A Rising Man Audiobook By Abir Mukherjee cover art

A Rising Man

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A Rising Man

By: Abir Mukherjee
Narrated by: Malk Williams
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About this listen

In the days of the Raj, a newly arrived Scotland Yard detective is confronted with the murder of a British official - in his mouth a note warning the British to leave India, or else....

Calcutta, 1919. Captain Sam Wyndham, former Scotland Yard detective, is a new arrival to Calcutta. Desperately seeking a fresh start after his experiences during the Great War, Wyndham has been recruited to head up a new post in the police force. He is immediately overwhelmed by the heady vibrancy of the tropical city, but with barely a moment to acclimatize or to deal with the ghosts that still haunt him, Wyndham is caught up in a murder investigation that threatens to destabilize a city already teetering on the brink of political insurgency.

The body of a senior official has been found in a filthy sewer, and a note left in his mouth warns the British to quit India, or else. Under tremendous pressure to solve the case before it erupts into increased violence on the streets, Wyndham and his two new colleagues - arrogant Inspector Digby and Sergeant Banerjee, one of the few Indians to be recruited into the new CID - embark on an investigation that will take them from the opulent mansions of wealthy British traders to the seedy opium dens of the city.

Masterfully evincing the sights, sounds, and smells of colonial Calcutta, A Rising Man is the start of an enticing new historical crime series.

©2017 Abir Mukherjee (P)2017 Audible, Inc.
Fiction Historical International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedural City War
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Featured Article: Best Mystery Series—Listens That'll Take You Right to the Crime Scene


While a standalone mystery is great when you're in the mood for a one-and-done, sometimes you want to feed your craving with an entire mystery series—knowing there's a world and characters you can keep coming back to for the satisfaction of solving crimes. With audiobooks, you get the added bonus of sinking deeper into the setting, clues, and suspects as the story is performed for you, so you'll feel like you're alongside detectives, ready to bust a case.

What listeners say about A Rising Man

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    4 out of 5 stars

enjoyable and entertaining

narrator was great. storyline was pretty easy but all the history and India descriptions were worth the listen. loved the detective noir in India angle. nice

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A whole new world for me.

Very much enjoyed being introduced to Calcutta after World War I. Mr. Mukherjee created some really wonderful detective characters and I look forward to hearing more. I am concerned about what could happen to AG in the next part of the journey.

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Fun and addictive

British imperial might versus India’s ascension to independence. Would be long and deeply sad. Crickets ! The major characters are alluring, sultry with a puff of opium now and again Tearing through the trilogy Exquisite and funny!

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My Favorite Kind of Book

I just love books that both keep me entertained and teach me something about a time, place, and culture that are different from my own. This is one of those offerings. Thanks, Abir Mukherjee.

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33 people found this helpful

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Simply enjoyable while being informative

The setting was interesting without being overdone. A good well rounded story. Easy to listen to while doing other things. Not a mysterious detective who done it as you could say you knew the most likely perpetrators all along but it was a thoughtful and fun romp to go with the good cops while they figured it out. Worth the listen.

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15 people found this helpful

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Suspenseful Mystery in Fascinating Setting

Set in 1919, in post WW1 India, an emotionally damaged veteran and former Scotland Yard detective, Captain Wyndham, is a newcomer to Calcutta. He has come to head up a detective unit and is immediately assigned a major murder case. The mystery is well-developed and suspenseful so watching it unfold was a pleasure, but what really makes this book a standout was the setting, towards the end of British rule. Through the eyes of Captain Wyndham, we learn about changes to the British rule over time and the ongoing conflict. The history is brought up naturally, never seeming pedantic. When the story opens, many Indians are bridling under colonial rule and ready for a change, with some supporting violence and others supporting nonviolent resistance. British leadership is struggling to hold on, with leaders holding different perspectives and attitudes. The detectives have to navigate the internal and external conflict that is brewing around this issue as they try to solve the murder. The main characters are complicated, interesting, and well-developed. When I first started reading, it took me a little while to get into the rhythm of this book, as I was largely unfamiliar with this location and time period. Over time, I got engrossed. I highly recommend!

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The Raj

If you enjoy stories about the raj, this is a great way to understand it better. The characters are well drawn and the plot super interesting.

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  • Overall
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British Colonialism in India

The Rising Man is an excellent murder mystery set in Calcutta in 1919. Captain Sam Wyndham is an ex-Scotland yard detective who has survived the trenches of WW I, only to lose his wife, so he leaves England and moves to India to seek a fresh start. Upon arriving, Sam gets assigned to solving a high-profile murder case.

Set amidst the early death throes of British colonialism in the Far East, Calcutta is a fascinating place, and the descriptions of life in the city of Kali and the people are what make the story. This is a well-written book that sheds light on some of the unsavory aspects of British arrogance and prejudice that were part of the colonial mindset, but Abir Mukherjee does it in a way that does not attempt to look at those aspects through today's morays.

Sam is a realist, a flawed hero, struggling with his own demons but committed to justice and the rule of law. Ultimately the sense of decency is what makes Sam likable.

Good book. The narration by Malk Williams was just right – with a good mix of accents but not overdone.

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Engrossing Picture of the Raj Just After WWI

I enjoyed everything about this book, the narration, the characters and the picture of Calcutta at that time. The characters are interesting and believable, and some of Wyndham's asides to himself are priceless. This one particularly struck me "... we’d fought two wars against their [China's] emperors for the right to peddle the damn stuff [opium] in their country. And peddle it we did. So much so that we managed to make addicts out of a quarter of the male population. If you thought about it, that probably made Queen Victoria the greatest drug peddler in history."

Williams did a great job narrating, so I hope he narrates the next book in the series.

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Outstanding!

Nothing better than a police procedural that takes place in another country and time! Go to India just after WWI, and have a great time with a detective and his small but effective crew. So enjoyable and the narration is perfect.

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