A necessary evil A novel

*Starred Review* Prince Adhir of Sambalpore is assassinated moments after he approaches Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Surrender-Not Banerjee (last seen in A Rising Man, 2016) to discuss threats surrounding his diplomatic visit to Calcutta. Shaken by witnessing the charismatic prince's murder, Wyndham dodges the pesky detail that Sambalpore is beyond the Raj's jurisdiction by persuading Banerjee, an old friend of Prince Adhir's, that they should accompany the prince's body back to his kingdom. To the dismay of Sambalpore's officious dewan (prime minister) and the Crown's viceroy, Wyndham convinces the maharaja to allow him to investigate the assassination. True to form, Sambalpore's court reveals a multitude of motives: the usual succession power plays, corruption in the kingdom's diamond mines, a curse tied to the area's patron deity, and simmering discontent over Adhir's English mistress. While Wyndham's investigation is complicated by his closet opium addiction and distracting jealousy over a prince's flirtation with the beautiful Annie Grant, the kingdom's accountant disappears and another assassin takes aim. Fans of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series will enjoy Wyndham's unashamed internal commentary, social blundering, and witty banter with Banerjee and Grant. A richly detailed period gem boasting the British Raj's exotic setting and a gripping whydunit spun around an intriguing cast of archetypal mystery characters.--Tran, Christine Copyright 2018 Booklist

Set in 1920, Mukherjee's impressive sequel to 2017's A Rising Man finds Capt. Sam Wyndham, a former Scotland Yard officer, and his astute sidekick, Sgt. "Surrender-Not" Banerjee of the Bengal Police, transporting Crown Prince Adhir Singh Sai, of the small kingdom of Sambalpore, back to the prince's Calcutta hotel after a conference. The royal, who attended boarding school with Surrender-Not, wants his advice about notes that were left for him in his rooms. But before he can discuss their contents, a religious procession forces their car to take a detour, placing them in the path of an assassin who fatally shoots the prince. Sam and Surrender-Not's failure to apprehend the killer only makes things worse, and, though they eventually track the man down, he takes his own life, leaving the investigators still in the dark about his motives. The road to the truth takes them to Sambalpore, a hive of intrigue and suspects. This successful evocation of the Raj in the service of a brilliant whodunit demonstrates that Mukherjee's debut was no fluke. Agent: Sam Copeland, Rogers, Coleridge & White (U.K.). (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Because Sgt."Surrender-Not" Banerjee went to Harrow with the Crown Prince of Sambalpur, he and Capt. Sam Wyndham are asked to meet with him after a brief ceremony in 1920s Calcutta. But the prince is assassinated, with the two police officers as witnesses. Although they track down the killer, who was dressed as a Hindu priest, the man commits suicide. The case may be officially closed, but Sam is not satisfied. He wants justice for the fallen prince. Under the pretense of attending the royal funeral, the duo travel to the diamond-rich state of Sambalpore to confront powerful political forces. This atmospheric sequel to A Rising Man establishes a strong sense of place by showcasing in rich detail the life of a wealthy maharaja with his wives, concubines, and hundreds of children. Mukherjee further develops his brooding, introspective, and flawed lead protagonist, who relies on his partner's in-depth knowledge of Indian culture and traditions. VERDICT Fans of the author's acclaimed debut, Sujata Massey's The Widows of Malabar Hill, and mysteries dependent on international locations and history will appreciate this crime novel.-Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.