The Thing about Thugs: Book summary and reviews of The Thing about Thugs by Tabish Khair

The Thing about Thugs Summary

In a small Bihari village, Captain William T. Meadows finds just the man to further his phrenological research back home: Amir Ali, confessed member of the infamous Thugee cult. With tales of a murderous youth redeemed, Ali gains passage to England, his villainously shaped skull there to be studied. Only Ali knows just how embroidered his story is, so when a killer begins depriving London's underclass of their heads, suspicion naturally falls on the "thug." With help from fellow immigrants led by a shrewd Punjabi woman, Ali journeys deep into a hostile city in an attempt to save himself and end the gruesome murders.

Ranging from skull-lined mansions to underground tunnels a ghostly people call home, The Thing about Thugs is a feat of imagination to rival Wilkie Collins or Michael Chabon. Short-listed for the 2010 Man Asian Literary Prize, this sly Victorian role reversal marks the arrival of a compelling new Indian novelist to North America.

The Thing about Thugs Reviews

"A fascinating and emotionally moving novel for fans of literary fiction." - Library Journal

"Although Khair shows a deft hand with a wide variety of genres, the mystery is finally overwhelmed by the overt post-colonial critique, and the predictable story sags under its weight." - Publishers Weekly

"Starred Review. Authentic and deeply thought-provoking. Readers who enjoy Collins and Dickens will recognize their influence on Khair and revel in his creation." - Booklist

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Tabish Khair is an award-winning poet, journalist, critic, educator and novelist. A citizen of India, he lives in Denmark and teaches literature at Aarhus University. Visit him online at www.tabishkhair.co.uk.