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Banquet on the Dead
Kauveramma loved life. She was terrified of water. So why was her body found floating gruesomely, hair fanned out, limbs outspread, in the well of the family compound? Her sons, daughter, grandchildren-some of them resident, others far-flung-assemble at her death with expressions ranging from composed or confused to those of outright maniacal grief. Things don't quite fit, and one of them demands an investigation into the mysterious drowning.
Enter a policeman, Inspector Valmiki Nagarajan, and a charming rogue, Hamid Pasha. The latter is an elderly Muslim and a reformed criminal who spouts ghazals, has exquisite manners, and it's clear he's the brains of the two. He and the policeman regard each other with reluctant admiration and gruff affection. They have been on opposite sides of the law and clashed in the past, and that has formed an unstated bond. The duo interrogates each member of the family and staff in turn, unearthing secrets of their past, and calculating the degrees of their love, hatred or loyalty to Kauveramma-and each other. As it happens, everyone had something to gain from Kauveramma's banishment from their lives.
Enter a policeman, Inspector Valmiki Nagarajan, and a charming rogue, Hamid Pasha. The latter is an elderly Muslim and a reformed criminal who spouts ghazals, has exquisite manners, and it's clear he's the brains of the two. He and the policeman regard each other with reluctant admiration and gruff affection. They have been on opposite sides of the law and clashed in the past, and that has formed an unstated bond. The duo interrogates each member of the family and staff in turn, unearthing secrets of their past, and calculating the degrees of their love, hatred or loyalty to Kauveramma-and each other. As it happens, everyone had something to gain from Kauveramma's banishment from their lives.
- GenresMystery
276 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
About the author
Sharath Komarraju
134 books216 followersSharath Komarraju is an author of fiction and nonfiction based in Bangalore, India. Once a software engineer, now he writes for a living, and on lazy days he watches cricket and talks to his wife (often at the same time).
His most popular work to date is the Hastinapur series, in which he speaks into the silences of the Mahabharata story through the epic's many women characters.
His most popular work to date is the Hastinapur series, in which he speaks into the silences of the Mahabharata story through the epic's many women characters.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 14, 2014
This is not one of your 'sit on the edge of your seat' or 'bite your nails' kind of murder mystery, but belongs more to the genre of an Agatha Christie and Miss Marple genre of murder mysteries. A purely domestic affair in which the victim seems to have more than a few enemies within her immediate family of sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, daughters-in-law and more and the crime is an 'inside job'.
The main protagonists in the form of ex-criminal Hamid Pasha and his old nemesis turned friend, Inspector Nagarajan, the setting of the crime in small town Hanamkonda of Andhra Pradesh, the relatively quiet family which has more than its share of past stories and enemities to share with the investigators, all of these set up the crime very well. The patience and tact with which Pasha unravels the mystery, and the ending which even flummoxes the good inspector despite his best efforts, all make for a well written novel.
Although Sharath Komarraju, the author doesn't quite consider this his best novel, I would daresay I enjoyed this book quite a bit, albeit in a completely different way when compared to his debut outing, Murder in Amaravati. A lovely read.
The main protagonists in the form of ex-criminal Hamid Pasha and his old nemesis turned friend, Inspector Nagarajan, the setting of the crime in small town Hanamkonda of Andhra Pradesh, the relatively quiet family which has more than its share of past stories and enemities to share with the investigators, all of these set up the crime very well. The patience and tact with which Pasha unravels the mystery, and the ending which even flummoxes the good inspector despite his best efforts, all make for a well written novel.
Although Sharath Komarraju, the author doesn't quite consider this his best novel, I would daresay I enjoyed this book quite a bit, albeit in a completely different way when compared to his debut outing, Murder in Amaravati. A lovely read.
June 27, 2017
I always feel Sharat's forte is mystery and his books never negate that sentiment. Banquet on the Dead is one of his well-written mysteries which never allows you to put it down. It is a breezy read which you can finish in 2 to 3 hr window enjoying all the way. The fact that the characters and the locations mentioned are close to my native, the book further engaged me. Though initially, the author brings in too many characters without any proper introduction, as the story progresses you get well versed not only with their names but also their relationships and attitudes.
