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.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49127434-murder-in-old-bombay

Thank you Net Galley for the read! I would say I lean a little to three and half stars for this debut historical mystery. I loved the setting and found myself really immersed in Indian culture especially with our MC Jim Agnihotri being half Indian and half English and what that means for him in society. I liked how the book jumped right into the mystery when Jim reads about it in the paper when recovering in a hospital. I also liked how Jim is a fan of Sherlock Holmes and often refers to him and Watson. The characters were enjoyable and interesting. At times, I just felt the story was a little drawn out and went off in a tangent, this is where I give the three and a half stars as I felt like it could’ve been a little more succinct at times. Overall I did like it and would like to see a second installment.

Thank you netgalley. This book was fun. I loved following captain Jim in his quest on finding the murderer of two Indian women. I was drawn in right from the beginning and I liked the Sherlock Holmes references. The author did a great job of taking the reader into late 19th century India and I kept guessing the whole time.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an this book for my review.

The book started out promisingly but quickly delved into a long winding and rambling narrative with too many references to Sherlock Holmes thrown in. For a book supposedly about a double murder, the actual investigation is just a thin strand running through the book.

The middle third of the book digresses into an adventure into north India and the happenings in that part have very little to do with the actual investigation. Even during the rest of the story, the murder investigation just pops up here and there while the author spends way too much time on the detective's private life and rambling thoughts. There is a lot of build up for certain reveals (like a letter) that turn out to be a damp squib. Even the outcome of the investigation makes the reason for the murder seem very flimsy.

Once the detective narrows down the suspect, it takes forever for him to get to the point of catching the person as there are random boxing matches and ship capturings thrown in.

I think the author had too many unrelated ideas that they tried to fit into one story with the result being one jumbled mess.

Interesting story set in India of the late 1800's. The MC James is a half English, half Indian who has just left the military. Suffering from war wounds and PTSD, he decides to model himself after his hero, Sherlock Holmes and is pulled into a mystery surrounding the death of two young Indian women. The book moves slowly and detours a few times from the main mystery, but I did like it. It is a window into a time of prejudice and war during the occupation of India by the English. It is a chronicle of James' journey to heal himself and find his place in the world. March made me feel like I was in India with the characters. The book is sometimes heart-warming and sometimes sad. I enjoyed it.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me read and review this intriguing mystery. It was a bit different from what I've read lately and was a nice change. I enjoyed reading this historical mystery set in British India quite a bit.
I loved how I felt more immersed in this novel and story. I felt like I was very much there in the British India setting and it reminded me a bit of part of The Secret Garden with the setting. It was a mystery that kept me and my mind engaged trying to figure out and keep up with what was going on. You were kept guessing for a lot of the novel as to who killed the two Framj women and what the exact motive was behind their murders. The motive behind the murders opened up a lot more of the story as well and brought in more aspects and information about the time and place they were living in.
This story is about Captain Jim and how he comes across a very notable case in the newspapers that he's reading while recovering in the hospital after a battle. The case is about two women who fall to their death from a clock tower in broad daylight at the university and Captain Jim finds himself wanting to help the widower of one of the women, who believes his wife and sister didn't commit suicide. So, Captain Jim approaches the Framj family to help them investigate and discover what happened.
As Captain Jim becomes involved and gets to know the Framj family even more while investigating the case, many things happen that illustrate and show the divided loyalties among the people and ends up putting himself and the Framj family in danger while investigating and asking questions.
There are also topics addressed and discussed throughout such as PTSD from his being in a war, prejudice because he is part Indian/Parsee, and part White - not a full Parsee, which causes problems with the woman he loves and her family that have to be addressed. There are also characters and parts of the story dealing with slavery, human trafficking, child prostitution, and the like that happened with the war and in these kinds of times. Some parts are hard to read not because they are explicit, vulgar, or violent, but simply because it's hard to hear and read about these types of things that happened to human beings during wars and situations such as these.
It was heart-wrenching at parts reading in this book and made me wish more people were loving and accepting of others instead of prejudiced and selfish. I also was joyful during other parts where things worked out despite the hardships. It was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, but then, in that way, it was similar to real life and in the end, things ended up on more of a positive note.
This is worth checking out and reading especially if you like historical mysteries, but also because it makes you stop, think, and reflect on a lot. It causes some self-reflection and thinking through things to see what you can learn from this and how you and others might improve.
I would recommend keeping this on your list, make sure to take a look and read it!

