In what may be the best yet in this series, readers get to follow a fascinating mystery while also exploring colonialism, politics, race, social issues, gender, and more in 1920s India. The story has many complex aspects and intriguing plot points, and with the ending, I'm very interested to see where Perveen's story will go next.

I really loved the previous two novels in this series, but this one was just okay for me. The plot was quite slow. It felt like most of the story was Perveen thinking about what to do next and asking permission to go out and talk to people. It seemed like her strong will and gumption that was on display in the previous novel was diminished in this one. Also, the supporting characters did not seem really as developed as in the last novel, so I wasn’t really invested in solving the mystery. I do look forward to the next novel to see what happens with her personal relationships.

Massey does not disappoint her Perveen Mistry fans in the third book. Not only is the mystery interesting, that of the death of a college student during the visit of Prince Edward in 1921, it gives us further insight into the lives of the Parsi. Perveen is the first female lawyer in Bombay. She works with her father, who despite the general view of women in the workplace at that time, respects her intellect and abilities. She is also a skillful detective in the search for justice. Although a character who was important in the second book, The Satapur Moonstone, is an integral part of this book and appears to have a romantic interest in Perveen, it is not necessary to have read the second book.

Complexity........thy name is Woman.

Sujata Massey presents another outstanding edition to her Perveen Mistry Series. She carves her main female character with high intelligence, craftiness, persistence, and analytical skills that would make ol' Sherlock Holmes come up short. The Bombay Prince is a treasure of a read that incorporates the surge of the working class in support of independence from British rule. And, ah, we have the stepping forward of Perveen as the first woman solicitor. The stars are beginning to align.

It's November of 1921 and Bombay is anxiously preparing for the arrival of twenty-seven year old Edward, Prince of Wales. His impending presence will represent a gamut of emotions for the people. Some are supportive while others mirror the unrest of religious and political strife. We'll also experience the impact of Mohandas Gandhi, a freedom fighter working through boycotts. India in 1921 is filled with pockets of violence and the rise of terrorists representing their causes.

Perveen Mistry works alongside her father in a shared law practice. The Bombay High Court refuses to recognize women lawyers as advocates. Without her renowned father, Perveen would be relegated to menial tasks in the practice of law. It is through his support and her own endeavors that she is creating a name for herself.

The lid is lifted off this story when a young eighteen year old college student visits Perveen for advice. Freny Cuttingmaster attends Woolburn College and is an excellent student. She wishes to remain home on the day of Prince Edward's parade as in a silent boycott. But her fear is that the college will retaliate if she doesn't attend. Perhaps she will even be dismissed.

The flame within this story will be lit when young Freny's body is discovered near the parade by Perveen herself. The police believe that it was an accident from falling from the bleachers. Perveen believes otherwise.

Sujata Massey is royalty when it comes to developing high-tension storylines set in India. She captures the street scenes and sounds like no other as she elevates the emotions and the heightening tensions of the people. Her character of Perveen is a complicated gem who walks within the needs of the people while trying to adhere to the laws. It's through this fictional female character that we come to know the actual historical events and the escalating trauma of the times. And no one does it better than Massey. The Bombay Prince is a must read.

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Soho Press and to Sujata Massey for the opportunity.

I love Preveen mysteries! Atmospheric and complex!

As always Preveen Mistry, a Parsi divorced woman (unheard of), is an energising force as she quietly, yet forcefully, undertakes the various cases she’s given as a solicitor in her father’s law firm.
The time in history is interesting. It’s 1921 and Edward, the Prince of Wales is visiting Bombay as part of an extended royal visit.
Unrest is in the air. The Independence Activists want changes. The British authorities are concerned about possible attacks on the Prince and his entourage.
Preveen has been consulted by a young female student, Ferny Cuttingmaster, from the prestigious Woodburn College where her friend Alice Hobson-Jones teaches. Freny seeks legal advice for the College’s Student Union around activism.
What she doesn’t foresee is that Freny will be involved in a fatal accident, and the more Preveen delves into the aspects of that, the more likely it appears that it might have been deliberately caused.
Edward’s visit sparks off riots. Livings are destroyed, and many jailed.
Preveen has her time cut out pursuing the truth behind Freny’s accident, and handling the many cases that come post the riots—from wrongly imprisoned people, to those seeking damages and representation.
Into this comes a friend from previous times, Colin Wythe Sandringham, an Indian Civil Service political officer with the British government. Someone Preveen greatly admires but with whom there can never be anything more. Customs, religious factors and honor will not allow that.
A very up close and personal look at India at this time, giving this mystery depth the political grounding of the time.
Massey is a whiz at combining these historical times with a captivating mystery, peppered with a variety of fascinating characters.

