Death in the Air

by Ram Murali

“Glamorous, gripping, absolutely heaps of fun. I loved this.”—Lucy Foley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List and The Paris Apartment

"Unexpected delights await on every page of Ram Murali’s impressive and captivating debut. Crisp as a gin and tonic and delightfully wicked, this smart, smart novel delivers a sophisticated, subversive murder mystery set in the highest stratosphere of the international idle rich. I had to force myself not to binge it in one night so I could savor it like the rare and exquisite meal that it is." —Kevin Kwan, New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians

The White Lotus meets Knives Out meets Crazy Rich Asians in this devilishly entertaining debut novel: both a sophisticated locked-room mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie, and a provocative literary whodunit for the twenty-first century.

Ro Krishna is the American son of Indian parents, educated at the finest institutions, equally at home in London’s poshest clubs and on the squash court, but unmoored after he is dramatically forced to leave a high-profile job under mysterious circumstances. He decides it’s time to check in for some much-needed R&R at Samsara, a world-class spa for the global cosmopolitan elite nestled in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. A person could be spiritually reborn in a place like this. Even a very rich person.

But a person—or several—could also die there. Samsara is the Sanskrit word for the karmic cycle of death and rebirth, after all. And as it turns out, the colorful cast of characters Ro meets—including a misanthropic politician; an American movie star preparing for his Bollywood crossover debut; a beautiful heiress to a family jewel fortune that barely survived Partition; and a bumbling white yogi inexplicably there to teach meditation—harbors a murderer among them. Maybe more than one.

As the death toll rises, Ro, a lawyer by training and a sleuth by circumstance, becomes embroiled in a vicious world under a gilded surface, where nothing is quite what it seems . . . including Ro himself. Death in the Air is a brilliant, teasing mystery from a remarkable new talent.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Crime, India, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

First published June 18, 2024

About the author

Ram Murali was born in New York, New York.

Death in the Air is his first novel.

Reviews

[Anushka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing, exasperating and pretentious. I chanced upon this book randomly while looking for mysteries set in the hills in India and this seemed like the perfect read. Never did I imagine how much this would trigger me. So the short review is: avoid unless you have nothing else to read. In which case, first try reading labels of various mundane objects, old newspapers, random pamphlets, you get the drift (or just meditate -- that would be a fitting response to this book). Now, on to a rant to get this out of my system.

I understood this book to be a desi version of The White Lotus and that reeled me in. The very first thing that put me off was the author trying to show off his knowledge about the ultra wealthy: name dropping brands, locations and quirks to a point of being distracting. It comes off as extremely pretentious and not really believable. It's like the rich are all playing being rich. On top of it is the lame attempt to sound intellectual and reflective which is limited to the protagonist speaking randomly in French and spewing inane things like "Objectivity is white subjectivity". What does that even mean?!

The protagonist is a lawyer who is apparently always perfect and logical, but relies on a psychic pendulum for signs and decisions! I am all for complex, contrarian characters, but it seemed that the author couldn't decide on the characteristics of his protagonist which ended up in the character being comically unreal. The mystery itself felt amateurish and while I guess the author wanted to be clever with the climax, it felt derivative. The use of partition as a plot point felt rather disingenuous and shallow as well. I recommend reading Midnight at Malabar House instead for a mystery set in the Indian subcontinent. Part of my frustration is because this book had so much potential to be a smart, funny thriller with cultural subtexts. Alas!

Fin.

PS. Did I mention that the book is filled with stereotypes -- the blackmailer is a mysterious femme fatale, the public servant is corrupt, the gym trainer is handsome and gay, the Hollywood actor is happy-go-lucky, the inspector is gruff and straight-laced, so on and so forth. It could have been funny or a parody which would be enjoyable but this unfortunately wasn't.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't believe I finished this book because every page of it was full to the brim with the most pretentious, boring pseudointellectual bullshit. This is supposed to be a mystery? The most intriguing part of it was wondering how Murali came up with THIS convoluted slug trail of a plot at all--it had to be AI right?

Death in the Air is a murder mystery set at a hotel in the Indian Himalayas--but that doesn't really matter because despite the cover making you think the setting will play a big part in this book, it's really just a collection of scenes in a few different rooms. You could be anywhere. I WISH I WAS ANYWHERE BUT HERE READING THIS INCREDIBLY BORING BLAHFEST.

I picked this up because the cover was gorgeous and the back immediately name drops The White Lotus and Crazy Rich Asians and says this is for the SOPHISTICATED reader. Well I do DEClaaaRE just call me Lady DumbDrops DODO HEAD because I GUESS I'm just not smart enough to GET it.

It was actually so bad. The dialogue was robotic. The characters were just sad tropes covered in pages of shallow description about all the STUFF they were wearing so we know how rich they are. Truly. The plot is so predictable but also just so boring and bad. The main character is the most irritating man in the world. I could not stand a single thing about this and I'm so mad at myself for ONCE AGAIN buying a book off vibes instead of checking the reviews. RIP to my bank account. That's the real victim here. But kudos to the cover designer, you really pulled a fast one on us this time.

[Katie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death in the Air is a slow burn mystery set at a luxury spa in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. It’s a debut novel and while the aim might have been for a Knives Out type vibe, it kinda missed the mark. The characters weren’t that interesting and the humor was sporadic or didn’t land at all.

The health and wellness aspects of the story were fascinating to me as well as the bits of history and culture info about India. Unfortunately the mystery took too long to develop. Once the murder gets the ball rolling my curiosity was piqued for a long stretch. But then it drags on and even though the action picks up in the final portion of the story, I wasn’t wowed by how everything was wrapped up. It’s not a bad conclusion but it needed to be stellar in order to make up for the overall slow pace.

The writing showed promise but the story needed to be trimmed in length and reworked in order to reach its full potential.

Thank you Harper for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

[Carolyn Walsh]

I purchased this book after reading positive reviews. I failed to engage with the characters or storyline, but many readers might enjoy it. Humour was lost to me among the descriptions of clothes and accessories. DNF.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conditional rating 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for Goodreads.

Why conditional? Trusting the publicity, I approached this book with certain expectations, and was sorely disappointed that they weren't met. I found the story to be totally implausible and weirdly immature such that I almost gave up on it a few times. But then at around the 40% mark I decided to adjust my attitude - to read the book for what it was, rather than what it wasn't - and from then on I kind of enjoyed it. I expect readers who are looking for something fun and unchallenging, rather than clever and sophisticated (and well-concluded!), will really dig it.

With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for an advance copy to read and review.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published June 18, 2024.

Lawyer Ro Krishna is an Indian American living in London who was raised in a posh lifestyle. He’s a bit adrift after being forced out of a prestigious job under less than ideal circumstances. To regroup he plans to spend Christmas and New Years at Samsara a five star resort in the Indian Himalayas.

Some of the other guests include a horrible politician and his delightful wife, an American movie star preparing for a new role, and his interesting wife, one of Ro’s closest friends from college, a gorgeous heiress to a jewelry fortune and a yogi at the resort to teach meditation. At least one person isn’t going to leave Samsara alive. And someone at the resort is a murderer. Can Ro get to the truth?

Oh, joy, a locked room mystery. I love and adore these! And while Ro could be a bit much at times, and was a little bossy to the women around him (check that, to everyone around him,) I loved this book. Resorts are a common setting for this type of mystery, but Samsara was described so vividly. The notecards for the guests (I love that we knew what colors each guest chose, thank you for that detail…I just kept worrying whether or not purple would be available for me, so if the author could send me a private message letting me know it would really ease my mind!), the laundry area, the specifics of the menu…SWOON!

And a wonderful cast of characters. The movie star wasn’t annoying! Mrs. B. was so charming. Connie had such bite and didn’t seem to like anyone - I loved her! The whole thing wasn’t perfect at all, but it so wasn’t a formulaic thriller, and that was so very refreshing. Definitely highly recommending this book. A strong 4.5 stars rounded up.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death in the Air. Devilishly intoxicating and full of mystery. Its spellbinding! Set in the mountains of India, the novel takes you on a journey of Indian culture, meditation rituals with a killing spree on the side. The characters are exotic, and hold some secret pasts. I found it intriguing with its twists and turns and the discovery of the meaning behind the title, which gets a small airing in the novel. Very descriptive and conversational in text. Vital reading if you love a good murder mystery. 5 stars for this debut novel by #rammurali

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book absolutely grew on me and blew me away.

At first, the author opens on a flippantly rich and appearing dead inside guy who honestly I hated at first. As the novel goes, you start to like him more but at the end the author reinforces your initial opinion that yes this character is as bad as you thought. Excellently paced, wonderful twists, and and ending that kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Reenah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this. It's not politically correct, but that made it even better.

[Kristina J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS there was a lot going on here but in the best way! one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in months!!! even when it was confusing & unsettled there was an element of peace to it

[Viking Jam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review: This was so, so boring. Slower than a slug at a salt lick. Boring as a bag of wet hammers. Did I say smug? Oh, yeah. Every instance was presaged with "He looked at his Cartier watch.......her gold/pearl/diamond jewelry" blah blah blah. Right, everyone is filthy rich. We get it. But, do we have to be reminded of it on EVERY FRICKIN' PAGE? I don't think so, as well read people are generally more aware than most.

