The Widows of Malabar Hill was my book club’s choice this month and also doubled as a pick for the #amonthofmystery challenge I’m hosting with @bookworm_baggins.
•
There were things I liked about it and things I didn’t and it took me a while to settle on a review. I loved the setting/premise of 1920s Bombay and following the only female lawyer in India (who was based on a compilation of a couple actual women in history). It’s always exciting and intriguing to read the stories of the women who were trailblazers in their fields and I’m really enjoying the recent surge of those stories.
•
But the pacing didn’t work too well for me in this one. Many historical fiction novels move between two timelines, but this one felt more irregular in the set up and the way it divided its time. It took quite a while to get into the heart of the mystery, which I think is helpful to know if you’re looking for a traditional mystery novel. And later in the story an area of plot development that is a personal pet peeve of mine was utilized (but may not bother other people).
•
I’m curious to hear what all my book club members will think and look forward to discussing it! There was also a sequel that released earlier this year but I haven’t seen it around bookstagram too much. Has anyone read it?