City of Destruction

The Malabar House, Book 5

By: Vaseem Khan

Narrated by: Maya Saroya

'Vaseem Khan writes with charm and wit, and an eye for detail that transports the reader entirely. I couldn't love this series more' CHRIS WHITAKER
'Historical fiction at its finest' MAIL ON SUNDAY

From the award-winning author of MIDNIGHT AT MALABAR HOUSE and THE LOST MAN OF BOMBAY comes a brilliant new mystery featuring the inimitable Persis Wadia.

Bombay, 1951. A political rally ends in tragedy when India's first female police detective, Persis Wadia, kills a lone gunman as he attempts to assassinate the divisive new defence minister, a man calling for war with India's new post-Independence neighbours.

With the Malabar House team tasked to hunt down the assassin's co-conspirators - aided by agents from Britain's MI6 security service - Persis is quickly relegated to the sidelines. But then she is given a second case, the burned body of an unidentified white man found on a Bombay beach. As she pursues both investigations - with and without official sanction - she soon finds herself headed to the country's capital, New Delhi, a city where ancient and modern India openly clash.

Meanwhile, Persis's colleague, Scotland Yard criminalist Archie Blackfinch, lies in a hospital fighting for his life as all around him the country tears itself apart in the prelude to war...©2024 Vaseem Khan (P)2024 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Excellent performance.

I listen to the audiobook and enjoy the performance as well as the story. Very entertaining.

Great if a bit too overwritten

Love both the Malabar series and his other books. This one was too overwritten for me … I struggled with the repeat beats of the main character being down a well( this happened in another book) as well as her repeated and oft illogical risk taking . But, it’s a good story. I recommend it

Continues to Ratchet Up

Vaseem Khan came hard with this one. Both as an entry in the series and throughout this individual book Khan remorsely ratchets up the plot and character tension. Even better the whole powerful story is wrapped inside a time when history itself twisted like a snake. Don’t miss this book.

Another home run

Vaseem has written another phenomenal and wonderful story of Persis who keeps her moral compass as she navigates the politics and people around her. Such an engrossing story with an authentic voice. The audiobooks are superb— full of warmth, detail and believability.

Best yet

A great take. Vaseem at his best. His metaphors a wonderful. And I always learn more about the history of the time. Much enjoyed.