ABIR MUKHERJEE WITH 'DEATH in the EAST'
DEATH IN THE EAST by ABIR MUKHERJEE
It is about time I gave the author, Abir Mukherjee, more praise for his incredible use of word combinations. It's so descriptive and encourages the reader’s imagination. I love the full use of words. Try this line from his latest one and fourth in the series, ‘Death in the East’.
“a policeman with an opium habit is like a long-distance runner with his laces tied together”
So simple and yet it says a lot!
This 400 plus page novel headlined on the front cover by C J Sansom as ‘A brilliantly conceived murder mystery’, is just that, but there is much more to absorb.
British Imperial India has been the sole setting until it is shared with London’s East End and then later in Jatinga, Assam. He's in Jatinga for a very good reason, of course, and would you believe, there's death! A minor theme in the books are Sam Wyndham’s weakness for a pretty face. You could say he has a flaw!
We have another chunk of history thrust our way when we know about Sam’s earlier life and exploits as a beat copper in around Leman Street nick in 1905. He is, of course, involved in murder investigations and the not-so-subtle ways of life with the old style coppers, dockers, immigrants and Jews. There’s poverty and violence, corruption and death. If that isn't enough to intrigue a reader, too bad because I will not spoil the telling of the plots. You will have to read the book.
As always there are examples of how it was in 1920’s India with characters showing their very stubborn prejudiced ‘Britishness’. The indigenous population being treated as inferior. Through out Sergeant Bannerjee has been referred to as Surrender-not as the Anglo-Saxon tongue was incapable of saying ‘Surendranath. Sam is eventually challenged by Suren, (the native) a name by which he is called and shortened for convenience to pronounce properly and to use his Indian name. And he does. That's about time too and I wonder how many times Abir Mukherjee experienced comments and prejudice with his own name.
Experiences like those; they live on and these four books highlight the prejudice that existed and still exists in many minds.
Having written a poem my last line was ‘prejudice fuels hate’ and this book especially proves my point. The best crime novel of the four to date. It's a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed although at times I had to give some thought to the reality of certain events. You maybe surprised!
It is about time I gave the author, Abir Mukherjee, more praise for his incredible use of word combinations. It's so descriptive and encourages the reader’s imagination. I love the full use of words. Try this line from his latest one and fourth in the series, ‘Death in the East’.
“a policeman with an opium habit is like a long-distance runner with his laces tied together”
So simple and yet it says a lot!
This 400 plus page novel headlined on the front cover by C J Sansom as ‘A brilliantly conceived murder mystery’, is just that, but there is much more to absorb.
British Imperial India has been the sole setting until it is shared with London’s East End and then later in Jatinga, Assam. He's in Jatinga for a very good reason, of course, and would you believe, there's death! A minor theme in the books are Sam Wyndham’s weakness for a pretty face. You could say he has a flaw!
We have another chunk of history thrust our way when we know about Sam’s earlier life and exploits as a beat copper in around Leman Street nick in 1905. He is, of course, involved in murder investigations and the not-so-subtle ways of life with the old style coppers, dockers, immigrants and Jews. There’s poverty and violence, corruption and death. If that isn't enough to intrigue a reader, too bad because I will not spoil the telling of the plots. You will have to read the book.
As always there are examples of how it was in 1920’s India with characters showing their very stubborn prejudiced ‘Britishness’. The indigenous population being treated as inferior. Through out Sergeant Bannerjee has been referred to as Surrender-not as the Anglo-Saxon tongue was incapable of saying ‘Surendranath. Sam is eventually challenged by Suren, (the native) a name by which he is called and shortened for convenience to pronounce properly and to use his Indian name. And he does. That's about time too and I wonder how many times Abir Mukherjee experienced comments and prejudice with his own name.
Experiences like those; they live on and these four books highlight the prejudice that existed and still exists in many minds.
Having written a poem my last line was ‘prejudice fuels hate’ and this book especially proves my point. The best crime novel of the four to date. It's a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed although at times I had to give some thought to the reality of certain events. You maybe surprised!
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