1920s India: Perveen Mistry, Bombay’s only 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. This Deluxe Edition features: an interview with the … features: an interview with the author, discussion questions, essays on the real-life inspirations behind the novel, delicious recipes taken from the story, and previews of The Satapur Moonstone (May 2019).
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.
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 new sleuth.
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Unusual setting and premise, so look forward to her next one. Plot dragged a bit in the middle
Very good writing, very interesting subject
Interesting mystery taking place in 1920’s India. Introduced me to a culture I’ve recently been hearing about and gave me more insight about it.
The setting w@s partularly enjoyable and I learned a lot about the Indian way of life particularly for the Parsis……..
Enjoy an interesting story while learning culture and history of India.
I thought this was interesting and did a good job of holding my attention. The author seemed to have knowledge and information about the early 1900,s in India. The main character is a woman who is a lawyer and practices with her father. The author did a good job of making the role of women in that society very realistic and true to the social norms of the day. The main character is a woman who is a lawyer and practices with her father. I thought her character was interesting. I enjoyed the book.
Authentic writing with fascinating heroine who you want to get to know. Also loved her Japan series.
This gives a realistic peek into the lives of Women in a Islamic householdIn Mumbai India. . Also some history about Mumbai and its development and the challenges faced by the first female lawyer in Mumbai and some info about the Parsi community in INdia.
This was my recent book club pick and I thoroughly enjoyed Sujata Massey’s mystery set in Bombay, India in 1917-1921! It was a real page-turner! The main character, Perveen Mistry, is one of the first female Indian attorneys. I learned a lot about the customs and marriage laws of that time. Our book club chose The Satapur Moonstone (Perveen Mistry #2) for an upcoming read.
I love lerning about different countries customs .
Fabulous characters and interesting setting
What appears to be a murder mystery is actually a fascinating insight into a culture few of us have the opportunity to see close up. The female protagonist, one of India’s first female lawyers (1920s Bombay), is the only one granted access to a women-only compound. Comprised of the widows of a deceased Muslim man, the women have always lived in seclusion or purdah. When our heroine Parveen starts questioning the terms of their late husband’s will, it’s hard to get them to open up. But our heroine Parveen succeeds through persistence and gentle persuasion, and in the process, uncovers the solution to the mystery. For me, this was a real page-turner.
Set in Bombay in the 1920s and featuring a female protagonist, Perveen Mistry, this books offers an insight not only into the struggle of a young woman trying to gain acceptance in the world of the law, but also torn by her loyalties to family and to her Parsi religion. I found the insight into the complexities of practising law in such a multi racial and religion society fascinating.
A great tracing of how it was for the first woman lawyer in India. Well-crafted and engaging.
4.5
This is an enjoyable mystery — and more. It draws you into the world of Bombay in the 1920s and what it was like to be a woman then. Perveen Mistry is a Parsi solicitor, who is the first women ever admitted to the bar (based on a real woman of that time). She is assigned the case of the three widows of a wealthy Muslim, because they live in seclusion, and she becomes a sleuth when what has been going on in their enclosed world begins to reveal itself.
I love all Indian historical fiction and this one reminds me so much of J. Winspear but with a Parsi heroine as the lead character. The book vividly portrays the world of seclusion, women seen as unclean, and men who despite all their failings are after all still men. The triumph of the British or the demise of them is also showcased here. I loved the intricacy of this book just as much as the cover shows the lattice. Can’t wait to read all the rest of her items.
Historical India. Great characters. Love, mystery, and history!
I read this book as a Blind Date with a Book challenge from my local library. I choose it from a stack a books based on its description of a historical mystery with an extraordinary heroine. Once I got past some language and cultural barriers (I have to say I have learned many new things about Indian and Muslim cultures), I devoured this novel. It is a great story. With a very well thought out and researched story. The mystery was very original and kept you guessing. I really enjoyed reading it and it was full of things I have never before read!!
India in 1920 and the woman shown as a strong character. Very interesting, informative and a page turner