The Case Of The Two-Faced Killer

by Mithran Somasundrum

Discover an absolutely gripping locked-room murder mystery set in sunny Thailand, featuring a British detective abroad — armchair travel at its finest! Perfect for fans of Death in Paradise.

Meet Vijay Mistry. He used to work a desk job at Bristol City Council. But adventure called! Now he lives in the bustling city of Bangkok, doing translations . . . and solving mysteries.

He loves a good puzzle. But his latest case will test his skills to the limit.

When respected English antiques dealer Arthur Cavendish falls from the balcony of his luxury apartment, the police quickly conclude he took his own life. A locked room. No forced entry. No sign of a struggle.

Case closed — right?

Vijay agrees, when he’s asked to investigate as a personal favour. But as he follows the trail from high society parties and upscale antique shops to the city’s darker corners, his instincts begin to prickle.

Then a second, shocking death stops Vijay in his tracks.

And the part-time detective realises that the truth he’s chasing is far more complex — and far more dangerous — than he ever imagined.

Fans of Alexander McCall Smith, Vaseem Khan, Martin Walker, Anthony Horowitz and Agatha Christie will love this addictive, character-driven murder mystery.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2026

About the author

Mithran Somasundrum was born in Colombo, grew up in London and currently lives in Bangkok, where he works in an electrochemistry lab.

His short stories have been published in The Sun, Inkwell, Natural Bridge, The Minnesota Review, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, and The Best Asian Short Stories 2017, among others. One of his stories was shortlisted for the Bridport 2021 Short Story Prize. His next novel, "Bangkok Phantoms" is forthcoming from Joffe Books.

Reviews

[Rustic_Reads_ Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second instalment of The Bangkok Detective Mysteries, Vijay Mistry is back. This time, investigating the apparent suicide of an English antiques dealer in Bangkok, only to uncover a much more complex and dangerous mystery.

Vijay continues to be a likeable and engaging protagonist, and I enjoyed seeing how he approached the case and uncovered the truth. The pacing felt just right for me, with enough suspense to keep me invested.

There were plenty of twists and red herrings that kept me guessing, but the story never felt overly complicated or difficult to follow. The locked room mystery completely drew me into the investigation from the beginning. I also loved the Bangkok setting, which added a vibrant and unique atmosphere to the story and made it stand out from other mysteries I’ve read. The Case of the Two-Faced Killer was a fantastic follow-up to the first book ‘The Case of the Vanishing Conman’ and I’ll definitely be picking up Vijay’s next adventure.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lively, atmospheric locked-room mystery set in bustling Bangkok. Ex-Bristol clerk turned translator/investigator Vijay Mistry looks into an antiques dealer’s “suicide” — and soon uncovers hidden identities, secrets, and a clever twist.

Vibrant Thai setting feels authentic; likable, relatable lead; tight pacing; classic Christie-style puzzle; easy to follow even if new to the series.

Mystery is solid but not groundbreaking; some supporting characters stay lightly drawn.

Warm, fast, and vivid — perfect for fans of Death in Paradise and Vaseem Khan.

[Nicola Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Case of the Two-Faced Killer! It was a good story and I liked the concept. The cover was really nice. The colours complimented each other beautifully. I loved the masks. They made for a great visual. The writing is excellent and the story flowed well. The book is cleverly written and kept me guessing which was fun. I liked the Thai setting. It was beautiful. The characters are great and well thought out. I liked Vijay. He was intelligent and had good instincts. I definitely recommend this book.

[Beachcomber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cosy mystery set in Thailand, with a fair mention of Cambodian history as well. This is book 2 in the series, and I hadn’t read book 1, so the references to Vijay’s previous case didn’t make much sense to me… that wasn’t a problem as such, you could get by without it, but perhaps if you’ve started book 1 you would get slightly more out of it (and also perhaps be able to put Vijay’s pining over his ex into context/more bearable).

