Meet me in Bombay

On New Year's Eve 1913 in Bombay, Madeline (Maddy) Bright, an English newcomer to India falls in love across the proverbial crowded room with the dashing Luke Devereaux.  But naturally the course of true love can't run smoothly: Maddy's mother Alice (who has her own chequered romantic past) believes the older doctor, Guy Bowen, is the right man for her daughter. But soon everyone's lives are destined to be torn apart by the commencement of World War I. 

As the young men are called up to serve in Europe, the women can only remain behind and pray and hope for their survival. Luke suffers a head wound and ends up in a repatriation hospital with no idea who he is or what his past has been (he is only known as Officer Jones). In spite of receiving news of his death, Maddy is convinced he is still alive although everyone else feels she is delusional and tries to encourage her to move on.

For the most part, this is an enjoyable romantic tale that requires a fair bit of tissue-clutching. Bombay's colourful backdrop is just that, and it is not a story of India itself, but rather that of a group of English people who are there in service of the Raj and the basic plot could be played out anywhere. The leading characters all tend to be "nice" and this can make them seem dull and unrealistic. The only one with depth and contradictions is Maddy's mother, Alice, who hides important knowledge from her daughter. 

The last few chapters contain much improbability and overwrought dialogue and some readers might have preferred a more clinical or practical conclusion. Otherwise, a good read for the holidays.

Three stars

(I read the American edition, which may differ slightly from the English or Australian original. The cover images are also different in each country.)


amazon.com

amazon.co.uk

Dymocks Australia

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