North East India, 1923. On the broiling Night Mail from Calcutta to Jamalpur, a man is shot dead in a first class compartment. Detective Inspector Jim Stringer was sleeping in the next compartment along. Was he the intended target? Jim should have known that his secondment to the East Indian Railway, with a roving brief to inspect security arrangements, would not be the working holiday he had hoped for. The country seethes with political and racial tension. Aside from the Jamalpur shooting, someone is placing venomous snakes – including giant king cobras – in the first class compartments of the railway.
Jim also has worries on the home front: his daughter has formed a connection with a Maharajah’s son, who may in turn have a connection to Jim’s incredibly rude colleague, the bristling Major Fisher. Jim must do everything he can to keep his family safe from harm, as he unravels the intrigues that surround him…
Dive into a thrilling historical mystery with Andrew Martin's "Night Train to Jamalpur," the latest gripping installment in the beloved Jim Stringer Novels series. Set against the backdrop of a politically charged and racially tense 1923 British India, this novel plunges Detective Inspector Jim Stringer into a dangerous web of intrigue, murder, and venomous threats. Stringer, seconded to the East Indian Railway with the hope of a somewhat relaxing assignment inspecting security, finds his expectations shattered when a passenger is shot dead in a first-class compartment on the Night Mail from Calcutta to Jamalpur. Sleeping in the very next compartment, Stringer can't help but wonder: was he the intended target? The shooting is just the beginning. A sinister saboteur is placing deadly snakes, including formidable king cobras, in the railway's first-class carriages, terrorizing passengers and threatening the delicate balance of power. But the danger isn't confined to the railway lines. Stringer's personal life is becoming increasingly entangled with the complexities of colonial India. His daughter's burgeoning relationship with a Maharajah's son raises concerns, especially when that son seems connected to Stringer's abrasive and highly suspicious colleague, Major Fisher. Is this connection innocent, or is something far more sinister at play? Andrew Martin masterfully weaves together a suspenseful plot with rich historical detail, transporting readers to a bygone era of imperial grandeur and simmering unrest. "Night Train to Jamalpur" is more than just a crime novel; it's a captivating exploration of the social and political landscape of 1920s India, brought to life through Martin's impeccable research and evocative prose. Fans of historical mysteries and crime fiction alike will be enthralled by Stringer's sharp wit, unwavering determination, and the perilous challenges he faces both on and off the rails. Will he unravel the conspiracy before more lives are lost, or will the snakes in the grass prove too deadly to overcome? Prepare for a journey filled with suspense, danger, and the exotic allure of British India in "Night Train to Jamalpur." Perfect for readers who enjoy authors such as C.J. Sansom and Abir Mukherjee.