A Soho Press ARC via NetGalley

This book features Perveen Mistry, Bombay's first female solicitor and takes place in 1921. The Prince of Wales is visiting Bombay creating controversy for Indian citizens who wish to be independent from Britain. When a college student dies during the Prince's procession through the city, Perveen doesn't think it's an accident and is determined to get justice for Freny.

Perveen is limited by the societal restrictions of the times, but is still a strong female character. She is intelligent and tries to do her best for her clients and to make her father proud. It starts a little slow and took me a while to become engrossed in the story. In spite of some slow parts, the investigation has a dramatic ending and the book has an intriguing ending, making me wonder what will happen in the future between Perveen and Colin Sandringham, a political agent she became friends with during a previous case. Although I didn't enjoy this one as much as the prior two books, it is still an enjoyable historical mystery with a unique setting and premise. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The book was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

The Bombay Prince is the third book in the series by Sujata Massey, set in 1920's India--during the struggle for independence from Great Britain's rule. I especially enjoy the historical and cultural aspects of this series. Perveen Misry is still working with her father in the family business and as such becomes embroiled in the murder of a college student who asks her for advice. The mystery is a slow build which suits me as I enjoy all the descriptions of life in India for females and the challenges they faced. I like this series and look forward to more.

The Bombay Prince is the third book in the series by Sujata Massey centered around Bombay's first female attorney, Perveen Mistry. In Bombay in 1921 Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, visits colonial India where the British rule with an iron fist. Prince Edward will be the next in line to the crown that includes this beautiful , fascinating country of India, in the British Empire.

Preveen is attempting to establish herself as a trustworthy and knowlegable attorney as she begins to practice law with her father. The path is anything but easy as Preveen is a young Parsi woman facing religious and cultural constraints and expectations. But Parveen is determined to get to the bottom of the murder of another young Parsi student who happens to also be female, after her fall from a balcony at her college during the parade for the visiting Prince. The Prince's prescence incites a riot which further dissolves into violene and chaos as Indian citizens protest the rule of their country by thire British oppressors.

This book is extremely compelling as the author reflects first hand knowlege of the history, and culture of India under colonial rule. Parallels are easily drawn as Preveen fights for her rights to act independently at the same time her counrtry fights for independence for all people of India with it's complicated caste systems and complex culture of religions and people.

This book was a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the author, Sujata Massey, the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchance for an honest review. #The BombayPrince # NetGalley

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey, third in a series of books set in Bombay, India, features the highly intelligent, curious, and indefatigable Perveen Mistry. Mistry comes from a Parsi family, and part of the allure of Massey's books featuring Perveen is the finely defined historical, cultural, and ethnic setting that in this book features Prince Edward's visit to Bombay in the fall of 1921. Perveen is remarkable for many reasons, but most of all, for her position as the only female solicitor in India. What's even more remarkable is that she graduated from Oxford. The rich description of family and friends enhances the book, and as always, Massey's plots feature Perveen's incisive ability to solve mysteries. The Bombay Prince also moves forward Perveen's romance with a charming British government officer. I can't wait for Massey's next Perveen Mistry book.

This is the 3rd installment in this outstanding serious. It is 1921 colonial Bombay, and Perveen Mistry is the cities only female solicitor. Freny Cuttingmaster, a student at Woodburn College, comes to seek advice from Perveen about attending the parade to honor The Prince of Wales as he visits India. Freny represents a student group that want to sit out the parade in protest of Great Britain’s colonial rule of India. During the parade Freny is found dead at the bottom of a tower on the campus and Perveen is caught up in the mystery surrounding the young woman’s death. With a growing list of suspects, Perveen’s investigation is hampered by the myriad of complexities of India’s different religions and caste system.

