Tarquin Hall
5/5 stars
Prominent lawyer Ajay Kasliwal is being accused of murdering his missing servant, Mary, and hires Vish Puri to prove his innocence. Punjabi Puri, affectionately known as "Chubby", is the owner of Most Private Investigators Ltd. in Delhi, a highly successful private detective firm where "discretion is my watchword". With his operatives, Puri sets out to solve Kasliwal's case, while also investigating both a prospective bridegroom, and the latest attempt on his life.
Puri is well-drawn: personable and clever, with an amusing streak of pomposity. The supporting characters, especially Mummy, are as fun and nearly as fleshed-out. The solution of the case rests on some information that the reader doesn't have available, but it doesn't lessen the enjoyment of the experience. However, it's the details about India in general, and Delhi in particular that make this novel rise about the average mystery. I highly recommend this book, especially to those with interest in modern India.
(On a personal note: this was my second time reading it and I think I liked it even better this second time.)
