The Burning Grounds

A Novel (Wyndham & Banerjee Mysteries, Book 6)

By: Abir Mukherjee

Narrated by: Simon Bubb, Mikhail Sen

Award-winning crime novelist Abir Mukherjee returns to his brilliant mystery series set in late-1920s Calcutta, as Sam Wyndham and Surendranath Banerjee must reunite to solve a high profile murder and disappearance.

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 philanthropist and patron of the arts. A man, who was, by all accounts, beloved by all. So what could possibly be the motive for murder? Though 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 cinema when his investigation leads him to a film the victim was funding.

Meanwhile Sam's former colleague, Surendranath Banerjee, recently returned from Europe after three years running from the fallout of his last case, is searching for a vanished photographer, one of the first women in the profession. When he discovers the missing woman is somehow linked to Sam's murder investigation, the two men are forced to work together once again—but will Wyndham and Banerjee be able to put their differences aside to solve the case?

©2025 Abir Mukherjee (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Best of the series.

Excellent in almost every respect. The only thing that bothered me a little was having two different voices for Sam. Looking forward to the next one.

Another stellar murder mystery set in British Calcutta

Captain Sam Wyndham meets a beautiful movie star and solves 3 murders, with the help of former Sgt Chatterjee. The alternating dual narrators was very effective and the story was interesting.

Driven by friendship, but not mystery

Loving the evolution of Sam and Surin! This book’s mystery was not very mysterious, but the characters and writing are worth it.

Twist and turn.

Like the the political backdrop and social details that made the story quite intriguing. Friendship of two protagonist made the story more convincing. The end is too cinematic.

Another stellar chapter for W and B!

Couldn’t put it down. Like spending time with old friends - though their lives are a little more complicated! If you like history and/or detective fiction you’ll be captivated by this series. There better be more to come and soon! Highly, highly recommend