I absolutely loved this book!!! Since I visited India & fell in love with the place, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It certainly is so true to the facts that I had learned while there!
Definitely a must!!!

I wish to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this grand, epic tale set in Bombay during the latter part of the 19th century. The book gives a vibrant picture of life, luxury and turmoil during the British Raj and the Princely States which were never fully a part of British India in colonial times. These semi-independent states had their own regional rulers and had tenuous alliances with England, but often resented British rule. The book vividly portrays divisions in class, culture, caste, race, religion, and the place of women in society.

Captain Jim Agnihotri is recovering during a long stay in a hospital after being wounded in a battle in the northern frontier. While his body is healing, his memory is muddled and he experiences episodes of PTSD. He is overcome by grief due to the feeling that he failed his military team. He has never known the love of a real family. His father was English and his mother Indian. Because of his mixed heritage, he doesn't quite fit in with either race. He grew up in an orphanage and entered the army at an early age. He had kindly, supportive mentors at both stages of his youth.

While lying in the hospital, Jim's attention is drawn to reports of the deaths of two young women in the newspapers. The two young women, one married, and her sister-in-law fell to their death from a University tower. He feels the women's deaths are suspicious. He also reads a letter in the paper from the grieving widower and is determined to discover the cause of their deaths. Being a great fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories, he feels he can use Holmes' power of deduction and sleuthing to solve the mystery and bring closure to the husband.

It is believed by the police the two women committed suicide together for unknown reasons. Once released from the hospital, Jim is hired by the newspaper to write about the deaths. When he interviews the wealthy Parasee family, he is convinced they may have been murdered, but why?. He develops a strong attachment to the family who offers him the job investigating why they died. They will pay more than the newspaper, but he agrees primarily because he is now in the centre of a loving family with whom he sympathizes.

I found the first part of his investigation compelling and presented some tantalizing mysteries and intriguing characters. Later, I thought the story meandered too much as he donned many disguises to search for suspects and witnesses far and wide, becoming rather convoluted and moved along with a slower pace. I did not care for the romance with the flighty and flirtatious daughter if the family. This detracted from the investigation, and I found their love story to be melodramatic and overwrought. As Parsees do not marry outside their religion, this worry was an impediment to his investigation and state of mind.

Some earlier tumultuous history is mentioned that relates fierce, bloody battles between British regiments and native forces resulting in the slaughter of thousands. Were the participants of these uprisings patriots or terrorists? How does this history relate to Jim's investigation?

Overall, I found this a riveting, complex mystery that could have been shortened by omitting irrelevant tangents. There is an ending that hints that some of the characters may be continuing their story in America. I will hope that book will be forthcoming but will miss the dynamic, colourful, historic Bombay setting.
3.5 to 4 stars.

I found this book delightful for the historical aspect and descriptions as well as the story line. It was a bit slow to start, but necessary for the plot of the book... I would recommend it to anyone interested in history, cultures, and of course, mystery!

I really liked this book. It is the perfect who-done-it. It reminds me a lot of Sherlock Holmes books. The book starts off a little slow, but don't give up, it pays off to keep reading! I love Cpt Jim he is so fun and weird but soft hearted at the same time.

Well written and intriguing murder mystery. The plot was very complex which kept me wondering what was next and kept me engaged. The many twists and different situations made the read very interesting and pleasant. The setting int Mumbai (Bombay) during the British Raj gave the book rich background to work from. I learned a fair amount about the Raj and various Indian groups and cultures. I appreciated the multiple points for view - British, Anglo- Indian and various Indian subcontinent tribes and cultures of different castes. Reading an unpublished version I missed the Glossary at first. I twas very helpful since some of the terms used I was not familiar with. I might but it at the beginning of ensure it is clear to a reader it exists from the beginning of the book. The only downside I found while reading was the length of the book. At times it did seem to plod and be a bit verbose. Some tightening up of the a narrative and fewer "side trips" could improve the read and the novel.

Murder in Old Bombay is a historical mystery novel set in 19th century India. The protagonist, Captain Jim Agnihotri, is hired to solve the mysterious deaths of two young women in the style of Sherlock Holmes.