Kauveramma is an 80-year-old woman whose body was found floating in the well of the family compound. Few called it suicide with her disappointment in her shallow family and few an accident as the old woman wasn't wearing her glasses, but none could comprehend what was she doing near the well as everyone knew she was terrified of water. According to the family, even if she wanted to commit suicide this wouldn't be her choice. The almost closed case because of zero leads gets reopened by the request of Dr Koteshwar Rao, a doctor and one of Kauveramma's grandsons who argues that there is no water in the lungs for a drowned person.
Enter Inspector Valmiki Nagarajan, an upright policeman and Hamid Pasha, an elderly reformed criminal. The duo work together to explore the secrets within the family and probe into the circumstances leading to the old woman's death. The interrogation leads to the shocking fact that every member of the family has something to gain from Kaveramma's death and everyone at some point of time wanted her dead. The emotions, the motives and the alibis are further examined which results in the conclusion that the old woman was actually murdered. Holding a different piece of evidence, Nagarajan and Hamid both investigate different people but come together when they realise that all the parts are needed to complete the puzzle.
Starting as an interesting read, Banquet on the Dead reaches its glory in the climax. Sharath's love for mysteries is clearly seen by the way he designed the death. The investigation processes may not be superb but the way the murder plan was architected was wonderful. A good choice when you are looking for an easy read and a good mystery.
Kauveramma is an 80-year-old woman whose body was found floating in the well of the family compound. Few called it suicide with her disappointment in her shallow family and few an accident as the old woman wasn't wearing her glasses, but none could comprehend what was she doing near the well as everyone knew she was terrified of water. According to the family, even if she wanted to commit suicide this wouldn't be her choice. The almost closed case because of zero leads gets reopened by the request of Dr Koteshwar Rao, a doctor and one of Kauveramma's grandsons who argues that there is no water in the lungs for a drowned person.
Enter Inspector Valmiki Nagarajan, an upright policeman and Hamid Pasha, an elderly reformed criminal. The duo work together to explore the secrets within the family and probe into the circumstances leading to the old woman's death. The interrogation leads to the shocking fact that every member of the family has something to gain from Kaveramma's death and everyone at some point of time wanted her dead. The emotions, the motives and the alibis are further examined which results in the conclusion that the old woman was actually murdered. Holding a different piece of evidence, Nagarajan and Hamid both investigate different people but come together when they realise that all the parts are needed to complete the puzzle.
Starting as an interesting read, Banquet on the Dead reaches its glory in the climax. Sharath's love for mysteries is clearly seen by the way he designed the death. The investigation processes may not be superb but the way the murder plan was architected was wonderful. A good choice when you are looking for an easy read and a good mystery.
January 5, 2026
Cross-posted from https://systemhalted.in/2012/10/07/bo...
Banquet on the Dead is fantastically thought and written thriller which will keep you engrossed in the story all the time. It was certainly a joy to read the book. Hamid Pasha, the lead detective, in the novel will give you the rusty feeling. The one that I had experienced earlier. I kept thinking about this experience that I had previously and was having while reading the novel when my mind left for the past days. If you know there was one detective series from Doordarshan days, Byomkesh Bakshi the famous Bengali character created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyaya. Those were the days! Coming back to Banquet on the Dead now, this rusty feeling made the story more enjoyable. The characters were carefully sketched which though bear no resemblance to any person living or dead but still you will be able to relate to all of them. The characters actually exist in the real world.
Plot is fantastic and shows the confidence shown by Sharath Komarraju in his writing. Here I would like to mention that this is his second novel (I have not read the first one though). Till the end you keep guessing who can be the killer and until and unless Hamid Pasha discloses it at the end, there is no way that you can guess the correct answer (Yes! I know you can by skimming through the pages from the back. But isn’t it cheating?).
There were places where I felt that the book could have been better proof-read but like Ashwin Sanghi’s The Krishna Key, these can be ignored. :)
I have just one last thing to say: Grab the book and keep guessing.
My rating: 4/5.
P.S.: I received this book from the author/publisher in return of a review.
Banquet on the Dead is fantastically thought and written thriller which will keep you engrossed in the story all the time. It was certainly a joy to read the book. Hamid Pasha, the lead detective, in the novel will give you the rusty feeling. The one that I had experienced earlier. I kept thinking about this experience that I had previously and was having while reading the novel when my mind left for the past days. If you know there was one detective series from Doordarshan days, Byomkesh Bakshi the famous Bengali character created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyaya. Those were the days! Coming back to Banquet on the Dead now, this rusty feeling made the story more enjoyable. The characters were carefully sketched which though bear no resemblance to any person living or dead but still you will be able to relate to all of them. The characters actually exist in the real world.
