Vish Puri Mystery series by Tarquin Hall

These are the first 3 books in the Vish Puri Mystery series. Vish Puri is the ‘most private detective’ in Delhi, India. He is a family man with a wife and daughters. His mother, a widow, lives with his brother in the same locality where he grew up. His father had been a police detective and Vish tries to live up to his image. He has a small office and staff that comprises of a receptionist cum secretary, an occasional lady for odd jobs and manning the various phone lines set up for investigations and a few operatives for various jobs.

The descriptions of places, culture and lives of people involved are detailed making it easy to visualise it all. The local rhythm of life is seen woven in the network of family, friends and acquaintances around which Vish’s life and work revolve. The style of writing stuck a chord with me but I could not identify what it reminded me of, until I read a review on one of the books by Alexander McCall Smith. Then it struck me, that Vish Puri series are similar to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. The mystery or the case is central to the story but the life that goes around the case, the life of the detective and his family and friends and people of the place is also woven in and making it a rich picture of the local culture.

The Case of the Missing Servant.

The first book was about a servant who is missing and the man of the house is being accused of murdering her. He engages Vish Puri to find out what happened to that young girl as only then can he be proven innocent of murder. He places a female operative in the household as a servant to get information about the missing girl. There is intrigue in the household. What have the son and wife been up to? What is the blood stain found in the servant’s room really telling? Was the disfigured body found later that of the servant girl? We get a measure of Vish Puri and his detecting abilities in this book. The story is kept well balanced and intriguing. The use of humour is very well placed and pretty much spot on culturally. For example, Vish’s exasperation with his mother’s interference, which he has to balance with remaining respectful, and at the same time trying to keep his mother out of trouble. The eternal battle he has with his diet and his weight, the sneakily eating foods outside the house that are not good for him. No matter Vish helps his client and helps the police too.

The Case of Deadly Butter Chicken

The second book is about the death of the father of a Pakistani cricket player. There is a well-publicised match between India and Pakistan being played in Delhi and a dinner is being held for this occasion. Since his nephew is playing on the match Puri and family are at this dinner too. The intrigue starts pretty much from the onset. Why is Puri’s mother upset? Who is the man meeting the Pakistani cricketer’s father, in the dark outside? Who killed him afterwards by poisoning his butter chicken? This case brings out the ingrained perceptions of people with regards to the ‘enemy’. What has the murder got to do with the current large scale investigation going on into match fixing and the extensive gambling being managed globally. Is it wise to go to Pakistan to check out an anonymous invitation for information? Why is his mother being secretive and has rushed off to Kashi? Will Vish be able to get to the bottom of these mysteries and find the killer? Will he manage to survive the match fixing syndicate? Again a book that holds your interest all the way and keeps you hanging on to every twist and turn in the story.

The Case of the Man who Died Laughing

The third book is also based on one the controversial topics of religious cults and gurus who become extremely wealthy and politically powerful with dubious practices. One Dr Jha has made it his life’s work to expose these gurus for what they are, conmen. The latest one is a Swamiji who had stated that he would show the world his powers soon. A few days later, while taking part in a laughing club morning exercise, Jha is killed by an apparition of Goddess Kali.  The police are baffled and so is the country. Vish Puri takes it upon himself to find the truth as Jha was someone he knew and respected. The speculation is that the Swamiji was somehow involved in it, even though he had an alibi. Vish is determined to find the link between the killing and Swamiji. Meanwhile, there has been an armed robbery at a kitty party being attended by his wife and mother. Now his mother is determined to find the thieves as the police do not seem to think it is worth pursuing. Meanwhile his daughter is coming to stay a while and have her first baby. He manages to get his operative to infiltrate the Swamiji’s cult to gather information on his activities. Is he really involved in the deaths of young girls from the cult? Will she be able to go into the closed private rooms of the Swamiji? What will she find there? How did the Swamiji manage to conjure out this apparition of the goddess and kill the doctor? This is a very intriguing story full off complexities that take the reader by surprise.

I thoroughly enjoyed the books published so far in this series. I shall await the next publication with great anticipation. I hope the author keeps this series going for long as it is not only the cases that I read with pleasure but also rhythm of Delhi life.