Murder in Old Bombay is an immersive portrait of the late 1800’s life of an orphaned, mixed race, 30-year-old Indian man, Captain James “Jim” Agnihotri, who has been through the murderous terror of a frontier Light Calvary Afghan campaign, an event that haunts, shames and follows him throughout the book.
Just as he is being released after a lengthy hospitalization from his injuries, he receives a Sherlock Holmes book and a local newspaper detailing the deaths of two young women, and the verdict of suicide by jumping off a high library tower in a main square. He reads a letter from Adi Framji, the husband and brother of the two young women, whose mourning moves him deeply, “They are gone, but I remain.”
Thus begins the search as he convinces Adi and the wealthy, entitled Parsee Framji family to allow him to find the truth of the deaths.
This is a very lyrical narrative of historical events and military campaigns that would play out over decades on borders among countries, continents, castes, the wealthy and powerful, the subjugated and poverty stricken. It is a look into military campaigns, those who harm and those who heal.
Captain Jim is a man of honor and empathy, and in his quest to bring closure to the Framji family, the boundaries of societal position become blurred by mutual respect and love. There are brutal, soulless skirmishes, family secrets revealed, promises kept and broken, and a host of well drawn characters from all walks of life and nationalities.
I have read many fiction and non-fiction books set in India, and although some aspects of the story are predictable, I was carried along and felt myself bound up in the journey and lives of the characters and their outcome, and hopeful that Captain James Agnihotri might appear again.

A very interesting read. Captain Jim, recently recovered from wounds received during military service, asks to investigate the deaths of two young women in the same family. The Framjis family hires Jim to find the truth, no matter the cost. Following Sherlock Holmes "lead", Jim begins to dig and find enemies intent on harming him.
The story portrays India very well. The vast differences in different areas and the dark sides of the country are brought out. At times the story felt a little drug out, but in the meantime, you have a chance to learn more about Indian culture and lifestyles.
The author does a good job of keeping you guessing until the very end about who all involved in the murder of two young Indian girls and the motive behind their deaths.

Murder in Old Bombay had a promising start with interesting main characters and colorful historical details about British colonial India in the 1890s. Unfortunately, at the halfway point, the novel quickly devolved into a rambling tale that became an Indian version of War and Peace with a trial thrown in for good measure.

The novel begins when Richard, an orphaned half-Indian half-British retired Army Officer is in the hospital recuperating from a war injury. While reading a newspaper he comes across an article about the trial of suspects in the death of two women who fell from a University clock tower to their deaths. The suspects were acquitted and the court concluded that the women had committed suicide. One of the newspapers included a letter to the editor from Adi, whose wife and cousin were the two women who fell from the clock tower. In the letter, Adi insists that his wife and cousin did not commit suicide. Intrigued, Richard accosts Adi and offers his services as an investigator into the crime. He is quickly hired and befriended by Adi and his family, a prominent Indian family. Richard quickly falls in love with Diana, Adi’s sister who has just returned from England.

The first half of the book is an intriguing glimpse into the history and society of India in the late 19th Century. The main character is complex, plagued by his mixed race heritage, as well as Post Traumatic Stress from his recent battles while serving in the Army. Unfortunately, the last half of the book seems to have gone off the rails, narrating in excruciating detail Richard’s trek across war-torn India in search of a witness. Compounding the error of creating a meandering narrative, the author has Richard make inexplicable leaps of logic regarding the true motive for the murder of the two women. The murder is then “solved” during an interrogation of one of the criminals during an inquest into the later deaths of other victims, where Richard is allowed to question this individual despite the fact that Richard has no legal training. This book had such potential to be a great novel; unfortunately it seems to have lost its way halfway through the narrative, becoming a convoluted mess.

3.75 Stars for Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March

It's 1892 in Bombay, India. Captain James Agnihotri follows the story of the mysterious death of two women who either fell, jumped, or were pushed from the University clock tower. Three men were arrested, tried, and found innocent. However, when the widower writes a heart-felt letter to the paper pleading for justice, the Captain decides he's going to find out what really happened.

The historical setting is painted so accurately even those who have never read about this difficult, violent period will have a clear picture of life. Class and societal structures are well defined. Part Watson, part Sherlock Holmes, James is an interesting, well rounded character. But he is often easily distracted by slightest hint or event. As the story veered off again and again...I was frustrated. I felt these were a way to add pages not depth to the story.
A complex setting with a strong lead character. This is a good book that those who enjoy historicals and mysteries will definitely enjoy.

I could not believe that this book was the author’s debut novel! She pulls you in at the first page and hold you to the very end.This book was so good that I was checking back to see about the author’s other books when I found out that this was her first and only one so far. I cannot wait to read more of her stories. Keep writing Ms.March because you write like a pro!! And I for one will gladly read anything you write.

Fascinating tale of war, love, ethnicity and customs in India 130 years past. Characters are fully rendered, but most enjoyably the physical descriptions are left for the reader to flesh out as if in a coloring book. The atmosphere is so deftly crafted that one feels immersed as if there. Superb debut. Reveals more cultural information on India and its history of the era than most other fiction.

Murder in Old Bombay is a fun mystery set in late nineteenth century India, where crack detective Captain Jim Agnihotri is inspired by Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of the Four, and decides to investigate the deaths of two women who fell to their deaths from a clock tower. Not believing it to be suicide, he's hired on by the widower and cousin of the women to find out what really happened. Jim finds the mysterious deaths more complicated than he thought, faces danger at every turn, and falls in love with someone off limits within the castes of India while slowly piecing together why the women died. And I do mean slowly. While this book was fun, and it was great to see a mystery take place somewhere different, the book moved slowly to me. It also felt like it periodically went off the rails, taking Jim on a tangent that vaguely tied into his investigation but felt more like a way to stretch the story out further. All the tangents tied into the story, but it felt like it got overly complicated, with Jim chasing every tiny lead for the slightest enlightenment. With the constant references to Sherlock Holmes and the time period in which it takes place it feels like March definitely took Doyle's stories as inspiration. But where Doyle wraps up a mystery succinctly and makes all the pieces come together in a moment of clarity, March seems to complicate the story more and more as it goes along - making it challenging to the reader to follow Agnihotri's train of thought and how deep the investigation really goes.

Based on real events, this novel was pure Sherlock Holmes with an Indian flair. Having been to modern India several times, it was a consummate pleasure to be transported to the late 19th Century . The dialogue so perfectly portrayed a prismatic view of this period in time. Romance, history and a perfectly plotted story engulfed all my senses and vividly conveyed to me the mysterious dimension of colonial India. At the beginning, Captain Jim Agnihotri,an Anglo-Indian,is recovering in a hospital convalescing from wounds sustained in combat in the Northern Frontier. While reading an article about a crime where two women apparently jumped to their death, he is deeply affected. In a circuitous manner, he becomes an investigator for one of the women's husband who believes they were murdered. The husband, Adi, is willing to sacrifice anything to find out the truth. Captain Jim becomes involved in many skirmishes trying to ascertain the truth for the family. As time progresses he becomes deeply attached to the family and vows to seek explanations for all that went wrong. I loved being transported to a different place in a land I cherish. The reader will love the suspense, as the author unveils a literary onion, constantly adding pieces to the puzzle. Can you tell I was enamored of this book? It only got better as one read further. My only hope is that there will be a sequel!