In the late 1800s in Bombay, Captain Jim Agnihotri is in the hospital recovering from injuries suffered during a military skirmish, without much to do except read newspapers and Sherlock Holmes stories. He reads about the deaths of two young women that have been ruled suicides, but something about the case doesn't seem right to him – or to the husband of one of the women, who hires him to investigate and learn what really happened.

This is what I hope will be the first book of a new series by a new-to-me author. I wasn't sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised by both the writing and the story itself. I was even more surprised when I learned that this is Ms. March's debut novel, as this book doesn't have the issues I've come to expect in author debuts. She describes the setting well enough to enable the reader to paint a visual picture of the time period and the location, and the characters, especially James (the main character) are well drawn and make me want to learn more about them if there are more books to come. The book took plenty of twists and turns, and it was fascinating to learn that the book is based on a true story. I will keep my eye out for additional books featuring Jim and the rest.

When I requested this book, it sounded like an OK story. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. The characters are great and the mystery was good. Jim's time in the hospital was hazy, but he did read Sherlock Holmes and the newspaper. When he sees an article about two women who seemed to jump from the clock tower to kill themselves, he knew he had to investigate. It was the letter from the one woman's husband that solidified his decision to look into it. When he leaves the Army and goes to see the widower, he knows he made the right decision. There was quite a bit of opposition to his investigation and the more he investigates, the murkier things seem. When Diana comes home, she wants to help with the investigation. She is a lady and has no business putting herself in jeopardy, but she is determined. As Jim has to do some traveling, he runs into trouble and some homeless children. There was plenty of adventure, some fun and very emotional times.

The setting of 19th Century Bombay was magical. Throughout the story, we get a sense of the history of the time period when Britain ruled parts of India. This is a time period and region that I didn’t know much about and I was captivated.

The main character, Captain Jim Agnihotri is a well written and fascinating character. The secret of his background and what happened to him at the end of his military career is slowly revealed to the reader. There are so many facets to Captain Jim that he is a perfect super sleuth and is interesting enough to carry an entire mystery series.

I love the story so much I hate to bring this up, but I have to say that the plot meandered about 2/3 of the way through. I’m speaking of the part of the book where Captain Jim takes a detour out of town to follow up on clues in Afgan occupied territory. This detour made the mystery plot a little convoluted for me. This section of the story was so interesting that I wish it were fleshed out and made into its own book.

There was a little romance along with this mystery, which I didn’t mind at all. I am so happy the book ended with the promise of more mystery stories to come from these characters and this author.

I highly recommend this award-winning debut novel to readers who love Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes mysteries. 4.5/5 (rounded up).

Murder in Old Bombay is historical fiction based on an actual case that was never solved when, in 1891, two women fell to their death from the Rajabai Clock Tower in Bombay: https://parsikhabar.net/bombay/the-my....

This novel comes up with a fictitious solution to these women's deaths. In Murder in Old Bombay, the family of the victims plays a large part in trying to figure out what really happened to their relatives. They start by hiring Captain James (Jim) Agnihotri, recently medically discharged from the British light cavalry. Jim uses skills gained from his military experiences to investigate several suspects. He also uses techniques that he learned from reading Sherlock Holmes mysteries. He starts his inquiries by interviewing those who were called as witnesses and develops his case from there. In the course of his investigation Jim rescues several children and locates a missing troop of a Gurkha Rifle regiment. He uncovers clues and pursues them while, in the midst of it all, he manages to fall in love.

Not always believable, Murder in Old Bombay drags on at times, getting bogged down in too much detail and too many side adventures. However, overall, I enjoyed reading about Jim’s character and the means he uses to solve the mystery. At the same time, I got to learn about India in the 1890s, the various religious groups, and the politics of the time. I found this to be an atypical mystery and a satisfying read.

Murder in Old Bombay is author Nev March’s first mystery, and it’s a very nice one. Set during the British Raj, the book weaves seamlessly into and around the real events, locations and attitudes of the time.

The story begins while Captain Jim Agnihotri is recovering in a military hospital and he reads in the newspapers about the deaths of two young women who fell from the clock tower at the University in Bombay. Did they commit suicide, or were they pushed? And why? He is moved to sympathy by the obvious anguish of the widower of one of the victims, so Jim, who is a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, decides to try to apply Holmes’ techniques to the case.

