We think that we are inclined to be 'sniffy' about a history book that is described as a thriller - which probably says more about us than this book. However, The Patient Assassin is pretty thrilling. It is a story of revenge following the Amritsar Massacre in 1919. Also known as the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, it was a particularly horrible event involving the British killing Indian civilians. The story focuses on Udham Singh and his revenge for the massacre, and while it does indeed sound like a thriller, Anita Anand uses the story to give the background and aftermath of the massacre. It is very readable, and a definite winner for anyone interested in British India.
