Series
Publication
Recorded Books (2018)
Original publication date
2018-01-09
Collections
Awards
Edgar Award (Winner — Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award — 2019)
Macavity Award (Winner — 2019)
Agatha Award (Nominee — Historical Novel — 2018)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Winner — Mystery — 2019)
Lefty Award (Winner — 2019)
Shamus Award (Shortlist — 2019)
Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction (Nominee — 2019)
Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year (Mystery/Thriller — 2018)
Boston Globe Best Book (2018)
Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List (Selection — 2020)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — 2018)
Description
"Introducing an extraordinary female lawyer-sleuth in a new historical series set in 1920s Bombay. Perveen Mistry, the daughter of a respected Zoroastrian family, has just joined her father's law firm, becoming one of the first female lawyers in India. Armed with a law degree from Oxford, Perveen also has a tragic personal history that makes her especially devoted to championing and protecting women's legal rights. Mistry Law has been appointed to execute the will of Mr. Omar Farid, a wealthy Muslim mill owner who has left three widows behind. But as Perveen is going through the paperwork, she notices something strange: all three of the wives have signed over their full inheritance to a charity. What will they live on if they forfeit what their husband left them? Perveen is suspicious, especially since one of the widows has signed her form with an X--meaning she probably couldn't even read the document. The Farid widows live in full purdah--in strict seclusion, never leaving the women's quarters or speaking to any men. Are they being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous guardian? Perveen tries to investigate, and realizes her instincts about the will were correct when tensions escalate to murder. Now it is her responsibility to figure out what really happened on Malabar Hill, and to ensure that no innocent women or children are in further danger."--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member BrianEWilliams
This is a busy and overlong novel.
What is good about it is the insight it provides into India in the early 20th century: the culture and customs of the various religions and the poor relations between the British and the Indian people.
There's really two stories in the book with little, if any,
There's a basis for a series here, depending on how Perveen develops in any sequel.
What is good about it is the insight it provides into India in the early 20th century: the culture and customs of the various religions and the poor relations between the British and the Indian people.
There's really two stories in the book with little, if any,
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relationship between them. The main link is the book's protagonist, Perveen, whose claim to fame is being the first female solicitor in Bombay with much support from her family. She's not all that attractive as a protagonist -- a bit scatter-brained and implusive. She's in her early 20's so hopefully she will improve with age and seasoning.There's a basis for a series here, depending on how Perveen develops in any sequel.
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LibraryThing member shazjhb
So fun to read something set in 1920 in India. Loved the people and descriptions. Amazing. Hope she writes more.
LibraryThing member PeggyDean
I have not read any of the Rei Shimura series by Massey, so I opened up The Widows of Malabar Hill without any particular expectations. A snowy day allowed me to read the book almost straight through and the book was everything I hope to get in a historical mystery. The cultural details of life in
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1920s India were fascinating, particularly about the intersections of different religious groups. Perveen Mistry can certainly hold her own next to other intrepid female detectives like Maisie Dobbs and Amelia Peabody, but with the added advantage of a position in her father's law firm. The flashbacks to events of 1916-17 provided an excellent backstory and I can't wait to see what is next up for Perveen. Show Less
LibraryThing member ethel55
I think this multi-layered book will remain a strong favorite throughout the year. Perveen Mistry is the first female solicitor in Bombay, her father allowing her to join his firm. Based on a couple of real women, her journey from the Government Law School in Bombay to Oxford was detailed in some
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unsettling flashback chapters. In the 1920's present of the book, It is still against the law for Perveen to try a case in court, but her skills with contracts are what her father uses her for most of the time at their firm. Perveen is uniquely able to assist her father in the disbursement of a will, as Omar Farid's wives are in purdah and cannot interact with men. When their agent, Mr. Mukri, is found dead in the main part of the house, Perveen is in the right place at the right time to figure out the mystery. I thought the attention and description of Bombay as it was beginning to build up and out of the British rule very well done. And I was surprised to learn that so many religions found their place there, most from long ago immigration from areas like Persia/Iran/Iraq/Arabia. The Mistry's are of a smaller religious group called Parsi. But there are Muslims in addition to Hindu, Sikh and Christian families. Perveen has a newly arrived British friend, Alice, whose father has been in service a long time,but now stationed in Bombay, and utilizes her skills in the matter of the widows too. Show Less
LibraryThing member sleahey
In Bombay in the 1920s, Perveen is the only female solicitor, and she has had to endure many hardships to reach that point. As part of her work for her father's law office, she assists in an estate case involving a longtime client who has died, and his three widows who have chosen to isolate
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themselves according to the custom of purdah. The will is complicated and difficult to sort out because the three women may not have any face to face contact with men. Their agent turns up murdered, and Perveen suspects that he has been less than honest with the widows. Meanwhile, her best friend, a classmate from Oxford, has arrived in Bombay, and is a neighbor of the widows. Even more interesting to me than the murder mystery is Perveen's back story, told intermittently. We learn of her romance with a handsome charming man from Calcutta who becomes the love of her life. After they are married and she moves in with his parents who have orthodox antiquated beliefs about women, her life becomes a hell until she leaves Calcutta and she returns to Bombay and then to Oxford. The narrative is fast-moving and very interesting for the cultural and historical insights into 1920s India. Because I was reading an ebook, I didn't realize there was a glossary at the back of the book. Although it would have been helpful, the story's context made most foreign terms easy enough to understand. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmoncton
I really enjoyed this book! The mystery was pretty good, but the historical setting and the descriptions of the people and the customs are what really made this book enjoyable for me. The main character Perveen, is a Parsi woman living in Bombay in 1921, who is working toward being one of the first
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female lawyers in India. Although her gender puts her at a disadvantage in a law school filled with men and in situations where she has to negotiate, it gives her an advantage when a lawyer is needed to represent the widows of a wealthy Muslim businessman. His wives live in purdah, so they are unable to come in contact with men. For me, this book felt like I was living in a different time in a culture with very different social customs. Fascinating and I can't wait for more from this author! Show Less
LibraryThing member PeskyLibrary
The heroine of The Widows of Malabar Hill, Perveen Mistry, comes from a upstanding Parsi family in 1920s Bombay. She and her family have broken from conventional standards of the time as she attended law school and practices law at her father’s firm--the only female to do so in Bombay. When a
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murder occurs at a client’s home, Perveen is drawn into the mystery, and also forced to face some issues from her past that may be resurfacing. This book has a lot of interesting characters, fascinating historical details about the culture of colonial India and Indian society in general. Sujata Massey has invented a multi-faceted heroine with an intriguing backstory that seems sure to thrill mystery readers and historical fiction fans for many books to come. PK Show Less
LibraryThing member janerawoof
Enthralling murder mystery about an Indian Parsi woman lawyer in 1920s Bombay, Perveen Mistry [surname a pun??], and her efforts to catch the murderer of the steward of a Muslim household in which there are three wives in purdah of the [now deceased] owner, a wealthy man, and fair distribution of
Highly recommended.
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their inheritances. With the aid of Perveen's English friend from university days, Alice, she discovers the means by which the perpetrator did the crime and the person's identity. First off she technically hires Alice as an employee of the law firm. Alice's knowledge of geometry comes in handy. Fascinating work, taking me into the world of Parsis of that time. Very fast but enjoyable read. The character of Perveen is based upon two of the very first lady lawyers in India.Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member pmarshall
Perveen Mistry, the first woman solicitor in Bombay, in India for that matter, is based on India’s two earliest women lawyers: Cornelia Sorabji of Poona, the first woman to read law at Oxford in 1892, and Mithan Tata Lam who was also an Oxford graduate and the first woman admitted to the Bombay
The case she is working on is the estate settlement of three widows living in the Malabar Hill neighbourhood of Bombay and the four young children of Mr. Omar Farid. Once all debts have been paid the settlement is a mathematical division of the assets starting with the children and the return of the dowry to the widows. Mr. Faisal Mukri, the appointed estate trustee, sent Perveen a letter stating the widows wished to give up their assets as a donation to the family trust. She is puzzled by this for a couple of reasons, the signatures on the attached documents are questionable and on what do the widows plan to life if they fore go their assets. To complicate matters the widows live in seclusion and will only deal with another woman. On Perveen’s first visit Mr. Mukri is murdered and it has to have been done by someone with in the house.
