The Widows of Malabar Hill

by Sujata Massey · 2018

In 1920s Bombay, Perveen Mistry—one of India’s first female lawyers and a graduate of Oxford—takes on a seemingly routine probate case that quickly spirals into danger. Tasked with executing the will of the late Muslim mill owner Omar Farid, she discovers that his three widows, confined to purdah, have inexplicably signed away their entire inheritance to a charity, one even marking her signature with an X. Suspecting fraud, Perveen delves into a world of hidden motives, family secrets, and cultural constraints. As she uncovers a web of deceit, the investigation turns murderous, forcing her to protect the vulnerable women and bring a killer to justice. A richly atmospheric historical mystery, the novel blends legal intrigue, vibrant colonial Bombay, and a fierce heroine determined to champion women’s rights.