Featured Author -August 2021 - Abir Mukherjee

[Alice]

Our Author for August 2021 will be Abir Mukherjee

Abir Mukherjee grew up in the West of Scotland. At the age of fifteen, his best friend made him read Gorky Park and he's been a fan of crime fiction ever since. The child of immigrants from India, A Rising Man, his debut novel, was inspired by a desire to learn more about this crucial period in Anglo-Indian history that seems to have been almost forgotten. It won the Harvill Secker/Daily Telegraph crime writing competition and became the first in a series starring Captain Sam Wyndham and 'Surrender-not' Banerjee. Abir lives in London with his wife and two sons.

A Rising Man
A Necessary Evil
Smoke and Ashes
Death in the East
The Shadows of Men

Awards
Jhalak Prize Best Book nominee (2016) : A Rising Man
Dagger Awards Best Book nominee (2017) : A Rising Man
Barry Awards Best First Novel nominee (2018) : A Rising Man
Dagger Awards Best Book nominee (2018) : A Necessary Evil
Barry Awards Best Novel nominee (2019) : A Necessary Evil
Dagger Awards Best Book nominee (2020) : Death in the East
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (2020) : Smoke and Ashes

[Alice]

I can't believe I have never read a novel by Abir Mukherjee. I saw we had a lot discussion about his books so I thought he would be a good author of the month. I ordered A Rising Man can't wait for August to read it!!

[Sandy]

I love the series but am caught up and the new one, The Shadows of Men, isn't due until later in the year. Good reading.

[Alice]

Sandy wrote: "I love the series but am caught up and the new one, The Shadows of Men, isn't due until later in the year. Good reading."

I am impressed with all the award nominations he has, always a good sign.

[Helen]

Have read them all, very much looking forward to the one due later in the year. He's also a really good speaker, very entertaining. There are quite a few videos on YouTube.

[Pamela]

I love this series, will be reading the fourth Death in the East

[Gretchen]

This series is fantastic! I did that really dumb thing that I do where I blow through all of the published books and have to spend an agonizing amount of time waiting for the next one.

[Emma]

I’ve recently read the first one and have the second one ready to go in August.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

I also love this gritty, well written series! Have read all four and really looking forward to #5. Recommend checking out his author website. Lots of interesting info.

[Alice]

Last night I started A Rising Man. Really enjoying it so far. Love the historical background

[Abigail]

I’ve just started as well. I like the setting but the modern, anachronistic language bugs me.

[Kerri]

I am still waiting for my book to arrive and feeling a bit left out! I can't believe I haven't read any of his books before now given all of the praise from all of you and the number of award nominations he has. really looking forward to starting this series.

[Alice]

I finished A Rising Man and enjoyed it. Loved the description of 1919 India and its history. Good mystery and you want to learn more about the characters. Can't wait to see what happens in book 2.

[Katy]

I am about halfway through. So far I am enjoying it very much. I like the way the author describes the situation in India from different perspectives.

[Abigail]

Finished A Rising Man. The setting was fascinating and the mystery satisfied me, but I did not enjoy the protagonist or the writing all that much. I get tired of dark, angst-ridden detectives. The writing seemed serviceable but had no flair and the occasional anachronism dropped me out of the world.

[Emma]

I’ve just finished A Necessary Evil and I felt it was much stronger than A Rising Man.
Also The Shadows of Men is available on Netgalley at the moment, if anyone’s interested.