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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
A murder — discovered and investigated; some historical violence against women
Language
None
Thoughtful prose; clean language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Adult themes including marriage and purdah — treated with cultural sensitivity
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Some
The psychological weight of operating within a system that restricts women; the violence hidden within the purdah household; Perveen's own trauma from a disastrous marriage
What this book is about
Perveen Mistry — Bombay's first female solicitor, trained at Oxford — takes on the estates of three Muslim widows living in strict purdah. When a mistake in their wills leads to a murder, Perveen must investigate within the boundaries of a city and legal system that barely acknowledges women's existence. Meticulously researched and atmospherically rich, this debut introduces one of crime fiction's most quietly determined heroines.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Historical violence against women — examined with care and moral seriousness
A murder investigation in a cloistered household with limited access
Reader Verification
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