MoMoBookDiary

Captain Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee #4

Abir Mukherjee

About the book:

1905, London
When Bessie Drummond, an old flame of Sam Wyndham’s, is attacked in the street, he is determined to get to the bottom of it. But the next day, Bessie is found dead in her room and Wyndham soon finds himself caught up in her murder investigation. The case will cost the young constable more than he ever imagined.

1922, India
Leaving Calcutta, Wyndham heads for the hills of Assam, ready to put his opium addiction behind him. But when he arrives, he sees a ghost from his life in London – a man thought to be long dead, a man Wyndham hoped he would never see again.

Wyndham knows he must call his friend and colleague Sergeant Banerjee for help.

He is certain that this figure from can only be after one thing: revenge…

My thoughts:

This is by far the best book in the series! Having followed Captain Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee through the first three books, I was eager to see how their story would evolve, and this installment did not disappoint.

In this novel, the author dives deeper into Captain Wyndham’s character, exploring his past and the experiences that have shaped him into the man he is in 1922 India. The dual timelines – England in 1905 and India in 1922 – create a dynamic and fast-paced narrative. This approach adds depth to the story, blending a fresh twist on the classic locked-room mystery with a nuanced look at the political landscape of both Britain and India.

What struck me most was how the book draws poignant parallels between the historical context of 1905 and today’s world, making me reflect on the state of Britain in 2024. The author has a remarkable ability to craft passages that resonate with current issues, making the historical elements feel alarmingly relevant.

I genuinely enjoyed this book more than any other I’ve read recently. The dual timelines and rich character development pulled me in completely. Having grown so attached to these characters, I often had to remind myself they’re fictional, such is the depth of their portrayal. As I eagerly look forward to the fifth and final book in the series, I can’t help but feel a sense of bittersweet anticipation. This series has been a fantastic journey, and I’m both excited and saddened that it’s coming to an end.

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.

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