Smoke and Ashes

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What to expect

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

Critics Review

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
[I]t is the flamboyant evocation of Calcutta that makes this such a mesmerising read
Guardian
Well-researched and vivid in detail… [Smoke and Ashes] delights from the first page until the last. Simply superb
Daily Express
[W]onderfully rich and entertaining period crime series
Mail on Sunday
Mukherjee weaves crime and history together with great skill
The Times
[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
Sunday Times
[Mukherjee’s] skills have been delightfully honed with each novel in this gripping and thoroughly entertaining series
Financial Times
Mukherjee, who only gets better and better with each book, has established himself as a leading historical mystery writer
Publishers Weekly
Subtle and evocative tale of the last days of the British Raj
The Sun
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.
David Young, author of Stasi Child

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