The discovery of a dead body on real estate tycoon Rahul Taneja's lands sets Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput on a trail that may not only uncover a serial killer, but also dig up things in his own past that he's long since buried. Like his dead sister, who he's still trying to find justice for. Or Tara, his once-girlfriend, who vanished without a word. But the path to solving this case is blocked by rich men with friends in high places, corruption at the highest levels of government, and complications from two warring Mumbai gangs.

Biswas drops you into the heat of things in Mumbai, immersing you in a gritty world that is unlike the usual crime thriller settings in the UK or USA. In her words, you can almost feel the push and pull of the crowds gathering for Dussehra and Diwali and hear the street vendors offering bhelpuri and pao bhaji. She adds authenticity with the use of local terms, often following them up with a deft explanation, expecting you to remember it from then on.

Each chapter is told from a different POV--most of it Arnav and Tara, though occasionally we hear from the unsub and his assistant Bilal. In Arnav's voice, you hear his frustration and conflict, in Tara's, you feel her tenacity and her fear. It's the unsub's voice that is chilling in its depravity, callousness and anger--and when the final reveal comes, you're left reeling, like how...? and yet how inevitable.

Like in You Beneath Your Skin, Biswas is not afraid to show the seedier parts of India, highlighting the way women are often disregarded and their lives treated as nothing but "packages" and "item numbers". She shows the horrifying requests men make of women who have no other options, but she also shows the horrible things women can do to young, naive boys in their power.

The Blue Bar is very much a story of powerlessness, whether is Arnav against the serial killer and the corruption in the police force; or Tara against the seedy men who are out to destroy the life she's managed to build for herself; or the unsub against his tormentor, but it is also about choice and risk, and taking responsibility for those choices.

Where in many crime thrillers, you watch as jaded protagonists' lives are falling apart, in this one, Arnav is faced with a second chance at family and happiness. Will he take it?

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book.

This is the first book I've read set in Mumbai and it was a great setting. When the author references food, slang terms, or holidays, she provides enough context so you can easily understand what’s being discussed, even if the phrase is unfamiliar to you.
So many of the characters took me by surprise. Some of the ones I didn’t trust ended up having good intentions, others that I thought were friendly & helpful were actually devious people with a hidden agenda.
I really enjoyed the multiple POV, especially Bilal's.
I loved how Nandini went with the flow, no matter what happened.
I felt the same frustrations that Arnav did with the red tape and politics of police work, and the same sense of betrayal when those he trusted showed their true colors.
Naik’s loyalty! Oh I loved it!
Tukaram ended up becoming my favorite character.
I can’t wait to see what happens next for Arnav, Tara, and Pia.

I would like to thank the author (@damyantig on IG) for reaching out to me and sending me a copy of her book. I really enjoyed reading it.

Wow! This book is amazing! It is written so well and the plot is just perfect! The book is so incredibly clever and I would never have been able to predict the plot twists that just kept on coming! Although at the begging I found it a little bit difficult to keep track of all the characters as it kept going I found it a lot easier. The book kept me hooked all the way throughout and I was desperate to trade sleep for reading more and more of this! The ending is so bittersweet and along with other bits made me sob but I absolutely loved it! Would highly recommend! An incredible crime thriller that everyone should read!

The Blue Bar
By Damyanti Biswas

I enjoyed Damyanti Biswas's first book, so I was thrilled when I was given an arc copy of The Blue Bar! I'm happy to say that it was absolutely fantastic! The story was extremely well written and remains interesting throughout the duration. I don't want to delve too deep into the details because I'm afraid to spoil certain aspects of it, but I will say that I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for allowing me access to an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is more than a crime procedural of a policeman chasing down a serial killer. It a sweeping saga of dogged police work in the face of coverups and police corruption, adversity, love, integrity, friendships. Just loved it, especially how much research the author has done of Mumbai, of all its police stations, the dance bars, the settings (I could see it all in my mind).

I did have a few minor quibbles:
* Shetty is not a Malayali name, it is Kannadiga (South Indians hated to be lumped into an amorphous group, fyi).

* After everything Tara/Arnav go through to get Pia back, her presence in his life seemed just an afterthought. I'd have loved to see interaction between them, how she responded to him as her father, how he embraced her in his life (though there was a brief mention of him cuddling her when she was unconscious). As a reader who had invested so much into this, I felt a sense of letdown that I didn't get to see how they met and responded to each other. Even a brief para would have done.

This shouldn't detract from the book, though. What a ride!

This has some unique qualities that are delivered brilliantly. Firstly, Mumbai makes for a wonderfully unusual setting. Secondly, I love the detective notes and how they change as the story develops. This changes form a few times with newspaper articles too and this variation totally works.

This isn't for the faint hearted and at times a bit more graphic than I prefer, but not enough to put me off completely.

A gripping story, real page turner.

Wow. This thriller kept me guessing until the very end and that made it spectacular!!! There were so many times when I was convinced that I knew who the killer was only to be disappointed as the plots kept twisting and turning.

Biswas has done it again! I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of The Blue Bar. This book about bar dancers who disappear under strange circumstances is chock-full of twists and turns. The writing really transports you straight to Mumbai. Moreover, the characters are all so multilayered, with deep and rich histories that make you question everyone just a little -- and make you want to root for everyone too.

The Blue Bar is an outstanding combination of thriller, mystery, romance with strong sense of place that was a bonus for this armchair traveler. It's a beautifully written book and hits on all levels: characters, pacing, and plot. The twists and turns work perfectly and keep you turning "just one more page" over and over. I agree with others who say they'd love to see it on film. Looking forward to the next story by Damyanti!

The Blue Bar is a dark, gritty, tense thriller that builds to a frantic crescendo. Told through multiple POVs, including the unnamed killer, the characters are very well drawn and compelling. Though we can’t condone his gruesome activities, Biswas’ skillful handling opens us to understand the chilling factors that can twist a personality beyond redemption.

In addition, there are imaginative plot twists and extensive research immersing us into the fascinating undercurrents of Mumbai’s political and social structure. My knowledge of the culture definitely was expanded, especially within the aspects of law enforcement.

Yet for all the deep, dark corners, The Blue Bar is such a humanizing tale I even teared up a bit at the ending. I also pushed through the last half of the book at record speed, eager to learn “whodunnit.” Thriller / suspense readers, add this one to your TBR!

I was offered an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.
This crime procedural drama set on the streets of Mumbai follows our lead police officer Arnav on a case of buried bodies, blue sequins, and bar room dancers. When his past collides with the present, he must protect the ones he loves. Oh and throw in police corruption and Bollywood celebrities (not real ones of course).
This is not my go to genre but I’m getting the hang of it. Several characters that are intertwined and you as a reader are trying to figure out who’s behind the bodies and what is everyone’s connection. Basically, sort through the red herrings. If you like crime drama/thriller/procedural type books, this will be right up your alley. And it’s set in Mumbai to boot, so you have a novel in a different setting. I would give it a read.

“On the dark streets of Mumbai, the paths of a missing dancer, a serial killer, and an inspector with a haunted past converge in an evocative thriller about lost love and murderous obsession.”

I LOVED IT!
Honestly it was a refreshing change of setting, not being in New York or London. It had almost an exotic feel to it.

This was a great thriller! The character’s storyline was easy to follow + the POV’s were a good mix. They complimented each other and there wasn’t one with a more boring storyline, each was engaging.
I personally love when we get the serial killer’s POV without knowing who it is. I enjoy seeing if I can pick up on any dropped hints.

I also enjoy being surprised by the outcome and I was NOT disappointed.

Biswas’ second novel, The Blue Bar, is a sparkling tapestry of life in modern Mumbai, that weaves together the criminal underworld, high-ranking politicians, the Mumbai police force and the fragile reputations of Bollywood stars.

The Blue Bar is more than a detective story, more than a police procedural, it is an exposé on life in India, from the thick swampy air of the mangrove forests to wide-spread corruption and how life catches us all in thick nets. With an artist’s flair, Biswas paints Mumbai as much a leading lady as a setting for murder.

Biswas gives us a story that is a tribute to India and Indian crime fiction, gilding nothing but celebrating all that is beautiful.

Westerners should not be hesitant to dive into Indian crime fiction, and especially Biswas’ works. The human experience after all is universal.

I am glad to have received the advance copy of “The Blue Bar”, by Damyanti Biswas via NetGalley. I was so looking forward to reading the book as I had thoroughly enjoyed her earlier book, “You beneath your skin”. I knew The Blue Bar would be a crime thriller—my favorite genre—and it wouldn’t fail to enthrall me.

