4.5 / 5.0 stars

It is September of 1894. Jim and Diana left Boston a few weeks before and have arrived at Liverpool, England where they meet up with her brother, Adi who had sent an urgent telegram asking them to come. Adi divulges that he has been accused of murdering his business partner in Bombay and has fled to England. He fears becoming a scapegoat in the matter. If anyone can help him, he believes that it is Jim. So back to Bombay they all travel with the hope of reclaiming Adi's good name.

Author Nev March spins a wonderful tale, filled with adventure, mystery, and a touch of romance. The writing is excellent and highly descriptive. In this installment of the Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mystery series, one is swept away to colonial Bombay, India. The air is moist and hot. The gardens are lush and their blooms glorious. Nev March's rich understanding of India social ranking, delicate international diplomacy, classism of the 1890s, and history of the day is beautifully rendered. The way in which she writes dialogue among people of differing cultures and class is insightful and delivers a strong understanding of why things ultimately had to change.

The story was thoroughly captivating and I eagerly await the next book in series as it makes its way into the world.

I am grateful to publisher Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital galley of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: May 13, 2025
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1250348036

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for this free ARC in return for my honest review.

Nev March is one of my favorite authors, Here we are on the 4th book of her Captain Jim and Lady Diana series and are back where it all began, Victorian Era India. A charming couple who are shunned when they return to India because Lady Diana is a Parsi and Jim was an of an Indian woman and British father - the castes may not mix!! And the caste system is part of this mystery, as Jim tries to clear his brother-in-law of the murder charge filed against him. Things look dire, as witnesses are bribed, caste issues keep people from giving evidence, and Jim is even forced go help clear up a robbery at the Indian Mint in order for people to assist his efforts on behalf of his brother-in-law.
I love this series as it transports me effortlessly to India and provides marvelous look at the times, places and people living there in the midst of the Victorian Era. Even though it is book 4, you need not have read the first 3 to thoroughly enjoy this new installment of Captain Jim and Lady Diana.. Well done Nev!!!! 4.5****

The Silversmith’s Puzzle by Nev March

Our narrator, Jim, is an Anglo-Indian detective in the 1890s who sets out to free his brother-in-law from a murder charge in Mumbai. Adi is accused of killing Satya, his business partner in a silversmith business.

Mr. March has created a web of mystery for Jim in this story. Finding the real killer is daunting, but Jim persists. There are many characters and most play a role to help Jim.

There are several explanations of Indian life and culture, which I really enjoyed. One of these is that Jim married above his station. This has caused a social rift for his pure blooded Indian wife and her family .

The reader will get no clues or hints of the killer until the end, which becomes very busy and, I believe, a setup for his next book. I look forward to that. 5 stars

Interesting book, however it was a bit long and drawn out in some parts. The setting descriptions were interesting and well written. A good addition to the series.

As a fan of the previous books, I was happy to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of this latest installment in the series, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. This book is told from the POV of the husband, Jim, who is half British and half Indian. Since most books like this are written from the wife's point of view, this was a welcome change. I was happy to see the couple return to India, since I am interested in the cultural differences there. They work to clear Diana's brother of a murder charge, and there were many twists and turns on the way to an unexpected end.
There were many topics covered including prejudice and racism, the legal system, the caste system and more. It was very atmospheric, making me feel like I went back in time to this place in India. I also enjoyed Jim's references to Sherlock Holmes (who I happen to have just been reading) and Shakespeare. I particularly liked the family and community dynamics during a very stressful time. Although this book could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the previous books, especially the first in the series. Fans of the series will be happy to read more about the characters.