Overall this was OK. Decent enough, I just couldn’t really feel this stood out particularly for me, and can’t quite put my finger on why. An easy and OK read, certainly good for reading outside of the usual cosy mystery locations and something from a different culture. The description of place and culture was good for painting a picture, without being too hard to follow.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

[Jim Algie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the book´s main setting in modern-day Bangkok, references to AI and Google searches, The Case of the Two-Faced Killer has all the hallmarks of a classic mystery: a suicide that might be foul play, exorbitant antiques that might be fake and/or part of a smuggling racket, the Venetian blinds in an office that the detective shares with a female assistant, a wisecracking PI whose sympathies lie with society´s outcasts but has the social panache, connections and intelligence to mingle with the elite, and his mounting sense of dread about a death which will catapult him into a wider investigation that involves much greater historical forces and higher financial stakes.

That said, the author adds plenty of new wrinkles to the complexion of this weathered yet still vital genre. For a detective, Vijay´s backstory is original. A one-time civil servant from England, who became an English teacher in Bangkok, he speaks the Queen´s English but looks Indian. His side hustle is translation work, which is drying up thanks to AI.

In chapter one, where his ex-girlfriend, Malinee, is introduced, we learn a little about the first entry in the series, The Case of the Vanishing Con Man, another Bangkok-set mystery, which is enough of a primer for book two. We also learn about the apparent suicide of the antiques dealer.

Having lived and worked in Thailand for many years, and traveled widely in Cambodia, I am a stickler for accuracy when it comes to the complexities and nuances of these cultures. The author has also lived in Bangkok for decades, which allows him to bring an authenticity to the setting and different scenes, like a Thai cremation ceremony, where mourners pay tribute to the dead with one stick of incense instead of the three used for a normal blessing ceremony. I was also impressed by the hard-bitten realism of a scene in a construction site where Vijay interviews the workers from Cambodia, who dwell in a grey area between invisibility and illegality. This scene also serves double duty for introducing the reader to the first Khmer characters, who hail from a country rich in history, rife with poverty and lousy with corruption.

For the most part, the author stays away from too much fancy prose or drawing attention to the authorial voice behind the mystery, which makes for a breezy read. That is an accomplishment. Many writers think they have to prove they can really write by waxing extravagantly poetic at the expense of the story. As Nathaniel Hawthorne once remarked, “Easy reading makes for damn hard writing.”

At the same time, I enjoyed some of the book´s more poetic turns of phrase, such as the detective reminiscing about a murder scene, "Vijay had stood on the long empty road while the occasional motorbike rattled past and the night murmured, Now let us forget." Or when the detective is standing outside an unfinished high-rise where a murder took place, “In his mind, it was like a negative lighthouse, shining a beam of shadow down the road."

Some of the terse characterizations that also serve as scene-setting are bound to evoke some nods of recognition, like when meeting up with an ex. "The hot, close room filled with all Vijay's regrets." While reflecting on the marriage of Arthur Cavendish, the antiques dealer specializing in Khmer artefacts whose death triggers the investigation, Vijay reflects, "Very few marriages proved to be perfect if you scratched at the veneer for long enough."

These descriptions and characterizations elevate the book above many standard-issue mysteries, which are long on plot and short on emotional wallop.

Sometimes the plot summaries on the back of a book can give away too many of the enigmas contained within the covers before they are revealed in due course. In the case of this slowly percolating potboiler, I was glad to know in advance that the mystery at the nucleus of the book leads all the way back to the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, an ultra-Maoist group responsible for the deaths of as many as two million Cambodians through starvation, execution and overwork during the 1970s. In this dark light, which contradicts the description “escapist mystery” on the cover, I would say it is more of a “cold case historical investigation.”

Nevertheless, it is a shame that Vijay never visits Cambodia in the book. Known as “Scambodia,” the nation is far more lawless, corrupt and dangerous than Thailand. At least, through Vijay´s research and interview with Suttiporn, the novel offers a first-hand account of life under the regime and the squalor, deprivation and sexual violence of the refugee camps.

