The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (English) Paperback Book

Description: The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey Introducing an extraordinary female lawyer-sleuth in a new historical series set in 1920s Bombay! FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Inspired in part by the woman who made history as Indias first female attorney, The Widows of Malabar Hill is a richly wrought story of multicultural 1920s Bombay as well as the debut of a sharp and promising new sleuth.Perveen Mistry, the daughter of a respected Zoroastrian family, has just joined her fathers law firm, becoming one of the first female lawyers in India. Armed with a legal education from Oxford, Perveen also has a tragic personal history that makes womens legal rights especially important to her.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 examines 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? Perveen is suspicious, especially since one of the widows has signed her form with an X-meaning she probably couldnt even read the document. The Farid widows live in full purdah-in strict seclusion, never leaving the womens quarters or speaking to any men. Are they being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous guardian? Perveen tries to investigate, and realizes her instincts 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 arein further danger. Author Biography Sujata Massey was born in England to parents from India and Germany, was raised mostly in St. Paul, Minnesota, and lives in Baltimore, Maryland. She was a features reporter for the Baltimore Evening Sun before becoming a full-time novelist. Her novels have won the Agatha and Macavity awards and been finalists for the Edgar, Anthony, and Mary Higgins Clark prizes. Visit her website at sujatamassey.com. Review TIME Magazines 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All TimeA Parade Magazine 101 Best Mystery Books of All Time2019 American Library Association Reading List for Mystery: Winner and Top Pick Winner of the 2019 Mary Higgins Clark AwardWinner of the 2019 Lefty Award for Best Historical Novel Winner of the the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Historical NovelWinner of the 2019 Sue Feder Macavity Memorial Award for Best Historical MysteryFinalist for the 2019 Shamus Award A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018 An ABA IndieNext Selection A Washington Post Best Audiobook of 2018 A WBUR On Point Best Book of 2018 A Boston Globe Best Book of 2018 A Times of India Best Book of 2018 An Apple iTunes Most Anticipated Book of 2018 #2 on Cosmopolitans 33 Books to Get Excited About in 2018 The Bookseller (UK) Editors Pick for MysteryMaryland Humanities Route 1 Reads Selection for 2020Praise for The Widows of Malabar Hill "These India-set stories put [Masseys] concerns with fairness and equality into a sparkling setting that shows how universal the fight for justice must be."—Parade Magazine"The Widows of Malabar Hill, with its deft prose and well-wrought characters, is a splendid first installment in what promises to be a memorable series." —Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal "Marvelously plotted, richly detailed . . . This is a first-rate performance inaugurating a most promising series." —The Washington Post "Perveen Mistry has all the pluck you want in a sleuthing lawyer, as well as a not-so-surprising—but decidedly welcome—proclivity for poking her nose into the business of others. The pages do indeed fly." —Marissa Stapley, The Globe and Mail "The Widows of Malabar Hill contains multitudes, tackling womens history and rights, while treating readers to a riveting story." —The National Post "Perveens dogged pursuit of truth and justice for her clients is reminiscent of the debuts of Anne Perrys Charlotte Ellison Pitt and Jacqueline Winspears Maisie Dobbs. But the multicultural, multi-faith milieu in which Perveen lives, works and attempts to find love both illuminates a bygone era and offers a thoughtful perspective relevant to todays focus on womens rights and equality." —Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times "Cool and cunning." —The Boston Globe "A fascinating setting, an extraordinary new sleuth, and a story that enthralls you—The Widows of Malabar Hill has all three and more. Sujata Masseys new historical series is absolutely terrific, and you are just going to love Perveen Mistry, Indias first female lawyer." —Charles Todd, bestselling author of the Ian Rutledge series and the Bess Crawford series "Perveen Mistry is an extraordinary