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A Necessary Evil

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A Necessary Evil

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

The fabulously wealthy kingdom of Sambalpore: home to tigers, elephants, diamond mines and the beautiful Palace of the Sun. When the heir to the throne of Sambalpore is assassinated in Calcutta in the presence of Captain Sam Wyndham and his colleague 'Surrender-Not' Banerjee, Wyndham works to uncover the reasons behind Prince Punit's death, despite the opposition of his commanding officers. Travelling to Sambalpore, he discovers a kingdom riven with suppressed conflict. Prince Punit was a moderniser whose attitudes - and romantic relationship - may have upset the more religious elements of his country while his brother appears to be a feckless playboy. And when Annie Grant, the first woman to capture Wyndham's heart since the death of his wife, arrives in the kingdom, Wyndham knows this is going to be a case that is as challenging personally as it is professionally.

©2017 Abir Mukherjee (P)2017 Random House Audiobooks Crime Fiction Historical International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Royalty Exciting Heartfelt Crime

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All stars
Most relevant
This is a really good listen. I liked the way that the characters and relationships had all developed onwards from the first book. The 1920s setting in an India under British rule makes for interesting twists. The narration is excellent depicting a lively caste of characters and nationalities with ease.

Cannot wait for Book 3 !

A good story which is well narrated.

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You’ve got to pay attention. Complex twisty plot, if a little slow at times. Wyndham is a pretty rubbish detective though.

Tricky plot

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Second in the series and continues to get better
Definitely worth a listen. Great characters and interesting story lines

Recommended

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I loved A Rising Man but I love this book even more!
s the above synopsis says this book is set in the ‘fabulously wealthy kingdom of Sambalpore home to tigers, elephants, diamond mines, and the beautiful Palace of the Sun.’ Right from the beginning of the book there were wonderful descriptions of the opulence of the kingdom and of the princes wearing jewel encrusted outfits, including their beards!

This was a fantastic murder mystery that tied me up in knots, as I tried to work out who the murderer was and what the motive was behind the killing. The murder trail took Sam and Banerjee right into the heart of the Sambalpore, where they got caught up in the intrigue of the goings on of the Maharaja and his court, and they really didn’t know if anyone could be trusted.

The relationship between Sam and Banerjee is definitely warmer in this book, and it was nice to see that Sam took the Sargeant more seriously as they investigated the murder. This was a welcome change, as Banerjee is a very clever policeman, and definitely more on the ball than his boss!

Simon Bubb’s narration was brilliant again, definitely making him one of my new favourite narrators! He’s become the voice of Sam and Banerjee, and I can’t wait to hear him bring them to life once again in the next book, Smoke and Ashes!

I definitely recommend this story on audiobook, especially if you enjoy historical crime fiction.

Brilliant Second Book!

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The author treads very well the fine line evoking the prejudice of the people, time and place

Very evocative

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A wonderful read of an excellent and beautifully written story. I am now hooked on the entire series. Thank you India Knight the Times Columnist who prompted me to start.

Faultless

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This is another really excellent book set in India after the First World War. It is very atmospheric and evocative of time and place, with an excellent storyline that doesn't flag. Like it's predecessor it explores the issues of colonialism in a nuanced way. The narration is perfect.

As good as the first one

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A great story with pace, engaging detail and tension. This skilled writer comes highly recommended

Everything a Great Novel Should be

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a well researched story with excellent characterisation and plot. It combines the interest of a detective story with historical information about the reality of British rule in India.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Necessary Evil?

For me the description of the tiger hunt, authentic but horrific, I almost didn't want to listen.

What about Simon Bubb’s performance did you like?

The narrator, although not from the Indian Sub continent, reproduces 'posh' Indian accents well.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I think my emotional reaction would be to hope that Sam eventually can be happy.

Another excellent book by Abir Mukherjee

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The second story in the series sees Sam and Surrender Not develop their partnership further as they untangle the goings-on in an independent Indian kingdom. There are lots of twists and turns against an excellently woven backdrop of the times.

Can't wait to listen to Book 3.

Loving this series, engaging from start to finish

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