The Cosmic Clues

Stellar Investigations Detective Agency #1

by Manjiri Prabhu

Sonia Samarth couldn't have predicted it--after only a day, her first advertisement had drawn dozens of responses. In the bustling city of Pune, India, with its winding alleys and exotic customs, Sonia is launching a brand new private investigation--using Hindu astrology as a crime-solving tool. In an ancient city steeped in tradition, Sonia's unique brand of investigation is raising eyebrows. But she seems to have found a niche--and, before long, a case of murder.

When a cat leads Sonia to her very first investigation, she quickly unmasks a killer, using astrology as her guide. Suddenly clients begin streaming a persistent, handsome TV personality; a terrified bride-to-be; a missing husband with suicidal tendencies...all challenge Sonia's astrological abilities to prevent a crime. All apparently isolated experiences, but bound by an invisible thread. And while Sonia has stellar success in unraveling the truth, very soon she'll have to look closely at her own stars. Because the most notorious international criminal has just crossed Sonia's path--and he has his own plans for her future!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, India, Crime, Detective

371 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

#18 The DOGtrine of Peace
When two magical beings, decide on a spiritual goal,
One with a wagging tail, but both with a unique soul…
The way to inner peace lies in our heart…and in the company of dogs. With this belief, Dr. Manjiri Prabhu has poured a lifetime of her work with dogs and her learnings, into a spiritual adventure, The DOGtrine of Peace, a novel blueprint for spiritual awakening and enlightenment.
Rich with anecdotes, interviews, and experiences, of dog-lovers, scientists, animal communicators & therapists, activists, spiritual thinkers & yoga gurus, and environmentalists from across the globe, the DOGtrine of Peace is a powerful book of love and compassion for those who seek a unique spiritual path.
This intuitive philosophy provides profound and life-changing Sutras to those with a yearning in their hearts, for those who love humanity, who pursue peace, harmony and truth, and of course for dog lovers and compassionate souls!


VOICE OF THE RUNES
(When Souls Connect, But Vengeance Speaks)
A Haunting love story and a destination thriller.

Dr. Tharoor's endorsement on the book :
"Evocatively written, Voice of the Runes delves into the mystical nature of the Scandinavian runes, with a layered and thrilling storyline that makes for a compelling read." Dr. Shashi Tharoor

'The Trail of Four' an international mystery thriller published by Bloomsbury.
"The Trail of Four - Clever plotting, evocative writing and a compelling mystery. Dan Brown has met his match." ~ Dr. Shashi Tharoor
"Swirling across Europe, The Trail of Four is an intricately woven mystery that emanates from a human heart buried under a Salzburg castle in 1744. A compelling and fascinating read." ~Ashwin Sanghi
"A superb mystery which blends the thrill with the ethereal, 'The Trail of Four' will leave an indelible print/mark on your mind. I highly recommend this book!! "~~ Anita Moorjani



https://kitaab.org/2017/04/11/book-re...

http://www.new-asian-writing.com/book...

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifest...

http://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-ed...

https://incrediblewomenofindia.wordpr...

http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/ind...

http://swatisrai.blogspot.in/2017/04/...


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/li...

http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-a...

https://pune365.com/trail-four-manjir...

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetail...

https://www.harmonyindia.org/leisure_...


'Stellar Signs' the Indian version of 'The Astral Alibi'


'In the Shadow of Inheritance' (A Haunting Love Story) from Penguin India

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/...


The Gypsies at Noelle's Retreat
(A Riva Parkar Mystery) - The first in a YA mystery series.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Gypsies-Noe...


'The Cavansite Conspiracy' has been awarded the Best Mystery 2012 by BTB Indian Literary Awards.

Tête-à-Tête with Manjiri Prabhu
http://suprose.blogspot.com/2012/12/t...


