The Waiter

Get in the xigxag app
This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.
Pre-order Buy Now ${{ price }}
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

** THE TIMES AUDIOBOOK OF THE WEEK **

Kamil Rahman, disgraced detective, turned waiter, is about to find himself embroiled in a case that might just change his life ... for better or for worse.

Disgraced detective Kamil Rahman moves from Kolkata to London to start afresh as a waiter in an Indian restaurant. But the day he caters a birthday party for his boss's friend on Millionaire's Row, his simple new life becomes rather complicated. The event is a success, the food is delicious, but later that evening the host, Rakesh, is found dead in his swimming pool.

Suspicion falls on Rakesh's new wife, Neha, and Kamil is called to investigate for the family, with the help of his boss's daughter Anjoli. Kamil and Anjoli prove a capable team - but as the investigation progresses, Kamil struggles to keep memories of the case that destroyed his career in Kolkata at bay. . . and his past will soon catch up with him in some rather unexpected ways.

'A hugely entertaining first novel, taking us from Kolkata to Brick Lane' Ann Cleeves

'A rip-roaring mystery that's engrossing from start to finish... a refreshing and welcome addition to the world of detective fiction. One of my favourite reads of the year' Abir Mukherjee

© Ajay Chowdhury 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Critics Review

  • A hugely entertaining first novel for lovers of traditional crime fiction, taking us from Kolkata to Brick Lane. I can’t wait to read more about disgraced detective Kamil and his wonderfully drawn companion Anjoli.

    Ann Cleeves

  • Superb… Chowdhury paces the novel like an old hand, juxtaposing chapters set in the East End with flashbacks to Calcutta… [an] outstanding debut

    Sunday Times

  • From the mean streets of Kolkata to the kitchens of Brick Lane…this is a rip-roaring mystery that’s engrossing from start to finish. In Kamil Rahman, Ajay has created a quixotic and all too human protagonist who is a refreshing and welcome addition to the world of detective fiction. One of my favourite reads of the year.

    Abir Mukherjee, author of the Wyndham & Banerjee mysteries

  • The Waiter is a heady mix of murder, intrigue and all things Indian. Weaving together a dual narrative with aplomb, Ajay Chowdhury’s neatly-drawn detective Kamil Rahman relives his failure to solve the murder of a Bollywood A-lister in Kolkata whilst trying to solve the killing of an Indian industrialist in London. Could the two murders be connected? An accomplished crime debut that offers something a little different.

    Vaseem Khan, author of the Malabar House Baby Ganesh Agency crime series

  • An authentic and enthralling debut with an original new lead detective.

    G.R. Halliday

More from the same

Author

Narrator

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.