If the author had moved the story line towards building better characters from within rather than from an external source, like the world, this may have flown higher.

As it is, DNF

[Catherine Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up for the experience! I just discussed it for so long with my mother’s book club so I love it now because there’s so much to discuss. To be honest, I’m still a little confused on one point and have no idea how the dog got to India (PJ???). Still, I enjoyed it and love getting to talk about it for so long with 4 others :) Maybe not every single part is perfect but honestly I’m surprised by the hate in some of these reviews

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery presented was reminiscent of Agatha Christie - slow build up, lots of bodies, and most importantly, a twist at the end. It was absolutely a page-turner, but I finished it thinking about more than just the murders. The author’s protagonist is very intelligent and thoughtful and reflective.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day, and I am already looking forward to his next book. It's like if Kevin Kwan wrote an Agatha Christie murder mystery.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came recommended by Jordy’s Book Club and it also fulfilled a number of 2025 book challenge prompts. Great recommendation! This a “slow burn” murder mystery, as one reviewer wrote. It is also a character-driven novel as the initial 50 or so pages deal with the development of Ro Krishna, the protagonist, who is coming off a devastating career setback (but who has set revenge in motion) and whose Indian roots shape much of the underlying themes of this mystery - racism, revenge, spirituality and the impact of colonialism as reflected by the aftereffects of the Partition on India on many of the people in the story. Ro is a charming guy, a former lawyer, witty and insightful with many personal and family connections. After his setback, he decides to lick his wounds and recover at Samsara, a resort in the Himalayan mountains near where the Beatles sought spiritual guidance. There he meets with interesting characters: a secret agent, a movie star, a mysteriously beautiful woman he met some month back in London, the owner of the resort, a good friend, and resort staff. When the murder happens, Ro is asked to be involved in the investigation. While that might seem implausible, he turns out to figure out what happened. His use of Tibetan mysticism and spirits - kind of a magical realism to the book - was intriguing. When all is revealed, I don’t think you see it coming (I didn’t)! This is a very Agatha Christie-like book - even the title comes from one of her Hercule Poirot books - and often reads like one. It has a flavor of many of Christie’s books. I found myself enjoying the book after its slow start because Ro is such an interesting character.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like the Southeast Asian version of Agatha Christie with a dash of the supernatural and a hint of a thriller. The characters were all strange but I enjoyed it!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was instantly captivated by the description of this novel. It seemed like such a fascinating setting and premise. A murder mystery set in an exclusive wellness resort in the Himalayan mountains. Fantastic! On that front it didn’t disappoint.

The setting is amazing. I loved the juxtaposition of the wellness, meditation and healing with the threat from the murder. This was so clever and created such a strange atmosphere that made for a wonderful lack of stability as you try to put clues together. I would have liked to have seen more description of the location and mountains though, part of the draw for me was that this was set in the Himalayas but we didn’t see a huge amount of this and it would have been appreciated.

The book was compared to White Lotus, a program I found fascinating, and this was certainly a draw. I could see the similarities and it was useful to hold this in my mind. I was really shocked at the callousness of the characters. They are extremely wealthy and they behave rudely, arrogantly and with little regard for the fellow humans. Death is often treated as a joke and human life has little value beyond the shallow attraction/ entertainment the dead provided for the remaining living. I was quite horrified by this at times. It was hard to empathise with the characters when they themselves seemed so lacking in empathy. There was some language that made me uncomfortable.

This was a really clever murder mystery. I didn’t solve it and I was thrilled with the ending as it made so much sense but felt so unexpected. Very good!

[late.night.pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Ro's experience and the mystery at Samsara, the exclusive, elite spa retreat in India. While Ro is our many character, we really dive into a full ensemble cast of spa guests, where no one is quite who they say they are. I thought the way the author wove together conversation, and the little moments that make up a day, were great. Conversations were written in a realistic way, people talking over each other trying to hear another person within a large group—it felt immersive and very relatable.
While I really enjoyed the book, I found the ending too open for my liking. While I don't need everything tied up in a nice little bow, I also don't like being unsure of the motivations behind what actually happened. The author knows how it ends, the characters know the truth, but as a reader I felt like I was on the edge of an inside joke leaving me with a handful of questions! The main mystery is answered but there are other things left open. One reviewer speculated there might be a sequel, which would actually make a lot of sense given how the last few pages unfold. I would definitely read it!

I will say that the culprit was a surprise. I thought for sure it was going to go one way and it didn't! I also think the comparisons to White Lotus and Knives Out are accurate so if you like those, you'd really enjoy this!

Thank you Harper books for the gifted ARC.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope the obviously immensely talented Mr. Murali doesn't mind my saying that this a very strange book, and not one that I much liked, though I admire the skill with which it is done. Ro Krishna, an Indian-American now living mostly in London, lives in the upper reaches of international luxury, with large numbers of friends and no shortage of money. But he has been unjustly fired from his job, and feels burned out. He decides to spend Christmas in an Ayurvedic spa in the foothills of the Ganges, along with one of his college friends. Of course, he has other acquaintances there. And when there is a mysterious death, he's asked by the hotel owner, whose son-in-law is a friend of his father's, to support her in her dealings with the police.

[Chelsea Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at a Barnes and noble closing sale and it was actually so good!! Exactly what I want from a thriller/whodunnit and it was a super quick read! Very much of the white lotus had the death like a 1/3 of the way through and more of the story was the investigation of the murder. Big fan!!

[Sara Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Bookish Thoughts 💬
I was instantly drawn by the description of a murder mystery set in an exclusive wellbeing retreat in the Himalayas.

Death In The Air is a slow-paced, angst-filled murder mystery. The main protagonist, Ro Krishna, is drawn into a murder investigation. Utilising his experience as a lawyer, he collaborates with other guests to uncover the culprit.

Despite the large cast of characters to remember, I found them to be well-written and memorable. The author brought them to life with their unique quirks and mannerisms, making it easy to picture them in my mind. As with any good murder mystery, I was suspicious of everyone and constantly on the lookout for clues and slip-ups.

Ro, the main protagonist, was someone I couldn't help but like, although his extreme disdain for VB sometimes confused me. Catherine, on the other hand, lacked empathy, and her reactions to certain parts of the interviews disturbed me. Perhaps a sequel will delve deeper into her character.

Mrs. B made for a great hostess, and the wellbeing retreat, with its focus on serenity, meditation and healing, created a wonderful contrast to the looming threat of murder. The atmosphere was well-depicted, though I would have loved more descriptions of the location, as it fascinates me and I’d love to visit.

I got a bit lost in the middle and felt the mystery could have unfolded sooner, but the final section really picked up pace.

Huge thanks to the author and Atlantic Books for the beautiful gifted copy and NetGalley for the ebook.

[Corey Merrill · Rating 1 out of 5]

On page 146 one of the characters says, "I never read mystery novels. They so rarely stick the landing, don't you find?" And THIS is what compelled me to finish this book. The fact that the author is so bold as to say that most mysteries suck IN THE MYSTERY HE IS WRITING, reassured me that he would stick the landing like McKayla Maroney in the 2012 Olympics.

But stick it he did not. This book is a confusing, weird mess. Honestly, I don't even want to write more about it. It's just bad. You are left with many unanswered questions at the end. And the main character murders someone he doesn't even know because a magical pendulum named Pendy told him to do it. Yes, you read the correctly. See? You're confused and and annoyed already. Don't bother with this one.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from a Goodreads giveaway.

This is a fun story that blends the best parts of a classic whodunit with some Indian history and spirituality. In that way, this book stands out from other recent publications in the mystery genre.

The prose and dialogue make for easy reading, and the story kept me hooked from the start. The main character Ro is a clever detective character while still feeling like a real person. The story and mystery are well-paced and easy to keep up with (but not easy to predict). In short: Murali has written a very good mystery novel. So, if you enjoy mysteries, I'd recommend adding this to your TBR.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEATH IN THE AIR is an airy book most of the time. It's written in a breezy style that facilitates a quick read, often clever and always flowing in its wordplay. The introduction and ready acceptance of magical realism adroitly highlights differences between American and Indian cultures, in ways that don't automatically assume the former is superior. Those revelations can be eye-opening and fun. However, the vapid self-reverence of the (very) wealthy characters who inhabit this book can be jolting.

Leading the cast of characters is Ro Krishna, a man who comes from money but who is not necessarily grounded in any one place. His family background is Tamil while his life has been spent mostly in the United States and London. Travel is a constant and friends are aplenty. After some setbacks in his personal and professional lives, which really don't seem to bother him all that much, he decides to travel to Samsara, in the foothills of the Himalayas, for a rich-person spa retreat gussied up with Indian spiritualism.

Shortly after Ro's arrival, a murder occurs. Ro is a lawyer by training but not by practice, nevertheless he becomes involved in the investigation. What follows is more death and an entertaining journey accompanying Ro as he becomes thoroughly engaged in his seemingly spontaneous foray into detective work. It's odd at times because the characters, even Ro, aren't really likeable but the story is. The plot is just complicated enough with a few red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The conclusion is the biggest of those aforementioned jolts, as it challenges many of the good feelings a reader may have had about earlier parts of the book. Ro Krishna is a stranger, without all that much depth.

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a decent mystery, nothing special. I am sure I will mostly forget about Ro and Amrita and this book by next week.

I will say this- and I do not say this as either a criticism nor a compliment- but this book had very lengthy descriptions about the wardrobe and hairstyles of the characters. Very lengthy. Just something I noticed.

[Jo | Booklover Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. What a peculiar little novel this is. Based on the publisher synopsis and author endorsements, I went into Death in the Air expecting some witty repartee and ‘light-hearted’ dark humour in a similar vein to Kevin Kwan’s Rich People Problems. But, what I found myself reading was actually a surprisingly dark satire with a brooding menace and frequent malevolent undertones.

The initial setup makes clear to readers that the characters involved are ‘dangerously’ wealthy and entitled, and their perspectives from within that prism are questionable to say the least. For example, this discussion during an extravagant dinner in a London private members club:

“You look great for your age,” Alex said.
Ro considered the oyster in his hand. “I think that’s because I’m asleep most of the time. Being awake is very aging I find.” He slurped it down.

So, are the characters likeable? Not by any stretch.

Is the writing style a pleasure to read? No. It’s very simplistic in places. And unsettling.

I almost did not make it past the first few chapters of Death in the Air. However, while not entertained by Murali’s narrative, I was sufficiently perplexed and intrigued by it to continue reading. It was like one of those really arty movies where you think to yourself, “Is this part really happening, or is it a characters’ dream sequence?”. The shock factor is weirdly compelling. And, while I believe I understood much of the ‘cleverness’ woven into the dialogue and complex character machinations, there were still times the inside joke fell flat for me. Continue reading: https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/...

[Heather Kirkpatrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

   Death in the Air primarily takes place at a resort called Samsara in India. Ro, after leaving his job, has been recommended by many to take a vacation to this resort over the Christmas holidays. Here he'll receive massages, do yoga and meditation, and have doctor visits. Along the way he makes a lot of friends… and also gets caught up in a lot of murders. 
   This was definitely a unique book for me. I can't remember reading a mystery that takes place in India, and I found this book to be a little educational as far as Indian culture. 
   However, I felt like that was part of the point - to use the story to heavily share the religious and cultural beliefs of many Indians. Ro also brings up the Partition, a major historical event, though I still am not sure exactly what happened. 
   I liked how the story was at this health resort. It was a secluded location. It was obvious that the culprit was one of the people at the spa. Nothing was obvious and the story was very intriguing. 
   Most, if not all, of the main characters are rich, which became annoying. The readers often read in-depth descriptions of the jewelry and clothes people were wearing. I've read some books where there are some rich characters, but this book really beats a dead horse with it. 
   I would recommend this book because of how unique it felt. 

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was attracted to the cover art and a positive review in a major paper. Bit of a disappointment. Slow ponderous retelling of an Agatha Christie like plot but set in a yoga retreat in India with pretentious, rich overseas Indians. I grew tired of all the name dropping of brands that the characters would use. It tries to be too clever and hipster while concealing a lethality and depravity under a faux surface of opulence and politeness.

Misleading too as the main character has been wrongly treated and let go by his employer. He seems to conspire with another party for some retribution on his employer before departing on a yoga retreat. This hangs heavy as he starts his retreat-like the retreat will be his alibi for whatever goes down at his old workplace. Instead the story takes off in a new direction with no mention of the past injustice with a murder at the retreat absorbing all the energy in the room.

Additionally all the startling reveals in the last two chapters were meaningless to me. My relationship with the main character evolved from one of empathy to contempt. A very strange acknowledgments page-an alphabetical listing of names.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The murder mystery story is set in a world-class spa in Samsara, India over Christmas and New Year. I enjoyed reading the book because it was fun, mysterious, and glamorous. It’s hard for me to guess who was responsible for the chaos. I also learned that the Beatles went to Rishikesh (the yoga capital of the world) to study meditation. Ro, with a lawyer background, decided to spend his Christmas time in India for an Ayurvedic thing. Shockingly, one of the guests was murdered, so Ro is involved in the investigation. When the death toll rises, everyone seems to be in danger including Ro himself. Would he be able to solve the mystery and escape from danger?

[Susan Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a unique murder mystery set in the foothills of the Himalayas. Our protagonist is independent, insightful, and dangerous. His friends are beautiful and wealthy - designer jewels abound as well as all the trappings of the spa experience. A great read.