Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2023
Bombay,1950
When the body of a white man is found frozen in the Himalayan foothills near Dehra Dun,he is christened the Ice Man by the national media. Who is he How long has he been there Why was he killed
As Inspector Persis Wadia and Metropolitan Police criminalist Archie Blackfinch investigate the case in Bombay,they uncover a trail left behind by the enigmatic Ice Man - a trail leading directly into the dark heart of conspiracy.
Meanwhile,two new murders grip the city. Is there a serial killer on the loose,targeting Europeans
Rich in atmosphere,the thrilling third chapter in the CWA Historical Dagger-winning Malabar House series pits Persis against a mystery from beyond the grave,unfolding against the backdrop of a turbulent post-colonial India,a nation struggling to redefine itself in the shadow of the Raj.
Publisher: Hodder & StoughtonISBN: 9781529341140Number of pages: 384Weight: 260 gDimensions: 194 x 126 x 28 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'Hard,realistic and fascinatingly hard to decipher. Persis is a terrific character'- On Magazine
'Vaseem Khan's friction-free ascent to pole position in historical crime is consolidated by The Lost Man of Bombay. Much to relish here'- Financial Times
'What should you expect from a good historical mystery Well,a decent mystery,obviously,and interesting characters to guide you through the plot,plus some inside knowledge of a place or period in history you are unfamiliar with. The Lost Man of Bombay by Vaseem Khan ticks all those boxes,and probably more,with ease'- SHOTS
'The hugely entertaining result is not unlike an India(na) Jones adventure: history and mystery mixed with brutal slapstick,thwarted romance and sly humour...Malabar House is a subcontinental version of Mick Herron's Slough House...If only all period procedurals were as good as this'- The Times
'Khan writes with a charming formality and brings his characters and their dilemmas to life in this intelligent and intriguing series'- Literary Review
'British writer Vaseem Khan has shown quite comprehensively that he can write historical crime fiction well'- Asian Media Group
'The latest of Khan's excellent thrillers set in post-war Bombay is a vivid portrait of a society remaking itself in the new era of independence'- Mail on Sunday
'A brilliant whodunnit mingling fascinating history,the flavours of India and a Himalayan blizzard of clues'- The Sun
'Vaseem Khan doesn't only spin a fast-moving,well-plotted story; he deftly illuminates the religious rivalries that beset post-colonial India. Think Mick Herron in Bombay: inventive characterisation made laugh-aloud funny by Maya Saroya's pacey,often caustic narration'- The Times,Audiobook of the Week
'Vivid,bracing crime writing married to a picture of a country seeking its post Raj identity'- Financial Times,Books of the Year 2022
'Vaseem Khan's excellent series set in post-partition India'- Guardian,Best Crime & Thrillers of 2022
'Written with wit and heart,it's wonderfully entertaining'- Daily Express,Books of the Year
'His excellent Malabar House series'- The Critic
'The best historical thriller of the year'- Daily Express
'If only all period procedurals were as good as this'- The Times
Kommentar