I have loved each and every one of the Wyndham/Banerjee books, and The Shadows of Men is no exception to that. What I especially love about them is that they are both illuminating and entertaining. Abir Mukherjee writes well; his books have an excellent flow with tension, drama and atmosphere, but most of all shine with such vivid characterisation.

But..let’s come back to the atmosphere for a second. Mukherjee draws you in to this India. A place of strife, conflict and so many contradictions. A place where 5,00O rupees is not enough but 5 rupees is too many. A place where the British domination of the Raj is a colonial disgrace, robbing the country of its riches all the while claiming to be the bringers of ‘civilisation’ all while their knowledge of Indian culture – such as that typified by the Bengali poet and philosopher Tagore – the first non-European winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913 – was non-existent.

The Shadows of Men is set in 1923 and the edges of colonial rule are crumbling. Ghandi is in prison. Protest is growing, insurrection is fermenting and the streets are alive with protest. It is for the Imperial Police Force to try and keep order, even as the streets erupt in a fury of dissent and riots are never far away. In Mukherjee’s Calcutta, you can feel the tension rising and you know that the position of Sam Wyndham’s colleague and right hand man, Surendranath Banerjee is going to be tested more than ever before.

One of the delights of this series is that you can see Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee growing in confidence, alongside the growing confidence of Mukherjee’s writing which is now very skilled indeed. Embedded in his fascinating storytelling, his pitch perfect descriptions of the times and various factions in Indian politics, there is also a delightful, wicked humour.

In a departure from previous books, The Shadows of Men is told from the perspectives of both Wyndham and Banerjee and what a fascinating insight that delivers! Sam has come to appreciate and trust Surendranath like a brother, but it has been a slow won progress and the rest of the British have no more time for Surendranath and his Indian colleagues than to use them for their own ends.

So when Surendranath is given a secret commission to follow Gulmohamed by Lord Charles Taggart, Police Commissioner – a commission that is both dangerous and ignores the difficulties Banerjee must face in carrying out this task – it’s not surprising that it does not end well.

Banerjee is arrested for murder and arson and knowing that his days are numbered unless he can clear his name, he absconds and reaches out to Sam for help.

Together Surendranath and Sam set out to discover who is behind the murder of a Hindu theologian and religious leader, Prashant Mukherjee and what has become of the man Surendranath Banerjee was tasked with following.

Sam relies on his good friend Annie Grant to offer help and the trail leads them into rural territory and finally to Bombay where it becomes all too clear that someone is hell bent on stirring up religious factionalism. But to what ends?

The contrast between the bubbling cauldron of poverty and the opulent wealth on display is beautifully explored in the differences between the various areas and peoples they visit. In Bombay, staying at the behest of Annie Grant’s friend, the beautiful and wealthy Parsee Ooravis Colah, they attend the races where they meet the businessman Cyrus Irani, who is not the only one who is not who he appears to be. Abir Mukherjee does a fantastic job of reminding us that India is a country of more than one religion and that there are upper and lower castes and all of this plays into a multi-layered and fascinating plot that is truly both edge- of -the- seat gripping and fantastically brought to life.

But the star of this book is Surendranath Banerjee. Not only do you get to hear his perspective directly, you are also treated to his inner monologues and become privy to his thoughts about everything he is facing. Surendranath Banerjee, in the top three in his class, well-educated but always under-estimated has had an affectionate and mutually appreciative relationship with Sam Wyndham. They have become comrades in arms, but the struggles that Surendranath has seen Sam through have given heft to their relationship and perhaps for the first time you see very clearly that Surendranath is the stronger one in this partnership.

Verdict: Abir Mukherjee has reached a critical point in India’s history seen through the eyes of this pair and I am on tenterhooks to see where he will take us next. This is top class historical fiction with beautifully detailed oil painting- rich characterisation and atmosphere so thick you could drown in it. I learn a lot from these books too which is a genuine delight for me. Buy it. READ THE SERIES. Highly, highly recommended.

The Shadows of Men is the 5th book in Abir Mukherjee's massively popular Wyndham and Banerjee series about the misadventures of a pair of Colonial policeman in 1920's India.
The book begins with riots breaking out all over Calcutta after a prominent Hindu theologian is murdered with Wyndham more than a bit bemused to find that the apparent culprit ,arrested at the scene, is none other than Banerjee. With religious factions fighting in the streets the race is on to clear Banerjee ,who for someone claiming to be innocent behaves in a very odd manner and ,if he is indeed innocent, find the real culprit . The price of failure will be a death sentence for Wyndham's side-kick.

This is a fantastic read with the duo mixing with all classes of Raj society,from the ,mostly British, rich and powerful to those scraping a living , Mukherjee shows the reality of the Raj for most Indians without turning it into a polemic and his descriptions are all the more powerful for that.
This book has everything,it's a crime thriller, an insight into the political,social and religious differences of 1920's India and there's even a touch of cloak and dagger with murky forces operating in the background.
Highly recommended.

This book is the latest in the series but would also work as a stand alone novel. More serious in overall tone than the previous volumes, it tells the tale of a country divided by religion and politics while struggling for independence from the British. An Indian policeman finds himself accused of murder and has an uphill battle to clear his name and find the perpetrator. Wyndham’s humour shines through as a breath of fresh air in this quite dark story. It is an excellent read, with a good pace, many twists and glimpses of the glamour of the Empire. I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.

This was one of my most anticipated novels of 2021 - I have absolutely loved all the mysteries featuring Captain Sam Wyndham and his partner, Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee set in Colonial India during the 1920s. This is the fifth book in the series and is out on 11th November.

Mark that date in your diaries because you're going to need a copy of this one!

The plot opens explosively - a prominent Hindu theologian is murdered and Sergeant Banerjee arrested for the crime. The killing sparks riots across Calcutta between Hindus and Muslims and Captain Sam Wyndham is thrown into the case of his life - one that has impossibly high political stakes and determines the fate of his partner.

This book had all the things I've come to expect - indeed, all the things that mark it out as top-level historical fiction. The sense of setting in time and place is beautifully done - we move from the slums of Calcutta to bustling Bombay, from posh hotels to seedy opium dens, from police stations to opulent private apartments. All this is done seamlessly with historical and local detail woven into the narrative, I had no real idea about the tensions between Hindus, Muslims and the British in Colonial India - yet I do now, with no sense that I've been fed a dry history lesson.

The plotting is also clever and the story genuinely tense. Previous books have focused more on the British Captain Wyndham, but this novel brings Sergeant Banerjee to the fore in alternate chapters to Sam''s narration. It's really fabulous to hear Banerjee's voice so vividly and experience his perspective. Gone is the man referred to by the Anglicised name of Surrender-Not and instead we have Surendranath Banerjee - an Indian man who increasingly struggles with his place in the police force run by the oppressive British in 1920s India, The subtleties of his character are explored beautifully and there is real character progression from previous books.

As a British reader, it is horrifically eye-opening to read about the entrenched racism within the period of the Raj. The fact that Sam's life in India is so different to Surendranath's is evident throughout - from the way they are treated, their expectations, the places they can go - and it is shocking. Mukherjee presents all this in a matter-of-fact way that really got under my skin - it's an uncomfortable reading experience at times, exactly as it should be.

All this makes the book sound weighty and serious. In some ways it is, but Mukherjee also adds some excellent comic touches that keep the book entertaining and enjoyable. I laughed out loud at Wyndham having to take directions from his hostage in the unfamiliar city streets and there were lots of bits that were warm and affectionate and humorous, especially in the relationship between Sam and Surendranath.

I liked that this book had some interesting female characters too - Colonial India was really all about male power and status, so it was good that two women in particular come to the foreground in the novel. They appear as well-rounded characters too, not just plot devices - so top marks from me on that front!

I honestly could write forever about this book - it managed to balance being page-turningly exciting, engaging and humorous, but also deeply thought-provoking. Wyndham, Banerjee and Colonial-era politics now have a permanent position in my brain - and Banerjee in my heart!

