What do you think?
Rate this book
Murder in Mumbai
Mumbai, India: a city of beauty and squalor, old and new, wealth and poverty, honest work and deep corruption… and inevitable target of scandal and condemnation if Inspector Vijay Gaikwad doesn’t solve the murder of American businesswoman Liz Barton, and quickly. Just as invested is newspaper reporter Jay Ganesh, looking for the one big story to repair his once-prestigious reputation. Both men soon discover, however, that the case is as difficult to navigate as Mumbai’s infamous traffic. From her cheating husband to the billionaire industrialist with whom she was “close”; from her jealous colleague to the environmentalist protesting her company, Barton was not short on potential enemies… and nor are they short on lies. But the pressure is on for Gaikwad, the family man trying to do right on an often unscrupulous force, to place the blame on someone, anyone, and Jay is determined to be the first with the scoop—no matter how deadly.
- GenresMystery
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2012
8 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
K.D. Calamur
1 book2 followersI’m a writer by day and an editor in the evenings. My debut novella, murder in mumbai, is being published july 17 by the penguin group’s dutton guilt edged mysteries, a digital imprint. Before coming to the u.s., i worked as an editor and reporter in Bombay. I now live in Arlington, va., with my wife and our dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 23, 2021
Okayish thriller. Never had the chance to read a thriller on Mumbai. So it was a nice change.
Thrill is missing mostly though. And I never understood why on earth police staff leaked their valuable information to journalists? No, not for bribes. Still scratching my head.
Thrill is missing mostly though. And I never understood why on earth police staff leaked their valuable information to journalists? No, not for bribes. Still scratching my head.
July 18, 2012
3.5 stars
When I was perusing netgalley to find something new to read what stopped me at Murder in Mumbai was first the retro coverart and then the synopsis. It reminded me of H.R.F. Keating’s little known creation - an earnest Mumbai police inspector called Ghote. (This guy --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspecto...).
I loved that series of books as I loved the Ivory Merchant adaptation of the first book, The Perfect Murder. So I requested this one and hoped I got approved.
A day later I had it on my kindle and was immersed in the story.
I have absolutely no doubt that the author has lived and loved this city. His descriptions are hardly romantic but one can tell there is a strong attachment under it all. I’ve never been to Mumbai (or Bombay as some still call it) but I can see how one might come to fall in love with it.
Inspector Vijay Gaikwad is an honest man, who tries his best to keep his part of the city from erupting in chaos, rights the wrongs he can and has learnt to accept what he cannot. Jay Ganesh is a reporter who was once a rising star before he fell foul of the wrong people. Now he waits for another chance to redeem himself.
A woman is murdered. She is an American and a woman in a powerful position in the corporate world in India. To Vijay Gaikwad falls the unenviable task of finding her killer with the media and his own superiors breathing down his neck. On top of that Jay Ganesh turns up at the site where the body is found and Gaikwad just knows that the determined reporter won’t leave him alone till he has his story.
The story is as much Gaikwad’s as it is Jay’s. They are men from different social strata and both are always aware of it. But in doing their respective jobs they rub shoulders with the high and the low and keep strange company. They are both earnest in their search for the truth, though Jay does it because he loves the chase and Gaikwad does it because it is his duty and because he wears the uniform.
I like both characters immensely. I like their different perspectives and their obviously different personas. I like that the author didn’t make them best of friends, but uneasy allies. I liked the glimpses into their personal lives and their relationships. The story made them very real to me.
As far as the mystery goes, the author has chosen to go the route of old fashioned crime solving. A lot of legwork; cross-examinations of friends, acquaintances, colleagues and lovers. A lot of luck, some coincidences and some unfortunate misdirection. This isn’t a thriller. There isn’t a murderous maniac on the loose who might strike again any minute now. There is no running against time.
It’s a whodunit and it takes it’s time to unfold. The author gives us several possible suspects and leads us strongly towards some. There are no hints from which the reader might guess at the true culprit. The readers are as much in the dark as the two protagonists. When the murderer is finally found it was the result of all that thorough work and a bit of luck. This isn’t a mystery the readers can solve before the heroes with any amount of brain racking.
So in that this book is only partially about the murder. It’s mostly about these two characters living in a city and doing their jobs. But that was enough for me.
