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Smoke and Ashes

The brilliant murder mystery in the award-winning crime series, from the bestselling author of Hunted

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Smoke and Ashes

By: Abir Mukherjee
Narrated by: Simon Bubb
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee, read by Simon Bubb.

**From the winner of the 2017 CWA Historical Dagger Award**

India, 1921. Haunted by his memories of the Great War, Captain Sam Wyndham is battling a serious addiction to opium that he must keep secret from his superiors in the Calcutta police force.

When Sam is summoned to investigate a grisly murder, he is stunned at the sight of the body: he’s seen this before. Last night, in a drug addled haze, he stumbled across a corpse with the same ritualistic injuries. It seems like there’s a deranged killer on the loose. Unfortunately for Sam, the corpse was in an opium den and revealing his presence there could cost him his career.

With the aid of his quick-witted Indian Sergeant, Surrender-not Banerjee, Sam must try to solve the two murders, all the while keeping his personal demons secret, before somebody else turns up dead.

Set against the backdrop of the fervent fight for Indian independence, and rich with the atmosphere of 1920s Calcutta, Smoke and Ashes is the brilliant new historical mystery in this award-winning series.

‘Smoke and Ashes is Abir Mukherjee's best book yet; a brilliantly conceived murder mystery set amidst political and social turmoil – beautifully crafted.’ CJ SANSOM

 Crime Fiction Historical Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Fiction Crime Exciting Murder

Critic reviews

Smoke and Ashes is Abir Mukherjee's best book yet; a brilliantly conceived murder mystery set amidst political and social turmoil – beautifully crafted.
[I]t is the flamboyant evocation of Calcutta that makes this such a mesmerising read (Barry Forshaw)
Well-researched and vivid in detail… [Smoke and Ashes] delights from the first page until the last. Simply superb
[W]onderfully rich and entertaining period crime series (John Williams)
Mukherjee weaves crime and history together with great skill (Antonio Senior)
[A] fine series of crime novels… tightly plotted portraits of British rule in India, exposing the prejudices shared even by decent employees of the Raj (Joan Smith)
[Mukherjee’s] skills have been delightfully honed with each novel in this gripping and thoroughly entertaining series (Nilanjana Roy)
Mukherjee, who only gets better and better with each book, has established himself as a leading historical mystery writer
Subtle and evocative tale of the last days of the British Raj
Abir Mukherjee had already proved himself a wonderful historical crime writer with his excellent first two novels. Smoke and Ashes is just as good, perhaps even better – and that’s saying something – a writer at the top of his game, as talented as the very best in the genre. The cauldron of 1920s Calcutta is described so superbly that every twist and turn wrenches your guts. Laid on top of this fabulously atmospheric background is a page-turning thriller which pits emerging South Asian nationalism against the ailing Raj. I can’t wait for the next instalment.
All stars
Most relevant
Once again a really engrossing Audio book with a brilliant story, great narration and a satisfying ending that - nevertheless - gives one hope of more books about Sam and 1920s Calcutta in the future.

Hope this isn't the last Sam Wyndham book ...

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The tension and wonderfully gripping plot, the atmospheric setting and endearing characters mesh to make this so fantastically readable.

My favourite so far

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This is definitely the best novel of the three so far, we learn more about Sgt "Surrender Not" and the complexity of his relationship with his family and his sense of identity in relation to the embryonic Indian nation. The narration is excellent and well paced in a thoroughly engaging presentation. More please!

Best yet

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Not my usual read but part of book group choice, I was hooked really early on. There was a little history lesson in there too but not too much that it weighed the story down. Really enjoyed it.
Would read more of his.

Gripping

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I have enjoyed each of the books in this series and look forward to the next. The author paints a vivid picture of India in the 1920s capturing both the Indian and British perspectives. Within this you get strong well developed characters in engaging detective adventures. Well written, well read, well worth a listen.

A great series

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