This is the fourth book in the Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries Series. This time, Lady Diana's brother Adi is accused of murder.ing his business partner, a silversmith. Captain Jim and Lady Diana rush back to Bombay to try to save him from the gallows. Set in lush, late-Victorian India, Captain Jim and Diana struggle with the complexities of caste, tradition, and loyalty. The traditional Parsi community finds Jim and Diana's marriage taboo and shuns them.. Their success and their own lives may depend on Diana, who sacrificed her inheritance for love. Someone within their circle has the key to this puzzle. Can she find a way to reconnect with the tight community that threw them aside?

I hadn't read the previous books in the series, but I feel like each book could be read as a standalone. The mystery kept me guessing, and I enjoyed the setting and time period. I did have trouble getting invested in the characters - they all felt a little too flat for me, but other than that it was an enjoyable mystery.

The Silversmiths Puzzle, is the fourth book in the captain Jim and Lady Diana mysteries by NAV March, when Jim and Diana are summoned to England Jim learns Diana‘s brother is in big trouble but when a murder investigation brings them back to their home land put Lady Diana‘s father on the suspect list turned it into a kidnapping and makes Captain Jim a thief with his life on the line will it once again end with a happy ever after or with Lady Diana a widow? These books are so well worded I love them so much and there was way too much as always in the plot to give a good brief summary I’ve touched on the highlights but there is way more to the couples home homecoming then just what I put in my review this book is not only funny but intelligently done And always before the end had my heart palpitating. I love these books and cannot recommend them enough if you’re a fan of historical cozy mysteries then you definitely cannot miss the international amateur slueth captain Jim and lady Diana mysteries.#NetGalley,#SaintMartin’sPress, TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #NevMarch, #CaptainJimAndLadyDianaMysteries, #TheSilversmithsPuzzle,

It’s another well written book in this series.
I did think it moved a little too slow for me.
The first book in this series is still my favorite.

All has come full circle when Captain Jim and Lady Diana return to Victorian-Era Colonial India and all they left behind for another mystery- this time in Diana’s Parsi Zoroastrian community. Nev March caught my attention with her first book in this series, Murder in Old Bombay. She wrote period and culturally authentic backgrounds and characters as well as a cunning and adventure-laden mystery. I’ve come to anticipate each series installment ever since.



The Silversmith’s Puzzle is the fourth standalone mystery in the Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries series. While the mysteries are standalone, there is a strong connection through the series regarding the characters and relationships, so they work best read in order.



Jim, half-English and half-Indian son of a lower caste woman and ex-captain of the Indian army, should have never married Diana, a Parsi from a high caste and wealthy family when it comes to pretty much everyone within her Parsi Zoroastrian community. They knew what marriage would mean, which is why they moved to America, where Jim pursued detective work. However, successfully, on occasion, with Diana’s brilliant help.



But now, caste and culture threaten to end their chances of investigating the murder of Adi’s business partner and keeping him from taking the blame for the crime. Their extended Parsi community makes life rough and outright shuns Jim and Diana, but the Framjis loyally stick by the married pair, and their irrepressible spirit is still intact. Jim does a great deal of the sleuthing alone this time around, delving into familiar haunts around Bombay. The case isn’t easy even if he had cooperation. In America and Britain, Jim was accepted as American and treated differently than in India although he is neither (not English enough for the Brits or high enough caste for the Indians).



All in all, this return to India was as taut and suspenseful on a personal level as I expected, and I fell more deeply in love with Captain Jim and Lady Diana as they faced ethnic and class hardships while helping her family. If you love authentic historical mysteries set in exotic and culturally rich locales, READ THIS SERIES.

For Diana it is a dream come true to be back in her beloved India. Back with family. Even if the reason is to clear her brother of a crime he did not commit.
To her disappointment she realized what affects her marriage outside her own cast had on her parents. While living in America she had been unaware. They are no longer financially stable. Their own cast community have turned against them for having allowed their daughter to marry a biracial man. Frustration grows as the invitations to her homecoming are being turned down one after another. All this makes it harder to find out the truth behind the murder of her brother’s partner. It is amazing how far people are willing to go in name of religion and Cast purity. The story brings insight of colonialism in India during Queen Vitoria’s reign. These stories are fast reads but full of content. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The Silversmith’s Puzzle by Nev March is the latest book in the series. Captain Jim and Lady Diana have been living in America. Jim is a Private Investigator. Diana is very helpful in the story
They return home to help Adi, Diana’s brother and Jim, a good friend. He is being accused of murdering his business partner.
Jim uses his old connections to investigate the crime. I love the description of 1890 Inda and all the interaction – where class and community are very strong.
The book is beautifully written, and I enjoyed this one set in India—the ones set in America are good but to me the India ones good -

Jim and Diana travel back to India with her brother Adi to clear him of a murder charge. His partner in the business is found dead with Adi standing over him. Witnesses give conflicting reports about the event, but Jim knows his brother-in-law is not a killer. As Jim and Diana dig deeper into the lives of the people involved, they discover many secrets and risk their own future happiness to save her brother. This is such a lush, lovely series. I look forward to the next book.

Captain Jim and Lady Diana return to home to Bombay to find that Diana's beloved brother Adi has been accused of murdering his business partner.

In amongst this crisis, there is additional strife caused by those who shun Diana's family because of her marriage to Jim, which leads to financial issues for the Framji family.

This is an exciting addition to the continuing tales of human interactions in Victorian era India. This is the second Captain Jim and Lady Diana book I've read. I will be keeping watch for more. Very entertaining and I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC..

My thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's/Minotaur for allowing me this arc.

I'm going to just say this was only ok. I was not wowed. Jim and Diana were interesting characters and I enjoyed learning about the Indian/Parsi way of life but some of the terms confusing and this wasn't a page turner.

This is a well-written, entertaining, historical fiction, mystery novel. It has a likable and intelligent male protagonist, murder, an intriguing mystery, an unexpected twist, and a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed being immersed in the vividly described locale, time period, customs, and culture. The author's notes are interesting and informative, and are truly appreciated. I especially enjoyed learning about Ms. March's touching family tradition. Many thanks to Ms. Nev March, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this wonderful novel. This is my honest opinion.

This is the fourth book in the series, set in the 1890's.

Jim and Diana return to Bombay when Diana's brother Adi is accused of a serious crime, and he comes to the USA to ask Jim to help him.

Jim begins to realize the cost that the Framji family has paid, in their Parsi community, when Jim married Diana. The family, and Jim and Diana in particular, are now on the outside of the community.

Jim investigates the crime from multiple angles, using his many disguises and his community connections. Once again, it is Diana that wants to get involved, and who manages to come up with some clever ideas to ind the real criminals.

Excellent characters, and a really interesting plot, with several side stories that all come together.I was fascinated to find that the author based many of the plot points on real historic happenings.

I enjoyed this book even more since the couple returned to India, and we get the descriptions of the lives of the people in the 1890's. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Captain Jim and Lady Diana return to Bombay to clear her brother Adi's name. Adi's business partner, Satya, has been murdered and Adi is the number one suspect. The couple is happy to be embraced by the Framjis family again but troubled by some changes that have happened in their absence. Jim's investigation is difficult as Adi is holding back information and his dead partner was keeping huge secrets. I really enjoy seeing Jim and Diana back in the folds of their loving family while fighting injustice.

I like the overall premise of the story but felt it dragged in parts but overall it was a good read Thanks
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 13, 2025
“The Silversmith’s Puzzle” is the fourth novel in the “Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mysteries” by award-winning author Nev March.
1894: Diana Framji’s family lost a large fortune as a result of the global economic downturn and now her beloved brother, Adi, is accused of mother. Diana and her husband, Captain Jim Agnihotri, must return to Diana’s home of Bombay so that Jim can help clear Adi’s name. But it’s been many years since Jim and Diana visited Diana’s home and the country isn’t exactly welcoming, shunning Diana and the rest of her family for Diana’s choice to marry outside of her Parsi community. Even as a private detective, it will take everything Jim has to clear Adi, and hopefully earn a positive reputation in the Parsi culture.
“Puzzle” is the fourth novel, as mentioned, and it is always difficult for me to pick up on a novel series in the middle, although it seems that that has been my lot as of late. In this case, I really would’ve liked to have read books one through three before taking this one on, as I felt disconnected with the characters and the plot.
There are many characters in this novel, some of them are obviously from previous novels in the series, but Jim is the protagonist and narrator. “Puzzle” has multiple mysteries for Jim to solve, as his investigation into the murder of Adi’s partner leads him to uncover another mystery involving forged gold statues and, although they are connected, I found the double mystery to be overwhelming. March connected the two storylines well, but I felt like one complete, organized plot would’ve held my interest for longer stretches.
Although both mysteries in “Puzzle” were solved, there was enough of a hint at the end of this novel to suggest a fifth novel is forthcoming.
The characters were likable and it was interesting to learn about Indian society during the nineteenth century. The ending was unpredictable, which I enjoyed, and there was definitely enough action to keep me engaged however something about this novel fell flat for me. I did not find myself turning the pages rapidly, or becoming deeply immersed into the novel’s plot. Maybe it was due to the fact that I had not read the previous installments but I had to push through “Puzzle”, in order to finish.

"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.

In 1894 colonial India, Lady Diana's family has lost their fortune in a global financial slump, but even worse, her brother Adi is accused of murder. Desperate to save him from the gallows, Captain Jim and Lady Diana rush back to Bombay. However, the traditional Parsi community finds Jim and Diana's marriage taboo and shuns them.

The dying words of Adi’s business partner, a silversmith, are perplexing. As Captain Jim peels back the curtains on this man's life he finds a trail of unpaid bills, broken promises, lies and secrets. Why was the silversmith so frantic for gold, and where is it? What awful truth does it represent?

Set in lush, late-Victorian India, Captain Jim and Diana struggle with the complexities of caste, tradition, and loyalty. Their success and their own lives may depend on Diana, who sacrificed her inheritance for love. Someone within their circle has the key to this puzzle. Can she find a way to reconnect with the tight community that threw them aside?"

I more than a little obsessed with colonial India...

I so enjoyed being back in the company of Jim, Diana, and the rest of the Framji family. The mystery was very satisfying and I found it very hard to put the book down. This is the fourth volume of the Captain Jim and Lady Diana series. As usual, Jim is brave, honorable, and not afraid to admit when he doesn’t know something. Diana is intelligent, kind and able to provide a new point of view when unraveling a crime comes to a standstill.

Nev March has developed her characters so well that they do seem real. As always she includes informative details about the Parsi religion that I find interesting. I’m looking forward to the next book. By the way, I do recommend reading them in order.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy. This is my honest review.

Nev March’s 4th book in the series continues the story of Jim and Diane as they travel back to Bombay. Adi, Diane’s brother is accused of murder. Jim does his best to solve the case and free his brother in law.

I liked that we return to where it all started. I enjoyed the call backs to the first book, still my favorite of the series. March continues to build on the story arcs of our protagonists from each book.

Ultimately, while I enjoyed it, I wasn’t as enamored as I was reading book 1 and 3. The ending teases for a future entry, which I look forward to see what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

4.5 / 5.0 stars

It is September of 1894. Jim and Diana left Boston a few weeks before and have arrived at Liverpool, England where they meet up with her brother, Adi who had sent an urgent telegram asking them to come. Adi divulges that he has been accused of murdering his business partner in Bombay and has fled to England. He fears becoming a scapegoat in the matter. If anyone can help him, he believes that it is Jim. So back to Bombay they all travel with the hope of reclaiming Adi's good name.

Author Nev March spins a wonderful tale, filled with adventure, mystery, and a touch of romance. The writing is excellent and highly descriptive. In this installment of the Captain Jim and Lady Diana Mystery series, one is swept away to colonial Bombay, India. The air is moist and hot. The gardens are lush and their blooms glorious. Nev March's rich understanding of India social ranking, delicate international diplomacy, classism of the 1890s, and history of the day is beautifully rendered. The way in which she writes dialogue among people of differing cultures and class is insightful and delivers a strong understanding of why things ultimately had to change.

The story was thoroughly captivating and I eagerly await the next book in series as it makes its way into the world.

I am grateful to publisher Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected digital galley of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: May 13, 2025
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1250348036

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for this free ARC in return for my honest review.

Nev March is one of my favorite authors, Here we are on the 4th book of her Captain Jim and Lady Diana series and are back where it all began, Victorian Era India. A charming couple who are shunned when they return to India because Lady Diana is a Parsi and Jim was an of an Indian woman and British father - the castes may not mix!! And the caste system is part of this mystery, as Jim tries to clear his brother-in-law of the murder charge filed against him. Things look dire, as witnesses are bribed, caste issues keep people from giving evidence, and Jim is even forced go help clear up a robbery at the Indian Mint in order for people to assist his efforts on behalf of his brother-in-law.
I love this series as it transports me effortlessly to India and provides marvelous look at the times, places and people living there in the midst of the Victorian Era. Even though it is book 4, you need not have read the first 3 to thoroughly enjoy this new installment of Captain Jim and Lady Diana.. Well done Nev!!!! 4.5****

The Silversmith’s Puzzle by Nev March

Our narrator, Jim, is an Anglo-Indian detective in the 1890s who sets out to free his brother-in-law from a murder charge in Mumbai. Adi is accused of killing Satya, his business partner in a silversmith business.

Mr. March has created a web of mystery for Jim in this story. Finding the real killer is daunting, but Jim persists. There are many characters and most play a role to help Jim.

There are several explanations of Indian life and culture, which I really enjoyed. One of these is that Jim married above his station. This has caused a social rift for his pure blooded Indian wife and her family .

The reader will get no clues or hints of the killer until the end, which becomes very busy and, I believe, a setup for his next book. I look forward to that. 5 stars