First published 2005
In late 19th-century Britain, George Edjali—a half-Indian solicitor—finds himself trapped in a nightmare of anonymous threats and systemic racism. When local livestock are mutilated and suspicion falls squarely on him, George is arrested, tried, and sentenced to hard labor on flimsy evidence. Enter Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous detective novelist, who becomes obsessed with proving George's innocence. As racial prejudice and institutional corruption threaten to destroy George's life, Doyle launches a personal crusade to uncover the truth, risking his own reputation to exonerate a man he's never met. Based on a shocking true story, this is a gripping tale of justice, identity, and the power of individual conviction.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, thriller, 19th-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, underdog
Setting: Midlands (England)
Period: Late 19th-Century
400 pages · Hardcover · Alfred A. Knopf
Content warnings: racism