alisa4books's review against another edition
4.0
A very pleasant quick read. Lots of cultural information with a handy dictionary of relevant terms included
katiecatbooks's review
4.0
Another fun romp into India and the crime-solving powers of Vish Puri!
Story: In this second title in the series, Vish Puri investigates the murder of Dr Suresh Jha. One day in a park, an apparition of the goddess Kali appears and stabs the victim with a sword. But there is more to this extraordinary killing than the spiritual murder itself. Dr Suresh Jha is well known for busting myths of gurus and mystics. Not to worry though, Vish Puri is on the case... as soon as he finishes his plate of spicy and delicious Indian snacks!
Character: Our chubby well-fed detective returns again and is just as consistent as always- in his food eating and crime busting. Also returning are his plethora of devious sidekicks to help him solve his crime. And don't forget Mummy-ji!
Language: Like the first book, this one is full of vocabulary and dialect that will pull you in and make you forget that you are not in Delhi. A glossary is included in the back again which contains most of the unknown words in the story.
A true delight, with formulaic enjoyment. Can't wait for the next one!
Story: In this second title in the series, Vish Puri investigates the murder of Dr Suresh Jha. One day in a park, an apparition of the goddess Kali appears and stabs the victim with a sword. But there is more to this extraordinary killing than the spiritual murder itself. Dr Suresh Jha is well known for busting myths of gurus and mystics. Not to worry though, Vish Puri is on the case... as soon as he finishes his plate of spicy and delicious Indian snacks!
Character: Our chubby well-fed detective returns again and is just as consistent as always- in his food eating and crime busting. Also returning are his plethora of devious sidekicks to help him solve his crime. And don't forget Mummy-ji!
Language: Like the first book, this one is full of vocabulary and dialect that will pull you in and make you forget that you are not in Delhi. A glossary is included in the back again which contains most of the unknown words in the story.
A true delight, with formulaic enjoyment. Can't wait for the next one!
smarkies's review
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
gavreads's review against another edition
4.0
The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing is the second published case of the Indian detective Vish Puri.
Early one Delhi morning a 20-foot vision of the Goddess Kali appears to a morning session of the therapeutic Laughing Club who then proceeds to strike one of their members dead before vanishing into thin air.
There is much to love about Hall’s quirky detective. The most immediate is the pet names he gives to his employees. He names them with wry mix of the jobs they do for him and their personality traits. For example, we have Hanbrake (his driver), Facecream (who works undercover), and Tubelight (as he spends most of his time in the dark).
But the cast doesn’t end there. It is truly a family affair with Puri’s mother getting herself involved in her own mystery and this time drags along Puri’s wife. There is a warmer feeling to this series because of the lively secondary characters which you don’t find in most detective novels.
Hall gives insight into Indian culture and beliefs as Puri sets out to disprove that a Goddess can actually manifested but this brings him into conflict with a Guru who has the ear of the Prime Minister. And Puri has then has another disturbing mystery to solve.
It’s fast-paced and it’s pleasurable watching Puri’s clue-hunting, bartering and sleuthing as he talks to all aspects of Indian society to get to the bottom of what actually happen.
Hall seems to be having fun not only with Puri’s quirky, but extremely effective, ways but also complicating his life with his Mother and Wife sticking their noses around the place in the hunt of clues of their own.
The cover quotes a reviewer calling, ‘Puri the Indian Poirot’ and but it’s not Poirot dropped into India it’s more a what if Porit was Indian, though Puri himself is always reference Holmes, though not always in a endearing way.
It has everything I love in a modern ‘cosy crime’ novel. A quirky cast of characters, mysteries which are actually mysterious and an investigation with entertaining twists and turns.
It’s really hard not to enjoy this book and I can’t wait to read The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken.
Early one Delhi morning a 20-foot vision of the Goddess Kali appears to a morning session of the therapeutic Laughing Club who then proceeds to strike one of their members dead before vanishing into thin air.
There is much to love about Hall’s quirky detective. The most immediate is the pet names he gives to his employees. He names them with wry mix of the jobs they do for him and their personality traits. For example, we have Hanbrake (his driver), Facecream (who works undercover), and Tubelight (as he spends most of his time in the dark).
But the cast doesn’t end there. It is truly a family affair with Puri’s mother getting herself involved in her own mystery and this time drags along Puri’s wife. There is a warmer feeling to this series because of the lively secondary characters which you don’t find in most detective novels.
Hall gives insight into Indian culture and beliefs as Puri sets out to disprove that a Goddess can actually manifested but this brings him into conflict with a Guru who has the ear of the Prime Minister. And Puri has then has another disturbing mystery to solve.
It’s fast-paced and it’s pleasurable watching Puri’s clue-hunting, bartering and sleuthing as he talks to all aspects of Indian society to get to the bottom of what actually happen.
Hall seems to be having fun not only with Puri’s quirky, but extremely effective, ways but also complicating his life with his Mother and Wife sticking their noses around the place in the hunt of clues of their own.
