I have just read Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee his third in the series with his two main characters Captain Sam Wyndham and his ‘native’ sergeant, Surrender-not Banerjee. The first two novels, The Rising Man and A Necessary Evil I enjoyed tremendously and since there is his forth book already sitting on the shelve ready for me.
I like history and his stories are woven around fact and this one is hung around several events. The sub-continent of India is a main player in all of his books and the consequences of British Rule too. In this one he tells of the rise of nationalism inspired by Gandhi. It is all happening in Calcutta and then something strange happens. The addicted Sam happens to come across a mutilated corpse. From there the story unfolds at a decent pace with numerous turns and events.
Historically based on events, of the time, and still with a reference to the Great War from which many people were still trying to deal with. Add into that civilian unrest and the murders which gives an opportunity for this writer to tell us about.
Sam and Surrender-not, are two wonderful people to tell this story through. Then there is the contrast with the behaviour of the military that shows the arrogance of the Empire. I won't say anything else about the plot.
Well written, a fast moving one, as the story tramped on to its conclusion. For me a wonderful read.
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