This chapter conjured an old memory of the infamous Khmer Rouge slogan: "The wheel of history is inexorably turning; he who cannot keep pace with it shall be crushed."

That wheel travels in both directions. As the novel notes—and history confirms—many perpetrators of these atrocities never faced justice or retribution. Yet The Case of the Two-Faced Killer offers something of a reckoning, giving voice to survivors and restoring a measure of humanity to those who suffered from the unspeakable acts carried out by one of the twentieth century's most brutal regimes, all within a mystery that balances heart with humour and action with suspense

Now I am hoping to devour the first book in the series and to ride shotgun on Vijay´s future adventures through the neon jungles, penthouses and backstreets of Bangkok.

(I received an ARC from Joffe Books, which did not vet or provide any input for this review.)

[Deblina Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

One good thing about reading ARCs from NetGalley is being able to discover so many good authors we don't otherwise hear of in the noise on social media. I can safely say that Mithran Somasundrum is one of them.


My introduction to the genre now known as cozy mystery was through a happy accident of finding a copy of Colin Cotterill's Thirty Three Teeth in the British Council Library in Kolkata. I became a fan of senior coroner-turned-sleuth Dr Siri and Cotterill's writing and fell in love with Laos all at the same time. Since then, I have been partial towards all cozy mysteries set in South Asian countries. While Somasundrum's mystery novel is of a different kind from Cotterill's books, it is an endearing piece of work. 


The mystery in The Case of The Two-Faced Killer isn’t a mindblowing one, and that fact makes the tale a probable, relatable one. What starts out as a personal locked room mystery turns out to be something of a wider scale. 


The city of Bangkok has a palpable presence here, and the passages leading the reader from one part of the city to another brought back fond memories of my Bangkok trip. 


The insight into the history of Cambodia was something I felt thankful for. Our weekend visit to Siem Reap didn’t afford us much of a chance to connect with the more recent troubled history of the country. 


Vijay Mistry is a very likeable detective. He isn’t pretentious, preternaturally gifted or pompous in his explanations. The big reveal is brought about in stages, and not in the form of the usual monologue delivered by the detective. 


Vijay has a gift for sure, and that gift is the ability to connect to people with genuine empathy, to see and listen without making the other person feel small. I loved his interactions with Noi and her mother, Ging and Pii Tam. His conversations with Malinee are also similarly engaging. 


The pacing of the plot is pitch perfect. There is no hemming and hawing about stuff, and no deviations from the well-thought out course. And yet, tales of personal import are woven seamlessly into it, never feeling superfluous to the main storyline. 


I found The Case of The Two-Faced Killer to be an oddly satisfying book. I give it 4.5 stars, and shall make sure to hunt down the first Vijay Mistry book and stay with Vijay on his cases.

[Acantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really think there needs to be a better way to do blurbs. Either let the author's write something that you use or have the blurb writer actually read the book. Because this was an excellent book, highly enjoyable.... but in no way is it 'cosy' or similar to the BBC show Death in Paradise. I don't recall Humphrey or any other DCI in Death in Paradise having to deal with the echoes of a genocide that may have been decades ago but is still stark in memory. Nor would I describe some of the scenes in this, as at all fitting the 'cosy' sub genre.

It is however, an amazing noir thriller with murky political undertones enough dark topics to make you think twice.

We start strong with an old flame of our main character coming to ask him to investigate what appears to be a suicide. After learning about the case, Vijay privately agrees but decides to look into it anyway, partly as an excuse to spend time with his ex. If there was anything I didn't like in this book as a major issue, it was how he thought about Malinee and being 'friendzoned' by her. A personal ick, but I despise it when men use that term and act as if the woman has cheated them somehow.

