Midnight at Malabar House: Winner of the CWA Historical Dagger and Shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year

Midnight at Malabar House: Winner of the CWA Historical Dagger and Shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year

by Vaseem Khan

4.4 (4,155)

4.4 stars from 4,155 reviews. Top 58% of Mystery Thriller books we track.

396 pages~6.6 hr readPublished by Hachette UKPublished 2020-08-20

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Fans of these authors will like this...

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Fans of these books will like this...

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Perfect for you if...

  • You enjoy historical crime fiction with real social stakes and period detail that feels lived-in rather than researched.
  • You want a protagonist who's genuinely up against the system, not just solving puzzles in a vacuum.
  • You're drawn to stories set in post-colonial India where the political chaos is as much a character as the detective.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You need your detective procedurals fast-paced and plot-driven above all else.
  • You prefer standalone mysteries over series openers that build character alongside investigation.
  • You're looking for cosy crime fiction that keeps the darker edges of history at arm's length.

About this book

Set in Bombay on New Year's Eve, 1949, this novel follows Inspector Persis Wadia, India's first female police detective. Six months into her career, she remains mistrusted and sidelined, assigned to the midnight shift at Malabar House, a unit for the police force's unwanted officers. When a murder is reported—that of prominent English diplomat Sir James Herriot—the case becomes the country's most sensational. As India prepares to become the world's largest republic in 1950, Persis, alongside Scotland Yard criminalist Archie Blackfinch, begins investigating a case that grows increasingly political. Working within a society in turmoil and facing widespread male hostility, Persis must navigate complex circumstances to solve the murder. Winner of the CWA Sapere Books Historical Dagger 2021 and shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year.

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Free$5.50$10.99Jun '20Jan '23Oct '23Jan '26
$0.99$10.99

Currently on sale at $0.99 — 91% off peak. Price has dropped 12 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 165 days. Typically stays discounted for 1756 days.

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#726#76,476#152,226Jun '20May '23Apr '24May '26

Currently around #34K in the Kindle store — a steady mid-list seller. Sales have softened 28% recently.

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3.5★4.3★5.0★May '23Jan '24Aug '24Dec '25RatingReviews

Currently 4.4★ from 4,155 reviews

Gaining approximately 52 new reviews per month. Steady word of mouth growth. Rating has climbed from 4.3 to 4.4. Recent readers are rating it higher.

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Free$5.50$10.99Jun '20Jan '23Oct '23Jan '26PredictedMay '26

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Vaseem Khan

1 book on Vagrant Press

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