Since I find mysteries harder to review mysteries than other books, simply because of the way I read them, I’ve decided to try a new format: 8 one-ish sentence thoughts on Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March.

It reminds me of a less refined version of Charles Finch’s Charles Lenox Mysteries in both format and mystery type—there were large parts of the MC’s life mixed in with the mystery, and there is a smaller mystery mixed in with the main mystery.
The other parts of Captain Jim’s life (romance, the mystery of his past etc.) frequently overwhelm the plot of the mystery.
The murders were interesting and innovative, but the solution is rather depressing (more depressing than the typical solution to a murder, that is).
I only cared about Captain Jim. I felt nothing for any of the side characters.
The romance was predictable, but still sweet.
I was reasonably indifferent for the first few chapters, and then Captain Jim goes on the crazy adventure that had me hooked for the rest of the story.
The writing is stilted in the beginning, but quickly finds its flow.
There is a one thread of the plot that never gets properly dealt with and it’s supremely irritating.

So I enjoyed "Murder in Old Bombay". I loved the setting. It reminded me of a series of murder mysteries by Sujat Massey set in the 1920's in the same neighborhood as this book takes place. I liked the characters and the idea of a former military officer getting involved in a mysterious story. The only thing I did not like about the book was the pacing. It seemed to drag in the middle a bit and wander. For a murder mystery in a foreign country, it a was an overall good read with a lot of background to give you a sense of place and time during the height of the "Raj". I hope that the author can continue this story..

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

I don't really know what to say. I enjoyed it overall and found the characters lingering in my mind days after finishing the book. But - I feel like it needed an editor to step in and clean it up. The writing style was perhaps intended to be evocative of its time in the 1890's, but it was often awkward. And there were just too many stories swirling about! I would have preferred this to be books one and two in a series so we could spend a little more time in some areas and not just leaping from episode to episode like an old action movie serial.

With that said, I certainly enjoyed the story and learning more about India in that time. I had no idea about so much of the Indian history that was presented!

Verdict: Recommended, but please be aware you're starting an epic and not just a mystery.

I received an ARC Kindle edition of this book from NetGalley.

I do like a good murder mystery and have not read a page turner in quite some time. The more you read this book, the more hooked you will become.

I enjoyed the time period and setting of India in the 1890's. After watching The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and reading this book, I would really love to travel to India some day.

The one thing I did not like about this book was Diana's character. At no point in this story could I get myself to like her. The more I got through the book, the more I wished she had less of a part in the story.

I still give this story 4 stars because I did enjoy the story overall.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and Amazon

I was so surprised by this book! I thought I would like it but I ended up loving it! It was like watching a movie in my mind-- descriptive (but not too much), great characters, interesting plot (with other storylines that kept you in suspense), and Nev March is a great storyteller. Set in 19th Century Bombay, March introduces the main character Captain James Agnihotri. The Captain has recently left the Army and has embarked on a new career as an investigative journalist. Learning all the rules of deduction from his literary hero Sherlock Holmes, Agnihotri finds a case that he is sure will launch his desired career as a detective. Two women have fallen to their deaths, one after the other, from a clock tower at the university. The family of these women want answers. They hire Agnihotri when he approaches them for an interview. Following clues that the official investigation failed to pursue, Agnihorti takes us on a trail of culture, memories, history, and love as he sleuths out the truth.

I really enjoyed this book but it was so long! Wished it could have been a little shorter. I had trouble keeping a few characters straight. Story line was original. Loved learning some history of India. Characters were well written. All in all an enjoyable book. Looking forward to more from Nev March.

After reading the first few chapters I wasn’t sure whether I would like this book or not.

The language seemed slightly stilted and certain things were repeated over and over. There was also an inconsistency in some minor details.

But, like watching a new anime series it takes at least 5 episodes to really hook you into the story, and once the ball gets rolling? It’s an entertaining and highly enjoyable ride!

Multiple plot lines, a fascinating array of characters weaving in and out of the mystery of two young women’s supposed suicide and our ex-military protagonists search for the truth of their deaths...throw in a bit of civil unrest, an illicit romance and a delightful horde of urchins. I was hooked.

