Muzaffar Jang

Series · 5 books · 2009-2015

By Madhulika Liddle

Books in series

The Englishman's Cameo

2009

A poisoned paan, a non-government issue arrow and the cameo of a mysterious Englishman...Muzaffar Jang is that rare creature in Mughal Emperor Shahjahan’s Dilli – an aristocrat with friends in low places. One of whom, Faisal, stands accused of murder. When the body of Mirza Murad Begh is found stabbed in the chest, lying in a water channel in the Qila, poor Faisal is the only one around. But what of the fact that, minutes before his demise, the victim had stepped out of the haveli of Shahjahanabad’s most ravishing courtesan? Could not the sultry Mehtab Banu and her pale, delicate sister, Gulnar have something to do with the murder? Determined to save his friend, Muzaffar decides to investigate, with only a cup now and then of that new-fangled brew – ‘Allah, so bitter’ – called coffee to help him. A trail of clues leads him from Mehtab’s haveli out into the streets of seventeenth-century Dilli – rife with rumours of Dara Shukoh’s strange leanings and Prince Aurangzeb’s rebelliousness – into a conspiracy far more sinister than he had imagined...

The Eighth Guest and other Muzaffar Jang Mysteries

2012

It is the year 1656. Muzaffar Jang - that rare creature in Shahjahan's Dilli, an aristocrat with friends in low places - is recovering from injuries sustained during his recent adventures involving two mysterious Englishmen and some reprehensible activities against the imperial Exchequer. Muzzaffar's bruised shoulder has yet to heal when he finds himself catapulted into a series of mysteries: An elephant in the Royal Elephant Stables goes berserk and kills its mahout - or does it? A scholarly nobleman - but, oh, such a pompous bore - is left a very puzzling legacy by his father. An artist at the imperial atelier is found murdered next to one of his works. Muzaffar must pit his wits against treacherous noblemen and scheming traders, greedy villagers, and lovelorn men - and women. But who knows? Before the year is out, Muzaffar may just meet his match...

Engraved in Stone

2012

Two years after the Taj Mahal is finally built, many secrets shroud its walls... In Agra to escort home the beautiful Shireen, Muzaffar Jang maverick nobleman and ace detective - reluctantly finds himself at the centre of yet another murder investigation when Mumtaz Hassan, a prominent trader, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. The Diwan-i-kul, Mir Jumla, on his way to invade Bijapur, hands the task of finding the killer to Muzaffar. With almost no evidence to work with except an ambiguous scrawl on a scrap of paper found clutched in the dead man's fist, Muzaffar knows he must find the killer before the Diwan-i-kul returns if he wants to save himself an invitation to a beheading. As he begins to uncover the dross beneath the golden opulence of the dead man and his murkily amorous past, Muzaffar chances upon another mystery: a long forgotten tale of a woman who vanished inexplicably one evening. Muzaffar Jang once again pits his wits against an array of potential suspects - even as he loses his heart to Shireen. About the Author Madhulika Liddle lives in Delhi and has worked in hospitality, advertising and instructional design before giving it all up to focus on writing. Her short stories have won several awards, including the top prize at the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association's Short Story Competition, 2003. Engraved in Stone is her third book about the Mughal detective, Muzaffar Jang. Besides fiction, Madhulika also writes on travel and classic cinema.

Crimson City

2015

A serial killer is terrorizing Dilli and Mughal nobleman and detective Muzaffar Jang might have finally met his match. In the spring of 1657, the Mughal armies have reached the Deccan, besieging the Fort of Bidar. Back home in Dilli, there is unrest: the empire seethes and stirs, and its capital reflects this turbulence. Muzaffar Jang, newly married to his beloved Shireen and trying to adjust to life as a husband, stumbles into the investigation of a merchant's murder. Even as another crime - the kidnapping of a wealthy moneylender's infant son - occurs, Muzaffar finds himself at odds with his brother-in-law, Khan Sahib, the Kotwal of Dilli. Things get increasingly puzzling as one murder follows another and, soon, it is clear that the streets of Dilli have a serial killer on the loose. Muzaffar, who soon finds himself at odds with the system as well as those closest to him, must follow his gut to unmask this audacious murderer, while trying to obey Khan Sahib's warning: do not get in the way of the law. But has he finally bitten off more than he can chew?

Muzaffar Jang E-Omnibus

2013

The collected exploits of maverick nobleman and ace detective in Mughal Emperor Shahjahan's court, Muzaffar Jang, in one fabulous volume!

Author

Madhulika Liddle

Author · 9 books

Madhulika Liddle is best known for her books featuring the 17th century Mughal detective Muzaffar Jang, although she is also a prolific writer of short fiction, travel writing, and writing related to classic cinema. The Muzaffar Jang Series: Madhulika’s best-known series of works are historical whodunnits featuring the 17th century Mughal detective, Muzaffar Jang. Till now, four books in the series have been published: The Englishman’s Cameo (2009) The Eighth Guest & Other Muzaffar Jang Mysteries (2011), Engraved in Stone (2012), and Crimson City (2015). In October 2021, Madhulika Liddle published The Garden of Heaven, the first novel of a four-novel series called the Delhi Quartet. This is a series of historical novels that will span 800 years of Delhi's history. The Garden of Heaven was long-listed for the Book of the Year (Fiction) Award of the annual Tata Literature Live! literature festival. In March 2023, Madhulika's The Pledge: Adventures to Sada was released. A fantasy adventure novel, this is the first part of a two-part series called The Mandala Purana, written in collaboration with film-maker Kannan Iyer. Short stories: Madhulika has written a range of short stories in different genres, including black humour, humour, crime and detection, and social awareness. Several of these have won awards (including the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s (CBA) Short Story Competition, for A Morning Swim, in 2003) or have been selected for anthologies. Her story, Poppies in the Snow, was longlisted for the 2015 Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize. Short story collections: My Lawfully Wedded Husband & Other Stories. Black humour shorts, all of which have a twist in the tale. Woman to Woman: Stories. A collection of twelve women-centric stories. Madhulika is also known for her travel writing, which has been published in Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller (India), Lounge (Mint), and other periodicals. In addition, she is a cinema buff and blogs (mostly about classic cinema) at www.madhulikaliddle.com. Awards and Recognition: CBA Short Story Competition – Honourable Mention (2002) for Love and the Papaya Man CBA Short Story Competition – Overall Winner (2003) for A Morning Swim Winner of Oxfordbookstore e-Author version 4.0 Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize (2015) - Longlisted for Poppies in the Snow Book of the Year Award, Tata Literature Live! (2023) - Longlisted for The Garden of Heaven Starting 2022, Crimson City (Muzaffar Jang #4) is being taught as an elective to Delhi University students majoring in English