The cover quotes a reviewer calling, ‘Puri the Indian Poirot’ and but it’s not Poirot dropped into India it’s more a what if Porit was Indian, though Puri himself is always reference Holmes, though not always in a endearing way.
It has everything I love in a modern ‘cosy crime’ novel. A quirky cast of characters, mysteries which are actually mysterious and an investigation with entertaining twists and turns.
It’s really hard not to enjoy this book and I can’t wait to read The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken.
kchisholm's review against another edition
3.0
Even allowing for the lighter nature of this series, the idea of death by Hindu goddess in the middle of a laughter class is a bit of a stretch for anyone's imagination. But the thing I really like about the Vish Puri series of books is the gentle humour that eases the underlying message. The message of THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO DIED LAUGHING appearing to be the tension between modern and age-old Indian society, and hypocrisy in all its guises.
Knowing that the author married an Indian woman, and has lived in India for a period of time explains why a man with such an English name seems to be writing about that society and those messages with a combination of understanding, exasperation and great affection. Whilst Puri is a larger-than-life character, often referred to as the Indian Hercule Poirot, with his own particular set of mannerisms and ... well affectations ... underneath the slightly stereotypical persona there is an interesting mindset, and a man with a way of operating that seems somehow, quintessentially Indian.
The books also provide an insight into family life, and the way that the society functions within Puri's own particular class. Personally I love the character of Puri's Mummi-ji, even though I can't get Ummi from the Kumars at No 42 out of my head whenever she appears on the page...
The lightness of touch does rather deceive in this book though. At the start I just kept thinking the whole plot was too fantastic, too ludicrous to possibly be able to be explained logically and physically, and whilst there are more twists and turns to come before the resolution, the whole thing did ultimately make sense.
As this is now the second of the Vish Puri books don't let that worry you. Both of them would work out of order, so don't not pick up THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO DIED LAUGHING because you've not read THE CASE OF THE MISSING SERVANT. I'd also say don't be put off by the feeling that the both of them could be a bit light on, fluffy or even a tad unsympathetic. Sure they are entertaining and funny, but there's a little starch in the kurta at the same time. Oh and the food descriptions are positively cruel.... you can't read these books without a craving for authentic Indian food that just will not go away.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/case-man-who-died-laughing-tarquin-hall
Knowing that the author married an Indian woman, and has lived in India for a period of time explains why a man with such an English name seems to be writing about that society and those messages with a combination of understanding, exasperation and great affection. Whilst Puri is a larger-than-life character, often referred to as the Indian Hercule Poirot, with his own particular set of mannerisms and ... well affectations ... underneath the slightly stereotypical persona there is an interesting mindset, and a man with a way of operating that seems somehow, quintessentially Indian.
The books also provide an insight into family life, and the way that the society functions within Puri's own particular class. Personally I love the character of Puri's Mummi-ji, even though I can't get Ummi from the Kumars at No 42 out of my head whenever she appears on the page...
The lightness of touch does rather deceive in this book though. At the start I just kept thinking the whole plot was too fantastic, too ludicrous to possibly be able to be explained logically and physically, and whilst there are more twists and turns to come before the resolution, the whole thing did ultimately make sense.
As this is now the second of the Vish Puri books don't let that worry you. Both of them would work out of order, so don't not pick up THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO DIED LAUGHING because you've not read THE CASE OF THE MISSING SERVANT. I'd also say don't be put off by the feeling that the both of them could be a bit light on, fluffy or even a tad unsympathetic. Sure they are entertaining and funny, but there's a little starch in the kurta at the same time. Oh and the food descriptions are positively cruel.... you can't read these books without a craving for authentic Indian food that just will not go away.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/case-man-who-died-laughing-tarquin-hall
sawyerbell's review against another edition
3.0
An atheist scientist goes to the park for his morning practice of laughter yoga and is struck dead when the goddess Kali appears and drives a sword through his heart. He dies laughing. Sounds like a case for New Delhi's Most Private Investigator Vish Puri.
This story is fun romp through the world of New Delhi's crooked "godmen". While the story is slightly too long, the author's delightful use of Indian English in the dialog and his skillful depiction of the crazy chaos that is Delhi makes it a worthwhile read.
This story is fun romp through the world of New Delhi's crooked "godmen". While the story is slightly too long, the author's delightful use of Indian English in the dialog and his skillful depiction of the crazy chaos that is Delhi makes it a worthwhile read.
valfreya's review against another edition
4.0
Full of character and charm. I would like to read the rest of the series. (I also love reading about all of the food!)
wordnerdy's review against another edition
4.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-book-338.html
beatriks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
whodunnit from India. This book was a slow burn, it took me some time to get into it and the food references were too much for my taste.
I like the different operatives Puri works with and the twists and turns and insights into Indian society.
Overall, too slow and too many different characters to keep track on.
I like the different operatives Puri works with and the twists and turns and insights into Indian society.
Overall, too slow and too many different characters to keep track on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Murder, and Sexism