3.5 stars

Background: After serving in the British army in India in the early 1890s, Anglo-Indian Captain Jim Agnihotri became interested in being a private detective, like his fictional idol Sherlock Holmes. During Agnihotri's first case, two years ago, he met and married a beautiful Parsi woman named Lady Diana Framji.

Parsis are not meant to wed outsiders, and Diana's wealthy respected family would be ostracized. So Jim and Diana moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where Jim was hired by the Dupree Detective Agency. Since then, the Dupree agency has assigned Jim several difficult cases, and Diana has proven herself a smart, capable, and inventive assistant investigator.

In this 4th book in the 'Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries', Jim and Diana are compelled to return to India to absolve Diana's brother Adi of a murder charge.

*****
When Jim Agnihotri receives an urgent cable reading "NEED HELP PLEASE COME" from his brother-in-law, Adi Framji, Jim and his wife Diana hurry to meet Adi in a London, England hotel. There Adi admits, "If I go back to India, I'll be accused of murder." Adi goes on to explain he recently embarked on a venture with his friend and business partner Satya Rastogi. Rastogi came from a family of goldsmiths, and he'd studied chemistry, so the partners leased a warehouse to make surgical tools from Indian steel and silver - hoping to wrest some of the surgical tool market from British companies.

Unfortunately, without the imprimatur 'Made in UK', no hospitals would buy Framji and Rastogi's surgical tools. Worse yet, Satya was murdered, and Adi - who was found with the body - is the prime suspect. So Adi and Diana's father, Burjor Framji, sent Adi out of the country. Agnihotri knows this is no solution, and he convinces Adi to return to Bombay, where Jim can (hopefully) clear his brother-in-law's name. The police are searching for Adi, so Diana disguises her sibling as an Indian woman, and the threesome board a ship to return to India.

In Bombay, Jim and Diana are warmly welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Framji, but the rest of the Parsi community is VERY standoffish. With the return of the shunned couple, the Framjis' friends refuse dinner invitations; the family is not allowed to enter the Zoroastrian temple; and the Parsi community seems ready to boycott Framji businesses.

Jim and Diana know they must stay in Bombay long enough to prove Adi's innocence, and Agnihotri goes to work. He begins by interviewing the employees at Adi's factory, two of whom found Adi with Satya's body in the warehouse. The workers all claim not to have seen anyone else in the vicinity, but they seem squirrely and frightened. Agnihotri carries on, and finds clues to Satya's murder. Best of all, Jim acquires a mysterious key that belonged to the victim. Jim sets out to discover what the key opens, believing this will help expose the killer.

Agnihotri is a master of disguise, just like his hero Sherlock Holmes. So Jim collects clothing and make-up and fake whiskers, and takes on different personae to further his investigations. Along the way Jim gets into some serious scuffles, as befits a former soldier.

While Agnihotri is in the midst of the Satya Rastogi case, he's approached by the Framji family's Zoroastrian priest, who needs assistance. The priest takes Jim to a distraught Parsi man called Boman Padamji, who confides, "For over twenty years I have worked at the Royal Mint. I manage the forge, melting coins paid as tax into imperial bullion....But now there is a thief among my staff....Someone has stolen a bar of gold. And I will be held responsible." Agnihotri agrees to investigate, after which the priest will help 'heal the rift' between the Parsi community and the Framjis.

Agnihotri is clever and insightful and - with help from Diana - identifies culprits in both cases. However, Agnihotri is convinced a 'Moriarty-like' mastermind is controlling a criminal network in Bombay, and Jim hopes to expose the miscreant at a future time.

The story is engaging but (for me) the novel feels top heavy with descriptions of Indian scenery, delicious meals, beautiful clothes, and so on. I like background ambiance, but it's overdone in this book and slows down the story.

To give you the idea, here are a few examples:

"Around him a jumble of red hibiscus crowned a bush, while stephanotis, jasmine, and heliotrope crowded adjacent beds."

"The dining room was empty when I served myself from tureens on the sideboard....I slathered spicy mango preserve called amba-kalyo on my toast and polished it off with soft curds of scrambled eggs."

"In a sari, a light peach confection that seemed spun from early morning cloud, Diana looked fragile, barely there, like a bird that is all downy feathers."

