The Widows of Malabar Hill (A Perveen Mistry Novel)

It has received rave reviews from many guests on the "What Should I Read Next?" podcast and from the podcast host Ann Bogel. The setting in 1920s Bombay is rich and well-researched. The author consulted many experts to understand the culture, the daily lives, the customs, and even the foods of that time and place, so the reader has the past brought alive. She uses many terms and references from the era and includes an alphabetical glossary to aid the reader. This was helpful but not at all necessary to enjoy the book. The heroine, Perveen Mistry, is Bombay's first female lawyer, practicing with her father in the well-respected firm of Mistry Law, founded by her grandfather. Her character is based, in part, on a real woman who made history as India's first female attorney. Mistry Law must execute the will of a wealthy Muslim mill owner, Omar Farid. Perveen finds the paperwork suspicious: all three of Farid's wives have signed over their inheritance to a charity, but what would they live on? Do they understand what they're doing...or are they being coerced by an unscrupulous male guardian? The widows live in full purdah—strict seclusion—never leaving the women's quarters or speaking to men face-to-face. As Perveen gains access to the women, her suspicions are confirmed, but when tensions lead to a murder, she and her father find a baffling collection of clues that keep them from knowing whom to trust. Threaded throughout is Perveen's backstory of a disastrous marriage and her own commitment to making sure the widows are protected from antiquated inheritance laws. Excitement builds as some members of the Farid household disappear and Perveen herself becomes a target. This delicious who-done-it is set against the backdrop of the fascinating multicultural city of Bombay, where not only were there rigidly observed separations between British authorities and native Indians, but there were also huge cultural differences between Muslims, Hindus, and Zoroastrians. These all added color and interest to the story, and even though Perveen's family was progressive for the time, they too were shackled by cultural norms, standards, and expectation. This book would make a great movie, and I certainly hope we'll see more of this engaging and impetuous heroine.

This mystery features Perveen Mistry, the first woman to practice law in India (though fictional, Perveen is based the real woman who achieved this distinction at this time). Perveen is Parsi, an Indian cultural group that came originally from Iran (Persia) and follows the Zoroastrian religion. The three women whose situation she investigates in this story, on the other hand, are Muslim and follow the custom of purdah, which confines them to a particular part of their home and allows them to speak to men only through a screen. All are widows of the same man, and it appears that another man, in charge of the deceased man’s estate, is trying to cheat them out of their inheritance. Working in her father’s law firm, Perveen tries to make sure that the widows know and exercise their rights; as a woman, she cannot practice in court, but she has the advantage of being able to visit the widows in their seclusion. When the abusive estate manager is murdered in the house, she tries to find the culprit, since the police show little interest in doing so. The book provides interesting details of several cultures active in India during this transitional time, when the British still controlled the country but desires for independence were beginning to stir. The focus is on the different roles and restrictions assigned to women. Attitudes toward women could differ considerably even within a single culture and religion, as Perveen has learned earlier to her sorrow: her own upper-class Parsi family is very progressive, encouraging her to pursue her education and interest in law, but the family into which she married, though also upper-class Parsi, proved to be extremely traditional and restrictive. Her experience with them undoubtedly fuels her desire to help the three widows, who are trapped in an equally confining environment. Perveen, the widows, and the book’s other characters are interesting, though I didn’t feel a deep involvement with them, and the writing and the mystery are well handled. The best thing about the book, however, was learning the details of the cultures, including many terms for foods, articles of clothing, and the like. It was illuminating, though sad, to learn that such restrictions as forced seclusion during menstruation were still practiced among some groups even in the early 20th century—but of course these customs and even worse ones persist in some places today.

The widows of Malabar Hill lets us look into the society of India during the days of the British Empire. We are taken back to those days, and allowed to experience the customs of the different peoples and religious outlooks of the time. It was very interesting how the religious customs influenced family life, to the point of it affecting the way the House on Malibar Hill was constructed. It also showed how the complexity of the web of those cultural and religious beliefs played out in everyday life, making every thing a person did have a capacity for hidden meanings. As much as I miss Sujata's Shimura Rei, I enjoyed this look into life in India in between the world wars. It was an excellent mystery based on the ways points of view, and human selfishness affects they way peoples treat one another. I really enjoyed this book. I do miss that the details of the dress- this takes place in the 'flapper era- of the English people of the time, and the way a British lady was expected to present herself were overshadowed. Alice's parents could have had more doubts about their daughter's friendship with Paraveen and her family. Old cultures are infamous for having mouldering old buildings which were once quite imposing, but which sag with age like high born once beautiful young adults, but who have now elderly dowagers. Alice would have had to contend with high heeled shoes when she was causing the diversion for Paraveen. Her parents would have smoked; her mother would have had an upscale brand of cigarette, while her husband enjoyed his pipe. Ladies and gents would have gone to different areas in the British house after dinner to talk- the men enjoying port wine or brandy and a cigar or pipe. And there would have been a terrier dog in the English house as insurance against rats. I highly recommend this book for the way it uses a mystery story to let us into the culture of India during the 1920s. thank you Sujata!!

THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL by Sujata Massey If you like historical fiction, especially India in early 20th century, and learning about different cultures and ways of life, you will like this book. While it is a murder mystery, it is also an exploration of the various cultures active in India from 1915 to 1922. The heroine is a young woman Parisi (Zoroastrian) who has trained to be a solicitor (lawyer) at Oxford and is working in her father’s firm when three widows, Muslims who live in Purda or complete seclusion from men, need a lawyer. A murder occurs, and Perveen, the untried female lawyer, is the only one who can enter the widows’ seclusion. The situation of women of all faiths becomes integral to the plot, as do marriage customs, inheritance, family practices, the law, the role of the English in India, Indian independence, class strictures and even education and employment for women. While the plot moves slowly, the descriptions of a way of life unknown to most Americans, keeps the reader interested and reading. Besides a murder, there are also two kidnappings, financial shenanigans, jewelry theft, families in crisis, and other plot devices to keep interest high. The noises, smells and flavors of Bombay and Calcutta set the scene. Clearly drawn characters and lively writing add to a tale well worth spending time with tea, curry and Perveen as she navigates the path forward with three widows who are clearly not sisters of the heart. 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed learning about another time period and another culture. The mystery was interesting. As with most historical novels, though, our modern era crept in a bit to much. There's a lot of emphasis on men controlling women and why that's a Bad Thing. I didn't really believe the sudden transformation of Mistry's husband from nice, supportive guy to obsessive abuser. But overall, I enjoyed it and will probably check out the next installment.

A delightful historical novel of the challenges for a female solicitor in 1920s British-rule in India. Perveen Mistry is the daughter of a successful lawyer who now wishes to make a name for herself during a time when female lawyers in Bombay had yet been permitted. When her father hires her as solicitor, her first challenge is helping decide the fate of three widows whose inheritance are at risk of being stolen by an unscrupulous family overseer. When an unexpected death occurs and family members of the widows disappear, the challenge of settling the inheritance becomes all the more difficult. Will Perveen muster the courage to see her clients' case through to the end, or will she fail under the pressure of prejudice and intrigue? The is the 2nd book I've read by this author, and I was not disappointed. I found book 3 (The Bombay Prince) in a thrift store, read it, and enjoyed it so much I decided to by the entire set. The author has painstakingly provided readers with thorough research of the culture and background of British-ruled India during a tumultuous time for all people living here. I was mesmerized by her details of each character, their surroundings, and the culture. I look forward to the next book by Sujata Massey.

An interesting and readable novel. The mystery aspect is subordinate to the history and cultural information.

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey was a fun, adventurous read. Set in 1921, Bombay, India, this mystery shares the customs, religious & societal laws, architecture, design, and culture of the time. Massey wove a tale that walked me alongside Perveen Mistry, India's first female lawyer. Though she cannot appear before a judge in an Indian court, she works as a solicitor with her father in their family law practice, mostly doing contracts. This is exactly what she's doing when the mystery begins to unveil itself after a forgotten item is retrieved. Intermingled within that storyline are flashbacks of Perveen's history- meeting her best friend Alice, her marriage, her time at Oxford. All of this truly gives the reader a strong sense of who Perveen is and why she is who she is. We see four very different families with very different views of love, loyalty, tradition, and compassion. Perveen, a young twenty-something, struggles among all these ideas and ways of thinking, but never forgets what her job is...those three widows on Malabar Hill. Digging deep, following her intuition, heeding advice of her father, and even hiring a "sidekick" all work to Perveen's favor in resolution of the case. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the sights & sounds of India and longed for much of the cultural food described within. Massey excels at sharing her knowledge and experiences and I look forward to the next book in the Perveen Mistry series!

Great author. She takes us back to early 20th century India.

Having lived for a time in Bombay, now known as Mumbai, I was immediately drawn to The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey. Not just because I resided on Malabar Hill of all places. What caught my attention was the setting and the storyline about an aspiring female lawyer in 1920's India. Despite such a unique premise, I've found it hard to read at times due to the overlap between past and present. That's why I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. Perveen Mistry is a privileged woman. Of Parsi descent, her family is so open-minded to encourage her to study law and pursue a legal career in her father's law firm even though no women have been admitted to the Indian bar. It isn't a problem for Perveen, who dreams of becoming India's first female solicitor and has studied in Oxford after overcoming a wrong personal decision. She's happy to prepare briefs and examine the finer points of rules and regulations until the settlement of an inheritance among three Muslim widows requires her to go on the front line. Since the widows are full purdah—in strict seclusion, they can't talk to any males who aren't related to them. Perveen will have to be her father's eyes and ears, especially when the inheritance renouncement will turn into murder. The criminal twist is just an excuse the author adopts to describe the reality of women's lives back in the 1920s. I like how Mrs. Massey exposes the seclusion and often the abuses perpetrated on the different women portrayed in this book. Whether Muslim, Hindu, Parsi, or even British, they're all under the thumb of a chauvinistic system that allows only men the freedom to choose how to live their lives. The unfairness of it is what has kept me hooked to the last page, along with the realization that in many ways, one hundred years haven't improved women's conditions all that much. Even sadder the awareness that often it's the women themselves who uphold this unjust system and go from victims to executioners in the blink of an eye. On the downside, the narration isn't fluid. The telling of the widows:' troubles is fragmented with Perveen's past experiences. I've also found the dialogue tags a bit repetitive. Too many crisply, soberly, and said for my taste though, fortunately, don't diminish the reader's enjoyment of a tale that has to be told. I definitely recommend this book to all the women readers looking for more than a mystery novel.

Enjoyable, interesting reading with some crime story. Exotic world for a Western reader.

48 pgs are missing in the book

This book was a joy to read. This author appears to have it all: great characters that leap off the page, an intriguing story and the ability to convey a sense of time and place. A beautifully written book that made me eager to read more. I can’t wait for the next installment. A note of caution to Australian readers: This book wasn’t published here for more than a year after its American and English publication during which time it was available via Amazon. In Australia it has been given a slightly different title to make it look like another title in the series. Such blatant attempts to deceive should be outlawed!