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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
First there was A Rising Man and then A Necessary Evil and akin to the sound of an angelic host the very words, “There’s a new Abir Mukherjee book out now” made my heart soar with an excitement rarely achieved, since I won a handwriting competition at the age of 10 on holiday on the Isle of Wight i.e very excited indeed. And so we are catapulted back to the inglorious days of the Raj, and to be honest, it would unwise to even countenance the thought that our dynamic duo would be experiencing anything like a straightforward investigation. There is some serious trouble afoot…
It is so gratifying to reach the third book in a series and for it to feel as fresh and vibrant as the first two. Partly, I would put this down to the developing working relationship, and growing friendship of our chalk and cheese partnership of Sam and Surrender-not, and the sheer level of engagement Mukherjee creates with the reader in how he presents the social and political unrest of this turbulent period of Indian history. With the former, I would say that each time we encounter these wonderful characters, there is always a little stretch of unchartered territory between them, little pieces of which Mukherjee brings to the narrative, giving us a different perspective of them as each investigation develops. This book is no different with Sam’s largely deniable opium habit leading to all manner of trouble, and becoming an increasingly large elephant in the room in his relationship with Surrender-Not. Equally, Surrender-not’s personal connection to some prominent political enemies of the Raj, reveals a whole new side to his character, and the very personal toll it has on him, trying to make his way in a career that puts him at odds with his family and fellow citizens. Mukherjee captures perfectly their points of similarity, as much as their points of difference, and how at the crux of their working relationship, these points of separation or conflict actually lead them to be an extremely effective working partnership. This unity of purpose becomes especially evident when pitted against other representatives of law, order and security, and some thorny encounters ensue, and, needless to say when violence comes a-knocking you can guarantee Sam will be in the way. Although, this investigation is markedly more emotive and darker in tone than the previous books, there is still time for the badinage, and affectionate leg pulling that Mukherjee affords his detecting double act, as well as to those they encounter along the way, which is, as always, entertaining.
With the war for Indian independence raging on, and the upcoming visit of the Prince of Wales, there is a tinderbox atmosphere in Calcutta, and Mukherjee completely immerses the reader in the stifling heat, social unrest, and the simmering violence that regularly explodes. Peppered with figures in the fight for independence, and their differing attitudes in how to achieve this aim of liberation from suffocating British rule, the book positively throbs with suppressed and overt rebellion, from the average citizen on the street, to those who would keep order, to those who seek to overturn the status quo, and the increasingly less confident smug satisfaction of the British themselves. All this tension and turbulence is delivered in a measured, informative and entertaining style, underscored by the sights and sounds of the city streets, and the building heat, both meteorological and political, sucking you in and ramping up the tension to the nth degree. Brilliant.
I think this just proves, if further proof were needed, that this is a remarkably good book in a remarkably good series, and I cannot find a bad word to say about it.
Which is lovely.
And why you should all seek out these books for yourselves.
Which would be lovely too.
It is so gratifying to reach the third book in a series and for it to feel as fresh and vibrant as the first two. Partly, I would put this down to the developing working relationship, and growing friendship of our chalk and cheese partnership of Sam and Surrender-not, and the sheer level of engagement Mukherjee creates with the reader in how he presents the social and political unrest of this turbulent period of Indian history. With the former, I would say that each time we encounter these wonderful characters, there is always a little stretch of unchartered territory between them, little pieces of which Mukherjee brings to the narrative, giving us a different perspective of them as each investigation develops. This book is no different with Sam’s largely deniable opium habit leading to all manner of trouble, and becoming an increasingly large elephant in the room in his relationship with Surrender-Not. Equally, Surrender-not’s personal connection to some prominent political enemies of the Raj, reveals a whole new side to his character, and the very personal toll it has on him, trying to make his way in a career that puts him at odds with his family and fellow citizens. Mukherjee captures perfectly their points of similarity, as much as their points of difference, and how at the crux of their working relationship, these points of separation or conflict actually lead them to be an extremely effective working partnership. This unity of purpose becomes especially evident when pitted against other representatives of law, order and security, and some thorny encounters ensue, and, needless to say when violence comes a-knocking you can guarantee Sam will be in the way. Although, this investigation is markedly more emotive and darker in tone than the previous books, there is still time for the badinage, and affectionate leg pulling that Mukherjee affords his detecting double act, as well as to those they encounter along the way, which is, as always, entertaining.
With the war for Indian independence raging on, and the upcoming visit of the Prince of Wales, there is a tinderbox atmosphere in Calcutta, and Mukherjee completely immerses the reader in the stifling heat, social unrest, and the simmering violence that regularly explodes. Peppered with figures in the fight for independence, and their differing attitudes in how to achieve this aim of liberation from suffocating British rule, the book positively throbs with suppressed and overt rebellion, from the average citizen on the street, to those who would keep order, to those who seek to overturn the status quo, and the increasingly less confident smug satisfaction of the British themselves. All this tension and turbulence is delivered in a measured, informative and entertaining style, underscored by the sights and sounds of the city streets, and the building heat, both meteorological and political, sucking you in and ramping up the tension to the nth degree. Brilliant.
