Calcutta, 1923. When a Hindu theologian is found murdered in his home, the city is on the brink of all-out religious war. Can officers of the Imperial Police Force, Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee track down those responsible in time to stop a bloodbath?
Set at a time of heightened political tension, beginning in atmospheric Calcutta and taking the detectives all the way to bustling Bombay, the latest instalment in this 'unmissable' (The Times) series presents Wyndham and Banerjee with an unprecedented challenge. Will this be the case that finally drives them apart?
I'm absolutely delighted to be sharing my review of The Shadows of Men today. Huge thanks to Abir Mukherjee, Graeme Williams and Vintage Books for sending me an advance copy of the book to read. I also chose to listen to the audiobook of the novel.
The Shadows of Men is the fifth book in the Wyndham and Banerjee series and although it's only the second I have read, I am completely in love with this series and I will be catching up with the previous novels as soon as I can.
The book is set in 1923, Gandhi is in prison and with a General Election looming, political upheaval and the rift between Hindus and Muslims means the country is more like a tinderbox than ever. This time the narrative is told through the alternate eyes of Sam Wyndham and his sergeant, Surendranath (Suren) Banerjee. It made listening to the superb audiobook a real pleasure with both narrators doing a sterling job of bringing the essence of the two men to life. It's immediately evident that the pair are in trouble and the first part of the novel acts as a flashback explaining the unfortunate position that they are in since Suren's attempt to prevent trouble on the streets has resulted in him finding himself on the wrong side of the law.
Suren has always known that despite working for the British establishment, he isn't on equal terms with his fellow police officers but he finds out just how little his position in the Imperial Police Force really means when he is arrested on a charge of murder. There is no chance of him being protected as one of their own and instead he experiences the same brutal treatment as other Indians held in police custody. Sam, of course, knows that he's innocent but their friendship is tested to its limits here as the disparity between their respective positions in life is brought into sharp and often painful focus. The murder of a Hindu cleric is greeted with anger and violence in Calcutta and there's a very real sense of the explosive danger that ignites the streets of the city. Suren needs to clear his name but they also have to avoid further riots breaking out across India. Sam and Suren need to find out who the real killer is before there is any further bloodshed.
Sam is a fascinating man; he has more awareness than many that he is a product of his upbringing but still his whiteness and Britishness insulates him from everything that Suren experiences, both physically and emotionally. The alternating viewpoints allow readers to more fully understand that for all Sam's self-deprecating cynicism and his increasing sense of Calcutta feeling like his home, he is always going to be the privileged outsider who helps maintain one country's tight grip on another.
Throughout the novel there are examples of the arrogance which still allows certain people to suggest that any actions seen to improve the country were due to the benevolence of the Empire rather than being entirely for benefit the of the British. Seen through Suren's knowing eyes, it's an emotional, eye-opening read at times and though he is clearly a more confident man now, it's heartbreaking to see what this ordeal does to him. Sam has come through his opium addiction but Surendranath faces an even bigger challenge as everything he thought he was is torn away from him. However, although Abir Mukherjee explores some unpalatable topics, it is also a taut, exciting thriller and is suffused with a biting wit that made me laugh out loud - which was a little awkward when I was listening to the audiobook through my earphones! The relationship between the two men is always one of the highlights of the series and although they go through a difficult time here, and are sometimes at odds with one another, their acceptance of their respective strengths and flaws is a warm and touching exploration of friendship. Sam may still be bearing the mental scars of war - there's a harrowing scene where he recalls a terrifying ordeal in the Great War and Suren might be at risk of the hangman's noose but they still criticise, tease and protect each other as only true friends can.
The evocative sense of time and place is a joy throughout; The Shadows of Men is a beautifully written novel which places the reader firmly in the heart of 1920s India. As Sam and Suren travel to Bombay, we vividly experience the striking differences between the two cities - there's a wonderful little scene where Suren bemoans the culinary failings of Bombay - but there are similarities too, including the religious and cultural differences that blight the country. Reading The Shadows of Men with the benefit of hindsight means we recognise the foreshadowing indicating what will eventually transpire, particularly regarding the dangerous divisiveness of religious nationalism. Suspicions are raised and hatred exploited and though Sam and Suren's resolve rarely waivers, they are understandably horrified by the implications of what they discover here. The conclusion to The Shadows of Men is perhaps the only way the book could end, considering what occurs during the course of the novel and I'm intrigued to discover what it means for Wyndham and Banerjee in the future.
There are certain books which become more than just a story, they touch something inside you and The Shadows of Men did that for me. Poignant, challenging, humorous and poetically atmospheric, I will be shouting from the rooftops about this exceptional novel for years to come. An utter triumph.
The Shadows of Men is published by Harvill Secker, purchasing links can be found here but please consider supporting independent bookshops whenever possible.
About the Author
Abir Mukherjee is the bestselling author of the award-winning Wyndham & Banerjee series of crime novels set in 1920s Colonial India. He is a two-time winner of the CWA Historical Dagger and has won the Wilbur Smith Award for Adventure Writing. His books have also been shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and the HWA Gold Crown. His novels, A Rising Man and Smoke and Ashes were both selected as Waterstones Thriller of the Month. Smoke and Ashes was also chosen as one of The Times' Best Crime and Thriller novels since 1945. Abir grew up in Scotland and now lives in Surrey with his wife. and two sons.
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