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The Burning Grounds

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The Burning Grounds

By: Abir Mukherjee
Narrated by: Mikhail Sen, Simon Bubb
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

In the Burning Ghats of Calcutta where the dead are laid to rest, a man is found murdered, his throat cut from ear to ear.

The body is that of a popular patron of the arts, a man who was, by all accounts, beloved by all: so what was the motive for his murder? Despite being out of favour with the Imperial Police Force, Detective Sam Wyndham is assigned to the case and finds himself thrust into the glamorous world of Indian cinema.

Meanwhile Surendranath Banerjee, recently returned from Europe after three years spent running from the fallout of his last case, is searching for a missing photographer; a trailblazing woman at the forefront of the profession. When Suren discovers that the vanished woman is linked to Sam's murder investigation, the two men find themselves working together once again - but will Wyndham and Banerjee be able to put their differences aside to solve the case?From the critically-acclaimed author of HUNTED comes the next instalment in the popular Wyndham and Banerjee series.

'An unmissable series' The Times


'Captivating, moving and exciting, it's historical fiction at its finest' Sunday Express

'Abir Mukherjee is doing something uniquely different in the crime genre...breathtaking' Peter May, Sunday Times bestseller, on The Shadows of Men

© Abir Mukherjee 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

20th Century Crime Thrillers Historical Historical Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedurals Thriller & Suspense Crime Murder

Critic Reviews

An utterly spellbinding triumph from a master storyteller. (Joseph O’Connor)
I really enjoyed it. It was great to be back in the world of Wyndham and Banerjee as they solved a wonderfully imagined story told with all of Abir’s trademark wry humour. I especially liked the way he brought all of Kolkata’s satanic majesty to life. (Ajay Chowdhury)
I devoured it... Thrilling, evocative and amusing. It’s a book that has everything
Mukherjee’s tale from the Rag, full of local colour and excitement, is about blood, money and “the callousness of the universe”… Historical crime fiction at its best
Another gloriously brilliant deep dive into the dying days of the British Empire from one of our foremost historical crime writers
Another masterful Wyndham and Banerjee series, delivered with the usual panache
Sharp observation and ­stylish writing make it one not to miss
Throw in a beautiful English actress starring in an Indian film and you have the ingredients of a superb story set against the backdrop of colonial India . Sharp observation and stylish writing make it one not to miss
Mukherjee's eye for period detail and ear for dialogue bring this world vividly, dangerously alive
Mukherjee blends compelling plot with fascinating history
All stars
Most relevant
A strong detective series set in India in the 30s. Cynical Sam and the more earnest Suren once again work together after a parting of ways sent Suren off to Europe. Love the atmosphere and setting. Disgraced Sam gets a new case, as Suren becomes embroiled in independence politics. Excellent narrators.

Enjoyable, great characters

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