The Widows of Malabar Hill
Sujata Massey
ISBN: 9781616957780
Published: January 2018
Pricing
Paperback $16.95
More books by Sujata Massey
Description
1920s India: Perveen Mistry, Bombay’s first female lawyer, is investigating a suspicious will on behalf of three Muslim widows living in full purdah when the case takes a turn toward the murderous. The author of the Agatha and Macavity Award-winning Rei Shimura novels brings us an atmospheric new historical mystery with a captivating he...
1920s India: Perveen Mistry, Bombay’s first female lawyer, is investigating a suspicious will on behalf of three Muslim widows living in full purdah when the case takes a turn toward the murderous. The author of the Agatha and Macavity Award-winning Rei Shimura novels brings us an atmospheric new historical mystery with a captivating heroine.
Inspired in part by the woman who made history as India’s first female attorney, The Widows of Malabar Hill is a richly wrought story of multicultural 1920s Bombay as well as the debut of a sharp and promising new sleuth.
Perveen Mistry, the daughter of a respected Zoroastrian family, has just joined her father’s law firm, becoming one of the first female lawyers in India. Armed with a legal education from Oxford, Perveen also has a tragic personal history that makes women’s legal rights especially important to her.
Mistry Law has been appointed to execute the will of Mr. Omar Farid, a wealthy Muslim mill owner who has left three widows behind. But as Perveen examines the paperwork, she notices something strange: all three of the wives have signed over their full inheritance to a charity. What will they live on? Perveen is suspicious, especially since one of the widows has signed her form with an X—meaning she probably couldn’t even read the document. The Farid widows live in full purdah—in strict seclusion, never leaving the women’s quarters or speaking to any men. Are they being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous guardian? Perveen tries to investigate, and realizes her instincts were correct when tensions escalate to murder. Now it is her responsibility to figure out what really happened on Malabar Hill, and to ensure that no innocent women or children are in further danger.
Media
“ Finalist for the 2019 Mary Higgins Clark Award.”
“A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018”
“ A WBUR On Point Best Book of 2018.”
“The Bookseller (UK) Editor's Pick for Mystery.”
“ A Publishers Weekly Top 10 Mystery for Fall.”
“An ABA IndieNext Selection for January.”
“Beautifully constructed and highly emotional. Massey’s knowledge of Japanese antiques and downtown D.C. enhances the story.”
—USA Today
“A sprightly, engaging tale by setting a classic English-style whodunit in contemporary Japan . . . This young, hip, sake-sipping sleuth leads a reader into a Tokyo that doesn’t make the guidebooks . . . Sly, sexy and deftly done, Wife is one to bring home.”
—People Magazine
“There is a new sleuth on the literary map and her name is Perveen Mistry, practicing woman lawyer, feminist, survivor of abuse and solver of murder mysteries. In THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILLS, Sujata Massey brings 1920s Bombay to life, a time when the British still ruled, single women were not served alcohol in restaurants and there was murder most foul. With an indomitable heroine and a solid cast of side kicks, this is the start of a series mystery readers should not miss.”
–Amulya Malladi, bestselling author of A House for Happy Mothers & The Copenhagen Affair
“A fascinating setting, an extraordinary new sleuth, and a story that enthralls you–The Widows of Malabar Hill has all three and more. Sujata Massey's new historical series is absolutely terrific, and you are just going to love Parveen Mistry, India's first female lawyer.”
–Charles Todd, best-selling author of the Ian Rutledge Series and the Bess Crawford Series
“Sujata Massey is one of the most talented writers working today. In her hands, 1920s Bombay comes alive with the sounds, sights and smells of a place and time where women were still second class citizens. Perveen Mistry is an unforgettable heroine, fighting for justice in an enigmatic, beautiful and flawed world. With gorgeous prose, Massey weaves a captivating mystery. The Widows of Malabar Hill is an extraordinary novel.”
–Allison Leotta, author of The Last Good Girl
“Perveen is strong, tenacious and smart, just the kind of advocate you'd want to have on your side. And as someone who was born and raised in the city, I love the way in which Massey recreates colonial Bombay, down to the architecture, social interactions, politics and gender dynamics. You can feel the breeze coming off the Arabian Sea and taste the pastries at Yazdani's bakery.”
–Radha Vatsal, author of A Front Page Affair
“Perveen Mistry is an extraordinary heroine—one of the first female lawyers in India, she’s whip smart, strong-willed, and, most importantly, compassionate. Defying convention while draped in a sari, Perveen is sure to join the leads of great mystery fiction.”
–Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope mysteries
“In addition to getting an unusual perspective on women’s rights and relationships, readers are treated to a full view of historical downtown Bombay—the shops and offices, the docks and old fort, and the huge variety of conveyances, characters, and religions—in an unforgettable olio that provides the perfect backdrop to the plot and subplots. Each of the many characters is uniquely described, flaws and all, which is the key to understanding their surprising roles in the well-constructed puzzle.”
–Booklist, Starred Review
“[Massey] does a wonderful job of taking life in India at the beginning of the 20th century. She gives enough cultural details without overwhelming readers with facts. The two plotlines wonderfully depict the development of the main character and the mystery as it unfolds... Fresh and original.”
–Library Journal, Starred Review on the The Widows of Malabar Hill
“Introducing an incisive, sympathetic heroine with a painful past while shedding light on a fascinating cloistered historical world, The Widows of Malabar Hill is not only immediately engaging–it has staying power.”
–Lyndsay Faye, Edgar-nominated author of Gods of Gotham and Jane Steele
“[An] outstanding series launch.... The period detail and thoughtful characterizations, especially of the capable, fiercely independent lead, bode well for future installments.”
–Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Launches Sujata Massey’s new historical mystery series in fine style.... The Widows of Malabar Hill shows that Massey has been inspired both by her newest creation and her setting, with the promise of a great series to come.”
–MADReads, the review of the Madison Public Library
“[A] setting and protagonist are like nothing I’ve encountered in a mystery before: 1920s Bombay and one of India’s first female lawyers, who’s 'devoted to championing and protecting women’s rights.'”
–Bookriot's "44 Mystery Romance Novels to Read Right Now"
“An Amazon Editor's Pick for Best of January.”
“An Apple iTunes Most Anticipated Book of 2018.”
“The 18 Best Fiction Books Of January 2018 Will Help You Start Your Year Will An Amazing Story.”
–Bustle
“You get a mystery but you also get all the cultural details. I like that.”
–NBC New Day Northwest on Widows of Malabar Hill
“History and culture blend in an involving and fast-paced mystery... Perveen is a fascinating character — smart, resourceful, ready to take on prejudices against women in the law.”
–St. Paul Pioneer Press
“A refreshingly original mystery... What comes through most strongly in this entertaining work, though, is the status of women, and how much Perveen had to accomplish to get where she is. ”
–Reading the Past (blog)
“Massey deftly evokes the sights, the sounds, and the heat of Bombay as her clever and determined heroine, aided by a large supporting cast of sharply-drawn characters, sidesteps both custom and danger to deliver justice.”
–Vannessa Cronin, The Amazon Book Review
“The mystery is a strong one because readers must acquaint themselves with this unfamiliar world in order to piece together what happened. And what can I say about the setting? Massey pulled me right into this world, and I was almost on sensory overload. The old ways versus the new. Bombay's rapid growth into a vibrant major city. The various political, religious, and social factions that chafed against each other on a daily basis. And one woman, with the support of her parents, who's strong enough to stand up for what's right. A+.”
–Kittling Books
“Exciting and suspenseful... [The Widows of Malabar Hill] features Massey’s literary strength in dynamic character development and lyrical prose.”
–Shepherd Express
“Fascinating... [The Widows of Malabar Hill] took me to the streets of 1920s Bombay, all within a credible and well put together storyline. Recommended.”
–TripFiction.com
“The Widows of Malabar Hill is a gorgeous epic, a significant statement on women's rights, a fascinating armchair tour, and, yes, a thriller of a murder mystery.”
–Reviewing the Evidence
“Perveen’s dogged pursuit of truth and justice for her clients is reminiscent of the debuts of Anne Perry’s Charlotte Ellison Pitt and Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs. But the multicultural, multi-faith milieu in which Perveen lives, works and attempts to find love both illuminates a bygone era and offers a thoughtful perspective relevant to today’s focus on women’s rights and equality.”
–Paula L. Woods, The Los Angeles Times
“An enticing and enlightening whodunit that addresses social issues and India’s multiple cultures.”
–The Richmond Times-Dispatch
“The Widows of Malabar Hill, with its deft prose and well-wrought characters, is a splendid first installment in what promises to be a memorable series.”
–Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal
“Certain to please a wide range of readers.... [Perveen Mistry] won’t take no for an answer, she’s hungry for knowledge and justice, and she’s on her way to making history.”
–India Currents Magazine
“Perveen Mistry is a wonderful creation.”
–Books to the Ceiling (blog)
“[A] highly original story and satisfying ending make this a promising series debut.”
–Mystery Scene Magazine
“Wonderful... A rich blend of history and fiction, [The Widows of Malabar Hill] brings historical Bombay to vibrant life in this engaging mystery.”
–The Seattle Review of Books
“Marvelously plotted, richly detailed... This is a first-rate performance inaugurating a most promising series.”
–The Washington Post
“There’s so much to admire in Massey’s writing: sumptuous details, attention to the senses and a tightly-plotted mystery that explores domains beyond normal trials and tribulations. It’s writing that’s easy to take for granted, but as we know, anything that easy is deceptively hard.”
–Baltimore Fishbowl
“I've been complaining for several years now that we don't have enough competent female leads in mystery series, and Sujata Massey has delivered with The Widows of Malabar Hill. I was taken in by this Law-and-Order-esque tale set in lush, swing-era Bombay, and I loved seeing Perveen proceed with a cool head and a fiery heart. Readers looking for a strong female heroine, a vivid setting and a strange mystery will find it here.”
–The News Tribune
“Massey's extensive research of Bombay during British imperial rule, its various ethnic communities and their respective legal customs, is seamlessly folded into the fabric of the story. The book is filled with fascinating bits of culture and history, a look at India's Parsi and Muslim communities, well-written coutroom scenes, and even a locked-room murder.”
–Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
“A tightly-crafted mystery, a vividly-drawn multicultural setting, and a plucky heroine fiercely taking on the challenges of her time.”
–Modern Mrs. Darcy
“The moment we heard about Perveen, India's first woman lawyer who solves crimes, we knew we had to get our hands on this book. And The Widows of Malabar Hill didn't disappoint. Sujata Massey paints a beautiful historical landscape of 1920s Bombay and the many cultures living there at the time.”
–Reading Women Podcast
“A richly wrought story of multicultural 1920s Bombay as well as the debut of a sharp new sleuth.”
–The Lesbian Talk Show
“The Widows of Malabar Hill introduces you to Perveen Mistry, a feminist character you will instantly fall in love with... The plot tackles gender equality, religious tolerance and communal harmony and that is what makes the character a true inspiration.”
iDiva.com
“A sneaky feminist masterpiece wrapped up in a cozy whodunit... just genius.”
–WBUR's On Point on The Widows of Malabar Hill
“ A Times of India Best Book of 2018”
“2019 Lefty Nominee for Best Historical Mystery Novel. ”