The Shadows of Men

I loved the slick dovetailing of the dual narrative and the sharp, humorous writing...An engaging, evocative thriller that captures the heat of Indian nights and heady days of a bygone era, without being sentimental or simplistic. For me, the murder mystery and historical elements were perfectly woven together.

Janice Hallett, author of Sunday Times bestseller The Appeal on The Shadows of Men

Abir Mukherjee is doing something uniquely different in the crime genre. His evocation of 1920s India under British occupation is breathtaking. He takes you there with luscious strokes of his pen and a dry wit, keeping you on the edge of your seat as he spins his tale.

Peter May, Sunday Times bestselling author

The Shadows of Men is a fabulous read - exciting, moving and highly entertaining.

Ajay Chowdhury, author of THE WAITER

The pacing and twists are among the author's best work. This is a sterling example of a riveting whodunit plot coupled with a vivid portrayal of a seminal historical moment.

Publishers Weekly, starred review

A brilliantly conceived murder mystery set amidst political and social turmoil - beautifully crafted'

C. J. Sansom, on Death in the East

This brilliant mingling of real history and fictional invention kicks off a series that does for the Raj what Philip Kerr did for the Reich

The Times, on A Rising Man

The Shadows of Men displays all Mukherjee's usual brio, comic timing and eye for historical colour. It is a crime story, but also the tale of Banerjee's reckoning with himself and his involvement in the British Raj, a regime he increasingly despises. Thought-provoking, page-turning and immersive.

The Times

Abir Mukherjee's terrific crime novels are set in India in the 1920s. The Shadows of Men is vivid and brutal

Sunday Times, Crime Book of the Month

The Shadows of Men finds the always reliable ... award-winner Abir Mukherjee on fine form, with his quirky detective duo Sam Wyndham and Surendranath Banerjee struggling to forestall a religious war in 1920s Calcutta after

Financial Times

Captivating, moving and exciting, it's historical fiction at its finest

Sunday Express

Another compelling, thoughtful and atmospheric episode in this fine series

Mail on Sunday

Once again, Mr Mukherjee tells a captivating tale with an intricate plot, compelling characters, wry humour and diverse range of locations.

Economist

A gripping story, underpinned by the lovely bromance of the two main characters

The Times, *Books of the Year*

This is historical fiction of the highest order, and a crime/spy mystery with everything an aficionado of either could want; but it is perhaps the awful timeless resonance of some pervasive background details that hits hardest

Quietus

Mukherjee evokes the chaotic atmosphere of his setting wonderfully, and handles his complex plot expertly. Thought-provoking, immersive and gripping in equal measure, this is top-class writing from start to finish

Big Issue

Brilliant storytelling; humour, a bit of history and a decent mystery

NB Magazine, *Books of the Year*

Captivating, moving and exciting, this is the latest instalment in an unmissable series billed as historical fiction at its finest

Sunday Express, *Summer Reads of 2022*