The Bombay Prince

Written by Sujata Massey

Narrated by Sneha Mathan

November, 1921. Edward VIII, Prince of Wales and future ruler of India, is arriving in Bombay to begin a fourmonth tour. The Indian subcontinent is chafing under British rule, and Bombay solicitor Perveen Mistry isn’t surprised when local unrest over the royal arrival spirals into riots. But she’s horrified by the death of Freny Cuttingmaster, an eighteen-year-old female Parsi student, who falls from a second-floor gallery just as the prince’s grand procession is passing by her college.

Freny had come for a legal consultation just days before her death, and what she confided makes Perveen suspicious that her death was not an accident. Feeling guilty for failing to have helped Freny in life, Perveen steps forward to assist Freny’s family in the fraught dealings of the coroner’s inquest. When Freny’s death is ruled a murder, Perveen knows she can’t rest until she sees justice done. But Bombay is erupting: as armed British secret service march the streets, rioters attack anyone with perceived British connections and desperate shopkeepers destroy their own wares so they will not be targets of racial violence. Can Perveen help a suffering family when her own is in danger?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705034224

Reviews for The Bombay Prince

[MLJS-piano · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another fantastic book in this series, full of delicious traditional foods and luscious details about pre-revolution Bombay. I love to hear the names of people and places narrated so well. I loved learning more about the religious practices of so many different peoples living in this beautiful city. The story line is a satisfying journey throughout this fabulous tapestry of historical detail, including hints of the rise of Gandhi and his philosophy and followers. Can't wait for the next one!

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Bombay Prince by Sujuta Massey is a Soho Crime publication. I love this series. Perveen is a wonderful character, and I was very much looking forward to this installment, though it took me a while to get it squeezed into my reading schedule. This third installment is centered around the Prince of Wales’s visit to India. Protests are in the works, planned to coincide with the prince’s arrival in Bombay. Perveen is made aware of the protest when she is approached by a young Parsi university student, Freny Cuttingmaster, for advice about participating in the protest. When Freny is murdered, Parveen feels responsible and launches an investigation into her death. Her efforts are fraught with danger, more so than usual, as the city has erupted in political unrest...This installment is a bit of a slow mover, as the author lays out the political unrest of the times, but the tension builds, all the same as the atmosphere is quite unsettling. Perveen walks a tightrope in pursuit of justice, while also coping with her feelings for a man she will never be able to form a relationship with until the laws change. Although there were times when the story was a little too wordy, and the momentum suffered as a result, but with patience, it becomes clear why it was necessary to include those passages, which didn’t seem all that important, at the time. The conclusion was definitely a well-crafted surprise and I doubt anyone would have been able to guess the outcome in advance. I was pleased with other developments in the story, too- which could open possibilities for Perveen on both a personal and professional level. I’m curious to see how these threads will proceed and hope to hear from Perveen again soon. 4 stars

[jgmencarini · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, but I did not enjoy this one as much as the first two. The ending seemed to come quite quickly and without much character development as to the "bad guy." I love the character of Perveen, though.

[brianewilliams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is good historical fiction set in 1920's India during a royal visit by the then Prince of Wales (later English King Edward VIII). A young woman's body is found on the grounds of her college shortly after a royal procession passed by it. Several days earlier she had consulted Perveen Mistry who is Bombay's only female solicitor about consequences of disobeying the college order to view the procession. There's some thought that it was suicide, but Perveen does not accept this and looks into the circumstances despite opposition from the British security officer guarding the Prince.It's a clever murder mystery story with plenty of local colour. The story is told against the background of colonial India with its various divisions: between English and several Indian ethnic and religious groups. The storytelling sags slightly in the middle, but recovers to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. It's atmospheric, tending to claustrophobic in places, because of rigid social and religious barriers in the British Raj and Perveen's own religion.

[annbury_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the third installment in the Perveen Mistry series, and in my view the best so far. The setting is fascinating: Bombay in the early 1920's, with pressure for independence rising along with ethnic/religious tensions. This is the Raj from an Indian perspective, an enlightening view. The characters are well drawn and in many cases sympathetic. The mystery is interesting. A very good read.

[ethel55_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Perveen Mistry is India's first female lawyer, working at contracts in the family practice since she can't actually try cases because she is a woman, Prince Edward's 1921 visit to India is imminent, and keeps much of the action in Bombay this time. Perveen's Oxford friend Alice Hobson Jones is teaching math at a small local college and recommends a young student, Freny Cuttingmaster, talk to Perveen about the ramifications of peacefullly demonstrating against the prince. Freny is found murdered as the parade breaks up, and Perveen is one of the first on campus. I really liked seeing how progressive Perveen's father Jamshedji Mistry is in allowing Perveen the freedom to interview clients and even help the Cuttiingmasters speak at the inquest.

[shelleyraec · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Bombay Prince is the third book by Sujata Massey to feature Perveen Massey, India’s first female solicitor, working alongside her father, a respected lawyer. It’s not strictly necessary to have read the previous novels, A Murder on Malabar Hill and The Satapur Moonstone, to enjoy this though I believe the experience is better for it.Taking place in November of 1921, Massey sets the story of The Bombay Prince against the unrest in India between British loyalists and those agitating for India’s independence as Edward VIII, Prince of Wales arrives to tour the sub-continent.Perveen meets with a young university student worried that if she refuses the school principal’s directive to attend the parade welcoming Prince Edward that she could be expelled. Freny Cuttingmaster is anxious that she not disappoint her parents by jeopardising her education but staunchly opposes British Rule and wants Perveen’s assurance that her future will not be compromised by taking a stand. Perveen isn’t able to provide Freny with a definitive answer, suggesting she return with her college handbook, but she doesn’t see the young woman again until, on the day of the parade, Freny’s body is found in the courtyard of the school.The Bombay Prince offers a well crafted mystery that plays out against the backdrop of protests which divides the city of Bombay along political and religious lines. Perveen is deeply distressed by the young woman’s death, especially when it becomes clear that Freny didn’t simply fall from the gallery as the scene was staged to suggest. Not able to trust that the death will be properly investigated for a number of reasons, including the college’s wish to avoid scandal, general dismissive attitudes towards women, and the escalating violence related to Prince Edward’s visit, Purveen insinuates herself into the case to ensure the killer is brought to justice. The challenge Purveen faces in navigating these issues is fascinating, probably more so than the mystery itself at times, especially when she is noticed by the men looking for collaborators in a plot to assassinate Prince Edward.Purveen is a complex character, presenting an uneasy mix of progressive and conservative traits. Though she has defied societal expectations by becoming a solicitor, and in separating from her abusive husband, she is very conscious of the need to behave in ways that protect both her and her family’s reputation, and tends to be braver when acting on behalf of her clients than she is in than her defence of herself. This is particularly evident in her interactions with men, which makes her continued connection with Colin Sandringham, who was her government liaison in The Satapur Moonstone, an intriguing element of the story.Rich in historical detail and cultural interest, offering a discerning mystery and a hint of romance, The Bombay Prince is an engaging novel, and I hope the series will continue.

[brangwinn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Massey does not disappoint her Perveen Mistry fans in the third book. Not only is the mystery interesting, that of the death of a college student during the visit of Prince Edward in 1921, it gives us further insight into the lives of the Parsi. Perveen is the first female lawyer in Bombay. She works with her father, who despite the general view of women in the workplace at that time, respects her intellect and abilities. She is also a skillful detective in the search for justice. Although a character who was important in the second book, The Satapur Moonstone, is an integral part of this book and appears to have a romantic interest in Perveen, it is not necessary to have read the second book.

[eyes92c · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love Preveen mysteries! Atmospheric and complex!As always Preveen Mistry, a Parsi divorced woman (unheard of), is an energising force as she quietly, yet forcefully, undertakes the various cases she’s given as a solicitor in her father’s law firm.The time in history is interesting. It’s 1921 and Edward, the Prince of Wales is visiting Bombay as part of an extended royal visit.Unrest is in the air. The Independence Activists want changes. The British authorities are concerned about possible attacks on the Prince and his entourage. Preveen has been consulted by a young female student, Ferny Cuttingmaster, from the prestigious Woodburn College where her friend Alice Hobson-Jones teaches. Freny seeks legal advice for the College’s Student Union around activism.What she doesn’t foresee is that Freny will be involved in a fatal accident, and the more Preveen delves into the aspects of that, the more likely it appears that it might have been deliberately caused.Edward’s visit sparks off riots. Livings are destroyed, and many jailed.Preveen has her time cut out pursuing the truth behind Freny’s accident, and handling the many cases that come post the riots—from wrongly imprisoned people, to those seeking damages and representation.Into this comes a friend from previous times, Colin Wythe Sandringham, an Indian Civil Service political officer with the British government. Someone Preveen greatly admires but with whom there can never be anything more. Customs, religious factors and honor will not allow that.A very up close and personal look at India at this time, giving this mystery depth the political grounding of the time.Massey is a whiz at combining these historical times with a captivating mystery, peppered with a variety of fascinating characters.A Soho Press ARC via NetGalley

[cathyskye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Anyone who enjoys historical mysteries, strong female lead characters, and learning about a fascinating period in India's history must read Sujata Massey's excellent Perveen Mistry series. The Bombay Prince is the third and latest in the series and after reading it, I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Perveen's life.Yes, we learn more about the customs of the Parsi. Yes, we learn about Gandhi's influence during this period when India began to actively seek independence. Yes, we learn about the effect of the Prince of Wales' visit on the country, but we mostly get to immerse ourselves in Perveen Mistry's life. (For those of you who may be wondering, both the Prince of Wales and Gandhi stay very firmly on the far periphery.) Perveen, the first female lawyer in Bombay, is based on a real person, Cornelia Sorabji, and Perveen is fascinating.As I tried to figure out who killed Freny Cuttingmaster, I couldn't help but see how carefully Perveen had to deal, not only with the British who were in control of the government but also with all the males she came in contact with. She's confronted with a double whammy: sexual and religious bias, and both constantly throw up roadblocks in her path to justice. Perveen daily walks through a minefield with her wits as her only protection. Fortunately, the woman can think on her feet.As the mystery unfolds, readers are reminded that no place in Bombay is ever completely quiet, that the new steel wardrobes are preferable because they help prevent mildew, and that women had to be tough if they wanted a higher education. But there's so much more to The Bombay Prince than learning the random facts that are so skillfully woven into the story or trying to unravel a very well-plotted mystery. There is the rich tapestry of characters. Perveen has a developing relationship with someone that should prove very interesting in future books, and Massey introduces two new characters that I certainly hope to see more of: the American journalist J.P. Singer, and the elderly Mr. Dass who certainly knows his way around a library.If you're already a fan of Sujata Massey's series, you're going to enjoy The Bombay Prince. If you haven't feasted upon the series yet, don't delay. But start at the beginning with the award-winning The Widows of Malabar Hill, and prepare to find yourselves experiencing Bombay in the 1920s. I envy anyone reading these books for the first time!(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)

[loried_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was delighted to win an advance copy of the latest Perveen Mistry book, as I am a huge fan of this series, as well as the author's other books. The Bombay Prince is a wonderful addition to the series. Massey brings to life India's history of the time when the future King Edward VIII visited India in 1921 as Gandhi was organizing campaigns to promote improvement of life for Indian people and for self-rule, inspiring student protests against the British. She particularly focused on how these events affected the Parsi people and women in general. Learning more about this time period made the book much more substantial than the typical mystery. I also enjoyed the continuing stories of Perveen's family, friends and relationships, and I look forward to future installments. I highly recommend this book.

[kulmona · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thank you Goodreads First Reads for my complimentary review copy. Although this is the third installment in Massey's Perveen Mistry series, it functions well enough as a stand-alone. Perveen, Bombay's first female solicitor, is in practice with her father. She is a curious mix of progressive and conservative. Although she is highly educated and a divorcé, she is still bound by the proper decorum expected of women. The Prince of Wales, Edward VIII, is arriving in Bombay. The future ruler of India is on a four-month tour . Normally, a royal visit would entail pageantry, protocol, and a flurry of preparation. But, these were not normal times. 1920's India is rankling under the oppression of British Rule. Instead of curiosity and celebration, there was mayhem, malice, and, possibly...murder. The victim, Freny Cuttingmaster, was a promising student at the local Woodburn College. She was also a member of the student union, considered an extracurricular activity, not a fanatic activist group. She was standing in the balcony of the nearby campus building as the prince's procession passed by. Then, she fell. Perveen was especially perturbed. Freny had, just the day before, come in for a consultation. And, now she was gone. She felt guilty, somehow culpable for her death. Despite the inevitable limitations, obstacles, and risks, she felt she HAD to solve the mystery. I enjoyed this historical fiction cozy mystery. That it was set in India, my country of origin, was a bonus. It was descriptive and unpredictable. However, it would have been helpful to have footnotes. There were several uncommon and/or unfamiliar words and having to look them up was inconvenient.