Call the Next Witness is an exciting detective story in which the suspense depends not on finding out "who done it," but rather on who will say what. Set in northern India during colonial rule, the story follows the thread of a murder from deed to trial. Mason not only weaves a gripping tale of death and detection in a small village, but also provides a fascinating insight into the religious, economic, political and psychological infrastructure of prewar Indian society.

Philip Mason was a member of the Indian Civil Service from 1928 to 1947 and is the author of many works, including The Men Who Ruled India, which has recently been reissued.