Anne reviewed Satapur Moonstone by Sujata Massey
Review of 'Satapur Moonstone' on 'GoodReads'
5 stars
The second mystery in the Perveen Mistry series did not disappoint. I love that Sujata Massey uses the time period of 1920s India not as an impediment to her main character, but as an opportunity.
Though Perveen is a solicitor and has passed the bar, she's not allowed to argue in court. However, she seems to be finding a niche in helping women who otherwise have limited means of helping themselves—those who observe purdah, or the practice of isolation from men who are not related to them. Perveen can go where male lawyers cannot. In this installment, Perveen is hired by the British government to settle a dispute between the grandmother and mother of a maharaja (the prince/in this case future ruler of a region) over the minor's schooling. The dowager maharani thinks his schooling at the palace is just fine, thank you very much, while the current maharani would …
The second mystery in the Perveen Mistry series did not disappoint. I love that Sujata Massey uses the time period of 1920s India not as an impediment to her main character, but as an opportunity.
Though Perveen is a solicitor and has passed the bar, she's not allowed to argue in court. However, she seems to be finding a niche in helping women who otherwise have limited means of helping themselves—those who observe purdah, or the practice of isolation from men who are not related to them. Perveen can go where male lawyers cannot. In this installment, Perveen is hired by the British government to settle a dispute between the grandmother and mother of a maharaja (the prince/in this case future ruler of a region) over the minor's schooling. The dowager maharani thinks his schooling at the palace is just fine, thank you very much, while the current maharani would like to send her son to Britain. Of course, the matter turns out to be a little more complicated than a domestic disagreement, and Perveen uncovers suspicious deaths and risks her own life in the rural princely state of Satapur.
I very much enjoyed the mix of history, courtly drama, family history, and intrigue this book brings. And a smart, opinionated, headstrong female lead is always a plus, too! I can't wait for the next book in this series.
