The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck by Tarquin Hall

 

First Line: "Without doubt, this is the best day of my life!" declared Vish Puri to his executive secretary, Elizabeth Rani, as he sat beaming with pride behind his desk in his Khan Market office in New Delhi.

Vish Puri is euphoric-- he's won the long-coveted International Detective of the Year award. It's supposed to be a secret, but within hours it seems as though everyone in New Delhi knows, and his indomitable Mummy-ji announces that she's coming with him, and the lack of an official invitation isn't about to stop her.

To make matters even worse, a senior government bureaucrat gives him an undercover mission he can't refuse: track down India's most wanted fugitive, a billionaire pharmaceutical fraudster rumored to be hiding in London.

Puri is only spending a week in London, and he's already promised his wife that he won't work during this once-in-a-lifetime trip. But desperate times require desperate measures. Once in London, he enlists the help of his nephew Jags. Only time will tell if he can make the government official happy... as well as his wife and meddling mother.

~

It's been a long wait for this latest installment of the adventures of private investigator Vish Puri. I have missed the humor, the food, and the insider's look into life in India so much that I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck. I'm thrilled to say that the chubby private investigator's London experiences do not disappoint.

There is plenty of humor to be found in Puri's trip to London. He finds that the food is not up to his high standards, although he might make an exception for Harrods Food Hall. He's also not a fan of London's DYI (Do It Yourself) culture; he likes having things done for him wherever possible. With the help of his employees in New Delhi, Puri soon finds clues to the wanted man's whereabouts, and his detective work just manages to fly beneath the radar of his wife and mother because they have a "case" of their own. 

As much as I enjoy the mystery and the humor, I love Hall's insights into Indian culture, and this time it's Indian culture transported to England. If you're an armchair sleuthing foodie who likes strong mysteries filled with humor and the appreciation of other cultures, you will love Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri mysteries. Although it's not necessary to begin with the first book, don't be surprised if you read The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck and find yourself looking for all the others in this entertaining series. 

The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck by Tarquin Hall

eISBN: 9781448308200

Severn House © 2025

eBook, 224 pages

Private Investigator, #6 Vish Puri

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

What's On My Radar

 

I haven't been sharing the books that are on my radar. Shame on me! You know that it's my aim in life to ensure your book wish lists are as fat and sassy as mine. *wink*

I'm cooling my heels waiting for some maintenance work to be done in the house, so this is the perfect time to share some of those books with you. Let's get started!

Available in March!

The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck by Tarquin Hall

This is the sixth book in one of my very favorite series. It features private investigator Vish Puri who lives in New Delhi, India. I love the humor, and I love the mysteries, but there are other things that make this a special series for me. One, it turned me on to Indian cuisine. (Yum!) Two, it gives a light-hearted yet true-to-life depiction of Indian life. Three, it was the first series to turn my attention to India itself.

Synopsis: "When Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Detective, learns he’s won the long-coveted International Detective of the Year award, it’s supposed to be a secret. But within hours, it seems all of Delhi knows – and his indomitable Mummy-ji announces she’ll be coming with him to the ceremony in London, never mind that she’s not been invited.

To add to his woes, a senior government bureaucrat gives him an undercover mission he can’t refuse. Puri is tasked with tracking down India’s most-wanted fugitive: a billionaire pharmaceutical fraudster codenamed Bombay Duck, who’s rumoured to be hiding in the British capital.

Puri’s only spending a week in London . . . and he’s already promised his wife he won’t work during their once-in-a-lifetime trip. In desperation, he enlists the help of his reluctant nephew Jags and dives headfirst into the case. But can Puri hook the Bombay Duck and bring him to justice – all the while keeping his investigations secret from his wife and meddling mother?

Packed with the sights, sounds and flavours of both New Delhi and London, author Tarquin Hall – who divides his time between India and the UK – delivers an irresistible read for fans of Alexander McCall Smith, Harini Nagendra and Jesse Sutanto."

Available in April!

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper

I've had a lifelong love of dollhouses and miniatures, so the title of this book immediately caught my attention. Then I read the synopsis and knew I had to read it.

Synopsis: "Tildy Barrows, Head Curator of a beautiful archival library in San Francisco, is meticulously dedicated to the century’s worth of inventory housed in her beloved Beaux Art building. She loves the calm and order in the shelves of books and walls of art. But Tildy’s life takes an unexpected turn when she, first, learns the library is on the verge of bankruptcy and, second, discovers two exquisite never-before-seen dollhouses.

After finding clues hidden within these remarkable miniatures, Tildy sets out to decipher the secret history of the dollhouses, aiming to salvage her cherished library in the process. Her journey introduces her to a world of ambitious and gifted women in Belle Époque Paris, a group of scarred World War I veterans in the English countryside, and Walt Disney’s bustling Burbank studio in the 1950s. As Tildy unravels the mystery, she finds not only inspiring, hidden history, but also a future for herself—and an astonishing familial revelation.

Spanning the course of a century, The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a warm, bright, and captivating story of secrets and love that embraces the importance of illuminating overlooked women."

