Historical Novel Society Editor's Choice
Featured in the January 2026 issue of Kirkus Reviews Magazine

A critically acclaimed historical novel of intrigue, betrayal, and empire set in eighteenth-century Bengal.

The Traitor’s Bargain unfolds during the turbulent years leading to the Battle of Plassey and its devastating aftermath - the conflict that transformed the British East India Company from a trading enterprise into the dominant political power in India.

In the summer of 1757, Bengal, jewel of the East, stands on the edge of a precipice. The East India Company, once mere merchants, manoeuvres to unseat a dynasty. The young Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah finds himself surrounded by treachery. A powerful banker pulls unseen strings. A nobleman, torn between loyalty and survival, faces a fateful choice. A Company officer begins to question the masters he serves. And the son of an aristocrat rises to lead a peasant revolt.

Their lives converge in a crucible of shifting power and rising rebellion, as the fury of a devastated land collides with the ambitions of foreign merchants. Every decision becomes a wager, and every betrayal brings its reckoning.

Based on real events and grounded in meticulous research, The Traitor’s Bargain offers a vivid portrait of ambition, betrayal, resistance, and moral compromise at a moment that reshaped the political fate of the subcontinent.

Editorial Acclaim for The Traitor’s Bargain

"A pleasure to read, with rich descriptions and nuanced characterization." - Historical Novel Society (Editor's Choice)

"The author has clearly done his research... he makes complicated political manoeuvring easily understandable." - Historical Novel Society (Editor's Choice)

"An enthralling story of nationalism filled with historical touches and lush details... Roy smoothly mingles historical figures with fictional characters." - Kirkus Reviews

“Rajat Roy brings an original and genuine flair to his historical suspense novel… a fun and engaging read from start to finish… unreservedly recommended for community and public library historical fiction collections.” - Midwest Book Review

"Historical fiction at its finest... words woven with beauty and power." - IndieReader

“A pleasant mix of authentic history and highly enjoyable fiction...The writing style of Roy is poetic and compels one to read it from the beginning till the end.” - Muse India

Complete editorial reviews, together with links to the original publications, are available at the Emberline Books website.