I read this one because one of my book clubs online is reading the second one this month, and I wanted to read them in order. I really enjoy this series so far because it is so different from other book styles I regularly read. That's the beauty of book clubs—finding something new you wouldn't have known about or maybe picked otherwise.

This is labeled as a mystery book, although for much of the book it felt more like a procedural novel. It is set in 1920s India, and examines many issues, most especially the treatment of women among the various cultures there at that time (Indian, Parsi/Zoroastrian, Muslim, British), as well as other class, race, religious, and social standing issues.

I chose to listen to the audiobook rather than read this one, so my memories of details, names, spellings are a bit fuzzy.

Perveen, the main character, is a young woman, separated from her estranged husband, whom she left because of abuse. She suffered from the practice of monthly seclusion (where women are locked in a room, unable to clean or care for their basic needs, during their time of menstruation), which was forced upon her by her in-laws with whom she lived. Because this part of the story is told through flashbacks, the reader knows that Perveen has somehow managed to become free from this ill-fated marriage and abusive situation, and the details come out over the course of the novel. This back story serves to develop her character and shows how she empathizes with other women in similar situations. She knows because she has lived it.

At first I was annoyed with these flashbacks, but then I became caught up in Perveen's back story and then got annoyed to be pulled back to the plot's present time again. I suppose that shows the author's skill at weaving flashbacks into the main plot and keeping reader interest while so doing.

Perveen is free from the relationship, but not without scars, and her experiences guide her as she moves forward to help several recently widowed Muslim women. Because she is the only female lawyer in Bombay, she is in a unique position that enables her to interact with Muslim women who are not allowed to interact with men due to religious and cultural observance.

The novel follows two story lines, that of Perveen escaping her marriage and working to become legally free from her husband, and that of her working to solve a murder of a person who worked for and represented the widows in their home. Although a lot of the novel focuses on the inner workings of Indian law (think John Grisham here), there are dangerous situations in which the heroine finds herself.

I came away from the novel with a feeling of empowerment for women who, like Perveen, had to overcome great obstacles because of their sex, groundbreakers for the type of life I, myself, and other women now enjoy.

Still in my head are the many injustices carried out against women, and their inability to fight the system that it set against them and the difficulties they experienced. Perveen was lucky her parents were forward-thinking individuals, modern in their thoughts and treatment of women. What really surprised me was the abuse perpetuated by women against their own sex. Why???

Marital law was set against women at the time, and many were treated ill by their marital families and were forced to return to abusive situations or be imprisoned, depending on the court's decisions. Women lawyers were not allowed to argue in front of the court. There were so many obstacles to work around and overcome.

Additionally, I was glad I could experience this as a tandem read with a friend and discuss it as we read. We plan to read the next book in tandem as well.

The Widows of Malabar Hill - Likewise Book Reviews

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