What this book would have enormously benefitted from is another go at the editing table. Almost all the problems I have with Murder in Mumbai have to do with editing. This book could have been tighter, with a little less rambling off topic. Sometimes the author seemed to forget the narrative altogether and go on for a few paragraphs about something that caught his imagination. Mostly it was something about the city. As I said before I love how this guy portrays Mumbai. He makes the city appealing even when he’s describing a mountain of garbage by the roadside. That’s certainly a testament to both his writing skill and his affection for Mumbai. I appreciate that, but every now and then in the middle of the narrative he starts pontificating about the glorious co-existence of the poor and the rich or how something else makes the city absolutely unique.
A skilled editor could have guided his hand here. S/he could have told him to carve the excesses off to keep the reader’s attention. It’s the old ‘show don’t tell’ advice. He adheres to it mostly by letting his own affection for the ‘Mumbaikers’ be apparent through Gaikwad and Jay, but then sometimes he forgets.
The editor could (or SHOULD have) deleted the usage of multiple paragraphs to describe the same things. It ruined the effect in a few places. And then there were sentences like –
‘Gaikwad knew that incriminating questions would be asked about the police.’ Or – ‘Time didn’t heal his actions.’
These sentences made me stumble. The word ‘incriminating’ didn’t belong there and time doesn’t heal actions, it heals the hurt from his actions, dammit.
And then this one – ‘Gaikwad sat – half-stood – at the edge of his table.’
He could have ‘perched’ at the edge of the table or ‘parked hisdamned behind.’ But no!
I think K.D. Calamur shows a lot of potential. Every one of his characters had distinct personalities and behaviours and I didn’t find any of them stereotypical. If he wanted to write a series with Vijay Gaikwad and Jay Ganesh, then I would definitely want to read the next book. He’s made me quite fond of these two men and as his writing matures so will his stories, I’m sure of that.
DISCLAIMER: I got my copy from netgalley.
When I was perusing netgalley to find something new to read what stopped me at Murder in Mumbai was first the retro coverart and then the synopsis. It reminded me of H.R.F. Keating’s little known creation - an earnest Mumbai police inspector called Ghote. (This guy --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspecto...).
I loved that series of books as I loved the Ivory Merchant adaptation of the first book, The Perfect Murder. So I requested this one and hoped I got approved.
A day later I had it on my kindle and was immersed in the story.
I have absolutely no doubt that the author has lived and loved this city. His descriptions are hardly romantic but one can tell there is a strong attachment under it all. I’ve never been to Mumbai (or Bombay as some still call it) but I can see how one might come to fall in love with it.
Inspector Vijay Gaikwad is an honest man, who tries his best to keep his part of the city from erupting in chaos, rights the wrongs he can and has learnt to accept what he cannot. Jay Ganesh is a reporter who was once a rising star before he fell foul of the wrong people. Now he waits for another chance to redeem himself.
A woman is murdered. She is an American and a woman in a powerful position in the corporate world in India. To Vijay Gaikwad falls the unenviable task of finding her killer with the media and his own superiors breathing down his neck. On top of that Jay Ganesh turns up at the site where the body is found and Gaikwad just knows that the determined reporter won’t leave him alone till he has his story.
The story is as much Gaikwad’s as it is Jay’s. They are men from different social strata and both are always aware of it. But in doing their respective jobs they rub shoulders with the high and the low and keep strange company. They are both earnest in their search for the truth, though Jay does it because he loves the chase and Gaikwad does it because it is his duty and because he wears the uniform.
I like both characters immensely. I like their different perspectives and their obviously different personas. I like that the author didn’t make them best of friends, but uneasy allies. I liked the glimpses into their personal lives and their relationships. The story made them very real to me.
As far as the mystery goes, the author has chosen to go the route of old fashioned crime solving. A lot of legwork; cross-examinations of friends, acquaintances, colleagues and lovers. A lot of luck, some coincidences and some unfortunate misdirection. This isn’t a thriller. There isn’t a murderous maniac on the loose who might strike again any minute now. There is no running against time.
It’s a whodunit and it takes it’s time to unfold. The author gives us several possible suspects and leads us strongly towards some. There are no hints from which the reader might guess at the true culprit. The readers are as much in the dark as the two protagonists. When the murderer is finally found it was the result of all that thorough work and a bit of luck. This isn’t a mystery the readers can solve before the heroes with any amount of brain racking.