Otherwise, Vijay comes across as a fairly decent main character. He's dedicated, determined and he treats every other female character with a lot of courtesy and respect. He even goes out of his way to try and help a couple, without any expectations of anything from them. He's also a dog with a bone and when a second, horrific murder happens right in front of him, he refuses to give up. No matter how dangerous.

I was aware of the horrors of Cambodia, but not in any great detail. By the end of this book, I have felt inspired to dig more into the history of the region, not just the genocide but everything. The way in which the culture of these counties are layered into the book is nothing short of wonderful. Thailand doesn't just feel like a backdrop to the story, just as Cambodia isn't just an excuse to give backstory and pathos to some character's motivations. The trauma runs deeply through this book, in almost every character and every action.

Well worth a read.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

[Tzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Vijay's ex-girlfriend Malinee asks him to look into the death of her friend Arthur, he's initially concerned that she simply doesn't want to believe it could be suicide. However, when he starts digging and uncovers some murky dealings - Vijay doesn't know what he's really investigating. And when there's another death in considerably less ambiguous circumstances, there's a real chance of him getting pulled into something deeper and darker than he ever imagined.

First off - this is not...I repeat *NOT* a cozy murder mystery. If you want something along the lines of Death in Paradise or Inspector Singh Investigates - this is not it. This is however an excellent detective noir, political intrigue detective book; and it will make you think in ways you really don't expect.

Vijay is a good main character, I liked him a lot. British-Indian living and working in Thailand is an unusual choice but it really worked and I enjoyed it. He's hard working, intelligent and dogged - he seems like a genuinely good person, even if he does pine after his ex a little too much. His assistant Doi is good fun, I'd like to have seen more of her but I'm hoping her character gets developed in later books.

The plot of this is more layered and complex than I expected. We start with the apparent suicide of an antiques dealer, we end with forgeries and military intrigue; all set within in explanation of the history of Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge regime. The history of the region is indelibly weaved into the fabric of the book and it works so well - I have genuinely learned a lot about the genocide and genuinely feel motivated to educate myself further; which is absolutely not what I expected coming into this.

There were a couple of moments I feel could have been explained better - much of the resolution came about due to guess work which turned out to be correct and there are a couple of unresolved threads. This is well worth a read and I will definitely be coming back to this author.

- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

British Indian Vijay Mistry now lives and works in the Chinatown district of Bangkok, courtesy of his old police captain friend Mana who gives him a yearly visa for a couple of bottles of Black Label, firstly as a translator and latterly adding “detective” to his role, something he has already shown a great aptitude for in book one where he helped a Bangkok crime boss and gained a little notoriety. Although losing his girlfriend Malinee during the last case, and in spite of the fact she is now engaged, he is hopeful to win back the manager of Heng Shong Gallery, running it for the wealthy high society business owner Khun Wipawan and her husband General Lertchai. For this reason he offers to work free for her when she comes to the office he shares with assistant Doi and asks him to look into the recent demise of fellow antique dealer Arthur Cavendish who plunged to his death from the balcony of his 26th floor apartment. What at first looks like a dementia fuelled suicide soon takes a more sinister twist when one of Arthur’s oldest friends is assassinated by a sniper right in front of Vijay. As Vijay learns about a possible Janus, the two-faced god of January who looks both backwards and forwards, he is plunged into the world of dodgy antiques and a very bleak time in history. The question remains, was Arthur murdered, if so why and by whom?
Full of Thai customs and a few words easy to guess or look up, this is a charming murder mystery story set against a rich and vibrant cultural backdrop. It also pulls into the story the history of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in the seventies, a part of my childhood history I knew little about, so thank you to the author for both educating me of this horrible time and also entertaining me with this gentle amateur sleuth and his friends. There’s even a little humour involving some little blue pills and a carp. Highly recommended!