I think this just proves, if further proof were needed, that this is a remarkably good book in a remarkably good series, and I cannot find a bad word to say about it.
Which is lovely.
And why you should all seek out these books for yourselves.
Which would be lovely too.
We continue to experience the interesting inter-war world of Calcutta with our flawed detect.
This review by Aditya (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3197384331) is all you need to read. I rated it one star higher, though, because it's the first book in this series I read, and I found it captivating. The first part of the book is impeccably paced, the descriptions, the historical background, the characters are a few notches above average, and the plot is even based on unsavory, historical facts. That made it a "good read" for me. But for the rest, Aditya is right: there is too much coincidence, too often are the protagonists sent to places and events where they have no business, but which are necessary to propel the story. Still, I don't regret reading it.
Each installment of Abir Mukherjee's Sam Wyndham series is a little better than the previous book, which is saying something, because the first book of the series, A Rising Man, is an incredibly well-written historical mystery. While many series tend to lose steam with the addition of new books, this series keeps getting better! Smoke and Ashes was a great addition to the series and I continue to love the character development of both Sam Wyndham and Surrender Not. I can't wait for the next book!
It’s the lack of character development, three books in, for me.
The series is a fantastic idea, the execution- especially historically-left much to be desired.
The series is a fantastic idea, the execution- especially historically-left much to be desired.
This series has been one of my best reading discoveries this year, and I'm really hoping Mukherjee can sustain this quality over a long-lived series.
Most historical crime fiction focuses on protagonists with morals which, if not downright modern, at least put them in the 'right' side of history. Captain Sam Wyndham however, walks a fine line between hero and antihero, perpetuating a system which the authorial viewpoint is distinctly more critical of. At the beginning of Smoke and Ashes, he is also barely functional, enslaved to an opium habit and deeply mired in depressive lethargy. The set up lets sidekick Sergeant Surendranath shine - it is his quiet competence which pushes the plot along, and his family connections which propel the two into the world of Gandhi's Congress. Surendranath even reclaims his name slightly, as characters able to pronounce it appear more regularly. I had wondered early on if the more clearly heroic Surendranath (or at least sober and idealistic) would take centre stage as the books progressed, but Mukherjee remains more interested in the contradictions and darkness of Wyndham. I would welcome a book with more of Saren's viewpoint, or for that matter that of the mostly-superfluous Annie (whose irrelevance to the plot is at least now justified by her own disinterest), but I'm willing to follow this story where Mukherjee wants to take us.
The plot ups the political factor this time, to devastating effect, delving into some of the worst of war, imperialism and racism. The settings are richly detailed, the characters believable (not a bad feat in a genre which often requires implausibility) and at least one plot turn caught me by surprise. This may just be my favourite ongoing historical crime series...
Most historical crime fiction focuses on protagonists with morals which, if not downright modern, at least put them in the 'right' side of history. Captain Sam Wyndham however, walks a fine line between hero and antihero, perpetuating a system which the authorial viewpoint is distinctly more critical of. At the beginning of Smoke and Ashes, he is also barely functional, enslaved to an opium habit and deeply mired in depressive lethargy. The set up lets sidekick Sergeant Surendranath shine - it is his quiet competence which pushes the plot along, and his family connections which propel the two into the world of Gandhi's Congress. Surendranath even reclaims his name slightly, as characters able to pronounce it appear more regularly. I had wondered early on if the more clearly heroic Surendranath (or at least sober and idealistic) would take centre stage as the books progressed, but Mukherjee remains more interested in the contradictions and darkness of Wyndham. I would welcome a book with more of Saren's viewpoint, or for that matter that of the mostly-superfluous Annie (whose irrelevance to the plot is at least now justified by her own disinterest), but I'm willing to follow this story where Mukherjee wants to take us.
The plot ups the political factor this time, to devastating effect, delving into some of the worst of war, imperialism and racism. The settings are richly detailed, the characters believable (not a bad feat in a genre which often requires implausibility) and at least one plot turn caught me by surprise. This may just be my favourite ongoing historical crime series...
The adventures of Sam Wyndham and Surrender-Not continue in this third installment of the series by Abir Mukherjee. I haven’t read the other two but I had no trouble jumping right into the adventure in 1920s Calcutta.
Set in the uneasy era between Queen Victoria’s stabling reign and the uprising of anti-colonial leaders, Sam Wyndham has the unenviable job of keeping the peace among rising tensions. His partner, Surrender-Not Banerjee is a native and must walk the thin line of being an Indian and working for the colonizers.
Read my full review at: https://mwgerard.com/smoke-and-ashes-by-abir-mukherjee/
Set in the uneasy era between Queen Victoria’s stabling reign and the uprising of anti-colonial leaders, Sam Wyndham has the unenviable job of keeping the peace among rising tensions. His partner, Surrender-Not Banerjee is a native and must walk the thin line of being an Indian and working for the colonizers.
Read my full review at: https://mwgerard.com/smoke-and-ashes-by-abir-mukherjee/