Helpful Score: 2
I really felt as if I were in India. I loved learning more about the culture, the food and the customs. And it was a great story. Humourous as well!
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 1
First Line: Vish Puri, founder and managing director of Most Private Investigators, Ltd., sat alone in a room in a guesthouse in Defense Colony, south Delhi, devouring a dozen green chili pakoras from a greasy takeout box.
In today's Delhi, the fabric of Indian life is being changed by call centers and malls. Most of Vish Puri's business comes from screening prospective marriage partners. Aunties and family priests just can't keep up in this age of the Internet. However, Vish branches out when an honest local lawyer is accused of killing his maid, and it takes all of his resources to investigate.
In The Case of the Missing Servant, Hall does the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency one better. I knew I would like this portly private eye as soon as I learned his business was above the Bahri Sons bookshop. With his love of food and his insistence that the principles of detection were established in India more than two thousand years ago, Vish Puri could be just a figure of affectionate fun, but he does know his stuff, and his team of undercover operatives (with names like Facecream and Tubelight to protect their identities) is very good.
The mystery is puzzling, and the assassination attempt on Puri's life which is ignored by him and investigated by his mother is a secondary plot that's truly funny.
As much as I loved Hall's characters and plot, I was totally absorbed in the book's setting. Hall brought modern India to life in all its complexity and contradictions. Included in the back is a glossary which I found useful mainly for the Punjabi cuisine that Vish Puri loves so much, and I have to admit reading The Case of the Missing Servant "forced" an unexpected second purchase: an Indian slow cooker cookbook. Since my husband loves Indian cuisine, he's going to reap the rewards of the second purchase.
How am I going to reap the rewards of Tarquin Hall's first book about a wily, lovable private investigator? By greedily gobbling up future books in the series!
In today's Delhi, the fabric of Indian life is being changed by call centers and malls. Most of Vish Puri's business comes from screening prospective marriage partners. Aunties and family priests just can't keep up in this age of the Internet. However, Vish branches out when an honest local lawyer is accused of killing his maid, and it takes all of his resources to investigate.
In The Case of the Missing Servant, Hall does the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency one better. I knew I would like this portly private eye as soon as I learned his business was above the Bahri Sons bookshop. With his love of food and his insistence that the principles of detection were established in India more than two thousand years ago, Vish Puri could be just a figure of affectionate fun, but he does know his stuff, and his team of undercover operatives (with names like Facecream and Tubelight to protect their identities) is very good.
The mystery is puzzling, and the assassination attempt on Puri's life which is ignored by him and investigated by his mother is a secondary plot that's truly funny.
As much as I loved Hall's characters and plot, I was totally absorbed in the book's setting. Hall brought modern India to life in all its complexity and contradictions. Included in the back is a glossary which I found useful mainly for the Punjabi cuisine that Vish Puri loves so much, and I have to admit reading The Case of the Missing Servant "forced" an unexpected second purchase: an Indian slow cooker cookbook. Since my husband loves Indian cuisine, he's going to reap the rewards of the second purchase.
How am I going to reap the rewards of Tarquin Hall's first book about a wily, lovable private investigator? By greedily gobbling up future books in the series!
Rick P. (rickt) reviewed The Case of the Missing Servant (Vish Puri, Bk 1) on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I was expecting something like "The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency" but this wasn't quite as good, BUT sometimes you need to read a couple to really get a feel for the characters. I enjoyed reading it, though!
Audrey A. (Arosea) reviewed The Case of the Missing Servant (Vish Puri, Bk 1) on + 457 more book reviews
This was an interesting visit to India with such a different way of life than ours, yet it works for the people there who seem to be determined and accepting of their place. The inspector works hard and is trying to find out what happened to a missing servant. He gets unwanted help from his mother-in-law - who, being female, should not have her nose in male dealings but, nevertheless, is very helpful. good mystery, and interesting characters who approach things with a perspective that is unique. I'll read the next and have recommended it to my book club.
Audrey A. (Arosea) reviewed The Case of the Missing Servant (Vish Puri, Bk 1) on + 457 more book reviews
This was an interesting visit to India with such a different way of life than ours, yet it works for the people there who seem to be determined and accepting. The inspector works hard and is trying to find out what happened to a missing servant. He gets unwanted help from his mother in law - who, being female, should not have her nose in male dealings but, nevertheless, is very helpful. Simply put, Vish is a stalwart, brave, just, and loyal human being. His duties as a husband, father, and boss are always fulfilled with great grace, humor, and above all, dignity. However, when he is faced with certain nefarious types he can get as down and dirty as the next guy. And this book continues the sub-plot of his beloved mummy-ji also putting her sleuthing abilities to the test. All in all, it is another wonderful, fun, thoroughly readable mystery.
Gerhard O. (nccorthu) reviewed The Case of the Missing Servant (Vish Puri, Bk 1) on + 569 more book reviews
I'll have to read more his work. Great Mystery in a new setting , India. Has definitions of Hindi words and phrases. Great read
Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) -
Not a typical "whodunit," although there is a mystery the detective solves. More important to the plot is the feeling it gives you of Indian culture (thankfully includes a glossary); although it paints a sort of sad picture of what living in India could be like unless you are well-educated and wealthy.