The plot and characters are interesting and well-developed. I thought that March did an excellent job weaving the mystery and historical aspects of the book together.

My only criticisms are that it’s a bit of a slow build and the book does go off into different tangents. Personally, I could have done without the romance part as I prefer mysteries to focus solely on the mystery itself.

Overall, a solid debut by March - I look forward to see what she comes out with next.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for providing me with an eARC of Murder in Old Bombay to review.

This was a very well-written novel that kept me engaged throughout its entire length. Part mystery, part romance, part travelogue and part historical novel, the book expertly explores its characters and its 1890s India setting. The lead character is very appealing and hopefully Ms. March will be writing future novels featuring him.

Wonderful storytelling, The author is a master at weaving suspense. He paints a picture of India so vivid that one can not only imagine it but see it. The characters are very well developed.

I look forward to reading more of Nev March's work!

As soon as I saw this book was a historical mystery taking place in 19th century Bombay, I knew I had to read it. I was hoping I would get the opportunity to learn a thing or two and the author really did a good job incorporating a little bit of history into the book. Unfortunately while the story starts off with promise, my interest level did start to dip at about a third of the way in. A neat premise but a few problems with the execution.

Captain Jim Agnihotri has been recovering in a military hospital when a local news story catches his interest. Two women fell off a university clock tower. Adi Framji is the widower of one of the woman and the brother of the other one. He is convinced neither one committed suicide and he hires Jim to investigate. With Jim searching for answers, will he be able to uncover the truth?

There are many Sherlock Holmes references throughout the story and it helped contribute to a bit of a light tone to the story. I'm not sure if technically this book can be classified as a cozy mystery but in my opinion it had that vibe going on.

The story hooked me pretty much at the beginning as I felt as interested as Jim in finding out what really happened to the two women. I do think the story loses focus after awhile especially as you are learning more about Jim's backstory and a potential romance is brewing. While I appreciate the attempt to give a character depth, it was a weak part of the story. I think maybe the author was over ambitious and tackled too many things. Strangely enough I stopped caring about the two women and actually would have been fine if the story completely shifted to a regular romance novel. At 400 pages it's a long mystery without a significant payout.

I didn't love the story, but I didn't hate it either. Not sure if this book is the setup to a planned series or not, but if it is I would consider reading future books just as long as the focus is on the case rather than other side plots.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of Nev March's debut novel, Murder in Old Bombay.
Jim Agnihotri is recovering in a hospital after being injured in a battle. As he is recuperating he is reading his favorite detective, Sherlock Holmes and all the newspapers he can get. He reads a letter from the husband of one of the sisters who were killed in what was being called the Crime of the Century. Jim becomes intrigued and begins to use Holmes methods to investigate the story. This book is so well written, detailed and the characters are wonderful. I look forward to see what Nev March comes up with next!

This book reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot book. It had some interesting characters. The story was like a long winding road with a few detours in the middle. It had intrigue, romance and I really enjoyed the book! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

This debut historical mystery novel by Nev March was hard to put down. (We have to sleep sometime, right?😁) The intelligent, interesting characters are weaved into a riveting story, leaving me wanting more of Jim Agnihotri's adventures.

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Excellent! I love period tales, and this is a great one. Murder in Old Bombay is a wonderful mystery set in 1890's Bombay, British India. Captain Jim Agnihorti becomes fascinated with death of two young women, and sets out to solve the mystery of their death, using the methods of Sherlock Holmes. Nev March beautifully sets the scene with her description of life during that time, while revealing the backstories of the characters and the country at just the right pace. Sit back and enjoy this one - it's not necessarily one you'll race through, but I thoroughly enjoyed every page. I particularly liked the look at India's society and military of that time period, full of both grace and tragedy. I will definitely read whatever this author writes next. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the e-arc. 4.25 stars!

An epic story of murder, mystery, love, and heroism that will transport you to another place and time and hold you captive. Captain Jim’s bravery and cleverness were inspiring, and his journey to finally finding a family by revealing the truth about a murder was quite an adventure. A long and detailed road that left me satisfied that a thorough and complete story was told; I was swept away.