Set in Mumbai, against the backdrop of the dance bars, the book explores the life of the dancers and their exploitation, a series of murders that intrigue a police inspector, and how he investigates these murders.

Damyanti’s portrayal of the bar dancers, the crimes and the criminals, the police investigation, and the action sequences, is intense and raw. The many characters that are part of a murder investigation, the investigation process, and the true lives of the bar dancers and the police officers, are all so well-researched and authentic, that it makes the book perfect for an OTT crime series—the likes that fascinate us with their truthful depiction of the police force and criminal investigation.

The writer takes you down the murky lanes of the City of dreams and gives you a close-up of the crimes, the miserable lives of the bar dancers, and the rampant corruption that gives the law a bad rep. She also shines the spotlight on the righteous police officers who go beyond the call of duty, fighting against all odds to bring closure to the nameless victims of crime that are often forgotten by the law and society.

The other highlight of the book would be the journey into the psyche of the criminal; the disturbing world that exists in the twisted mind of the dark character is at once fascinating and gut-wrenching. It’s what makes Damyanti’s works some of my favorites!

The female characters in the book are portrayed as very strong women from different walks of life, be they the bar dancer, the journalist, or the police officer, and their eagerness to live a life of respect, with their hearts in the right place.

The Blue Bar makes for an engrossing read. The suspense till the very end makes the book unputdownable. If you are a lover of crime thrillers, then do pick up this book. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

Just wow. A thriller that kept me guessing until the end. At one part, I thought I knew who the killer was, but with each new plot twist, plausible possibilities came to light. I did guess in the right direction, but fell into the same trap as Arnav.

A multi-layered story of love, corruption, gender based violence – both sides – and class division.

I liked the cultural immersion – I felt like I was in Mumbai with its highways cutting through the slums, bar dancers dressing up in gaudy versions of sarees, stinking mangroves, and city streets with rats more confident than people.

And once you know why the killer does what he does, you actually feel sad for him.

I liked the social commentary woven throughout.

A richly imagined thriller that grips you until the last page.

Trigger warning: domestic abuse, rape, bullying, stalking, gruesome murders, gender based violence.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

The Blue Bar pulls you into a world you don't want to inhabit, but makes you care so much for the characters you can't abandon them! Everything about this novel is complex yet crystal clear, from the characters to the motivations to the underworld connections to the plot. It isn't often (outside of Charles Dickens) that I get attached to minor characters, but there are minor characters in The Blue Bar that I want to take to have tea (or something stronger) and a long chat.

Highly recommended.

In Damyanti Biswas' The Blue Bar (Thomas & Mercer 2022), Indian Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput is drawn into a cold case involving bar girls who disappeared, purportedly to return to their homes, but some are found buried without their heads, hands, or feet. Many are tied into a bar where Arnav fell for one of the bar girls, Tara Mondal. When she disappeared, he thought she simply left, didn't feel as he did. For fourteen years, he missed her, thought about what could have been, and then she reappears at a new place called the Blue Bar. This new bar is tangentially associated with the old unsolved murders as well as new similar ones. Arnav is convinced there is a serial killer on the lose in Mumbai and Tara is right in the middle of his treachery. Somehow he must keep her safe, revive their relationship, and regain her trust enough that she will share her final life-changing secret. He must work fast because he doesn't want Tara's murder to be the killer's next. 

As in her first book, Biswas strikes the perfect balance between the hot humid world of India and the determined detectives tasked with solving these murders. The Indian lifestyle--made pleasingly authentic by the authors constant use of Indian terms and language--and police protocols is as much part of the story as the murdered girls and the devious culprit. This well crafted book never lets you stop thinking, never lets you imagine you really know what's going on, and always has you wondering when the next shoe will drop that will undo or resolve everything. If you liked Biswas' first book (click for my review of You Beneath My Skin), you’ll love this one even more. Highly recommended to those who thrive on fully developed characters who figure out how to survive serious problems.

I have never been to India but I feel like I have traveled to Mumbai after reading The Blue Bar. With her insider knowledge Damayanti created a world that give readers an in-depth look at life in a city teeming with corruption and vice, everyone just trying to survive. There is a serial killer on the loose, dismembered body parts of bar girls keep appearing at various sites around the teeming metropolis. Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput vows to avenge these deaths though the bureaucracy surrounding him are doing everything they can to stop his investigation.