Available in May!

The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

Brendan Slocumb is another author who's rapidly become a favorite. A talented violinist, his mysteries are filled with music and the Black experience. 

Synopsis: "Curtis Wilson is a cello prodigy, growing up in the Southeast D.C. projects with a drug dealer for a father. But through determination and talent, and the loving support of his father’s girlfriend, Larissa, Curtis claws his way out of his challenging circumstances and rises to unimagined heights in the classical music world—even soloing with the New York Philharmonic.

And then, suddenly, his life disintegrates. His father, Zippy, turns state evidence, implicating his old bosses to the FBI. Now the family—Curtis included—must enter the witness protection program if they want to survive. This means Curtis must give up the very thing he loves most: sharing his extraordinary musical talents with the world. When Zippy’s bosses prove too elusive for law enforcement to convict them, Curtis, Zippy, and Larissa realize that their only chance of survival is to take on the cartel themselves. They must create new identities and draw on their unique talents, including Curtis’s musical ability, to go after the people who want them dead. But will it be enough to keep Curtis and his family alive?"

Available in June!

Bad Lands by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

This is another series that I love, combining mysteries, thrills, history, archaeology, and one of my favorite places: New Mexico.

Synopsis: "In the New Mexico badlands, the skeleton of a woman is found—and the case is assigned to FBI Agent Corrie Swanson. The victim walked into the desert, shedding clothes as she went, and died in agony of heatstroke and thirst. Two rare artifacts are found clutched in her bony hands—lightning stones used by the ancient Chaco people to summon the gods. 

Is it suicide or… sacrifice? 

Agent Swanson brings in archaeologist Nora Kelly to investigate. When a second body is found—exactly like the other—the two realize the case runs deeper than they imagined. As Corrie and Nora pursue their investigation into remote canyons, haunted ruins, and long-lost rituals, they find themselves confronting a dark power that, disturbed from its long slumber, threatens to exact an unspeakable price. "

Available in July!

An Enemy in the Village by Martin Walker

Yet another favorite series that I've loved from the very first book. Bruno and all his friends are part of my fictional family now. I've learned so much about southwestern France from Walker, and-- like Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri series-- these books are perfect foodie mysteries!

Synopsis: "When Bruno stumbles upon a motionless figure in a car parked at a scenic overpass on the ridge of the Vézère valley, he’s ready to investigate. Inside, he finds a suicide note and the dead body of Monique, a successful businesswoman who rented châteaus to wealthy expats. It seems like an open-and-shut case.

But Bruno can’t shake the feeling that something sinister lurks underneath this tidy narrative. After he delivers Monique’s final messages to those most important to her, malicious gossip about Bruno begins to spread through the village. One thing leads to another, and soon Bruno faces pressure to resign from the job. Despite this disturbing turn of events, Bruno remains Bruno, never one to turn down a fine meal with good company in the French countryside. In the course of inquiry, he meets Laura—and her dog, which happens to be the same breed as his beloved basset hound. As sparks fly and Bruno realizes just how much he has at stake, he races to find out what really happened to Monique, before he loses his badge, his new love—or something even worse."

Now... I know some of these books are already on your wish lists, but did I manage to add one or two more? Inquiring minds would love to know!

Celebrating Mysteries: Asia

 

Thank you for being patient with me. I had no idea it would take me so long to write the next post in this series! Hopefully, it was worth waiting for.

I love learning about the landscape, the culture, and the food of other places-- even simple everyday things. Does water come out every time the faucet is turned on? If you flip a switch, do the lights come on? How's the traffic? If you walk into a building, are you on the ground floor or the first floor? This world and the people in it are so diverse that the more I learn, the more connected I feel to others. 

 

 

This week, I'm concentrating on the countries in Asia. There are big gaps in my list, and I'm hoping that you can fill in some of them with your own recommendations.

 

There's no way I can express how much I appreciate authors who can bring another place, another culture to life for me. The only way I can try is to list some of my favorites, so let's get started. By the way, clicking on any links in the book titles will take you to my review of that particular book. (Some books were read pre-blog; therefore, the links will take you to Amazon US.)

India

 

I absolutely adore (and I don't throw that word around lightly) Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri series of five books. Oh, how I wish there were more! Wonderful characters and mysteries, gentle humor...and the setting!  This woman who grew up in the middle of the corn and soybean fields of central Illinois felt so immersed in the New Delhi setting that I now consider Indian cuisine among my favorites. (It was unheard of in central Illinois way back then.) Hall weaves in so many small details about life there as well as family dynamics. If you want to know more about India, make the acquaintance of private investigator Vish Puri.

The Case of the Missing Servant is the first book in the series.

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing is book two.

The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken is book three.

There are currently five books in the series.

Vaseem Khan is another favorite author who is adept at showing readers the depth and diversity of Indian culture, and he does so with two series. His Baby Ganesh series featuring a retired police detective and the baby elephant he inherited gives us a wonderful picture of modern Mumbai, while his new Persis Wadia series immerses readers in 1950s India. I highly recommend both series.

