Tarquin Hall
4/5 stars
A prominent rationalist, Dr. Jha, is murdered before his friends when a goddess rises from the ground and stabs him to death. Vish Puri knows that it is an illusion, and must unveil both the mystery of the occurrence and the guilty party behind it.
In the meantime, Mummy and Puri's wife Rumpy, are robbed during a kitty party. Mummy enlists Rumpy's aid and they set out to find which of their friends could be responsible for such an act.
This novel takes the reader into the fascinating world of India's magicians and religious cults as Puri investigates the most obvious suspect, the Maharaj Swami. The social aspect of Mummy's investigation is also interesting. Both mysteries are engrossing, the characters engaging, and Hall's writing solid. This second volume lacks some of the charm of the first (see here), but is still well worth a read both for the puzzle and the atmosphere.