But what I love most about this book is the characters’ diverse backgrounds and stories. All the main characters are painted in shades of gray, none of them are saints. Arnav is obsessed with Tara the bar girl who disappeared thirteen years ago. Tara reappears with her own secrets in tow. The Boy tells a tale of depravity that is hard to imagine. Nandini is just looking for a great story. They along with so many others create a well-rounded cast worthy of the big screen.

This is not your cookie cutter thriller and things don’t always turn out to plan. The ending will, well I won’t give away any spoilers. I’ll just say buy The Blue Bar an outstanding thriller that will keep you guessing all the way.

The first lines into Damyanti Biswas’ The Blue Bar serve as an introduction in situ. Not just to Tara, the bar girl on assignment at a crowded train station, but to the city of Mumbai. A city of islands, Mumbai is a perfect character in a crime story with disparate people, each an island to themselves. More than a setting, The City of Dreams is in turns squalid and seductive, sinister and sophisticated. And always as shocking as Tara’s low-slung saree.

We meet our other protagonist, Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput, fittingly at a crime scene. Called to a construction site after the discovery of a headless, handless body, Inspector Arnav is both appalled by the attitudes toward the victim but also quietly resigned to another day on a tough police beat. Then one body leads to two others.

As daunting as the specter of a serial killer might be, Arnav must also contend with pressure to reopen a rich, well-connected developer’s construction site as well as administrative pressure to put the case of headless bodies to rest. Instead of complying, Arnav pushes harder and his investigation quickly escalates from minor annoyance to major impediment.

Consequences stack up in a political town with deep party roots and deeper political bloodlines. When Arnav ignores not-so-subtle warnings that the investigation may impact his advancement, the powers-that-be amp up the pressure. Yet as the vice tightens on him, Arnav driven to hunt for the killer and end the slaughter.

More than a standard mystery, The Blue Bar is also insight on social norms that—while not causing these horrific murders—certainly contribute to a shrug-and-tsk-tsk acceptance of violence against women. Indeed the eponymous Blue Bar is a venue where women dance to “lewd Bollywood songs” for money. As seen in similar establishments in the west, the step to prostitution is more skip than leap.

So, ultimately, the villain here is misogyny, bar girls to office girls to Bollywood actresses, women are treated as commodities for trade. Just as often they are discarded as refuse for the crime of existing. Blamed for the way they dress, the work they do, or simply being out of the house, their only real provocation is bringing a moment of light or joy to otherwise mundane lives.

In genre’s best tradition, Biswas raises questions of social responsibility, (here, it’s how we treat women) but leaves the answers to us. Echoes of her opening lines on beginnings and endings run through my thoughts as I type this.

If not readily apparent, The Blue Bar is a deeply affecting story without benefit of spoon-feeding or the burden of preaching.

Two years ago, I had the good fortune to find Damyanti Biswas’ excellent crime novel, You Beneath Your Skin. That book absolutely captivated me and I still think about Anjali Morgan, Jatin Bhatt, and the crew at the Vigil. The Blue Bar not only measures up to the standard set by that first effort but exceeds it. If possible, Biswas’ skill has developed even more and her prose are even more fearless. I have no doubt that The Blue Bar will stay with me just as YBYS has.

Indeed, Biswas infuses Mumbai with the same life that she so deftly revealed in the New Delhi of YBYS. When Tara reflects that she will neither leave Mumbai nor would she want to, I feel her sentiment in my deep love of cities. Even as we are elbow-to-elbow with Arnav while he hunts the killer, I feel the love for a wondrous place full of danger but also of vibrant life. The sweltering heat, the “tinny songs,” and food-stall aromas brace us as we slide in the direction we want to go (justice?) while the throngs carry us along but not entirely as intended (resolution?).

In short, reading Damyanti’s latest is like catching up with an old friend or making a new friend all over again.

Damayanti Biswas is a truly gifted writer, with a talent for immersing you in the setting she writes about - Mumbai, city of contrasts, with its towering skyscrapers and opulence, and densely packed slums with vibrant street life, creativity and a zest for life juxtaposed along ennui and the daily grind of poverty. From the opening page, The Blue Bar gripped me. At times violent and at times poignantly beautiful, the life of this unique city shines through the book. The love story of Arnav and Tara is enthralling, playing out as it does against the backdrop of a sadistic, vicious killer at work. The chills and twists in the story keep the reader turning the pages, wanting to know how it all turns out. I look forward to reading more of her work.