In the process, Jim gets caught up in the lives of the prominent Parsee family to which the two women belonged, the Framji family. This state of affairs is complicated by his somewhat ambiguous status: he is intelligent and a minor military hero (although he doesn’t see himself that way), but he is also an illegitimate half-native, half-British man in a very class-conscious society. And things get even more complicated when he starts to have feelings for one of the Framji daughters. Jim is persistent though, and in spite of many distractions, he manages eventually to bring matters to a satisfactory conclusion.

At the same time, this book isn’t just fluff – it also tackles some hard topics with skill. As Jim pursues his investigations to various parts of the country, author March uses his activities to fill the reader in on the stratified society of 1890s India. We get to meet British civil servants and military personnel; Indian rajahs, ranis, and princelings; Afghan villagers; heinous criminals; and a vast crowd of people of various races and religions. And she lets us draw our own conclusions without detracting from the main storyline. March also handles Captain Jim’s apparent PTSD (which was, of course, not an acknowledged thing at that time) with a deft touch.

I’ve long been a fan of the “Great Game” period, starting when I first read Kipling’s Kim as a youngster, and I have read several histories and lots of historical fiction set in this era. So I am thrilled to have found a new author writing in this period, and I hope very much that she makes a series out of this first start! And my sincere thanks to both St Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley, who provided me with an advance review copy of Murder in Old Bombay, in exchange for my honest review of the book.

It is colonial India, 1892. Two women fall to their deaths from the university's clock tower. One of the women is the wife of Adi Framji, son of a prominent family in Bombay, India. The other woman is Adi's sister.

Intrigued by a news article about the two women's deaths, Captain Jim Agnihotri convinces the Framji family to hire him to further investigate the crime.

Murder in Old Bombay is an interesting read with cultural references and customs. That being said, the novel references a number of East Indian terms. Luckily, there is a glossary of terms in the book.

The storyline had its ups and downs primarily because there are a few tangential narratives that took away from the main focus -- a murder mystery. Coupled with the numerous East Indian terminology, it was somewhat of a slog to read. Nevertheless, Murder in Old Bombay was still a likeable read. Three stars -- I liked it.

I received a digital ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my own thoughts and opinions. Reviews to retail sites such as Amazon and Barnes&Noble will post on publication day.

This debut mystery novel, Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March is a visual and historical delight. The reader quickly gets swept into the mystery of what happened to two young women in a well off Parsee family. Murder in Old Bombay takes place over months so the reader is really able to get a look into this family’s life and learn so much about all the characters.

And even though there are a lot of characters, March’s descriptions of the various character’s physical beings and dispositions are done so well, that I was never confused as to who each person was. I have had this happen with previous historical novels that had a large cast of people.

There are a lot of plot lines and things happening, but March’s style of writing makes everything easy to keep track of, and the mystery itself was very interesting. It wasn’t just one thing that was going on so it made solving the mystery even more fun.

If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes (March even makes comparisons to Holmes and Watson throughout the book) or Agatha Christie novels, you won’t want to miss Murder in Old Bombay.

Set in Bombay in 1892, Captain Jim Agnihotri is navigating life post a military career ending injury when a chance to channel his idol Sherlock Holmes arises and he has a murder mystery to solve. Not unrealistically set over a couple of days, this mystery spans months as the Captain works to untangle the complicated web of secrets and associations surrounding all those involved. I really enjoyed the vintage feel of this book and the character development throughout. There are a couple of secondary characters that I just came to adore. While not a cozy mystery, this one is a comfortable mystery that will entertain and delight.

An enjoyable glimpse into the life of the Raj from the perspective of the people on its margins… the Parsee, the Anglo-Indians, and the lower castes.

Captain Jim Agnihotri, with an Indian mother and an unknown Indian father, lives between the two worlds. He is hired away from his new job as a reporter to investigate the suspicious deaths of two young brides who have fallen from a tower. His investigation takes him traveling around Bombay and to the frontlines of the Afghan war. I especially enjoyed Captain Jim’s travels in Sherlock Holmes-esque disguise.

