Released: 1st June 2017
Genre: Fiction, Historical, Crime
Number of Pages: 384
As the follow-up to the excellent debut novel “A Rising Man”, Abir Mukherjee’s “A Necessary Evil” has some high standards to live up to. Things are still engrossing, even if the story isn’t quite as engaging.
Taking place one year after the original in 1920, Captain Sam Wyndham and his partner Surender-Not Bannerjee are continuing their duties when a son of the Maharajah is murdered right in front of them. This time, we move outside of Calcutta to the more remote but just as fancy settlement of Sambalpore, a stunning kingdom of tiger hunts, lavish events and religious undertones. As the duo work to solve the murder, they soon find that this alternative side of India is much more complicated and unstable. What makes “A Necessary Evil” different from its predecessor is the more covert, inner deceits going on behind the scenes. It does boast some political intrigue but also results in a slower-moving narrative that lacks the urgency of its predecessor. There are many slower moments in this second entry, perhaps meant to reflect the distance from Calcutta, that end up dampening the pace slightly.
A greater variety of characters lines the pages of A Necessary Evil and it takes some mental finesse to keep track of them all; what makes this novel intriguing is how both Sam and Bannerjee often find themselves out of their depth, occasionally bearing witness to the more hostile sides of the residents. After being granted permission by the Maharajah, we never leave their perspective and their camaraderie is again expertly presented. I also enjoyed how the novel gave Sam’s occasional fling Annie a lot more to do, making her a more concrete player throughout the investigation. Mingling with these varying players in the royal scene is the centrepiece of the novel and there’s plenty to glean from the conversations.
Even if the plot sits below the first novel, its setting is still richly detailed; with a larger amount of countryside and rural areas, Mukherjee does a great job of setting the scene and planting the reader into it. The sense of tradition and monarchical tendencies holds strong throughout the novel. The funeral of the son as well as the tiger hunting party mounted on gargantuan elephants were both exquisite sequences that really pull you in.
Recommended?
YES: It may be more slow-moving and a little more complicated than the standout debut, but A Necessary Evil is still a highly enjoyable read that continues the series with capable gusto. It still offers plenty of the same rich detail and swerving twists that make the crime genre work. For me it sits just below A Rising Man.