Bombay, 1950
When the body of a white man is found frozen in the Himalayan foothills near Dehra Dun, he is christened the Ice Man by the national media. Who is he? How long has he been there? Why was he killed?
As Inspector Persis Wadia and Metropolitan Police criminalist Archie Blackfinch investigate the case in Bombay, they uncover a trail left behind by the enigmatic Ice Man – a trail leading directly into the dark heart of conspiracy.
Meanwhile, two new murders grip the city. Is there a serial killer on the loose, targeting Europeans?
Rich in atmosphere, the thrilling third chapter in the CWA Historical Dagger-winning Malabar House series pits Persis against a mystery from beyond the grave, unfolding against the backdrop of a turbulent post-colonial India, a nation struggling to redefine itself in the shadow of the Raj.
The cobra on the front cover of The Lost Man of Bombay has been staring at me for a few months, enticing me into reading the third book in the Malabar House series before the end of the year. Not that I really needed much tempting, having loved the previous two novels, I had no doubt that I had a cracking read awaiting me.
The gripping, immersive opening to the book finds two European men risking life and limb in the Himalayan foothills; they are peripheral characters in the story but although their part in proceedings is brief, we are still given a clear idea of their respective personalities as they attempt to survive the treacherous mountain conditions. A minor avalanche reveals a narrow cave opening and, more disturbingly, the body of a murdered white man
The mystery of the Ice Man as he becomes known quickly captures the attention of the public but with his injuries making identification near-impossible and the only clue a notebook discovered on his person which links him to Bombay, the case has been shunted from one government department to another, until it inevitably ends up at Malabar House – the station where the disgraced or unwanted are sent. Despite her recent successes solving politically sensitive cases, Persis Wadia remains firmly in the latter category and so she is once again handed an investigation that nobody else wants. However, India's first female police detective barely has the chance to begin to investigate before a wealthy and politically connected Indian/Italian couple are slain in their beds, shortly followed by another brutal murder.
With concern rising that a serial killer is targeting white Europeans, it's up to Persis to identify the Ice Man and to discover whether she can confirm her suspicions that the similarities between the three cases mean that they are somehow connected. The intricately woven multilayered plot is deliciously immersive with surprising revelations and a sense of tension which ebbs and flows beautifully. The intriguing, convincing mystery kept me glued to the pages but so too did the superb characterisation and thoughtful, nuanced portrayal of post-partition India.
Change is an ever-present theme throughout The Lost Man of Bombay, from the exploration of a country still discovering its identity following years of colonial rule and the atrocities of Partition, to the more personal challenges which Persis must confront, particularly regarding her relationship with her father, Sam and her feelings for English forensic scientist Archie Blackfinch. For all her achievements, this complex, often rather abrasive woman struggles to confront her emotions and even at her most irascible, it's impossible not to feel some sympathy for her. She is also tasked with becoming mentee for a young woman as part of the Bombay Slum Rehabilitation Programme, a role she is wholly unprepared for and which forces her to examine her own prejudices. I loved the introduction of Seema Desai and look forward to seeing the differences and similarities between the two women further developed as the series progresses.
There really is something for everyone in The Lost Man of Bombay. Mystery lovers will adore trying to figure out the cipher which may hold the key to solving the murders; readers drawn to character-driven plots will love the insightful study of a woman who both challenges and submits to social pressures, and historical fiction aficionados will find much to admire with the vivid sense of place and forthright analysis of what took place in the recent and more distant past allowing for a fascinating and educational look at this highly-charged period of time. There's even something for romance lovers with the will-they-won't-they relationship between Persis and Archie frustrating and tantalising in equal measure.
The Lost Man of Bombay is an outstanding read; artfully plotted, richly atmospheric, full of warmth and wit and utterly riveting from start to finish. This book and indeed, the Malabar House series is exceptional fiction, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The Lost Man of Bombay is published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton, purchasing links can be found here but please support independent bookshops whenever possible.
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