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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
[b:The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra|24717411|The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra|Vaseem Khan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1431690270s/24717411.jpg|45114985] by [a:Vaseem Khan|13340713|Vaseem Khan|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1431692305p2/13340713.jpg] is the first book in his Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation series. It is a quick, fun read along the lines of #1 Ladies Detective Agency only set in Mumbai, India and with a male protagonist, Inspector Ashwin Chopra.
The Inspector is forced to retire from the police force after he suffers a heart attack on the job. On the eve of his final night at work, the murder of a young boy occurs. The new police inspector and many of the force dismiss the case as a suicide, but the Chopra is touched by the pleas of the boy’s mother and his experienced detective sense convinces him that the case should not be so easily dismissed.
On the same evening of his retirement, Chopra receives an inheritance from his eccentric country uncle of baby elephant with instructions to care for it, as it has special abilities. The poor animal appears in some distress and is not eating. During its time chained up in the courtyard of Chopra’s apartment complex, the children who live there further torment it by pretending it is the god Ganesh and bring it offerings and dress it in ceremonial items. Chopra comes under attack by the apartment complex harridan who continuously harasses the former inspector and his wife about having an animal. Although Chopra is tempted to send the elephant off to an elephant sanctuary on the other side of the country and rid himself of the burden of caring for it, his relationship with Ganesh (as they all come to call the baby elephant) develops and he finds he cannot let go of the responsibility for the elephant any more than he can for the murder investigation. In the end, the baby elephant and the inspector form a partnership and, each in turn, saves the other from dangers – both natural and criminal.
Like its predecessors, the Baby Ganesh series paints a quaint portrait of the people and culture particular to its setting. It was enjoyable to read about the overflowing markets, the family dramas and the everyday life of people in Vaseem Khan’s fictitious Mumbai. I will be looking for the second book in the series to find out how the relationship between Inspector Chopra and Ganesh progresses – and even more to see how one would care for a growing elephant in the city!
The Inspector is forced to retire from the police force after he suffers a heart attack on the job. On the eve of his final night at work, the murder of a young boy occurs. The new police inspector and many of the force dismiss the case as a suicide, but the Chopra is touched by the pleas of the boy’s mother and his experienced detective sense convinces him that the case should not be so easily dismissed.
On the same evening of his retirement, Chopra receives an inheritance from his eccentric country uncle of baby elephant with instructions to care for it, as it has special abilities. The poor animal appears in some distress and is not eating. During its time chained up in the courtyard of Chopra’s apartment complex, the children who live there further torment it by pretending it is the god Ganesh and bring it offerings and dress it in ceremonial items. Chopra comes under attack by the apartment complex harridan who continuously harasses the former inspector and his wife about having an animal. Although Chopra is tempted to send the elephant off to an elephant sanctuary on the other side of the country and rid himself of the burden of caring for it, his relationship with Ganesh (as they all come to call the baby elephant) develops and he finds he cannot let go of the responsibility for the elephant any more than he can for the murder investigation. In the end, the baby elephant and the inspector form a partnership and, each in turn, saves the other from dangers – both natural and criminal.
Like its predecessors, the Baby Ganesh series paints a quaint portrait of the people and culture particular to its setting. It was enjoyable to read about the overflowing markets, the family dramas and the everyday life of people in Vaseem Khan’s fictitious Mumbai. I will be looking for the second book in the series to find out how the relationship between Inspector Chopra and Ganesh progresses – and even more to see how one would care for a growing elephant in the city!
light and entertaining , in the manner of Alexander McCall Smith's ladies detective agency. I enjoyed it but would not rush out for the next in the series
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
adventurous
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I enjoyed this mystery and will read the next in the series but if you are interested in a cozy mystery set in India I would recommend starting with [b:The Case of the Missing Servant|6316205|The Case of the Missing Servant (Vish Puri, #1)|Tarquin Hall|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320479844l/6316205._SY75_.jpg|6501467] by [a:Tarquin Hall|26953|Tarquin Hall|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1277773926p2/26953.jpg]. This book could have used a Mummy-ji B plot. I am going to hold out hope that Poppy will fill that role in future installments of the series.
This book is very similar to Alexander McCall Smith's series, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. There are numerous parallels between the two books, and the main characters are very similar. However, while the McCall Smith books are engaging, well written and good page-turners; Khan's book falls short on a number of levels.
The book starts off promisingly, and the notion of a baby elephant being sent to live in downtown Mumbai is an interesting start. However the book kind of doesn't really go anywhere from here, and meanders around until it limps towards a conclusion. There are lots of descriptions of Mumbai and the surrounding areas - from wealthy mansions to the poorest slums. But even then it didn't really evoke a sense of the noise and colour of these Indian cities. The characters were OK, but I found Poppy, Inspector Chopra's wife, to be annoying and insignificant. Without wishing to add a spoiler, something does happen with Poppy in the book which is just left hanging at the end - which was not just irritating, but was downright pointless in the story.
By the end, the book really dragged and it took me a couple of days to limp through the last 80 pages or so. I was reaching the point where I wasn't really looking forward to reading it, which is bad news indeed!
The series has potential. But Khan needs to sharpen up his writing and bring more life to his surroundings and his characters before I'll return to the Baby Ganesh Agency series.
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf
The book starts off promisingly, and the notion of a baby elephant being sent to live in downtown Mumbai is an interesting start. However the book kind of doesn't really go anywhere from here, and meanders around until it limps towards a conclusion. There are lots of descriptions of Mumbai and the surrounding areas - from wealthy mansions to the poorest slums. But even then it didn't really evoke a sense of the noise and colour of these Indian cities. The characters were OK, but I found Poppy, Inspector Chopra's wife, to be annoying and insignificant. Without wishing to add a spoiler, something does happen with Poppy in the book which is just left hanging at the end - which was not just irritating, but was downright pointless in the story.
By the end, the book really dragged and it took me a couple of days to limp through the last 80 pages or so. I was reaching the point where I wasn't really looking forward to reading it, which is bad news indeed!
The series has potential. But Khan needs to sharpen up his writing and bring more life to his surroundings and his characters before I'll return to the Baby Ganesh Agency series.
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf