Lead Review (City of Destruction)
- Book: City of Destruction
- Location: Mumbai (Bombay)
- Author: Vaseem Khan
India’s first female detective Persis Wadia is called upon, once again, when a political rally ends in a killing. A young man takes aim at Azad, the defence minister in Nehru’s government, who is a populist, stirring trouble in these fragile days so soon after Partition. Archie Finch is collateral damage in this scenario and ends up in a coma in hospital, which is of great concern to Wadia, given their personal relationship.
As the young assassin dies, he hands an amulet to Wadia, which in the aftermath gets forgotten, but when she remembers, she starts to consider the implications. She is seconded to another death, away from the bustling city along the shore – an apparent immolation but all is not what it seems.
She is a plucky and defiant young woman, who has a good sleuthing nose, and even though she is a woman, she is not inclined to follow convention. Remember, this is still a very masculine world. There are many obstacles – of course – given the political and social climate and she is not deterred as she opens avenues of investigation.
This is an engaging story with a good backdrop of time and place.
The audiobook is well read, though a little more passion when the action revs up, might prove more immersive.
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