The Spy

I've been a big fan of the Kamil Rahman series since the first in the series, 'The Waiter' came out in 2021. Now here we are in 2023 and the fourth in the series 'The Spy'.
I have to admit, I started to read this one with tiny bit of reservation; having enjoyed the first three books in the series as much as I have, would it start to lose steam like so many ongoing series I've read recently where the author has a strong premise but not one that necessarily has the legs to last and become either retreads of similar themes or devolve into parodies of themselves.
I'm pleased to say there was no need to worry with 'The Spy'.
Kamil Rahman has had a busy and complicated life since book 1 - disgraced police officer in his Kolkata home he moved to London and took up a role as a waiter at his extended family's restaurant in Brick Lane. Since then he's solved *(with help from his friend and pseudo partner in several senses of the word, Anjoli) some twisty crimes that saw him join British law enforcement. Now, he's asked to take on a new role as the titular spy for MI5 to infiltrate a terrorist plot.
The book continues themes explored in the series - his personal relationship with his closest friend in the world Anjoli and his ex-fiance Maliha, his career, and the 'displacement' and confusion Kamil continues to feel - ramped up more in this book as he is forced to explore wrongs committed from those in power in his home country and atrocities going on he realises he is woefully unaware of in Kashmir,
One of the real strengths of this book - apart from the continuingly endearing characters and strong story, is the political environment that sits behind it: a central part of the story that made me want to learn more about the subject ,but never became distractingly polemic.
In a genre where an extended series can become unrealistic in order to keep them going (why DOES that person keep coming across crimes?) or the more traditional/ overdone police procedurals, the Kamil Rahman series continues to move along organically and, at the end of this one, suggests an exciting opportunity for book #5, whenever it might come.