Murder in Old Bombay by Dev March (2020)

Murder in Old Bombay by Dev March (2020)

A historical mystery set in British India and based on a true story.

Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars

Plot: Captain Jim Agnihotri is recovering in a military hospital in British India. After reading Sherlock Holmes to pass the time, he becomes intrigued by a case of two women falling to their deaths under mysterious circumstances.

Analysis: This book isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. I was bored shortly after the initial setup and it felt like the plot moved slowly. Occasionally, it would grip me again, just to soon become a drag again.

I will say that some (not all) of the characters have interesting development arcs. The politics of British India provides a unique background for the story and the cultural context does have bearing on several plot events. The Sherlock Holmes influences are present but they aren't too heavy handed.

I’m not sure if it’s because this book is the first in a series, but it felt like there were a lot of side plots and events not really related to the main mystery plot. I assume this was to help flesh out characters and their backgrounds, but the book got way too complicated, with too many conspiracies and villains. I wanted the story to wrap up, but instead it kept expanding. I enjoyed the unique setting, but I don’t think I’ll be reading the next in the series.