Two women supposedly committed suicide by jumping from a clock tower in a tall building. The family isn't convinced. Enter Captain James Agnihorti to investigate.
He's an interesting character. He's considered a half-breed b/c he's an illegitimate child of an Indian mother & a British father. He's also a war hero who has the makings of a good detective. The women are Parsee which was a culture I've never heard of and liked learning more about them. They are followers of the Zoroastrian religion which I also didn't know much about.

Because this is a historical mystery, the writer does a good job of describing some of the history, the places & people of India during that time.

It takes place in 1892 when Sherlock Holmes was popular. Jim uses Sherlock as an example of how to be a detective. I found this amusing. And it's my understanding that b/c the stories were covered in serial form in the papers, many had trouble differentiating Holmes from fiction vs. reality.
It's also fascinating that characters in contemporary mysteries also use him as an example today as well as other famous fictional detectives. So no matter the time period or culture, this is a common societal occurrence.

The negatives i have were that it was long & slow moving. Also, the story deviates from the mystery going in several tangents. And there was a loose end concerning Jim's father.

Overall, a good debut by a new writer.


On a side note: Halfway thru the book, I looked up the writer. I highly suggest that you check out her website-https://www.nevmarch.com/. She has background info on the true story that was the inspiration for the book as well as pictures which helped me visualize the people & places better.

Hard to believe that this is Nev March's debut novel the writing is fantastic! Well-developed and believable characters. Interesting plot, pacing and descriptions. I look forward to reading more of Nev March in the future! Thanks to Minotaur books and NetGalley for ARC. This will be a great addition to our public library collection and also to my personal collection. The cover is gorgeous!

I really enjoyed this new genre and the book. I think the book did a great job mixing mystery with the history of the time. I felt like I learned a lot about the time and place where the story took place. I did want to dive deeper into other characters and their intentions. Especially Diana, Adi, Bacha and Piloo.

I did feel like the story went on for a much longer time than I expected. Especially in the beginning, it takes forever to really pick steam. I was also not interested in the romance between Jim and Diana. It felt a little obvious and not too interesting.

Historical fiction at its finest! The year is 1892. Captain Jim Agnihotri has been medically discharged from the Army and feels untethered and a bit lost. Inspired by his love of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, Captain Jim uses his keen observational skills and Army training to launch a new career as an investigator.

While convalescing, Captain Jim reads about the suicide of two young brides. The facts don't add up. Enter Captain Jim to find some answers for the grieving widow and brother of the girls. He takes readers on a suspenseful ride through 19th century India. The setting is perfect. The characters are well-written and so likable. You truly feel for Captain Jim as he tries to find a sense of belonging in the world.

It's been a long time since I read a book that I really loved. Murder in Old Bombay checked all the boxes for me. Hoping for a series because I would love to spend more time with these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy of this novel.

Nev March's Murder in Old Bombay reminds me of the classic Sherlock Holmes mysteries where a set of clues, leads the detective (and the audience) to solve the murder. Set in British India in the late 19th century, this mystery was enjoyable to reads and try to solve on your own. I would recommend it to all the mystery solvers out there.

It is 1892 and cavalry captain Jim Agnihotri is recovering in hospital after some then unknown traumatic event. Fighting boredom he is reading and rereading a Sherlock Holmes novel and all the papers he can get a hand on. A murder trial really gets his attention: two girls have jumped off a tower or were pushed off it. Jim is wondering how Sherlock Holmes would solve a case like this. The accused are acquitted and the widower/brother writes an open letter to the newspaper. And the final line in that letter finds it's way directly into the soul of captain Jim; "They are gone and I remain".

"His words cut into me, the sharp burn of his grief. I knew something of his pain, for my brothers in arms were gone, yet I remained."

You immediately start to suspect that something had horribly gone wrong with his regiment. Remember it is the era of mutiny and wars with the Afghans.

Jim checks out of the hospital, resigns his commission and contacts the widower. The young man offers him a job to help solve the murder mystery.

So for the first 20% of the novel you as a reader feel you stepped in a Sherlock Holmes novel. A slow pacing murder mystery were the author often has the habit of summarizing at the start of a new chapter. (DON'T!!!). I was at that time not quite hooked. (Suggestion: edit that part to get those summarizing out and up the tempo a bit).

But then the story takes a turn into an adventure novel and I was glued to my Kindle. The events become very thrilling but it also the person of Jim Agnihotri that develops into a real hero with layers like an onion. I was surprised to discover the writer was a woman as she so convincingly let us see India at the end of the 19th century through the eyes of a former soldier.

Maybe it is because I am an only child with not much family of my own what made me understand the ache of belonging that is in Jim's heart. The large Parsee family of the victims that takes him in like a son and who he longs to help as if he is a real brother. The peace he feels holding the children he is trying to save even if it might cost him his life and the joy it gives him when they call him father or brother.

The author also manages very well to describe PTSD: the horrible dreams, the flashbacks and the feeling of guilt. Captain Agnihotri is very courageous time and again but somehow he thinks he has been a coward. Slowly we learn what happened that is hunting him thus.

Although he dons the persona of his former friends as disguises in the best tradition of Sherlock Holmes it is also his moving way of trying to honour them and revive them somehow.

Jim is part English and part Indian which makes him not belonging to either group. As a captain he is at the highest rank someone of mixed race can get. The Parsee family is what he describes like him: Somewhere between East and West. (Parsees are refugees from Iran who moved centuries ago to India and only intermarry). Nevertheless the novel does not focus on discrimination as many have a habit to do. Maybe because the author was born in India and is a Parsee herself so thus familiar with a system of caste and groups that went beyond a difference between British and Indian. Maybe also because an Indian Friend who is himself a Parsee said they were very well accepted by the British. I also found it a breath of fresh air to read a novel set in the Raj-era that was not completely focussed on a British cast of characters. Here the British are friends, fellow officers and officials but the novel is mostly filled with Indian people ranking from beggar children to princes. The first 20% in Bombay was very "western" but when Jim travels toward what is now Pakistan and Afghanistan the setting and tone changes a lot.

The household also felt a bit like that of a medieval knight and his retainers. Servants are sometimes included in meetings and rescued children are not adopted but just given a position in the household. Like one team with a ranking system but still one big family.

It is obvious the author put in a lot of historical research (the ladies falling from that tower happened in real life but the mystery was never solved). The novel is filled with a lot of background information about India in those days: The semi-autonomous Princely states, the slave trafficking, honour preferring death over life, the British taught upper classes and the utterly poor, the caste system, the Parsee community. I think she made one error though: The author mentions that he is recommended for a VC but as he is not pure English cannot qualify and is given an Indian Order of Merit (or something). I recall Indian VCs so is this an actual error in the manuscript? The warrant for the Victoria Cross was extended to the military forces of the East India Company on 29th October 1957 I am told. But that was only for British men. I found out later that only from 1911 onwards the VC could also be awarded to Indian men. What is a bit odd and might have had to do more with conflicting medals as with skin colour as black men were awarded the VC before I believe.

Talking about VC's: I wonder if Thomas Kavanagh VC served as an inspiration.



The murder mystery is a complicated one that slowly unravels and is interesting because it is so much about psychology. However there is one person who acts a bit weird in my opinion.

Also the solution at the end sounds more 21st century to me and might be influenced by the authors own experiences.

I would also advice you to have a look at the author's website where she posted old pictures that served for her to visualise the people in her novel. The soldier in World War I uniform is a dish you would like to kiss but does not look like the captain Agnihotri of the novel to me as Jim was a military man in his thirties with 20 years experience in the army, who is tall and boxes and has a military moustache and looks so formidable that the small children in Adi's household are at first terrified by him

Conclusion: 1 5 stars out of 5 for a debut novel. It has murder mystery, adventure, romance and a lot of soulsearching.

Advice: put in notes. An American will not be familiar with foreign words and the glossary is at the end. Maybe move that forward? Also terms as "The Great Game" what was a dashing spying plot on Russia and the Afghans might not ring any bell in the USA. Some people will not pick up a dictionary but just flung a novel aside as soon as a "difficult word" appears.