The Lost Man of Bombay cover art

The Lost Man of Bombay

The Malabar House, Book 3

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

The Lost Man of Bombay

By: Vaseem Khan
Narrated by: Maya Saroya
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £15.79

Buy Now for £15.79

The third incredible novel in the highly acclaimed Malabar House series featuring Persis Wadia, India's first female police detective. A Times Audiobook of the Week

Bombay, 1950

When the body of a white man is found frozen in the Himalayan foothills near Dehra Dun, he is christened the Ice Man by the national media. Who is he? How long has he been there? Why was he killed?

As Inspector Persis Wadia and Metropolitan Police criminalist Archie Blackfinch investigate the case in Bombay, they uncover a trail left behind by the enigmatic Ice Man - a trail leading directly into the dark heart of conspiracy.

Meanwhile, two new murders grip the city. Is there a serial killer on the loose, targeting Europeans?

Rich in atmosphere, the thrilling third chapter in the CWA Historical Dagger-winning Malabar House series pits Persis against a mystery from beyond the grave, unfolding against the backdrop of a turbulent post-colonial India, a nation struggling to redefine itself in the shadow of the Raj.

(P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Praise for the Malabar House series:

'This is a crime novel for everyone; for those who love traditional mysteries there are clues, codes and ciphers, but it also had a harder edge and a post-war darkness' Ann Cleeves

'Outstanding. I've always been a fan of Vaseem Khan but this latest offering is something special and something new' Imran Mahmood

'This is historical crime fiction at its best - a compelling mix of social insight and complex plotting with a thoroughly engaging heroine. A highly promising new series' Mail on Sunday

'This is historical crime fiction at its sharpest, set on the brink of independence and during a dramatic period of the subcontinent's history' Sunday Times©2022 Vaseem Khan Ltd Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Thriller Crime Murder Indian Detective
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

Hard, realistic and fascinatingly hard to decipher. Persis is a terrific character
Vaseem Khan's friction-free ascent to pole position in historical crime is consolidated by The Lost Man of Bombay. Much to relish here
What should you expect from a good historical mystery? Well, a decent mystery, obviously, and interesting characters to guide you through the plot, plus some inside knowledge of a place or period in history you are unfamiliar with. The Lost Man of Bombay by Vaseem Khan ticks all those boxes, and probably more, with ease
The hugely entertaining result is not unlike an India(na) Jones adventure: history and mystery mixed with brutal slapstick, thwarted romance and sly humour . . . Malabar House is a subcontinental version of Mick Herron's Slough House . . . If only all period procedurals were as good as this
Khan writes with a charming formality and brings his characters and their dilemmas to life in this intelligent and intriguing series
British writer Vaseem Khan has shown quite comprehensively that he can write historical crime fiction well
The latest of Khan's excellent thrillers set in post-war Bombay is a vivid portrait of a society remaking itself in the new era of independence
A brilliant whodunnit mingling fascinating history, the flavours of India and a Himalayan blizzard of clues
Vaseem Khan doesn't only spin a fast-moving, well-plotted story; he deftly illuminates the religious rivalries that beset post-colonial India. Think Mick Herron in Bombay: inventive characterisation made laugh-aloud funny by Maya Saroya's pacey, often caustic narration
Vivid, bracing crime writing married to a picture of a country seeking its post Raj identity
Vaseem Khan's excellent series set in post-partition India
Written with wit and heart, it's wonderfully entertaining
His excellent Malabar House series
The best historical thriller of the year
If only all period procedurals were as good as this
All stars
Most relevant
a well plotted detective story, set against the fascinating background of post independence India. great insights into the complex pattern of Indian life. very well read and written. not perfect but more than competent .

solid procedural crime story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really liked this book. So nicely written and paced. I loved the main character and would like to follow her struggles and exploits. The small insights into India as a country as it emerges from years as a colony are really interesting and slightly heart-rending. The narration is beautiful too. TriciaXx

Definitely want more of this!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I must admit that I am new to this series. However, as an evocation of post-independence, Bombay and how India began to emerge as a new nation, it is gentle, and its main character, Persis, is appealing. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Very, very good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’ve listened to the three stories in this series and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I am looking forward to the next title to be ready.

Enjoyable listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I'm three-for-three with this book series, really enjoyed another of Vaseem's works, wonderfully brought to life by Maya Saroya!

Now to wait (impatiently!) for a fourth book to be released!

Great third book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews