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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Humorous mystery featuring a retired detective and his baby elephant solving a murder on the streets of Mumbai.
This was like watching a masala Bollywood movie, and equally forgettable. Thankfully it was quite short.
I might read the next in the series, only if I have nothing else to read. Thank Heavens for my never-ending TBR pile.
Yes, a chocolate bar is what is needed to help even a baby elephant out of depression
I might read the next in the series, only if I have nothing else to read. Thank Heavens for my never-ending TBR pile.
Yes, a chocolate bar is what is needed to help even a baby elephant out of depression
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Rounding up from 2.5 stars
Inspector Chopra from the Mumbai police department is recently retired due to heart issues and simultaneously inherits a baby elephant from his uncle. Chopra decides to continue to investigate the death of a young man, despite his retirement and being warned off by fellow law enforcement officers.
While the cultural aspect was interesting, the overwhelming corruption in many aspects of Mumbai life was depressing, as was Chopra's dismissal of his wife's attention and feelings for the majority of the book. Chopra also makes multiple - and major - police procedural errors which could have resulted in serious consequences if not for luck.
The scenes with Ganesh, the baby elephant, were cute, but not cute enough for me to continue with this series.
Inspector Chopra from the Mumbai police department is recently retired due to heart issues and simultaneously inherits a baby elephant from his uncle. Chopra decides to continue to investigate the death of a young man, despite his retirement and being warned off by fellow law enforcement officers.
While the cultural aspect was interesting, the overwhelming corruption in many aspects of Mumbai life was depressing, as was Chopra's dismissal of his wife's attention and feelings for the majority of the book. Chopra also makes multiple - and major - police procedural errors which could have resulted in serious consequences if not for luck.
The scenes with Ganesh, the baby elephant, were cute, but not cute enough for me to continue with this series.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In the first book of the Baby Ganesh Detective Agency series, Inspector Ashwin Chopra inherits an elephant on the same day he retires from the Mumbai police force. On his last day, he also learns of the possible murder of a poor young man, a case that the police don't intend to investigate. Despite his retirement, Chopra cannot allow the man's death to go unresolved. He decides to investigate it himself, which leads him into the seedy underbelly of Mumbai.
This was recommended to me based on my enjoyment of Harini Nagendra's The Bangalore Detectives Club. This is indeed another cozy mystery series that places the readers right in the streets of India. It is wonderfully atmospheric. However, I didn't enjoy the characters in this one as much. Mostly, it is Chopra and his wife's relationship that bothers me. He spends the book running towards danger, telling his wife nothing, and not noticing her growing distress. She makes a plan to deceive him in a HUGE way. There's resolution in the end but its torturous in the meantime.
Of course the baby elephant, Ganesh, is a delight as expected, and this little elephant shows that he is extra special by coming to Chopra's rescue when he's in a very bad spot. Its a good set up for a series but I wasn't gripped by the mystery and I didn't feel much sympathy or affection for Chopra as our lead character. I'm not sure yet whether I'll continue with the series
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking
This is an easy-to-read, adult mystery novel set in Mumbai India. I enjoyed the setting of the book and the different perspectives, however the characterization of the inspector's wife was a bit thin and stereotypical. The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra is the first book in a series, and if given the chance, I would read subsequent books.
A light hearted mystery that ticks all those relevant boxes that make it a comfy evening read.
I picked this book up because it's set in India; I've been feeling very nostalgic lately and wanted something that had a sense of familiarity to it.
I picked this book up because it's set in India; I've been feeling very nostalgic lately and wanted something that had a sense of familiarity to it.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No