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bookshelf_al's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
smarkies's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nicolesanm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Hate crime
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Genocide
Minor: Physical abuse, Child death, Confinement, and Mental illness
carole888's review against another edition
4.0
I do love this Punjabi detective, Vish Puri, “India’s most private investigator”! I needed something light and this was perfect. There were times I couldn’t help laughing. It was a fun read … also enlightening as you do learn about India, it’s people and the food!!! This is the third book in the series that I’ve read and it hasn’t mattered that I have them out of order. Looking forward to more.
bkdrgn303's review against another edition
3.0
Fun. Glad to see this series back and hope to see more installments. These books make me hungry.
roshk99's review against another edition
3.0
Vish Puri does it again. When Mummy is convinced that she has found a murder victim reincarnated, she drags Puri into a tangled web that brings up his father's career. Another enjoyable read by Tarquin Hall.
pam_sartain's review against another edition
4.0
The Case of the Reincarnated Client is the fifth book in the Vish Puri series, and whilst I've not read any of the other books, I didn't feel I was missing out on too much!
The rest of the books are all crime novels as well, all set in India, and Vish Puri is a private investigator.
In this book his mother brings him a case that she has decided he needs to take on, and that she's going to investigate with him. It's the case of a young girl claims to be a woman who was murdered during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and Puri's mother is determined he will help her, especially as his late father had investigated the murder.
Puri is not pleased as he's dealing with another client who he did the background check on the groom, who is now snoring. And the government is just making some of the paper money defunct.
I enjoyed this trip to to India, and the customs and insight it gave me. I also enjoyed Puri's family life, and his mother.
The Case of the Reincarnated Client by Tarquin Hall was published on 4th February 2020, and is available to buy on Amazon and on Waterstones . I've found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!
You can follow Tarquin Hall on his website .
If you're interested in cosy crime, then I'd suggest the following:
In the Crypt with the candlestick by Daisy Waugh
Pecan Pies and Dead Guys by Angie Fox - this is a series that I've been enjoying.
I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Severn House (the publishers) for this book.
The rest of the books are all crime novels as well, all set in India, and Vish Puri is a private investigator.
In this book his mother brings him a case that she has decided he needs to take on, and that she's going to investigate with him. It's the case of a young girl claims to be a woman who was murdered during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and Puri's mother is determined he will help her, especially as his late father had investigated the murder.
Puri is not pleased as he's dealing with another client who he did the background check on the groom, who is now snoring. And the government is just making some of the paper money defunct.
I enjoyed this trip to to India, and the customs and insight it gave me. I also enjoyed Puri's family life, and his mother.
The Case of the Reincarnated Client by Tarquin Hall was published on 4th February 2020, and is available to buy on Amazon and on Waterstones . I've found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!
You can follow Tarquin Hall on his website .
If you're interested in cosy crime, then I'd suggest the following:
In the Crypt with the candlestick by Daisy Waugh
Pecan Pies and Dead Guys by Angie Fox - this is a series that I've been enjoying.
I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Severn House (the publishers) for this book.
k5tog's review
4.0
It surprises me that Tarquin Hall, a white British author, writes the Vish Puri series (and that the audio books are narrated by another white British man). The stories are so good and entertaining. They feel authentic to me, but what do I know? I've never been to India.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this one as much as the previous four books.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this one as much as the previous four books.
usbsticky's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a fan of this series and I've read all the books (except for the short story). I like this series because I like the characters and the setting. The setting is chaotic India with its diverse peoples, hectic way of life, the cultures and the food. I like Vish Puri, the private detective who is always entertaining and his supporting case of family and employees. His mummy-ji is always in the plot solving one of the mysteries and there is sure to be some of Vish's old friends. I would highly recommend this series if you like India and mysteries.
Speaking of which, the mystery part is only okay. Up to 5 different mysteries are included in each book, which makes it a bit busy. I have no idea why the author chooses to write it this way. There is also no great suspense, the mysteries are usually solved with plain good old footwork and a sudden revelation at the end. Usually 1-2 of the small ones are woven in and around the main mysteries and then presented with a fait accompli at the end. But I have to admit the detective protocol parts are usually pretty well written.
Summary with real spoilers. I write this main for myself so I can remember what the book is about. Don't read this part unless you want to know all about the book.