The 4th book in this historic mystery series … and while the reader would probably get more out of it if they had read the other 3, I think this could be an intriguing and understandable standalone.
1890’s American India and Britain are the settings for the series and the majority of this book take place in Bombay. The main characters of the series are: Captain Jim - a current PI, former British army member, Bombay Constabulary officer, Anglo-Indian,in his early 3o’s who’s father is an unknown Englishman who was raised as an orphan from an early age AND. Diana Framji - Bombay born, British educated daughter of a wealthy Parsis family expected to marry within her religion and class. In previous books (but explained in this one), these two fell in love, married and moved to America mainly because, although Diana’s family have accepted the marriage, Bombay Parsi society doesn’t.
In The SIlversmith’s Puzzle, Jim receives an urgent telegram from Diana’s brother, Adi, who is also like a brother to him. The couple travel to Britain to rendezvous with Adi and find he’s on the run from the murder of his business partner in India. He’s scared that he’s going to be arrested for the murder but is being cagey with Jim and Diana about all the details of the incident. They convince him to return with them to India so that Jim can try to find out who really killed the man, clear Adi’s name and remove some the stigma from his family and their business. Diana’s parents are thrilled that all 3 have returned but Jim and Diana aren’t so lucky. Most of Parsi society shows their disdain for the couple and social engagements are cancelled. The murder at the heart of the book takes MANY twists and turns and involves a large cast of characters from colonial Raj administrators, high and low caste Indians…generous people, criminals and beggars. The story also weaves in interesting info about the onerous taxation system imposed by the British in India, the many restrictions of the caste system and the overall bad impact of the Raj on India and its people. Jim and Diana love and respect each other and work together to help Adi stay out of the executioners noose. .

I loved this latest installment in Nev March's series. Ango-Indian Jim Agnihotri and his Parsee wife Lady Diana Framji return to Bombay when her brother is accused of murdering his business partner. Very atmospheric, and a clever mystery to solve. I do hope that Jim and Diana remain in Bombay because I prefer that setting, but the author writes so well I will follow her characters anywhere.

Im sorry to say that I did not enjoy this read. It was just too long until the murderer was discovered. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #TheSilversmith’sPuzzle, #NetGalley, #Goodreads.

This is a continuation of the story centered on Captain Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana Framji now in 1894 as they return to a part of India where her brother has been accused of the murder of his business partner and desperately needs their help. Their work is hampered by perceptions of their alliance and rules/etiquette in the Parsi culture. As usual they dig deep each in their own way to do what is needed to find the truth. I absolutely loved the first three in this series, so don't expect an unbiased review.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Pub Date May 13, 2025
#TheSilversmithsPuzzle by @nevmarch #CaptainJimandLadyDianaMysteriesBk4 @stmartinspress @minotaur_books #mystery #detective #booktok #crimenovel #murderinoldbombay #HistoricalNovel #Parsiculture #castesystem #investigation #mystery #NetGalley @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @waterstones ****Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk @kobo #thriller #suspense

Nev March’s fourth mystery takes Captain Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana Framji back to Bombay, India, to investigate a murder. This time, the case is personal, as Lady Diana’s brother is accused of murdering his business partner. As Captain Jim delves deeper into the case, the trail leads him closer to a possible family connection. I found the story captivating and full of fascinating characters. But for me, all the Indian words muddled my ability to follow the storyline. I could not keep straight if the words were character names, locations, objects, clothing, or names of dishes.

The Silversmith's Puzzle by Nev March continues the series of Captain Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana Framji as they return to Bombay to help Lady Diana's brother escape a murder charge. Adi's business partner has been murdered and he has been accused, so the entire Parsi family sets out to find the real culprit. With the surroundings of 1894 India, the Parsi religion and the problems of a mixed marriage, Jim and Diana have much more to contend with than a murder, but, family is family. This is another interesting murder set in an intriguing setting and well worth the time to read.

The Silversmith's Puzzle brings Jim and Diana back to her family home in Bombay to save her brother from a charge of murdering his business partner. I love that the mystery again takes place in India. I feel the strength of the books is their sense of place, the historical references and the explanations of what is and isn’t allowed among the various peoples. I enjoy learning about the castes, the different religious sects and the social interactions. I have enjoyed all 4 of the books in this series but hope Jim and Diana remain in India from now on.

