Ashwini Tambe’s Codes of Misconduct comes as an apt reminder that laws do not always fulfill their purpose but work in extremely contrary ways throughout their lifespan. In a painstakingly detailed yet engaging manner she traces the history of lawmaking with respect to prostitution in colonial Bombay. Written with pleasing terseness and a refreshing lucidity, the book also reflects its historical insights onto a contemporary terrain when commenting on contingent international funding for AIDS prevention.