1) A disgruntled former client wants to sue Vish because of the prenuptial check up work he did in vetting the groom for his daughter. The problem is that after marriage, the groom was found to snore so loudly that the bride couldn't sleep and is destroying the marriage. Vish finds out that the groom's ex-girlfriend and current wife conspire to taint the groom's toothpaste with cat dander which he is allergic to. Apparently both are pissed at him and want to destroy the marriage.
2) The title mystery: A practitioner of life regression therapy and hypnotist discovers that a client's (Saanvi) past life is that of a woman (Riya Kaur) who was murdered in the Anti-Sikh Riots of 1984. Puri's father was the investigating officer but even though the woman's husband was suspected as the murderer, nothing could be proved. What is strange is that Saanvi has intimate knowledge of Riya Kaur's past life that only she would know.
In the end, with the help of Mummy-ji, they find that both Saanvi and the real Riya Kaur (who did not die in the riots) were residents in the same ashram. Riya more or less adopted Saanvi and told her many incidents in her past life which Saanvi then repeated as her own life during the hypnosis sessions.
3) The Indian government decides to enact a demonetization program to trade in old 500 and 1000 rupee notes for new ones. The purpose is to catch out the black economy and people with under the table transactions because they would have to prove where they got their money from. While at a bank's toilet, he overhears someone in the next stall planning to launder a lot of the old bank notes. With nothing more than a clue of hairy toes, he and Inspector Singh manages to catch the culprit.
4) Not a real mystery but Vish's daughter wishes to marry a Bengali. He is initially against it and gets a colleague to dig up dirt on this man (Bish). Meanwhile Vish's trusty Ambassador car has been damaged during an assassination attempt on him. Pretty much everyone wants him to trade in his old car for a new one except for him. Bish gets to have dinner with Vish's family and initially Vish felt a bit negative towards him, however he finds out that Bish is a car enthusiast and also has a soft spot for Ambassadors.
Overall, a very enjoyable read for me.
Speaking of which, the mystery part is only okay. Up to 5 different mysteries are included in each book, which makes it a bit busy. I have no idea why the author chooses to write it this way. There is also no great suspense, the mysteries are usually solved with plain good old footwork and a sudden revelation at the end. Usually 1-2 of the small ones are woven in and around the main mysteries and then presented with a fait accompli at the end. But I have to admit the detective protocol parts are usually pretty well written.
Summary with real spoilers. I write this main for myself so I can remember what the book is about. Don't read this part unless you want to know all about the book.
1) A disgruntled former client wants to sue Vish because of the prenuptial check up work he did in vetting the groom for his daughter. The problem is that after marriage, the groom was found to snore so loudly that the bride couldn't sleep and is destroying the marriage. Vish finds out that the groom's ex-girlfriend and current wife conspire to taint the groom's toothpaste with cat dander which he is allergic to. Apparently both are pissed at him and want to destroy the marriage.
2) The title mystery: A practitioner of life regression therapy and hypnotist discovers that a client's (Saanvi) past life is that of a woman (Riya Kaur) who was murdered in the Anti-Sikh Riots of 1984. Puri's father was the investigating officer but even though the woman's husband was suspected as the murderer, nothing could be proved. What is strange is that Saanvi has intimate knowledge of Riya Kaur's past life that only she would know.
In the end, with the help of Mummy-ji, they find that both Saanvi and the real Riya Kaur (who did not die in the riots) were residents in the same ashram. Riya more or less adopted Saanvi and told her many incidents in her past life which Saanvi then repeated as her own life during the hypnosis sessions.
3) The Indian government decides to enact a demonetization program to trade in old 500 and 1000 rupee notes for new ones. The purpose is to catch out the black economy and people with under the table transactions because they would have to prove where they got their money from. While at a bank's toilet, he overhears someone in the next stall planning to launder a lot of the old bank notes. With nothing more than a clue of hairy toes, he and Inspector Singh manages to catch the culprit.
4) Not a real mystery but Vish's daughter wishes to marry a Bengali. He is initially against it and gets a colleague to dig up dirt on this man (Bish). Meanwhile Vish's trusty Ambassador car has been damaged during an assassination attempt on him. Pretty much everyone wants him to trade in his old car for a new one except for him. Bish gets to have dinner with Vish's family and initially Vish felt a bit negative towards him, however he finds out that Bish is a car enthusiast and also has a soft spot for Ambassadors.
Overall, a very enjoyable read for me.