The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra is the first book in the Baby Ganesh series.

The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown is the second book in the same series.

There are currently five books in this series.

 

Midnight at Malabar House is the first book in the Persis Wadia series.

This series currently has two books.

For whatever reason, India has become a "flavor of the month" in crime fiction, and I couldn't be happier. There is so much to learn about this amazing country, and solving mysteries set there is one of the best ways to do it. 

Sujata Massey is writing a wonderful series featuring female lawyer Perveen Mistry that's set in 1920s Bombay (Mumbai). Her main character is based on the first female lawyer in India, and the series shows us how carefully Perveen has to negotiate all the various factions in India from British Colonial to religious as she solves crimes. It's not easy!

The Widows of Malabar Hill is the first book in the series.

The Satapur Moonstone is book two.

The Bombay Prince is book three.

 

There are currently three books in this series.

 

 

Japan

 

 

Sujata Massey has also written another very enjoyable series in which I learned a lot about Japan. Rei Shimura is a Japanese-American working to become an antiques dealer. The series is set in Tokyo, and Massey weaves all sorts of facets of Japanese culture into the mysteries.

I read these listed books before I ever had this blog, so the links in the titles will send you to Amazon US so you can learn more about them.

The Salaryman's Wife is the first book in the series.

Zen Attitude is book two.

The Flower Master is book three.

There are currently eleven books in this series.

Saudi Arabia

Zoë Ferraris wrote a trilogy of mysteries set in Saudi Arabia that simply blew me away for the strength of their setting alone (and they're strong mysteries, too). I came to these books late because Finding Nouf had received so much hype that I was apprehensive, but I soon learned that the hype was well-deserved. Wow! Readers get to see life in Saudi Arabia from the eyes of both outsiders and natives as Katya Hijazi, a forensic scientist, and Nayir Sharqi, a Palestinian desert guide, solve crimes.

Finding Nouf is the first book in the trilogy.

City of Veils is book two.

Kingdom of Strangers is the final book in the trilogy.

Singapore

Ovidia Yu writes an historical mystery series set in 1930s Singapore that really captured my imagination. Su Lin is a young local girl who has more than a touch of Sherlock Holmes and has a chance to use her talents while working at the house of the Acting Governor of the Crown Colony of Singapore. I love the botanical titles-- yet another way to get my armchair traveling motor running!

The Frangipani Tree Mystery is the first book in the series.

The Betel Nut Mystery is the second.

The Paper Bark Tree Mystery is the third.

There are currently four books in this series.

Sri Lanka

Harriet Steel, like Ovidia Yu, writes an excellent historical series-- Steel's set in 1930s Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The series features Inspector Shanti de Silva and his English wife.

Trouble in Nuala is the first book in the series.

Dark Clouds Over Nuala is the second book.

Offstage in Nuala is book three.

There are currently nine books in the series.

Thailand

Tim Hallinan is one of those talented writers who imparts a strong sense of place to his readers no matter where he's writing about. I fell in love with his Poke Rafferty series set in Thailand when the first book, A Nail Through the Heart, blew me away. We do see Thailand through outsider Poke's eyes, but we also get to see it through the eyes of his Thai family.

A Nail Through the Heart is the first book in the series.

The Fourth Watcher is the second.

Breathing Water is the third.

 

There are nine books in the series. 

Tibet

Eliot Pattison brings readers right into a prison camp high in the Himalaya Mountains in his series featuring imprisoned Chinese bureaucrat Shan Tao Yun. He may be nothing but a worthless bureaucrat, but the Communist government always seems to need him to solve their crimes. Funny that...

The Skull Mantra is the first book in the series.

Water Touching Stone is book two.

Bone Mountain is book three.

There are currently ten books in the series.

Turkey

Barbara Nadel's Inspector Çetin Ikmen series sets readers down in Istanbul and makes them feel welcome. Her settings are so vivid that I can even believe I'm inhaling the smells. Now... how many writers get that specific?

Belshazzar's Daughter is the first book in the series.

The Ottoman Cage is book two.

Arabesk is book three.

There are seventeen books in the series.

Well, those are the authors I wanted to bring to your attention the most. I hope that they've turned out to be a combination of well-loved and brand-new. I know that I've left plenty of gaps, and I need to add to my Need-To-Read list. Which authors would you recommend whose books are not only good but have an exceptionally strong sense of Asian place? Inquiring minds would love to know!

February 2020 New Mystery Releases!

Denis and I went to The Poisoned Pen Bookstore last Thursday, and I think I was too excited about getting out of the house for non-medical reasons because I forgot to take my voice recorder to record the event. Shame on me! I'll just have to try something different to share the event with you sometime in the near future.

When owner Barbara Peters learned that I was doing much better, she said, "Does this mean we'll be seeing more of you?" I certainly hope so, but in the meantime let me share my picks of the new crime fiction that's being released during the month of February. I've grouped them by their release dates, and the covers and synopses are courtesy of Amazon. Let's see if I managed to choose a book or two that tickles your fancy!

~~~ February 4 ~~~

Title: Things in Jars

Author: Jess Kidd

Standalone historical thriller set in Victorian London.

384 pages

Synopsis: "Bridie Devine—female detective extraordinaire—is confronted with the most baffling puzzle yet: the kidnapping of Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, and a peculiar child whose reputed supernatural powers have captured the unwanted attention of collectors trading curiosities in this age of discovery.

Winding her way through the labyrinthine, sooty streets of Victorian London, Bridie won’t rest until she finds the young girl, even if it means unearthing a past that she’d rather keep buried. Luckily, her search is aided by an enchanting cast of characters, including a seven-foot-tall housemaid; a melancholic, tattoo-covered ghost; and an avuncular apothecary. But secrets abound in this foggy underworld where spectacle is king and nothing is quite what it seems.

Blending darkness and light, history and folklore, Things in Jars is a spellbinding Gothic mystery that collapses the boundary between fact and fairy tale to stunning effect and explores what it means to be human in inhumane times." 

Title: The Case of the Reincarnated Client

Author: Tarquin Hall

Series: #5 in the humorous Vish Puri private investigator series set in New Delhi, India

240 pages

My review of the UK edition.

Synopsis: "When a young woman comes forward claiming to be the reincarnation of Riya Kaur, a wife and mother who vanished during the bloody 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Puri is dismissive. He's busy enough dealing with an irate matrimonial client whose daughter is complaining about her groom’s thunderous snoring. Puri's indomitable Mummy-ji however is adamant the client is genuine. How else could she so accurately describe under hypnosis Riya Kaur's life and final hours?

Driven by a sense of duty - the original case was his late father’s - Puri manages to acquire the police file only to find that someone powerful has orchestrated a cover-up. Forced into an alliance with his mother that tests his beliefs and high blood pressure as never before, it’s only by delving into the past the help of his reincarnated client that Puri can hope to unlock the truth."

Title: The Wages of Sin

Author: Judith Cutler

Series: #1 in the Matthew Rowsley historical series set in Victorian England.

240 pages

Synopsis: "Newly appointed as land agent to the youthful Lord Croft, Matthew Rowsley finds plenty to keep him busy as he attends to his lordship’s neglected country estate. But he’s distracted from his tasks by the disappearance of a young housemaid. Has Maggie really eloped with a young man, as her mother attests – or is the truth rather more sinister? What’s been going on behind the scenes at the grand country estate … and where has his lordship disappeared to?

Teaming up with housekeeper Mrs. Faulkner to get to the bottom of the matter, Matthew uncovers a number of disturbing secrets, scandals, and simmering tensions within the household. Something rotten is going on at Thorncroft – and it’s up to Matthew and Mrs. Faulkner to unearth the truth."

Title: A Cold Trail

Author: Robert Dugoni

Series: #7 in the Tracy Crosswhite police procedural series set in Washington state

357 pages

Synopsis: "The last time homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite was in Cedar Grove, it was to see her sister’s killer put behind bars. Now she’s returned for a respite and the chance to put her life back in order for herself, her attorney husband, Dan, and their new daughter. But tragic memories soon prove impossible to escape.

Dan is drawn into representing a local merchant whose business is jeopardized by the town’s revitalization. And Tracy is urged by the local PD to put her own skills to work on a new case: the brutal murder of a police officer’s wife and local reporter who was investigating a cold-case slaying of a young woman. As Tracy’s and Dan’s cases crisscross, Tracy’s trail becomes dangerous. It’s stirring up her own haunted past and a decades-old conspiracy in Cedar Grove that has erupted in murder. Getting to the truth is all that matters. But what’s Tracy willing to risk as a killer gets closer to her and threatens everyone she loves?"

~~~ February 11 ~~~

Title: The Only Child

Author: Mi-ae Seo

Standalone thriller set in Korea

304 pages

Synopsis: "Criminal psychologist Seonkyeong receives an unexpected call one day. Yi Byeongdo, a serial killer whose gruesome murders shook the world, wants to be interviewed. Yi Byeongdo, who has refused to speak to anyone until now, asks specifically for her. Seonkyeong agrees out of curiosity. 

That same day Hayeong, her husband’s eleven-year-old daughter from a previous marriage shows up at their door after her grandparents, with whom she lived after her mother passed away, die in a sudden fire. Seonkyeong wants her to feel at home but is gradually unnerved as the young girl says very little and acts strangely. 

At work and at home, Seonkyeong starts to unravel the pasts of the two new arrivals in her life and begins to see startling similarities. Hayeong looks at her the same way Yi Byeongdo does when he recounts the abuse he experienced as a child; Hayeong’s serene expression masks a temper that she can’t control. Plus, the story she tells about her grandparents’ death, and her mother’s before that, deeply troubles Seonkyeong. So much so that Yi Byeongdo picks up on it and starts giving her advice. 

Written with exquisite precision and persistent creepiness, The Only Child is psychological suspense at its very best." 

