I'm on the fence about this book. It's not horrible, but not fantastic. I feel there was a bunch of unnecessary parts that didn't really add to the story. It dragged on in parts. I feel like it was a good mystery plot, just didn't need the excess things.

Murder in old Bombay is a cosy murder mystery set in Colonial India in 1892. The book was quite compelling to read but I am unsure if I like it. There was a lot more than just murder and mystery in the book. It has some adventure, drama, war and even a bit of good old fashioned romance. There were quite a few incidental stories and accessorial characters too that it was easy to lose track of the main plot. Yet somehow, I did enjoy reading it.

A Fab Five stars. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Murder in Old Bombay. Enjoyable and utterly riveting.

Becoming a sleuth, trying to solve the crime, makes this an interesting read. It’s a little slow at the beginning but it then grabs you into the story and it’s an awesome read

'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.'
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"Murder in Old Bombay" is Nev March's debut novel and is a historical fiction and mystery set in colonial India.

I loved this book. It was long with a lot of twists and turns and at times it felt like the mystery would never be fully unwoven, but each aspect of the story comes to rights in its own time and balances perfectly in the end. There were many layers of mystery threaded throughout the book, from the initial mystery of death of the two young women at the clock tower to the circumstances surrounding Jim's leaving the military and several others that were told alongside them. "Murder in Old Bombay" has earned itself a spot on my favorites shelf.

I enjoyed all the central characters in the book and became invested in each of them, but none so much as Jim. I truly loved Jim's character, he performed an interesting balancing act of soldier and investigator, alongside his many disguises.

I have read other books before set in colonial India, but none as  detailed as "Murder in Old Bombay." This book shares both beauty and ugliness during that time and details some of the difficult political situations, which were often changing. And although this information is not the main storyline, it is also central to the mystery and adds to the realness of the book, you feel like you're there with the characters (and there is also a glossary at the back of the book to help keep track of the titles, clothing, and terms just in case).

I see March won MWA's award for Best First Crime Fiction, which is very well deserved. And I also saw that she is writing a sequel, which I'm very excited about! I hope that Jim will still be the main character in the sequel because I absolutely adored his character, but either way I'll be adding it to my TBR.
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I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for sharing an eARC of "Murder in Old Bomaby" by Nev March with me. This is my honest review.

It’s 1892. As Captain Jim Agnihotri lies in a Bombay hospital slowly recovering from serious injuries, he reads that two young women fell to their deaths from the university clock tower. In a letter to the editor, Adi, the husband of one and brother of the other, rejects the verdict of suicide and concludes, “They are gone but I remain.” This inspires Jim to unravel the mystery, in a long and tortuous journey that probes not only their deaths but his own difficult past.

The murder mystery, interesting in itself, serves also as a frame within which the author ranges widely. The attraction between Jim and Diana Framji, the sister of Adi, the bereaved husband, blossoms into romance; but he is Anglo-Indian and illegitimate, whereas she belongs to a wealthy, aristocratic Parsee family. Jim’s enquiries take him to the Northern Frontier during an outbreak of raiding by hostile tribes, and he rescues several child refugees and a party of soldiers cut off in enemy territory. Later, he leads the rescue of a group of captives, mainly women, who have been abducted into slavery. Inspired by Conan Doyle’s fiction, Jim strives to emulate Sherlock Holmes’s techniques of logical deduction, close observation, and the use of disguise.

Jim’s achievements mark him as a hero in the epic mode, but this is balanced by the realistic portrayal of the context in which he functions: strict social divisions based on race, class, and caste; patriarchal attitudes and rigid adherence to convention; conflict caused by external raids, nationalist movements, and political manoeuvring; exploitation of the vulnerable; and widespread pain and suffering, which he shares. Though the plot meanders somewhat, this is an insightful account of life in India on the cusp of the 20th century. Highly recommended.
HNR Issue 94 (November 2020)
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/murder-in-old-bombay-a-mystery/

After being injured in a battle in Karachi in the early 1890s, Anglo-Indian Army Captain Jim Agnihotri is slowly recovering in a hospital in Poona. During his recuperation, Agnihotri reads the Sherlock Holmes story 'The Sign of Four' and gets the sleuthing bug. Serendipitously Agnihotri finds a mystery to solve in 'The Chronicle of India' tabloid.

A letter to the editor from a Bombay resident named Adi Framji upbraids the newspaper for calling the deaths of his wife and sister suicides. Adi insists that his 19-year old wife Bacha. and 16-year-old sister Pilloo - who fell from a university clock tower minutes apart - were murdered.

