but also through its considerations around institutionalised racism, historical wrongs, current worries around privacy, oh – and a consideration on Israeli Palestinian conflict. All with some subtle commentary on socio-political- technology issues…
There’s a lot to take in, but it never comes at the expense of a good mystery and the polemics are expressed through three dimensional characters.
Moving from amateur sleuth to police procedural does require a few instances of belief suspension – would the police/ special branch/ parliament/ NDA wary tech companies be happy for a civilian side kick like Anjoli (Kamil’s ex-restaurant boss and will-they-won’t they-romance) to ‘tag along’: maybe not, but I was happy to go along with it.
Similarly, there’s a key plot point which involves a bit of pandemic familiar tech that to those of us who are really familiar with it might cause a ‘hmmm, not sure that would really work’ but these were the only minor nit picks I had with the book – otherwise it’s a worthy successor to the first two books in the series that manages to balance (as unlikely as this sounds) an almost cozy crime feel with some serious matters and violent acts. That’s a balancing act I haven’t seen many authors be able to pull off.
The ending suggests there are more to come in the series and I for one look forward to whatever they author comes up with next.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the chance to read this.
March 30, 2023
This is the third book in this series so not too many to play catch-up with. And I do recommend you play catch-up. Kamil Rahman has come a long way from Waiter to Cook to, now, Detective, that you will really benefit from knowing his whole journey if you are to well connect to him as a character.
So... yay... Kamil has now been accepted as a detective in the Met. His sideline of sloothing with best friend and roommate Anjoli having stood him in good stead with close friend DI Tamil Ismael.
He is thrown into the deep end on his first day when called to a construction site where a body has been found. It's identified as Sid Ram the CEO of a tech company. As the forensic people do their stuff they also find what looks like three further historic skeletons. Connected or coincidence?
As Kamil starts to investigate the tech company, he unearths more questions than answers and uncovers a whole host of secrets lies and more than a healthy dose of duplicitous behaviour. It soon appears that even though there are those who should be frightened for their lives, they aren't very forthcoming with any truth that could help them.
Meanwhile, Anjoli takes a big interest in the skeletons, determined to help find out who they were and why/how they died.
As well as the crimes being investigated we also delve into the wonderful world of immersive VR and how it can be used for the greater good. I found that to be rather topical and fascinating but I will leave you to discover it and how it is used herein for yourself.
There's a fair bit of politics to be found herein too but nothing outwith the storylines and all included for plot rather than any other reasons. There are also a lot of characters but I found them all to be well drawn and easy to get to grips with.
And then the endings, when all the threads of both storylines are weaved together and the whole truths come out. Brilliant. And wholly satisfying. Only bad thing is that now I have to wait for book 4. Which I am very much looking forward to. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So... yay... Kamil has now been accepted as a detective in the Met. His sideline of sloothing with best friend and roommate Anjoli having stood him in good stead with close friend DI Tamil Ismael.
He is thrown into the deep end on his first day when called to a construction site where a body has been found. It's identified as Sid Ram the CEO of a tech company. As the forensic people do their stuff they also find what looks like three further historic skeletons. Connected or coincidence?
As Kamil starts to investigate the tech company, he unearths more questions than answers and uncovers a whole host of secrets lies and more than a healthy dose of duplicitous behaviour. It soon appears that even though there are those who should be frightened for their lives, they aren't very forthcoming with any truth that could help them.
Meanwhile, Anjoli takes a big interest in the skeletons, determined to help find out who they were and why/how they died.
As well as the crimes being investigated we also delve into the wonderful world of immersive VR and how it can be used for the greater good. I found that to be rather topical and fascinating but I will leave you to discover it and how it is used herein for yourself.
There's a fair bit of politics to be found herein too but nothing outwith the storylines and all included for plot rather than any other reasons. There are also a lot of characters but I found them all to be well drawn and easy to get to grips with.
And then the endings, when all the threads of both storylines are weaved together and the whole truths come out. Brilliant. And wholly satisfying. Only bad thing is that now I have to wait for book 4. Which I am very much looking forward to. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
April 13, 2023
The third book in this wonderful crime/ gastronomic series, that really requires to be read in order, ie, The Waiter and The Chef, in order to appreciate how far the central character Kamil Rahman has travelled in order to achieve his dream of becoming a policeman.
A dual time line book, set in pre- war 1913, and present day London.
A Jewish immigrant family fall foul of an ambitious department store owner. He wants to buy their business, a small shop next to his, so he can use the land for his store expansion. However, things go badly wrong for Avram, Malka and Leah. We are treated to a very descriptive history of Brick Lane in London and the immigration of the Jewish community, along with notes on Religion, culture, food and Antisemitism.
Present day finds Kamil is now a Detective Constable, in the Met Police service. He has been warned that he will have to work harder, run faster, sleep less in order to survive the institutional racism that is prevalent in the Met. There are really involved details of such racist practices throughout this novel. He and his now boss, Tahir are called out to the discovery of a body on a building site. Whilst the CSI officers are on the scene, three skeletons are discovered underneath the rubble.
I thought the procedural details were good, perhaps you had to suspend disbelief in some areas, but there was a great human touch involved in finding out all about the life of the three skeletons . I did guess the relevance about 16% into the story, but it was still engrossing, informative with intricate detail and explanation.
I loved the ABC rules, Assume nothing, Believe nothing and Check everything!!
I am still intrigued by the on/ off relationship between Kamil and Anjoil, but I do miss the descriptions of the food. The Tech world , surveillance added a new dimension, I honestly did get lost at times!
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House,Vintage the publishers for my advance digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.
A dual time line book, set in pre- war 1913, and present day London.
A Jewish immigrant family fall foul of an ambitious department store owner. He wants to buy their business, a small shop next to his, so he can use the land for his store expansion. However, things go badly wrong for Avram, Malka and Leah. We are treated to a very descriptive history of Brick Lane in London and the immigration of the Jewish community, along with notes on Religion, culture, food and Antisemitism.
Present day finds Kamil is now a Detective Constable, in the Met Police service. He has been warned that he will have to work harder, run faster, sleep less in order to survive the institutional racism that is prevalent in the Met. There are really involved details of such racist practices throughout this novel. He and his now boss, Tahir are called out to the discovery of a body on a building site. Whilst the CSI officers are on the scene, three skeletons are discovered underneath the rubble.
I thought the procedural details were good, perhaps you had to suspend disbelief in some areas, but there was a great human touch involved in finding out all about the life of the three skeletons . I did guess the relevance about 16% into the story, but it was still engrossing, informative with intricate detail and explanation.
I loved the ABC rules, Assume nothing, Believe nothing and Check everything!!
I am still intrigued by the on/ off relationship between Kamil and Anjoil, but I do miss the descriptions of the food. The Tech world , surveillance added a new dimension, I honestly did get lost at times!
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House,Vintage the publishers for my advance digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK.
April 17, 2023
I love this author and Kamil Rahman's character. I was concerned that Kamil would not be so fascinating now that he's a bona fide Met Detective Constable (well below his experience level), as his back story in Kolkata and trials and tribulations through being a waiter and a cook at Tandoori Knights were brilliant. However, this did not disappoint.
We're taken into a techie world, including AI and overly 'Big Brother' surveillance themes, the vast funding and interests around that, including Governments. The first murder occurs, the body found in the building site of an extension to the East London Mosque, the victim is the CEO of Aishtar Ltd. The story involves diverse communities and religions; Mr Choudhury does not stereotype, and puts it well when his character states that religious emnity has usually been triggered through political agendas of politicians.
Parallel to this is an historic tale of a Jewish immigrant family trying to make a life and living in Shoreditch, in the early 20th Century. Their story is tragic, and becomes important to Anjoli (who loves an investigative challenge)!
The (modern day) murders associated with the tech company keep coming and there seems to be no logic to them. Motives change, huge amounts of money are involved and beneficiaries change. The story twists and turns through to the end.
There were a couple of far-fetched moments for me - I'm not sure that having Anjoli present at certain moments wouldn't void evidence, due to procedural requirements; casual questioning in a restaurant again sounds procedurally unsound (and a possible delight to a Defence lawyer) also the historic family tree (no spoilers, no more info) could never really be proven 100%, but perhaps even the rumour would be enough for the purpose used...
Having said that, I really liked the book. I loved the description of the AI scene in Whitechapel (and will be looking up Israel Zangwill's 'Children of the Ghetto', together with other themes mentioned) - I love it when a book inspires like that. Great read!
We're taken into a techie world, including AI and overly 'Big Brother' surveillance themes, the vast funding and interests around that, including Governments. The first murder occurs, the body found in the building site of an extension to the East London Mosque, the victim is the CEO of Aishtar Ltd. The story involves diverse communities and religions; Mr Choudhury does not stereotype, and puts it well when his character states that religious emnity has usually been triggered through political agendas of politicians.
Parallel to this is an historic tale of a Jewish immigrant family trying to make a life and living in Shoreditch, in the early 20th Century. Their story is tragic, and becomes important to Anjoli (who loves an investigative challenge)!
The (modern day) murders associated with the tech company keep coming and there seems to be no logic to them. Motives change, huge amounts of money are involved and beneficiaries change. The story twists and turns through to the end.
There were a couple of far-fetched moments for me - I'm not sure that having Anjoli present at certain moments wouldn't void evidence, due to procedural requirements; casual questioning in a restaurant again sounds procedurally unsound (and a possible delight to a Defence lawyer) also the historic family tree (no spoilers, no more info) could never really be proven 100%, but perhaps even the rumour would be enough for the purpose used...
Having said that, I really liked the book. I loved the description of the AI scene in Whitechapel (and will be looking up Israel Zangwill's 'Children of the Ghetto', together with other themes mentioned) - I love it when a book inspires like that. Great read!
May 27, 2025
The third book in the series of crime mysteries cracked by Kamil and Anjoli.
The story kicks off 4 years after their previous one. Kamil and Anjoli have gone through the COVID pandemic and the demise of Anjoli's parents. Anjoli's dedicated to running the restaurant and Kamil's about to start working again as a detective, now at the Met in London.
On his first day, they find a body in a building site. It belongs to one of the co-founders of a tech company. On the surface, the company's star product is an AI algorithm for matchmaking in dating apps. Soon, Kamil discovers that the company is also producing some AI algorithm to track people and even predict their moves and possible crimes before they even commit them. Needless to say, the secret services are involved, soon more murders take place and everything gets awfully tangled.
In parallel to the police investigation, Anjoli dives into a cold case: in the same construction site they discover the remains of three people (two parents and a little girl) who have been dead for over a century.
The book combines the solving of both the present-day and the century-old crimes in a very entertaining way, with some plot twists and a fast-paced plot. Intertwined with the crime investigations, we have the personal stories and tribulations of the main characters, their individual frustrations or ambitions, as well as their relationship. To me, this is an added bonus to the main crime storyline, even if the personal aspects are, perhaps, not so well written as the criminal or investigative bits of the book.
The technical side of the story has some highly unlikely (or straightforward impossible) aspects. For instance, no company worth its salt would store some software product only on a laptop, there would surely be a backup, most likely on a server. And I'm skeptical about the success of an algorithm that combines Naive Bayes with a convolutional network followed by some wild goat optimisation (I can't even fathom how these techniques are combined to the effect described in the book). Admittedly, these are real AI techniques (I appreciate the author's effort to do some research in the vast and complex world of AI) and, to at least 95% of the readers, the whole will sound credible and plausible. So, I just need to suspend whatever knowledge I have on the subject and simply enjoy it (same as when we read science fiction or a superhero comic, we ignore basic physics and don't let reality spoil the fun). And, on the good side, the author introduces and inspires some very interesting reflections on the conflict between security and privacy or on the ethical dilemmas of AI.
Overall, a book that may not be perfect, but which is certainly very entertaining and provides a story with many layers.
The story kicks off 4 years after their previous one. Kamil and Anjoli have gone through the COVID pandemic and the demise of Anjoli's parents. Anjoli's dedicated to running the restaurant and Kamil's about to start working again as a detective, now at the Met in London.
On his first day, they find a body in a building site. It belongs to one of the co-founders of a tech company. On the surface, the company's star product is an AI algorithm for matchmaking in dating apps. Soon, Kamil discovers that the company is also producing some AI algorithm to track people and even predict their moves and possible crimes before they even commit them. Needless to say, the secret services are involved, soon more murders take place and everything gets awfully tangled.
In parallel to the police investigation, Anjoli dives into a cold case: in the same construction site they discover the remains of three people (two parents and a little girl) who have been dead for over a century.
The book combines the solving of both the present-day and the century-old crimes in a very entertaining way, with some plot twists and a fast-paced plot. Intertwined with the crime investigations, we have the personal stories and tribulations of the main characters, their individual frustrations or ambitions, as well as their relationship. To me, this is an added bonus to the main crime storyline, even if the personal aspects are, perhaps, not so well written as the criminal or investigative bits of the book.
The technical side of the story has some highly unlikely (or straightforward impossible) aspects. For instance, no company worth its salt would store some software product only on a laptop, there would surely be a backup, most likely on a server. And I'm skeptical about the success of an algorithm that combines Naive Bayes with a convolutional network followed by some wild goat optimisation (I can't even fathom how these techniques are combined to the effect described in the book). Admittedly, these are real AI techniques (I appreciate the author's effort to do some research in the vast and complex world of AI) and, to at least 95% of the readers, the whole will sound credible and plausible. So, I just need to suspend whatever knowledge I have on the subject and simply enjoy it (same as when we read science fiction or a superhero comic, we ignore basic physics and don't let reality spoil the fun). And, on the good side, the author introduces and inspires some very interesting reflections on the conflict between security and privacy or on the ethical dilemmas of AI.
Overall, a book that may not be perfect, but which is certainly very entertaining and provides a story with many layers.
April 30, 2023
I didn't know that this was book three in the series featuring Kamil Rahman when I picked it up - credit to Ajay Chowdhury as it was easy to read as a standalone. However, fans of the series will - no doubt - appreciate the character development across the books as Kamil progresses on his path to being a British police detective (something he has achieved at the start of this book).
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The book opens with the historical killing of a Jewish family in Shoreditch. Over a hundred years later, newly-appointed Detective Kamil Rahman of the Metropolitan Police is called to the same area to solve the murder of a tech company boss. As he starts to uncover the secrets and tensions at the heart of the tech company, his friend Anjoli takes an interest in the historical crimes. As they circle various solutions, it seems that danger still lurks on the streets of Shoreditch.
I really liked the fact that Kamil and Anjoli's base was an Indian restaurant - I'm guessing the one that has been central to Kamil's back-story in previous books? The informality of that setting as a contrast to the Met's offices worked well - although I'm not so convinced that a civilian (Anjoli) would or should have that much knowledge about a live murder enquiry! The racism evident in the Met was explored well too - I wish I could say it was shocking or surprising, but it did add a different dimension to the story as Kamil tried to prove his worth.
The tech company angle was also interesting - it provided high financial stakes and a whole load of interesting (and sometimes baffling) information about AI and its potentially controversial uses.
I enjoyed reading about Kamil's progression through his first murder investigation - as expected, there was some blundering and lots of rookie mistakes, but he's a warm and appealing character. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The book opens with the historical killing of a Jewish family in Shoreditch. Over a hundred years later, newly-appointed Detective Kamil Rahman of the Metropolitan Police is called to the same area to solve the murder of a tech company boss. As he starts to uncover the secrets and tensions at the heart of the tech company, his friend Anjoli takes an interest in the historical crimes. As they circle various solutions, it seems that danger still lurks on the streets of Shoreditch.
I really liked the fact that Kamil and Anjoli's base was an Indian restaurant - I'm guessing the one that has been central to Kamil's back-story in previous books? The informality of that setting as a contrast to the Met's offices worked well - although I'm not so convinced that a civilian (Anjoli) would or should have that much knowledge about a live murder enquiry! The racism evident in the Met was explored well too - I wish I could say it was shocking or surprising, but it did add a different dimension to the story as Kamil tried to prove his worth.
The tech company angle was also interesting - it provided high financial stakes and a whole load of interesting (and sometimes baffling) information about AI and its potentially controversial uses.