This is a wonderful series, showcasing the sights and sounds of 1920’s India, and the struggle for independence of the population as well as the difficulties faced by women due to religious and cultural restrictions. Perveen is a wonderfully written and complex character, and her relationships with the series secondary characters are continued and enhanced in this latest novel. Richly detailed, with an intriguing mystery and authentic dialogue, I can highly recommend this latest historical mystery from Massey. It will enrich, enlighten, and entertain readers.

Anyone who enjoys historical mysteries, strong female lead characters, and learning about a fascinating period in India's history must read Sujata Massey's excellent Perveen Mistry series. The Bombay Prince is the third and latest in the series and after reading it, I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Perveen's life.

Yes, we learn more about the customs of the Parsi. Yes, we learn about Gandhi's influence during this period when India began to actively seek independence. Yes, we learn about the effect of the Prince of Wales' visit on the country, but we mostly get to immerse ourselves in Perveen Mistry's life. (For those of you who may be wondering, both the Prince of Wales and Gandhi stay very firmly on the far periphery.) Perveen, the first female lawyer in Bombay, is based on a real person, Cornelia Sorabji, and Perveen is fascinating.

As I tried to figure out who killed Freny Cuttingmaster, I couldn't help but see how carefully Perveen had to deal, not only with the British who were in control of the government but also with all the males she came in contact with. She's confronted with a double whammy: sexual and religious bias, and both constantly throw up roadblocks in her path to justice. Perveen daily walks through a minefield with her wits as her only protection. Fortunately, the woman can think on her feet.

As the mystery unfolds, readers are reminded that no place in Bombay is ever completely quiet, that the new steel wardrobes are preferable because they help prevent mildew, and that women had to be tough if they wanted a higher education. But there's so much more to The Bombay Prince than learning the random facts that are so skillfully woven into the story or trying to unravel a very well-plotted mystery. There is the rich tapestry of characters. Perveen has a developing relationship with someone that should prove very interesting in future books, and Massey introduces two new characters that I certainly hope to see more of: the American journalist J.P. Singer, and the elderly Mr. Dass who certainly knows his way around a library.

If you're already a fan of Sujata Massey's series, you're going to enjoy The Bombay Prince. If you haven't feasted upon the series yet, don't delay. But start at the beginning with the award-winning The Widows of Malabar Hill, and prepare to find yourselves experiencing Bombay in the 1920s. I envy anyone reading these books for the first time!

I enjoyed The Bombay Prince every bit as much as I did Massey's two previous books! She recreates 1920s Bombay so realistically, to the point that the reader is immersed in that locale. Parveen Mistry is an intelligent woman solicitor, constrained by both religious and societal expectations, but who still finds fulfillment in helping others. I hope that Ms. Massey writes several more books in this series.

Author Sujata Massey brings us once again to 1920s colonial India with the third in a series featuring protagonist Perveen Mistry, the first female lawyer in Bombay, India. I discovered the series while recuperating from a broken ankle during the summer of 2019. As I was house-bound (relying on crutches and/or a knee scooter to get around) for over twelve weeks, I gobbled up books about foreign places from different historical time periods. Massey's were some of my favorites.

I know quite a lot about the UK during this time period, thanks to a lifelong obsession with the British royal family, however, I knew almost nothing about India, other than Queen Victoria (who reigned from 1837-1901) being named Empress of India during her reign. While England held most of India beginning in the early 1600s, the Massey series takes place in the last decades of colonization, just before India's independence from England in 1947.

In books 1-3 of the series George V is monarch of England. It's interesting (at least to me, lol) to note that in the year 1936 there were THREE monarchs: the death of George V in January, the abdication of Edward VIII in December, and the ascension to the throne of George VI in December, all in 1936, yet there has been only one monarch on the throne since 1952: Elizabeth II, who on September 9, 2015, surpassed Queen Victoria as the longest ruling monarch. Victoria ruled for 63 years and nine months while Elizabeth II as of this date-May 25, 2021-has ruled for 69 years, 3 months and 2 weeks.

Book 1 in the series, The Widows of Malabar Hill (Soho Crime, 2018), introduces the reader to Perveen Mistry, and her family's law firm. (Perveen does first appear in a prequel novelette which was published in a story anthology called The Usual Santas, Soho Crime, 2017.) In this book, which moves at a fast pace with strong writing, everyone must come to terms with Perveen's ground-breaking entry as a female into the practice of law where she is sent to investigate a will being disputed by the three wives of a wealthy Muslim mill owner. Only she can handle the legal work in this case as the three wives live in purdah and only speak to males through screens like nuns living in a cloistered convent.