heroine—one of the first female lawyers in India, shes whip smart, strong-willed, and, most importantly, compassionate. Defying convention while draped in a sari, Perveen is sure to join the leads of great mystery fiction." —Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope mysteries "You get a mystery but you also get all the cultural details. I like that." —NBC New Day Northwest "Ive been complaining for several years now that we dont have enough competent female leads in mystery series, and Sujata Massey has delivered with The Widows of Malabar Hill. I was taken in by this Law and Order-esque tale set in lush, swing-era Bombay, and I loved seeing Perveen proceed with a cool head and a fiery heart. Readers looking for a strong female heroine, a vivid setting and a strange mystery will find it here." —The News Tribune "Theres so much to admire in Masseys writing: sumptuous details, attention to the senses and a tightly-plotted mystery that explores domains beyond normal trials and tribulations. Its writing thats easy to take for granted, but as we know, anything that easy is deceptively hard." —Baltimore Fishbowl "Massey deftly evokes the sights, the sounds, and the heat of Bombay as her clever and determined heroine, aided by a large supporting cast of sharply-drawn characters, sidesteps both custom and danger to deliver justice." —Vannessa Cronin, The Amazon Book Review "Masseys extensive research of Bombay during British imperial rule, its various ethnic communities and their respective legal customs, is seamlessly folded into the fabric of the story. The book is filled with fascinating bits of culture and history, a look at Indias Parsi and Muslim communities, well-written courtroom scenes, and even a locked-room murder." —Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine "A spectacular mystery to kickstart your year."—Bustle "Perveen is the kind of plucky, determined, practical, wounded, ahead-of-her-time protagonist an avid clique of mystery readers adore. She is destined to find a home with fans of like-minded female investigators such as Mary Russell and Maisie Dobbs, whose creators, like Massey, deftly anchor their solid plots in the realities, and challenges, of their times." —Los Angeles Review of Books "I cant wait to see what happens next." —Crime Time (UK) "A sneaky feminist masterpiece wrapped up in a cozy whodunit . . . just genius." —WBURs On Point "[A] setting and protagonist are like nothing Ive encountered in a mystery before: 1920s Bombay and one of Indias first female lawyers, whos devoted to championing and protecting womens rights." —BookRiots "44 Mystery Romance Novels to Read Right Now" "A compelling look into Indian society through the eyes of a remarkable heroine."—LitHub "Delightful." —Read or Dead podcast "[An] outstanding series launch . . . The period detail and thoughtful characterizations, especially of the capable, fiercely independent lead, bode well for future installments." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review"[Massey] does a wonderful job of taking life in India at the beginning of the 20th century. She gives enough cultural details without overwhelming readers with facts. The two plotlines wonderfully depict the development of the main character and the mystery as it unfolds . . . Fresh and original."—Library Journal, Starred Review"In addition to getting an unusual perspective on womens rights and relationships, readers are treated to a full view of historical downtown Bombay—the shops and offices, the docks and old fort, and the huge variety of conveyances, characters, and religions—in an unforgettable olio that provides the perfect backdrop to the plot and subplots. Each of the many characters is uniquely described, flaws and all, which is the key to understanding their surprising roles in the well-constructed puzzle."—Booklist, Starred Review"[A] highly original story and satisfying ending make this a promising series debut." —Mystery Scene Magazine "History and culture blend in an involving and fast-paced mystery . . . Perveen is a fascinating character—smart, resourceful, ready to take on prejudices against women in the law." —St. Paul Pioneer Press "[A] lush, captivating debut series about 1920s Bombay." —Minneapolis Star-Tribune "An enticing and enlightening whodunit that addresses social issues and Indias multiple cultures." —Richmond Times-Dispatch "There is a new sleuth on the literary map and her name is Perveen Mistry, practicing woman lawyer, feminist, survivor of abuse and solver of murder mysteries. In The Widows of Malabar Hill, Sujata Massey