I enjoyed reading about Kamil's progression through his first murder investigation - as expected, there was some blundering and lots of rookie mistakes, but he's a warm and appealing character. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
May 10, 2023
The Detective is the third in Ajay Chowdhury’s series of London-based crime novels centred around a former detective from Kolkata. The series began with The Waiter, in which disgraced former detective Kamil Rahman solves a crime while working in the family restaurant in London. Rahman continued his amateur sleuthing in The Cook. Now, as the name of the book implies, Rahman is back in the tent, newly minted as a junior detective in the British Police Force.
But before we get to that, Chowdhury has a cold open involving the murders of a Jewish family in London’s East End on New Years Eve 2014. This story will sit in the background of the main plot which involves the murder of a tech start-up CEO in the same area. This is the first of a series of murders that the team Rahman has been assigned needs to investigate and reveals the bones of the much earlier crime. The very cold case gives Rahman’s love interest Anjoli something to do and does eventually connect (although tangentially) in a way that becomes increasingly obvious.
Unlike the first two books in this series, The Detective is a straight-up procedural. Rahman is now on the Force, reporting to his good friend Tahir. The two are the only Asian officers so are constantly having to deal with both petty and overt racism. The case itself revolves around an Israeli company backed by a Palestinian venture capitalist which has developed software that is coveted by the security services. This includes a weird (and convenient) virtual reality tour that just happens to be of the time and place in which the 1914 murders occurred. So there is plenty to unpack.
Rahman can’t seem help doing things a little bit casually (for example using the restaurant as a place to question witnesses and suspects. This not only stops him from asking pertinent questions but then puts himself and Anjoli in danger. Which all serves to make The Detective a fun, occasionally interesting but fairly standard murder mystery
But before we get to that, Chowdhury has a cold open involving the murders of a Jewish family in London’s East End on New Years Eve 2014. This story will sit in the background of the main plot which involves the murder of a tech start-up CEO in the same area. This is the first of a series of murders that the team Rahman has been assigned needs to investigate and reveals the bones of the much earlier crime. The very cold case gives Rahman’s love interest Anjoli something to do and does eventually connect (although tangentially) in a way that becomes increasingly obvious.
Unlike the first two books in this series, The Detective is a straight-up procedural. Rahman is now on the Force, reporting to his good friend Tahir. The two are the only Asian officers so are constantly having to deal with both petty and overt racism. The case itself revolves around an Israeli company backed by a Palestinian venture capitalist which has developed software that is coveted by the security services. This includes a weird (and convenient) virtual reality tour that just happens to be of the time and place in which the 1914 murders occurred. So there is plenty to unpack.
Rahman can’t seem help doing things a little bit casually (for example using the restaurant as a place to question witnesses and suspects. This not only stops him from asking pertinent questions but then puts himself and Anjoli in danger. Which all serves to make The Detective a fun, occasionally interesting but fairly standard murder mystery
June 18, 2023
This is the third in the highly acclaimed series featuring Kamil Rahman, however, it is my first read by the author (though after reading this I will be rectyfying this), I can say though that it easily reads as a stand alone.
I found this to be a compelling read, wonderfully written and very relevant for today, more of a Police thriller, I loved the way the characters came across, Rahman is different to the norm, for me his character made the book, he seems to be someone definately with a past (that may be more apparant in the first two books), this, played out a little with reminders of his time in India. Now out to prove himself in the Met, he has tenacity and determination to suceed and looks at things in a more logical way. I found the interplay with Anjoli, his not quite girlfriend to be some of the best scenes in terms of human relationships.