Book 2, The Satapur Moonstone (Soho Crime, 2019), takes place outside of Bombay, deep in the remote Sahyadri mountains, where Perveen is sent to settle a dispute with the females of the Satapur royal family, once again something she is uniquely qualified for as the women in the family also live in purdah and do not speak to men outside their family.

Book 3, The Bombay Prince, takes place in November of 1921, when all of Bombay is in an uproar over the pending visit of Prince Edward (later to become Edward VIII in 1936 for just ten months before his abdication). Bombay is divided between those who are seeking independence for India (including Mahatma Gandhi) and those who wish to remain under British rule. Perveen is swept up into the mystery of a female college student's suspicious death, which occurs just as the Prince's entourage is making its way through the streets in front of the college. Was the student murdered because of her secret involvement with a radical student group? Did she commit suicide as a political statement over the Prince's visit? Did a family member silence her for going against her father's wishes?

One of the things I love most about this series is learning about the history of India during this time period, but also about the Parsi, people of the Zoroastrian faith who fled Iran following the Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th century. Perveen's family is Parsi, and through her and the cases she and her father work on, the reader learns about the unique customs of the Parsi in India. Given the time period and the conservative religious nature of the Parsi people, Perveen adheres to a strict social etiquette between men and women, as well as between women of different ages and social classes. This also adds interesting texture to these cozy mysteries. I also love the relationship Perveen and her family have with their servants, particularly Mustafa the butler and John the cook.

The Bombay Prince was very good, demonstrating an ongoing confidence of Perveen in her work and appreciation of it by her father, further development of the friendship of Perveen and Alice, good news for Perveen's brother and sister-in-law, and a continuation of a relationship between Perveen and a British gentleman that started in book 2. However, I did not find the pacing as quick and exciting as book 1, nor did the writing seem as sharp in this third installment. In trying to find the killer of the young college student, Perveen racks up quite a list of suspects, and the trails of each of these red herrings began to blur a bit for me. In the resolution of the plot, I felt as though there were many loose threads still dangling from the red herrings. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I look forward to Perveen's next adventure, where I hope her British gentleman becomes a more prominent part of her personal story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-book of this novel pre-publication.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I love stories of strong women, especially in time periods and cultures where that is usually not the case. I loved the tolerance and balance between different faiths. The writing style is simple, and I don’t think conversation reflects the speech of 1920s.

India is going through tough times. The civil unrest grows when the Prince of Wales visits, leading to violent clashes in Bombay. Parveen is the only lawyer in India and has to work alongside her father for people to take her seriously. A college student, Freny, visits Perveen to advise her on attending her university's welcoming event for the Prince. The next day the girl ends up dead, and Perveen decides in order to help Freny's family, she'll have to find the killer.

Perveen's life is a horrible balancing act. As the only female lawyer in India, she has the public's eyes on her and judging her. Any wrong move and she ruins her future or shame her father. She does everything she can to uphold her principles and bring justice to everyone she meets. No matter how much people look down on her, she wants the right thing to be done.

A vivid picture is painted of this time when India is fighting for its independence while dealing with the riots this desire leads to.

The one thing that doesn't work for me in this book and maybe future ones is that I'm not too fond of her romantic interest, Colin. He's not empathetic towards Parveen's challenges. Being seen with him could ruin her life. Every scene involves him complaining about something.

The Bombay Prince follows, Perveen Mistry, the first women Lawyer in Colonial India, as she investigates the murder of a student during a parade honoring the visiting Prince Edward (and future King Edward VIII). The student, who had recently consulted with Perveen regarding protesting the parade and English rule, is found to be part of the student group working towards Indian independence. Other groups have taken to the street, rioting and targeting the British and anyone, including the Parsi population, who might be seen as aligning with the British. In these desperate conditions, Perveen perseveres, discovering both clues to the student's murder as well as layered secrets of the school staff, students, and the community.

The Bombay Prince is the third in the Parveen Mistry series by Sujata Massey.