Plot is fantastic and shows the confidence shown by Sharath Komarraju in his writing. Here I would like to mention that this is his second novel (I have not read the first one though). Till the end you keep guessing who can be the killer and until and unless Hamid Pasha discloses it at the end, there is no way that you can guess the correct answer (Yes! I know you can by skimming through the pages from the back. But isn’t it cheating?).
There were places where I felt that the book could have been better proof-read but like Ashwin Sanghi’s The Krishna Key, these can be ignored. :)
I have just one last thing to say: Grab the book and keep guessing.
My rating: 4/5.
P.S.: I received this book from the author/publisher in return of a review.
December 18, 2012
Sharath’s book is an engaging murder mystery set inside an ancestral house in Hanamkonda, a small town somewhere near Hyderabad. The book traces how the seemingly complicated case is eventually solved by the cop-and-reformed-criminal-duo of Inspector Nagarajan and Hamid Pasha. Kauveramma, a wealthy matriarch with a supposedly profound love for life, was found dead in the neglected family well. The closed case was reopened due glaring inconsistencies - the old matriarch was terrified of water, there was no water in her lungs and the other relatives (also residents) of the sprawling house stood to profit hugely from her death - the case is thus reopened.
The story telling
A perfect murder mystery is one where there is a strong plot, strong characters, multiple suspects and most importantly, an unpredictable and satisfying end.
Sharath’s book has most of these elements. The book starts off directly with the murder, immediately brings in the two main protagonists and then each subsequent chapter introduces us to a new suspect and his version of what had happened on the day of the murder. What adds to the thrill is that everyone has a strong motive to kill the old lady. In the end, the duo weaves everybody’s stories together, linearly peels off inaccuracies to unearth accurate clues, weeds out the relevant nuggets of information from the irrelevant, dishes out and dismisses various theories and through sound reasoning and rational deduction, connects the dots to finally reveal the killer.
The strongest part about the book is Sharath’s writing – he’s a keen observer of life and his ability to recreate scenarios in simple language is what makes the book work. There aren’t too many jargons being used and the story telling is engaging – there were times when I wanted to know what happened next and kept me hooked – Sharath’s very strong talent of articulation, sometimes captivates the reader with its sheer simplicity.
I’d say the end is good (not great though, but good yes). It answers the big questions, even though there were a few loose ends; but nevertheless the end does have a juicy element of surprise.
What could have been improved
Definitely the characterization. Hamid Pasha’s various mannerisms added dimensions to his personality but there wasn’t any depth in Nagarajan’s character. Considering each chapter of the book was basically the introduction of a new suspect, a huge opportunity for characterization was missed. This is what made this book merely just another good-read, when powerful characterization could have catapulted this book to a whole new level. Considering that Sharath left the end open suggesting more stories with the Nagarajan+Hamid duo, I feel Sharath missed an opportunity here to endear these characters to the readers.
Too many characters – Due to weak characterization, many of the characters - particularly the female characters - appeared similar and thus were confusing to tell apart.
Loose ends - In the end, you know why the killer killed her but the motive was not specifically mentioned there. Of course, the motive was explored earlier, a few chapters back, however I would have wished that in the end, it was repeated again right after the killer was identified so that I know conclusively that “The motive behind the killing was…”. Again, there is a glaring loose end here which reveals itself only after you get over the genuine surprise of the end. Also, I felt that Sharath sometimes took liberties with the reasoning and few instances of reasoning were a tad too simplistic. But like I said earlier, the writing and the end still makes it work.
Misdirection in murder novels keeps the readers clued in to the guessing game. Sharath’s story was pretty much unidirectional and I felt that ample opportunities to misdirect were unexploited. I never really got into that mode of wondering who the killer really is; I just let the story uncover itself.
What next
Sequels – Sharath ended the book with an obvious indication that Nagarajan and Hamid will return with the next case. With more subsequent characterization, I’m sure readers would welcome it.
Bollywood – Considering Talaash has suddenly made murder mysteries cool again, I wouldn’t be too surprised if this story finds its way to the big screen. I’d suggest Sharath to approach the Malayalam movie industry, which is currently showing sudden openness to fresh new ideas. And the milieu of this story fits it too.