A subplot of the book is Perveen’s marriage, in 1916, to Mr. Cyrus Sodawalla of Calcutta and subsequent seperation. This episode contains interesting information on some female customs as well the legal standing of women in India in the 1920’s.
The book requires the readers’ attention as there are many characters that move the plot along as well as provide background information. As I wrote that it came to me that that is appropriate for an Indian novel as it reflects the large, busy society of the country.
Massey is also the author of the award winning series featuring Rei Shimura, an antique dealer in Japan, originally from California. A series I greatly enjoyed.
Reviewed 2018-1-11
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
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Bar in 1923. Mistry started her legal education at the Government Law School in Bombay in 1916 and completed it at Oxford in 1921. Upon her return to Bombay she entered the practice of her father, Jamshedji Mistry.The case she is working on is the estate settlement of three widows living in the Malabar Hill neighbourhood of Bombay and the four young children of Mr. Omar Farid. Once all debts have been paid the settlement is a mathematical division of the assets starting with the children and the return of the dowry to the widows. Mr. Faisal Mukri, the appointed estate trustee, sent Perveen a letter stating the widows wished to give up their assets as a donation to the family trust. She is puzzled by this for a couple of reasons, the signatures on the attached documents are questionable and on what do the widows plan to life if they fore go their assets. To complicate matters the widows live in seclusion and will only deal with another woman. On Perveen’s first visit Mr. Mukri is murdered and it has to have been done by someone with in the house.
A subplot of the book is Perveen’s marriage, in 1916, to Mr. Cyrus Sodawalla of Calcutta and subsequent seperation. This episode contains interesting information on some female customs as well the legal standing of women in India in the 1920’s.
The book requires the readers’ attention as there are many characters that move the plot along as well as provide background information. As I wrote that it came to me that that is appropriate for an Indian novel as it reflects the large, busy society of the country.
Massey is also the author of the award winning series featuring Rei Shimura, an antique dealer in Japan, originally from California. A series I greatly enjoyed.
Reviewed 2018-1-11
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
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LibraryThing member delphimo
Picture Bombay in the 1920’s when women had many restrictions and especially attempting to work as a lawyer. Perveen Mistry begins the classwork of learning law, but the male students and the instructors thwart her ambitions and change the course of her life. Marriage and disappointment again
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force Perveen to alter her dreams. The Widows of Malabar Hill bounces back and forth between 1917 and 1920 with the reader given the history of Perveen and her family in Bombay, India. Sujata Massey presents a well written story of the social mores of India. Perveen must help and assist three widows of a recently deceased businessman and discover the culprit of a murder. The biggest problem of the story is the usage of Indian terms that are explained in a glossary that hides in the back of the book and causes too much flipping back and forth. I feel this detracts from the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Based on the first female attorney in India, Parveen Mistry, gets involved in solving the mystery of the guardian of Muslim widows for whom she and her father are legal representatives. She’s Parsi and friends with the daughter of a high-powered British government employees. Add in the world of
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Muslim women, a multicultural view of India is the backdrop for the story. Set in the 1920s, even the British had a very limited view of what women could do, although it was far more progressive than the Muslim and Parsi. Weaving all this cultural information into the storyline, enhanced the story greatly. I look forward to more Parveen Mistry mysteries. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sandra_Wagner-Wright
Set in 1920s Bombay, Massy’s protagonist Perveen Mistry has a lot of her plate. A woman with a scandalous past, she followed her heart into a disastrous marriage that led to formal separation. The daughter of a prominent Parsi lawyer, she completed her legal studies at Oxford, but cannot present
The story is a mystery, but embedded in the story are cultural insights into Indian society in the 1920s. The position of women in both Parsi and Muslim cultures, the food, and domestic arrangements all add depth and color to an engaging read.
The story begins when Perveen Mistry opens a letter pertaining to an estate settlement. Omar Farid had died, leaving behind three widows and four children. All continued to live in seclusion in the family home, their only contact with the outside word via a window within the house. The family agent said the widows all wanted to give up their dower inheritance to a family charity.
And so a tale of intrigue and murder begins.
The Widows of Malabar is a very good read, well-researched and well written.
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cases at court. She works with her father at Mistry Law.The story is a mystery, but embedded in the story are cultural insights into Indian society in the 1920s. The position of women in both Parsi and Muslim cultures, the food, and domestic arrangements all add depth and color to an engaging read.
The story begins when Perveen Mistry opens a letter pertaining to an estate settlement. Omar Farid had died, leaving behind three widows and four children. All continued to live in seclusion in the family home, their only contact with the outside word via a window within the house. The family agent said the widows all wanted to give up their dower inheritance to a family charity.
And so a tale of intrigue and murder begins.
The Widows of Malabar is a very good read, well-researched and well written.
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LibraryThing member thea-block
This book adds a new perspective to the cozy mystery genre - a lady lawyer in 1920s Bombay helps women find a voice while alternately upholding and challenging the cultural norms of the time. I really enjoyed the cultural depth. It was sometimes hard to find character’s voices the writing; I
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wished the writing and characters voices would have been a little more sophisticated. But it was captivating enough that I’d like to read more in the series when they come out. Also, one of the most well-designed and physically beautiful books I’ve read in a long time! Show Less
LibraryThing member BeccaBaxter
Love The Widows of Malabar Hill!
LibraryThing member Maydacat
It took me more than little while to really get grabbed by this story, but once I did, I raced to the end. The story takes place in India and mostly vacillates from 1921 and 1916. Perveen is the only female solicitor in Bombay, and customs and laws often curtail her efforts. She works in her
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father’s law firm, and has been assigned to sort out the legal problems of three widows who shared one husband. But many other problems are encountered by Perveen as she deals with the widows, including murder. Adding to Perveen’s stress is a tragedy in her past. The novel is well written and the characters are well developed. The reader will be introduced to the customs and rules of the various ethnicities, especially for women at that time. Perhaps the author could have eliminated some of the details on law and contracts and inheritance percentages to forward the story a little faster, and keeping unfamiliar names straight may be a bit of a challenge, but all in all, it was quite an interesting and informative read. Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
Perveen Mistry lives in Bombay in 1921, working as lawyer with her father. A probate case she's assisting with involves three widows who have practiced purdah and apparently agreed to give up their inheritance to charity. Perveen becomes suspicious and convinces her father to let her talk with
I enjoyed the setting and details about tensions between religions - Perveen and her family are Parsi and Zoroastrian, while others in their community are Hindu or Muslim - as well as the law in India in that time. The story takes on dual timelines and explains Perveen's history, which was interesting but didn't really add to the story or the mystery and instead felt a bit more contrived than a straightforward narrative might have been. The lengths in the shifts of timeline were varied and seemed to have no rhyme or reason, leaving me feeling a little out of rhythm and impatient with the story. I will most likely continue the series, as the setting intrigues me and I'm interested in seeing how Perveen's story unfolds.
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these women. Then the case turns deadly.I enjoyed the setting and details about tensions between religions - Perveen and her family are Parsi and Zoroastrian, while others in their community are Hindu or Muslim - as well as the law in India in that time. The story takes on dual timelines and explains Perveen's history, which was interesting but didn't really add to the story or the mystery and instead felt a bit more contrived than a straightforward narrative might have been. The lengths in the shifts of timeline were varied and seemed to have no rhyme or reason, leaving me feeling a little out of rhythm and impatient with the story. I will most likely continue the series, as the setting intrigues me and I'm interested in seeing how Perveen's story unfolds.
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LibraryThing member beckyhaase
THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL by Sujata Massey
If you like historical fiction, especially India in early 20th century, and learning about different cultures and ways of life, you will like this book. While it is a murder mystery, it is also an exploration of the various cultures active in India from
The situation of women of all faiths becomes integral to the plot, as do marriage customs, inheritance, family practices, the law, the role of the English in India, Indian independence, class strictures and even education and employment for women. While the plot moves slowly, the descriptions of a way of life unknown to most Americans, keeps the reader interested and reading. Besides a murder, there are also two kidnappings, financial shenanigans, jewelry theft, families in crisis, and other plot devices to keep interest high.
The noises, smells and flavors of Bombay and Calcutta set the scene. Clearly drawn characters and lively writing add to a tale well worth spending time with tea, curry and Perveen as she navigates the path forward with three widows who are clearly not sisters of the heart.
4 of 5 stars
If you like historical fiction, especially India in early 20th century, and learning about different cultures and ways of life, you will like this book. While it is a murder mystery, it is also an exploration of the various cultures active in India from
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1915 to 1922. The heroine is a young woman Parisi (Zoroastrian) who has trained to be a solicitor (lawyer) at Oxford and is working in her father’s firm when three widows, Muslims who live in Purda or complete seclusion from men, need a lawyer. A murder occurs, and Perveen, the untried female lawyer, is the only one who can enter the widows’ seclusion. The situation of women of all faiths becomes integral to the plot, as do marriage customs, inheritance, family practices, the law, the role of the English in India, Indian independence, class strictures and even education and employment for women. While the plot moves slowly, the descriptions of a way of life unknown to most Americans, keeps the reader interested and reading. Besides a murder, there are also two kidnappings, financial shenanigans, jewelry theft, families in crisis, and other plot devices to keep interest high.
The noises, smells and flavors of Bombay and Calcutta set the scene. Clearly drawn characters and lively writing add to a tale well worth spending time with tea, curry and Perveen as she navigates the path forward with three widows who are clearly not sisters of the heart.
4 of 5 stars
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LibraryThing member annbury
What a terrific novel! The setting, Bombay in the 1920's, is unfamiliar and enthralling. The perspective, that of a Parsee lady lawyer with a complicated story of her own, is unique as far as I am aware. And the story line moves right along, pulling the reader through a fascinating world. More,
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please! Show Less
LibraryThing member cathyskye
Having been a fan of Sujata Massey's award-winning Rei Shimura mystery series, I was thrilled to hear about this first Perveen Mistry mystery set in 1920s Bombay, India. There are two interwoven timelines in The Widows of Malabar Hill. One is present-day Bombay in 1921 which shows us Perveen
The story itself is a version of the locked room mystery. The widows live in purdah on Sea View Street. They stay in the women's section of the house, they do not leave their home, and they do not speak to any man who is not part of the immediate household. When a man dies inside a house where few people are admitted, it's going to take knowledge of the interior workings of the place to learn the truth. As a woman, Perveen is perfect for the role of investigator. She's also perfect in another way: she's become a feminist who's passionate about the rights of women and children. She shows us how such restricted lives are led and the intricate maneuverings that must be done in order to conduct an investigation. (Some policemen are much less willing to conduct themselves according to the beliefs of those who have become a part of their investigation.)
The mystery is a strong one because readers must acquaint themselves with this unfamiliar world in order to piece together what happened. And what can I say about the setting? Massey pulled me right into this world, and I was almost on sensory overload. The old ways versus the new. Bombay's rapid growth into a vibrant major city. The various political, religious, and social factions that chafed against each other on a daily basis. And one woman, with the support of her parents, who's strong enough to stand up for what's right.
