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A Necessary Evil

The thrilling historical crime novel you won’t be able to put down

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A Necessary Evil

Written by: Abir Mukherjee
Narrated by: Simon Bubb
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₹199 per month after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime.

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About this listen

Random House presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee, read by Simon Bubb.

The fabulously wealthy kingdom of Sambalpore: home to tigers, elephants, diamond mines and the beautiful Palace of the Sun.

When the heir to the throne of Sambalpore is assassinated in Calcutta in the presence of Captain Sam Wyndham and his colleague 'Surrender-Not' Banerjee, Wyndham works to uncover the reasons behind Prince Punit's death, despite the opposition of his commanding officers. Travelling to Sambalpore, he discovers a kingdom riven with suppressed conflict. Prince Punit was a moderniser whose attitudes - and romantic relationship - may have upset the more religious elements of his country, while his brother appears to be a feckless playboy.

And when Annie Grant, the first woman to capture Wyndham's heart since the death of his wife, arrives in the kingdom, Wyndham knows this is going to be a case that is as challenging personally as it is professionally.

 Crime Fiction Historical International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedurals

Critic Reviews

Even better than his first… What is most striking about Mukherjee’s novels is his infectious enjoyment of the human oddity of the British in India… Even better is his portrayal of the mix of opulence and spirituality that characterises Sambalpore under its sybaritic but benevolent maharaja… I can’t imagine anyone failing to enjoy it (Jake Kerridge)
A year ago I welcomed the arrival of Captain Sam Wyndham and his faithful Sergeant… and I am delight to report that his return is every bit as engaging (Geoffrey Wansell)
A richly detailed period gem boasting the British Raj’s exotic setting and a gripping "whydunit" spun around an intriguing cast (Christine Tran)
An intriguing and enjoyable crime novel (Sarah Shaffi)
He writes beautifully, bringing the colourful kingdom of Sambalpore to vivid life and taking the reader on a highly entertaining journey to unearth the dark secrets as its core, with unexpected twists on the way to a satisfying finale (Jon Coates)
Wyndham is an appealing character, reckless and self-aware by turns, and the contradictions of the Raj are beautifully evoked (Joan Smith)
An exceptional historical crime novel.
A journey into the dark underbelly of the British Raj.
A Rising Man is a whodunnit set in the social and political tinderbox of 1919 Calcutta – a thought-provoking rollercoaster.
Splendid...Captain Sam Wyndham is a winning creation.
All stars
Most relevant
Riveting story with engaging characters and a racy plot. Was hooked by the author's style of fast paced storytelling in the first book of the series which I listened to twice in succession. Both have been superbly narrated by Simon Bubb. Half the thrill of the story is in his reading of it. I just wish he gets some of the Indian pronunciations right.

Enjoyed immensely

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After the first book, I felt this one is more matured and well nourished. was expecting a bit more twists in the end but nevertheless kept me at the edge till the last page. I am so glad that I've found this series!

The magic continues...

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Abir Mukherjee brings the period to life with wonderful characters and descriptions. Sam Wyndham is a nice creation.

The narration was top-notch.

Very Good

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