How to Read Abir Mukherjee’s Books
If you are planning to dive into the rich, evocative world of Abir Mukherjee, the best place to start is the beginning of his critically acclaimed Wyndham & Banerjee Mysteries series (also known as the Calcutta Police series). Because this historical mystery series features significant character development, political shifts in 1920s India, and evolving interpersonal dynamics, reading the books in publication order is highly recommended.
Apart from his historical series, Mukherjee has also ventured into contemporary political thrillers with a standout standalone novel. Here is a complete guide to navigating his bibliography, including the historical mysteries, standalone works, and short stories.
The Wyndham & Banerjee Series in Publication Order
This award-winning series follows Captain Sam Wyndham, a former Scotland Yard detective recovering from the trauma of World War I, and Sergeant Surendranath "Surrender-not" Banerjee, a brilliant, Cambridge-educated Indian officer. Set against the backdrop of colonial India under the British Raj, the series begins in 1919 and moves chronologically forward through the turbulent decade of the 1920s.
1. A Rising Man (2016)
Set in Calcutta in 1919, this debut novel introduces us to Captain Sam Wyndham as he arrives in India seeking a fresh start after the devastating losses of the Great War. Almost immediately, he is thrust into a high-profile case: a senior British official is found murdered in a sordid alleyway, with a note warning the British to leave India. Alongside Sergeant Banerjee, Wyndham must navigate the rising heat and the even hotter political climate of anti-colonial protests. This book won the CWA Historical Dagger and is the essential starting point for the series.
2. A Necessary Evil (2017)
Set in 1920, the second installment takes Wyndham and Banerjee out of the urban sprawl of Calcutta and into the opulent princely state of Sambalpore. When the Maharaja's son is assassinated in Calcutta, Wyndham and Banerjee accompany the body back to his homeland. There, they find themselves caught in a dangerous web of royal intrigue, palace secrets, and power struggles. This novel won the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize and expands the scope of the series beyond British-controlled territory.
3. Smoke and Ashes (2018)
Set in 1921, the third book finds Sam Wyndham struggling with a severe opium addiction while investigating a series of gruesome murders in Calcutta. The stakes are elevated by the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi and his civil disobedience campaign, which threatens to spark a massive uprising. Wyndham must track down a ruthless killer while keeping his own personal demons hidden from his superiors and his partner. Smoke and Ashes was selected as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and was named one of the Best Crime Novels of the Year by several publications.
4. Death in the East (2019)
Moving the timeline to 1922, this novel splits its focus between two eras. Seeking treatment for his opium addiction, Wyndham travels to a remote ashram in the hills of Assam. However, the past catches up with him when he spots a ghost from his youth—a man he believed was responsible for a murder in London back in 1905. The story oscillates between the early 1900s in Whitechapel, London, and the atmospheric landscapes of Assam, providing deep backstory on Wyndham's origin as a detective. This book earned Mukherjee his second CWA Historical Dagger in 2020.
5. The Shadows of Men (2021)
Set in 1923, this entry places Sergeant Banerjee at the absolute center of the narrative. When a prominent Hindu theologian is murdered, Calcutta is pushed to the brink of sectarian violence between Hindu and Muslim communities. Banerjee is framed for the murder and goes on the run. Wyndham must team up with other colleagues and navigate a deeply divided city to clear his partner's name before religious riots consume the entire province.
6. The Burning Grounds (2025)
Set in the late 1920s, the sixth book brings the duo back together after a period of separation. A beloved philanthropist and patron of the arts is found murdered at Calcutta's cremation grounds (burning ghats). As Wyndham investigates the crime, he is drawn into the glitzy, emerging world of early Indian cinema. Meanwhile, Banerjee returns from an exile in Europe to search for a missing female photographer. As their paths cross, they must reconcile their differences and collaborate on a case with massive social implications.
Standalone Works
Hunted (2024)
Marking a dramatic departure from his historical fiction, Hunted is a contemporary, fast-paced political thriller set in the United States. Taking place in the tense week leading up to a highly polarized presidential election, the plot kicks off when a bomb destroys a shopping mall in Los Angeles. When Aliyah Khan, a young British woman, is suspected of being involved, her father Sajid flies to the U.S. to find her. He teams up with Carrie, a mother from Florida who suspects her own radicalized son is involved. Led by FBI agent Shreya Mistry, the search unfolds into a race against time against a background of conspiracy and political manipulation.
Short Stories and Anthologies
"Paradise Lost" (2022)
While not a full-length novel, "Paradise Lost" is a critically acclaimed short story written by Mukherjee. It was published in the 2022 crime fiction anthology The Perfect Crime, edited by Vaseem Khan and Maxim Jakubowski. The story features a Scottish criminal hiding out on a private island retreat for the ultra-wealthy, plotting his return to the UK. The story was longlisted for the prestigious CWA Short Story Dagger in 2023.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Abir Mukherjee's work, here are a few practical tips to keep in mind:
- Start with the first book: While each mystery is self-contained, the overarching character arcs—particularly Sam Wyndham's battle with addiction and Surendranath Banerjee's political evolution—are continuous. Reading them out of order will spoil major life changes and plot resolutions.
- A Window into History: The Wyndham & Banerjee series offers an authentic, nuanced look at the complexities of the British Raj. Mukherjee does not shy away from the racism, political corruption, and moral compromise of the era, while maintaining a witty, engaging tone.
- The "Surrender-not" Moniker: Banerjee's nickname "Surrender-not" is a colonial mispronunciation of his Bengali name, Surendranath, highlighting the cultural divides of the time. Over the course of the series, Banerjee's role grows from a junior assistant to a co-equal protagonist.