[Devi · Rating 4 out of 5]

📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 Read time: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Joffe Books
📅 Publication Date: June 16, 2026
🎁 ARC received via NetGalley

I didn't expect to fall for a cozy mystery set in Bangkok, but here we are. Mithran Somasundrum's second Vijay Mistry novel hooked me not because of the murder (though it's cleverly done), but because of the setting. Reading this felt like wandering through the streets of Bangkok with a local guide who knows all the shortcuts and the best street food. The cultural texture, rickshaws, antique shops, chai wallah conversations, Indian expat community dynamics, was the real star here. I haven't visited Bangkok, but I felt like I had a window into it, and that's the kind of armchair travel I'm always here for.

Now, full transparency: I jumped into Book 2 without reading Book 1, and yeah, there were a few speedbumps. References to past cases and relationships felt like inside jokes I wasn't in on. But Somasundrum doesn't gatekeep his series. He gives enough context for newcomers to follow along without derailing the pacing. Vijay Mistry is a charming lead, thoughtful, methodical, and endearingly out of his depth in the most competent way possible. The locked-room setup is classic, and while the mystery itself didn't blow my mind, the journey through Bangkok's cultural layers kept me turning pages. The Indian cultural references felt authentic and grounding, and I'm already planning to backtrack to Book 1.

Would I recommend it?
If you’re in the mood for a mystery that doubles as armchair travel, with vibrant setting, cultural depth, and a likable amateur sleuth, this is absolutely worth picking up. The Bangkok setting and cultural richness elevate what could've been a standard cozy mystery into something memorable. Add this to your TBR, especially if you’re craving something outside the usual Western settings.

[Karolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Then a second, shocking death stops Vijay in his tracks.

And the part-time detective realises that the truth he’s chasing is far more complex — and far more dangerous — than he ever imagined.

Fans of Alexander McCall Smith, Vaseem Khan, Martin Walker, Anthony Horowitz and Agatha Christie will love this addictive, character-driven murder mystery.

Meet the detective
British Indian Vijay Mistry didn’t set out to be in the business of solving mysteries. Back in Bristol, he spent his days buried in boring spreadsheets at his job at the council. But after moving to Thailand in search of sunshine and adventure, Vijay quickly learns that while his new translation agency barely covers the bills, his talent for solving puzzles is in high demand. From helping tourists duped by scammers to investigating mysterious deaths, Vijay’s sideline in detective work turns out to be not only rewarding and lucrative — but also far more dangerous than he ever imagined!

The setting
Vijay lives in the vibrant, bustling city of Bangkok in Thailand, where culture, commerce and chaos intertwine. His translations and detective agency is tucked away on the second floor of a narrow building in the heart of Chinatown. The streets outside hum with merchants selling everything from gold and incense to traditional Thai desserts. It’s the perfect base for solving mysteries, in a city where every narrow street and vibrant neighbourhood hold secrets just waiting to be revealed.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A mixed bag for me.
Perfect for those who loved a cozy mystery.

I like Vijay and I would really want to get to know Vijay more. I would perhaps reading another in the series to see how he develops as a character. In this adventure, I would argue you don't really get much of that so I think he deserves another adventure to grow more and maybe find some actual romance (instead of the amount of pining he does in this book).

I have never read a book set in Vietnam and for that, I feel real shame. I know it is such a beautiful place and I've never travelled to that part in Asia. I would like to thank the author - the cultural differences were explained really clearly and it did not cause a barrier to the reader.

I didn't mind the actual 'locked room' mystery. I wasn't obsessed over it. Many of the characters seem to think it is suicide so it isn't so exciting. The reasoning behind the murder were especially complex and had a lot of background to them that I didn't love.

I think the reason I didn't perfectly gel with it because I'm not a huge fan of cozy mysteries, which I think this book is. I did enjoy it but I didn't obsess over it. I'm sorry.

[Cori Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slice-of-life death investigation set in Bangkok and referencing Thai and Cambodian history, which I found the most interesting part of the story since I knew almost nothing about it.

