The Star From Calcutta (#1,348) by Sujata Massey follows Perveen Mistry and her father as they take on new clients from the growing Indian movie business in the 1920s in the fourth entry in this popular series.
The Mistry Law Firm has an appointment with the owner of a newly opened movie studio and his glamorous wife, the former star of a rival Calcutta movie company. They are anxious to have their paperwork in order before their new film can be released to the public. That means passing the British Censor's Office exam. Since Perveen and her best friend Alice are avid film buffs, Mr. Mistry allows Perveen to take the lead on working out the details.
Perveen is delighted when her work includes an invitation to an exclusive preview showing at the couples' estate. It's also a chance for Alice to meet one of her particular film idols. Their meeting goes so well Alice persuades a reluctant Perveen to spend the night at the estate. Of course, Perveen is the one to find the body in the morning, and it seems there is a whole cast of characters with motive and means to have committed the crime. Even Alice is holding onto secrets and shutting Perveen out. Will she ever be able to get to the bottom of things and prove her clients' innocence?
If you're a mystery buff and haven't come across the Perveen Mistry series set in 1920s Bombay, do yourself a favor and start with the first book in this intriguing series: The Widows of Malabar Hill. You can read each book as a standalone, but you'll miss the nuances which make this series so special.
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