Set in 1892 colonial Bombay, MURDER IN OLD BOMBAY focuses on two Parsee women who fell to their deaths from a nearby university’s clock tower in the middle of the day. The evidence fails to prove if sisters-in-law Bacha Godrej and Pilloo Kamdin jumped or were thrown from the tower, and a formal investigation cannot determine if their deaths resulted from a suicide pact or something more sinister. Adi Framji, Bacha’s husband and Pilloo’s brother, writes an emotional letter to The Chronicle of India claiming that the women would not have willingly jumped but instead must have been murdered.

"MURDER IN OLD BOMBAY is a compelling mystery featuring a clever and highly likable protagonist that will entertain readers."

Captain Jim Agnihotri, an officer of British and Indian heritage, has just finished recuperating from severe injuries that occurred when his regiment was ambushed in Karachi by Afghan troops. Saddled with PTSD and now retired from the Fourteenth Light Dragoons, Captain Jim offers his services to Adi as an investigator and begins working on the mystery. The Framji family welcomes him into their home, and Adi’s sister, Diana, is eager to assist him. As he begins to track down witnesses, his exploration of the case immediately stirs up trouble, and he is targeted by thugs. But he continues to pursue leads that take him all across India and eventually back to the British Army.

Nev March weaves in Sherlock Holmes throughout MURDER IN OLD BOMBAY, which is a fun addition to the book. A huge fan of the private detective after reading THE SIGN OF THE FOUR while recovering, Captain Jim frequently references both Holmes and Watson. He compares his sleuthing to how Holmes would deal with a similar situation, often feeling like his own handling of a clue or new bit of information would not measure up.

March brings 19th-century India to life, particularly what it was like under British rule and the hierarchical social/caste system. This part of India’s history is complicated, and at times the author references events and conflicts with not much backstory. This will require some to do additional research to fully understand the underlying issues and their relevance to the book. Shortening both Captain Jim’s travels and the long list of characters would have moved the story along at a quicker pace and made for a tighter novel.

Still, MURDER IN OLD BOMBAY is a compelling mystery featuring a clever and highly likable protagonist that will entertain readers.