A hugely entertaining first novel for lovers of traditional crime fiction, taking us from Kolkata to Brick Lane. I can't wait to read more about disgraced detective Kamil and his wonderfully drawn companion Anjoli. - Ann Cleeves

Superb... Chowdhury paces the novel like an old hand, juxtaposing chapters set in the East End with flashbacks to Calcutta... [an] outstanding debut -- Joan Smith - Sunday Times

From the mean streets of Kolkata to the kitchens of Brick Lane...this is a rip-roaring mystery that's engrossing from start to finish. In Kamil Rahman, Ajay has created a quixotic and all too human protagonist who is a refreshing and welcome addition to the world of detective fiction. One of my favourite reads of the year. - Abir Mukherjee, author of the Wyndham & Banerjee mysteries

The Waiter is a heady mix of murder, intrigue and all things Indian. Weaving together a dual narrative with aplomb, Ajay Chowdhury's neatly-drawn detective Kamil Rahman relives his failure to solve the murder of a Bollywood A-lister in Kolkata whilst trying to solve the killing of an Indian industrialist in London. Could the two murders be connected? An accomplished crime debut that offers something a little different. - Vaseem Khan, author of the Malabar House Baby Ganesh Agency crime series

An authentic and enthralling debut with an original new lead detective. - G.R. Halliday

Ajay Chowdhury is the winner of the inaugural Harvill Secker-Bloody Scotland crime writing award. He is a tech entrepreneur and theatre director who lived the first third of his life in India and then moved to London, where he cooks experimental meals for his wife and daughters. His first children's book, Ayesha and the Firefish, was published in 2016 and The Waiter is his debut crime thriller.