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**WINNER 2018 WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE**

‘Even better than his first’ Daily Telegraph

India, 1920. Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee of Calcutta Police must investigate the dramatic assassination of a Maharaja’s son…

Sam Wyndham is visiting the kingdom of Sambalpore, home to diamond mines and the beautiful Palace of the Sun.

But when the Maharaja’s eldest son is assassinated, Wyndham realises that the realm is riven with conflict. Prince Adhir was unpopular with religious groups, while his brother – now in line to the throne – appears to be a feckless playboy.

As Wyndham and Sergeant ‘Surrender-not’ Banerjee endeavour to unravel the mystery, they become entangled in a dangerous world. They must find the murderer, before the murderer finds them.

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2018 HISTORICAL AND GOLD DAGGERS*
*LONGLISTED FOR THE 2018 CWA STEEL DAGGER*

Praise for the Wyndham and Banerjee series :

‘An exceptional historical crime novel’ C.J. Sansom

‘A thought-provoking rollercoaster’ Ian Rankin

‘Cracking… A journey into the dark underbelly of the British Raj’ Daily Express

If you enjoyed A Necessary Evil, further books in the Wyndham and Banerjee series are available now:

A Rising Man
Smoke and Ashes
Death in the East
The Shadows of Men

Publisher Review

He writes beautifully, bringing the colourful kingdom of Sambalpore to vivid life and taking the reader on a highly entertaining journey to unearth the dark secrets as its core, with unexpected twists on the way to a satisfying finale -- Jon Coates * Daily Express * An intriguing and enjoyable crime novel -- Sarah Shaffi * Stylist * A richly detailed period gem boasting the British Raj's exotic setting and a gripping "whydunit" spun around an intriguing cast -- Christine Tran * Booklist * A year ago I welcomed the arrival of Captain Sam Wyndham and his faithful Sergeant... and I am delight to report that his return is every bit as engaging -- Geoffrey Wansell * Daily Mail * Even better than his first... What is most striking about Mukherjee's novels is his infectious enjoyment of the human oddity of the British in India... Even better is his portrayal of the mix of opulence and spirituality that characterises Sambalpore under its sybaritic but benevolent maharaja... I can't imagine anyone failing to enjoy it -- Jake Kerridge * Daily Telegraph *