Title: Above the Bay of Angels

Author: Rhys Bowen

Standalone historical mystery set in Victorian France

347 pages

Synopsis: "Isabella Waverly only means to comfort the woman felled on a London street. In her final dying moments, she thrusts a letter into Bella’s hand. It’s an offer of employment in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace, and everything the budding young chef desperately wants: an escape from the constrictions of her life as a lowly servant. In the stranger’s stead, Bella can spread her wings.

Arriving as Helen Barton from Yorkshire, she pursues her passion for creating culinary delights, served to the delighted Queen Victoria herself. Best of all, she’s been chosen to accompany the queen to Nice. What fortune! Until the threat of blackmail shadows Bella to the Riviera, and a member of the queen’s retinue falls ill and dies.

Having prepared the royal guest’s last meal, Bella is suspected of the poisonous crime. An investigation is sure to follow. Her charade will be over. And her new life will come crashing down—if it doesn’t send her to the gallows."

Title: American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI

Author: Kate Winkler Dawson

Non-Fiction

336 pages

Synopsis: "Berkeley, California, 1933. In a lab filled with curiosities--beakers, microscopes, Bunsen burners, and hundreds upon hundreds of books--sat an investigator who would go on to crack at least two thousand cases in his forty-year career. Known as the "American Sherlock Holmes," Edward Oscar Heinrich was one of America's greatest--and first--forensic scientists, with an uncanny knack for finding clues, establishing evidence, and deducing answers with a skill that seemed almost supernatural.

Heinrich was one of the nation's first expert witnesses, working in a time when the turmoil of Prohibition led to sensationalized crime reporting and only a small, systematic study of evidence. However with his brilliance, and commanding presence in both the courtroom and at crime scenes, Heinrich spearheaded the invention of a myriad of new forensic tools that police still use today, including blood spatter analysis, ballistics, lie-detector tests, and the use of fingerprints as courtroom evidence. His work, though not without its serious--some would say fatal--flaws, changed the course of American criminal investigation.

Based on years of research and thousands of never-before-published primary source materials, American Sherlock captures the life of the man who pioneered the science our legal system now relies upon--as well as the limits of those techniques and the very human experts who wield them."

Title: Play the Red Queen

Author: Juris Jurjevics

Standalone historical mystery set in Vietnam

360 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "Viet Nam, 1963. A female Viet Cong assassin is trawling the boulevards of Saigon, catching US Army officers off-guard with a single pistol shot, then riding off on the back of a scooter. Although the US military is not officially in combat, sixteen thousand American servicemen are stationed in Viet Nam “advising” the military and government. Among them are Ellsworth Miser and Clovis Robeson, two army investigators who have been tasked with tracking down the daring killer.

Set in the besieged capital of a new nation on the eve of the coup that would bring down the Diem regime and launch the Americans into the Viet Nam War, Play the Red Queen is Juris Jurjevics’s capstone contribution to a lifelong literary legacy: a tour-de-force mystery-cum-social history, breathtakingly atmospheric and heartbreakingly alive with the laws and lawlessness of war."

~~~ February 18 ~~~

Title: The Lucky One

Author: Lori Rader-Day

Standalone thriller set in the US Midwest

400 pages

Synopsis: "Most people who go missing are never found. But Alice was the lucky one... 

As a child, Alice was stolen from her backyard in a tiny Indiana community, but against the odds, her policeman father tracked her down within twenty-four hours and rescued her from harm. In the aftermath of the crime, her family decided to move to Chicago and close the door on that horrible day.

Yet Alice hasn’t forgotten. She devotes her spare time volunteering for a website called The Doe Pages scrolling through pages upon pages of unidentified people, searching for clues that could help reunite families with their missing loved ones. When a face appears on Alice’s screen that she recognizes, she’s stunned to realize it’s the same man who kidnapped her decades ago. The post is deleted as quickly as it appeared, leaving Alice with more questions than answers.

Embarking on a search for the truth, she enlists the help of friends from The Doe Pages to connect the dots and find her kidnapper before he hurts someone else. Then Alice crosses paths with Merrily Cruz, another woman who’s been hunting for answers of her own. Together, they begin to unravel a dark, painful web of lies that will change what they thought they knew—and could cost them everything.

Twisting and compulsively readable, The Lucky One explores the lies we tell ourselves to feel safe." 

~~~ February 25 ~~~

Title: The King's Justice

Author: Susan Elia MacNeal

Series: #9 in the Maggie Hope historical series set in World War II London

352 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "Maggie Hope started out as Winston Churchill’s secretary, but now she’s a secret agent—and the only one who can figure out how the missing instrument ties into the murders.

London, December 1942. As the Russian army repels German forces from Stalingrad, Maggie Hope takes a much-needed break from spying to defuse bombs in London. But Maggie herself is an explosion waiting to happen. Traumatized by her past, she finds herself living dangerously—taking huge risks, smoking, drinking, and speeding through the city streets on a motorbike. The last thing she wants is to get entangled in another crime.

But when she’s called upon to look into the theft of a Stradivarius, one of the finest violins ever made, Maggie can’t resist. Meanwhile, there’s a serial killer on the loose in London, targeting conscientious objectors. Little does she know that investigating this dangerous predator will pit her against a new evil—and old enemies. Only Maggie can uncover the connection between the robbery, the murders, and a link to her past."

There are some very good books being released during the month of February! Which ones of my picks tickled your fancy? Inquiring minds would love to know!

The Case of the Reincarnated Client by Tarquin Hall

First Line: Vish Puri tried taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, just as Dr. Mohan had advised him to do during times of stress.

When Mummy-ji brings her son, private investigator Vish Puri, a case, he wishes she'd just leave her untrained, unprofessional nose out of his business. When he finds out that the case concerns a woman who claims to be Riya Kaur, a wife and mother who vanished during the bloody anti-Sikh riots of 1984, Puri thinks his Mummy-ji has lost her mind. He's got his hands full with an irate matrimonial client, but his mother insists he takes on the case.

The case of Riya Kaur was originally his father's, so Puri's sense of duty means that he will at least take a look at the police file. When he does, it's obvious that some kind of cover-up occurred, and that's enough to get the New Delhi private detective in an (unwilling) alliance with his mother to find the truth.

I enjoy this series so much that I had to go to Flavors of India to eat onion bhajis and lamb biryani afterward-- especially since it's been a few years since the last Vish Puri mystery, and The Case of the Reincarnated Client met and exceeded all my expectations. You can enjoy this series for the mouth-watering food (I'd never tried it until I made Vish Puri's acquaintance) or the (often) laugh-out-loud humor or all the things you can learn about both modern-day and historical India or the interactions between the marvelous characters... or you can just enjoy the excellent mysteries. But when you can combine all of these into one series or one book, it's magic.

The humor comes into play when Puri faces the possible demise of his beloved car, but it is also scattered throughout the story. But everything isn't all slapstick and laughs. The author can also make you furious or make you want to cry. The main mystery involves a woman who disappeared during the terrible riots following Indira Gandhi's assassination and justice is the major theme-- both of obtaining it for Riya Kaur and for its total absence in the wake of those riots.

India's demonetization also brings forth another element of mystery, and while Puri is traveling around the city to keep up with all his cases, readers experience New Delhi's pollution. So much of modern Indian life is explored here that I want to talk about it all-- and I know that I can't because I want you to read this book. It's all seamlessly woven into the story in such a way that you can almost feel as though you're actually there as you read. Perfect for armchair travelers, eh?

And The Case of the Reincarnated Client is also perfect for armchair sleuths. Can justice be brought to a money launderer and to Riya Kaur? Can an irate matrimonial client be made happy and forget to file a lawsuit? If anyone can do all this, it's Vish Puri. Fans of this series, rejoice. Vish is back! Those of you new to the series, I envy you. You have so much good reading ahead of you!

The Case of the Reincarnated Client by Tarquin Hall

ISBN: 9780727888785

Severn House Publishers © 2019

Hardcover, 240 pages

Private Investigator, #5 Vish Puri mystery

Rating: A+

Source: Purchased from Amazon UK.


 

October 2019 New Mystery Releases!

Another summer has flown past with the speed of light. It brought me some mighty fine books to read amongst many other blessings. I have so many things to look forward to this fall, but I have to admit that my anticipation is dulled somewhat by the loss of my dearest friend in September.

Comfort can be found in routine; however, and what better comfort for a voracious reader than keeping an eye peeled for new crime fiction that is going to be released?

I've grouped my picks according to their release dates and give you a little information about each one. Book covers and synopses are courtesy of Amazon.



Let's see if I managed to include a title or two that will make it onto your own wishlists!

=== October 1 ===

Title: Dachshund Through the Snow

Author: David Rosenfelt

Series: #20 in the Andy Carpenter legal mystery series set in New Jersey. 

352 pages

Synopsis: "Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his wife, Laurie, have started a new Christmas tradition. Their local pet store has a Christmas tree, where instead of ornaments there are wishes from those in need. One poignant wish leads Andy to a child named Danny, whose selfless plea strikes a chord. Danny asked Santa for a coat for his mother, a sweater for his dachshund, Murphy, and for the safe return of his missing father.

It turns out Danny’s father doesn't want to be found, he’s on the run after just being arrested for a murder that took place fourteen years ago – a murder that Danny’s mother swears he didn’t commit.

With his trademark humor and larger-than-life characters – including a police officer and his K-9 partner, Simon – Rosenfelt never fails to deliver as Andy and his eccentric crew dash to reunite a family in time for Christmas."

Title: A House of Ghosts

Author: W.C. Ryan

Standalone Gothic thriller set in England.

384 pages

Synopsis: "Winter 1917. As the First World War enters its most brutal phase, back home in England, everyone is seeking answers to the darkness that has seeped into their lives. At Blackwater Abbey, on an island off the Devon coast, armaments manufacturer Lord Highmount has arranged a spiritualist gathering to contact his two sons, both of whom died at the front.

