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Spooky Reviews: A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee




Book: A Rising Man 

Author: Abir Mukherjee 

Pages: 392

Read on: Kindle 

Read in: 3-4 hours 

Plot Summary: India, 1919. Desperate for a fresh start, Captain Sam Wyndham arrives to take up an important post in Calcutta's police force.

He is soon called to the scene of a horrifying murder. The victim was a senior official, and a note in his mouth warns the British to leave India – or else.

With the stability of the Empire under threat, Wyndham and Sergeant 'Surrender-not' Banerjee must solve the case quickly. But there are some who will do anything to stop them. 

General Thoughts: This is the first book in the Sam Wyndham and Surendranath Banerjee series. I have read and reviewed the second book in the series- A Necessary Evil- a few days ago. 

Things I Liked: 
  • I quite enjoy the setting of these books. Calcutta in the early 20th century, the dynamics between the British and Indians. Criminal and investigative procedure. Cultural differences. Oh there is just so much that is great to read about and the author has clearly done some first-rate research in bringing Calcutta of 1919 alive in the pages of his books. 
  • I like the characters in this book. Sam Wyndham, a fresh-off-the-boat British police officer is struggling with PTSD after WWI and is still figuring out the complicated dynamics of the British bureaucracy and government in India. He is upstanding and wants to see justice done and is willing to do his utmost to ensure that. Surendranath Banerjee is a bit under-develeoped. I didn't get much of a read on him after two books apart from the fact that he is hardworking, sincere and honest. I really would like to know what he thinks, especially, because he is an Indian police officer working amongst the racist environment of the British police in Calcutta. 
  • The crime itself was interesting. A high-ranking British civil servant was found dead in 'Black Town' (part of the city inhabited by Indians), that too behind a brothel. A note stuffed inside his mouth hinted that this could be the work of the Nationalists/ Indian freedom fighters. However, everything is obviously not as it seems and Sam and Surendranath work hard to expose the real motive behind the crime. 
  • We also get to see the blatant corruption that existed within the British administrative machinery, something, which we have inherited and done nothing to change in the 70 years since Independence. 
  • The book is very well written, well researched and fast paced. The almost-400 pages whiz by very quickly- always a good thing when it comes to crime fiction. 
Things I Didn't Like:
  • After reading two books by the author, there is one minor gripe that I have against him. Both the books follow the same path as far as the ending is concerned. I don't want to give much away but if you read the book, you'll know what I mean. While a part of me understands that these outcomes are 'realistic' but another part of me wants more. Sorry, being vague because I don't want to spoil the books! 
Rating: 4/5 

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