A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee
Publisher: Pegasus Crime
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

In the days of the Raj, a newly arrived Scotland Yard detective is confronted with the murder of a British official—in his mouth a note warning the British to leave India, or else . . .

Calcutta, 1919. Captain Sam Wyndham, former Scotland Yard detective, is a new arrival to Calcutta. Desperately seeking a fresh start after his experiences during the Great War, Wyndham has been recruited to head up a new post in the police force. He is immediately overwhelmed by the heady vibrancy of the tropical city, but with barely a moment to acclimatize or to deal with the ghosts that still haunt him, Wyndham is caught up in a murder investigation that threatens to destabilize a city already teetering on the brink of political insurgency.

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Captain Sam Wyndham survived the Great War only to come home to London and find his wife recently dead from influenza. Greif-stricken, his world shattered he moves to India, to join the police force in Calcutta and try to start his life once again. Only he’s thrown in the deep end of a perplexing murder case made even more complicated by not knowing the local scene or understanding who is trustworthy and who most certainly is not.

I found this to be a thoroughly amazing book that I picked up on a whim and which I eagerly devoured. Before I reached the half-way point I had already ordered the second book in the series and I fully expect to order the next two after this as well. The author manages to infuse every page with what I found to be a realistic representation of Calcutta in the years following on from the Great War. Set in 1919 I loved the historical time period – one which didn’t shy away from the culture, language or society of the times. While never used in a titillating manner, arrogant British ex-pats called the native locals “wog” or “coolie” and people were treated both by perceived class and race. Considering the time and historical data I found the book to be accurate but with a decent flair for the fictional story as well. I thought the author did an amazing job with this – realistic enough for me to find it thoroughly believable but not rubbing the reader’s face in the less-than-romantic aspects of how humans treated each other a hundred years ago.

Readers looking for a vibrant historical mystery they can really sink into should find this suits their needs admirably. Indeed the mystery plot itself – which I found both interesting and complex – was not so dense or difficult that it over-took the historical setting, nor the fact this story was fully told in the Raj’s Calcutta. I loved the world-building and air the author gave this story. Despite my modern surroundings I frequently fell into the story and could hear the sounds and smell the scents described – I found the whole book thoroughly addictive and am eager for the next installment.

I found the main characters all well layered and interesting. While a number of the central characters felt somewhat cookie-cutter in their stereotypes this didn’t detract from my enjoyment mainly because I feel this adds to some of the genuineness of the time and place the story is held. I also really appreciated how Captain Wyndham – while more enlightened and open-minded than many of his contemporaries – was not some perfect hero on a pedestal. He had emotional and mental wounds from the First World War, not to mention a slight addiction to opiates left over from his recovery from both the War and the devastating death of his wife. Additionally, I found it quite refreshing that Captain Wyndham – fresh off the boat from London – didn’t have a network of spies or helpers when it came to his work as a policeman. Indeed I was impressed the author had Wyndham floundering somewhat for much of the story trying to piece together the political and policing landscape of the new country and culture he found himself in. This is not some mythical grand detective, but a man with flaws as well as a great character and open mind.

This is an interesting and slow-burn mystery novel set in Calcutta in 1919 and I adored every moment. I will be re-reading it again while I wait for the second book in the series to arrive and plan to promptly order the rest of the series. Readers looking for a strongly atmospheric, historical, straight mystery story should not be disappointed in this book. I highly recommend it to all readers.