Our main character, Vijay, is struggling to accept the ex-ness of his ex-girlfriend and when she asks him to investigate the apparent suicide of her friend, he's all over that as a way to make up to her. I've not read the first in the series, but this one does cover what we need to know in a subtle way so I didn't feel particularly lost at any point. But, I'm undecided if I'd find him more sympathetic, or far less, if I had read it. As it was, I found him pretty whiny on the subject, and couldn't wait for him to get on with the next bit of investigation instead. The biggest problem I had was that the "slice-of-life" vibe applied to the ending too ... I thought it might be more dramatic -- and it definitely has its moments! -- but I don't feel like either he or the world are particularly changed by the outcome, and I would have liked that very much given the weight of the topics brought up here.

Worth reading for the unusual view of Thailand, at least.


Rating: 14/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.

[Phil Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and very twisty murder mystery set in colourful Bangkok.

When renowned antiques dealer, Arthur Cavendish, falls to his death from his high rise
luxury apartment, the police rule it as suicide. This is not an unusual method for suicide
but it is also a common method of gangland murder in Bankok.
Vijay Mistry a UK national of Indian descent is a private investigator in the Thai capital
and agrees, as a favour to his ex-girlfriend, to investigate the death. He quickly comes to
the conclusion that the death is at best suspicious. This suspicion is strengthened when
an old colleague of Cavendish, and Vijays first lead, is shot by a sniper whilst talking to
Vijay.
Cavendish was an expert in Cambodian antiques many plundered during the Pol Pot
regime and the terrors of the Khmer Rouge. Many of the antiques traded lately are fakes
and form a huge industry and also money laundering. Mistry’s investigation begins to
stir up a hornets nest and becomes very dangerous.
This is a well written exciting novel full of twists and turns and the finale is totally
unexpected. The descriptive brings out all, the vibrancy of Bangkok such that you can
taste the Tom Yum and savoury the bustle of Patpong market!

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vijay was an engaging character who was very relatable. He had the courage to do what a lot of us probably wished we had: bored with his office job he decided to get up an move to another country and start all over in an exciting city. In this case, he moved from Bristol, England to Bangkok.

He started his own business part translator and part-time detective. Now he was engaged to find out the circumstances behind a high-end antiques dealer met his death over the balcony of his high-rise apartment. Did he jump, as the police have declared? Or did someone push him? The investigation took him from high society dinners to the more dangerous side of Bangkok. His instincts told him something was up. Then someone else died.

I love a locked-room mystery. This was interesting but nothing shocking. It was a satisfying mystery with lots of secrets and twists to keep the reader interested. I enjoyed the descriptions of the city and culture that I know little to nothing about. It showed the shiny and the poor. But that makes it all the more vibrant.

I did find Vijay's pining for his ex annoying. But it was hard to avoid because she was involved in the case.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Case of the Two-Faced Killer by Mithran Somasundrum is a slow-burn mystery that ultimately pays off. What I enjoyed most and makes this book different was the setting - Thailand (and Cambodia to a degree) are woven into the story in a way that makes their cultural environments feel essential to the plot rather than just a backdrop. The inclusion of Thai language, customs, and daily routines added authenticity, though it did take a little time to get used to at the beginning.

I did struggle with the pacing early on. The first part of the book felt a bit clunky and slow, sitting closer to a 3-star read for me. However, once the mystery began to unfold and gain momentum, I found myself much more engaged and finished the book quickly.

Vijay was kind of annoying, as he came across as quite passive at times which made parts of the story frustrating. His dynamic with Malinee was also a bit confusing, likely because I haven’t read the first book in the series, so I felt like I was missing some context there.

Overall, while it takes some patience to get into, the novel delivers an interesting mystery with a rich cultural setting that makes it worth it. 4 stars.

