The Burning Grounds - (Wyndham & Banerjee Mysteries) by Abir Mukherjee (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In The Burning Ghats of Calcutta, where the dead are laid to rest, a man is found murdered, his throat cut from ear to ear. The body is that of a popular philanthropist and patron of the arts. A man, who was, by all accounts, beloved by all. So what could possibly be the motive for murder? Though out of favour with the Imperial Police Force, Detective Sam Wyndham is assigned to the case, and finds himself thrust into the glamorous world of cinema when his investigation leads him to a film the victim was funding. Meanwhile Sam's former colleague, Surendranath Banerjee, recently returned from Europe after three years running from the fallout of his last case, is searching for a vanished photographer, one of the first women in the profession. When he discovers the missing woman is somehow linked to Sam's murder investigation, the two men are forced to work together once again--but will Wyndham and Banerjee be able to put their differences aside to solve the case?"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Award-winning crime novelist Abir Mukherjee returns to his brilliant mystery series set in late-1920s Calcutta, as Sam Wyndham and Surendranath Banerjee must reunite to solve a high profile murder and disappearance.

In The Burning Ghats of Calcutta, where the dead are laid to rest, a man is found murdered, his throat cut from ear to ear.

The body is that of a popular philanthropist and patron of the arts. A man, who was, by all accounts, beloved by all. So what could possibly be the motive for murder? Though out of favour with the Imperial Police Force, Detective Sam Wyndham is assigned to the case, and finds himself thrust into the glamorous world of cinema when his investigation leads him to a film the victim was funding.

Meanwhile Sam's former colleague, Surendranath Banerjee, recently returned from Europe after three years running from the fallout of his last case, is searching for a vanished photographer, one of the first women in the profession. When he discovers the missing woman is somehow linked to Sam's murder investigation, the two men are forced to work together once again--but will Wyndham and Banerjee be able to put their differences aside to solve the case?

Review Quotes

"I'm late in discovering the acerbic charms of Mukherjee's Wyndham and Banerjee historical crime novels, set in 1920s Calcutta. But that didn't stop me from devouring his latest in which the murdered corpse of one of India's most eminent philanthropists is discovered on the burning ghats, about to be cremated but for a fortuitous downpour."--Alida Becker, The New York Times Book Review

"With writing as striking as its plot twists, Abir Mukherjee's sixth Wyndham & Banerjee historical mystery is an intoxicating brew. With a cracking double mystery plot, The Burning Grounds demonstrates why CWA Dagger Award-winner and twice Edgar-nominated author Abir Mukherjee is an international bestseller and critical favorite."--BookPage

Praise for the Wyndham & Banerjee Mystery series:

"A thought-provoking rollercoaster."-- "Ian Rankin"

"A phenomenal historical mystery. Thrilling and evocative, darkly funny and surprisingly touching. Mukherjee's prose is so sharp that the setting feels immediate and vital."-- "Criminal Element"

"Mukherjee, who only gets better and better with each book, has established himself as a leading historical mystery writer."-- " Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

"Mukherjee's ongoing series is one of the most exciting things happening in the crime fiction world... Mukherjee provides another exhilarating and erudite story."-- "Crime Reads"

"In this follow-up to The Shadows of Men, Mukherjee subtly recaps key events from previous novels so that even new readers can step in and be up to speed. The gritty, noirish tone of Sam's POV chapters adds to the book's intensity and is supported by well-crafted descriptions of life in 1920s Calcutta. Anyone who enjoys period mysteries should give this series a try."--Library Journal

"A brilliantly conceived murder mystery set amidst political and social turmoil. Beautifully crafted."-- "C. J. Sansom, New York Times bestselling author
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"Enthralling."-- "The New York Times Book Review"

"The flamboyant evocation of 1920s Calcutta make this a mesmerising read."-- "The Guardian"

About the Author

Abir Mukherjee is the author of the award-winning Wyndham & Banerjee series of crime novels set in Raj-era India. He has won the CWA Historical Dagger and the Wilbur Smith Award for Adventure Writing, and has been shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger, the HWA Gold Crown, and the Edgar Allan Poe Award. His novels include A Rising Man, A Necessary Evil, Smoke and Ashes, and Death in the East. Abir grew up in Scotland and now lives in Surrey, England.