Vaseem Khan, Death of a Lesser God

In the fourth rip-roaring thriller in the award-winning Malabar House series, set in 1950s Bombay, Persis and Archie travel to the old colonial capital of Calcutta, where they collide head-on with the prejudices and bloody politics of an era engulfed in flame.

James Whitby, sentenced to death for the murder of prominent lawyer and former Quit India activist Fareed Mazumdar, is less than two weeks from a date with the gallows. In a last-ditch attempt to save his son, Whitby’s father, arch-colonialist, Charles Whitby, forces a new investigation into the killing which uncovers a possible link to a second case. How are the cases connected? If Whitby didn’t murder Mazumdar, then who did? And why?

Bestselling author and audience favourite, Vaseem Khan will be discussing all things crime fiction in this annual Dorothy L Sayers Lecture.

This event will include an audience Q&A. After the event there will be an opportunity to get your book signed by the author.

In partnership with DLS Society

Thursday 27 June, 7.00pm

Venue: Witham Library, 18 Newland Street, Witham, CM8 2AQ
Tickets: £8 / £7 concessions (Students, Under 27s and Unwaged)
Box Office: essexbookfestival.org.uk or Mercury Theatre 01206 573948

Death of a Lesser God by Vaseem Khan

Published 14 March 2024 (Hodder & Stoughton)

Order a copy of Death of a Lesser God at bookshop.org

In the fourth rip-roaring thriller in the award-winning Malabar House series, Persis and Archie travel to the old colonial capital of Calcutta, where they collide head-on with the prejudices and bloody politics of an era engulfed in flame.

Can a white man receive justice in post-colonial India?

Bombay, 1950

James Whitby, sentenced to death for the murder of prominent lawyer and former Quit India activist Fareed Mazumdar, is less than two weeks from a date with the gallows. In a last-ditch attempt to save his son, Whitby’s father, arch-colonialist, Charles Whitby, forces a new investigation into the killing.

The investigation leads inspector Persis Wadia of the Bombay Police to the old colonial capital of Calcutta, where, with the help of Scotland Yard criminalist Archie Blackfinch, she uncovers a possible link to a second case, the brutal murder of an African-American G.I. during the Calcutta Killings of 1946.

How are the cases connected? If Whitby didn’t murder Mazumdar, then who did? And why?

About the Author

Vaseem Khan is the author of two award-winning crime series set in India, the Baby Ganesh Agency series set in Modern Mumbai, and the Malabar House historical crime novels set in 1950s Bombay. His first book The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020, and is translated into 17 languages. In 2021, Midnight at Malabar House won the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger. Vaseem was born in England, but spent a decade working in India. In 2023, Vaseem was elected the first non-white Chair of the 70-year-old UK Crime Writers Association. His latest book is Death of a Lesser God, the fourth in the Malabar House series.