I both liked and disliked this book. My dislike stemmed from the fact that it takes place in the past and involves servants. I find myself less thrilled to read stories where families have slaves or servants, because I cannot ever imagine a servant being so excited to get a glass of water for a person that they skip away to do it. This is my owner personal hangup and does not directly impact the quality of the mystery of the silversmith's death.
I found the mystery surrounding Rastogi's death to be well-constructed. Adi is a meek character that is the perfect patsy for the murder. Jim is both an outsider to Indian culture but a part of Adi and Diana's family and a peripheral part of the Bombay constabulary. Jim is the perfect person to investigate the murder since he is a master of disguise, is an intuitive investigator, and has both ties yet the ability to move around freely. I enjoyed how complicated the mystery became due to Indian culture and family dynamics - this type of mystery would not be so complicated in American culture. I am thankful to Steve Erickson of St. Martin's Publishing Group (Minotaur Books) for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of The Silversmith's Puzzle, because I found the investigation to have so many tangents and I enjoyed learning about Indian traditions. Although I have heard of the caste system and know of arranged marriages, this story makes real the daily life of a typical Indian family. It also brings to light the shunning resulting from going against family or religious directives. Sure, this takes place in the past and traditions evolve, yet the historical footprint is still present. An excellent mystery, notwithstanding my initial misgivings.

I've read the first & third in the series and was glad to get the offer to read #4 from NetGalley. The couple returns to India for this investigation. Diana's brother is accused of murder & they return to find the true killer. Upon their return they are met once again with religious prejudice, but Diana's family pull together to support them. There are many twists & turns in this latest mystery. It is carefully plotted with much Indian history & culture included. I was glad to be reading on my Kindle where I could quickly look up people & events on Wikipeedia. Giving this one 4 stars and I recommend it to both historical fiction & mystery lovers.

The mystery stands alone, but is best understood by fans of the series, or at least those who read book one. I never read the first book and I would have liked this story more if I had, even though I read books 2 and 3. It took a long time for Jim to make progress with the investigation, or maybe the pacing made it feel that way. Diana is on the sidelines in its one. She complains about her ostracism, justly, but does little else for long sections. Bombay itself is more of a character than her. Jim’s great, but this one isn’t a team effort, if that matters to you. Still on board for the next book.

I had read March's earlier novel and found it engaging and informative so knew I wanted to read this new one. I like mysteries and was especially attracted to this one dye to its setting in British India. The cultural context made it more interesting. I leaned about life in India during this time in history - cultural, politics and overall life. The dive into the Parsi culture gave me some insight into a an area I had no exposure to. It added depth to the story through a varied and diverse set of characters. The inclusion of a mix of caste, religion and statuses in the characters is a strength. I give March a plus for having the main character be Anglo-Indian / Eurasian. That added to the richness of the story.
A weakness, that added caused me a bit of a down in reading, was that the story did plod in places. Some gentle editing to smooth those slow points would strengthen the story.

I am a completely unabashed and enthusiastic fan of Nev Marsh's books, and when I saw she had written another book featuring Jim Agnihotri, half Anglo and half Indian, and his Parsi wife, Lady Diana Framji, I was delighted to delve immediately into this rich book. I was not disappointed.

Nev Marsh manages to incorporate intricate mystery, teach us about important aspects of Indian and Parsi culture, introduce us to the complexities of Diana's family, and to interweave clever and timely plots into a comprehensive and alluring whole. Themes such as silver smithing (thus the title), child slavery, the tight knit and challenging rules of Parsi society and how that affects Jim's and Diana's relationship, Jim's half-caste background, and the challenges of colonial and the underground of Bombay in 1894 are all carefully featured.

At the same time, Marsh's descriptions of environmental Bombay, the city itself, buildings, and intercultural life all add to the mystery of the book. Lady Diana and Jim go back to Bombay from the US in order to help her brother, who has been accused of a homicide that Jim has to sort out. The pace is quick but fascinating and complex.

Every Marsh book provides something for the reader to learn, and the quick-paced plots and socially oriented relationships are somewhat recondite but always compelling. I eagerly await Marsh's next book.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

Continuation of previous storylines but a reader is able to jump in here without too much trouble. The storyline takes the family back to a familiar place, seeking to help solve a murder. But will they be welcome after their marriage? And who is the mastermind behind this plan?

Loved the book. Captain Jim and Lady Diana return to India to solve a mystery and the stakes are high. The twists and turns in this story keep coming and the action is exciting. Best book yet!

This was my first foray into this series, and so it took a little longer to read the ARC because, naturally, I had to go back and read the preceding novels,

What a great way to discover a new favourite author.

The Silversmith’s puzzle had me longing for the characters to return to India, and the world was written so well. As was the mystery itself. A real page turner from the start.