Marketing – I’m not sure if Sharath has focused too much on the marketing side of this book. Like I mentioned earlier, this is definitely one of the better books that’s come into the market. But awareness levels for this book are very low. Even Sharath’s website seems to mention only his first book. The book doesn't seem to have a great social media presence either. Crosswords-Indiranagar didn't know of the book but once they checked, they told me it was doing decently well in sales. Also, as seen below in the pic taken at the above bookstore, there were just two copies of the book tucked away on bottom row in the corner of the store. Think marketing for this book has to be enhanced.
Also, I felt the title of the book was a little too heavy for its own good. Sure, after reading the book, one may be able to find meaning in the title and the cover picture - but to a first timer, I think the title and the somber cover might just put her off.
So in conclusion, I guess Sharath should study Heath Ledger’s Joker to take notes on characterization but like Nolan, he can rest a proud man for bringing about a genuine good read, in the face of the increasing crap that is coming our way in the guise of Indian fiction.
Good job, Sharath!
fc*klove
The story telling
A perfect murder mystery is one where there is a strong plot, strong characters, multiple suspects and most importantly, an unpredictable and satisfying end.
Sharath’s book has most of these elements. The book starts off directly with the murder, immediately brings in the two main protagonists and then each subsequent chapter introduces us to a new suspect and his version of what had happened on the day of the murder. What adds to the thrill is that everyone has a strong motive to kill the old lady. In the end, the duo weaves everybody’s stories together, linearly peels off inaccuracies to unearth accurate clues, weeds out the relevant nuggets of information from the irrelevant, dishes out and dismisses various theories and through sound reasoning and rational deduction, connects the dots to finally reveal the killer.
The strongest part about the book is Sharath’s writing – he’s a keen observer of life and his ability to recreate scenarios in simple language is what makes the book work. There aren’t too many jargons being used and the story telling is engaging – there were times when I wanted to know what happened next and kept me hooked – Sharath’s very strong talent of articulation, sometimes captivates the reader with its sheer simplicity.
I’d say the end is good (not great though, but good yes). It answers the big questions, even though there were a few loose ends; but nevertheless the end does have a juicy element of surprise.
What could have been improved
Definitely the characterization. Hamid Pasha’s various mannerisms added dimensions to his personality but there wasn’t any depth in Nagarajan’s character. Considering each chapter of the book was basically the introduction of a new suspect, a huge opportunity for characterization was missed. This is what made this book merely just another good-read, when powerful characterization could have catapulted this book to a whole new level. Considering that Sharath left the end open suggesting more stories with the Nagarajan+Hamid duo, I feel Sharath missed an opportunity here to endear these characters to the readers.
Too many characters – Due to weak characterization, many of the characters - particularly the female characters - appeared similar and thus were confusing to tell apart.
Loose ends - In the end, you know why the killer killed her but the motive was not specifically mentioned there. Of course, the motive was explored earlier, a few chapters back, however I would have wished that in the end, it was repeated again right after the killer was identified so that I know conclusively that “The motive behind the killing was…”. Again, there is a glaring loose end here which reveals itself only after you get over the genuine surprise of the end. Also, I felt that Sharath sometimes took liberties with the reasoning and few instances of reasoning were a tad too simplistic. But like I said earlier, the writing and the end still makes it work.
Misdirection in murder novels keeps the readers clued in to the guessing game. Sharath’s story was pretty much unidirectional and I felt that ample opportunities to misdirect were unexploited. I never really got into that mode of wondering who the killer really is; I just let the story uncover itself.
What next
Sequels – Sharath ended the book with an obvious indication that Nagarajan and Hamid will return with the next case. With more subsequent characterization, I’m sure readers would welcome it.
Bollywood – Considering Talaash has suddenly made murder mysteries cool again, I wouldn’t be too surprised if this story finds its way to the big screen. I’d suggest Sharath to approach the Malayalam movie industry, which is currently showing sudden openness to fresh new ideas. And the milieu of this story fits it too.
Marketing – I’m not sure if Sharath has focused too much on the marketing side of this book. Like I mentioned earlier, this is definitely one of the better books that’s come into the market. But awareness levels for this book are very low. Even Sharath’s website seems to mention only his first book. The book doesn't seem to have a great social media presence either. Crosswords-Indiranagar didn't know of the book but once they checked, they told me it was doing decently well in sales. Also, as seen below in the pic taken at the above bookstore, there were just two copies of the book tucked away on bottom row in the corner of the store. Think marketing for this book has to be enhanced.
Also, I felt the title of the book was a little too heavy for its own good. Sure, after reading the book, one may be able to find meaning in the title and the cover picture - but to a first timer, I think the title and the somber cover might just put her off.
So in conclusion, I guess Sharath should study Heath Ledger’s Joker to take notes on characterization but like Nolan, he can rest a proud man for bringing about a genuine good read, in the face of the increasing crap that is coming our way in the guise of Indian fiction.
Good job, Sharath!
fc*klove
October 7, 2020
This is the second book of the author I have read. I like his narrative so much. It is simple to read and apt for beginners. I absolutely loved the way the story unfolds and the murderer is unpredictable. The author made sure that I don't put the book down unless and until I complete reading it
June 21, 2015
Kauveramma, the matriarch of a prominent family, falls into a well and drowns. The only curious detail is that there was no water in her lungs. Kauveramma was terrified of water, which raises the question of what she was doing at the well at the time of death and the possibility of foul play. Detective Pasha and Inspector Nagarajan’s investigation begins with a series of interviews with Kauveramma’s sons and daughters.
What makes the novel stand out is an almost Agatha Christie-sh kind of investigation treatment - each character has a motive to kill and each of them has an alibi to believe in. Author's way with words - in terms of scene visualization is captivating and an attempt not to deliberately try to dumb down the language is well appreciated. (something which a lot of current crop of novelists do). Pasha's subtle reading of clues - in view of body language, hand movements and reading in between the lines is what gives the story the necessary strength. The narrative is easy and the settings provides an almost countryside like calmness to the investigation.
Not all of the characters are well etched and the initial build up is excruciatingly slow. There seems to be an almost deliberate attempt to confuse readers with too many characters even though you can easily guess before hand that some of them has absolutely nothing to do with the murder. I was also disappointed that after initial few chapters - Pasha's shayari lines go out of the narrative and all we are left with is a stereotypical miyan fumbling Hyderabadi guy.
I am going with 3/5 for Sharath's 'Banquet on the dead'. I was not cent percent happy with how the actual murder take place - it is far fetched to have been done in that way. But nitpicking apart, it is a watertight murder mystery that deserves your time. Will be happy to read more only if author promises to give Pasha another novel to bring in those cheesy shayari lines again to the readers!
What makes the novel stand out is an almost Agatha Christie-sh kind of investigation treatment - each character has a motive to kill and each of them has an alibi to believe in. Author's way with words - in terms of scene visualization is captivating and an attempt not to deliberately try to dumb down the language is well appreciated. (something which a lot of current crop of novelists do). Pasha's subtle reading of clues - in view of body language, hand movements and reading in between the lines is what gives the story the necessary strength. The narrative is easy and the settings provides an almost countryside like calmness to the investigation.
Not all of the characters are well etched and the initial build up is excruciatingly slow. There seems to be an almost deliberate attempt to confuse readers with too many characters even though you can easily guess before hand that some of them has absolutely nothing to do with the murder. I was also disappointed that after initial few chapters - Pasha's shayari lines go out of the narrative and all we are left with is a stereotypical miyan fumbling Hyderabadi guy.
I am going with 3/5 for Sharath's 'Banquet on the dead'. I was not cent percent happy with how the actual murder take place - it is far fetched to have been done in that way. But nitpicking apart, it is a watertight murder mystery that deserves your time. Will be happy to read more only if author promises to give Pasha another novel to bring in those cheesy shayari lines again to the readers!
April 5, 2016
Completely blown away by the author's ability to make a seemingly simple open and shut murder case so complex and clever. I especially enjoyed the character of Hamid Pasha, whose wit and intelligence were a great balance to the more straightforward thinking of Inspector Nagarajan, who was definitely still quite smart on his own. The author has a great talent for not only thinking outside the box but also for making us ask different questions than from those we normally would. We were given an inside look at family dynamics and at family relations. Everyone certainly had motive, and everyone had opportunity, but the logistics and varying ranges of emotions regarding the ability and desire to commit the murder were very well-explored here. Another thing I really enjoyed was that like Komarraju's other novel, Murder In Amaravati, this book focused on a murder that didn't involve politics and didn't delve into other outlandish possibilities, such as gang-related or mafia wars within villages and of course underworld wars, which many crime novels do focus on and have their own separate thrill. This novel was clear cut in the sense that it was one murder, with a certain number of suspects and that was it. We got to delve into each character thoroughly. And of course while the identity of the murderer was not completely unsurprising, the method certainly was! This was a novel I could not put down and would highly recommend to anybody looking for a great murder mystery!
December 7, 2015
True to the nature of the books written by Sharath, this one too, has you at your wits end from chapter 1 . Although I normally prefer the adventure or the mystery tales than the whodunit stories, but this one takes the cake as far as Indian books of late are concerned. This is of course like the stories read in many of Agatha Christie novels, this one too is a similar read. I guessed the culprit at about 3/4 of the book. Thoroughly enjoyed the read and the story had fantastic description of the locale and the characters. I for one was astonished as so much detail was added to each individual , their personality,their rationale thinking and also portrayal of people of the law . Even though Hamid is elusive in his methods,gotta love the way the story unfolds and his deductions. I wouldn't compare him to the likes of Sherlock or Poirot but Hamid Pasha holds his ground.
That one thing which I expected to know as a reader was (after the culprit was caught) was the reactions or the sordid affairs of other family members after the capture. This could have been the conclusion like wrapping up in a neat little bow.
That one thing which I expected to know as a reader was (after the culprit was caught) was the reactions or the sordid affairs of other family members after the capture. This could have been the conclusion like wrapping up in a neat little bow.
January 31, 2013
A classic “whodunnit” mystery, with the character of the victim, the suspects and the detectives sketched quite beautifully, and even the execution of the murder to be in somewhat unexpected manner. One part jars the reader if he/she is paying attention to what he’s reading, rather than being just enthralled by the plot till that point, and the motive, though obvious to the most part is still not iron-clad. Masala sprinkled throughout the plot helps keep the reader’s attention hooked, but I find the identity of the killer can be seen much before if we connect the dots. Keeping with the back-cover, expectation is mostly met, and the ending gives a possible indication that this duo of detectives would be back with another case in the not-so-distant future. For that case, I wait eagerly.
From my review: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-1Za
From my review: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-1Za
December 26, 2016
About the author shows that this is the 2nd book for Sharath. Certainly a good book for a beginner. I liked the book more for the reason of the plot being setup in the area I was born and spent my childhood. Book certainly brings some memories of grannies place and the areas mentioned.
Plot as such has been narrated in a simple and plain english and author purposefully avoided usage of high grammer.
A death case of an octagenarian already closed as a suicide is reopened based on the request by her grandson who happens to be a doctor and becomes one of the suspect. Inspector, with the help of thief turned detective, Hamid bhai, speaks to each and every person of the family and reveals the modus operandi. Nice read for a short duration
Plot as such has been narrated in a simple and plain english and author purposefully avoided usage of high grammer.
A death case of an octagenarian already closed as a suicide is reopened based on the request by her grandson who happens to be a doctor and becomes one of the suspect. Inspector, with the help of thief turned detective, Hamid bhai, speaks to each and every person of the family and reveals the modus operandi. Nice read for a short duration
Read
November 8, 2012“Banquet on the Dead” is an absorbing, enjoyable and finely tuned puzzle. In this, his second book, Komarraju avoids much of the gratuity and formula of many murder mysteries and has the maturity to retain the aspects of the genre that are worth keeping.
For the full review, go to http://blog.pageturners.in/?p=503
For the full review, go to http://blog.pageturners.in/?p=503
September 7, 2013
It is of course always a pleasure to read a well planned, faultless murder mystery. Banquet on the Dead helped me in relishing such a pleasure perfectly!
Read our complete review at Banquet on the Dead by Sharath Komarraju
Read our complete review at Banquet on the Dead by Sharath Komarraju
August 25, 2014
Brilliant... a most captivating murder mystery set in a nearly dysfunctional family setting and featuring a pair of the most incongruous detectives possible - but the staid policeman is mostly overshadowed by the genteel ex-criminal. Hoping to see a return of the duo - confining them to just one book would be a waste of a valuable resource
December 2, 2012
It is a decent whodunit type of book. Reasonable premise with puzzle woven decently. If you are looking for some fresh writing, do try it out. But don't compare it with Agatha Christie or Conan Doyle. They are masters of the trade and it would take a lot for someone to even come close to them.
March 19, 2015
Unsatisfactory read overall. The murder is explained but no reasons given.
August 13, 2016
The book in dead is intriguing. So many suspects keep you hooked. It also is well written. But Why did the murder happen is not quite clear. It was a murder is just not enough.
October 10, 2016
Good story but too many characters.
Would have been easy to understand if there was a family tree diagram.
Would have been easy to understand if there was a family tree diagram.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews