Bribery, Corruption Also by H. R. F. Keating

Inspector Ghote #23

by H.R.F. Keating

Est-ce l'heure de la retraite pour l'inspecteur Ghote ? Protima, son épouse, qui vient d'hériter d'une maison à Calcutta est bien décidée à ce que tous deux quittent Bombay. Mais lorsque le couple se rend à Calcutta pour visiter les lieux, ils découvrent une propriété terriblement délabrée et occupée par des squatteurs. Ghote détecte un relent de corruption et est résolu à en trouver l'origine.

Genres: India

Hardcover

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Henry Reymond Fitzwalter Keating was an English writer of crime fiction most notable for his series of novels featuring Inspector Ghote of the Bombay CID.

H. R. F. KEATING was well versed in the worlds of crime, fiction and nonfiction. He was the crime books reviewer for The Times for fifteen years, as well as serving as the chairman of the Crime Writers Association and the Society of Authors. He won the CWA Gold Dagger Award twice, and in 1996 was awarded the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for outstanding service to crime fiction.

Series:
. Inspector Ghote
. Harriet Martens

Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Perfectly Criminal

Reviews

[Hester · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to read large numbers of mysteries and was a regular at Aunt Agatha's mystery bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After a while, the genre paled because almost every book involved murder. Half of the authors got too excited with the details. Even if there was no prurience, there was always a deeply unpleasant character, usually lurking under a pleasant mask. As a cynic, I found it comforting to think that there were authors who also noticed that terrible humans walk among us. They frequently do bad things that get ignored by those around them. After a while, though, I got tired of spending time with such unpleasant characters.

"Bribery, Corruption Also" is no cozy, but it does not start with a murder mystery. Inspector Ghote's wife has come into an estate, but the inheritance seems to be entangled with corrupt politics. The novel shows the myriad ways in which corruption can leak into our lives(I'm looking at you, every place I have ever lived in) and destroy dreams. The majority of the characters are good or good enough people, which is why the mess they are in is so upsetting.

The book is also a travelogue. The corruption mystery concerns the eutrophic lakes outside Calcutta, where the city treats its sewage and raises edible freshwater fish at the same time. It is hard to find information about this ingenious system, so interested readers should check out this link:
http://www.ecotippingpoints.org/our-s...
Fish farming does not seem to be a major tourist draw, but I loved reading about it. Smelling the ponds and being bitten by the mosquitos in the wetlands is another issue entirely!

[Lee Belbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a Bengal inspector of police and his (Calcutta) wife visiting Calcutta trying to organise the settlement of an old inherited house. Nice insights into Indian life and the twists and turns of the 'hero' in dealing with corrupt lawyer, police and businessmen. A nice story with an unexpected outcome.