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The Burning Grounds

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The Burning Grounds

By: Abir Mukherjee
Narrated by: Mikhail Sen, Simon Bubb
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

In the Burning Ghats of Calcutta where the dead are laid to rest, a man is found murdered, his throat cut from ear to ear.

The body is that of a popular patron of the arts, a man who was, by all accounts, beloved by all: so what was the motive for his murder? Despite being out of favour with the Imperial Police Force, Detective Sam Wyndham is assigned to the case and finds himself thrust into the glamorous world of Indian cinema.

Meanwhile Surendranath Banerjee, recently returned from Europe after three years spent running from the fallout of his last case, is searching for a missing photographer; a trailblazing woman at the forefront of the profession. When Suren discovers that the vanished woman is linked to Sam's murder investigation, the two men find themselves working together once again - but will Wyndham and Banerjee be able to put their differences aside to solve the case?From the critically-acclaimed author of HUNTED comes the next instalment in the popular Wyndham and Banerjee series.

'An unmissable series' The Times


'Captivating, moving and exciting, it's historical fiction at its finest' Sunday Express

'Abir Mukherjee is doing something uniquely different in the crime genre...breathtaking' Peter May, Sunday Times bestseller, on The Shadows of Men

© Abir Mukherjee 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

20th Century Crime Thrillers Historical Historical Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedurals Thriller & Suspense Crime Murder

Critic reviews

Compulsive reading. This is a master storyteller at the top of his game.
Another gloriously brilliant deep dive into the dying days of the British Empire from one of our foremost historical crime writers
An utterly spellbinding triumph from a master storyteller. (Joseph O’Connor)
I really enjoyed it. It was great to be back in the world of Wyndham and Banerjee as they solved a wonderfully imagined story told with all of Abir’s trademark wry humour. I especially liked the way he brought all of Kolkata’s satanic majesty to life. (Ajay Chowdhury)
I devoured it... Thrilling, evocative and amusing. It’s a book that has everything
Mukherjee’s tale from the Rag, full of local colour and excitement, is about blood, money and “the callousness of the universe”… Historical crime fiction at its best
Another masterful Wyndham and Banerjee series, delivered with the usual panache
Sharp observation and ­stylish writing make it one not to miss
Throw in a beautiful English actress starring in an Indian film and you have the ingredients of a superb story set against the backdrop of colonial India . Sharp observation and stylish writing make it one not to miss
Mukherjee's eye for period detail and ear for dialogue bring this world vividly, dangerously alive
All stars
Most relevant
This is another book in the series of murder mystery stories of India, it’s set in Calcutta before independence. I have really enjoyed the whole series, the descriptions bring the sights, sounds and smells of India vividly to life.

Wonderful story telling

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After 3 years ..more in real time they are back - more mature more conflicted and facing further investigation! A great continuity for the pair!

They’re back!

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I've listened to all of Abir Mukerjee's books and this may possibly be my favourite. It has an excellent and fast paced plot. Calcutta is portrayed so well it is almost a character itself. Wyndham and Banerjee are, as ever, brilliant characters and their relationship just gets better and better. Once again perfectly narrated by Simon Bubb and Mikhail Sen, they truly bring them to life. This is one of the best series of books I've ever read (or listened to) and I've read A LOT of books. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Fantastic story and outstanding narration.

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What a treat. Another Wyndham and Banerjee story. waited a while for this and was not disappointed. More please

they're back

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Abir Mukherjee gets better with each book. The main characters, Sam, Surrendranath and Annie are perfectly formed and dance around friendship and romance crossing continents, cultures and personalities. Although each book can stand alone, for me the characters develop and grow through the series. I would recommend starting with book one, A Rising Man. That way the reader can truly appreciate the development of the characters and the journey through Indian/British/Anglo Indian relationships and there complexity. This is cleverly conveyed with humour and honesty. I can't wait for the next one in this series.

Humerous detective story

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