Kamil who was a DI in native India is now just a DC in London. Having joined the police in the Whitechapel area he was formerly a chef in his friend Anjoli's restaurant in Brick Lane. Still living above the restaurant and fighting his feelings for Anjoli he has a tough time trying to deal with investigating the death of a local high tech firm. As the bodies continue to grow there are also the skeletons found in the original burial site to investigate. Anjoli takes this upon herself and along with Kamil the past and present soon merge and they make a formidable pair...............
A bit long and definitely more for the reader who is into computers/technology but Kamil soon proves he has more to offer than some of his colleagues.

The Detective by Ajay Chowdhury is the third book in the Kamil Rahman series and in this book we see as a serving police officer in the Met.
In his first case as a London police officer, Kamil is involved in the death of a tech entrepreneur from Shoreditch who company was involved in a multi million pound deal. Three skeletons were also discovered below the body, which were 100 years old. There are more bodies which mount up all from the same tech company. It is then up to Detective Kamil and his new boss and friend , Anjoli to solve the murder.
Another successful storyline in this police series, with interesting characters and intriguing storylines.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more in the series.
Highly recommended

It took me a while to orient myself among the people - there seems to be also an underlying romance sub-plot that is overly considered among the leads (that I did not really find convincing}, but it’s a way of prolonging things, and adding interest to the two murder-solving plots going on … one, an old murder, and, presently, a complex technical one. In some ways the tech is plan is ingenious and the involvement of a major politician or whom the stakes are pretty high is fun - there is a smarts about politics and racial considerations going on all the time too - which is very sophisticated and the best part! Although this is stand alone, it is third in a series - and I suspect the sub-plot is dangled along all the way too - lots of fun, intelligent (sometimes the coincidences of main plot and old murder plots stretch things a bit, but, oh well) - entertaining and novel attitudes …

The Detective is the third book in Ajay Chowdhury's Detective Kamil Rahman series. It's the first I've read and while I have no doubt that returning readers will enjoy the ongoing development of the characters, I'm happy to confirm it can also easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone.
Although set in the present day, the novel actually opens on New Year's Eve 1913; the world stands on the brink of war but a young immigrant Jewish family believe they have cause to celebrate their new lives in England. What then takes place here leads to a clever sub-plot which really helps to emphasise how the East End, around Brick Lane in particular, has long become home to immigrants. Properties which once belonged to Jewish residents are now owned by the South Asian community who live, work and worship there.
Racial tensions are sensitively explored throughout The Detective, whether through Kamil Rahman's personal experiences as a newly qualified detective in the Met or on a wider scale, looking at both Anti-Semitism and racism in this country, and the enduring conflict between Israel and Palestine. When the body of a tech entrepreneur is discovered on a building site, followed by further deaths, Kamil is initially excited to have his first case and convinced he will soon uncover the truth. Of course, it's not quite so straightforward and it's disheartening but not surprising to see some of his problems come about due to the attitude of his fellow officers. Although some of their behaviour can be explained as indignation and anger at a rookie being given a prime role in the investigation, there is definitely a racist element too. It's intriguing to see how Kamil deals with this, especially as despite being new to the Met, he is an experienced police officer who dealt with horrific cases back in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, the motive behind the increasing body count remains a mystery despite several leads and Ajay Chowdhury offers an authentically plausible examination of the potentially terrifying consequences of governments and other agencies using AI, algorithms and surveillance in the name of national security. The Detective is set in a slightly fictionalised UK but the hard-line, ambitious Tory Home Secretary will definitely seem familiar. The backdrop then is one of suspicion and pressure and as the novel progresses, it's never clear just what the break in the case will be – or what rules Kamil will end up bending...
His friendship with Anjoli is one of the most fascinating aspects of the book and not just because he gives her more information about an ongoing murder case than a civilian presumably should be privy to. They have a history of investigating together and it's Anjoli's interest in the discovery of the near-century old skeletons which results in the poignant and brilliantly contrived sub-plot. Anjoli's restaurant and Kamil's previous job as a chef means there are several mouthwatering descriptions of food which adds further colour to the story (and left me feeling very hungry!) Kamil is a superb lead character, not least because he doesn't always make the wisest choices and Anjoli's perceptive counsel and humour – often via the slogans on her T-shirts – ensures she is immensely likeable too. However, she isn't always easy to read and their will-they-won't-they relationship adds an extra dimension to the storyline.
The complex, exciting plot, exploration of a number of topical issues and the excellent, insightfully flawed cast of characters meant I raced through the pages of The Detective and I highly recommend this compelling, atmospheric and surprising mystery thriller.

The third book in this excellent series and for me the best.It could easily be read as a stand alone but probably better to read the series in order so that the background is is built up.
The storyline is very topical and is built around a software company owned by Israelis whose programme can monitor the movements of any person through their use of modern technology and the traces that leaves behind.. The senior members of the company are being murdered one by one for no apparent reason..there is also a sub plot concerning the unearthing of three bodies of victims murdered at the beginning of the 20th century. Intertwined in all this is the Palestinian conflict and the private life Kamil, the detective of the title.
A very modern crime thriller which I can heartily recommend.

I’m not sure how, but I read this a while back and overlooked a review. This should have been submitted at time of publication…That aside, Chiwdhury really has hit a niche spot in the market with this series. This is the third and it works as a standalone, but it’s even better if you’ve read the first two as there’s character development and it’s a real time series.

This is set post pandemic and Chowdhury is clever at giving a real sense of time and place. He also touches on political issues as part of the background to the story and explores themes of racism, abuse and other issues, but not in a way that’s in your face. There’s some humour, particularly in the dialogue and the central character is evolving personally and professionally.

At the heart there is a murder mystery, but I think this series is a cut above many and there’s a totally new angle being brought to the genre. It feels up to date and relevant rather than a little cliched and tired. I’m enjoying these stories and look forward to more.

Like its two predecessors in the Kamil Rahman series, this thriller is up-to-the-minute and extremely well plotted and characterised, embedding its themes of urban poverty, racial tensions, antisemitism, artificial intelligence and close surveillance into the literary depiction of a murder investigation. This time, Kamil, now a fairly new member of the Metropolitan Police, investigates the demise of a tech entrepreneur on a building site that sets in motion a chain of further horrific events. What makes the series so satisfying are the subplots driven by Kamil’s friend Anjoli, who is, in my opinion, an exemplary character in her own right, and she does not disappoint in this novel. The palpable romantic tension between her and Kamil adds yet another layer of complexity to this thriller. Hugely recommended, I cannot wait to see what Kamil and Anjoli will investigate next! Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the free ARC that allowed me to read this novel and to produce this honest, unbiased review.

This is one of my favourite series and I beg your pardon because I thought I reviewed it on NG.
This is another winner, a gripping and well plotted story that kept me on the edge and guessing.
Tense, fast paced and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. A great premise, good writing and very engaging characters this was a really good book!

Another excellent plot from Ajay Chowdhury, investigated by Kamil with his diverse set of friends. Happily for me, Kamil is now where I feel he belongs... that is: in the police force, rather than operating as a talented hanger-on. Some other readers found his swift acceleration through the Met a bit implausible, but I found I could accept it better than the Famous Five type of investigations that preceded it.
The storyline itself is very topical, involving a kind of advanced (and as written: fantasy - but who knows?) recognition software; however the twist is that this software is combined with what I will term "AI" giving it some rudimentary, but nonetheless sinister, deductive and predictive abilities - shades of "The Capture" combined with "Minority Report".
I am warming to Kamil and his friends, though the cast of suspects were pretty unappealing, such that it didn't really matter to me which of them dunnit! What held most appeal for me personally was the sub plot, where Anjoli takes it upon herself to find out the identity of three historical bodies found near the site of the modern day killing. I won't say how she does this (much luck and co-incidence of course - but that's what stories are all about, after all), but naturally the AI software has some part to play, and the result of her efforts has an unexpected link the live investigation.
Looking forward to Kamil's next outing...

If you’re looking for a moreish detective series to add to your reading menu, then the tantalising books starring disgraced Kolkata detective Kamil Rahman could provide a tasty treat. The insidious threat of rampant technology adds extra spice in this excellent third helping, where Rahman is now a fresh new Detective Constable with the Met Police in London, after stints as a waiter then cook at an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane.

Ajay Chowdhury, who was himself a tech entrepreneur (the founder or CEO of some hugely successful startups, eg Shazam) before becoming a crime writer, spins an engrossing tale in The Detective where Rahman is part of a team investigating the murder of a tech CEO whose company was on the verge of a secret $4 billion sale. But why would a company that creates algorithms for a dating site be so valuable? As cloak and dagger events hamper the investigation, and Kamil’s friend-or-more Anjoli digs into the discovery of three century-old skeletons, another murder turns up the heat.

The Detective is rip-roaring crime novel that nicely balances humour and Kamil’s personal misadventures with serious issues including the tension between privacy and security, and prejudices modern and ancient. A flavourful and filling slice of crime.

I’ve always enjoyed this author and this book is no exception. You feel like you’re part of the story and no matter how many characters there may be in a book you feel like you’re a part of that world and invested in these characters as well.

Despite being the third in a series you could read this book as a standalone. If you have read the previous books then you will have the added benefit of the character development. A dead body and a pending 4 billion pound sale set the scene for this detective mystery. Questionable behaviour by the police adds depth to the story. Well worth a read.

The Detective is the third in Ajay Chowdhury’s series of London-based crime novels centred around a former detective from Kolkata. The series began with The Waiter, in which disgraced former detective Kamil Rahman solves a crime while working in the family restaurant in London. Rahman continued his amateur sleuthing in The Cook. Now, as the name of the book implies, Rahman is back in the tent, newly minted as a junior detective in the British Police Force.
But before we get to that, Chowdhury has a cold open involving the murders of a Jewish family in London’s East End on New Years Eve 2014. This story will sit in the background of the main plot which involves the murder of a tech start-up CEO in the same area. This is the first of a series of murders that the team Rahman has been assigned needs to investigate and reveals the bones of the much earlier crime. The very cold case gives Rahman’s love interest Anjoli something to do and does eventually connect (although tangentially) in a way that becomes increasingly obvious.
Unlike the first two books in this series, The Detective is a straight-up procedural. Rahman is now on the Force, reporting to his good friend Tahir. The two are the only Asian officers so are constantly having to deal with both petty and overt racism. The case itself revolves around an Israeli company backed by a Palestinian venture capitalist which has developed software that is coveted by the security services. This includes a weird (and convenient) virtual reality tour that just happens to be of the time and place in which the 1914 murders occurred. So there is plenty to unpack.
Rahman can’t seem help doing things a little bit casually (for example using the restaurant as a place to question witnesses and suspects. This not only stops him from asking pertinent questions but then puts himself and Anjoli in danger. Which all serves to make The Detective a fun, occasionally interesting but fairly standard murder mystery

I didn't know that this was book three in the series featuring Kamil Rahman when I picked it up - credit to Ajay Chowdhury as it was easy to read as a standalone. However, fans of the series will - no doubt - appreciate the character development across the books as Kamil progresses on his path to being a British police detective (something he has achieved at the start of this book).

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The book opens with the historical killing of a Jewish family in Shoreditch. Over a hundred years later, newly-appointed Detective Kamil Rahman of the Metropolitan Police is called to the same area to solve the murder of a tech company boss. As he starts to uncover the secrets and tensions at the heart of the tech company, his friend Anjoli takes an interest in the historical crimes. As they circle various solutions, it seems that danger still lurks on the streets of Shoreditch.

I really liked the fact that Kamil and Anjoli's base was an Indian restaurant - I'm guessing the one that has been central to Kamil's back-story in previous books? The informality of that setting as a contrast to the Met's offices worked well - although I'm not so convinced that a civilian (Anjoli) would or should have that much knowledge about a live murder enquiry! The racism evident in the Met was explored well too - I wish I could say it was shocking or surprising, but it did add a different dimension to the story as Kamil tried to prove his worth.

The tech company angle was also interesting - it provided high financial stakes and a whole load of interesting (and sometimes baffling) information about AI and its potentially controversial uses.

I enjoyed reading about Kamil's progression through his first murder investigation - as expected, there was some blundering and lots of rookie mistakes, but he's a warm and appealing character. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

Kamil Rahman has finally officially joined the Metropolitan Police as a detective. he may be the new boy but Tahir is his mentor and so he is given opportunities. When a tech CEO is murdered there is panic around a billion dollar sale of secret software and others associated with program are also dispatched. Meanwhile Kamil's friend Anjoli is investigating the bones uncovered at the original crime scene, related to an unreported murder over 100 years ago.
I have really loved the first two novels in this series, they are sparky and a little different. Of course it helps that they are set in the area I used to live in. However what is really strong here is that issues around prejudice are explored in a completely natural and non-hyped manner - Hindu/Muslim, anti-Semitism, institutional racism etc. The way these are wound deep into the plot without appearing as gratuitous add-ons is excellent.

Another cracker from Ajay Chowdhury. I really enjoyed the previous books and so was looking forward to reading this one. It didn’t disappoint and we re-encountered all the familiar characters. Having said that, this book could also be read as a stand alone, but then you’d be missing out on the previous great stories. I’m hoping there’s more to come and I will certainly be looking out for another!

4+ stars. Kamil Rahman is back but no longer as a cook or a waiter, now he is a detective with the Met and about to embark on his first case. Four murders linked to a tech start up with terrorist capabilities lead Kamil on a merry dance as he tries to prove himself and who dunnit. Anjoli (and her tshirts) are back too with her own mystery to solve. Serious, humorous and always entertaining, a great detective novel set among the beautiful myriad of cultures that make up East London. Looking forward to the next instalment, thank you Netgalley for a sneaky peak at this one.

This is the first book I’ve read written by Ajay Chowdhury, so the first in this series. As a result I obviously couldn’t appreciate Kamil Rahman’s former life as a police officer in India.
Coming to the UK he had to start over in the police force and was at the bottom of the ladder.
The storyline was an interesting one but I did get a bit confused at times with so many different character names.
Lots of twists and turns along the way made for interesting reading.
I liked the friendship Kamil had with Anjoli (his flat mate and former employer) even though it was pretty obvious he wanted more.
There was also an interesting second story after the old bones of a family were found at the site of the first murder.
Anjoli was determined to find out who they were and track down their descendants.
Overall an enjoyable read but I would like to go back in the series to learn about Kamil’s earlier life.

An excellent series .
Kamil is now a detective in the metropolitan police , still living with Anjoli above the restaurant where he was previously a waiter and a chef.
The murder case he is investigating complex , but Kamil only realises the tangled web of deceit when his back is against the wall.
The writing is of an excellent calibre and the books keep getting better and better .
The characters are all amiable and engaging making the story relatable to the reader.
Eagerly anticipating the next in the series .
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK.