Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Midnight at Malabar House

  • The Malabar House Series, Book 1
  • By: Vaseem Khan
  • Narrated by: Maya Saroya
  • Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (291 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Midnight at Malabar House cover art

Midnight at Malabar House

By: Vaseem Khan
Narrated by: Maya Saroya
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Singapore Sapphire cover art
The Widows of Malabar Hill cover art
Sherlock's Home cover art
The Pit cover art
Outback cover art
Ten Years Gone cover art
The Fine Art of Invisible Detection cover art
The Holiday Murders cover art
Murder in Tuscany cover art
A Killing in November cover art
At First Light cover art
A Mortal Bane cover art
The Scribe of Siena cover art
Medicus cover art
Babylon Berlin cover art
The Holy Thief cover art

Summary

Bombay, New Year's Eve, 1949

As India celebrates the arrival of a momentous new decade, Inspector Persis Wadia stands vigil in the basement of Malabar House, home to the city's most unwanted unit of police officers. Six months after joining the force she remains India's first female police detective, mistrusted, sidelined and now consigned to the midnight shift.

And so, when the phone rings to report the murder of prominent English diplomat Sir James Herriot, the country's most sensational case falls into her lap.

As 1950 dawns and India prepares to become the world's largest republic, Persis, accompanied by Scotland Yard criminalist Archie Blackfinch, finds herself investigating a case that is becoming more political by the second. Navigating a country and society in turmoil, Persis, smart, stubborn and untested in the crucible of male hostility that surrounds her, must find a way to solve the murder - whatever the cost.

©2020 Vaseem Khan Limited (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

What listeners say about Midnight at Malabar House

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    153
  • 4 Stars
    86
  • 3 Stars
    40
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    173
  • 4 Stars
    61
  • 3 Stars
    17
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    133
  • 4 Stars
    77
  • 3 Stars
    40
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An interesting and entertaining murder mystery

This is my first listen to this author and found it fascinating, entertaining and informative. I am not sure I like Persus but I think she will grow on me in future tales. She has the unenviable position as the only female detective in India only a few years into Indian independence so her prickliness is probably understandable. I look forward to more on this indomitable female and also learning more on the development of the amazing continent of India.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

An interesting addition to the detective roster

Very enjoyable main character. An independent woman breaking boundaries but also not superwoman. She gets things wrong, she’s let down by colleagues and the ‘system’ but still looks to do right. I’m looking forward to more in the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not up to Agatha Christie in any way!

Disjointed and pedestrian. Marred by political and racial bias, stereotypical characters . I persevered in the hope that it would improve but sadly, it didn’t.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good ☝

Great to have an Indian female roll which guts. Narration great, story great. Cheers again Audible.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Passable mystery

An ok listen, not awful, but not in any way brilliant. I did enjoy the history lesson re partition in India, but didn’t really engage with any of the characters much, I don’t think I’ll bother with any more unless they’re a good sale price!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent historical murder mystery

Brilliant murder mystery surrounded by a wealth of historical detail. Narrator is clear-voiced, with a measured pace, suitable to the material.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great narration and interesting history

Really enjoyed the narration and the context of partition India. Learnt a lot about history whilst also enjoying the very Christie style detective story. Very much Poirot style big reveal at the end is a bit cliche but does what it says on the tin. All in all an enjoyable listen and a good story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A random suggestion from someone at audible!

I was suggested this as a random aside from a recent response from someone at audible tech support. I must say, I don't think this is a genre or premise I may have ordinarily just stumbled upon... But I am so grateful to have read it!

Vaseem Khan paints an intricate picture, bringing so much detail to life, aided by the vocal talents of Maya Saroya. Saroya's breadth of vocal talent, gift for pacing and emphasis, really drives home the emotion and imagery of Khan's vision for this story.

Heartily recommend this to anyone else! It was a new one for me, it could be a new one for you, too! :-D

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting Diversionary reading

The unfamilar setting, two dimensional but interesting characters overlay a fighting feminist heroine overcoming gender bias during one of India’s most turbulent modern periods, post independence and partitiin Interesting story well narrated and providing historical insight into a ’foreign’ culture to Euroreaders. not sure i woukd read a second story with the same protagonist but once was enjoyable and informative

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

enjoyable

very engaging , narration very good and fits the story
I highly recommend
cheers

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!