Really, really enjoyable story and the ending is twisty enough you won’t see it coming.
Looking forward to reading more about Captain Jim’s further adventures or just more from the author.

If you like historical fiction, mystery, exotic locales, colonial British timeline, entertaining characters and a smidgen of romance this is the book for you!

Murder in Old Bombay starts off a bit slow... as other reviewers have noted, the language is a bit stilted and repetitive. But, slowly I become engrossed in the story and then the mystery deepened. The middle of the book moves the fastest with the most interesting portions.

Some of the elements were very predictable, such as the romance, which was overshadowed by the mystery and other characters. In fact, the romance was probably the least interesting part of the entire book. The secondary characters, however, were vivid and interesting with clear personalities and, in my opinion, were the best part of the writing.

The setting provides a good backdrop to the intrigue and is almost a character in itself. The author was born in India, so offers what I hope is an authentic take on the history and descriptions of the area. (Her website, which I checked after reading the book, indicates that the story is loosely based on these real-life events. It would be nice to include the author's notes on the mystery at the end of the book as well.)

Overall, the mystery portion was very good, and this debut is promising. It's good for people who like mysteries with a different background/setting and can be patient enough to allow the book to find its footing. I have no doubt that the author will continue to develop her writing, and I would read the sequel, which pushes this closer to four stars than three stars.

*****ARC received free via NetGalley*****

3.5/5 stars

I received Murder in Old Bombay through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Murder in Old Bombay is the story of Captain Jim Agnihotri channeling his inner Sherlock Holmes to unravel the murders of two women.

Nev March did a great job of describing the scenes so that the reader felt as if they were actually there in Old Bombay. Murder in Old Bombay was a good murder mystery that was well written and had interesting characters. I liked how Captain Jim used Sherlock Holmes as his inspiration as he set off in search of a murderer. Sometimes I struggled with the Indian names and phrases which would throw off my reading flow, but these details made the story more realistic. Overall, this was a good read and I’m glad I got the chance to visit Old Bombay

I was able to read advanced copy of this book through Net Galley, and I believe this should be available in November of this year 2020.
This is a heroic portrayal of young man in the 1890's whose status within society was disadvantaged by being born of Indian woman and English man, brought up in a orphanage and then educated, trained in boxing and later serving as a brave Captain in the Dragoons.. He is introduced to a prominent Parsee family by way of their need for a brave/intelligent person to find the truth behind the deaths of two young women of that family.
There are many physical and mental challenges for "Captain Jim" in this highly engaging story that also includes romance.

I loved Murder in Old Bombay, a Nev March’s Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut, and I hope this is the first of a series. Captain James Agnihotri is recovering from a war injury in 1892 Bombay, and reads of the deaths of two women who fell from a tower. Intrigued by the story and fancying himself a bit like Sherlock Holmes, the Captain sympathizes with the widower who believes the women were murdered and did not commit suicide. He decides to investigate and is hired by the family, only to experience the dark shadow of ill fortune that clouds their lives.
For the first quarter of the book, I thought I’d stumbled upon a nice neat mystery that would be enjoyable but somewhat predictable. By the halfway point, I found this mystery to be much more. The historical backdrop of the Sepoy Rebellion was a great anchor to the development of the characters. The atmosphere is incredible—I felt the heat, I smelled the smells, I didn’t see the attackers coming even with the hair on my arms raised. The characters and the narrative grew in depth to a satisfying conclusion. I hope there is a book 2 and I am curious to see how the relationships continue, and if the setting will change.

historical-setting, historical-research, historical-places-events, historical-novel, India, discrimination, class-consciousness, military, journalist, exmilitary, private-investigators, family, family-dynamics, friendship, action-adventure

He didn't even know that he'd lost a year of his life until well into the thing. Invalided out of the army in India (1892) he had often been shunned as a half-caste as well as an orphan with no father except the commanding officers and no family but his comrades-in-arms and in the regimental boxing ring. He was recommended to a newspaper owner and sent to cover the story of two related young women who supposedly jumped to their death in a very public place. The young widower and his influential father don't believe the ruling of the court and hire Captain Jim to investigate. And so the action begins! Lots of action. There's a romance as well but it is all but doomed. And then there's the ragtag children who attached themselves to him when he was upcountry and happened upon a skirmish with the Afghanis. There's too much else to get into, but it is a fascinating read! I am really pretty ignorant about the varied cultures and languages of India but I did learn a lot!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!!!

This is a gem! It has something for everyone - adventure, mystery, romance (which I don't usually read), but the best is the historical fiction of India. I enjoy reading about their politics and culture, their language and environment. Great read!

Murder in old Bombay was an interesting cultural read especially in the beginning. I liked the characters, especially Adi and the captain. For me about half way through the story seemed to lose focus. Also more profanity was introduced in the rest of the book.. While the story ended well, the last half did not keep my attention.

Stunning and brilliant, this is a riveting, totally engaging novel! The story is complex and full of deeply realized characters who will stay with you long after you finish. The story twists and turns with loads of exciting intrigue and plenty of action throughout fascinating locales in late 19th century India. It is impeccably researched and simply an immensely readable story. The reader will be immediately immersed into a unique, satisfying experience! If any novel can be called a page-turner, it is this one!
The story is epic, with a cast of characters that are captivating, and with an interesting highlight on the Parsi culture as well as the in-between world of the Anglo-Indian. It is full of resplendent glory, tough military action, soldier trauma, hard-won courage, prejudice, and poignant relationships. The author also sensitively features Indian issues of that period.

Readers will not want to put this one down! Though the ending is thoroughly satisfying, and eagerly awaited, the reader will certainly regret having to say goodbye to this incredibly exciting story and its luminous characters.

I always enjoy reading books, historical or otherwise, that are located in an area I have visited. This book is no exception as it takes me back to a beautiful area during the day of the British empire. The death of two wealthy young Indian ladies fails to be resolved by the British authorities and justice is not seen to be done. A recently retired Indian Captain, of the British Army, is hired by the husband of one of the ladies to investigate for a period of 6 months. As he begins to investigate a series of events unfolds which puts him on the right track to find the killer(s). The story is masterfully told and the descriptions, of both the locations and people, are vivid and believable. It makes you feel you, the reader, are there on the hunt for justice. The ending is both happy and sad at the same time. I will leave it to you to decide which is the one you feel.

I have rated this book 4.5 stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys both mysteries and romance stories.

I was provided an electronic Advance Readers Copy (ARC) by Netgalley for my unbiased review. The above review is my honest review and is not influenced in any way.

This story is told first person in the likeable, warm voice of Jim Agnihotri, a half Indian and a retired British army captain. Jim has left the army because he is suffering from PTSD due to a battle in Karachi in 1890. In an effort to move on, he applies to a wealthy Parsee family to be a private detective and help the family figure out why two female members of the family apparently committed suicide.
What a story Jim tells! He's an admirer of Sherlock Holmes, and in imitation of Sherlock dons a number of disguises. Rescues, battles, romance, redemption, tragedy, and happiness occur in these pages. Though complicated, the mystery is solved. I had a grand time through this wonderful and winding journey.
I received my ARC of this book free in exchange from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. Thanks to all involved for allowing me to read it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery set in India during the British Raj. This book has a slightly different rhythm than other mysteries I’ve read lately, but it pulled me in and I was always eager to return to it. Murder in Old Bombay works as a standalone, but I would happily read more should there be more! Clearly a lot of work went into researching the era and setting the scene; I think it has broad appeal and will recommend it to patrons looking for an exciting read that also digs in to deeper themes of family, religion, colonialism, etc.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. The characters are very well written. I was impressed with the authors ability to write a male protagonist so convincingly. Captain Jim is a gallant and moral man. He cares deeply about the relationships he makes and is willing to put his life in danger to help them.
I frequently had to remind myself that the setting is in 1890s India. I am not familiar with that area of the world and my understanding of its history is very limited. The author did a good job weaving in information and descriptions to make the setting come to life.
This story moves at a steady pace and is very engaging. I found myself picking it up even when I only had time to read one page.
I recommend this book to lovers of mystery. I tend to spend most of my time reading cozy mysteries and this book fits in very well with that subgenre. If this book has a sequel I will definitely read it. I’d love to know what happens to Jim and Diana in Boston.