A Rising Man by Abir Mukhirjee

This is a detective novel set in 1919 Calcutta, the seat of British rule of the Bengal area at the time of the British Raj in India. The main character is Detective Inspector Captain Sam Wyndham, ex-Scotland Yard, who has taken a job with the Calcutta Police Force to make a new start, following recovery from his injuries in the Great War and the loss of his young wife in the influenza pandemic. His side-kick is an Indian Sergeant called Surrender-not Banerjee (because a colleague couldn’t pronounce Sarendrath) product of a public school/Oxbridge education in England. Much of the story shows the developing trust and understanding between the two and by the end Banerjee has saved Wyndham’s life twice and they are sharing an apartment together because Banerjee has been disowned by his parents for working with the British. 

The story begins when the British aide to the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal is found brutally murdered in an alley near a brothel. Wyndham investigates in the face of interference  from the military secret service and senior administrators and the author weaves a clever tale as Wyndham and Banerjee gradually gather information and unravel the complexity of relationships in the British Raj, including the activities of Indian terrorists seeking to end British rule, commercial interests of very rich and powerful men and the underworld of brothels and opium dens. A potential love interest for Wyndham is introduced in the form of a beautiful mixed-race woman who was secretary to the murdered man.

Through a host of characters’ dialogue the author gives the reader much historical background (perhaps a little overdone at times). Many of the characters have something to hide, including Wyndham himself, who has a dependency on ‘O’ following extensive treatment with morphine for his head injury in the war.

The Rising Man of the title is revealed as the murdered man, but later the author also applies the same label to another character, a terrorist turned peaceful protestor, and to Wyndham himself as he establishes himself in his new role and learns to work the system.

The book is written in the first person, from Wyndham’s POV, descriptions of various areas of Calcutta are well drawn, as are the various characters and the plot has a few unexpected twists.

The author, son of immigrant Indian parents, grew up in Scotland, but now lives in London. This is his first novel, published 2016, since when three more have followed featuring the same detective. It won a CWA Endeavour Historical Dagger and the Harvill Secker/Daily Telegraph crime writing competition.

 

Review by Susan Fisher