The Recommended Reading Order for Ajay Chowdhury
For the best reading experience, you should read Ajay Chowdhury’s novels in publication order. This is especially true for his signature Kamil Rahman series, where the characters' lives, careers, and relationships evolve significantly from one book to the next. Starting anywhere other than the beginning will spoil major character developments and shift the tone unexpectedly.
Here is the recommended reading path for his fiction:
- The Waiter (2021)
- The Cook (2022)
- The Detective (2023)
- The Spy (2024)
- The Shadow (2026)
- The Patriot (Expected late 2026)
The Kamil Rahman Series: Book by Book
This series blends cozy culinary elements with hard-hitting themes of identity, racism, technology, and geopolitics. The progression tracks Kamil's career shift from a disgraced Kolkata police officer to a high-level investigator in London.
1. The Waiter (2021)
Ex-detective Kamil Rahman has fled Kolkata in disgrace after a high-profile murder investigation went awry. Now working as a waiter in his uncle's curry house on Brick Lane, London, Kamil wants a quiet life. However, when a wealthy developer is found dead during a catering event, Kamil is drawn back into the world of detection alongside his uncle's sharp daughter, Anjoli Chatterjee.
2. The Cook (2022)
Kamil and Anjoli have started a catering business, but peace is short-lived. While volunteering at a local soup kitchen, Kamil investigates the mysterious deaths of several homeless men. The investigation weaves together the culinary streets of London and Kamil’s past case files back in Kolkata.
3. The Detective (2023)
Having finally rebuilt his reputation, Kamil is officially working with the Metropolitan Police. When a tech billionaire is found murdered in his high-tech home, Kamil and Anjoli must navigate a web of artificial intelligence, high finance, and international conspiracy.
4. The Spy (2024)
Kamil's unique background catches the attention of MI5. Recruited as an undercover asset, he is tasked with infiltrating a suspected extremist cell in London. The stakes rise as the mission tests both his investigative skills and his personal loyalties.
5. The Shadow (2026)
Released in early 2026, the fifth installment sees Kamil and Anjoli dealing with a complex dual timeline mystery that bridges historical events with modern-day threats in London.
6. The Patriot (Expected late 2026)
The sixth novel in the series is scheduled for release in November 2026, continuing Kamil's complex journey as he balances his duty to his new home with his roots.
Children's Fiction & Standalones
Outside of his main detective series, Chowdhury has explored other genres:
- Ayesha and the Firefish (2016): A magical children's adventure novel about a young girl who sets off on a quest to save her village with the help of a magical firefish. This story was later adapted into a musical.
- Eden Falls (2026): Published in July 2026, this is Chowdhury's first standalone psychological thriller, stepping away from the Kamil Rahman universe to explore a different set of dark mysteries.
The "Two Ajays" Clarification
If you search for "Ajay Chowdhury" online or on sites like Goodreads and Open Library, you will often see a non-fiction book listed in his catalog: Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films (2015), along with location atlases like Darker Than the Sun (2025).
These James Bond reference books are not written by the novelist Ajay Chowdhury. They are authored by a different Ajay Chowdhury, who is a prominent entertainment lawyer, film historian, and spokesperson for the James Bond International Fan Club. The novelist Ajay Chowdhury is a tech entrepreneur (famous for co-founding Shazam) and theater director. The two authors frequently get conflated by automated catalog systems due to their identical names and shared London location.
What to Know Before You Start
Ajay Chowdhury’s crime fiction stands out for its immersive focus on food, culture, and the immigrant experience. The novels are famous for making readers hungry, with detailed descriptions of Indian street food and British-Asian fusion cuisine. However, they also tackle serious, topical issues including homelessness, xenophobia, and the dark side of technology. Reading them in order allows you to fully appreciate the growing bond and witty banter between Kamil and Anjoli as they face these challenges together.