The Lost Man of Bombay

THE THRILLING NEW MYSTERY FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF MIDNIGHT AT MALABAR HOUSE

'Hugely entertaining ... history and mystery mixed with brutal slapstick, thwarted romance and sly humour... If only all period procedurals were as good as this' THE TIMES
'A delightful book, well-researched, complex and hugely entertaining' ANN CLEEVES
'A twisting plot and an intriguing cast of characters, together with vivid glimpses of the vibrant, complex world of post-Independence Bombay - and a narrative that thunders along with the pace and drama of an elephant on the rampage' ANDREW TAYLOR

Bombay, 1950
When the body of a white man is found frozen in the Himalayan foothills near Dehra Dun, he is christened the Ice Man by the national media. Who is he? How long has he been there? Why was he killed?

As Inspector Persis Wadia and Metropolitan Police criminalist Archie Blackfinch investigate the case in Bombay, they uncover a trail left behind by the enigmatic Ice Man - a trail leading directly into the dark heart of conspiracy.

Meanwhile, two new murders grip the city. Is there a serial killer on the loose, targeting Europeans?

Rich in atmosphere, the thrilling third chapter in the CWA Historical Dagger-winning Malabar House series pits Persis against a mystery from beyond the grave, unfolding against the backdrop of a turbulent post-colonial India, a nation struggling to redefine itself in the shadow of the Raj.

'Khan writes with a charming formality and brings his characters and their dilemmas to life in this intelligent and intriguing series' LITERARY REVIEW

'A rip-roaring adventure with a formidable woman at its heart' AMBROSE PARRY

'A stunning, richly imagined and downright thrilling mystery. Vaseem Khan has that rare ability to transport you wholly to a bygone time, and he does so with such skill and charm. I loved it' CHRIS WHITAKER

'A thoroughly enjoyable read, full of twists and turns and a superb evocation of 1950s Bombay' WILLIAM RYAN

'A compelling historical thriller ... Codes, crime and conspiracies collide in post-colonial India' D.V. BISHOP

'One of my top reads this year. A peerless portrait of early independent India through the eyes of new crime fiction star, India's first police detective, Persis Wadia' BARBARA NADEL

"The brilliant Persis Wadia is one of the most electrifying figures in crime fiction today. Vaseem Khan keeps getting better and better' WILLIAM SHAW

'Outstanding' IMRAN MAHMOOD

'This is historical crime fiction at its best - a compelling mix of social insight and complex plotting with a thoroughly engaging heroine. A highly promising new series' MAIL ON SUNDAY

'This is historical crime fiction at its sharpest' SUNDAY TIMES

'The Lost Man of Bombay is the latest outstanding entry in the Malabar House series. Persis Wadia is shaping up to be a giant of the scene - a detective as dogged and determined as any out there, with a point to prove and a chip on her shoulder as deep as it is justified. Her latest case is as beautifully written and evocative as you've come to expect from Vaseem Khan, a gripping and engrossing mystery that draws deeply on its setting and time period but nonetheless reads as fresh and original. This is a writer at the top of his game and a series that just keeps getting better' ROD REYNOLDS

'In Persis Wadia and Archie Blackfinch, CWA Historical Dagger-winner Vaseem Khan has created a splendid detective duo and they are in terrific form in his latest hit, THE LOST MAN OF BOMBAY' MARTIN EDWARDS