Upon being released from the hospital Agnihotri goes to Bombay, contacts Framji, and arranges to look into the deaths of Bacha and Pilloo, whose tragic passing cast a pall over the entire Framji family. While Agnihotri is investigating, he spends a lot of time in the wealthy Framji household, which consists of Adi, his father and mother, and his four remaining siblings - including his pretty sister Diana, who just returned from a stay in England.

Agnihotri examines the scene of death, interviews witnesses, and attempts to track down suspects - aided in part by Diana, who thinks of herself as Watson to Agnihotri's Holmes. Agnihotri's queries upset SOMEONE, because he's viciously attacked and someone attempts to burgle the Framji house.

To pursue his inquiries Agnihotri has to travel around India, and - like Sherlock Holmes - dons disguises to remain incognito. During one trip, Agnihotri even assists the army, which has a group of soldiers trapped in rebel territory.

As the story unfolds we see the contrast between the rich and poor in 19th century India as Agnihotri attends wonderful dinners and elegant parties at the Framji home, then encounters starving children during his travels.

We also learn a bit about Indian history, like the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857; the uppity attitude of the British to Indians, Pakistanis, etc.; and native groups that wanted to overthrow the British Raj.

The book is part mystery, part travelogue, and part romance. Agnihotri inevitably falls for Diana, but is forbidden to pursue her because she's Parsee and he isn't. Agnihotri moons over Diana continually, which felt a bit too much like a Regency romance to me.

This is an engaging - though a tad meandering - historical mystery, recommended to fans of the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Nev March), and the publisher (Minotaur Books) for a copy of the book.

I was excited to read this one. Mystery, check. Historical fiction, check. But there was just too much going on here. I felt the mystery got lost and the author wanted the focus to be on Jim.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I loved this one. I like that it was set in India. It’s outside of my typical cozy genre but I really liked it.

In 1892 Bombay, Anglo-Indian Captain Jim Agnihotri (an admirer of Sherlock Holmes) investigates the deaths of 2 young women, who fell from the university clock tower in broad daylight.

The story meanders all over India as Jim pursues the case to its conclusion. Though the mystery was interesting, what I enjoyed most in Murder in Old Bombay was the atmospheric journey across historical India and Jim's encounters along the way.

This is a mystery with a detective who is very inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Set in 19th century Bombay, it delves into the case of two women who fell from a university clock tower. He becomes entangled in the family and apparent murder. This is a fun mystery book for lovers of historical fiction. The setting is rich and vibrant and you find yourself rooting for the main character.

"Murder in Old Bombay" features a likeable character whose role changes from retired Army Captain to journalist to private investigator. While recovering from war injuries, Captain Jim becomes intrigued by a story he reads in the newspaper, detailing the apparent suicide (or was it murder?) of two young women. After he is released from the hospital, Jim is determined to get to the bottom of the bizarre occurrence. When he approaches the family members of the women in order to obtain information for a follow up story, Jim is offered the job of private investigator to dig into the circumstances surrounding the demise of the women. Since he fancies Sherlock Holmes as a model, Jim decides to use some of the great detective's techniques to investigate their deaths.

The exotic setting of Bombay and surroundings sets the tone for this intriguing novel. The characters are described well, and the plot twists and turns take readers on a roller-coaster ride from one possible solution to another. Elements of romance and skullduggery are interwoven with the plot. While the story seemed to bog down about half way through the book and took a different turn, the elements of danger and adventure are still present. The novel contains no overt violence (other than fistfights and boxing) or sexual situations, and lacks strong language. The adventures of Captain Jim should keep readers guessing until the final pages of the novel.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I apologize for the late review!

This is like a Agatha Christie novel set in India and I enjoyed it. I love reading about other countries and a good old-fashioned mystery. Well done!

I really enjoyed this story, but I almost wouldn't consider it a mystery? The mystery/murder was how the protagonist gets involved in his adventures but I was much more intrigued by his travels/relationships he builds throughout the story.

As someone who loves Sherlock Holmes (like Jim), I appreciated that the tone and language felt of the Sherlockian age. I thought the author did an excellent job with the setting and enjoyed being in a time and place I haven't read many books about.

It’s always a delight to read a book set in a locale one is familiar with. And this book is not only set in my beloved city, it is even set at a time when it was still Bombay, long before its name was changed and its cosmopolitan vibrancy obliterated forever.

