I think this may have been a "wrong book at the wrong time" for me because I can see how it will appeal to many people. While I did enjoy it, it didn't quite grab me the way I wished it would. I really loved Jim's character; he was very complex and smart and an intriguing detective to follow. The characters were also great and really well written. The story had a lot going on - almost too much so that sometimes I got a bit lost. The pacing of the story was a little off for me personally, fast and then slow in parts. The ending was fast and dramatic, which I really enjoyed. I know almost nothing about India and especially during this time period, so I really enjoyed learning all that the author included on that. I did feel a tad lost at the start because I had no back knowledge, but I feel like I've learned a lot from this book.

Congratulations Nev March for being nominated for Edgar Award for “Best First Book”.

After sitting on this for months (this came out November 10, 2020), I finally read it. Loved it — 4.5/5

1892, British India. When Indians have just started to retaliate to the British Rule, Captain Jim AgniHotri stumbles upon “Crime of the Century” article in the newspaper. Two women have committed suicide by jumping from the clock tower in the heart of Bombay. Moved by Adi Parsee’s testimony about his wife and sister, Captain Jim channels his inner Sherlock Holmes to privately investigate what happened to the two women.

The story is entertaining and is more than just a mystery. Written brilliantly, and perfectly setting the mood of Old Bombay, the story explores the colonised India, the day to day life of Indians, the relationship between characters and a little bit about the culture. As an Indian, I wasn’t offended at any point. The storytelling is fast paced at many places and very cleverly framed. Especially the parts of Captain Jim’s investigative works that leads to the truth. If you’re a mystery buff like me and looking for a historical fiction novel that is not set around WWII, this book is a good choice.

This is my honest voluntary opinion for the arc provided by Minotaur books and Netgalley.

I felt this book was interesting but very very slow and a bit all over the place. I would have liked it much better if it was not so long-winded and unfocused.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and St. Martin's Press for my copy of Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March in exchange for an honest review. It published November 10, 2020.
Wow! What a thrilling read! There is a reason why this book is award-winning. I absolutely adored how you can travel to India just by reading this book. Between the culture, the food and the traveling, you get a really strong sense of place.
Along with the strong sense of place, this book is also rich with characters, and a thrilling plot! I did not expect all the twists and turns, and I was pleasantly surprised.
Another thing I was surprised by was the element of PTSD and grief. I didn't expect those topics to be addressed, but I am glad it was the way it was in this book.

This book had a great setting and so much going for it but it was just too long. It took so many different directions that were distracting. The mystery seemed to be solved by means of coincidences and happenstance. I really did like the journey that Jim made to Lahore as he gathered children along the way. The children were the characters that had the most personality.

In this Agatha Christie-esque cozy mystery, two young women's deaths set an unofficial investigation by the family into motion. Captain Jim wishes to help his friend, and maybe get closer to his sister, who demands to aid in finding out who killed her sisters-in-law. Though the romance feels a bit forced, and unrealistic (even Captain Jim knows it), the story is entertaining. I was fortunate to receive a digital copy from the publisher Minotaur Books through NetGalley.

Brilliant mystery set in Bombay. Adventure, mystery, and intrigue set to the backdrop of Colonial India. The story doesn’t have a dull moment, the backdrop is interesting and exotic; along with colorful people wrapped in the culture of 1892 India.

I have heard from other own voices reviewers that this includes an incredibly problematic view, & I have a hard time looking past it.

This book was so much more than just a murder mystery. The main character is inspiring, and the author does very well at presenting the challenge of being in two cultures, but also not really being in either of them. The book took a full on journey on the way to solving the mystery, and while it was far more than I expected, and could perhaps seem meandering, it just made the whole book feel so rich with history and culture. I learned so much about the challenges faced in this country, and the experiences of its people during that time. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and I hope there are more in this series.

Historical fiction based on a true story.....made Colonial India come back to life in the pages of Murder in Old Bombay! I highly recommend.! Captain Jim Agnihotri wounded in battle found himself drifting in and out of consciousness. When conscious he read a well worn copy of Sherlock Holmes and local newspapers. A local unsolved mystery catches his eye. Two young women plunge to their deaths from the University clock tower, many are claiming suicide. The captain feels this doesn't make sense and then this is solidified by the letter that the husband of one the young women writes to the paper. Captain Jim ends up working for the family to find out what truly happened to the women. The mystery that unravels is intriguing and spellbinding. At one point when the Captain is traveling to unravel some details about the mystery through a worn torn area he stumbles upon a band of children/orphaned due to the conflicts. The relationship between the Captain and the children sprang of the pages and captured my heart. The mystery winds tighter and unwinds and then twists again keeping you enthralled. Also, the relationship between Lady Diana and the Captain and the Captain and Adi the husband of one of the women who lost her life are all very enjoyable. You won't want to put this one down. Even the descriptions of the family meals and moments of entertainment are lovely and quite colorful!

This was such a fun mystery. I loved the writing style and the setting this created. The characters felt really full and the mystery was very engaging.

As Captain Jim Agnihotri recovers in the hospital in Bombay from a near death battle injury, he has nothing to do but read the newspapers and the new Sherlock Holmes mysteries. When of he reads of the sensational deaths of two young women who fell from the University clock tower he feels compelled to help the family prove that it was not a double suicide.

Based on a true story, this Edgar nominated, debut novel by Nev March is sure to entertain and leave us waiting for her next book.

It was full of rich detail that really transported the reader to turn-of-the-century India. The story was a little slow to start but that was because the author had to really set the scene of Old Bombay; setting, the characters, and the cultural nuances that really affect thoughts, feelings, and decisions of the characters. I really liked Diana... she was my favorite character and would love a prequel about her life in London.

Mr. Adi Framji employs Captain James Agnihotri, retired from the military to investigate his wife Bacha's and his sister Pilloo's deaths. I enjoyed this book, however, there were a lot of secondary storylines that didn't have anything to do with the main premise of the book. I did not expect this to be a romance or have romance in it since I had the impression that this was a murder mystery. All in all, I liked the book, however, after the mystery of the two women's deaths was solved, I didn't really care what was happening in the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

I am becoming a huge fan of the mystery genre due to books like this. You can read this as an escape from the everyday in a weekend. A really good mystery.

I absolutely loved it!

Murder in Old Bombay is well written, competently paced, and a delight all in all. Set in 19th century India, it is an enjoyable murder mystery that skillfully moves the plot along while navigating the main plot and sub-plots that contribute to the story and the roundness of its characters with success.

The plot:

James Agnihotry, after convalescing from a military injury, is hired by Adi Framji to look into the deaths of his wife and cousin, ruled as suicide, but thought by the family to be foul play. Jim sets out to investigate and gets into all sorts of adventures along the way, as well as falls in love with Adi’s sister, Diana. All of this is set against the backdrop of the British rule, the socio-politic climate of the time, and the tangible differences between the casts in India.

The characters:

James Agnihotry:
A retired military man hired to investigate the death of Pilu and Baja of the Framji family. He is a veritable Sherlock Holmes (it is his favorite character) and he loves putting on a disguise and investigating in character. He is sensitive and tormented by PTSD from his military service. In love with a woman he can’t have, Jim turns into veritable family for the Framjis, who trust him completely to solve the mystery.

Adi Framji:
A bereaved widower to Baja, who fell off of the clock tower at the Bombay university to her death, along with family member Pilu. He becomes fast friends with Jim and somewhat of a wingman.

Diana Framji:
Adi’s younger sister. She is spunky and rebellious, and insists on helping Jim with the case. They become close and share forbidden feelings for one another.

The Good:
Everything really. This book masterfully takes you back in time, you could almost imagine it unfolding before you like a period movie. Main characters are well-layered and believable; minor characters serve the plot perfectly and don’t feel like placeholders or flat poppets. Well written and flows perfectly, it’s a great airplane or vacation book.

The Bad:
I can’t really think of anything. It is not a fast paced book, so sometimes it may feel like the plot is moseying along, but then it picks up again and you realize that the pace is exactly what it should be. I don’t usually start books at the end, so I missed the glossary part but there is one.

The Ugly:
Jim Agnihotry dressed as a beggar who lives on the street, smell included.

The Bottom Line:
Read and enjoy!

Nev March brings alive 1892 Murder in Old Bombay. Captain Jim Angnihotri is recovering in hospital from a military action that killed most of his troop when he becomes interested in the deaths of a pair of Parsee ladies falling from a university clock tower. He is hired by the husband of one of the ladies to track down the killers after their deaths are proclaimed suicides. Using Holmsian methods the Captain uncovers an insidious plot by a native princeling. March immerses the reader in the prejudices and glories of the British raj, both British and Indian viewpoints of interfaith and interracial relations. Excellent historical mystery; I hope there will be more by this author.

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters!

An intriguing murder mystery set in British Colonial India. This is a well-plotted and suspenseful novel, with wonderful characters. The novel has an authentic sense of the sights and sounds of Old Bombay and an interesting look into the life of mixed race individual in the main character of James Agnihotri. A great debut novel and I am hoping for a sequel. I highly recommend this on for fans of historical mysteries, as well as those interested in Colonial India.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book! It was enlightening to be immersed in the Indian culture while reading "Murder in Old Bombay". For people like me, who might not know much about India in the late 1890s, the author does a wonderful job of explaining the time and place where the plot unfolds. The background is described well and is easy to follow. As a fan of historical fiction and mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!