Dr. Manjiri Prabhu holds a Doctorate in Communication Science and is a short-film-maker, an award-winning international author and also the Founder/ Director of two Festivals. She has directed over 200 children’s TV

Reviews

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rule #1 show don't tell.
This book does a lot of telling and very little showing. I haven't done so many eye rolls and huffing in a long time over a book. The Owl, notorious international criminal is mentioned throughout the entire novel but doesn't really come into the story until the last chapter and it's fast paced when The Owl shows up.

The characters are bland in my opinion. I never connected with any of them. My heart only went out to a minor character and she was in the novel for a chapter. There are a lot of confused characters that give way for Sonia, the main character, to explain how she came to her conclusions at the end of the murder or mystery she was hired or suddenly thrust in to hence the telling rather than showing.
The view point jumps to person to person within a chapter. One minute you're looking at the world through Sonia's eyes and in the next sentence you're in Jatin's view point. Not good.

I have never studied astrology and perhaps if I knew it more I could figure out what was going on when Sonia was reading the horoscopes but wow...I was truly amazed how much telling was done in this novel. For the most part I figured out what was going to happen every time a new mystery and by the third chapter I didn't care to connect the dots with the clues to the characters and their crimes. The book is written in third person but I think first person would have suited this novel so much better. The reader is never in Sonia's mind. We just see bits and pieces. She makes connections that the reader never reads about! I was so confused when the first mystery was solved I thought I accidentally skipped a page or two but found out I was never told or showed what Sonia thought and did.

I like how different this book is compared to other cozy mystery novels. It has more than one mystery in it and includes astrology to boot! The last chapter is probably the best chapter of all besides the wedding mystery--I really liked those chapters and wanted to read more like this....
I just can't get past the telling not showing, how convenient everything is, and everyone who did a crime or was trying to commit a crime always gave in to Sonia's accusations immediately, and the telling...the telling.

[Urvashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great light mystery which combines the study of astrology with solving problems. Good view into everyday India, especially highlighting Pune. Although I grew up there, the author made me see its beauty in a way that I had not before. I've seen some comments on how this doesn't represent the "true" India (where India is exactly as in Slumdog Millionaire) or that the language is not, well, American English. To the first, I will just say that I think the author has done a very good job of depicting everyday life in India as it is experienced by millions of middle-class families. As to the later, you are correct, this is not American English, nor British English, rather it is Indian English. As an avid reader, I have often benefitted from reading books that have been written by English speakers of different countries. In reading this book, you may wonder at the concept of someone "taking an appointment" rather than making one. I assure you, most Indians do speak of taking an appointment, and giving a test (where you are the examinee). So if you are willing to keep an open mind and look at these turns of phrases as characteristic of a country's speech rather than that they are "wrong", you'll enjoy this light read that much more.

[Susan Oleksiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the city of Pune, India, Sonia Samarth opens an investigation agency, which combines standard investigation techniques and astrology. With the support of her uncle in the police and her assistant, Jatin, Sonia solves several puzzles and crimes. This is really a series of short stories linked by a number of recurring characters and references to an impossible to catch criminal called the Owl. Sonia also attracts an unknown admirer and some new friends. Each story usually has an interesting plot twist, though there isn't much detection. Sonia lays out the situation and when she has a sense of the entire story she lays out the horoscopes. She reads the horoscopes of everyone involved in the crime and finds the guilty party by combining astrological character and incident. Charts are given for several significant characters. Much of the investigation happens out of sight, as when she sends Jatin off to collect crucial information without sharing that with the reader. The withholding of information from the reader isn't unusual in crime fiction but it should be noted.

This is a light, fun read with a variety of criminal activities investigated and resolved. The reader gets a small dose of India, especially in the way it's changing from a traditional culture to a modern one, and the occasional references to Indian foods and festivals.

This is the first in a series.

[Sfdreams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't decide what to rate this book: I went back and forth between 2 and 3 stars.

I found this book fascinating, but I didn't feel like it was the most well-written book I've read. That may just be because it is SO different from the books written by US authors. It definitely has a foreign rhythm and pattern of speech.

This is written by a woman who lives in Pune, India, and I found the glimpses of life in India the most fascinating part of the book. The book revolves around a woman who starts up the Stellar Investigations Detective Agency that uses horoscopes to solve crimes. The horoscopes for the various characters are printed in the book, and are very different from Western horoscopes. Vedic horoscopes are rectangles with diamonds and triangles inside, and western horoscopes are circular with pie-shapes wedges inside. This book has made me want to learn more about astrology!

In the book, it seemed as if everyone in India had had a horoscope done. I was curious, and a coworker who is from India confirmed that is the case. He said that horoscopes are compared when two people are marrying.

The author says "her major concern is animal welfare and she strives for the care and protection of street dogs and cats." I give her a standing ovation for that!!!

[Ishan Agrawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Cosmic Clues by Manjiri Prabhu is a crime based thriller. Each chapter in itself is a crime case that leaves one spellbound

The book is about a detective agency called Stellar Investigations. It is known primarily for the unique approach they adopt to solve their cases when they are stuck with no further evidence or track to lead them to the criminal.
Detective Sonia Samarth is the protagonist of the book. Sonia uses her commendable knowledge of Astrological Sciences by studying the horoscopes of her prime suspects and the victims that lead her to the criminal. She is very fond of her cat who is a key character in the book as she is the one who leads Sonia to her first case to investigate. Besides Sonia; Jatin, her assistant; Inspector Jeevan Divekar, her Uncle and Mr. Monish Rai, the TV news reporter, her love interest are all among the main characters.

As the story unravels gradually, in each chapter one will have a rather unexpected outcome of the case. All the chapters are short stories with different characters. The characterization is intricately detailed and suitable to the players of each and every case. The main characters however, remain the same.
My personal favourite is ‘Marriage Jitters’ where in Sonia chalks out an excellent plan to save the victim from the unfortunate happening. The case is beautifully carved and taught me how to take a keen interest in what our gut instinct tries to tell us.

Most of the cases in the book are based in Pune, India. Frequent references to Maharashtrian custom, rituals and food are made throughout the book. It is a good read for all the Sherlock Holmes and detective lovers. I would give it a four star rating and highly recommend giving it a read.

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author reinvented the wheel! It doesn’t proceed in the usual formulaic direction and I was wise to be open minded about a new rhythm. After surprise that Manjiri Prabhu’s first case closes in the span of a few chapters; I enjoyed her new approach to a mystery novel. This is not one puzzle that stretches across a book, nor is it a short story compilation. I adapted to her mission, that it is miniature adventures which acquaint us with a brand new heroine, in a setting I’ve never read before.

Sleuths have visited India and certainly non-fiction. However they were a harried traveller, or hardship story. I heartily applaud this writer, for showing us a fresh ‘cozy mystery’ in another city; Pune. Sonia Samarth’s detective agency gimmick is completely original. It isn’t paranormal the way I like but I enjoyed acquainting myself with astrology, from a scientific angle. Sonia is an expert and takes this tool very seriously, along with common sense and trained observation of each setting in question. It is key to note her cases aren’t random. The journey not only shows us who Sonia is in incremental stages but one senses immediately, an undercurrent aiming somewhere. I have no doubt there will be a major culmination, like pieces from a puzzle, when the brief series concludes in the next volume.

I couldn’t give higher stars because of the childish assistant, Jatin. His scenes were grating, especially saying ‘boss’! On the flipside, this is the best example I have ever seen, of the technique to ‘show a story’! Even though everything about this mystery novel is new to me, setting as well as astrology; Manjiri never once inundated us with explanations. Her heroine went about her business and we absorbed everything about her world along the way.

[Diwakar Narayan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manjiri Prabhu, the author of this book, seems resolved to create an Indian Sherlock Holmes, a feminine detective, who combines astrological science with her investigations – and this very combination prompts a pick of this book.

The book does not contain one plot through out the novel, but is a collection of different cases. All the chapters have different crimes committed by different people at different places, this making this book more like a collection of short stories. One does not have to read the novel at one go, but can take his time to read different chapters at ease. Things that are common throughout the book are the investigator, her assistance, Inspector Divekar and a guy who constantly tries to be near Sonia, out of his liking for this malti-talented lady.

Manjiri, in this book, has displayed her excellent command over the language and it feels good to read such English from an Indian author. Only at times, her over-describing of things, places or situation seems boring and irrelevant to the story. She, with the stories and the investigation agency based in Pune, has succeeded in giving it an Indian touch, though making minimum use of the local language.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I have such mixed feelings about this book. Sonia lives in Pune, India and has opened a detective agency. It's an agency with a twist though, she uses Hindu astrology as an aide in solving cases. It's not the sole tool in her skillset but it is a big component. Astrology really isn't something I believe in but yet I found the whole premise fascinating, especially the fact that everyone had their horoscopes on hand when needed. This isn't a story with just one case but instead a series of smaller cases with another story line running through.

[Kanica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice specially considering the theme of astrology with investigation

[Rinaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first heard of this book, I had no idea what to expect. The Cosmic Clues by Manjiri Prabhu is indeed a one of a kind genre of novels. As the cover page claims, it is the first Indian book about an “astro-detective��. Being one of those who don’t believe in Fate, Destiny & the stars, I admit being perplexed with the idea of an investigator who works with astrology. The combination was indeed worth a shot & though I still didn't ‘get it’, it can be safely regarded as a good one-time read.

Sonia Samarth is an intelligent lady with a Masters in criminal psychology. Perfect qualifications to start off a career in solving crime one would say. The only catch? She is also a student of Vedic astrology & insists on putting it into practical use when solving crimes. No wonder her agency Stellar Investigations receives a lot of requests to read horoscopes rather than mysteries & calls for help.

Everything changes when a cat decides to enter their office & stay put. Her first investigation-to find the cat’s owner triggers off a series of cases which make up the rest of the book & that ironically end with her finally meeting the owner! Paired with an over-enthusiastic assistant Jatin, Sonia sets out solving cases with the help of a sharp mind & of course by reading the horoscopes of those involved.

What initially started off more like a Famous Five/Secret Seven kind of book, finally picked up pace somewhere after the second case. The narrative appears to lag a bit with great emphasis being laid on how astrology isn’t the absolute solution, rather a guide to it. Since this is the first of an astro-detective series, one can understand the author’s attempts at justifying this field of science, but then it gets a tad too much at times. I can’t complain about the bits & pieces about Pune thrown into the narrative. They create quite a beautiful imagery & make my wish to visit the city only stronger.

The cases mentioned here sans the initial ones are quite interesting, not to mention diverse. Each mystery has the probable suspects & climax. Even with the astrological jargon involved, the plot remains tight & one can really enjoy the suspense.

The Cosmic Clues is the first of the Stellar Investigations series & though am not exactly holding my breath for the sequel titled The Astral Alibi, I cannot ignore the curiosity I have as to what happens next. The plus points of this book lie in the unique concept & the good narrative Any fans of astrology would definitely rate this book higher, but I’d only suggest it for a casual read. It’s not a racy page-turner but it doesn’t tend to bore either

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/01/The...

Sonia Samarth is a smart and independent woman who is an entrepreneur of a brand new business – private investigation guided by Hindu astrology. The initial response that she receives from her newspaper ad and after solving her first case is awesome and clients keep pouring in. But soon Sonia discovers a connection between more than two of her seemingly different cases and there is no turning back. With her new friends and admirers in tow, Sonia is all geared up to solve her cases but is she prepared for what a hardcore criminal has in store for her?

The first aspect of this book that demanded my attention was the procedures involved and Sonia’s very unorthodox methods. I mean we have seen ‘grey cells’ in action and forensic evidences leading to the solution in detective stories, but Astrology? That is something new in this area and I admire the author for taking the risk to explore new detection avenues.

There were a lot of characters involved in this book – from its protagonist to her friends, colleagues and many clients. For the most part, the characters were all very well fleshed out who played their individual roles well. But as we bring them together it was like watching a rainbow take form with the many myriads of the characters. The plot was also interesting and the parallel investigations kept it going well enough. However, unlike most detective/mystery novels, this one doesn’t really encourage you to play the guessing game along. For one, some crucial information about the cases is withheld till the last moment. On the other hand it also contributes to the page turning quality of the book.

Overall, this book was a breath of fresh air in IWE. I enjoyed getting on the ‘Stellar Investigations Detective Agency’ journey and would love to read more in this series.

[Deepak Jaisinghani · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pathetic attempt at recreating Sherlockian mysteries.

Sonia Samarth is India's first 'Astro-Detective'; she solves criminal cases with the help of horoscopes, which sounded really cool to me at first. Only when I read it did I realise I was taken for a ride. She reads in horoscopes whatever is convenient for the case to push it to a dramatic end, meaning it's not Sonia the protagonist, but Manjiri the writer who is solving the cases. Sonia just works as a mouthpiece, just pouting the positions of stars and planets but not really explaining what do they mean.

Sherlock worked because Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made sure to instil a unique eccentricity into the character. His goofiness, his arrogance were mildly annoying but immensely enjoyable at the same time. Unlike Holmes, on which Sonia's character is obviously inspired from, she does not have a defining trait. The touch of Astrology promised to offer a unique flavour but it failed miserably. The result is that the stories here are utterly unoriginal, convenient and not believable. Better to opt for a second helping of Sherlock.

[Culture-Vulture · Rating 1 out of 5]

Astrology, Vedic or otherwise, is NOT a "science". Even in a cozy mystery, I couldn't stomach that premise. That killed a lot of the enjoyment for me. The clues dropping out of the sky under the guise of "science of astrology"!! I was expecting something more out of this book.

The cover art was lovely, though.


Also...
Cats can't be given too much milk, since they are lactose intolerant, and it bloats them up. In the long run, it can hurt/damage their intestinal health. It's better to give them wet/dry cat food, from brands like Whiskas or Royal Canin. I feed and care for stray cats, so I appreciate the author's interest in their welfare...but, please, don't feed them just milk!!! Give them COOKED (not raw!) meat, chicken, or fish, or wet and/or dry branded cat food.

❤️🐈❤️ Love, adopt, spay, neuter. ❤️🐈❤️

[Vinay Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Positives: Plot idea, characters, language and narration skill
Negatives: Too much astrology, could have used more detecting

Easy language, light-reading, witty and humorous… the Cosmic Clues is a treat at times. It’s not so interesting that it’ll become a collector’s copy, but it’s a one-time read that’s sure not to leave you disappointed.

[Trudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. The story line kept me totally immersed in the book. Manjiri has an amazing talent, she brings you into the scene of each page, you feel as if you are totally there with the characters. I recommend all of her books to everyone :-)

[Katherine Erlikh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of mysteries; this one, I read in high school. As a teenage girl obsessed with her horoscope and Sherlock Holmes, I found this to be a stellar collection of short mysteries. Read the book multiple times, found it to be very engaging. Would definitely recommend.

[Jigar Doshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

a simple story of a woman who uses astrology and horoscopes in her investigations.
a light read. some humor, some anecdotes, some musings, a feeble little bit of romance.
read the whole review here - http://jigar-doshi.com/2013/10/cosmic...

[Rupali Gore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Protagonist- a private lady detective uses a beautiful blend of Astrology and Investigation to solve criminal cases. The author has crafted a wonderful world of Mystery by using the "What Next" Element very well.

