Captain Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee #3
Abir Mukherjee
About the book:
India, 1921
Captain Sam Wyndham is battling a serious addiction to opium that he must keep secret from his superiors in the Calcutta police force.
But Wyndham finds himself in a tight spot when he stumbles across a corpse in an opium den. When he then comes across a second body bearing the same injuries, Wyndham is convinced that there’s a deranged killer on the loose.
However, revealing his presence in the opium den could cost him his career. As Wyndham and Sergeant ‘Surrender-not’ Banerjee set out to solve the two murders, Wyndham must tread carefully, keeping his personal demons secret, before someone else turns up dead…
My thoughts:
“Smoke and Ashes” is the third book in Mukherjee’s “Wyndham & Banerjee” historical crime fiction series, and it’s every bit as captivating as the earlier books. The author’s intimate knowledge of the city and its complex history is evident throughout, making the narrative both dynamic and authentic.
Mukherjee skillfully blends historical accuracy with a fast-paced, engaging plot that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. The story offers a balanced portrayal of India under British rule, impartially highlighting both the strengths and flaws of the era. What makes this installment particularly intriguing is its foundation in real historical events. This fusion of truth and fiction is both unsettling and fascinating, adding depth to the mystery and ensuring the reader’s interest never wanes.
As someone who typically isn’t drawn to history, I’ve been captivated by learning about Anglo-Indian history through this series. It has sparked a new interest in me, and I’ve already begun exploring additional reading on the subject.
and more…
For more background to the author, Abir Mukherjee check out his author website AbirMukherjee.com
Abir attends and presents at Bloody Scotland, Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival held in Stirling (and online) each year.
Joined by special guests, British Asian authors, Vaseem Khan and Abir Mukherjee take a wry look at the world of books, writing, and the creative arts, tackling everything from bestsellers to pop culture and Big Fat Asian Weddings. Insightful, funny, packed with stellar interviews – Dean Koontz, Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, Mike Gayle, to name a few – and the odd dose of cross-cultural confusion, they dare to explore the parts other podcasts cannot reach. Check out their podcast Red Hot Chilli Writers
Abir’s presence continues on social media – on Instagram, LinkTree, Threads and X
The Publisher, Vintage Books can be found on Instagram LinkTree Threads
I read a mix of the paperback and ebook (both purchased)
All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts thereof, may also be published on my social medial channels – find me everywhere as momobookdiary – and book websites, such as Amazon, Goodreads, LoveReading, StoryGraph, and Waterstones. All links are correct at the time of publication.
Tags: #AbirMukhurjee #WyndhamAndBanerjee #CaptainWyndham #SergeantBanerjee #India #fiction #historicalfiction #historicalcrime #crimefiction #series #awardwinning #paperback #ebook #digitalbook
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