These kinds of scenes are wonderful, but in moderation. Still, I enjoyed the novel and recommend it to fans of historical mysteries.

Thanks to Netgalley, Nev March, and Minotaur for a copy of the book.

After the last book, I was delighted to find Jim and Diana back in India. They really don't belong there anymore, but their pain makes a very interesting book and a fabulous look at British-controlled India. The mystery was delightfully twisty and the descriptions of India made me feel like I was there with them. This series is hard to pin down as every book is completely different than the last, but I'm happy that Nev March has gotten back to the basics that made Murder in Old Bombay so wonderful.

I kicked off my vacation with The Silversmith’s Puzzle by Nev March—and I couldn’t have picked a better companion. This is the fourth installment in the Captain Jim and Lady Diana mystery series, and once again, March delivers a rich blend of historical intrigue, culture clash, and heart.

It’s September 1894. Captain Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana Framji have just arrived in England when they receive an urgent message from Diana’s brother, Adi. Accused of murdering his business partner in Bombay, Adi is desperate to clear his name—and he trusts Jim to do it. The trio heads back to colonial India, where they face not only a tangled mystery but also the painful reality that Jim and Diana’s marriage has made them outcasts within her traditional Parsi community.

The setting is lush and evocative—hot, humid Bombay practically steams off the page. Nev March writes with exquisite detail, from the glorious blooms of the gardens to the tense drawing rooms filled with whispers of scandal and suspicion. But what really sets this novel apart is the way it grapples with colonial hierarchies, classism, and cultural identity. The mystery—centered around a silversmith’s dying words and a missing stash of gold—unfolds with gripping suspense, but at its heart, this is a story about loyalty, sacrifice, and belonging.

If you love historical mysteries with deeply human stakes, this series is for you. You can start here—each book stands alone—but reading them in order lets you witness Jim and Diana’s evolving bond, both romantic and investigative. Their partnership continues to grow more complex and endearing.

The Silversmith's Puzzle is the fourth outing for Captain Jim & his lady wife Diana in a mystery series by Nev March. Released 13th May 2025 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 320 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is such a richly imagined and well written historical mystery series from the late Victorian era and has developed from strength to strength. This is probably the best of the lot thus far. The titular protagonist, Captain Jim Agnihotri, is a half English, half Indian officer and investigator who has married for love and he and his wife suffer socially because of their partnership. He deals with racism because of his upbringing and skin color as well as being an Englishman, and they're shunned by both his world and her own (high caste Raj era India).

The relationship between Jim and his wife Diana is refreshingly honest (and modern). She's intelligent and headstrong, if naive. Both of them have a distinct honesty that's refreshing to read, and they're genuinely fond of one another. The mystery is well constructed and the prose is nuanced and enjoyable. The action moves the plot along quickly and the denouement and resolution are satisfying and fair play. The language is squeaky clean and the violence is at "cozy historical novel" level. There is a lot of direct racism, but probably less than would honestly be historically accurate (which is good).

Four and a half stars. An amazingly well written follow-up. There are currently 4 books extant in the series. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home readers, or for a binge/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Sincere thanks to #NetGalley & #MinotaurBooks for a chance to check out the ARC of the newest Captain Jim & Lady Diana Mysteries! My honest review below is voluntary.

A slow start, but gained momentum about a quarter of the way in & kept my interest & attention. This takes place almost entirely in India & Diana's brother is in the middle of a murder investigation. His business partner has been killed & he's the main suspect. There are any number of motives / suspects that range from cultural, political, and financial conflicts. It was fascinating to read about the days of colonial India coming to an end and moves towards India's self-government.

I'm now looking forward to the next Nev March book! It was nice to be back in India & revisit favorite characters, but I hope their next mystery is back in the USA.

Captain Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana Framji return to India as they investigate a murder amidst colonial Bombay's complex hierarchy in March's fourth mystery.

Nev March is a marvel at historical mysteries. Her series featuring Jim Agnihotri and his wife Diana Framji is first-rate. March’s latest in the series, The Silversmith’s Puzzle, is no exception. As in her first novel, Murder in Old Bombay, The Silversmith’s Puzzle is deeply-steeped in India’s history. March provides important insight into not only India’s caste system and its effects on the individual, but also into the injustices occurring to Indians under the Raj.