[Kcaroth1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case of the Two Faced Killer follows British-Indian Vijay as he tries to determine if a wealthy shop owner has committed suicide in Bangkok.
Vijay is an interesting character with some depth. I’d love to learn more about his assistant Doi, though. The interactions and power plays among the different groups were fascinating, all the way from the “high-society” to the migrant workers. The history and culture of the region were an important part of the plot, particularly the smuggling and fake antiquities black market trade. I really felt like I was in the heat of Bangkok as I read about the different rituals surrounding death/funerals, everyday foods, customs and culture.
The mystery was good, with many moving parts, but was well wrapped up at the end. My biggest complaint (and it may have been formatting on this advance copy), but I often struggled to figure out who was speaking which sometimes caused me to need to read sections a couple of times.
I’m a huge fan of stories set in Southeast Asia, and this one did not disappoint.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffee Books for the eARC.

[Ronni Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the previous publication by this author, the central character of this is Vijay, a man who has set up his business in Bangkok, offering both translation work, as well as his services as a detective. 

As a favour to his ex-girlfriend, Vijay takes on a case involving a proclaimed suicide of an English friend of hers. While investigating Arthur's demise, Vijay meets Degsy, who is under the belief that Arthur is dead because of him. When Degsy and Vijay meets one evening, Degsy is shot through the head. Now Vijay has 2 cases, possibly linked, to investigate.

The writing is fully descriptive, capable of transporting the reader to fully visualise the sights and sounds. The book is littered with historical references, so you can clearly tell the author has done due diligence with his research. 

While some readers may find the pacing of this book slower than they may be used to, I enjoyed the character interplay. As a side note, I don't mind admitting that I was so engrossed in reading this book, that I completely missed my stop on the way home from work & added an hour to my journey home from work.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable slow-burn type story where Vijay is asked my his ex-fiancee to look into the death of an Englishman in his locked apartment. It appears he fell from his balcony but Vijay discovers the height of the railing rules out an accident.

I enjoyed the banter throughout here. Vijay is a likeable character who has a habit of finding himself in awkward situations and I really enjoy all his conversations. The killing of a friend of the victim right in front of Vijay jolts the story immediately from a cozy type feel to a more colder and lethal setting as he discovers some links to an investigation into events from the past Khmer regime.

I did partly guess the killer but I was caught unawares with a further reveal which I definitely did not expect. Overall, a very enjoyable read.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasnt really sure what I was expecting when I agreed to read this. We dont judge books by their covers...right? But this one did grab me.
I found myself very quickly engrossed in a world i knew little to nothing about. Interspersed woth some Thai sayings, they all seemed easy enough to catch the gist of their meaning, without having to put the book down to Google them.
I liked Vijay, stubborn, hard working, caring, despite hurdles along the way, and unrequited love.
The mystery of the dead man, did he commit suicide or was he murdered? I had no idea throughout.
I loved learning about the mourning and burial traditions, it was absolutely fascinating and I'm incredibly grateful to the author for that.
I am absolutely going to pick up more of this authors books, ive thorighly enjoyed getting lost amongst its pages.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vijay, a British Indian living in Thailand, is both a translator and a private detective. He agrees to investigate a recent death, believed to be suicide, to please his former girlfriend. Seeking clues, he interviews the dead man's friends and associates, including a retired journalist who has some fascinating history in Cambodia. From this point on, the book is a 5-star thriller. If you like exotic locales and complex plots, you will enjoy this book.


I received an ARC from Joffe Books and enjoyed it immensely. I look forward to reading more titles in this series. Vijay is an intriguing, multi-faceted character.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, after initially finding my orientation in the Bangkok setting, where the detective Vijay has replaced Bristol with his new city and is now investigating his second case.

Whilst this is the second in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

As Vijay looks into the death of an English man which has been viewed - and written off - by the police as a suicide, other mysteries become intertwined and Vijay is suddenly in danger.

The characters are interesting and the story has historical links to the past shocking events in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge’s regime.

[Hope Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was ready and set to get into this locked door mystery. I got comfy. I made tea. I put on cozy pajamas.

Maybe my expectations were too high. It was OK. I found my mind wandering and had to reread parts because I just was not connecting with the characters or the story. I kept feeling like I was missing something.