On the whole I found the characters written in a way that gave them an air of believeability, you got a real sense of who each were and their role within the story, Anjoli was a definite standout though
The plot for me was superbly constructed, slick in its build up, there was plenty of scope for red herrings and the author does not dissapoint, there are plenty of twists along the way, the final denoument was outstanding in its reveal. You get two plots for the price of one, though both relevant. You can also see the authors background in bringing the plot to life on the page
The writing gives you a real sense of place within the community around Brick Lane and a feel for the area, in fact this is a strongly written book full of murder and mystery
It is a book which tackles racism within the Police and doesn’t shirk this in any way, for me that just added to the story in terms of realism sadly prevalent in certain circles. By the end though I felt that there was a certain respect building if not one of friendship, though this has along way to go
I was drawn into the story from the opening prologue which at first had me intrigued but is central to the plot line, definitely engaging, at times I found the book hard to put down, there is a real gritty down to earth feel about the book, a standout read, it plays on many themes
Overall this was highly enjoyable read, which will appeal to all who lover there crime fiction, one to recommend. 5*
I found this to be a compelling read, wonderfully written and very relevant for today, more of a Police thriller, I loved the way the characters came across, Rahman is different to the norm, for me his character made the book, he seems to be someone definately with a past (that may be more apparant in the first two books), this, played out a little with reminders of his time in India. Now out to prove himself in the Met, he has tenacity and determination to suceed and looks at things in a more logical way. I found the interplay with Anjoli, his not quite girlfriend to be some of the best scenes in terms of human relationships.
On the whole I found the characters written in a way that gave them an air of believeability, you got a real sense of who each were and their role within the story, Anjoli was a definite standout though
The plot for me was superbly constructed, slick in its build up, there was plenty of scope for red herrings and the author does not dissapoint, there are plenty of twists along the way, the final denoument was outstanding in its reveal. You get two plots for the price of one, though both relevant. You can also see the authors background in bringing the plot to life on the page
The writing gives you a real sense of place within the community around Brick Lane and a feel for the area, in fact this is a strongly written book full of murder and mystery
It is a book which tackles racism within the Police and doesn’t shirk this in any way, for me that just added to the story in terms of realism sadly prevalent in certain circles. By the end though I felt that there was a certain respect building if not one of friendship, though this has along way to go
I was drawn into the story from the opening prologue which at first had me intrigued but is central to the plot line, definitely engaging, at times I found the book hard to put down, there is a real gritty down to earth feel about the book, a standout read, it plays on many themes
Overall this was highly enjoyable read, which will appeal to all who lover there crime fiction, one to recommend. 5*
June 18, 2023
The Detective is the third book in the series featuring Kamil Rahman. I had heard great things about the first two books but they have thus far remained on my mountainous TBR pile - thankfully this can happily be read as a stand-alone though I suggest reading them in order and knowing more about the characters would make for an even better read.
In this book Rahman is a newly appointed Detective Constable in the Met, having previously been a police detective in India but since his arrival in London having worked at an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane.
He becomes involved in his first murder case when the body of the CEO of a tech company, on the verge of a £4bn sale, is found on a construction site in East London. Nearby the 100 year old skeletons of two adults and a child are also uncovered. As Rahman investigates the murder and begins to uncover the complex dynamics of a tech company where all is not as it first appears, so his friend Anjoli is determined to find out more about the skeletons.
There is a lot going on in this book - from the evolving world of AI and privacy issues to institutional racism and anti-semitism, as well as an ever increasing body count. But there is also a generous helping of humour - Anjoli’s t-shirt collection being the highlight - and a romance element thanks to Rahman’s somewhat hapless love life as he is torn between two women. But at heart he is an interesting and likeable character, frustrating at times but very perceptive at others.
At times it felt a little far-fetched - I am not sure the police would welcome civilian involvement to the extent that Anjoli was allowed - but this did not detract from my enjoyment. Murder, politics, humour and romance are skilfully combined to create a compelling read.
In this book Rahman is a newly appointed Detective Constable in the Met, having previously been a police detective in India but since his arrival in London having worked at an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane.
He becomes involved in his first murder case when the body of the CEO of a tech company, on the verge of a £4bn sale, is found on a construction site in East London. Nearby the 100 year old skeletons of two adults and a child are also uncovered. As Rahman investigates the murder and begins to uncover the complex dynamics of a tech company where all is not as it first appears, so his friend Anjoli is determined to find out more about the skeletons.
There is a lot going on in this book - from the evolving world of AI and privacy issues to institutional racism and anti-semitism, as well as an ever increasing body count. But there is also a generous helping of humour - Anjoli’s t-shirt collection being the highlight - and a romance element thanks to Rahman’s somewhat hapless love life as he is torn between two women. But at heart he is an interesting and likeable character, frustrating at times but very perceptive at others.
At times it felt a little far-fetched - I am not sure the police would welcome civilian involvement to the extent that Anjoli was allowed - but this did not detract from my enjoyment. Murder, politics, humour and romance are skilfully combined to create a compelling read.
November 12, 2023
The Detective (Kamil Rahman) 3 By Ajay Chowdhury
The Detective is the third book in the series after the fabulous Waiter and the Cook. We find Kamil disgraced Kolkata Detective, now part of the Metropolitan Police force still living above Tandori knights restaurant in Brick Lane, London, when he gets his first case straight out of basic training a 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 body of work, it is so hard to write and keep them fresh, but to excel on his first two books shows true genius, well worth your time and hard-earned cash.
I also hear that we will have a fourth book coming and I look FWD. to get my teeth into that.
The Detective is the third book in the series after the fabulous Waiter and the Cook. We find Kamil disgraced Kolkata Detective, now part of the Metropolitan Police force still living above Tandori knights restaurant in Brick Lane, London, when he gets his first case straight out of basic training a 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 body of work, it is so hard to write and keep them fresh, but to excel on his first two books shows true genius, well worth your time and hard-earned cash.
I also hear that we will have a fourth book coming and I look FWD. to get my teeth into that.
April 8, 2023
Book 3 in The Detective Kamil Rahman Series and read well as a stand-alone. By way of background Kamil left India where he was a police inspector and has been working in a restaurant alongside Anjoli, his landlord but also a woman who he has long held romantic feeling for. However, he has finally achieved his dream to become a policeman in England and is about to start his new job. This is a well written and constructed police procedural novel, although there are quite a lot of characters to get your head around it’s good to see such a diverse cast. Set in two timelines, the present and 1913, the latter is introduced through a shocking prologue.
Briefly, day one in the job and Kamil and his boss and friend DI Tamil Ismael go to investigate a shooting. When the body is recovered some old human bones are found which turn out to be two adults and a child. The shooting victim is Sid Ram CEO of Aishtar Ltd, a high technology company which in the midst of a sale of the company. Whilst the police are investigating the shooting Anjoli is looking into the older skeletons and she makes a dreadful discovery.
This was a really good read. With undertones throughout of racism and antisemitism this made for uncomfortable reading at times. I loved the touches of humour, Anjoli’s t-shirts deserved a book of their own! I really enjoyed the subplot and would have liked more, I’m greedy like that. There is also a romance situation going on when Kamil’s former fiancée contacts him to say she is London; he’s a bit of a wimp in the romance stakes to be honest. An enjoyable and entertaining read with something in it for everyone.
Briefly, day one in the job and Kamil and his boss and friend DI Tamil Ismael go to investigate a shooting. When the body is recovered some old human bones are found which turn out to be two adults and a child. The shooting victim is Sid Ram CEO of Aishtar Ltd, a high technology company which in the midst of a sale of the company. Whilst the police are investigating the shooting Anjoli is looking into the older skeletons and she makes a dreadful discovery.
This was a really good read. With undertones throughout of racism and antisemitism this made for uncomfortable reading at times. I loved the touches of humour, Anjoli’s t-shirts deserved a book of their own! I really enjoyed the subplot and would have liked more, I’m greedy like that. There is also a romance situation going on when Kamil’s former fiancée contacts him to say she is London; he’s a bit of a wimp in the romance stakes to be honest. An enjoyable and entertaining read with something in it for everyone.
June 14, 2023
The Detective by Ajay Chowdhury is the third book in ‘The Detective Kamil Rahman series’ and the first book from the series that I have read. From what I understand DC Rahman used to be an officer in the Indian police force but events in book one, The Waiter, saw him booted out and so he moved to London and began waiting tables.
Since then a lot has changed for Kamil Rahman and he is now a Detective Constable for the Metropolitan Police Force. On his first day, he is called to attend a possible murder on a building site in which a CEO of a tech firm has been found shot dead. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only body that is discovered on the building site.
The book was an easy read which I wasn’t expecting if I’m honest given that it features the tech world and AI. It was also pretty easy to follow without having read the first two books in the series, however, for character development, I do believe this series would probably be better to be read in order.
The storyline mixes old with new as murders dating back over a hundred years are examined as well as the new ones. I liked how the historical side of the story and the present were handled. They were well written and the opening to the book was spot on and certainly grabbed my attention.
Overall, DC Rahman is a strong character who uses his knowledge as a former officer in his new job but still has lots to learn and is sometimes rash with his processes and doesn’t think things through fully. The author doesn’t shy away from any subject area either whether that be the police, politics, culture, or racism. A decent police procedural novel but one I would advise starting at the beginning.
Since then a lot has changed for Kamil Rahman and he is now a Detective Constable for the Metropolitan Police Force. On his first day, he is called to attend a possible murder on a building site in which a CEO of a tech firm has been found shot dead. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only body that is discovered on the building site.
The book was an easy read which I wasn’t expecting if I’m honest given that it features the tech world and AI. It was also pretty easy to follow without having read the first two books in the series, however, for character development, I do believe this series would probably be better to be read in order.
The storyline mixes old with new as murders dating back over a hundred years are examined as well as the new ones. I liked how the historical side of the story and the present were handled. They were well written and the opening to the book was spot on and certainly grabbed my attention.
Overall, DC Rahman is a strong character who uses his knowledge as a former officer in his new job but still has lots to learn and is sometimes rash with his processes and doesn’t think things through fully. The author doesn’t shy away from any subject area either whether that be the police, politics, culture, or racism. A decent police procedural novel but one I would advise starting at the beginning.
June 20, 2023
This book can be read without having to read the two previous books. The author does a great job in setting the scene and Kamil’s life without a huge infodump (as well as making sure that there were no spoilers for the two previous books).
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
Kamil is the first-person narrator, and I loved his voice- funny, snarky, and ever so slightly cocky but always relatable. Kamil is a fictional detective with the usual complex back story and a complicated love life, but he remains upbeat, optimistic without any dark edges to his character (and no alcohol misuse) which is a nice change. As with all fictional detectives, he does bend the rules to get what he wants but there are consequences but more on that later.
The murders in present day Shoreditch were suitably twisty with plenty of suspects and motives to keep me guessing right to the end.
I was pleasantly surprised by the historical detail about Brick Lane and its ever-changing nature, the difficulties of emigrating to a new land and trying to settle down which seems relevant today as it did a hundred years ago.
I was also impressed by the author’s prescient thoughts on AI particularly the far-reaching effects and the fear of how much AI can impact our daily life. Some of the ideas were almost terrifying and I hope they never see the light of day.
I did wonder about how much the rule-breaking the Met would tolerate, I’m sure interviewing suspects in a restaurant or having a friend tag along wouldn’t be acceptable, but there are consequences in the end.
The murders from a hundred years ago neatly dovetails into the plot leading to a satisfying conclusion.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
Kamil is the first-person narrator, and I loved his voice- funny, snarky, and ever so slightly cocky but always relatable. Kamil is a fictional detective with the usual complex back story and a complicated love life, but he remains upbeat, optimistic without any dark edges to his character (and no alcohol misuse) which is a nice change. As with all fictional detectives, he does bend the rules to get what he wants but there are consequences but more on that later.
The murders in present day Shoreditch were suitably twisty with plenty of suspects and motives to keep me guessing right to the end.
I was pleasantly surprised by the historical detail about Brick Lane and its ever-changing nature, the difficulties of emigrating to a new land and trying to settle down which seems relevant today as it did a hundred years ago.
I was also impressed by the author’s prescient thoughts on AI particularly the far-reaching effects and the fear of how much AI can impact our daily life. Some of the ideas were almost terrifying and I hope they never see the light of day.
I did wonder about how much the rule-breaking the Met would tolerate, I’m sure interviewing suspects in a restaurant or having a friend tag along wouldn’t be acceptable, but there are consequences in the end.
The murders from a hundred years ago neatly dovetails into the plot leading to a satisfying conclusion.
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