In The Silversmith’s Puzzle, both the history and plot are quite dense, making the novel slower to read than the typical historical mystery. In this case, Jim Agnihotri and his wife Diana Framji return to Bombay, as Diana’s brother and Jim’s best friend Adi, is suspected of killing his business partner, Satya Rastogi with a scalpel they had produced. The business was failing as the scalpels were made with Indian steel, and Adi refused to lie by stamping “Made in the UK” on them so that they would sell.

The plot is very complex, and it was quite frankly impossible for me to solve the mystery on my own based on the clues provided. Still, I enjoyed spending time with these characters again. If you’re so inclined, I strongly recommend that you first read Murder in Old Bombay in order to become familiar with the socio-economic terrain and the characters. It will be well worth your while. 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Publishing Group for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Another wonderful trip through the melting pot of old Bombay.

I was lucky enough to have a review copy of Nev March’s first Jim Agnihotri/Diana Framji story, Murder in Old Bombay, back before it was even clear - to me, at least - whether this would be a series. And I loved that book, but then somehow lost track of the series. So I was surprised to find out that The Silversmith’s Puzzle is already the fourth title. And also quite pleased, since that means I now can look forward to reading the second and third books as well. As if I don’t have plenty to read already – but who’s ever rational about that?

As The Silversmith’s Puzzle opened, it was clear I had missed a few things (Boston??? Chicago???), but the author filled in enough backstory that I didn’t feel too lost. Still, I was happy that Jim and Diana were heading back to Bombay, since March’s vivid descriptions of India’s myriad of nationalities, religions, classes, and cultures were some of the things I loved most about the first book. But I was not at all happy about the reason: Diana’s brother, Adi, has been accused of murdering his business partner, Satya, and Diana and Jim are needed to help find the real killer.

Jim, who had spent time in the Bombay constabulary, uses his former contacts, a lot of leg-work, and more than a few disguises, to investigate. As readers, we get to follow along, getting a taste of Bombay’s many ethnic groups: Satya’s hereditary goldsmiths, Diana’s Parsis, the British administration, and more. Of course, Jim is also still a Sherlock Holmes devotee, so when he gets especially stuck, he tries to apply the master detective’s methods. (It’s a special treat to watch him debating internally about whether he really wants to read Arthur Conan Doyle's just-published story, The Final Problem, since he has heard that Holmes dies in it. I’ve felt that way myself sometimes, semi-dreading the last book in a series. But for us as readers, this time it’s fun, since we know Holmes will be revived, and we can look forward to Jim’s delight in the future.)

As with Murder in Old Bombay, the larger background drives much of the story. India is sitting uneasily under British rule. Indeed, part of Adi and Satya’s motivations for starting their business is to prove that Indian companies can produce goods on a par with British companies. And the mélange of cultures comes into play as well, forcing the keeping of secrets – big secrets - that would have best been out in the open. In the end, Diana and Jim figure out what went on, engineer a daring charade, and are able to exonerate Adi, but sadly, not without some ironic and bittersweet moments.

All-in-all, The Silversmith’s Puzzle is a wonderful follow-on to Murder in Old Bombay, and I’m now looking forward to catching up with the second and third books. And I’m also suspecting that there will be a fifth. After all, why else would Superintendent McIntyre mention, at the very end, that Jim’s former commander has gone missing in the north and then muse, “You know those frontier foothills, don’t you? Care to go find him?” So…my fingers are crossed!

And finally, my thanks to St Martins/Minotaur and NetGalley for my review copy.

When I read Nev Marsh’s first book in this series I was instantly in love with her characters. Murder in Old Bombay introduced Captain Jim Agnihotri, an officer with an English father and an Indian mother. His love of Sherlock Holmes led to his career as an investigator. His first case introduced him to the Framji family, where he befriended Adi and fell in love with his sister Diana. While her family was against it, he married Diana. She was Parsi and marrying outside her caste caused a scandal that forced them to leave India and settle in Boston. A message from Adi asking for Jim’s help has now brought them back to India. Adi has been accused of murdering Satya, his business partner. He had been found cradling the body and covered in blood. They had been friends, but Jim discovers that Satya had emptied their business account and defrauded Adi’s father by forging a note that has now come due. Satya’s final words to Adi made little sense. Jim must discover their meaning and the reason that Satya required the money to save Adi from the hangman.

The Silversmith’s Puzzle takes place in late Victorian India. Nev Marsh takes you from the slums to the estates of the wealthy on a journey through the culture, food and the stunning colors that easily allow you to imagine life in Bombay in the 1890s. Jim’s love of Holmes and his use of disguises taught him to pass as a lower caste laborer or an upper class English gentleman. Diana has proven her ability to assist him in the past. With her brother’s life in the balance she is not about to sit at home while Jim investigates. She has been shunned by the Parsi community since their return. Their help is essential to Jim’s plans and she must find a way to reconnect with them. This was a complex mystery that held me from the opening scenes to the very end. In her last story, Marsh ended with the telegram from Adi that set things in motion. She also ends The Silversmith’s Puzzle with a hint of what is to come. I look forward to seeing where she will take Jim and Diana next. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.

Jim and Diana Agnihotri are back in England, and immediately embroiled in a mystery involving Diana' brother Adi.

Nev March is a great story-teller, and this is an interesting mystery with a wide-ranging variety of characters. I'm delighted that Jim and Diana are back in the midst of family and friends in India. March does a wonderful job of bringing the setting to life.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Silversmith's Puzzle is the fourth book in a series by author Nev March featuring Capt. Jim Agnihotri and Lady Diana Framji. All four of her books take place in last part of the 19th century. Her first book, Murder In Old Bombay, as well as this latest one are set in British Colonial India.

I was so glad to see these characters return to this locale since the author did such a masterful job in her first book of bringing it to life. As this new book starts Jim and Diana have just arrived in Liverpool where they have been met by Adi, Diana's twin brother, and Jim's great friend. Soon after their meeting Adi he informs them that he is being investigated for the Murder of his business partner Sayta. Besides coming to Liverpool to meet them he has also used this as an opportunity to flee the authorities before they arrest him.

After hearing Adi's story of what happened Jim and Diana know that he is not guilty of the crime and together the three board a ship back to Bombay to prove he is innocent. Once back in India March does a wonderful job of taking us through the crime through Jim's investigation and interviews of various witnesses. The mystery of who killed Sayta, when it is finally revealed, while satisfying is also tinged with sadness. Now that the main characters are back in India I hope the author can keep them there awhile longer with a new mystery or two to solve.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Nev March for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Silversmith's Puzzle coming out May 13, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a series I’ve been wanting to check out. I haven’t read the other books yet. I think the characters are so smart. I really love the murder mystery aspect. I think it was an adventurous plot. I definitely want to check out more books in the series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical murder mysteries!

The fourth book in the incredibly immersive "Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries" series, this novel kept me turning the pages into the early hours of the morning to see what was going to happen next, and to find out whodunit. Delving into different cultures, mystery, exploring who can and can't be trusted, family, and so much more, Captain Jim and Lady Diana work quickly to prove Lady Diana's brother is innocent of the crime. What happens? You will just have to read to find out!

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the e-ARC of this novel! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In the 4th book in this historical mystery series set in the 1890s, Captain Jim and Lady Diana return to Bombay to help prove her brother Adi innocent of murdering his business partner. The culture and caste system of India in this era under British rule lend so much color and interest to the story. The characters are delightful--such a warm and wonderful family. The murder mystery and a subplot are both very intriguing; I had no clue how it would all be resolved. I will definitely look forward to more to come in this series.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

The Silversmith’s Puzzle

A Mystery

By: Nev March

Book 4 of Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries

Publish Date: May 13, 2025

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books

Historical Fiction/Mystery and Thrillers/Own Voices

200 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur books for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I have been lucky enough to have been able to read and review every book in this series. This book is the continuation of Captain Jim and Lady Diana’s adventures together as a married couple. I gave this book 4 stars. In this book they return back to India because Diana’s brother is in trouble. He is the number one suspect of the murder of his business partner. There are some twists and turns as well as secrets in this story. Diana is excited to be back home but also upset because she and her family are being shunned because Jim isn’t from there or have the same religious beliefs. However, Diana wouldn’t change anything she or her family has done and in fact she thinks Jim has proved himself. Adi, (Dianas brother), is beside himself with worry about what has happened. Jim has many leads but nothing solid to help him. He goes undercover but isn’t able to figure out who killed his partner and things are leading back to Adi or surprising enough to a member of the family. What will happen if he can’t find the true murder? Will Diana leave him because he is unable to help or from the pressures of the community? You will have to read the book to find out. I do love the support of the family for each other and the love they have.

Another great mystery in this series. Jim and Diana have gone back to India to help Adi. He has been accused of murder. They both know that he could not have committed murder, so they are glad to help. As Jim investigates, Diana is pretty much shunned by people she has known all her life. Jim knows that he had to pay a price for marrying him, but he isn't sure it is worth it to her. Jim will do anything for Diana's family, so he does whatever it takes to find the person who murdered Adi's business partner. He even puts himself in danger. He does discover that there is someone behind the scenes pulling strings but is having a hard time finding that person. Will Jim and Diana stay in India or go back to Boston?

Historical mysteries are my most favorite genre to read, so when I am introduced to a new author or series, it feels like a gift. And that is just how I felt when I read The Silversmith’s Puzzle, book four in Nev March’s Captain Jim and Lady Diana mystery series. While this is the first I’ve read in this series, my library has books one through three available as audiobooks so I’ve added those to my queue. I need Captain Jim and Lady Diana’s origin story!

It’s 1894, and Lady Diana Framji and Captain Jim Agnihotri are called back to India to help Lady Diana’s brother Adi, who has been accused of murder. This isn’t an easy trip back for both as the traditional Parsi community finds Jim and Diana’s marriage taboo and shuns them. How will they ever be able to investigate a murder under these complex conditions around caste and tradition?

What a thoughtful and well researched mystery! The details describing colonial India are fascinating and immersive. While it is clear that great care was taken with obtaining historical accuracy in the story, I was never once overwhelmed by the details. Facts and descriptions were woven into this mystery seamlessly.

The mystery around the death of Adi’s business partner was complex and given the layers of social systems and traditions Lady Diana and Captain Jim had to sort through, I found myself always pondering as I turned the pages. I’m certainly glad I wasn’t in charge of the investigation, but enjoyed being along for the ride greatly!

The relationship between Lady Diana and Captain Jim was lovely, each full of respect for the other. I enjoyed getting to see Lady Diana’s family as well.

And of course no spoilers here, but the ending was simply wonderful and artfully composed. Fans of historical mysteries should not hesitate to grab this, but if you’re like me, let’s be sure to catch up on earlier entries as well. I know we won’t regret it.

This is the second book I've read in this series, and I feel the same way about this one as I did the other - it's a good story, but the telling is a bit uneven and bogged down by unrelated information. Jim and Diana are a lovely couple, and I enjoyed the moments where they worked together to solve the mystery.

It was a good whodunit, with a twist near the end that I did not see coming. Overall, I enjoyed it, and look forward to more.

3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars

The Silversmihttps://www.instagram.com/p/DJ4mQzPPMBB/?igsh=amwzaXJjODZ2Z24zth’s Puzzle by Nev March is a mystery, my favorite, but it takes place in India. Not necessarily a problem as the mystery is a good one, but it is filled with cultural things that are new to me. Interesting, but complicated. The sleuth is a private detective called James Agnihotri, half English, half Indian. His best friend is an Indian man called Adi, who was also his brother-in-law. He and Diana were currently in England but had gotten a message from Adi. When he appeared and told his story, they contrived to get him back to India, joining him. The plan was to prove that he had not murdered his partner. He and Satya had started a business manufacturing scalpels out of solver. The problem was, his countrymen believed that English products were better and so would not buy.

Just getting Adi to India as a wanted man was a production. Then began the laborious investigation. People didn’t report what they had seen, but what they were accustomed to seeing. Satya’s last words were a conundrum. His family did not want to speak to him; they had been estranged. It all got very complicated. Thankfully, Agnihotri had some friends within the constabulary. Also he looked, very English and so people treated him differently. It was truly a mess, but they finally figured it out. He was accepted into the family after saving Adi, which made Diana and him both very happy. This was a terrific book. Lots to learn. Plenty to think about. Terrific characters, not necessarily filled with empathy as one would expect. Good read.

I was invited to read The Silversmith’s Puzzle by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #NevMarch #TheSilversmithsPuzzle

Definitely my favorite of the series so far! I love how immersive March's writing is, completely transporting me to a completely different place and time. Love the cultural representation.