So in that this book is only partially about the murder. It’s mostly about these two characters living in a city and doing their jobs. But that was enough for me.
What this book would have enormously benefitted from is another go at the editing table. Almost all the problems I have with Murder in Mumbai have to do with editing. This book could have been tighter, with a little less rambling off topic. Sometimes the author seemed to forget the narrative altogether and go on for a few paragraphs about something that caught his imagination. Mostly it was something about the city. As I said before I love how this guy portrays Mumbai. He makes the city appealing even when he’s describing a mountain of garbage by the roadside. That’s certainly a testament to both his writing skill and his affection for Mumbai. I appreciate that, but every now and then in the middle of the narrative he starts pontificating about the glorious co-existence of the poor and the rich or how something else makes the city absolutely unique.
A skilled editor could have guided his hand here. S/he could have told him to carve the excesses off to keep the reader’s attention. It’s the old ‘show don’t tell’ advice. He adheres to it mostly by letting his own affection for the ‘Mumbaikers’ be apparent through Gaikwad and Jay, but then sometimes he forgets.
The editor could (or SHOULD have) deleted the usage of multiple paragraphs to describe the same things. It ruined the effect in a few places. And then there were sentences like –
‘Gaikwad knew that incriminating questions would be asked about the police.’ Or – ‘Time didn’t heal his actions.’
These sentences made me stumble. The word ‘incriminating’ didn’t belong there and time doesn’t heal actions, it heals the hurt from his actions, dammit.
And then this one – ‘Gaikwad sat – half-stood – at the edge of his table.’
He could have ‘perched’ at the edge of the table or ‘parked his
I think K.D. Calamur shows a lot of potential. Every one of his characters had distinct personalities and behaviours and I didn’t find any of them stereotypical. If he wanted to write a series with Vijay Gaikwad and Jay Ganesh, then I would definitely want to read the next book. He’s made me quite fond of these two men and as his writing matures so will his stories, I’m sure of that.
DISCLAIMER: I got my copy from netgalley.
August 9, 2012
my review can be read on my blog http://janiesreads.blogspot.com
January 8, 2021
A foreign Executive of a Bombay based firm, Mohini inc is murdered. There are multiple Suspects and two heroes - inspector Gaikwad and crime journalist Jay Ganesh. Who will reach to killer first?
“Your silence says a lot; besides, you’re human. Now imagine you were in a relationship with another woman and it went from the excitement of clandestine meetings and sexual thrills to the banalities and drudgery of everyday problems. I assume your wife already does that for you. Why would you need another avenue for those talks? Do you see what I mean?”
It is an okay whodunit. You can read one time.
“Your silence says a lot; besides, you’re human. Now imagine you were in a relationship with another woman and it went from the excitement of clandestine meetings and sexual thrills to the banalities and drudgery of everyday problems. I assume your wife already does that for you. Why would you need another avenue for those talks? Do you see what I mean?”
It is an okay whodunit. You can read one time.
July 17, 2012
This is one of those special novels that open the eyes of the reader to the truths of the East, and, in this case in particular, India.
The author, who grew up there, seems to have a love and hate relationship not with his country, but with the city where the action of this book takes place:
“Anyone who’s lived in Mumbai will understand this: You love it; you hate it; you loathe it; you embrace it.”
Well, the two main characters here, Inspector Vijay Gaikwad and journalist Jay Ganesh, seem to share these feelings. They love their city, but they hate its wealth and its poverty, the never-ending traffic jams, the way that the system operates and the fact that no two people are the same under the sun.
For instance, we learn, that if a foreigner or a rich man gets murdered there’s an outcry in the press and the politicians lean heavily on the shoulders of the cops and want instant results, while if a poor man is killed he hardly gets a mention in the broadsheets or the radio.
The victim in this case is not only rich, but a foreigner as well. Her name is Liz Barton and she’s the CEO of a mining company. Who killed her and why? The truth is that she did have a lot of enemies: an environmentalist, a man who’s been left behind in order for her to take the position that was meant for him in the company, a husband who’s unhappy and unfaithful, and probably an opponent from some other company.
Gaikwad is ordered to investigate the case, but in order to do that maybe he just has to cut a deal with the devil. Who’s that? None other than Jay Ganesh. Gaiwad doesn’t like journalists, but he does seem to tolerate Ganesh since the man has more than a little integrity; while Ganesh, even though he has some informers in the force, doesn’t seem to be very fond of cops, but he gives credit to Gaiwad for being honest and not on the take, unlike many others.
Thus the two of them agree to conduct their separate investigations and if something turns up to inform each other.
But investigating a murder case is just not enough for Ganesh, who’s been let go from his previous post in a newspaper for pointing his arrows towards the city’s rich, corrupt and mighty. So at the same time, he continues to look into a series of burglaries that took place in the past few weeks in rich neighborhoods. The perpetrators seemed to be way too smart for the authorities to handle, but maybe he can take them on all by himself.
As the story continues and the plot unfolds and spreads in different directions the author never misses a chance to talk about what’s happening in the city: the new found wealth, the non-stop ancient poverty, the plights of the common people and the excesses of the rich. He takes us into slums and palaces, into shacks and dazzling skyscrapers, he shows us the big grim picture that’s hidden behind the small grand one.
His heroes are ordinary people, who try to lead ordinary lives, while at the same time working hard in order to make a difference in the lives of others. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. The most important thing is though that they never give up hope.
This is a great novel that I would not only recommend to the fans of crime fiction but also to anyone who’s interested in learning some things about this new and exciting world of ours, as well to those that really enjoy to read a good story that has a lot to say.
The author, who grew up there, seems to have a love and hate relationship not with his country, but with the city where the action of this book takes place:
“Anyone who’s lived in Mumbai will understand this: You love it; you hate it; you loathe it; you embrace it.”
Well, the two main characters here, Inspector Vijay Gaikwad and journalist Jay Ganesh, seem to share these feelings. They love their city, but they hate its wealth and its poverty, the never-ending traffic jams, the way that the system operates and the fact that no two people are the same under the sun.
For instance, we learn, that if a foreigner or a rich man gets murdered there’s an outcry in the press and the politicians lean heavily on the shoulders of the cops and want instant results, while if a poor man is killed he hardly gets a mention in the broadsheets or the radio.
The victim in this case is not only rich, but a foreigner as well. Her name is Liz Barton and she’s the CEO of a mining company. Who killed her and why? The truth is that she did have a lot of enemies: an environmentalist, a man who’s been left behind in order for her to take the position that was meant for him in the company, a husband who’s unhappy and unfaithful, and probably an opponent from some other company.
Gaikwad is ordered to investigate the case, but in order to do that maybe he just has to cut a deal with the devil. Who’s that? None other than Jay Ganesh. Gaiwad doesn’t like journalists, but he does seem to tolerate Ganesh since the man has more than a little integrity; while Ganesh, even though he has some informers in the force, doesn’t seem to be very fond of cops, but he gives credit to Gaiwad for being honest and not on the take, unlike many others.
Thus the two of them agree to conduct their separate investigations and if something turns up to inform each other.
But investigating a murder case is just not enough for Ganesh, who’s been let go from his previous post in a newspaper for pointing his arrows towards the city’s rich, corrupt and mighty. So at the same time, he continues to look into a series of burglaries that took place in the past few weeks in rich neighborhoods. The perpetrators seemed to be way too smart for the authorities to handle, but maybe he can take them on all by himself.
As the story continues and the plot unfolds and spreads in different directions the author never misses a chance to talk about what’s happening in the city: the new found wealth, the non-stop ancient poverty, the plights of the common people and the excesses of the rich. He takes us into slums and palaces, into shacks and dazzling skyscrapers, he shows us the big grim picture that’s hidden behind the small grand one.
His heroes are ordinary people, who try to lead ordinary lives, while at the same time working hard in order to make a difference in the lives of others. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. The most important thing is though that they never give up hope.
This is a great novel that I would not only recommend to the fans of crime fiction but also to anyone who’s interested in learning some things about this new and exciting world of ours, as well to those that really enjoy to read a good story that has a lot to say.
