When I requested an arc copy of this book i hadn't realised it was the sixth in a the series, but it hardly mattered as the two lead characters were coming together themselves after an enforced break so there was some reacquaintance all round. Set in Calcutta somewhere around the 1920's - there are no obvious signs in the text that pin the date down - Captain Sam Wyndham works for the Imperial Police, although he has somewhat blotted his copybook and has not been allocated any decent cases for a while. Indeed, when he is called late one night the burning grounds, where bodies are cremated to a body that looks very much as if it has been murdered, he fully expects the case to have been allocated to someone else by the morning.
Meanwhile his former partner Surendranath Banerjee has returned from Europe and self imposed exile following a miscarriage of justice, and finds that a member of his family has gone missing and his parents beg him to get help from his ex colleague to find his cousin.
The relationship between Suren and Sam is what really holds this book together and the murder mystery almost plays second fiddle to the unlikely pairing of expat and Indian. The chapters are told alternately from Sam and Suran's point of view so we gain insight into how they view each other and the world they find themselves in.
The mystery is well thought out with plenty of red-herrings and dead ends but the setting and the characterisation made the book for me.
An enjoyable read and an interesting look at this period of Indian history.
With thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage for an early copy in return for an honest review.

This is my third book by Abir Mukherjee. I enjoy his easy, humorous style of writing and the authentic feel that he creates of late Colonial India. There is a great relationship between the two main characters, both of whom are flawed and embittered by life. However, I felt this story was a bit contrived with Wyndham's relationship with the actress. Still, it's a very good interesting read.

A really good story set in the period when Britain still had importance in India. The mystery was well told and kept you guessing until the end. This was my first introduction to this author and I will definitely look out for the earlier books in the series.

The Burning Grounds transports the reader to colonial India and treats them to a feast for the senses through the description of the sights and sounds of the country. Sam Wyndham, an Englishman, is working for the Indian police and is surprised to be asked to take the lead on the murder of a prominent Calcuttan businessman, as he is no longer considered to be an asset to the police. His old housemate, Suran Bannerjee, who he has not seen for a number of years, turns up on his doorstep asking him to help him find Dolly, a missing family member.

As the two men work together to solve the crimes their tense yet warm and sardonic relationship is explored as Indian independence comes ever closer. Despite the complexities surrounding their relationship, the two characters are likeable and believable.

I particularly liked the fact that under the mystery at the centre of the story there is an opportunity to learn more about the relationship between the British and the Indians and the impact of colonialism.

I haven't read any of Abir Mukherjee's books before but I will certainly be looking out for them now!

Although this is the sixth book in a series, it stands very well on its own - it was the first this reviewer has read so for me it was a standalone! Set in 1920’s Calcutta in an India in the throes of British rule, yet with stirrings of discontent and calls for independence rumbling throughout the book.. A prominent Indian businessman is murdered and his body found in the burnings ghats - presumably dumped in the hope that it would be burned before it is identified. Alongside the murder investigation runs the story of a missing woman photographer- the only one in the city. It seems that the businessman was not the philanthropic hero he appeared to be, and it becomes increasingly clear that the photographer’s disappearance is linked to the murder. A complex case for Captain Wyndham of the Imperial Police, and of his friend and partner Suren Banerjee. The story begins a little slowly but once it has gathered momentum it is a true page turner and a very satisfying read.

As you can tell from the extended title, this is the 6th novel in a series of historical detective novels set in Kolkata, or Calcutta as it was known in the period. But it’s the first one I’ve read, so I’m coming in cold. The exact year that this is set is unclear. It’s the late Raj period, before WW2 and independence, but after the late Victorian era of The Jungle Book etc. I think it’s supposed to be the late 1920s, but there’s no external event to help you nail it down, apart from the existence of a film industry in both India and Hollywood. It’s unclear whether we’ve entered the sound era.
Captain Sam Wyndham is a British detective, and Surendranath Banerjee his former partner, now a civilian just returned from a three-year exile. There’s clearly a back story here of former cases, and characters involved in former cases. I don’t think my lack of knowledge of these earlier cases affected my enjoyment.
There are two main cases here, one official, the other not. The case that gives the novel its title is the murder of a prominent Indian businessman, whose body his found on the so-called burning grounds, where corpses are disposed of. I think it’s a bit of a swizz giving the novel this title, since this is the first and last time we have anything to do with these grounds. Still, it’s an atmospheric opening. The second case is a missing woman, Banerjee’s cousin Dolly, who is a photographer.
As you might expect, you’ve got culture clashes between white British colonials and Indians who want self-determination; and you’ve got the clash between hidebound tradition and modernity. Churning away in the background is the idea of mixed marriage, and the fate that befalls the children of such marriages.
All of which adds texture and interest to a fairly straightforward procedural. There’s one thing that kept throwing me out of the narrative, and that was the mention of a couple of well-known single malt whiskies. I think in this period, blended whisky would have been what people drank, especially in far away colonies. The popularity of single malts didn’t really begin until the revival in the 1960s and 70s.

I quite enjoyed this book once I got into it, I found it a bit slow to begin with - even though it starts with a murder. An interesting insight into Indian life before independence when the British were still calling the shots. I found the final outcome of the investigation a bit of a disappointment. I'm not sure that all involved see justice at the end of the day but two of the victims were not innocent. Whether they deserved to be murdered is another matter. My only real quibble is the constant references to smoking. I know that it would have been very common at the time bit its just a pet hate of mine. I don't think it adds anything to a story to know how often the characters light up or exhale smoke!

What makes this crime novel so compelling are the two central characters written so brilliantly by Abir Mukherjee. Six books in this Wyndham & Banerjee partnership is as complex and satisfying as ever and importantly provides two points of view throughout. 1920s occupied Calcutta is described gloriously from filth, heat, racism and poverty to privileged colonial gleam. There are film stars, gentleman’s clubs, cut throats, cocktails and slums as Sam tries to solve the murder of a rich Indian businessman and Suren tries to trace his vanished cousin who he fears is in great danger. A stand alone crime thriller this is even better read as part of the series.

I have one complaint about this book, and it's that there was far too long a gap between Shadows of Men and The Burning Grounds.

Reading The Burning Grounds, there is an immediate sense that things have changed. Our characters have fundamentally changed and so has thier relationship. It's almost as if they have grown up, or matured in some way. That is especially true of Suren who no longer allows Sam to push him around.

Another fabulous book from Abir and I am already waiting for the next in the Wyndha, and Banarjee series.

When I requested the ARC for Burning Grounds, I expected a thriller, and I picked it up to get out of my comfort zone. Turns out, it is a sixth instalment of a rather traditional murder mystery series, perfected to a crisp. Set in 1920s Calcutta, the series follows a power duo of Sam, a white British police officer, and Suren, a Bengali former policeman. The style playfully combines Golden Age detective, represented by sophisticated Suren, and hard-boiled noir, channelled through Sam. We have femme fatales, trains, cocktails, and movie stars, all wrapped up in brilliant stylisation.

Unlike in many novels set at the twilight of European empires (looking at you, Tan Twan Eng!), Mukherjee is not enamoured by empire in the slightest. The first chapters, told from Sam's perspective, are jarring in his casual racism, representing the degree of imperialist thinking even among the British who actually wanted to get out of India. Suren's chapters discuss his relationship with Independence and are full of multi-faceted explorations of his complicity in the British rule. Suren is a male Cambridge-educated Brahmin from a relatively rich and respected family, and his place in Bengal and the power dynamics between him and other Bengalis are explored through both major plot points and well-placed details. The level of nuance is rarely delivered in genre novels, and it was refreshing to see it.

Reading this just after The Shadow of the Wind made me realise just how rarely colonialism is represented as the fascism it was. Burning Grounds shows it so clearly - secret police, illicit political plays, racialised explanation for the British rule.

The murder mystery is well plotted, and the core story revolves around some of the questions of identity and race. The conclusion could have been a bit more unexpected - if you're a connoisseur of Golden Age, you will figure the gist out fairly early on. The atmosphere and the, for the want of a better word, the message at the heart of the case make up for it.

If you like Golden Age crime but are sick of them being written by White people who lived in the 1920s-40s, this is for you. Can't wait to get my hands on the whole series!

The Burning Grounds is a gripping historical mystery set in 1920s Calcutta. The story begins with the brutal murder of a prominent businessman, found at the notorious burning ghats with his throat slit. Detective Sam Wyndham, out of favor with the British police, is tasked with the investigation, which pulls him into the glittering yet corrupt world of Indian cinema. At the same time, his former partner Banerjee, freshly returned from Europe, is searching for his missing cousin, a trailblazing photographer. The two men reluctantly start investigating together despite their strained past.

The historical backdrop, rich in cultural detail and political tension, adds depth to the mystery, while the dynamic between Sam and Banerjee, filled with both sharp wit and unresolved tension, is a highlight. The plot itself is well-paced, with unexpected twists that keep will keep you hooked.

While some of the historical and cinematic references may feel dense at times, it is an engaging, atmospheric thriller with strong character development and a plot full of intrigue. Great for fans of historical crime fiction. A solid and captivating entry in the Sam Wyndham series. The whole series is highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I chose this book on the basis of Abir's previous book, Hunted which was a thriller set in the present day. The Burning Grounds is from another series set in 1920s Calcutta and this is the first in the series i've read. On the basis of this, I'll be looking out for the others. The two main characrers Suren and Sam are reunited to find the killer of a prominent Indian business man.

What I liked: I loved it all but I was especially impressed by the detail of 1920s India. The settings were brlliantly observed and you could almost hear, see and taste the cities and the countryside.. I also really liked that there were the two points of view. This gave us a chance to see India through both Indian and British eyes which was truly fascinating. The mystery was also nicely complex without being so complicated that you had to keep rereading bits.

What I wasn't sure about. Honestly, there was nothing about this book I didn't like. I'm off now to look for earlier ones in the series. Loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this sixth in the series with Sam Wyndham and Suren Banerjee in 1920s Calcutta.

A body is found in the burning ghats - its throat cut. The man is a local popular businessman, philanthropist and patron of the arts. Sam is tasked with finding the murderer and he co-opts Suren - newly returned from Europe - to support him. Suren also has been tasked to find Dolly - a family member who has suddenly disappeared.

It becomes apparent that both cases are linked so they join forces to solve them.

The characters of the two men are central to the story and it is interesting to see their friendship develop.

The plot develops rapidly and is set against the increasing tensions between the locals and the British.

A really enjoyable read - I hope more are to come!

It was my first book in this series but I really enjoyed it and now want to start reading them from the beginning. It does work as a standalone though. It's a brilliant thriller set in colonial Calcutta in the 1920s. Sam Wyndham and his friend Banergee are trying to solve a murder case and a, possibly, connected disappearance.
It's well written, fast paced and easy to get absorbed in it. I would definitely recommend it.

Apologies I submitted a review of the wrong book in this one’s place. I’ve put this book to the top of my the pile and will be back to amend this review as soon as possible. Apologies once again for the confusion.

Sam & Surendranath are two of my favourite fictional characters and I was excited to receive my copy of this book - a new release from Abir Mukherjee is a reason to book your comfy reading spot and settle down for a great read.
The Burning Grounds is the latest, and sixth book in this hugely popular Wyndham and Banerjee detective series. Set in colonial India, from 1919, the books have catalogued the adventures of our heroes during a time of heightened police unrest. Now in 1926, three years have passed since we last met the duo, and Suren has finally returned to Calcutta after an absence (and silence) of three years. This leads to a new awkwardness between the duo, especially as Sam learns that Suren has only reluctantly returned under direction from his father. And is now faced with finding a missing relative.
As in the previous five novels, the political and social tensions are in turmoil in India and Mukherjee expertly describes the atmosphere, giving the reader a real insight into life and the tensionsof the era. Mukherjee does not hestitate to detail (via Suren) the hyppo-critical and amoral dealings of the British leaders. And helps us to understand and sympathise with emotions left by Sam and Suren.
As first seen in The Shadows of Men, The Burning Grounds is told from two points of view - Sam Wyndham and Surendranath Banerjee's as we learn of Surendranath's three years in Europe and love affair , along with Sam's increasing disillusionment with his life and concerns for his old friend. By providing two viewpoints, the author has given us the opportunity to view the events from Suren's perspective and how he must struggle to return to his life.
As I've mentioned, the background in certainly vivid and fascinating but for me, the best part of the novels is the relationship between are heroes and especially how we see them grow. Sam in particular is starting to understand
A 5 star read, The Burning Grounds made me both laugh and cry and I'm very eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Suren and Sam are back again for another adventure. Suren is back from France and no longer in the police force but he still manages to become involved in one of Sam's cases. Suren's cousin Dolly has gone missing and her disappearance seems to be connected to Sam's murder case.

Yet again Abir Mukherjee takes us on another emotive journey as the love/hate relationship between the Indians and the British is described so well in his novels. I love the mystery story itself but, even more, I love the physical descriptions of the places Suren and Sam find themselves in. Please keep going with this series, every new story is better than the one before.

When a popular and super rich public figure is found with his throat cut on the burning grounds, Captain Sam Wyndham is told to investigate. He asks his recently returned fugitive friend, Surendranath Banerjee, (Suren) formerly a police officer, to help him in his investigations. He reluctantly agrees but he has a serious problem of his own. Ordered to return to Calcutta (as it was called in the 1920s) from Europe by his father, he is told his cousin Dolly has disappeared. Dolly is the owner of a photographic studio, headstrong and independent but a disappeared young woman in this environment, where Indian women are closely controlled is a cause for great concern. What has become of her. Why is her studio trashed then set alight with Sam and Suren inside barely escaping with their lives. As the body count rises so the mystery deepens. Is Dolly in trouble? Is she still alive? It’s a race against time.

The two main characters were nicely drawn. I found Suren to be the most interesting as he voiced his opinions on the society to which he returned which, of course, was governed by the British and who held the Indians in contempt. The author is obviously familiar with Calcutta and paints a vivid picture of life in the much layered society, from the grindingly poor to the obscenely rich. You can practically smell the diesel and be deafened by the cacophony of life lived at full volume. I found this very interesting. The plot trots along nicely with hints here and there but I was not able to suss it out and there was a nice twist at the end. Admittedly I sort of worked that bit out!
I recommend this book to lovers of twisty crime thrillers with well drawn characters.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced copy for my kindle. This review is my true and honest opinion after a full read of the novel.

Great thriller, set in Calcutta! This was the first novel I’ve read by Mr Mukherjee, and won’t be the last. An engaging and enthralling thriller with a disgraced Sam Wyndham taking the lead and retrieving his esteem during his investigation of one murder. Along comes his old friend Banergee and together they hunt down criminals and murderers. Easy style of writing, flickers of humour and straightforward.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC for review.

This was incredibly exciting and action packed. This was a thriller and an emotional rollercoaster rolled into one