Among the guests, two have been secretly dispatched from the intelligence service: Kate Cartwright, a friend of the family who lost her beloved brother at the Somme and who, in the realm of the spiritual, has her own special gift; and the mysterious Captain Donovan, recently returned from Europe. Top secret plans for weapons developed by Lord Highmount’s company have turned up in Berlin, and there is reason to believe enemy spies will be in attendance. As the guests arrive, it becomes clear that each has something they would rather keep hidden. Then, when a storm descends, they find themselves trapped on the island. Soon one of their number will die. For Blackwater Abbey is haunted in more ways than one . . . .

An unrelenting, gripping mystery, packed with twists and turns and a kindling of romance, A House of Ghosts is the perfect cold-weather read."

=== October 8 ===

Title: A Bitter Feast

Author: Deborah Crombie

Series: #18 in the Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James police procedural series set in England.

384 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his wife, Detective Inspector Gemma James, have been invited for a relaxing weekend in the Cotswolds, one of Britain’s most enchanting regions, famous for its rolling hills, golden cottages, and picturesque villages.

Duncan, Gemma, and their children are guests at Beck House, the family estate of Melody Talbot, Gemma’s detective sergeant. The Talbot family is wealthy, prominent, and powerful—Melody’s father is the publisher of one of London’s largest and most influential newspapers. The centerpiece of this glorious fall getaway is a posh charity harvest luncheon catered by up-and-coming chef Viv Holland. After fifteen years in London’s cut-throat food scene, Viv has returned to the Gloucestershire valleys of her childhood and quickly made a name for herself with her innovative meals based on traditional cuisine but using fresh local ingredients. Attended by the local well-to-do as well as national press food bloggers and restaurant critics, the event could make Viv a star.

But a tragic car accident and a series of mysterious deaths rock the estate and pull Duncan and Gemma into the investigation. It soon becomes clear that the killer has a connection with Viv’s pub—or, perhaps, with Beck House itself.

Does the truth lie in the past? Or is it closer to home, tied up in the tangled relationships and bitter resentments between the staff at Beck House and Viv’s new pub? Or is it more personal, entwined with secrets hidden by Viv and those closest to her?" 

=== October 15 ===

Title: The Art of Theft

Author: Sherry Thomas

Series: #4 in the Lady Sherlock historical series set in England.

304 pages

Synopsis: "As "Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective," Charlotte Holmes has solved murders and found missing individuals. But she has never stolen a priceless artwork—or rather, made away with the secrets hidden behind a much-coveted canvas.

But Mrs. Watson is desperate to help her old friend recover those secrets and Charlotte finds herself involved in a fever-paced scheme to infiltrate a glamorous Yuletide ball where the painting is one handshake away from being sold and the secrets a bare breath from exposure.

Her dear friend Lord Ingram, her sister Livia, Livia's admirer Stephen Marbleton—everyone pitches in to help and everyone has a grand time. But nothing about this adventure is what it seems and disaster is biding time on the grounds of a glittering French chateau, waiting only for Charlotte to make a single mistake..."

=== October 22 ===

Title: A Cruel Deception

Author: Charles Todd

Series: #11 in the Bess Crawford historical series set in England.

320 pages

Synopsis: "The Armistice of November 1918 ended the fighting, but the Great War will not be over until a Peace Treaty is drawn up and signed by all parties. Representatives from the Allies are gathering in Paris, and already ominous signs of disagreement have appeared.

Sister Bess Crawford, who has been working with the severely wounded in England in the war’s wake, is asked to carry out a personal mission in Paris for a Matron at the London headquarters of The Queen Alexandra’s.

Bess is facing decisions about her own future, even as she searches for the man she is charged with helping.  When she does locate Lawrence Minton, she finds a bitter and disturbed officer who has walked away from his duties at the Peace Conference and is well on his way toward an addiction to opiates. When she confronts him with the dangers of using laudanum, he tells her that he doesn’t care if he lives or dies, as long as he can find oblivion. But what has changed him? What is it that haunts him? He can’t confide in Bess—because the truth is so deeply buried in his mind that he can only relive it in nightmares. The officers who had shared a house with him in Paris profess to know nothing—still, Bess is reluctant to trust them even when they offer her their help. But where to begin on her own?

What is driving this man to a despair so profound it can only end with death? The war? Something that happened in Paris? To prevent a tragedy, she must get at the truth as quickly as possible—which means putting herself between Lieutenant Minton and whatever is destroying him. Or is it whoever?"

Title: Strangers at the Gate

Author: Catriona McPherson

Standalone thriller set in Scotland.

368 pages

Synopsis: "Finnie Doyle and Paddy Lamb are leaving city life in Edinburgh behind them and moving to the little town of Simmerton. Paddy's been made partner at the law firm in town, and Finnie has snagged a job as a church deacon. Their rented cottage is quaint; their new colleagues are charming, and they can't believe their luck.

But only days after moving into the gatehouse, Finnie begins to have doubts. She keeps hearing strange sounds, and the thicket of trees make her feel claustrophobic rather than safe. When they witness the bloody aftermath of a brutal murder, it changes everything. They've each been keeping secrets about their pasts. And they both know their precious new start won't survive a scandal. Together, for the best of reasons, they make the worst decision of their lives.

And that's only the beginning. The deep, deep valley where Simmerton sits is unlike anywhere Finnie and Paddy have been before. They are not the only ones hiding in its shadow and very soon they've lost control of the game they decided to play..."

Title: The Night Fire

Author: Michael Connelly

Series: #4 in the Renée Ballard & #22 in the Harry Bosch police procedural series set in Los Angeles.

416 pages

Synopsis: "Back when Harry Bosch was just a rookie homicide detective, he had an inspiring mentor who taught him to take the work personally and light the fire of relentlessness for every case. Now that mentor, John Jack Thompson, is dead, but after his funeral, his widow gives Bosch a murder book that Thompson took with him when he left the LAPD 20 years before -- the unsolved killing of a troubled young man in an alley used for drug deals.

Bosch brings the murder book to Renée Ballard and asks her to help him find what about the case lit Thompson's fire all those years ago. That will be their starting point.

The bond between Bosch and Ballard tightens as they become a formidable investigative team. And they soon arrive at a worrying question: Did Thompson steal the murder book to work the case in retirement, or to make sure it never got solved?" 

=== October 29 ===

Title: Shot Through the Hearth

Author: Kate Carlisle

Series: #7 in the Shannon Hammer cozy series set in northern California.

304 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "Shannon's good friend and retired tech billionaire, Raphael Nash, is loving his new retired life but he can't stay unoccupied for too long. He's started the Marigold Foundation that helps fund small companies and individuals who do humanitarian work around the world. It's an exciting time in Lighthouse Cove as Raphael hosts the first-ever global conference inviting big thinkers from every area of industry to give presentations on eco-living.

Raphael's old business partner arrives in town with a grudge and a plan to steal him away from his important new passion project. Shannon knows her friend has no intention of giving up Marigold and is proud of Raphael for sticking to his guns. But when his former associate winds up dead, all signs point to Raphael.

It's up to Shannon to hammer out the details of the murder before her friend gets pinned for the crime..."

Title: Silent Knit, Deadly Knit

Author: Peggy Ehrhart

Series: #4 in the Knit & Nibble cozy series set in New Jersey.

304 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "Pamela has been in merry spirits since her artsy daughter Penny returned home from college for the holidays. But their mother-daughter bonding time gets cut short when a terrified Penny stumbles upon the dumped body of Millicent Farthingale, a wealthy craft shop owner who was popular for all the wrong reasons. From a scheming business partner to a seedy husband several years her junior, Millicent attracted scammers so in love with her assets, they’d toss her down a chimney to get their paws on them. Now, with only a hand-knit red scarf connecting the killer to the crime, Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers could use some extra creativity as they find out who’s really naughty or nice in Arborville—because going up against a looming culprit is DIY or die!"

=== October 31 ===

Title: A Body in the Bookshop

Author: Helen Cox

Series: #2 in the Kitt Hartley Yorkshire cozy series set in England.

304 pages

*Upcoming review on Kittling: Books.

Synopsis: "It's nearly Christmas in York, but it seems the season of goodwill hasn't touched everyone... 

When DS Charlotte Banks is suspended from the police on suspicion of assaulting a suspect in the burglary of a local bookshop, librarian Kitt Harley and her friend Evie Bowes refuse to believe she is guilty. But why is she being framed?

With Charlotte's boss DI Malcolm Halloran unable to help, Evie decides to take matters into her own hands. Kitt takes little persuading to get involved too - after all, as well as Charlotte's career to save, there are missing books to be found!

From the tightknit community of York's booksellers to the most gossipy bus route in the country, Kitt and Evie leave no stone unturned to get at the truth behind the burglary.

Then the discovery of a body raises the stakes even higher. For Evie, and now Kitt, this case is as personal as it gets. Can they catch the murderer in time to turn a bleak midwinter into something merry and bright?"

Title: The Case of the Reincarnated Client

Author: Tarquin Hall

Series: #5 in the Vish Puri Private Investigator series set in India.

240 pages

*UK Release*

Synopsis: "When a young woman comes forward saying she's the reincarnation of Riya Kaur, a wife and mother who vanished during the bloody 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Puri is dismissive. He's busy enough dealing with an irate matrimonial client whose daughter is complaining about her groom's thunderous snoring. Puri's indomitable Mummy-ji however is adamant the client is genuine. How else could she so accurately describe under hypnosis Riya Kaur's life and final hours? Driven by a sense of duty - the original case was his late father's - Puri manages to acquire the police file only to find that someone powerful has orchestrated a cover-up. Forced into an alliance with his mother that tests his beliefs and high blood pressure as never before, it's only by delving into the past the help of his reincarnated client that Puri can hope to unlock the truth."

So many good new books for October! Which ones made it to your own wishlists? Inquiring minds would love to know!