Welcome to Litsy!

Down with the flu and the only thing to do was read. Sujata Massey‘s fictitious lawyer with super-sleuthing skills is great company! Perveen Mistry may be doing her bit for women‘s empowerment in the 1920s of Bombay. But she‘s every bit relatable! #Booked2019 #FemaleDetective #whodunit #MysteryWithAServingOfDelectableParsiCuisine

Good story. hooked on India these days

Roughly 60% historical fiction and 40% mystery, this book kept me engaged to the end. It‘s not a hardcore mystery written as a puzzle, which I appreciate; although I think the clues were there, it‘s much more focused on storytelling. I would happily read the next one in the series. This was my “souvenir” from visiting my brother in Minneapolis, where we stumbled across this great little shop.

I enjoyed the setting the most. Post WWI Bombay is a fascinating part of history we learn so little about in the US (are we surprised?) I very much enjoyed the main character‘s father. I can‘t say I completely enjoyed the book but I will read the next one. One thing I did appreciate, the author doesn‘t explain everything that won‘t be familiar to the average American. She uses words & phrases from religion & culture & trusts the reader to keep up.

Some of my books that are set in #India, a place I‘d love to visit someday. #LetsTravelJuly

 @OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

It‘s delightfully cool and breezy today, after the heat wave of last week. A lovely morning with a good book and a glass of homemade cold brew!
#summerreading

Both of these series take place mostly in the 1920s. I have read the first books and already have the second ready to go. I may end up reading one of them this weekend. #1920s #LetsTravelJuly

FINALLY I get to take a #bookandpool picture too!! Perfect pool day up here in #doorcounty , and I‘m enjoying this book.

#summer

I quite enjoyed this one, particularly due to Perveen—she‘s a great character, smart and confident in a time and place that doesn‘t really allow most women to be either. She doesn‘t let that hinder her but I like that the author didn‘t make it some big pointed thing. The plot did get a bit meandering and we do get the “villain monologue” trope which I don‘t love, but overall this was fun and fresh and I‘m looking forward to the next one. 3/5 ⭐️

India 1917, or USA 2019? Six of one, apparently! 😠

“Razia-begum, it seems that you are chained to some people and a large old house that you cannot fully enjoy.”

Razia looked warily at Perveen. “Is that not the meaning of family?”

Reading the synopsis again for this book, I‘m wondering why I haven‘t gotten to it sooner! Also this cover is gorgeous. You can‘t tell in the pic but some of the stars in the doorway and the trim on her clothing and briefcase are shiny gold ☺️✨

Lunch time reading. Trying to finish this one by Wednesday for book club!

I had been in a reading slump. Finally coming out of it with this amazing book. #readingwomen is summer so I am having a lemonade in my balcony

Up next this evening. This is my bookclub‘s pick for next month. Maybe I‘ll get to make it 🤞🏻

The first in a series of mysteries set in 1920s Bombay centred on the first female lawyer in India. Oxford-educated Perveen Mistry, daughter in a prominent Parsi family, is sensible and self-reliant. I enjoyed the way period details give a strong sense of place, the complex plotting, the thoughtful characterization, and the feminist issues that are at the forefront. The #audiobook narration by Soneela Nankani is a bit overwrought, unfortunately.

Two books in one month with Parsi central characters. What are the chances?
#SouthAsianWomen

I absolutely loved this book. Thanks to the Read or Dead podcast ladies for this recommendation!

I haven‘t made it to book club in the last three months, but I bought next month‘s book just in case. I also got some fabulous goodies for my #summersantagoespostal partner while I was browsing my local Indie Bookstore at lunch yesterday. 🤓

Well done murder mystery featuring a female Parsi lawyer in 1921 India. Well researched and informative about law and religious practice, seclusion and divorce. Perveen Mistry has a pretty interesting background that helps her in her work representing the widows. https://cannonballread.com/2019/05/the-widows-of-malabar-hill-a-perveen-mistry-n...

It took some time to adjust to the very measured pacing. But, the slow unveiling of Perveen‘s backstory combined with her first whodunnit legal case provides a solid introduction to a new mystery series. Although I prefer a faster tempo, the pace did give me time to absorb more of the world Perveen inhabits. I had little context to work with but the author gave me a lot without overwhelming me.

Taught me...
I clearly don't know enough Indian history and culture.
Reading about early 20th century women tackling sexism is always stressful (reading about any woman tackling sexism is stressful).

Great deal on a really good book! On Amazon. #bookenabler

good

A murder mystery with amazing female characters and great writing. Immensely entertaining and unputdownable. It's the first book in a series, the second one will come out this year.

#bookvolley
@ShyBookOwl

The first of a new mystery series set in 1921 Bombay, India. The main character is a female junior lawyer. I enjoyed it alot. 4 stars.

1. Summer
2. Inventory auditor
3. Lilac Girls (but not because it wasn't good)
4. The Widows of Malabar Hill
5. @NataliePatalie

#WonderousWednesday @Eggs

1. Becoming a writer, living in the mountains, and opening a pitbull rescue.
2. Movie theater concession stand employee.
3. The Woodcutter
4. The Widows of Malabar Hill (historical mystery set in India, it is superb)
5. @MidnightBookGirl @petersonks15 @hermyknee @MaGoose @Stacy_31

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

My “I wish it was Friday” dinner and book plans. 🍕📚

I barely made a dent in reading this week, with how intense work was. I‘m finally looking forward to chilling on my couch, reading, and drinking coffee this morning. 📚☕️

Perveen Mistry may have lived 100 years ago, but she‘s a thoroughly modern woman. She takes on an inheritance-related case for the widows of her father‘s late client. They live in secluded purdah. Then it becomes an entirely different case, because a member of the household dies. Massey brings out cultural, social, and historical issues with finesse. Recommended!

Full review www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2019
#mysterybyWOC #readingwomen

Question for @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft and @BarbaraTheBibliophage regarding #Booked2019
For the female detective prompt, does the detective have to be officially a detective or do amateur detectives count, such as in the tagged book?

inspired to make homemade cheat chai 🤤💕

tried starting this novel months ago but kept getting distracted. now, though, it‘s hitting the spot. and im reminded of an old friend teaching me to make chai similar to this... 💕🤤

Have to put it down (unfortunately).
Must run errands (sadly).

I wanted to like this more than I did. It felt slow and dragging through too many parts, and the mystery was not at all exciting or surprising. I figured it out pretty early on. But I loved the rich descriptions of Indian culture and was intrigued by the idea of the first woman lawyer in India.
#readingwomen A mystery by a WOC

Starting this one today or tonight! Years ago, I read a few of her Rei Shimura books and liked them. Hoping this new series is just as good. I‘m also curious to know more about the time period of Bombay/Mumbai history, after reading Shantaram last year.

#readingwomen #mysterythrillerbyWOC

I had to check this book out like 5 times to actually get the time to finish it, but I‘m glad I did. Little window into early 20th century India, something I know little to nothing about.

Traveling for my daughter's gymnastics this weekend and I know I am getting old because I can no longer get comfortable in any bed other than my own. Luckily I have this book to keep me company.

A ten hour work day, no lunch, rushing to gymanstics practice, soccer practice, and last minute valentines, means I get lemon bundt cake for dinner after kids are in bed.
#momlife

1920s India - the first female lawyer for the region - a lesbian best friend - and a mystery so soft-boiled it could be cozy? YES PLEASE. I certainly struck gold last night. Thank you to Forever Books of St Joe, MI for featuring The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey in their Top 20 of the Season and introducing me to my new must read series. 😍

#booklove #amreading #lunchandabook #queerreads #lgbtq

The author did a wonderful job of writing a mystery with an interesting main character, all the while teaching me so much about the numerous religions, beliefs, and culture of 1920‘s Bombay.

Doing a re-read of this before book club Wednesday. One of my 2018 favorites!

Only about 100 pages left.

This book took me to India of the 1920's. Perveen is the first female lawyer in Bombay. She works for her fathers law firm. There was so much to digest and understand while reading, since I am not familiar with Parsis or the other religions of the country. And they were all talked about in the story. Perveen has to solve a murder in the home of Muslim women who observe purdah. I learned a lot and enjoyed this story! goodreads.com/crazeedi
4⭐️

Another winner picked by @BridgetteM from the #NewYearWhoDis list. The plot has been rehashed here a bunch, so I won‘t get into it. The historical setting was amazing so detailed and encompassing. I loved how the different aspects of Indian law were utilized, without making it feel like a glorified glossary. Love love love

Set in the early 1900s, the main character is Bombay's only female solicitor, working in her dad's practice. What starts as a routine legal service visit to a trio of widows ends up in a murder investigation.