I didn’t know anything about British Colonial India but it immediately took my interest after reading the books synopsis. And then learning it’s based on a true story, well of course, I had to read it! Set in India 1892, this story follows Captain Jim Agnihotri who investigates a mystery involving two women who fell from a tower as a dual suicide. With one of the women’s husbands,Adi, refusing to believe it was suicide, Captain Jim, who’s hero is Sherlock Holmes, hopes to help the families of the women. He becomes obsessed with the case. While finding the culprit behind their deaths, he’s taken into a world unlike his own. Nev March has written a richly detailed historical mystery with interesting characters, and a beautiful, vibrant backdrop of colonial India.

Thanks to Minotaur Books via NetGalley for kindly approving an arc. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to like this book but it was not an easy read for me. I started the book multiple different times but could never get into it. I will try again at a later date.

At this point I have tried 6-7 times to read this book and it just hasn’t hooked me. Since it’s released I have even tried it on audio and sadly it’s still not working for me.

How did two women fall from a university tower only moments apart from each other?

This is the question Captain Jim Agnihotri is asking after having read about the case while convalescing in a military hospital. The captain had been enjoying reading Sherlock Holmes mysteries, until he learns the women’s deaths were written up as suicides- and is moved by the stirring letter, Adi, the brother and widower of the two women, writes to the press begging respect for his wife and sister, insisting the women did not commit suicide!

Inspired by Sherlock Holmes, the unsatisfying investigation, and Adi’s letter to the press, Jim offers to privately inquire into the matter for Adi, who readily accepts the invitation. Along the way, Jim is introduced to Adi’s sister, Lady Diana Framji, who is determined to help with his investigation.

The two make a good detective team, but their feelings for one another grow much deeper as time passes…

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery, the premise, the backdrop and atmosphere, the romance, and the way everything came together in the end.

The author vividly captures the divisions of the day, the customs, and hierarchy. The story is educational, suspenseful, and emotional, but also, clean and entertaining. It was interesting that the book was based on a true story- which makes it even more fascinating!

I like cozy and historical mysteries , so this was a win for me. Taking place in India in the late 1890’s was just so fascinating to me. I loved traveling with captain Jim as he investigates what may or may not be a double suicide

When Captain Jim Agnihotri is injured and bored while recuperating after being injured, he rereads the tales of his hero, Sherlock Holmes. When he comes across the real-life crime of two women's deaths, she works to solve the crimes. Can he be like his hero?

This was a vividly told story set in 1892 Bombay. India is still under British rule, and Bombay is the colonial heart. When 2 girls fall off a tower to their deaths, a man named Captain Jim asks the family if he can investigate. He’s still healing from an injury, but he needs something to do, and one of the widowers is sure his wife would never commit suicide. When the sister of one of the victims gets involved, she and Captain Jim start a romance.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery/romance, the plot was good and the characters were interesting. The descriptions of Bombay were detailed and wonderful, I really felt a sense of a long gone place. I recommend this book, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed the mystery. It grabbed me right away and drew me in. I have to be honest and say that it dragged a bit in the middle. But all-in-all, it was a great book. Thank you!

Based on a true story! I never would have expected that but this was one solid read. Nominated for awards and easy to see why!

A good old fashioned novel with an interesting main character. Seemed to depict the time and setting pretty well. I've read better novels about this period with richer characters and a deeper treatment of the British in India though.

Thanks to the publisher for an ecopy of Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March.

I enjoyed the book and easily read it in two days. I am giving it 3 stars because while I enjoyed it, there was much about it that kept me from loving it.

1. It was too long.
2. It was hard to discern what genre the book is because it changes throughout, from cozy mystery, to historical drama, to romance.
3. Repetition of themes was annoying at times.

So, none of those factors did anything to make me dislike this charming debut! The book incorporated enough historical facts about India in the late 1800's that I knew very little about, and therefore found interesting and enlightening. There were many themes to chews on of that period: Classism, colonization, slavery and other types of human trafficking, etc. The main character who loves Sherlock Holmes, but suffered from PTSD, was adorably annoying at times, but I would love to read more about his adventures.

The mystery that launches the novel was interesting and I was intrigued to find the resolution to it: Two women of one Indian family fall to their deaths from a tower in Bombay. It was ruled suicide but the circumstances made that seem highly unlikely. I loved that the mystery had to be solved through very old-school sleuthing: no cell phones or internet.

There were a lot of characters to keep up with, which would have been ok if there weren't also so many tangents away from the central mystery to distract the reader. Each character that was given attention to was one that added to the story. Basically, I liked the characters in the book and how they were used.

To summarize, I enjoyed this novel and would love to read more in this series if it were to become one. I definitely am interested in any upcoming novels by Nev March as she certainly did well enough on her debut novel that subsequent novels will really hone her skills and make her voice shine even brighter.

Isn't Bombay such a magical place? The author was very smart to use the locale so much in the story. Very well written and a lot of fun to read.

This was a nice mystery story. There were places where it was a bit ambitious and fell short, but overall it was a good historical mystery. It was a slow read but it kept my interest.

It is not often I am able to read a book set in India, and factoring in year the book was set, 1892, only made this book better. We meet Captain Jim Agnihotri stuck recovering in a military hospital reading mysteries and the local news. When he happens upon a case involving the death of two women his curiosity is piqued. What caused their deaths? Accidents, murder or suicide? Captain Jim soon finds himself hired to invesigate the deaths.

Pursuing the truth about the matters is not easy for Captain Jim. In fact, danger begins to plague him almost from the start. There is a certain history that follows the families of gthe victims - the Famji family - and it is this very history that reveals secrets that are bound to upset some. One woman, however, Diana Framji ends up joining Captain Jim in his inquiries, as she wants to know what really happened to her sisters.

Not only was this an excellent book, discovering that it was based on a true story added more value. I love that this was a debut novel, and one that snagged an award! I am exciting by learning that there wil be a sequel. I cannot wait to read it.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I was excited to read an ARC of Murder In Old Bombay. In my younger days I lived in Bombay for four years (when it was still called Bombay) and so I am predisposed to enjoy books about India. This book opens with our main character, Jim Agnihotri, recovering from battle injuries. He is a former soldier and in a quandary as to what direction his life should take, going forward. He is of mixed race, an Indian mother and an English father, so he doesn't feel he fits in anywhere and he has no living family. He happens across a startling story, two young women of high birth have died after falling from a building in broad daylight. Jim is a reader of Sherlock Holmes, and he presents himself to the widower of one of the victims as someone who can solve the mystery.

Jim is totally accepted into the family by Adi, whose wife and sister were victims. The whole Framji family welcomes Jim's attempts to solve this mystery. He slowly becomes enamored with Diana, Adi's plucky sister who was in England at the time the awful event occurred. Jim has to travel to various places in India in attempt to solve the mystery and many events take place which serve to show us his true character.

What I really enjoyed about this book, besides the story, was the development of Jim as a character. The author uses many challenges to Jim that show the reader his character in a slow, unfolding way. Jim is an admirable character, humble and a true gentleman. The author puts so many tiny details about day to day life in Bombay life circa 1892 that it made me wonder, how does she know all this?! I really felt like I gained knowledge of what life was like there in this era. My only real quibble is that I thought the book was a bit long. It is a slow reveal story, which is fine, but I felt like maybe one tenth could have been edited out for a quicker read, as it is quite a long book. Having said that, it is a really admirable effort and I enjoyed the story very much!

Thank you to NetGalley, the book's publisher, and author Nev March for this ARC.

I really wanted to like this. But, I DNF'd this one.

The premise was interesting and the plot surely was intriguing.

But... Sometimes you need less additional information and just get to the point. I read until the MC met the husband of the victim at his house. And stopped. The story should have hooked me in but then, right? But it just didn't.

There's nothing wrong with the book or the writing per se. I just couldn't connect with it. My reading preferences may very well gave gotten in the way.

2 stars.

***ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

I do not understand why this book is still listed for me I send my feedback three years ago. Sending this to remove,

I wanted to like this more than I did. The story was fine but I just never connected with the characters at all.

I love the cover of this book and I was very excited to be transported a world away. But unfortunately I had to put the book down for a work deadline and it wasn’t enough to pull me back in and finish. I can definitely see the appeal of the historical mystery but it wasn’t enough to hook me and bring me back to the story.

Based on real events, this novel was pure Sherlock Holmes with an Indian flair. Nothing beckons the imagination and the forthcoming thrill as a murder set in the panorama of Old Bombay. 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.