Several intertwined plot lines and a host of interesting characters make this an engaging read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A superb example of the current trend of cross-cultural literature. An author born in India and living in the US gives us a story of the British and various Indian castes and the many complicated intersections among them.

The mystery at hand is immediately absorbing and serves as a bit of a frame tale in which romance, cultural realism, PTSD, and family drama can be encapsulated. At times, there is the threat of the work becoming too cluttered. And some of the components are, as a result, more successful than others.

As a potential first book in a mystery series, Murder in Old Bombay does its job well. Introductions are in place, characters are developed and ingratiated to the reader, and the avenues forward seem endless.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an Advance Release Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very impressive debut novel for Nev March. I've added her to my authors to watch list, and you will want to as well after enjoying this well-thought-out historical fiction novel based on true events.

The setting is Bombay, India in 1892, a period when India was still under British rule. Captain Jim Agnihotri , an Ango-Indian, is recovering in a military hospital and passes his time rereading novels about his favorite character, Sherlock Holmes. When The Chronicle writes about the deaths of two young well-to-do women who fell to their deaths (minutes apart) from the University's clock tower, Jim immediately takes interest in their deaths and in the "trial of the century" which follows. Ultimately, the suspects are acquitted, and the deaths are ruled deaths by suicide, something neither Jim, not the family of the women accept.

Hired by the family of the young women to find out what really is behind their deaths, Jim (and the reader) embarks on a quest for the truth, having no idea of the deep bonds he will forge with the family members, the many dangers he will face, or where his questions will lead him. He only strives to handle the case as his idol Sherlock Holmes would, with an open mind, an eye to detail, and a drive to find the truth.

Ms. March does an excellent job of engulfing the reader in the culture of Colonial India and surrounding them with characters so richly drawn that they will linger long after the last page has been turned. Both intriguing and enlightening, I recommend this novel to those interested in other cultures, historical fiction, mysteries, and novels based on true events.

My sincere thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for permitting me to read a review copy of the novel. Publication is currently 11/10/2020. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I am really surprised that I enjoyed this book so much. I am not one to read historical fiction about men. I am more of WWII historical fiction with women hero's. Needless to say I enjoyed the character of Jim Agnihotri, the fearless hero who is trying to solve the mystery death of 2 young women who jumped off the clock tower. He is tall and tough, a war hero and was always getting into fights that left him in pain. You could feel his pain. There is also a love interest in Diana the sister of Parsee Adi Framji who hired Captain Jim to solve the mystery. It was entertaining and fun to read.

Thanks to #netgalley and #StMartinPress/Minotaur books for an ARC of this book

Wow. I was so blown away by this book.

If I'm being honest I only picked it up because of it's gorgeous cover and bright pink spine, and then when I read the blurb I became even more excited to try it. But it's seriously one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time. It has a very old-school feel, perhaps because of the main character's admitted Sherlock Holmes influence, perhaps because it's a historical (set in the late 1800s). Our main character, retired Captain Jim Agnihotri, a half Indian, half English injured war veteran, becomes inspired to investigate the deaths of two young women after reading a letter from one woman's widower in the newspaper while he's recuperating in the hospital. Jim gives me major Cormoran Strike vibes, for those a fan of Robert Galbraith series, as he's a little bit rough, but has a whole lot of heart and is a truly likeable--no, lovable--main character.

This book is quite long, and took me several days to get through (which is not typical for me), but there's so much going on and so much meat to the story, it's understandable. Captain Jim makes numerous trips throughout India and goes on so many adventures that, looking back, I can't believe they were packed into one book. It's jam-packed with action, and has a heartwarming romantic reaction for those looking for that. I *may* have actually teared up at the end of the book (an enormous rarity for me). (To clarify, happy tears--not sad ones. Though there is death in this book.) Part of me wants this book to be first in a series, and part of me thinks how could we possibly improve on this perfection and maybe more would ruin the magic? Regardless, I can't wait to see what else this author puts out. This is a truly amazing debut.

5 stars - 10/10

Thank you to St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoy a good mystery and a well written romance - combine both AND teach me about a country and it's history - and I'm happy!

Well written - great mystery and love story. A bit rushed at the end - but a book worth reading!