My first exposure to Sujata Massey was The Salaryman’s Wife, which I read for a library book group several years ago and really liked, not least for its Japanese setting. When I encountered The Widows of Malabar Hill, I was immediately hooked by the premise: specifically, the need for a woman lawyer in a society that confines its women, a topic that mirrors my own interests as a writer in ways I won’t detail here. I enjoyed that book, too, and its sequel, The Satapur Moonstone, even more. As a result, I was delighted to have the opportunity to read this addition to the series in return for my honest review.

The title refers to England’s Prince of Wales, the future Edward VIII, sent to visit his future colonial possession in preparation for becoming its King-Emperor one day. Novels that look at the colonization of India from the viewpoint of its inhabitants are rare, which is one of the reasons this series appeals to me. By 1922, when this story is set, Mohandas Gandhi is already a force in Anglo-Indian politics, and Perveen Mistry—heroine of the series and Bombay’s first female solicitor—sympathizes with his cause. But the prince’s arrival sparks unrest that goes far beyond civil disobedience, including an assassination attempt against the prince and the murder of a young female student who has consulted Perveen about the potential costs of political protest.

Like authorities in many places, the Bombay Police Department wants to solve the case as quickly as possible, but Perveen finds their conclusions unconvincing. She takes a personal interest in the student’s murder, in part because she experiences guilt for not having prevented the girl’s death and in part because the victim, like Perveen herself, was Parsi. Rumors that the Parsi as a group approve of British rule add an ugly and disturbingly contemporary racist tinge to the unrest. Despite the constraints imposed on Perveen as a woman and an Indian, she becomes determined to find out who wanted the student dead and why.

I enjoyed the mystery, which I figured out just before the Big Reveal, and I especially love the central characters and the way they are developing, as well as the rich descriptions of Indian life in the 1920s. I’m already looking forward to Perveen Mistry no. 4!

This is #3 in the Perveen Mistry series. I did not read the first two in this series but did read some of the reviews. Although not as good as reading the novels, the reviewed did give me some insight into Perveen and the India culture.
Story’s setting is Bombay in the 1920s

Perveen Mistry who is Bombay first lady solicitor, studied law in Oxford after her studies in India. Yes at a time when women were not in such professions. She returned home to work with her Dad in his ‘Mistry Law’ firm. Her father is proud and encourages his daughter however, he is also aware of his culture and his childhood beliefs.
This relationship reminded me of videos that were circulating last summer while we were being
‘safer at home. Sheenan Melwini is a beautiful singer. She and her Father have out a series of
videos where her Dad interrupts her singing as he doesn’t like the lyrics.
The result is hilarious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IYwp9yKGFM
Second in the series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbYbPRirAxk

Okay~ Back to this story ~ Perveen is trying to bring justice to a young woman who was murdered on the day Prince Edward was touring the country. I am embarrassed to say that I really don’t know much about what was going on during this time period. I do know that Bombay was under British rule for many years actually hundreds of years and India did seek independence. Since that didn’t happen in 1920s I am guessing we are in for several more Perveen Mistry stories.
I am a mystery fan ~ although the mystery wasn’t a huge part of this story ~ I did enjoy this story as well as the insights ~ and I will do some research into the time period!

Want to thank NetGalley and Soho Press for this early uncorrected eGalley granted to me for an honest professional opinion. I am sure in the corrected copy there will be more information about what is history-what actually happened, as well as what liberties were taken. I always enjoy reading the author’s notes as they give us readers the inside story.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 1, 2021

After reading the first two books in this historical fiction series set in 1920s Bombay I have been eagerly anticipating book three, The Bombay Prince. The Bombay Prince delivered another wonderful read. This book delivers the best of historical fiction as we follow the actions of Preveen Mistry the first female solicitor in Bombay during a time of upheaval in British ruled India. The novel is rich in the sights and sounds of India as well as the cultural norms and expectations of women. Preveen is Parsi and I enjoyed learning about the Parsi community. This book can be read as a stand alone.

The Bombay Prince was pretty good. The story itself was very exciting, and I enjoyed the historical elements. I did find that the dialogue was rather stilted and not very natural--there were a lot of “as you know” statements, where one character says something the other character would already know, just to get information to the reader. I also felt like the romantic subplot was shoehorned in and didn’t really add to the story. Overall, though, the central plot was a very thrilling mystery that I really enjoyed.