A very enjoyable book. This is the first one I have read in this series and I wish I had started with the first one. The book is a stand a lone but I have surely missed out on several equally good books. Set in the early 1920's, Indian independence is being muted but factions in the British Raj are trying to prevent it.. The book superbly contrasts how differently 2 police officers are treated, one Indian and one English. Abir evokes Calcutta and Bombay at that time brilliantly; some of it can still be seen now.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

A bit of a departure for this series, in good ways. Set in Calcutta in the 1920-30s, the main character has always been Captain Sam Wyndham - cynical, war-scarred, maverick English detective reassigned from Scotland Yard - assisted by the diligent but timid young Sergeant Bannerjee of the Calcutta Police. In this instalment, Bannerjee has his own voice and is a joint protagonist, with each narrating alternating chapters. A Cambridge-educated Brahmin, Bannerjee is consistently demeaned by the British despite his social status, and is increasingly conflicted by his role in a police service in which Indians cannot expect justice. So it was good to have ‘Surrender-not’ being given more agency and character this time.

Previous books in the series opened with bang of one sort or another, but this has a slow and more meditative start. The other big change is that Wyndham is no longer in thrall to the opium den, although far from being a reformed character, but off the O at least. And also no longer obsessing over his dead wife, both of which free up space in the narrative for Bannerjee to develop as a character, front of stage instead of trailing behind Wyndham. The dual narrative works in this regard but is a bit jerky and repetitive, where his previous novels have bowled along at pace. But it was an important change to strengthen the social commentary and give a stronger Indian voice. Also the action moves outside Calcutta, to Bombay. So kudos to the author for letting go of those strands which had gone as far as they could, and for doing something new within his winning formula.

Mukherjee is great on setting and never fails to evoke a vivid sense of place, from the open sewers and rickety shacks of steaming Calcutta to the breeze-kissed manicured lawns of Bombay mansions, dreary police stations and even drearier boarding houses, via teeming streets, gullys and railway stations. He is equally good on characters in all levels of society, from the self-appointed governors of India in the British top-brass and Indian political class, to the servants, prostitutes, taxi-drivers and lowly police staff, and the Anglo-Indians, who belong in neither end of the hierarchy. All of which highlights the inequality and division that the British created and exploited, and indeed the story centres on a plot to set Muslims and Hindus at each others’ throats, with subtle but unmistakable comment thereon.

A great fifth instalment in this series, although I’m not sure how it would work as a stand-alone - it will be a richer read from having read the previous novels, which I certainly recommend.

Abir Mukherjee’s Wyndham and Banerjee books are for my money one of the best crime series currently out there. Following the exploits of Imperial Police Force members Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee, the series brings the tensions of 1920s India under British rule brilliantly to life.
This fifth instalment finds Banerjee under arrest for the murder of a popular Hindu theologian. Banerjee has been framed, discovering the body while trailing a Bombay financier and leading light of the Union of Islam. But when the officer who ordered his surveillance is badly injured in a bomb attack, it is down to Wyndham and a now on-the-run Banerjee to prove what really happened. As Calcutta struggles under the riots unleashed by the theologian’s murder, the investigation takes the duo to Bombay, to track down the financier before any more political turmoil can be unleashed.
While the previous books have focused more on Wyndham, The Shadows of Men sees the viewpoint more balanced between the two main protagonists, resulting in a compelling switchback ride between storylines.

(Published in the November issues of the various Living Magazines)

We’re back with Sam Wyndham and Surendranath Banerjee for our fifth instalment of 20’s Indian detective fiction and it’s a two hander. Exciting. Suren has been arrested for a crime he only partially committed and the authority that ordered him on the job has been inconveniently knocked out by a bomb blast before Suren can be cleared, Suren already under suspicion is blamed for the bomb and goes on the run. Only Sam can help him but he can’t be seen to be helping him.
This was great. One of the main draws of these books has been the evolution of Surendranath as he has gone from devoted Empire man to someone who questions everything. In this book it’s the first time we hear from him directly so we get a closer look at what goes on his mind and his unfiltered observations about dearest Sam. Which are of course brilliant. It is all about the boys we do get Annie for a bit but mostly just so Sam can sponge off her which she obligingly lets him do for no apparent reason. Annie is probably the weakest character in the book she’s a bit watercolour. I don’t know what she wants or why she bothers with Sam because we never actually hear much from her. She’s a sigh and an eyeroll.
The boys and the history hold everything together and I hope Suren doesn’t get lead astray in Paris and is back soon.

4.25⭐️
Sam Wyndham #5
Having read book #2 and enjoyed the gentle pace and feel of 1920’s India I was looking forward to this book.
This starts as Suren’s story although it’s told from Sam’s and Suren’s POV in alternating chapters. Suren has got himself in a right old pickle and arrested after going on a mission on the orders of Lord Taggart.
The situation is serious but the way that they both relate the story parts of it have me chuckling. Their thought processes as much as what they say, it’s a pithy sense of humour.
This book is set at a time of heightened political tension and the imminent threat of an all out religious war. It takes the reader from Calcutta to Bombay. The feel is a little grittier as a result.

The language and description immediately transports the reader to a bygone era.
Historical fiction isn’t my usual go to genre, it took me a little while to settle into the more formal stilted language style, but then I was whisked off with Sam and Suren into an adventure in Colonial India.
I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in this world.

There was no shortage of tension as Suren managed to bounce from one crisis to another.
I really enjoyed the format of alternating chapters so Suren had a bigger role and voice.

There were a few times that I felt it drifted off course a little. It added cultural seasoning, but I didn’t feel was needed.
There was a snippet of a political history lesson again too, which I wasn’t so interested in.

It’s a gentle easy read on the cosy side of the crime spectrum. I especially enjoyed the humour which I felt was increased from the previous book I read.

A favourite quote, ‘the dead were dead and the living had fled’

I've been reading these since the first one came out and the series just gets better and better. This is the fifth novel and the way Abir Mukherjee handles the dynamic between Wyndham and Banerjee is masterful. Also, the way he fills in their backstories.

By writing this in alternate chapters it really ratchets up the tension.

In my opinion , as the series moves along the storylines and the emotions become darker and sadder. The way individuals are treated by large institutions and governments. Expendable flotsam.

The most believable and real character is in fact Bannerjee. Sometimes other characters behave like stereotypes.

This is such a well written novel. In addition to being a crime novel, it provides you with a lot of history, and an understanding of the route to independence in India and some or the issues that are still around today.

Definitely an excellent book for gifting at Christmas.

Abir Mukherjee's latest is a cracking addition to his superb historical fiction series set during the British Raj in India, charting the cracks as they emerge in their colonial rule. It is 1923, Gandhi has been imprisoned, and the British are willing to do whatever it takes to break the protest movement as they stoke the flames of religious conflicts, aiming to divide and rule. As a result, with local elections imminent, tensions are explosive, Calcutta is burning, and there are out of control riots, leaving the streets littered with the bodies of the dead. For the first time, we are given the perspective of Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee, along with Captain Sam Wyndham of the Imperial Police Force in Calcutta. This is critical in giving us an insight in how the British viewed 'the natives', their ignorance of the differences between the people they govern over is all too obvious, not something that worries them, a fact they appear to take great pride in.

Suren finds himself given a secret assignment by the Commissioner Lord Taggart that sees him arrested for murder of a Hindu theologian, Prashant Mukherjee, he is innocent but facing the hangman's noose. Feeling he has no choice, he escapes, going on the run to try and clear his name. Sam and Suren have developed a close friendship in their time as police officers, it hasn't always been easy, but it has led to the two of them now living together. Whilst Sam may have found it difficult to discard his colonial mindset, there is no way he is not going to help Suren, despite the dangers it brings him. Aiding and abetting the two of them is Annie Grant, and events conspire in them taking a plane to Bombay to continue their murder investigation. Here they encounter the wealthy Parsee Ooravis Colah, and a businessman, Cyrus Irani, where little is as it appears in a case dripping with political intrigue.

Suren's perspective, as he finds himself slowly losing the last remaining embers of his trust and belief in the British, mirrors the bigger picture in India, British hypocrisies are becoming all too clear, their claims to be ruling for the good of India are wearing thin, their cruelties, ruthlessness, and real purpose of sucking the country dry are all too apparent. This means Suren's actions at the end are all too understandable as the British see him as a dispensable scapegoat whose life can be extinguished without a thought, his service and loyalty meant nothing to them. This atmospheric and tense addition to this historical series does a terrific job in capturing the turbulent history of an India on the inexorable path to independence. I cannot wait to see where the author takes the series next. I can see this appealing to historical fiction and to crime and mystery readers. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage for an advance copy of The Shadows of Men, the fifth novel to feature Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee of the Calcutta police.

The novel opens in 1923 with Suren as he’s known under arrest for arson and the murder of a Hindu theologian. How he got there and how he and Sam set about proving his innocence against a backdrop of religious and political tension are the basis of the novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Shadows of Men, which is a thrilling adventure set in a time of upheaval. The novel is told alternately by Suren and Sam in the first person and this works extremely well with their contrasting personalities, experiences and world view giving the reader a broader take on events and a better idea of the politics involved.

First and foremost the novel is an adventure with both characters escaping dangerous situations by the skin of their teeth and a certain amount of nous. It is both tense and thrilling and very well done, so I found myself emotionally invested in the outcome. How Suren came to be in the situation in the first place lies in the politics of British Rule and their contempt for the “natives”. He makes for an easy scapegoat and means that they, the authorities, don’t have to wade into the murky politics of Hinduism v Islam.

The novel is very atmospheric with the simmering tensions of independence, which the British want to stop, and the racial conflict, which the British want to exploit, ready to erupt. I felt that I could feel this tension and understand the politics of both sides. Probably because I’m a product of my time I have no sympathy for the Brits in India. Hindsight is wonderful as we all know what was to come, but I think the author does a great job of placing the reader in the moment.

Sam Wyndham is not your typical colonialist. Obviously he has his moments where his thoughts are less than respectful, but on the whole he’s more open to seeing Indians as people. Surendranath Banerjee is in an invidious position. As a sergeant he should command respect, but as an Indian not so much. Nevertheless he is an optimist with a normally sunny disposition and a good line in humour, being especially trenchant on Sam’s colonial opinions and failings. He’s perhaps not so sunny in this novel for obvious reasons but he’s still a breath of fresh air.

The Shadows of Men is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I was thrilled to be offered a copy of The Shadows of Men as I hadn’t read anything by this author before. Although this is book 5 in the series, it reads as a standalone and certainly didn’t undermine my reading experience in the least. Set in Raj-era India, you can bet your last rupee, this author is one of the best to bring historical details about colonial Calcutta to life.

We are thrust into the life of Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee, who takes us back to 1923 and the “eternal shroud of industrial smog” of Calcutta. In his humble way, he navigates British rule (gentlemen’s clubs and cricket grounds) and although some scenes of entitlement are cringe worthy, they are strikingly accurate for the period. There are so many descriptions I loved, not to mention internal monologue and observations which, at times, made me laugh out loud. For example: “How was I to explain to Lord Taggart that, while we all might look the same to him, a Hindu following Gulmohamed into the Muslim parts of town would stick out as much as he would at a meeting of the Women’s Institute.” To see life through his eyes was a privilege, and the author’s voice served to make me feel as if I was in safe and dependable hands.

The doggedly determined Captain Sam Wyndham, whose dry British wit and eternal optimism seems to drive him to the root of the problem. No matter what challenges he faces, you can’t help having complete faith in his skill. The pressures between upper and lower castes and Hindus and Muslims continues to escalate, and with Banerjee in a jam, Wyndham’s day just got worse. How will he ever reinstate Banerjee’s freedom? By putting himself in harm’s way to save his backside, that’s how.

The case takes him to Bombay and again, beautiful descriptions abound. I was treated to vivid characters; Miss Colah, Cyrus Irani, Cecily Parsons, and I particularly enjoyed the Englishmen armed with a drink and a cigar, “the brave men of the King’s Own Bombay Gin drinkers” — another dazzling display of brilliant writing. You can’t shy away from the haves and the have nots, the sheer opulence in contrast to the simplicity of everyone else. But crammed between these sweat inducing layers is the suspense, and I couldn’t read to the end fast enough.

Sam Wyndham and Surrender-not Banerjee are one of the most unique crime duos I’ve come across in a long time. I hope they will continue for many books to come. Many thanks to the author and to Harvill Secker, Vintage and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

Evocative Of Both Time And Place…
The fifth in the Wyndham and Banerjee series, Calcutta set 1923, and a new challenge for the enigmatic pair. An outstanding tale, evocative of both time and place, well plotted and perfectly penned as is the norm with this excellent series. A very worthy addition which can be read as a standalone but works so much better reading from the start of the series.

Although this is the fifth book of a series I was able to read it quite easily as a standalone.
The book is set in British India in the interwar period and the main characters are a British police captain and his Indian sergeant. The plot centers around the Indian freedom movement and the tensions between the Muslim and Hindu populations. the sergeant has been falsely accused of the murder of a prominent Hindu and along with his captain sets out to prove his innocence. Along the way, we are treated to a vivid picture of life during the latter stages of the British Raj with all its political and racial turmoil. The novel is well written and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. It will be enjoyed , I think, by both new readers and those who have read the first four in the series. I can recommend this book to lovers of early twentieth-century historical fiction and of period murder mysteries.

This is the fifth book in the series featuring Captain Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee in colonial India in the late 1920’s and I think it’s the best one yet. Tensions are rising as India begins to move towards independence. Sam and Suren are in Calcutta when Suren is given a top secret task to perform. As a result of this, he becomes the prime suspect in a murder case. To prove his innocence, he and Sam have to ask their old friend Annie Grant for help. The case is complicated and directly linked to the political turmoil in the country and for a long while neither they or the reader can see where things are leading.
The book is full of historical detail which is essential to the plot and never feels like a history lesson but makes the story seem very real. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot and Suren becomes a master of disguise as he tries to keep one step ahead of those seeking him as well as trying to prove his innocence. I love the way that the chapters alternate between the viewpoints of Sam and Suren. This gives us a much stronger insight into Suren’s feelings than in previous books in the series and is a definite improvement. I loved the ending which I felt was a great resolution to this story.
This was a brilliant book and I am grateful to Net Galley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Abir Mukherjee's wonderful series of Wyndham and Banerjee novels gets better and better, with this fifth entry providing the most difficult and highest-stakes case yet, as this time it is Sergeant Banerjee himself who is the main suspect.

For the first time, the book presents us with the viewpoints of both Sam and Surendranath, something which I had been hoping for a while, and it doesn't disappoint. Highly recommended to anyone who has enjoyed the previous entries in this engaging series.

The Shadows of Men,

Set in India in the 1920's as tensions are rising for independence a Hindu theologian is found murdered what looks like a set up to escalate tensions the plan for a Muslim to be blamed doesn't work and Banerjee a Indian detective on a mission is blamed and then it gets worse for him. His "good" friend Wyndham a English' detective working in Calcutta India has to start sorting it out. And an adventure begins that is trying to help Banerjee avoid the ganged noose.

A mixture of tensions humour and bad luck takes us to Bangkok and back and a little further for one of them but can't say where so you'll need to read it to find out. Can't spoil it for you. Who do you trust that's one of the main questions that need to be asked by our hero's and only page turning can give you that answer. It’s an answer I wanted and a thriller I really enjoyed so was very happy to delve deeper to discover.

So what did I like, the characters some typical British stiff upper lips the one that make to laugh or cringe you can't set a story in 1920's India and not include them but these didn't make me cringe they felt right and yes appropriately infuriating at times. The 2 Batman and Robin's with no Cape but plenty of costume changes you love and pity by ultimately want them to win. I also liked the settings, the feel for the times it's set in. The extras the posh ladies (also known as ladies with money) their chauffeurs and other staff. It all felt right for the time if not right for how things should be, the sense of entitlement.

I really enjoyed is it the ending was strong well worth the read and the action was great am the way through, but maybe Taggart may not have agreed. But there still was a murder just not in Glasgow this ones Wyndham boss.

My favourite series now hands down. I was at the edge of my seat reading this at some points. So tense, so good. I love how AM develops his characters continuously and relentlessly onwards. It makes them feel like real characters rather than cut-outs serving a purpose to deliver a plot. I hope there will be another one, although I dread to think where this is heading at the same time.

Once again Abir Mukherjee takes us back to colonial India with the fifth outing for Captain Sam Wyndham and his sergeant Surendranath Banerjee.

Suren is in a spot of bother having undertaken a secret mission for the commissioner, Lord Taggart - so secret that he was forbidden to discuss it with Sam. That changes when Suren is arrested. He's been found in suspicious circumstances with a dead body, and soon absconds as an arrest warrant is issued in his name.

Suren turns to Sam for help and it's up to the two of them to investigate exactly has what happened and to clear Suren's name.

In a great touch, the story is told from the point of views of both Sam and Suren with the narrative threads moving nicely between the two, and adding some wonderful insight into Suren's character.

A great addition to the series - these stories do get better and better.