July 28, 2012
What really annoyed me more than anything else was the dull, unimaginative and brain-numbing style of writing. Even if the novel mirrors the reality of Mumbai closely, the approach taken was one without the slightest hint of creativity. Mumbai is a city that is fraught with character and I'm sure there have been enough novels that have bought the city to it's rightful potential(Shantaram for instance). And with the title including the city's name, I see no excuse to why the author did not exploit this in it's entirety. I understand that this is merely a debut novel, but I feel that it could have used a tad more thought and effort. I wish I could liken this to pulp crime novels like the James Hadley Chase books. But the writing is sloppy. However, I see potential in this genere in India. I will have to wait for Calamur's next before I dismiss him entirely.
April 17, 2022
nice read
I enjoyed the straight forward prose despite the cliches used. I will read more books by this author
Try this book
I enjoyed the straight forward prose despite the cliches used. I will read more books by this author
Try this book
April 20, 2018
It's now while reviewing I realized how small a book this one is. No wonder I could complete it so fast. It's such a bland murder mystery and there is absolutely no emotional touch with any of the characters
May 3, 2013
More reviews available on my blog
Murder in Mumbai by K. D. Calamur and look I just have strong opinions about books sometimes ok.
From NPR editor Krishnadev Calamur comes an engrossing murder mystery set in the heart of the new India.
Mumbai, India: a city of beauty and squalor, old and new, wealth and poverty, honest work and deep corruption… and inevitable target of scandal and condemnation if Inspector Vijay Gaikwad doesn’t solve the murder of American businesswoman Liz Barton, and quickly. Just as invested is newspaper reporter Jay Ganesh, looking for the one big story to repair his once-prestigious reputation. Both men soon discover, however, that the case is as difficult to navigate as Mumbai’s infamous traffic. From her cheating husband to the billionaire industrialist with whom she was “close”; from her jealous colleague to the environmentalist protesting her company, Barton was not short on potential enemies… and nor are they short on lies. But the pressure is on for Gaikwad, the family man trying to do right on an often unscrupulous force, to place the blame on someone, anyone, and Jay is determined to be the first with the scoop—no matter how deadly.
I tried. I swear I tried. But in the end… no.
A confession: I LOVE murder mysteries. Give me a dead person and a person investigating it and I’ll eat it up. I even like the Mistress of The Dead stuff and that’s hardly high literature. But. I just… couldn’t enjoy this on any level. This is not going to be a pleasant review to read. If you had anything to do with this book, I’d advise you do something else. Maybe go look at fluffy kittens.
My review copy provided for free by Penguin Group (USA) (who are never going to let me review a book again) through Netgalley.
I’m going to come right out and say it. The writing is dull. It would be better if it was just… bad, because at least then I could get some entertainment out of mocking it. (I am not a nice person). But it’s just dull. It tells the story in the dullest, most unimaginative, least grabbing way it possibly can. Have you heard of ‘Show, not tell?’ while it’s not as iron-clad as some people will have it, it’s a really useful piece of advice. In essence, instead of just writing ‘Ellen was sad. She was sad a lot these days.’ you instead show Ellen being sad in a way that both moves the plot on and gives you an insight into her character (perhaps showing her being distracted at work, or crying over sad adverts). It doesn’t happen in this book. It doesn’t happen at all. In fact, we are told everything, and never shown. We are told that one character respects another. We are told, plainly, that two characters can be open and somewhat rambunctious with each other, just after an exchange which displayed neither of things. A better use of time and words would to have shown that in the text. By page 18 of this I wanted to do something horribly violent, but I didn’t want to throw my ereader.
Phew. OK.
Second problem: Cliches! Cliches everywhere! I was drowning in a cliche sea and when I tried to find a raft lo! More cliches.
Arrrgh arrgh rage arrgh. OK, so murder mysteries are never the most original of books, but must you dive into the cliches with such abandon? I mean, must you?
Third thing: Either hated all the characters, or they were so bland and interchangable I didn’t give a shit.
Fourth thing: Started far too early. I might have had a chance at liking this if it had started on page 10.
It sat on my ereader for nearly a week till I realised I was running out of posts and as it had already been archived on netgalley I should probably make an attempt to get past the prologue. And I got to page 24, I think. And I really, really, really tried. But no. I’ve got better things to do than read a book so sub-par it actually fills me with rage. And one of those things is to rant about it on the internet.
DNF.
