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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
I was drawn immediately to this book - Indian detective plus elephant = WIN! The book is light in tone but serious about atmosphere and characterisation. I have never visited Mumbai, but I now feel that I have thanks to Khan's work.
An excellent start to what seems like a promising series - I look forward to the sequel.
An excellent start to what seems like a promising series - I look forward to the sequel.
medium-paced
To be rated/reviewed after this month’s book club meeting
I'd give this 3.5 stars, but rounded up to 4 stars since this was the first book in the series and it was incredibly enjoyable. I found this introduction to the Baby Ganesh Agency series delightful and a pleasant bit of escapism. I loved the setting, characters, and premise of a police officer who is forced into early retirement but finds a way to continue finding justice for those who need it. I can see myself sticking with this series and enjoying the adventures of Inspector Chopra (ret.) and his crime-fighting baby elephant sidekick. The case that Inspector Chopra investigates in the series opener takes many twists along the way and showed his tenacity in making sure that justice is served, even when others would prefer to go with the easier solution. I look forward to finding what happens in the second installment, which I started almost immediately after finishing this one, and to watching the series progress.
I decided to use this as my pick for the 2019 Modern Mrs. Darcy prompt "three books by the same author" (book #1 of 3) after reading the second book in the series.
I'd give this 3.5 stars, but rounded up to 4 stars since this was the first book in the series and it was incredibly enjoyable. I found this introduction to the Baby Ganesh Agency series delightful and a pleasant bit of escapism. I loved the setting, characters, and premise of a police officer who is forced into early retirement but finds a way to continue finding justice for those who need it. I can see myself sticking with this series and enjoying the adventures of Inspector Chopra (ret.) and his crime-fighting baby elephant sidekick. The case that Inspector Chopra investigates in the series opener takes many twists along the way and showed his tenacity in making sure that justice is served, even when others would prefer to go with the easier solution. I look forward to finding what happens in the second installment, which I started almost immediately after finishing this one, and to watching the series progress.
I decided to use this as my pick for the 2019 Modern Mrs. Darcy prompt "three books by the same author" (book #1 of 3) after reading the second book in the series.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maybe it’s just because I haven’t read a book set in India for so many years, but I really enjoyed the setup of this book. The elephant subplot was a little bit too magical for me, given how grounded in reality the rest of the narrative was, but I did feel the epilogue helped that a little bit.
Ultimately, I’ll probably read the rest of the series, but I’m not necessarily in a rush
Ultimately, I’ll probably read the rest of the series, but I’m not necessarily in a rush
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wished this had leaned more into the magical realism hinted at in the story, because as a mystery it was pretty cookie cutter. I wish the characters had been more developed as well.
I'm a sucker for elephants so I had to read this one. Inspector Chopra retires but just can't leave the snooping behind so he gets mixed up in some pretty heavy stuff. Much of it is predictable and I felt like it was just the same old thing because I read a lot of mystery books. I was hoping this series would be a little more interesting - there are some mysteries out there that don't involve killing, gangsters, drugs, perverts... and that would make a good series, like the Sherlock Holmes books. In an interesting twist, the Inspector has a baby elephant for a side-kick, which of course is absurd. Is he Uncle Bansi, reincarnated?
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Do you like elephants? Do you like quasi-cozy mysteries? Do you like people making terrible life decisions that end up having no consequences? This is totally the book for you.
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Very enjoyable. Some parts are unbelievable, but overall a fun read(listen). Actor was excellent. Looking forward to more in the series.