brings 1920s Bombay to life, a time when the British still ruled, single women were not served alcohol in restaurants and there was murder most foul. With an indomitable heroine and a solid cast of sidekicks, this is the start of a series mystery readers should not miss." —Amulya Malladi, bestselling author of A House for Happy Mothers and The Copenhagen Affair "Perveen is strong, tenacious and smart, just the kind of advocate youd want to have on your side. And as someone who was born and raised in the city, I love the way in which Massey recreates colonial Bombay, down to the architecture, social interactions,politics and gender dynamics. You can feel the breeze coming off the Arabian Sea and taste the pastries at Yazdanis bakery."—Radha Vatsal, author of A Front Page Affair "Introducing an incisive, sympathetic heroine with a painful past while shedding light on a fascinating cloistered historical world, The Widows of Malabar Hill is not only immediately engaging—it has staying power." —Lyndsay Faye, Edgar-nominated author of Gods of Gotham and Jane Steele "Perveen Mistry is a rarity: a female solicitor in a bastion of masculinity! An astonishing heroine—fearless, intelligent and determined—she makes a memorable debut in Sujata Masseys The Widows of Malabar Hill. A gripping whodunnit, full of excitement and heart, the novel also delightfully evokes Bombay in the 1920s—and celebrates the Parsi community that continues to enrich their beloved city." —Bapsi Sidhwa, author of Ice Candy Man and Water "Sujata Massey is one of the most talented writers working today. In her hands, 1920s Bombay comes alive with the sounds, sights and smells of a place and time where women were still second class citizens. Perveen Mistry is an unforgettable heroine, fighting for justice in an enigmatic, beautiful and flawed world. With gorgeous prose, Massey weaves a captivating mystery. The Widows of Malabar Hill is an extraordinary novel."—Allison Leotta, author of The Last Good Girl "Wonderful . . . A rich blend of history and fiction, [The Widows of Malabar Hill] brings historical Bombay to vibrant life in this engaging mystery."—The Seattle Review of Books"One of the great joys of this novel is the life Massey brings to Bombay, which in her telling is a truly stunning chaos of peoples, cultures and religions." —The Colonial (Montgomery County) "Exciting and suspenseful . . . [The Widows of Malabar Hill] features Masseys literary strength in dynamic character development and lyrical prose." —Shepherd Express"Abolutely intriguing." —WJBCs Booknotes "The moment we heard about Perveen, Indias first woman lawyer who solves crimes, we knew we had to get our hands on this book. And The Widows of Malabar Hill didnt disappoint. Sujata Massey paints a beautiful historical landscape of 1920s Bombay and the many cultures living there at the time."—Reading Women Podcast "A tightly-crafted mystery, a vividly-drawn multicultural setting, and a plucky heroine fiercely taking on the challenges of her time." —Modern Mrs. Darcy "Certain to please a wide range of readers . . . [Perveen Mistry] wont take no for an answer, shes hungry for knowledge and justice, and shes on her way to making history." —India Currents Magazine "Brilliant." —The Times of India "The Widows of Malabar Hill is an exquisite tapestry weaving together mystery with a crash course in colonial India, its customs, and the expectations of women in the 1920s . . . It also brings you the sights, smells, and tastes of 1920s India (which may make you crave coconut rice at 2 a.m.)" —Rewire News "Sharp." —The Asian Age"Perveen Mistry is a terrific heroine." —New York Journal of Books "A fascinating look behind the curtain of womens lives in pre-Independence India." —Historical Novel Society "Perfect for fans of Vaseem Kahns Inspector Khan series . . . A super book." —Robert Daws, Partners in Crime Podcast "A fascinating series opener." —Stop! Youre Killing Me "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. Bombays 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, whos strong enough to stand up for whats right. A+" —Kittling Books "Well written, highly detailed, and engaging, THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL shows Masseys extensive writing experience, as well as an acute eye for human frailty and conflict. Im glad to note from her material that theres a sequel on the way." —Kingdom Books "The Widows of Malabar Hill is a gorgeous epic, a significant statement on womens rights, a fascinating armchair tour, and, yes, a thriller of a murder mystery." —Reviewing the Evidence "I