Reviews

Midnight at Malabar House by Vaseem Khan

wietse111's review against another edition

4.0

Prima whodunnit, beetje Agatha Christie stijl (een aantal verdachten, veel nadenken en aan het einde de grand reveal), maar nog een vleugje procedural detective er doorheen. Speet zich af in post onafhankelijkheid India, en volgt de eerste vrouwelijke inspecteur. Voor zo’n detective een relatief gelaagd karakter, maar daar lees je het natuurlijk niet voor. Geschiedenis van India en dan vooral de partition is interessant. Al met al, prima!

chrispr's review against another edition

informative inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

kaisersozee's review against another edition

5.0

This is great stuff!! Love the heroine Inspector Persis Wadia rocks!! Vaseem educates you about the views in India towards women and social castes. You cannot help but to root for her to get the job done. Highly recommended - 5 stars is not enough!!

mrcreads's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

bookishllewellyn's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

jtyler's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bookwoman1967's review against another edition

3.0

I like this one. The one thing I had a hard time with was the idea Persis could proceed as she did in the time period this was set. I know the author wanted to highlight the fallout of Partition, but the first female officer to join the IPS was Kiran Bedi in 1972, two decades later. Given the misogyny still rampant in large parts of Indian society today, I just wasn't buying Persis doing all she did in 1950, even though the author did highlight obstacles she faced due to her gender.

That said, the setting was fascinating and it was good to read a novel set in India by a Desi author rather than one of Euro or American background. The mystery kept me going up until close to the end.

ellenplum's review

informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

chippywatts's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No

3.5

rmhollars's review

adventurous dark informative reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0