[Kate Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it confusing because of the unfamiliar words and only discovered the list at the end of the book. Would have been better at the beginning. Also misuse of some words notably discrete ( my pet hate). Otherwise enjoyable read. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Thailand I enjoyed learning more of the culture and words explained in the story, a fascinating tale of murder made to look like suicide, a great read full of mystery. It had a good flow not fast paced but a nice relaxed easy pace, the sort of book to put your feet up and relax reading.
I enjoyed the characters and the humour in the storytelling.
An enjoyable read.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sounded a bit similar to the Inspector de Silva books that I enjoy so much. They’re set in the same general part of the world, across the Bay of Bengal from each other, although in different eras, so the blurb of this story appealed to me.

Not until I looked into the author’s background after finishing the book did I learn that this is the second book of a series, and that may explain some of my disappointment. Not knowing the characters, their relationships and their backgrounds is usually a huge red flag for me, but this information does not appear anywhere in the book’s description on NetGalley or on the book’s page on Goodreads.

Beyond the series issue, something in this book just didn’t sit right with me. There were far too many characters to keep track of, and MC Vijay’s constant pining for his ex got on my nerves after a very short time. Maybe the explanation for that was in the previous book in the series? And maybe I missed a lot of the clues provided to solve the mystery, but I couldn’t make sense out of most of what was going on. I liked the descriptions of Thailand and its culture, but I’m getting tired of MCs who spend their time trying to impress someone. It was not hard to put this book down and when I picked it up again, it was without my usual enthusiasm for the story I’m reading.

My apologies to the author, the publisher and those who enjoyed the book, but I will not look for anything else by this author. There are too many other books out there that I would rather read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Melvyn Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The case of the two faced killer. A suicide, or was it? Vijay a translator come detective is asked to investigate by his ex girlfriend. The more he digs, the more apparent that something is not right. A well crafted mystery, highlighted by the descriptions of Thai life. Worth the read.

[Tintaglia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un romanzo senza infamia e senza lode. Mi intrigava tantissimo l'ambientazione, ma anche lì non ho sentito di essere in Thailandia, come invece mi capita con la Singapore di Ovidia Yu.
Il protagonista, inoltre, non ha personalità né sale: si aggira per Bangkok e la storia senza uno scopo preciso, senza un'idea, senza un senso.
Perdibile.

[Mostly Murders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

"Malinee told me about you." Her gaze was guarded. "The detective," she said, making it sound like an eccentric hobby.

When an antiques dealer falls to his death from his balcony, British Indian translator and private investigator Vijay Mistry can't help jumping at the chance to impress his ex-girlfriend Malinee by investigating what at first seems like an obvious accident or suicide. But as Vijay begins to dig deeper, the clues he encounters take him from Bangkok high society to Cambodian antiques, the ghosts of Khmer Rouge and the tragic fate of an investigative journalist.

A murder mystery with film noir/hardboiled private detective vibes, but instead of being set in San Francisco or Los Angeles, this story plays out in Bangkok, Thailand. Rich in details and references, this story shows the good and bad sides of a Thailand that most tourists will never see. From the luxurious lives of the hi-so, the Thailand high society types, to the dingy streets and exploitation of foreign workers, the respect and hate of the farang, the foreigners and white westeners, and the rich, deep, ancient culture, history and traditions that walk hand in hand with modern living, the portrait of Thailand presented in this novel is nuanced, unflinching and adds a level of depth and flair that transports the reader right to the sweltering hot streets of Bangkok.

Highly recommended for readers looking for a character-driven mystery with historical and cultural threads, featuring a somewhat down-on-his-luck and out-of-place private investigator, and for anyone interested in a portrayal of Thailand going beyond the usual mass-tourism promotions and cutting through the glitter and glamour of the rich and famous Thailand hi-so crowd.

Expected release date for The Case Of The Two-Faced Killer by Mithran Somasundrum is June 16th 2026.