[Ritu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sloppy editing, callous storylines and predictable plots.

[Krishnali Kondekar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Astrodetective

The book surely leaves the readers awestruck at the end of every chapter.
The book is a crime-based thriller. It succeeds in its motive of keeping the readers on the edge and in complete suspense until the end of each chapter. The characterization is very meticulously done in each and every chapter. The main characters remain the same of course. Each chapter is a short story as an independent case that seems very unconventional at the beginning but as the story unfolds itself, it enlightens the readers with some hidden facts and shocking unexpected outcomes. The plot and the flow of each story is beautifully carved.
The book is a collection of various crime cases. This one is about a detective agency named Stellar Investigations which is based in Pune, India where in the investigator Sonia Samarth makes use of an idiosyncratic approach to solve her cases and is talked about and known for her Astrological approach. She often starts with her detective mind-set while vetting her suspects but eventually ends up using Astrological Science to lead her to the criminal. Sonia’s cat is humorously one, very important character amongst the main characters as she is the one who lead Sonia to her first ever investigation. Gradually Sonia becomes the talk of the whole town because of her successful investigations. Jatin, Sonia’s loyal and ardent assistant is another main character who stands rock solid with his boss in every case and obeys her every command while unfolding the mystery of every case they investigate. Inspector Jeevan Divekar, Sonia’s uncle is another main character of the story. Detective Sonia, Assistant Jatin and Inspector Divekar form an excellent team and solve several cases together. Mr. Monish Rai can be referred to as the Hero of the story as well as Sonia’s love interest. Mr. Rai is the handsome journalist and a TV news reporter. He is very generous, adores Sonia, and admires her work and professionalism.
The first thing that caught my interest was the city that most of the cases are from and that is Pune. I, myself am a Pune native and loved how the author has scrupulously described Pune and the Maharashtrian customs, rituals and foods. Another thing that I really loved is the noticeable character description of the protagonist Sonia Samarth that she is not like any other serious and uptight detective that we project in our mind when we hear the word investigators. She is rather young, independent, fun loving, music and dance loving, striving hard to give her pet cat all the undivided attention that she deserves.
This is a great read for all the detective and mystery lovers. I would highly to give this one a read.

P.S I loved how Sonia makes use of her commendable knowledge of Astrological Sciences in her field of Investigation and she taught me how to never let go any of the talent that you possess in vain.

[Maithili · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Not bad, quite a good read, actually.
A unique concept, combining astrology with detective stories. And except a couple of cases in the beginning, the cases were really good. Also, it was refreshing to read good description of Pune city.

But there was more of telling than showing. Even though it was fun to actually know what had actually happened at the end of each chapter, it would have been a bit more fun if the readers were involved.

But actually a fun read

[Punit Sahani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice novel. Well written. Introducing horoscope in investigation is something unique, and very descriptive.

[Shiva Shakthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

such an amazing book 💙

[Amrit Sinha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever I think of a Detective Series, the one name that instantly flashes in my mind is ‘Sherlock Holmes’. I think harder, and smile at the thought of Agatha Christie’s brilliant characters – Miss Marple and Poirot. I knock my brain a bit more, and instantly the adventures of Feluda by Satyajit Ray come calling to me.

Reading good detective fictions are always a pleasure. You can laze around on your bed, tucked under a warm blanket, in a frosty rainy evening, imagining yourself to be one of the characters in the stories. A crime is committed, and your intuition targets the suspects, as you start forming your own personal opinions regarding the mystery. This is true for all good detective stories, and quite gladly enough, this works quite well with ‘The Cosmic Clues.’

‘The Cosmic Clues’ by Manjiri Prabhu brings forward India’s First Astro Detective (yes, that’s highlighted on the cover). I have read and heard of detectives solving cases through careful observation and precise deduction, but never by reading horoscopes. That’s exactly what Sonia Samarth does, and does it pretty well. Sonia, along with her able assistant Jatin, runs Stellar Investigations, a detective agency, where they combine investigation with a study of horoscopes of the people involved. Isn't it unique?