Murder in Mumbai by K. D. Calamur and look I just have strong opinions about books sometimes ok.
From NPR editor Krishnadev Calamur comes an engrossing murder mystery set in the heart of the new India.
Mumbai, India: a city of beauty and squalor, old and new, wealth and poverty, honest work and deep corruption… and inevitable target of scandal and condemnation if Inspector Vijay Gaikwad doesn’t solve the murder of American businesswoman Liz Barton, and quickly. Just as invested is newspaper reporter Jay Ganesh, looking for the one big story to repair his once-prestigious reputation. Both men soon discover, however, that the case is as difficult to navigate as Mumbai’s infamous traffic. From her cheating husband to the billionaire industrialist with whom she was “close”; from her jealous colleague to the environmentalist protesting her company, Barton was not short on potential enemies… and nor are they short on lies. But the pressure is on for Gaikwad, the family man trying to do right on an often unscrupulous force, to place the blame on someone, anyone, and Jay is determined to be the first with the scoop—no matter how deadly.
I tried. I swear I tried. But in the end… no.
A confession: I LOVE murder mysteries. Give me a dead person and a person investigating it and I’ll eat it up. I even like the Mistress of The Dead stuff and that’s hardly high literature. But. I just… couldn’t enjoy this on any level. This is not going to be a pleasant review to read. If you had anything to do with this book, I’d advise you do something else. Maybe go look at fluffy kittens.
My review copy provided for free by Penguin Group (USA) (who are never going to let me review a book again) through Netgalley.
I’m going to come right out and say it. The writing is dull. It would be better if it was just… bad, because at least then I could get some entertainment out of mocking it. (I am not a nice person). But it’s just dull. It tells the story in the dullest, most unimaginative, least grabbing way it possibly can. Have you heard of ‘Show, not tell?’ while it’s not as iron-clad as some people will have it, it’s a really useful piece of advice. In essence, instead of just writing ‘Ellen was sad. She was sad a lot these days.’ you instead show Ellen being sad in a way that both moves the plot on and gives you an insight into her character (perhaps showing her being distracted at work, or crying over sad adverts). It doesn’t happen in this book. It doesn’t happen at all. In fact, we are told everything, and never shown. We are told that one character respects another. We are told, plainly, that two characters can be open and somewhat rambunctious with each other, just after an exchange which displayed neither of things. A better use of time and words would to have shown that in the text. By page 18 of this I wanted to do something horribly violent, but I didn’t want to throw my ereader.
Phew. OK.
Second problem: Cliches! Cliches everywhere! I was drowning in a cliche sea and when I tried to find a raft lo! More cliches.
Arrrgh arrgh rage arrgh. OK, so murder mysteries are never the most original of books, but must you dive into the cliches with such abandon? I mean, must you?
Third thing: Either hated all the characters, or they were so bland and interchangable I didn’t give a shit.
Fourth thing: Started far too early. I might have had a chance at liking this if it had started on page 10.
It sat on my ereader for nearly a week till I realised I was running out of posts and as it had already been archived on netgalley I should probably make an attempt to get past the prologue. And I got to page 24, I think. And I really, really, really tried. But no. I’ve got better things to do than read a book so sub-par it actually fills me with rage. And one of those things is to rant about it on the internet.
DNF.
May 3, 2016
A simple, straightforward story (I wouldn't call it a mystery) with few clues. While you are told of a murder in the opening scene, the first 'clue' comes along only past the halfway mark. You continue reading, and you are told at the end who the killer is.
You get no opportunity to guess, nor are you given clues to work with. The key 'clue' is disclosed at the very end, just before the killer is identified. BTW, the killer just confesses when accused.
It is a short book that would have been even shorter had the author not insisted on offering 'insights' on the squalor and venality of Mumbai. A non-Indian could be forgiven if he thinks India is in the dark ages.
Such India-bashing seems to be popular with some NRIs and writers who have spent many years overseas. By painting India as filthy/squalid and broad-brushing its citizens as venal, they perpetuate an one-sided image of the country. Perhaps, such 'confessions' help them distance themselves from potential embarrassment in their adopted country.
Still, it would be nice if they showed some balance in the fictional worlds they paint. While an honest politician may be a rarity (anywhere in the world), not all corporate executives are greedy and corrupt as these writings portray them to be.