I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!
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working hard to become an integral part of her father's law firm. The second timeline takes us back to 1916 so we can learn what happened to Perveen to make her the woman she is five years later.The story itself is a version of the locked room mystery. The widows live in purdah on Sea View Street. They stay in the women's section of the house, they do not leave their home, and they do not speak to any man who is not part of the immediate household. When a man dies inside a house where few people are admitted, it's going to take knowledge of the interior workings of the place to learn the truth. As a woman, Perveen is perfect for the role of investigator. She's also perfect in another way: she's become a feminist who's passionate about the rights of women and children. She shows us how such restricted lives are led and the intricate maneuverings that must be done in order to conduct an investigation. (Some policemen are much less willing to conduct themselves according to the beliefs of those who have become a part of their investigation.)
The mystery is a strong one because readers must acquaint themselves with this unfamiliar world in order to piece together what happened. And what can I say about the setting? Massey pulled me right into this world, and I was almost on sensory overload. The old ways versus the new. Bombay's rapid growth into a vibrant major city. The various political, religious, and social factions that chafed against each other on a daily basis. And one woman, with the support of her parents, who's strong enough to stand up for what's right.
I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!
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LibraryThing member LibroLindsay
I am not usually into mysteries, but I found myself devouring this book (clocking in at 14 hours on audio, I thought this would last me the coming week). I loved all the cultural tidbits on India's diversity, Perveen's plucky character, and the way Massey balanced the backstory with the present.
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Definitely reading the next! Show Less
LibraryThing member smik
It is always nice to start at the beginning of a new series, with a new sleuth, set in a different culture, especially when the author is as talented as Sujata Massey.
The story has a ring of authenticity about it, taking readers into a world we will know very little about. Perveen is a recently
Highly recommended.
The story has a ring of authenticity about it, taking readers into a world we will know very little about. Perveen is a recently
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qualified solicitor, in fact the only female solicitor in Bombay, Parsi background, in British India. The story gives considerable background to her own failed marriage, which gives her some understanding of the position of the three widows in the household of Mr Omar Fareed, deceased. Perveen is determined that these women who are living in purdah, and their children, will not be duped out of their inheritances by an unscrupulous house manager. Things get complicated when he is murdered.Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member jeanbmac
I loved this book. It was a glimpse into another country and another era. I look forward to reading Massey's other books.
LibraryThing member carolfoisset
I really enjoyed the historical and cultural aspects of this book. I also found the characters very engaging and Perveen's personal story enlightening as to women in that culture. In my mind the mystery was not a central part of the story.
LibraryThing member Chris.Bulin
What a great start to a series. There characters and setting are super interesting. There was a lot of (necessary) character introduction in this volume, but I have no doubt it is kicking off what is sure to be a spectacular series. I'm looking forward to the next one!
LibraryThing member DrFuriosa
An interesting mystery set in early 1920s Mumbai. Perveen is a compelling protagonist, though I could have done without the tragic abuse backstory. That trope feels overdone, especially for women's character development.
Media reviews
The Widows of Malabar Hill is wholly satisfying..Perveen, daughter of an established Zoroastrian family in Bombay, works alongside her father, Jamshedji Mistry, a progressive man whose lifelong dream has been to have his daughter work with him at the family law firm. Why he wants this for her is
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one of the most heartwarming aspects of the novel, and is slowly revealed along with many other details that make this family one I plan to follow through as many storylines as possible.... Her tale is one that is just as absorbing as the murder mystery and has a quiet power all its own. Each thread is carefully paced; Massey clearly knows just what she's doing, which is giving readers both a captivating whodunit and a lasting base for more books featuring this same cast of characters. Massey is also making a case for gender equality, religious tolerance and racial harmony and it's a lovely thing that she does so with such understated persistence..And, happily, although the denouement is wholly satisfying, there is much left unsaid, particularly about some of the supporting cast members Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Other editions
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (Hardcover)