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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
author_jajensen's review against another edition
4.0
With this third installment, Tarquin Hall firmly establishes Vish Puri as one of the most entertaining Private Detectives in modern fiction. Additionally, in The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken, Hall displays a growing skill of blending the delicious ingredients of puzzle, relevant historical background and humor.
It took me much longer than normal to finish this latest Vish Puri adventure because I was so intrigued by Hall's historical background descriptions that I sought out as much online information as I could find about the partitioning of India and Pakistan. It is the subtle yet powerful narrative related by Hall's characters that gives life to a period of history that most of the Western World is ignorant of its existance. That fact alone should make this required reading.
Still, there is plenty of fun to go along with the serious. From Vish Puri's meddling Mummy-ji to the always wacky yet brilliant crew of India's Most Private Investigator, Hall dishes out a wonderful curry of mystery and history.
Unfortunately, I still know nothing about Cricket.
It took me much longer than normal to finish this latest Vish Puri adventure because I was so intrigued by Hall's historical background descriptions that I sought out as much online information as I could find about the partitioning of India and Pakistan. It is the subtle yet powerful narrative related by Hall's characters that gives life to a period of history that most of the Western World is ignorant of its existance. That fact alone should make this required reading.
Still, there is plenty of fun to go along with the serious. From Vish Puri's meddling Mummy-ji to the always wacky yet brilliant crew of India's Most Private Investigator, Hall dishes out a wonderful curry of mystery and history.
Unfortunately, I still know nothing about Cricket.
stelaw's review against another edition
3.0
Pleasant enough though with perhaps too many plot lines. Did the blood diamonds one have a resolution?!
arielzeit's review against another edition
5.0
Adorable. Hilarious. Sometimes touching. But very, very complicated. Somehow Tarquin Hall manages to weave a narrative together about mustaches, cricket, the lingering aftereffects of Partition in India & Pakistan, illicit gambling, the nouveau riche class and the complicated extended family dynamics in India. And food: delectable Indian food. I plan to try the included recipes on my mystery book club. But I will also have to provide them with a cheat sheet on the cast of characters.
The Indian-Pakistan dynamic reminded me a lot of the Arab-Jewish dynamic, and it was really interesting to view it from the outside, as one not involved. I once went to a Palestinian Day festival at the Brooklyn Museum and was amazed to see how much all the people looked related to me. The physical resemblance was strong. The personality types were completely familiar. I understood bits and snatches of the language. And yet I had been taught to regard them as frightening, even enemy. The description of the detective's reluctant trip across the border to Pakistan reminded me a lot of that experience.
The Indian-Pakistan dynamic reminded me a lot of the Arab-Jewish dynamic, and it was really interesting to view it from the outside, as one not involved. I once went to a Palestinian Day festival at the Brooklyn Museum and was amazed to see how much all the people looked related to me. The physical resemblance was strong. The personality types were completely familiar. I understood bits and snatches of the language. And yet I had been taught to regard them as frightening, even enemy. The description of the detective's reluctant trip across the border to Pakistan reminded me a lot of that experience.
hobytla's review against another edition
3.0
Thought it was just an average book until Puri went to Pakistan and some history of the area was involved in the story.
fasola4mi's review against another edition
3.0
Not as light as the other books in the series, with an interesting insight into Pakistani/Indian history and tensions.
emma_victorian's review against another edition
4.0
While the ending felt a bit rushed, I really liked this book for the wealth of information & description it gave about Delhi & contemporary Indian society, relationship with Pakistan etc. You can tell the author is a journalist (& migrant to India). It has a richness & complexity lacking from many 'cosy' mysteries. It is cosy only in the sense that it has a likeable, food fond private detective at the lead serving to soften & humanise. I was a bit cautious about an English author writing India but it was done with enough understanding & intelligence to be accessible without being patronising.
debdatta's review against another edition
3.0
I had heard about this series before and so when the book was up for review, I quickly grabbed my chance to snag a copy. I was intrigued by the idea of a British writer writing about Indian Detective.
When a famous Pakistani cricketer’s father is murdered at the Delhi Durbar hotel at an India Premier League cricket match dinner, Vish Puri and his family was present at the event. So, the “Most Private Investigator” takes up the case. But that is not the only mystery and investigator around. There’s also the case of missing moustache and Vish Puri’s Mummyji’s insights to keep you involved. But things start boiling up as Vish Puri starts his investigation… Match-fixing and smuggling are no simple matters to deal with. Will our detective be up to the task?
First things first… Characters! Vish Puri is such an unorthodox figure in the detective world. Nicknamed chubby by his wife, Vish Puri is put on diet but irrespective of his diet pills, he is unable to lose weight. The gobbled up snacks here and there and the occasional binge of Butter chicken is not helping. He is more of an old fashioned detective who relies on clues and information directly available to him than scientific measures. His Mummyji also an asset with her vast experience and insight into life and human nature, she is often able to steer him into the right direction. The plot is quite good. With the help of his trusted employees of the Investigation firm, Tubelight, Facecream, Handbrake [Have to read the previous books to find out what lead to such nicknames] his father-in-law and Mummyji he makes steady progress. Also, Vish Puri’s trip to Pakistan and his change in mentality/outlook was impressive.
What I loved the most is the bulk of information about the two countries and a small recap on the situation during partition of India. I enjoyed taking this journey with Vish Puri and will surely be picking up the previous books in the series.
When a famous Pakistani cricketer’s father is murdered at the Delhi Durbar hotel at an India Premier League cricket match dinner, Vish Puri and his family was present at the event. So, the “Most Private Investigator” takes up the case. But that is not the only mystery and investigator around. There’s also the case of missing moustache and Vish Puri’s Mummyji’s insights to keep you involved. But things start boiling up as Vish Puri starts his investigation… Match-fixing and smuggling are no simple matters to deal with. Will our detective be up to the task?
First things first… Characters! Vish Puri is such an unorthodox figure in the detective world. Nicknamed chubby by his wife, Vish Puri is put on diet but irrespective of his diet pills, he is unable to lose weight. The gobbled up snacks here and there and the occasional binge of Butter chicken is not helping. He is more of an old fashioned detective who relies on clues and information directly available to him than scientific measures. His Mummyji also an asset with her vast experience and insight into life and human nature, she is often able to steer him into the right direction. The plot is quite good. With the help of his trusted employees of the Investigation firm, Tubelight, Facecream, Handbrake [Have to read the previous books to find out what lead to such nicknames] his father-in-law and Mummyji he makes steady progress. Also, Vish Puri’s trip to Pakistan and his change in mentality/outlook was impressive.
What I loved the most is the bulk of information about the two countries and a small recap on the situation during partition of India. I enjoyed taking this journey with Vish Puri and will surely be picking up the previous books in the series.
gailinva's review against another edition
4.0
Fun book, great author. A good mystery with a twist of humor.
cait_s's review against another edition
4.0
Vish "Chubby" is a private detective who loves food. His wife's attempt to make him diet and seeing a man die from posioned butter chicken don't hinder his appetite much. Chubby eats his way through an investigation of the murder, hindered by those who'd rather the guilty party wasn't found.
Funny, with translations for different languages and cultures, mystery fans will enjoy watching the invstigation unfold.
Funny, with translations for different languages and cultures, mystery fans will enjoy watching the invstigation unfold.