You get no opportunity to guess, nor are you given clues to work with. The key 'clue' is disclosed at the very end, just before the killer is identified. BTW, the killer just confesses when accused.
It is a short book that would have been even shorter had the author not insisted on offering 'insights' on the squalor and venality of Mumbai. A non-Indian could be forgiven if he thinks India is in the dark ages.
Such India-bashing seems to be popular with some NRIs and writers who have spent many years overseas. By painting India as filthy/squalid and broad-brushing its citizens as venal, they perpetuate an one-sided image of the country. Perhaps, such 'confessions' help them distance themselves from potential embarrassment in their adopted country.
Still, it would be nice if they showed some balance in the fictional worlds they paint. While an honest politician may be a rarity (anywhere in the world), not all corporate executives are greedy and corrupt as these writings portray them to be.
January 16, 2013
Murder in Mumbai is an enjoyable page-turner, though every now and then I got tripped up by some awkward phrasing, like the reference to an “invisible maid in the kitchen.” The maid isn’t “invisible,” just unseen because she’s in a different room from our POV character.
And I have to mention that the formatting of the book, as it appeared on my Kindle, was horrendous. Not in any way the author’s fault, but since this work is only available as an ebook, I felt it must be mentioned. Thankfully, the story was well-written enough for me to plow right through, despite the lack of coherent paragraphs or line-breaks.
If you’ve read a lot of mysteries, you’ll no doubt guess the true murderer well before the reveal. Worth reading, however, for the interesting depictions of culture and daily life in modern Mumbai.
Review submitted by Harambee Grey-Sun. Read the unedited version here.
And I have to mention that the formatting of the book, as it appeared on my Kindle, was horrendous. Not in any way the author’s fault, but since this work is only available as an ebook, I felt it must be mentioned. Thankfully, the story was well-written enough for me to plow right through, despite the lack of coherent paragraphs or line-breaks.
If you’ve read a lot of mysteries, you’ll no doubt guess the true murderer well before the reveal. Worth reading, however, for the interesting depictions of culture and daily life in modern Mumbai.
Review submitted by Harambee Grey-Sun. Read the unedited version here.
November 19, 2013
The overall plot was interesting. The descriptions about the setting, classes, its customs and traditions, I have to admit, felt like I was reading a textbook. That isn't necessarily bad, I felt like I learned some things. I found myself skipping through some of the descriptions , as I felt like it was repetitive information. I admired the integrity and honesty of the main characters Gaikwad and Ganesh on their journey to solve the mystery of who murdered Liz Barton, not willing to just come up with an answer, but wanted to come up with the right answer. I would have liked them to have more personality though. I had no idea who the murderer was, and couldn't even guess. At the end, it's like "Ohhh, now I get it." There were motives for her murder presented through the story, but the actual motive wasn't revealed until the end.
It definitely wasn't a waste of time, but I didn't find it to be exceptional.
I was given this book for free in exchange for a review.
It definitely wasn't a waste of time, but I didn't find it to be exceptional.
I was given this book for free in exchange for a review.
September 1, 2013
This being the first mystery book this author has written it was a good read. This story takes place in Mumbai,India it is both beautiful and slum-like. Police inspector Vijay Gaikwad must solver the murder of an American businesswoman, while also trying to solve burglaries of rich and high class people. Jounalist Jay Ganesh is helping him in order to get first dibs at the story. The storyline was quite descriptive and well written and I also enjoyed the characters.
Please take the time to read this book. Thanks to Net Galley and Dutton Guilt Edge Mysteries.
Please take the time to read this book. Thanks to Net Galley and Dutton Guilt Edge Mysteries.
August 17, 2012
Murder in Mumbai is a police procedural that follows a murder from the perspective of two very different men. Inspector vijay gaekwad, who has to solve the murder of a high profile foreigner, and jai Ganesh, a journalist who has to redeem himself.
The city of Mumbai, with it's multi layered complexity, is also a key character.
The book is an easy read and feels like the first in a series to feature. The dynamic duo.
October 9, 2014
Not a bad read but definitely nothing exceptional. The characters have no depth, the description of the city seems forced, the mystery angle is nothing ground breaking. Meh.
January 1, 2015
I wish it didn't end so abruptly
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews