There are all kinds of private detectives stationed all over the world. But until Vish Puri made his debut in this novel, none of them operated in the Indian subcontinent. Calling himself the “most private investigator,” Vish operates from New Delhi and, of course, has more than his fill of matrimonial cases.
And then he is retained by an honest attorney accused of murdering his maidservant. Using common sense and his cadre of operatives, along with centuries-old principles of detection, Vish travels from Delhi to Jaipur to the uranium mines if Jharkhand to discover the facts of the case. Meanwhile, he has to check out a prospective groom to determine whether he is worthy of marriage to the granddaughter of a national hero. In this case, Vish employs modern techniques, including electronic eavesdropping and time-honored snooping.
The author has created an irrepressible character who is both amusing and shrewd. The descriptions and observations about India are right on the mark. A sequel, The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing, was published in June, 2010, and is on this reader’s agenda to be reviewed in the near future. We are looking forward to reading it with much anticipation, inasmuch as this novel is recommended.
