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roshk99's review
4.0
Another fun installment in the Vish Puri series. This one includes a robbery, political ambitions, and the caste system divide and manages to be entertaining and fast-paced. An enjoyable read.
k5tog's review
4.0
Vish Puri is at it again - as is his mother. Two cases (with a third solved late in the book) are followed in this volume of Vish Puri mysteries. I love this series because not only are the cases that Puri works intriguing mysteries, but I also feel like I learn new things about India. I've known about India's caste system, but I truly thought that maybe it had gone away, but it seems like it hasn't. The plight of the untouchables is at the center of this book, and I was glad to learn more about their struggles.
usbsticky's review
4.0
This is my 3rd Vish Puri book and I'm beginning to see a pattern in the series: 1) there are usually 3 mysteries 2) one is solved by Mummy-ji 3) one is a negligible mystery 4) the series is quite funny and growing on me.
Ok, let's start at the beginning - spoilers from here on down:
This series is about a private detective in Delhi, India. He is a very likeable man with a fun cast of supporting characters, all of whom provide a lot of legwork for him, i.e. he orders and they perform. The author introduces us to modern (80's?) India. Not sure exactly when. The book is published in 2013 but the characters don't seem to have the new smart phones or talk about any of the modern ubiquitous apps on them. And by introduce, I mean the good and the bad: the good being the goodness in people and the bad meaning the poverty, the corruption, etc.
This book:
Major crime: A (lower caste) young man is abducted before he can run away with his high caste bride. The author introduces us to the Indian caste phenomenon and how modern India deals (or doesn't deal) with it. The story gets a bit complicated because it also deals with a company doing DNA research and Indian politics. I wasn't totally happy with this story because of the numerous characters and cliques in it. A rival detective is given a lot of screen time in this part and is actually quite interesting.
Mummy-ji crime: She is Puri's mom and is actually quite adept at mystery solving. A man pick pockets Puri on a train and she follows the character as they all go to shrine. The pick-pocket plans to steal the monetary offers and she figures out how and catches the crooks. A much simpler and linear story.
Minor crime: For some reason the author always seems to throw in a negligible mystery that shows up between chapters or events. In this case, a lot of jewelry is stolen. Puri is fired because he doesn't make any progress but a clue from the major story leads him to the answer. I don't even know why the author threw this story in. It doesn't have any mystery to it and Puri solves it by revelation at the end.
As with many crime series I read I love the characters and the setting here. The mystery(s) are ok if a little ho-hum. I will continue to follow the series because of the two things I love.
Ok, let's start at the beginning - spoilers from here on down:
This series is about a private detective in Delhi, India. He is a very likeable man with a fun cast of supporting characters, all of whom provide a lot of legwork for him, i.e. he orders and they perform. The author introduces us to modern (80's?) India. Not sure exactly when. The book is published in 2013 but the characters don't seem to have the new smart phones or talk about any of the modern ubiquitous apps on them. And by introduce, I mean the good and the bad: the good being the goodness in people and the bad meaning the poverty, the corruption, etc.
This book:
Major crime: A (lower caste) young man is abducted before he can run away with his high caste bride. The author introduces us to the Indian caste phenomenon and how modern India deals (or doesn't deal) with it. The story gets a bit complicated because it also deals with a company doing DNA research and Indian politics. I wasn't totally happy with this story because of the numerous characters and cliques in it. A rival detective is given a lot of screen time in this part and is actually quite interesting.
Mummy-ji crime: She is Puri's mom and is actually quite adept at mystery solving. A man pick pockets Puri on a train and she follows the character as they all go to shrine. The pick-pocket plans to steal the monetary offers and she figures out how and catches the crooks. A much simpler and linear story.
Minor crime: For some reason the author always seems to throw in a negligible mystery that shows up between chapters or events. In this case, a lot of jewelry is stolen. Puri is fired because he doesn't make any progress but a clue from the major story leads him to the answer. I don't even know why the author threw this story in. It doesn't have any mystery to it and Puri solves it by revelation at the end.
As with many crime series I read I love the characters and the setting here. The mystery(s) are ok if a little ho-hum. I will continue to follow the series because of the two things I love.
veereadstoomuch's review against another edition
5.0
You learn more about Puri's team in this case. He is helping Face Cream even though he doesn't agree with what she does, but he is ready to help no matter what. The case gets complicated because at first, it seems like it's just about a mad father, but it turns out to be so much more. You learn more about the caste system in India (and Vish's opinions about it). Again, a very enjoyable book!
worldsnoop's review
3.0
Better than last week's book!
This is my first Vish Puri mystery. I like Vish's voice and the pacing of the book. It reminds me quite a lot of Alexander McCall Smith and his work. There's an amused civility to both that I find appealing.
This is my first Vish Puri mystery. I like Vish's voice and the pacing of the book. It reminds me quite a lot of Alexander McCall Smith and his work. There's an amused civility to both that I find appealing.
sangeethat's review against another edition
4.0
These books are always fun and entertaining but the political aspect of this one made it compelling reading as well. This book looks at two current issues in India, the caste system and the exploitation of poor indigenous people by white international companies. It deftly brings both together and makes many incisive comments on them. Face cream, my favourite of Puri's operatives, shows up and kicks ass, literally. She also educates some kids while inciting a slow rebellion in a village. The neo colonialism of international companies is shown to be disgusting and instead of merely making a comment about how the caste system is wrong, this book goes deeper by showing you what their lives are like, and the varied exploitation they are vulnerable to because of the caste system. It ends with Dalit women, who are at the most bottom of the ladder, deciding to fight the system together, and that to me was the soul of the book. Could not recommend it more!
nyx_who's review against another edition
2.0
I picked this book up knowing absolutely nothing about it. I don't know author, or the author's previous works. Didn't know this was part of a series and did not know much about the plot besides what I read on the blurb. The title and the premise drew a chuckle out of me and so I added it to my to-read shelf for the year.
This book was fast paced, had funny moments and commentary on various socio political aspects in northern India. In the midst of it there are corrupt politicians, a murder, and DNA research. There was simply too much going on and the jumble of it all got to be too much for me to actually enjoy the book as much as I'd have liked to. It fell just short of being funny enough for it to be a laugh riot, and short of being a page turner for it to satisfy the whodunnit itch. With the political commentary thrown in, this book was jumping between genres so hard it didn't really land anywhere for me. There could be an interesting book somewhere here if it was maybe pared down a tad.
I probably will not continue with the series. For a stand alone read, this book was fine but had the potential to be better.
This book was fast paced, had funny moments and commentary on various socio political aspects in northern India. In the midst of it there are corrupt politicians, a murder, and DNA research. There was simply too much going on and the jumble of it all got to be too much for me to actually enjoy the book as much as I'd have liked to. It fell just short of being funny enough for it to be a laugh riot, and short of being a page turner for it to satisfy the whodunnit itch. With the political commentary thrown in, this book was jumping between genres so hard it didn't really land anywhere for me. There could be an interesting book somewhere here if it was maybe pared down a tad.
I probably will not continue with the series. For a stand alone read, this book was fine but had the potential to be better.
b00kr3vi3ws's review against another edition
3.0
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2013/12/LoveCommandos.html
I was surprised and happy to find out about real life ‘Love Commandos’ on the show ‘Satyameva Jayate’ hosted by Amir Khan. They operate in various parts of the country and helping out couples facing trouble from family and the society.
In Tarquin Hall’s latest, Ram and Tulsi are from completely two different strata of the society and when they fall in love, Tulsi's parents are so much against the relationship that they lock her up and set on hunting down Ram. This is where the Love Commandos makes an entrance to the story as they manage to rescue Tulsi from her home. Unfortunately, they may be a bit too late in getting Tulsi out as they find out that Ram is missing from his hiding place. In the meantime, Vish Puri is looking to break the bad luck mojo that seemed to have taken over his life before his competitor can snatch a win from under his nose by finding Ram before him. But soon the stakes are higher as this story takes a turn from ‘Missing Person Case’ to a murder investigation.
The first thing about this story that helped me warm up to it is the picture perfect portrayal of India’s caste system. Being in the twenty first century, I personally find it ridiculous that people still cling on to this system. I shiver every time I am asked what caste I belong to and wonder when people will start realizing that caste system only serves as a divider and has no positive productivity in our lives or in our society. It is only a negative influence that hinders our development. Vish Puri though, through this story, gives us hope that with time people will come to see it.
The plot started out as fairly simple till a few twists took it to another level of interesting. Mummy-ji, to my delight, plays a bigger role in this book and she was a delight to read about. And how can we talk about Mummy-ji and Vish Puri and not make a mention of the impressive humour woven into the story? Or the mouthwatering foods that get its fair share of limelight? The pace was almost perfect throughout, but veered off a bit towards the end where it seemed to be a bit rushed. Too many cases and too many bad guys to be taken out made things a bit of a chaos – but one that I rather enjoyed.
All in all, it was a good book and keeps up to the expectations that we have from a ‘Vish Puri’ Novel.
I was surprised and happy to find out about real life ‘Love Commandos’ on the show ‘Satyameva Jayate’ hosted by Amir Khan. They operate in various parts of the country and helping out couples facing trouble from family and the society.
In Tarquin Hall’s latest, Ram and Tulsi are from completely two different strata of the society and when they fall in love, Tulsi's parents are so much against the relationship that they lock her up and set on hunting down Ram. This is where the Love Commandos makes an entrance to the story as they manage to rescue Tulsi from her home. Unfortunately, they may be a bit too late in getting Tulsi out as they find out that Ram is missing from his hiding place. In the meantime, Vish Puri is looking to break the bad luck mojo that seemed to have taken over his life before his competitor can snatch a win from under his nose by finding Ram before him. But soon the stakes are higher as this story takes a turn from ‘Missing Person Case’ to a murder investigation.
The first thing about this story that helped me warm up to it is the picture perfect portrayal of India’s caste system. Being in the twenty first century, I personally find it ridiculous that people still cling on to this system. I shiver every time I am asked what caste I belong to and wonder when people will start realizing that caste system only serves as a divider and has no positive productivity in our lives or in our society. It is only a negative influence that hinders our development. Vish Puri though, through this story, gives us hope that with time people will come to see it.
The plot started out as fairly simple till a few twists took it to another level of interesting. Mummy-ji, to my delight, plays a bigger role in this book and she was a delight to read about. And how can we talk about Mummy-ji and Vish Puri and not make a mention of the impressive humour woven into the story? Or the mouthwatering foods that get its fair share of limelight? The pace was almost perfect throughout, but veered off a bit towards the end where it seemed to be a bit rushed. Too many cases and too many bad guys to be taken out made things a bit of a chaos – but one that I rather enjoyed.
All in all, it was a good book and keeps up to the expectations that we have from a ‘Vish Puri’ Novel.
wordnerdy's review against another edition
4.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2013/08/2013-book-230.html
beththebookdragon's review
2.0
Reasonably enjoyable writing style and amusing characters, but neither those nor the plot was enough to draw me through the story. Very good writer and popular judging from the average ratings, but just not for me.
Going to booktalk as an "Alexander McCall Smith-style mystery series set in India."
Going to booktalk as an "Alexander McCall Smith-style mystery series set in India."