The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

 "The Bombay Prince” by Sujata Massey - Pre-independence whodunit!

This book was published by Penguin Random House India in 2021 and has 400 pages. This is Book 3 of Parveen Mistry series.

Parveen Mistry is the first female lawyer of India. Prince of Wales is visiting India. Freny Cuttingmaster, a Student of Woodburn college consults her on how to avoid being thrown out of college for not attending Prince’s procession. On the day of procession she is killed in the college.

Can the British solve the case impartially of the murder of a Parsi girl? Who is behind the murder? How is Praveen involved? Why? Whodunit?

The story is set in pre-independence India. There are British quarters in Mumbai. Parsi’s are seen as sympathetic to British. Wind of independence is blowing strong. Women are still not allowed to perform several duties including arguing a case in court. Hence, Parveen works as a solicitor and not a barrister. She and her father, Jamshedji Mistry, run a law firm. She is divorced but has tender feelings about Colin Sandringham, a British Civil Servant with defective right leg. It’s a time when speaking to a man was frowned upon. Her friend Alice Hopson-Jones (an English lady) works as professor in same college.

Since the story happens in 1920s, it’s slow. It’s neither a detective story with lot of investigation and deduction, nor is it a court room drama with smart arguments. It’s neither this nor that kind of story. Reader keeps anticipating that it will turn into either one of the two but it doesn’t. As a result, readers remain unsatisfied. The revelation of the reason of murder is also plain. Could have been much more dramatic. Identity of the perpetrator and the reason of murder is also not very convincing.

The book ends on a curious note with introduction of a freedom fighter. Perhaps, this character will appear in the next book of the series.

Why did I read this book? Curiosity about Pre-Independence mysteries. 

What I didn't like? Pace and climax. 

What did I like? Parsi set-up. 

Not a must read.