The Patriot - Ajay Chowdhury

Kamil Rahman Book 6

The Koh-i-Noor is about to be stolen from the Tower of London. Kamil and Anjoli must decide who owns history—and how much it is worth dying for.

‘An absolute roller-coaster of a read. A must read book. I loved Detective Kamil and PI Anjoli Chatterjee. The characterisation in this story is second to none.’

Liz Nugent

Coming November 2026

Detective Sergeant Kamil Rahman is riding high on newfound fame and a thrilling new case: the mysterious death of the Deputy Governor of the Tower of London.

Meanwhile ex-partner Anjoli’s luck is about to change too. Her struggling detective agency has been asked to investigate a series of death threats targeting a high-profile, and controversial, climate activist.

Unbeknownst to them both, rogue historian Rohan Gill is planning the ultimate heist—to reclaim the Kohinoor diamond from the Tower – and Kamil and Anjoli, are an integral part of his plan.

With the Tower locked down and tensions soaring, will Kamil and Anjoli find the strength to do what’s right, or will they be swept away by the tides of history?

Read an exclusive extract here

READER REVIEWS

Iain M

Rated 5 out of 5

Well worth the wait since his last offering.
I have found all of Ajay’s books enjoyable and this one continues to tick the right boxes.
Can’t wait to see how the two main characters develop in time.
If you have not read anything by Ajay previously, then it is time to catch up.

Chris C

Another very enjoyable outing for Kamil, now a Met police DS, and Anjoli, who has started her new detective agency alongside her restaurant, Tandoori Knights. This time the mystery involves a murder at the Tower of London, a shady charity for wildlife conservation, and a very convoluted plot about a heist of the Koh-i-Noor.

A popular podcast historian, Rohan Gill, is planning to steal the Koh-i-Noor diamond from the Tower in order to highlight the plight of the Chagos Islanders, forcibly evicted from their homeland by the British. Gill is is an activist rather than a terrorist but as a Sikh knows racism, despite being a decorated former British soldier. Kamil and Anjoli are an integral part of his plan.

I really enjoyed reading this fast-paced thriller. I love this series and have read them all. This is the 6th in the series and I thoroughly recommend it. I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers and thank them for letting me spend time with Kamil and Anjoli again.

Nic J

An enjoyable sixth instalment in this fun detective series featuring Met Detective Kamil and his restaurant owning cum private investigator side kick Anjoli.

A historical podcast throws light on a controversial issue of empire. The Koh-i-Noor diamond, reputedly stolen from India, and now part of the Crown Jewels is potentially being taken off display to avoid controversy. When a senior member of the Tower of London expresses her displeasure, she faces the ultimate consequences. But bigger plans and forces are at work.

Meanwhile Anjoli gets her first gig to look into mysterious goings on with a Zimbabwean animal sanctuary charity. A senior member of staff is being threatened.

How are the two cases connected and how are Kamil and Anjoli the key to nefarious goings on in both instances.

A great fun romp in the 6th outing for these two. A heist, murders, clever plotting and historical stories which cannot help but be fascinating - this is a cleverly drawn together book. It may have worked as a standalone - Kamil and Anjoli are a little bit part for most of it, but Ajay pulls it off by the end. Really looking forward to their next outing and I was pleased to see a toning down of some of the cheesier parts of the early books (such as the T-shirt slogans).

Dani c

I really enjoyed The Patriot, particularly its wonderfully unusual setting. Using the Tower of London as the backdrop gives the story a fantastic sense of atmosphere, and I loved the detail around the workings, history and traditions of the Tower. The contrast between such a historic fortress and the modern investigation works particularly well.

I was especially fascinated by the security of the Tower and the way centuries old traditions still form part of its protection. The Yeoman Warders have guarded the Tower since Tudor times, while the centuries old Ceremony of the Keys still takes place every night. Chowdhury makes excellent use of that distinctive setting and all its history, making the Tower feel almost like another character in the story.

The plot also explores a much more uncomfortable side of British history: the removal of precious cultural treasures from other countries and the question of who has the right to possess them. The history surrounding the Koh i Noor gives the story plenty to think about, and I found the themes around colonialism, ownership and repatriation particularly interesting. It is an aspect of British history that has often been glossed over, so I appreciated the way it sits at the heart of the thriller rather than simply providing background.

There is plenty of intrigue, tension and twists, alongside the continuing development of Kamil and Anjoli. I did find some parts of the story a little less compelling than others, which is why this lands at four stars for me, but the originality of the setting and the historical questions at its centre more than made up for that.

A clever and atmospheric thriller with a fascinating setting and plenty of history beneath the surface. I will definitely be interested to see where Kamil and Anjoli go next.

ceecee s

4+ stars
The Koh-i-nor diamond, a body in the Tower of London and a siege. Yes, Kamil and Anjoli are back with Kamil gaining an excellent reputation for his detecting skills and Anjoli struggling both with her restaurant and her newly founded detective agency. However, her luck may be on the turn when she’s asked to investigate threats and deaths associated with Safaris in Zimbabwe.
Both of our central protagonists are blissfully unaware of an outrageously daring plan to steal the Koh-i-Nor diamond conceived by Rohan Gill, a decorated soldier in the British Army and a Sikh historian. His plot involves both of them - will they escape from his plotting unscathed? Is Rohan a latter day Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves? Will he succeed where Thomas (‘Captain’) Blood’s ill fated attempts failed in 1671??

The Tower of London is one of the capitals most famous landmarks and tourist attractions. It makes a superb setting for this latest novel by Ajay Chowdhury and gives it a terrific atmosphere totally unique to this 1000+ year old Royal Castle with all its associated history. There’s a terrific contrast between that and many changes over the years, especially in the present day. All the pomp and ceremony attached to the Yeoman Warders is extremely well used and I enjoy the machinations and in-house disagreements therein, the old school traditionalists versus new ideas and more modern approaches. Part of this does indeed affect the future of the infamous diamond.

The plot explores Britain’s colonial past via the diamond and the dilemma this poses in a hopefully modern enlightened world. I like how the author sheds light on this and he gives much food for thought. I enjoy how this plays out via the various characters and in Kamil’s thoughts too.

The plot is audacious, just like the plans and it’s an exciting thriller from beginning to end, with multiple twists as chameleon characters transform and manipulate for their own ends or gain. The plot is complex and doesn’t just involve the shenanigans and derring do at the Tower but also in the African Safari element and does connect to the original starting point via Anjoli. The question of the Chagos Islands is also raised. At times it feels like watching an all action movie especially the incredible scenes at the Tower. I particularly love those as the author so cleverly uses the site.

There’s a great deal of symbolism throughout too, not just that provided by the diamond but what the tower represents as well as other issues.

I really like the central characters of Kamil and Anjoli (and her T-shirts) and their ever changing relationship which helps to keep things fresh. Another great character is Kamil’s boss, Tahir Ismael. It’s always enjoyable when the plot switches to the Tandoori Knights restaurant owned by Anjoli and the humour as always is provided by the talented chef, Chanson with his excellent malapropisms.

Overall, this is another satisfying and atmospheric thriller from the author. It’s fast paced and highly entertaining. I can wholeheartedly recommend the series.