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital read copy of this book for review. The opinions here are entirely my own.
Published as a mystery, this book seems to be a combination mystery, romance from the gentleman’s point of view, adventure, and history of India all rolled together. At times the book flows well and is engaging, and at times it seems to drag with side stories and information that have little or nothing to do with the main story or stories.
The end of the book, while satisfying, seems to rush to tie up all the loose ends with a neat bow. I would have preferred less time spent on some of the side stories, such as the children encountered on one of the protagonist’s trips and more time on bringing about the conclusion.
The protagonist, Jim, is a likeable retired army hero who is plagued by memories of a devastating battle at Kirachi in his past. He encounters a charming family, the Framjis when he reads about the son’s wife dying in a fall and having it ruled as suicide. Convinced it was murder, he reaches out to the son and suggests he be hired to investigate.
During the investigation, several additional themes are introduced, including Jim meeting the daughter, Diana and, over the course of the book falling in love. During his investigation he assumes several persona and takes on a long and treacherous journey during which he befriends 5 young children. With one exception, the resolution of their stories doesn’t really further the overall story of the murder investigation. This tends to slow down the book at points,
Other portions of the story, such as Jim’s history of boxing and his learning of the true story of Kirachi are worked into the story; but seem to add little to it’s actual resolution.
This book will likely appeal to anyone who has an interest in India, it’s history and culture. It may also appeal to readers with an interest in military dramas. There are some well drawn characters and they are easy to imagine, although overall there is more of a feeling of being told a story rather than allowing the reader to create it in their mind.

I had never read a book like this before. I really enjoyed being introduced to and learning about a new culture as well as new vocabulary words. I am really glad that I read this book. It was definitely thought provoking.

There are certain captivating words that will have me snatching up a debut book without seeing its cover or reading its blurb. I saw ‘murder’ and I saw ‘Old Bombay’ and it was a done deal. I love historical mysteries particularly when set in an exotic (to me) location.

Murder in Old Bombay takes place during India’s British-run colonial period. The main character was a blend of British and Indian due to his heritage of Indian mother and unknown British father. Captain Jim Agnihotri was reared in an orphanage and joined the British army, first as a horse handler, and then worked his way up the ranks pretty much as far as someone from his background could hope to go. He was in an ugly skirmish that left him in hospital and a need to do something new with his life. Reading about a horrific pair of deaths, and subsequent trial in the newspapers, gave him the idea to offer his services as a private detective in the spirit of his favorite fictional hero, Sherlock Holmes.

This book did not feel like a debut much of the time. For one, there are many layers and elements that weave together well. The historical backdrop and historical background of the setting and characters was well-developed. For those who have no clue about Indian history, the blended culture of British and Indians in Victorian era India, Indian religious, racial, and social backgrounds, or British military, this book fills one in without bogging down the story. I loved that I was able to see with my imagination the place and people with the descriptions.

Jim was a colorful and engaging lead character. He is both just what he seems and a great deal morewhich is revealed as the story unfolds. He’s a man caught between two worlds, without family or family history, and lonely for what he sees in his new friends’ family group as a result. He’s protective and loyal as a result without much bitterness. He gets beaten down, but gets right back up to keep going.

This started as a typical historical murder mystery in format, but then it added some action adventures for Jim. He also gets a chance to explore his past and figure out a complicated romance. It has everything, really.

All in all, I was enthralled with this author’s first effort and I hope she returns to historic India with more murder mysteries. Those who love this genre should definitely consider this book.

Good story. Decent mystery. It tells like an Agatha Christie type book, and that made me really like it. I especially liked the setting.

3/5 Stars

In Murder in Old Bombay the author describes the investigative efforts of a military captain who was hired to discover the truth about the death of his friend’s wife and sister. The story extensively describes India in the late 1800s and the Caste System. I thought the book was overly burdened with details of the country and its people which interfered with the flow of the story.

Really engaging and unexpected look at the British Raj in its waning days, as our protagonist travels all throughout India searching for clues to the identity of a murderer, embroiling himself in all sorts of travails along the way (and nonchalantly teaching his readers about Indian history). The style was very Conan Doyle, and also reminiscent of a Victorian serial - so much more packed into this novel than just a murder mystery.