Midnight at Malabar House by Vaseem Khan

 "Midnight at Malabar House" by Vaseem Khan - Whodunit? 

This book is published by Hodder paperbacks in 2021 and has 336 pages. This is Book 1 of The Malabar House Series.

It's 1949 Bombay. Newly independent India is coming to terms of self rule. The British don't rule anymore but all of them are not gone. Persis Wadia is India's first female Inspector. On the New Year's eve, she gets a call reporting murder of prominent English diplomat Sir James Herriot, who was on a classified assignment for the Government of India. Victim's trousers and murder weapon are missing and safe is empty.

Who killed Harriot? Why? Where is the missing trouser? Where is the murder weapon? Can Persis solve the case?

Madan Lal is the servant of Harriet who makes the call to police. There is a driver and a house manager. Harry was having a party at his home when he was murdered. Several prominent who's who were present. Anyone can be the murderer. Madan Lal also invited a Britisher Archie Blackfinch, a criminologist, to assist in the investigation.

Persis works at Malabar House Police Station. All the policemen posted at Malabar House are considered misfits within police force because of some past mistakes or because they wrong footed someone influential. Fault of Persis is that she's the only female Police Inspector. Her investigation leads to confession, but she is not convinced. She defies the orders of her superiors and pursues the investigation jeopardizing her career.

Persis is not an ideal heroin. She has her flaws and has made her mistakes. Her biggest struggle has been to defy the expectations of society and be herself. Most of the society doesn't take the female police officer seriously. Times are turbulent. India is still coming to terms with independence. Persis has to Overcome several odds to get to the root of the mystery.

Although the time period (1949-50) is just after independence, the society is depicted to be more liberal than what we have heard of. Was it literary liberty? Author's lack of local knowledge is apparent. A character named Birla (A typical Rajasthani name) is shown as native of Rural Maharashtra. Why name a character George Fernandes?

Although the story ends, the series has just started. There is a hint of romance at the end. Wait for next book.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Lack of attention to detail as written above.

What did I like? Character of Persis. Flow.

Recommend reading if you plan to read the series.