She gives enough cultural details without overwhelming readers with facts. does a wonderful job of taking life in India at the beginning of the 20th century. 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 In addition to getting an unusual perspective on women's rights and relationships, readers are treated to a full view of historical downtown Bombay.in an unforgettable olio that provides the perfect backdrop to the plot and subplots. The period detail and thoughtful characterizations, especially of the capable, fiercely independent lead, bode well for future installments.' - Publishers Weekly 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. 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. The Farid widows live in full purdah - in strict seclusion, never leaving the women's quarters or speaking to any men. What will they live on? 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. But as Perveen examines the paperwork, she notices something strange: all three of the wives have signed over their full inheritance to a charity. Omar Farid, a wealthy Muslim mill owner who has left three widows behind. Mistry Law has been appointed to execute the will of Mr.

Armed with a legal education from Oxford, Perveen also has a tragic personal history that makes women's legal rights especially important to her. 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.

The author of the Agatha and Macavity Award-winning Rei Shimura novels brings us an atmospheric new historical mystery with a captivating heroine. Inspired in part by the woman who made history as India's 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.ġ920s India: Perveen Mistry, Bombay's 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 satapur moonstone by sujata massey