Jerry Pinto’s Murder in Mahim is both a tip of the hat to Bombay's complex soul and a gripping exploration of the human condition that lay beneath its shimmering surface. For those familiar with the city—its glitz and grime—the novel will be a hauntingly familiar landscape. His ability to nuance not only the physical but also the emotional terrain of his characters exhibits a narrative craft that is honed and refined.

The story begins with the discovery of Proxy, a young man, identified as a sex worker, found brutally murdered in the men’s toilet of Matunga Road railway station with his kidney removed and the number one scrawled in blood on the wall. What unfolds is a layered investigation led by Inspector Jende, with the help of his retired journalist friend, Peter Fernandes. The case turns personal when Peter discovers that his son Sunil’s cell number appears on the victim’s phone. As Peter navigates the shadowy underworld of male sex work, Murder in Mahim delves into questions of identity, morality, corruption and the burdens of speaking the truth in a city that rarely rewards it.

The story uses a close third-person perspective, keeping you firmly on Petre’s hip as he experiences his journey. The viewpoint also maintains the mystery of the plot as the facts and clues reveal themselves. Murder in Mahim, however, is not a traditional Agatha Christy type murder mystery novel, I warn you. It more explores the impact and challenges of being part of the LGBTQ+ community in India, and the seedy aspects of working within that community’s sex trade. I’ve not read Em and the Big Hoom, but from what I understand, Pinto’s prose brims with sensitivity and detail. The same can be said for Murder in Mahim as it captures Bombay as both a living, breathing thing, as well as a grand stage for human drama. I found all the characters unique with strong individual voices and just enough back story to make them interesting and relevant to their roles in the plot. 

Overall, an entertaining and worthwhile read that kept me turning pages until the end.