It’s the distinctive plot that initially grabbed my attention, and I couldn't wait to read about the cases that they solve using astrology. The book narrates the progression of Sonia, from a nobody to a house hold name who has a penchant to crack open mysteries with her unique reading of horoscopes. Though this is what makes the book different from others, it also makes it vulnerable.

Not everyone can read horoscopes, and thus find it intriguing. A lot many people do believe in it, and trust the words of the astrologers. Isn't that the reason why most of us glance through the horoscope section in the morning dailies?

Sonia uses her power to deduct human characteristics through horoscopes to solve cases. It all looks great initially, but as she begins to unearth the modus-operandi and identifies the criminals all-too-perfectly, the conclusions of subsequent cases appear to be mere formalities. Her reading of planetary positions is often difficult to comprehend for a layman, and me being one, with completely no clue about horoscopes, ‘Cosmic Clues’ does leave me clueless at times.

However, Manjiri Prabhu provides us with a book that can keep us engaged and urge us to read further. I liked the cases, and though often I found them solved too easily with the means of horoscopes, I honestly admit that I wouldn't mind picking up the next book in the series. There is a compelling lucidity in the language, something that you can read and find soothing. The smooth flow and the clever link between the different chapters also add to the fluency of the book. And yes, I enjoyed the conversations between Sonia and Jatin - light-hearted and humorous.

If you too want to have a go at this book, enticed by its attractive cover and blurb, do pick up a copy. It’s definitely a one-time read. It doesn't disappoint, rather Manjiri Prabhu does a real good job with the genre. However, a bit more of ground research by the detectives to solve the cases (and not merely through the reading of horoscopes) could have made me rate the book higher.

Nevertheless, there is always a next chance, and am really looking forward to ‘The Astral Alibi’ – the sequel.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read that is set in Pune, the city where I live. 3 * for bringing alive the landmarks in Pune.

1.5 * for the juvenile detective stories. There are some obvious questions that the detectives fail to ask. The motive was glaring in most of the cases, but Sonia explains to her awestruck spectators (Jatin and Mohnish) as if it were some ground-breaking revelations. Not to mention Sonia's methods of crime detection by looking for criminal tendencies in the suspects' horoscope.

I didn't like the writing style. The switching of scenes was abrupt. In one paragraph we are reading about Sonia and Jatin's banter in their office. In the next sentence, we read about the suspect in his house/ car.

I will not be continuing with the series.

[Qube · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, light read and a silly little book that doesn't tax your little grey cells. I just breezed through it, enjoying the experience and not taking anything too seriously. A fun way to spend a rainy day (which it was for me).

There are no deep plots or puzzles, it's just a bunch of little episodes that this private detective blunders into. It makes no literary pretensions, but is quite a fun read if you don't take it too seriously. Girlish writing with dollops of flowery feminine descriptions that lifts your mood. Feels like written version of a TV semi-comical serial.

[Kurtbg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mystery, written by an Indian, takes place in India. That was interestingly different enough to tempt me to pick it up. I felt that the description of India was sugar-coated - nothing like slumdog millionaire was presented. The characters a little too stereotypical and an all too cheery protaganist.
If you're a fan of the exclamation point then this book is for you.
This is an ok read if you're not looking to get much out of it.

[Sundeep Supertramp · Rating 3 out of 5]

The original review of this book is posted on my blog...

To read the original review of this book, click here...

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot. A slightly different take on the "female private investigator" genre, with an astrological twist. Each chapter is an individual mystery, tied together with an overall arch. Kind of like a collection of linked short stories.

[Cynthia]

Set in India. I am reading an advance copy picked up at Half-Price Books. Really more in the style of the chapters being short stories, with a thread continuing from one chapter to the next.