could envision this series being televised by the BBC or Masterpiece: Mystery! (Hint, hint.)" —Over My Dead Body"Perveen Mistry is a wonderful creation." —Books to the Ceiling (blog) "Tantalizing." —The Teal Mango "A fascinating setting and great characters." —Smart Bitches "Rich with culture and customs of different facets of Indian society . . . Its like I could imagine the traffic on the street—it was that vivid." —Girl XOXO "The Widows of Malabar Hill introduces you to Perveen Mistry, a feminist character you will instantly fall in love with . . . The plot tackles gender equality, religious tolerance and communal harmony and that is what makes the character a true inspiration." —iDiva.com "Launches Sujata Masseys new historical mystery series in fine style . . . The Widows of Malabar Hill shows that Massey has been inspired both by her newest creation and her setting, with the promise of a great series to come." —MADReads, the review of the Madison Public Library "A refreshingly original mystery . . . What comes through most strongly in this entertaining work, though, is the status of women, and how much Perveen had to accomplish to get where she is." —Reading the Past blogPraise for Sujata Massey"Beautifully constructed and highly emotional. Masseys knowledge of Japanese antiques and downtown D.C. enhances the story." —USA Today "A sprightly, engaging tale by setting a classic English-style whodunit in contemporary Japan . . . This young, hip, sake-sipping sleuth leads a reader into a Tokyo that doesnt make the guidebooks . . . Sly, sexy and deftly done, Wife is one to bring home." —People Magazine "Enthralling." —Dallas Morning News "Sujata Massey has worked her award-winning series to be a mirror on the Japan culture as seen through the eyes of an outsider . . . The result in Masseys nine novels are an intuitive view of contrasting societies and a young woman trying to find her place in the world." —South Florida Sun-Sentinel "Rei is a fascinating character: bold, unique, spirited and intelligent . . . Massey makes good use of the clash between American and Japanese cultures as a backdrop for an enjoyable story." —Chicago Sun-Times "Riveting . . . The Sleeping Dictionary, an utterly engrossing tale of love, espionage, betrayal and survival, is historical fiction at its best, accessible to all audiences." —Booklist, Starred Review"A compelling look into Indian society through the eyes of a remarkable heroine." —Literary Hub Promotional 1920s India- Perveen Mistry, Bombays first female lawyer, is investigating a suspicious will on behalf of three Muslim widows living in full purdah when the case takes a turn toward the murderous. The author of the Agatha and Macavity Award-winning Rei Shimura novels brings us an atmospheric new historical mystery with a captivating heroine. Review Quote A Parade Magazine 101 Best Mystery Books of All Time 2019 American Library Association Reading List for Mystery: Winner and Top Pick Winner of the 2019 Mary Higgins Clark Award Winner of the 2019 Lefty Award for Best Historical Novel Winner of the the 2018 Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel Winner of the 2019 Sue Feder Macavity Memorial Award for Best Historical Mystery Finalist for the 2019 Shamus Award A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018 An ABA IndieNext Selection A Washington Post Best Audiobook of 2018 A WBUR On Point Best Book of 2018 A Boston Globe Best Book of 2018 A Times of India Best Book of 2018 An Apple iTunes Most Anticipated Book of 2018 #2 on Cosmopolitans 33 Books to Get Excited About in 2018 The Bookseller (UK) Editors Pick for Mystery Maryland Humanities Route 1 Reads Selection for 2020 Praise for The Widows of Malabar Hill "These India-set stories put her [Masseys] with fairness and equality into a sparkling setting that shows how universal the fight for justice must be." --Parade Magazine " The Widows of Malabar Hill , with its deft prose and well-wrought characters, is a splendid first installment in what promises to be a memorable series." --Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal "Marvelously plotted, richly detailed . . . This is a first-rate performance inaugurating a most promising series." --The Washington Post "Perveen Mistry has all the pluck you want in a sleuthing lawyer, as well as a not-so-surprising--but decidedly welcome--proclivity for poking her nose into the business of others. The pages do indeed fly." --Marissa Stapley, The Globe and Mail " The Widows of Malabar Hill contains multitudes, tackling womens history and rights, while treating readers to a riveting story." --The National Post "Perveens dogged pursuit of truth and justice for her clients is reminiscent of the debuts of Anne Perrys Charlotte Ellison Pitt and Jacqueline Winspears Maisie Dobbs. But the multicultural, multi-faith milieu in which Perveen lives, works and attempts to find love both illuminates a bygone era and offers a thoughtful perspective relevant to todays focus on womens rights and equality." --Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times "Cool and cunning." --The Boston Globe "A fascinating setting, an extraordinary new sleuth, and a story that enthralls you-- The Widows of Malabar Hill has all three and more. Sujata Masseys new historical series is absolutely terrific, and you are just going to love Perveen Mistry, Indias first female lawyer." --Charles Todd, bestselling author of the Ian Rutledge series and the Bess Crawford series "Perveen Mistry is an extraordinary heroine--one of the first female lawyers in India, shes whip smart, strong-willed, and, most importantly, compassionate. Defying convention while draped in a sari, Perveen is sure to join the leads of great mystery fiction." --Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope mysteries "You get a mystery but you also get all the cultural details. I like that." --NBC New Day Northwest "Ive been complaining for several years now that we dont have enough competent female leads in mystery series, and Sujata Massey has delivered with The Widows of Malabar Hill . I was taken in by this Law and Order -esque tale set in lush, swing-era Bombay, and I loved seeing Perveen proceed with a cool head and a fiery heart. Readers looking for a strong female heroine, a vivid setting and a strange mystery will find it here." --The News Tribune "Theres so much to admire in Masseys writing: sumptuous details, attention to the senses and a tightly-plotted mystery that explores domains beyond normal trials and tribulations. Its writing thats easy to take for granted, but as we know, anything that easy is deceptively hard." --Baltimore Fishbowl "Massey deftly evokes the sights, the sounds, and the heat of Bombay as her clever and determined heroine, aided by a large supporting cast of sharply-drawn characters, sidesteps both custom and danger to deliver justice." --Vannessa Cronin, The Amazon Book Review "Masseys extensive research of Bombay during British imperial rule, its various ethnic communities and their respective legal customs, is seamlessly folded into the fabric of the story. The book is filled with fascinating bits of culture and history, a look at Indias Parsi and Muslim communities, well-written courtroom scenes, and even a locked-room murder." --Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine "A spectacular mystery to kickstart your year." --Bustle "Perveen is the kind of plucky, determined, practical, wounded, ahead-of-her-time protagonist an avid clique of mystery readers adore. She is destined to find a home with fans of like-minded female investigators such as Mary Russell and Maisie Dobbs, whose creators, like Massey, deftly anchor their solid plots in the realities, and challenges, of their times." --Los Angeles Review of Books "I cant wait to see what happens next." --Crime Time (UK) "A sneaky feminist masterpiece wrapped up in a cozy whodunit . . . just genius." --WBURs On Point "[A] setting and protagonist are like nothing Ive encountered in a mystery before: 1920s Bombay and one of Indias first female lawyers, whos devoted to championing and protecting womens rights." --BookRiots "44 Mystery Romance Novels to Read Right Now" "A compelling look into Indian society through the eyes of a remarkable heroine." --LitHub "Delightful." --Read or Dead podcast "[An] outstanding series launch . . . The period detail and thoughtful characterizations, especially of the capable, fiercely independent lead, bode well for future installments." --Publishers Weekl y, Starred Review "[Massey] does a wonderful job of taking life in India at the beginning of the 20th century. She gives enough cultural details without overwhelming readers with facts. The two plotlines wonderfully depict the development of the main character and the mystery as it unfolds . . . Fresh and original." --Library Journal, Starred Review "In addition to getting an unusual perspective on womens rights and relationships, readers are treated to a full view of historical downtown Bombay--the shops and offices, the docks and old fort, and the huge variety of conveyances, characters, and religions--in an unforgettable olio that provides the perfect backdrop to the plot and subplots. Each of the many characters is uniquely described, flaws and all, which is the key to understanding their surprising roles in the well-constructed puzzle." -- Booklist , Starred Review "[A] highly original story and satisfying ending make this a promising series debut." --Mystery Scene Magazine "History and culture blend in an involving and fast-paced mystery . . . Perveen is a fascinating character--smart, resourceful, ready to take on prejudices against women in the law." --St. Paul Pioneer Press "[A] lush, captivating debut series about 1920s Bombay." --Minneapolis Star-Tribune "An enticing and enlightening whodunit that addresses social issues and Indias multiple cultures." --Richmond Times-Dispatch "There is a new sleuth on the literary map and her name is Perveen Mistry, practicing woman lawyer, feminist, survivor of abuse and solver of murder mysteries. In The Widows of Malabar Hill , Sujata Massey brings 1920s Bombay to life, a time when the British still ruled, single women were not served alcohol in restaurants and there was murder most foul. With an indomitable heroine and a solid cast of sidekicks, this is the start of a series mystery readers should not miss." --Amulya Malladi, bestselling author of A House for Happy Mothers and The Copenhagen Affair "Perveen is strong, tenacious and smart, just the kind of advocate youd want to have on your side. And as someone who was born and raised in the city, I love the way in which Massey recreates colonial Bombay, down to the architecture, social interactions,politics and gender dynamics. You can feel the breeze coming off the Arabian Sea and taste the pastries at Yazdanis bakery." --Radha Vatsal, author of A Front Page Affair "Introducing an incisive, sympathetic heroine with a painful past while shedding light on a fascinating cloistered historical world, The Widows of Malabar Hill is not only immediately engaging--it has staying power." --Lyndsay Faye, Edgar-nominated author of Gods of Gotham and Jane Steele "Perveen Mistry is a rarity: a female solicitor in a bastion of masculinity! An astonishing heroine--fearless, intelligent and determined--she makes a memorable debut in Sujata Masseys The Widows of Malabar Hill . A gripping whodunnit, ful Promotional "Headline" 1920s India- Perveen Mistry, Bombays first female lawyer, is investigating a suspicious will on behalf of three Muslim widows living in full purdah when the case takes a turn toward the murderous. The author of the Agatha and Macavity Award-winning Rei Shimura novels brings us an atmospheric new historical mystery with a captivating heroine. Excerpt from Book Chapter 1 A STRANGERS GAZE Bombay, February 1921 On the morning Perveen saw the stranger, theyd almost collided. Perveen had come upon him half-hidden in the portico entrance to Mistry House. The unshaven, middle-aged man appeared as if hed slept for several days and nights in his broadcloth shirt and the grimy cotton dhoti that hung in a thousand creases from his waist to his ankles. His small, squinting eyes were tired, and he exuded a rank odor of sweat mixed with betel nut. A visitor to Mistry Law this early was rare. The firm was located in Fort, Bombays first settlement. Although the old wall had been taken down, the district was still a fortress of law and banking, with most openings between nine and ten. Assuming the man was a sad-sack client, Perveen glanced down, not wanting him to feel overly scrutinized. The idea of a woman solicitor was a shock to many. But when Perveen glanced down, she was disconcerted to see the man wasnt poor at all. His thin legs were covered by black stockings, and his feet were laced into scuffed black leather brogues. The only place men wore British shoes and stockings with their dhotis was Calcutta, about twelve hundred miles away. Calcutta: the city that would always remind her of Cyrus. As Perveen looked up, her alarm must have revealed itself. The man scuffled backward. "Just a minute! Are you seeking Mistry Law?" she called as he rushed across the street. Feeling perplexed, Perveen rapped on the door, which was opened moments later by Mustafa, the longtime butler in charge of Mistry House. The elderly man touched his heart and forehead in greeting before taking the tiffin box shed brought with the days lunch. "Adab, Perveen-memsahib," he said. "And where is your honorable father this morning?" "Hes got Jayanths trial at the High Court. Mustafa, did you know someone was waiting in our doorway?" He looked past her into the now-empty portico. "No. Where has he gone?" "Across the street--hes the man wearing the dhoti." Perveen saw that the man was now standing in the shadow of a building. Mustafa squinted. "Although dirty, he isnt a beggar. Not with shoes." "Shoes and stockings," Perveen pointed out. "Had he knocked, I would have told him to come after ten. You are too busy first thing in the morning for such strangers--although I saw no appointments in the book today?" Perveen noted the worry in his voice. Mustafa knew that it was a struggle for her to attract clients. "I didnt book any appointments today because an old friend is sailing in from England. Ill meet her when she arrives." "SS London ?" Perveen smiled. "You must have checked todays paper for the listing." The grizzled old man tilted his head downward, accepting the praise. "Yes, indeed. Ill inform you when the London is unloading. And tell me, will your English friend come to Mistry House? I could prepare a small tea." "I think Alice will go to her parents home in Malabar Hill first--but perhaps shell visit soon." Perveen surveyed the marble foyer, which was softly lit by lamps in gilded sconces. She would relish showing the Bombay Gothic building to her friend, Alice Hobson-Jones. The twenty-foot ceilings were a design feature of which Abbas Kayam Mistry, her late grandfather, had been especially proud. It always seemed as if her grandfather were watching from the long portrait guarding the entryway. His eyes, as inky black as his flat-topped fetah, were all knowing but not warm. "Ive got a load of papers to work through upstairs. I hope Pappas back for lunch because Ive brought a very good one today." "He must win at court, InshaAllah," Mustafa said piously, "or he wont have an appetite." "He loses very rarely!" Perveen said, although that mornings case would be a hard one. Both she and Jamshedji had been quiet in the car coming in: he looking over his notes, she gazing out the window, thinking of their young client in jail a few miles away, wondering if this would be the day he was freed. "Your father wins with his God-given ability to know the thoughts behind peoples faces," Mustafa told her. "Mistry-sahib can read the judges face like a newspaper." Perveen sighed, wishing she had the same talent. She had no idea if the stranger was a lost soul or harbinger of serious trouble. Putting the awkward incident aside, she trudged upstairs to address a half-done property contract on her side of the big mahogany partners desk. Legal paperwork was sometimes numbing, but the subtlety of one word could mean the difference between a clients success and his ruin. Three years of reading law had built her understanding, but a half year working under her father had taught her to inspect each line backward and forward. As the morning grew sunnier, she switched on the small electric fan that sat in a central window. Mistry House had been the first building on the block to pay for electric service, and due to its high cost, she was supposed to use it sparingly. Perveen glanced out the window and down to the street. Forts twenty square miles were once the East India Companys original fortified settlement. Now the district was known for the High Court and the many law offices around it. Nestled alongside the British and Hindu and Muslim law offices were a significant number owned by members of her own religious community, the Indian-born Zoroastrians. Although Parsis accounted for just 6 percent of Bombays total inhabitants, they constituted one-third of its lawyers. Iranis--the Zoroastrian immigrants who had come from the nineteenth century onward--prided themselves on running superlative bakeries and caf Description for Sales People New series from award-winning crime writer Sujata Massey - winner of the Agatha and Macavity Awards. Inspired by two real-life Parsi women who made history by becoming Indias first female lawyers. Set between the wars, a fascinating period in Indian history, with lush British Raj India setting. Features a sharp yet loveable new sleuth with a tragic past providing a backdrop to her fight for womens rights. Details ISBN1616959762 Author Sujata Massey Publisher Soho Press Inc Year 2018 ISBN-10 1616959762 ISBN-13 9781616959760 Format Paperback Imprint Soho Press Inc Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States DEWEY 813.6 Language English Series Number 1 UK Release Date 2018-11-20 Publication Date 2018-11-20 AU Release Date 2018-11-20 NZ Release Date 2018-11-20 US Release Date 2018-11-20 Audience General Pages 432 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:123910120;

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