Nev March

In 19th century Bombay, Captain Jim Agnihotri channels his idol, Sherlock Holmes, in Nev March’s Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut. In 1892, Bombay is the center of British India. Nearby, Captain Jim Agnihotri lies in Poona military hospital recovering from a skirmish on the wild northern frontier, with little to do but re-read the tales of his idol, Sherlock Holmes, and browse the daily papers. The case that catches Captain Jim's attention is being called the crime of the century: Two women fell from the busy university’s clock tower in broad daylight. Moved by Adi, the widower of one of the victims — his certainty that his wife and sister did not commit suicide — Captain Jim approaches the Parsee family and is hired to investigate what happened that terrible afternoon. But in a land of divided loyalties, asking questions is dangerous. Captain Jim's investigation disturbs the shadows that seem to follow the Framji family and triggers an ominous chain of events. And when lively Lady Diana Framji joins the hunt for her sisters’ attackers, Captain Jim’s heart isn’t safe, either. Based on a true story, and set against the vibrant backdrop of colonial India, Nev March's Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning lyrical debut, Murder in Old Bombay, brings this tumultuous historical age to life.

A Mystery

Murder in Old Bombay

Veronica Zarate

Set in India during the 1890s, Murder in Old Bombay centers around half English, half Indian veteran Captain Jim Agnihotri who, after spending over a year in a hospital recovering from a war injury, takes on the task of solving a murder case that was initially deemed a suicide. Promising to take no more than six months to solve it, the captain wastes no time in getting started and finds himself discovering and navigating multiple secrets and family histories in the process of finding the murderer. With references to Sherlock Holmes and with a basis in a real life murder case, Murder in Old Bombay is a brilliant and fast-paced murder mystery that involves romance, blackmail, treason, war, and so much more.

A lot happens in this book and, while it does center around the mystery, what stuck out most to me was the characterization and beautiful prose that author Nev March provides her readers. Truly, there is SO much to be said about the way March handles her characters and about the way she uses personal identity, self-regard, and motive to drive her story.

Additionally, the language used in some scenes is absolutely beautiful. The way a moment or a feeling is described let's you know exactly what a character is feeling, so much so that those moments feel familiar even to the reader. Just masterful use of language by our author.

Again, Murder in Old Bombay is definitely a murder mystery, but I would recommend it even if mysteries aren't your thing. I would say it's fast-paced but there are minor dips in action and some of the plot can seem a tad messy at times because so much can happen in a short amount of time, but you will recover fast.

If you pick it up, I hope you enjoy it!!!

P.S. read the Author's Note!!!!

Murder in Old Bombay A Mystery

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