Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Apr 2018
384 pages
Genre: Mysteries
Publication Information
India, 1920. Captain Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee of the Calcutta Police Force investigate the dramatic assassination of a Maharajah's son, in the sequel to A Rising Man.
The fabulously wealthy kingdom of Sambalpore is home to tigers, elephants, diamond mines, and the beautiful Palace of the Sun. But when the heir to the throne is assassinated in the presence of Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant 'Surrender-Not' Banerjee, they discover a kingdom riven with suppressed conflict. Prince Adhir was a modernizer whose attitudes - and romantic relationships - may have upset the more religious elements of his country, while his brother - now in line to the throne - appears to be a feckless playboy.
As Wyndham and Banerjee desperately try to unravel the mystery behind the assassination, they become entangled in a dangerous world where those in power live by their own rules--and those who cross their paths pay with their lives. They must find a murderer, before the murderer finds them ...
"Starred Review. Impressive. This successful evocation of the Raj in the service of a brilliant whodunit demonstrates that Mukherjee's debut was no fluke." - Publishers Weekly
"Starred Review. This atmospheric sequel to A Rising Man establishes a strong sense of place by showcasing in rich detail the life of a wealthy maharaja with his wives, concubines, and hundreds of children. Mukherjee further develops his brooding, introspective, and flawed lead protagonist, who relies on his partner's in-depth knowledge of Indian culture and traditions." - Library Journal
"Starred Review. A richly detailed period gem boasting the British Raj's exotic setting and a gripping "whydunit" spun around an intriguing cast of archetypal mystery characters." - Booklist
"Editor's Choice. The novel has a great sense of time and place (be prepared to mop sweat off your brow from the heat!), a fascinating mystery, and an intriguing ending. Definitely recommended!" - Historical Novels Review
This information about A Necessary Evil was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
https://abirmukherjee.com/
Abir Mukherjee has spent the last twenty years working in finance. A Rising Man, his debut novel, won the Harvill Secker/Daily Telegraph crime writing competition and is the first in a new series starring Captain Sam Wyndham and "Surrender-Not" Banerjee. Abir is married with two small children and lives in London.
Name Pronunciation
Abir Mukherjee: AH-beer MOO-ker-jee
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