A gritty, fast-paced, multi-POV crime novel set in one of my favorite cities: Mumbai. Biswas leads us with an expert hand through the crowded streets and humid mangroves of the city into a tale filled with light and dark, hope and despair, death and survival.

14 years ago, bar girl Tara vanished from Inspector Arnav's life. Other bar girls, too, have vanished over the years. When decomposed bodies are found at a construction site, Arnav comes to the sinking realization that he might be on the trail of a serial killer. The problem? His bosses don't want him to investigate.

I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story. Biswas kept me guessing the killer's identity till the very end. Quite apart from the fast-paced plot, I also really liked the portrayal of the women characters - not just the spirited Tara, but also the balanced Nandini, and the loyal Naik. I also loved the romance between Arnav and Tara. No matter what Tara thinks, they make a perfect pair.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy action-packed thrillers. Bonus points for non-Western setting!

With many thanks to the author for an early copy.

I was so happy to receive an advance copy of "The Blue Bar" Damyanti Biswas’ latest novel via NetGalley. After having enjoyed Biswas’ first book, “You Beneath Your Skin,” I knew “The Blue Bar” would be hard to put down. It was.

The Blue Bar commanded my attention from the first few lines. The story has a grit, a look into the life of bar dancers and the people who exploit them. A string of similar murders, a determined police inspector, a lost love, corruption, crime, and a level of intrigue that held my attention throughout. During a criminal investigation, there’s a sense that it's the way policework really happens as opposed to the storybook fantasies that are so often offered in books and on video. Real cops, real crimes, real problems, characters with courage in the face of danger, and characters that display a sense of duty – and a sense of loss. Characters whose lives intertwine with each other in much larger stories.

Biswas leads the reader through a complex story with ease. She describes everything, from grizzly crime scenes to the stage of a dance bar. From business-like meeting to tension-filled encounters. They all come to life, with sounds, scents, anxiety, and fear. Her characters come to life in ways you can relate to, even though they exist at the extreme edges of life.

Biswas keeps you guessing throughout the story. Guessing about a shadowy figure, about peoples' real motives, about where the story is heading. No spoilers here, but if you like books that draw you in tight so you will sit and read until you’re done, I highly recommend this The Blue Bar. Although I’ve read this advance copy, I have pre-ordered the book.