It is 1892 and the strange case of a double suicide has rocked the city. Two young Parsi women, 19-year-old Bacha Framji and her husband’s 15-year-old cousin, Pilloo, jump down to their deaths from the Bombay University clock tower within minutes of each other. Three men, the Parsi Maneck Fitter and two Muslims, Seth Akbar and Saapir Behg, are arrested for the murders and subsequently acquitted for lack of evidence.
Captain James Agnihotri, son of an Indian mother and an absent British father, has no family, nothing to belong to. Raised in an orphanage by Fr Thomas, he is unwelcome on both sides of his heritage. But it also works to his advantage, as he can fit in anywhere.
He has retired from the army after his unit is disbanded. Recuperating from his injuries, he reads about the clock tower deaths in the newspaper. He is haunted by a letter that Bacha’s husband, Adi, has written to the editor of the newspaper. The last line of the letter, “They are gone, but I remain,” haunts him and he decides to help.
James suffers the same guilt, at knowing that his fellow comrades in the army are dead, but he has survived. He feels compelled to solve the mystery behind the deaths and help Adi Framji to find closure. A fan of Sherlock Holmes, James is hired by Adi to solve the mystery. He becomes a private investigator.
Adi cannot believe that his wife could have killed herself. Employing Holmes’ methods, James sets about investigating the murder. But early in his investigation, he is viciously attacked. And the attacks continue. Clearly, somebody is afraid of the truth coming out.
James’ investigation takes him to Kasim, Pilloo’s father’s servant, and to the fictional princely state of Ranjpoot, and to the nephew of the queen, Prince Nur Suleiman. There’s another game afoot and the British are watching, and it seems that James might be just a pawn in the scheme of things.
Will James help Adi to find the answers he seeks?

Meanwhile there is a slowly brewing romance between James and Adi’s feisty younger sister, Diana, and there’s a sweet little subplot relating to whether that romance has any future or whether it is doomed from the start.

The story is written in the first-person past tense PoV of James. James was a great character. His needs, fears and compulsions were all believable. His self-deprecatory humour and his other character traits help us to warm to him.

I have always been intrigued by stories of India during the time of the British Raj. This story brings to life the culture of the Parsis, the life of privilege and wealth that many of them enjoyed by virtue of their industriousness and innovativeness.

The narrative is beautiful. The references to Chor Bazaar, Hanging Gardens, Bandera as also the University etc made for enjoyable reading. The author has recreated the period, in terms of the conveniences that were available then. For instance, the use of words like secretary for bureau etc. It feels natural to slip into 1892, and imagine oneself there in that long-ago time. The use of spellings like Cawnpore, Bandera etc also help to root the book in that time. The historical information is presented as fact without colouring it with any kind of sentiment.

The only word that didn't quite fit in was patsy, which is an Americanism dating back to the early 20th century, and therefore out of place in the India of 1892.

The characters all grew on me. Adi, Diana, Burjor, Mrs Framji, Chutki, Fr Thomas.

There are plenty of references to AC Doyle and Sherlock Holmes, who also happens to be one of my favourite characters. Also, to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

The book brings out the conflicted loyalties of the times. About how some people identified with the Indian freedom struggle while others enjoyed privilege

What I didn’t like so much was the amount of time spent away from the core mystery of the novel. The Karachi battle and all the other skirmishes in Pakistan should have been toned down further. I didn’t grudge the five children as they showed James’ nobility and goodness.

The murder mystery promised a fair bit of intrigue, but it was stretched out too long. The writing was good and so the book held interest, but James’ battle scarred past intruded far too much into the present. The book should have kept its focus on what the title promised us.

James’ back story, the battlefield skirmishes were good, but they should have been cut down further. I wanted to read more about the murder. It took the focus away from Bombay.

I loved the cover, with its sepia tones, so reminiscent of the heat and dust of the city.

This book is a murder mystery, romance, historical fiction, social commentary and Sherlock Holmes style whodunit - all in one. And although I did enjoy the story, that is also my biggest problem with this debut. The author would take the reader out on long side tracks, that didn't seem to move the story forward, and therefore at times made it difficult to remember what the end goal was.
That being said, the characters were likable and well defined, and I look forward to reading Nev March's next book.

Captain Jim is hired to solve the murders of two women from the Framji family. This was a long book that could be divided in to a trilogy easily. This covered current murders, past dire, PTSD, casted society, and forbidden romance. I liked the disguises used by Captain Jim, but they were never ending. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 Stars

3.5 stars

Okay. Get ready for yet another average, middle-of-the-road review.

Because I liked “Murder in Old Bombay,” but I didn’t love it.

I’m not hot on it. I’m not cold on it. I’m lukewarm on it.

Set in British India in 1892 and based on a true story, Nev March’s “Murder in Old Bombay” is a historical whodunit, heavily inspired by “The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries.”

Captain Jim Agnihotri, recovering in Poona military hospital in Bombay after being injured in battle, spends his days surveying the newspapers and rereading the stories of his sleuthing hero, Sherlock Holmes. One local case, in particular, draws Captain Jim’s attention -- the death of two young women, their bodies plunging to the ground from the top of the university’s clock tower in broad daylight, supposedly in a dual act of suicide.

Inspired by a letter written by Adi Framji, the surviving husband of one of the victims, in which Adi fervently insists that his wife and sister’s deaths were not self-inflicted, Captain Jim approaches the family upon his release from the hospital. He is immediately retained by the Framjis and asked to investigate the deaths of the two women.

Captain Jim hopes to bring closure and peace to Adi and the rest of the Framji family by uncovering the truth behind what transpired that day at the clock tower. But his investigation soon brings more chaos than closure, as the Captain unwittingly sets off a series of events that will forever alter the course of his life – and his heart.

I think I’m about to sound like a broken record. Because once again, the reason for my tepid praise of “Murder in Old Bombay” is that I believe March tries to do too much with the story. It’s a common problem; one that I’ve repeatedly mentioned in a handful of my reviews this year. And I have found that when an author bites off more than he or she can chew, the end result is always the same – the novel is cluttered, unfocused, and stretched too thin.

If March would have held tight to the historical mystery path, I think the novel would have been terrific. But instead, she broadens the story too widely. One minute the novel feels like a cozy, the next a romance, and after that, an adventure story and a military war drama. There are also far too many ancillary storylines and characters of which to keep track, and the mystery at the novel’s core, the deaths of the two Framji women, is often lost in the shuffle of it all.

And since the story is chocked so full of, well, everything, none of the everything is developed sufficiently because March has not given herself space in the narrative to do so. The novel greatly lacks substance and weight.

Consequently --

The major plot points are unrealized and too quick.
The characters are one-dimensional and not fully fleshed.
The motivations for character behavior are sometimes nonsensical.

On top of all that, the detective work is just too unbelievably easy for Captain Jim. The dots all connect, exactly when he needs them to connect. Somehow, his amateur deductive reasoning skills are always spot on, without him ever having any prior investigative experience. (I also found many of his assumptions and much of his reasoning to be flimsy and faulty stretches of logic. He takes some great leaps in his thinking, let me tell you.) He locates whomever and whatever he needs to locate at the precise, necessary moment.

But you know what? I still found “Murder in Old Bombay” to be a pleasant and mildly compelling read. The historical backdrop of 19th century Bombay is certainly interesting, and Captain Jim and the Framjis are appealing characters. I cared about their welfare and hoped for their happiness.

Did you catch that? March made me CARE.

I was engaged and invested in the story. I anxiously awaited the unveiling of the solution to the mystery surrounding the deaths of the of two women. I felt hope for the love story and Captain Jim’s fragile heart.

And March got me with the ending. She moved me. Tugged on my soul. The novel’s final scene warmed my cold, cold heart and brought a tear to my eye. I may have even felt a goosebump or two. (Or maybe three. But no more than three.)

So, I must give credit where credit is due. Regardless of however lightweight and middle-of-the-road the novel may be, “Murder in Old Bombay” is nevertheless enjoyable. By no means is the novel a poor recipient of your precious reading time.

But to read or not to read? Always, that is the ever important question.

This time, I will give you a nudge slightly in the direction of READ.

Nudge. Nudge.


My sincerest appreciation to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.


*This review has been posted on Bantering Books (my blog), Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss+, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (my personal page, Bantering Books page, and various private groups such as William Morrow Scene of the Crime, Between Friends Book Club, Book Bloggers, and Book Blogger Group).

Murder in Old Bombay is a standalone historical mystery set in India in the middle Raj period written by Nev March. Released 10th Nov 2020 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 400 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is such a beatifully imagined and richly rendered story full of compassion and honor and readable relatable characters alongside a thumping good mystery story. Though modern, the feel and writing remain true to the Victorian style and hearken back to classic authors of the period; Conan Doyle, Rudyard Kipling, RL Stevenson, H.R. Haggard and others beloved of the time (and now).

The fictionalized plot is interwoven around real historical events and characters and like with all good writing, it's seamless and not clear where history shades into imagination.

I was blown away by the technical expertise of the writing - the dialogue flows very well (if formally), and I didn't get yanked out of the story once because of clunky or anachronistic elements. The story itself is warm and compassionate and the characters are engaging and interesting. The societal mores of the time along with the setting obviously play a central role and the author does a good job of compassionately presenting the realities of the time period (along with the crushing racism and often brutal standards of living for people of mixed race) without being depressing or cruel.

The word which springs to mind when thinking about the writing and story is "genteel". It's a very genteel and civilized book, and I'm gobsmacked that this is a debut effort. I sincerely hope readers have many more treats in store from this talented author.

Five stars. This would also make an excellent selection for library acquisition, book clubs, or discussion groups. Highly recommended.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Sherlock Holmes meets Bombay. The story follows the death of two women. The widow of one of them hires a formal Army Captain to investigate.

This leads to the twists and turns in this at times heart breaking story. Thought the story was interesting. The ending was good. I’d recommend this to others.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy.