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Anita Ray #4
When Krishna Calls
In the glorious beauty of a tropical night, a young woman abandons her daughter in the Hotel Delite compound and flees into the darkness. In the morning Anita Ray recognizes the child as the daughter of an employee, but before she can track her down, the police arrive at the hotel looking for her. She is the main suspect in the stabbing death of her husband.
Anita is ready to let the police do their work as she prepares for a one-woman photography show in a prestigious gallery, but fate conspires against her. An accident wrecks her schedules as well as her car. She sets up her camera for one last shot, but it fails to work. When she inspects her camera she finds a piece of paper wrapped around the batteries and someone else's memory card inside.
Whether she likes it or not, Anita is drawn into the frantic search for a young mother and the murky world of moneylenders and debts of honor, a hidden corner of life in South India.
When Krishna Calls asks how far will a woman go for love and family? Anita Ray thinks she knows how Nisha would answer, but before it is all over, Anita must also answer that question. How far will she go to protect her family and her home?
Anita is ready to let the police do their work as she prepares for a one-woman photography show in a prestigious gallery, but fate conspires against her. An accident wrecks her schedules as well as her car. She sets up her camera for one last shot, but it fails to work. When she inspects her camera she finds a piece of paper wrapped around the batteries and someone else's memory card inside.
Whether she likes it or not, Anita is drawn into the frantic search for a young mother and the murky world of moneylenders and debts of honor, a hidden corner of life in South India.
When Krishna Calls asks how far will a woman go for love and family? Anita Ray thinks she knows how Nisha would answer, but before it is all over, Anita must also answer that question. How far will she go to protect her family and her home?
266 pages, Hardcover
Published August 17, 2016
2 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Susan Oleksiw
41 books58 followers"People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading." Logan Pearsall Smith
I can't imagine a life without books. Some of my best memories of a quiet rainy afternoon when Dad let me poke among his books and pick something to read.
Born and raised in New England, I have long been fascinated by the traditional New Englander and the way of life found here. I try to capture that world in two of my series.
My most recent book, Below the Tree Line, is set on a farm in central Massachusetts. Felicity O'Brien has inherited the family farm, but she has also inherited, from her mother and ancestors, the ability to heal. This is both a blessing and a burden.
My first mystery series features Chief of Police Joe Silva, in the town of Mellingham. The books in the series follow the ups and downs of people in the town but also the changes in Joe's life. He begins as a bachelor and in the most recent books is clearly a happy stepdad.
In the second series, my sleuth is an Indian-American photographer who lives at her aunt's tourist hotel on a popular beach. Raised in India, she has no desire to leave and follow her parents home to the States. She finds herself involved in all sorts of problems trying to keep her aunt's hotel solvent and out of trouble. Her aunt, for her part, despairs of ever turning Anita into a proper young Indian woman. The stories give me a chance to write about a country where I once lived and which I have loved since a child.
All three series are cozies, with fun as well as surprises.
Series:
* Joe Silva Mellingham
* Anita Ray
I can't imagine a life without books. Some of my best memories of a quiet rainy afternoon when Dad let me poke among his books and pick something to read.
Born and raised in New England, I have long been fascinated by the traditional New Englander and the way of life found here. I try to capture that world in two of my series.
My most recent book, Below the Tree Line, is set on a farm in central Massachusetts. Felicity O'Brien has inherited the family farm, but she has also inherited, from her mother and ancestors, the ability to heal. This is both a blessing and a burden.
My first mystery series features Chief of Police Joe Silva, in the town of Mellingham. The books in the series follow the ups and downs of people in the town but also the changes in Joe's life. He begins as a bachelor and in the most recent books is clearly a happy stepdad.
In the second series, my sleuth is an Indian-American photographer who lives at her aunt's tourist hotel on a popular beach. Raised in India, she has no desire to leave and follow her parents home to the States. She finds herself involved in all sorts of problems trying to keep her aunt's hotel solvent and out of trouble. Her aunt, for her part, despairs of ever turning Anita into a proper young Indian woman. The stories give me a chance to write about a country where I once lived and which I have loved since a child.
All three series are cozies, with fun as well as surprises.
Series:
* Joe Silva Mellingham
* Anita Ray
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 19, 2016
What a pleasure to get lost in another of Anita Ray’s dramatic adventures in When Krishna Calls, the latest in Susan Oleksiw’s highly readable mystery series featuring her intrepid Indian-American protagonist.
This time, Ms. Ray – a photographer who also helps her Aunt Meena, a lovable and eccentric character in her own right, run the Hotel Delite in Kerala – finds herself pulled into a dangerous netherworld when a valued employee runs into serious trouble.
In rural India, a cruel and illegal network of village moneylenders enriches itself off impoverished farmers, who are desperate to keep family lands. Interest rates are impossible. Falling behind or failing to pay is likely to bring inhuman personal retribution as well as the loss of the family land.
In the story, a small child is abandoned in the courtyard of the Hotel Delite for safekeeping, a long suffering wife is accused of the murder of her husband and is later abducted by a vicious moneylender gang, and Aunt Meena herself is ensnared in the net of loan sharking, leaving the future of the Hotel Delite in jeopardy. Clues to the mystery are found in the most unlikely of places – the local shop where Anita has her camera serviced.
The pace of the story moves at a good clip, helped by the secondary narrative of Anita’s missing early deadlines for an important photographic exhibit at a local gallery. While she is eventually able to bring things together for the exhibit, despite being pulled from crisis to crisis elsewhere, she finds her personal world turned upside down in the process.
All the heady sensory experiences of South India are beautifully rendered in this book. The speech patterns in the characters’ dialogue brought me back immediately to my own time in India. Instant nostalgia.
A solid read. I recommend it highly.
This time, Ms. Ray – a photographer who also helps her Aunt Meena, a lovable and eccentric character in her own right, run the Hotel Delite in Kerala – finds herself pulled into a dangerous netherworld when a valued employee runs into serious trouble.
In rural India, a cruel and illegal network of village moneylenders enriches itself off impoverished farmers, who are desperate to keep family lands. Interest rates are impossible. Falling behind or failing to pay is likely to bring inhuman personal retribution as well as the loss of the family land.
In the story, a small child is abandoned in the courtyard of the Hotel Delite for safekeeping, a long suffering wife is accused of the murder of her husband and is later abducted by a vicious moneylender gang, and Aunt Meena herself is ensnared in the net of loan sharking, leaving the future of the Hotel Delite in jeopardy. Clues to the mystery are found in the most unlikely of places – the local shop where Anita has her camera serviced.
The pace of the story moves at a good clip, helped by the secondary narrative of Anita’s missing early deadlines for an important photographic exhibit at a local gallery. While she is eventually able to bring things together for the exhibit, despite being pulled from crisis to crisis elsewhere, she finds her personal world turned upside down in the process.
All the heady sensory experiences of South India are beautifully rendered in this book. The speech patterns in the characters’ dialogue brought me back immediately to my own time in India. Instant nostalgia.
A solid read. I recommend it highly.
August 24, 2016
Had not Elizabeth George already used the title Payment in Blood, I would have suggested it for this mystery novel. The Anita Ray series continues to be fresh and unique. The narrative passages, particularly the descriptions of Indian life and culture in Kerala, Southern India, are both elegant and eloquent.
The novel begins with a young woman running for her life. She abandons her young daughter for safety at the Hotel Delite. Anita recognizes the child as belonging to a part-time employee named Nisha. She soon learns that Nisha’s husband has been murdered and the young woman is suspected. However, Nisha has much more to worry about than the police. Her husband’s family is in debt to vicious moneylenders and the payment required goes far beyond financial demands.
Anita, whose aunt runs the hotel, is also a photographer getting ready to do a one-woman show. She is drawn into the quicksand of this complex and difficult situation. She feels it is imperative to help Nisha and to solve the mystery connected to the murder.
This is a complicated and absorbing novel. It’s quickly paced with well-developed characters. I highly recommend it to mystery readers who enjoy something exotic and out of the ordinary.
The novel begins with a young woman running for her life. She abandons her young daughter for safety at the Hotel Delite. Anita recognizes the child as belonging to a part-time employee named Nisha. She soon learns that Nisha’s husband has been murdered and the young woman is suspected. However, Nisha has much more to worry about than the police. Her husband’s family is in debt to vicious moneylenders and the payment required goes far beyond financial demands.
Anita, whose aunt runs the hotel, is also a photographer getting ready to do a one-woman show. She is drawn into the quicksand of this complex and difficult situation. She feels it is imperative to help Nisha and to solve the mystery connected to the murder.
This is a complicated and absorbing novel. It’s quickly paced with well-developed characters. I highly recommend it to mystery readers who enjoy something exotic and out of the ordinary.
February 26, 2017
From its gorgeous cover to the twists and turns of the mystery, I really enjoyed When Krishna Calls, the fourth book in the Anita Ray Mystery series. The word I kept coming back to while reading this book was atmospheric -- Susan Oleksiw transports us to India -- its sights, sounds, people, traffic, vegetation, the Indian night -- all taking place right before the monsoon season. I have never been to India before, but after reading this book, I almost felt as if I had.
Anita is a very strong, intelligent and likable protagonist, the characters are well developed, and the intricate mystery kept me intrigued. Although this is not the first book in the Anita Ray series, it can definitely stand on its own, but why would you want it to? I'm looking forward to reading the other Anita Ray books at the earliest opportunity.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Anita is a very strong, intelligent and likable protagonist, the characters are well developed, and the intricate mystery kept me intrigued. Although this is not the first book in the Anita Ray series, it can definitely stand on its own, but why would you want it to? I'm looking forward to reading the other Anita Ray books at the earliest opportunity.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 16, 2016
3.5 stars
I liked this fourth entry in the Anita Ray mystery series and look forward to reading the other installments.
Anita Ray is a photographer preparing for her first gallery show, but she also helps her Aunt Meena run the charming Hotel Delite. When an occasional employee Nisha flees, leaving her young daughter in the hotel’s courtyard during the night, Anita knows that something must be terribly wrong. Her fears are confirmed when the police come looking for Nisha, convinced that she is responsible for her husband Panju’s murder. Even though she intended to stay out of it, when she finds Panju’s camera memory card in her own camera, is involved in an auto accident that might not have been an accident, and finds a connection between the local money lender and her aunt, she feels that she must investigate. Now Anita must place herself in danger to save Nisha and her own future.
When Krishna Calls is my first adventure with Anita Ray, and it is quite the suspenseful ride. Susan Oleksiw’s love of India shines through; I felt completely immersed in the landscape, culture, and traditions of South India. I admit that it took me a bit to get used to the speaking patterns, but once I did it was an enjoyable read. This look inside the dark underworld of village money lending and family debts is fascinating. Anita is a likable protagonist, and I admire her resourcefulness and bravery.
I will definitely seek Oleksiw’s other works out to read. I recommend When Krishna Calls to any reader who enjoys an exotic locale and a solid mystery.
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This gift did not influence my opinions here.**
I liked this fourth entry in the Anita Ray mystery series and look forward to reading the other installments.
Anita Ray is a photographer preparing for her first gallery show, but she also helps her Aunt Meena run the charming Hotel Delite. When an occasional employee Nisha flees, leaving her young daughter in the hotel’s courtyard during the night, Anita knows that something must be terribly wrong. Her fears are confirmed when the police come looking for Nisha, convinced that she is responsible for her husband Panju’s murder. Even though she intended to stay out of it, when she finds Panju’s camera memory card in her own camera, is involved in an auto accident that might not have been an accident, and finds a connection between the local money lender and her aunt, she feels that she must investigate. Now Anita must place herself in danger to save Nisha and her own future.
When Krishna Calls is my first adventure with Anita Ray, and it is quite the suspenseful ride. Susan Oleksiw’s love of India shines through; I felt completely immersed in the landscape, culture, and traditions of South India. I admit that it took me a bit to get used to the speaking patterns, but once I did it was an enjoyable read. This look inside the dark underworld of village money lending and family debts is fascinating. Anita is a likable protagonist, and I admire her resourcefulness and bravery.
I will definitely seek Oleksiw’s other works out to read. I recommend When Krishna Calls to any reader who enjoys an exotic locale and a solid mystery.
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This gift did not influence my opinions here.**
June 26, 2016
This is the second of Susan Oleksiw's Anita Ray mysteries that I've read and these books are hard to put down once you get started. Set in India, Anita Ray is a half-American, half-Indian photographer who lives in the charming Hotel Delite run by her Auntie Meena. Anita has a habit of getting into the middle of situations and then just cannot let go until she figures it out.
Reading these books is transporting because the rhythm of language, the food, the clothing, the way people interact is far different from what most of us are accustomed to. Since Oleksiw has lived in India and spends part of her year there, I trust she knows her characters and their personalities. I sometimes wish there was a small glossary to help with some of the terms but that does not at all detract from the story.
In When Krishna Calls, Anita discovers a little girl who has apparently been abandoned in the hotel's courtyard (with a goat) and she thinks she knows who the girl's mother might be. As she sets out to find her she learns that the girl's father was recently murdered and Anita begins to fear for the mother's life. She is drawn deeper and deeper into a dark world of money-lending and rival criminals. An "accident" in which her car is hit brings an extremely attractive stranger into the mix.
I have to say, Anita is one plucky lady! She's not afraid to walk right into danger and give it a piece of her mind. The plot is solid, the characters are intriguing, and the entire book takes you out of wherever you are and lands you in southern India with a very persistent and determined heroine.
Reading these books is transporting because the rhythm of language, the food, the clothing, the way people interact is far different from what most of us are accustomed to. Since Oleksiw has lived in India and spends part of her year there, I trust she knows her characters and their personalities. I sometimes wish there was a small glossary to help with some of the terms but that does not at all detract from the story.
In When Krishna Calls, Anita discovers a little girl who has apparently been abandoned in the hotel's courtyard (with a goat) and she thinks she knows who the girl's mother might be. As she sets out to find her she learns that the girl's father was recently murdered and Anita begins to fear for the mother's life. She is drawn deeper and deeper into a dark world of money-lending and rival criminals. An "accident" in which her car is hit brings an extremely attractive stranger into the mix.
I have to say, Anita is one plucky lady! She's not afraid to walk right into danger and give it a piece of her mind. The plot is solid, the characters are intriguing, and the entire book takes you out of wherever you are and lands you in southern India with a very persistent and determined heroine.
August 1, 2016
I am a big fan of the Anita Ray mysteries because the author does such an excellent job of placing the reader into the story. The series is set in India and the way things are said is a bit different to say nothing of the food, dress and general way of living, but Oleksiw's writing gently sets us down amidst it all giving us enough description to make it almost like we were sitting in the corner watching the plot happen around us.
When Krishna Calls opens in a dramatic fashion with a woman literally running for her life. As a reader, we don't know who she is running from or why she is running, but we learn that her husband is dead, she is covered in blood and she has taken her daughter to somewhere safe. Later we learn that the woman, Nisha, works occasionally at Anita's aunt's hotel as a medical professional when a guest falls ill. When the police come to the hotel looking for Nisha and implies she is suspected of murdering her husband, Anita starts investigating.
The plot takes us into the dark underworld of money lending, only this time with an interesting if gruesome cultural twist-the family debt.
I read this book in a weekend and really had a hard time setting it down to do daily tasks which needed my attention.
I won this book in an author run contest on DorothyL. (less)
Jul 28, 2016 11:09AM · delete
When Krishna Calls opens in a dramatic fashion with a woman literally running for her life. As a reader, we don't know who she is running from or why she is running, but we learn that her husband is dead, she is covered in blood and she has taken her daughter to somewhere safe. Later we learn that the woman, Nisha, works occasionally at Anita's aunt's hotel as a medical professional when a guest falls ill. When the police come to the hotel looking for Nisha and implies she is suspected of murdering her husband, Anita starts investigating.
The plot takes us into the dark underworld of money lending, only this time with an interesting if gruesome cultural twist-the family debt.
I read this book in a weekend and really had a hard time setting it down to do daily tasks which needed my attention.
I won this book in an author run contest on DorothyL. (less)
Jul 28, 2016 11:09AM · delete
September 8, 2016
If you loved the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, book your reservation now for the Hotel Delite on the coast of India! You won't lack for excitement at this seaside establishment run by aspiring photographer Anita Ray and her Auntie Meena. Others have summarized the plot, so I'll just say that the author does an excellent job of portraying her unusual setting clearly enough that the readers won't be confused, while at the same time conveying the sense that the dialogue is actually spoken in a foreign language, or in English by non-native speakers--for instance, characters may say "I am saying" instead of "I said," or "I am seeing" instead of "I saw." Anita is more Westernized than her aunt and the other characters, so she acts as our eyes and ears in this colorful culture that is so different from, and yet in some ways similar to, our own. It's not all "Delite-ful," though. While this is considered a "cozy" due to its amateur sleuth, it is far from "cutesy." Some of the deeds are quite dark, and there is a twist in the last 30 pages or so that is never entirely resolved. If you're a reader of cozies who is looking for something different, I suggest you give this, or any of the other Anita Ray mysteries, a try.
August 9, 2016
Anita Ray is back in a new adventure in Susan Oleksiw’s latest novel. A part-time employee of the hotel Anita helps manage disappears, leaving behind her daughter. The police show up to ask about Nisha, and Anita learns that the young woman’s husband has been murdered. Nisha is the main suspect.
Anita is already facing the challenge of organizing her photographs for a major gallery show, but she can’t believe Nisha stabbed her husband to death, so she begins to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. Even she isn’t prepared for the things she learns and the danger she brings on herself and her family.
When Krishna Calls is a mystery steeped in the culture and traditions of India. Anita’s experience of living in multiple places makes her the right guide to this journey into some of the darker features of Indian village culture and her relentless curiosity leads her to learn possibly too much about a nasty crime with ramifications that spread well beyond a small, shattered family.
If you like mysteries set in exotic places, this story will delight you, but it also explores some universal truths about human beings and peeks into some very dark places as well.
Anita is already facing the challenge of organizing her photographs for a major gallery show, but she can’t believe Nisha stabbed her husband to death, so she begins to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. Even she isn’t prepared for the things she learns and the danger she brings on herself and her family.
When Krishna Calls is a mystery steeped in the culture and traditions of India. Anita’s experience of living in multiple places makes her the right guide to this journey into some of the darker features of Indian village culture and her relentless curiosity leads her to learn possibly too much about a nasty crime with ramifications that spread well beyond a small, shattered family.
If you like mysteries set in exotic places, this story will delight you, but it also explores some universal truths about human beings and peeks into some very dark places as well.
August 3, 2016
This is the fourth book in the Anita Ray mysteries, and the second one I have read. It takes place in India at the hotel Anita works at, and that her Aunt Meena owns. I have always been fascinated with India, so this was a good read. The author is great at describing India, the food, the streets, the smells, so you really are taken into the story. When two men show up at the hotel looking for an employee of Aunt Meena, Anita becomes a little concerned. Especially when finding out why they are looking for Nisha, it seems her husband has been found murdered. Anita decides to do a little investigating on her own. She uncovers some secrets along the way, one which includes her Aunt Meena. This is a fun quick read, with quite a bit of suspense. I really enjoyed it. I received an early copy from the author in exchange for a review, all opinions are mine.
September 29, 2016
First I have to say, the setting, Kerala, in Southern India, is so well-drawn, I felt as if I were there.
The main character, photographer Anita Ray, half-American, half-Indian, is engaging and determined.
The story begins with a mother named Nisha leaving her daughter in the back courtyard of the hotel Anita and her Auntie Meema run. Anita decides to hide the child until she learns more about what’s going on. The police arrive and tell her the child’s father has been murdered, and they suspect the child’s mother, who has disappeared. Nisha worked part-time at the hotel, and Anita does not believe she killed her husband. So she begins to investigate.
This story has many twists and turns and kept me flipping the pages. It also had one of the best, most satisfying endings I’ve ever read. Highly recommended.
The main character, photographer Anita Ray, half-American, half-Indian, is engaging and determined.
The story begins with a mother named Nisha leaving her daughter in the back courtyard of the hotel Anita and her Auntie Meema run. Anita decides to hide the child until she learns more about what’s going on. The police arrive and tell her the child’s father has been murdered, and they suspect the child’s mother, who has disappeared. Nisha worked part-time at the hotel, and Anita does not believe she killed her husband. So she begins to investigate.
This story has many twists and turns and kept me flipping the pages. It also had one of the best, most satisfying endings I’ve ever read. Highly recommended.
October 11, 2016
I received an ARC through Library Things.
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This certainly was an interesting read. It was an eye opener to how things are in another country and culture. I enjoyed reading and getting a glimpse of the Indian life. The book was very descriptive but not over the top where it becomes boring and dry.
Anita certainly is quite the character. She unintentionally gets pulled into a murder mystery and have to use the clues left behind to decipher everything and ultimately try and save the lives of those she hold dear.
The ending felt a little open ended. I would have liked more closure but overall it was a decent read.
---
This certainly was an interesting read. It was an eye opener to how things are in another country and culture. I enjoyed reading and getting a glimpse of the Indian life. The book was very descriptive but not over the top where it becomes boring and dry.
Anita certainly is quite the character. She unintentionally gets pulled into a murder mystery and have to use the clues left behind to decipher everything and ultimately try and save the lives of those she hold dear.
The ending felt a little open ended. I would have liked more closure but overall it was a decent read.
October 18, 2016
A twisted tale of money-lending, and family honor that grabs hold of the reader and doesn't let go until the last moment. In the midst of trying to put together some of her photos for a showing, Anita gets caught up in the saga of paper wrapped batteries, a photo digital card and a purple mobile all while trying to rescue Nisha (a pretty resourceful and strong character in her own right). This is a great series and I can't wait for the next installment.
September 24, 2016
This is the latest in the Anita Ray series of mysteries set in South India. Again, it is a fascinating and well-written story, but the events are much darker than the previous books. Anita is more at risk than in the previous adventures, and she makes some very disturbing discoveries about those close to her.
May 31, 2016
Since the complete narrative takes place in India, the author explains a lot about life over there but doesn’t really give enough information on India. Even after reading the book I had no idea what Krishna was but, was a quick read, fairly nice plot, well written enjoyable read.
August 19, 2016
This was not the type of mystery I'm used to, but I really enjoyed it. It was interesting reading about another culture. It didn't end on a cliffhanger, but there were still some open ends to continue the story.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
November 30, 2016
Absolutely delightful! A look at Indian culture and cuisine, while creating an enthralling mystery. Will look for others in the series.
March 28, 2017
Moneylenders, purveyors of illegal financial transactions, in India. Read along an Anita Ray works to solve a murder mystery, and save a friend, involving moneylenders. There are actually a couple related stories going on here, that are expertly blended. An interesting read, that makes me want to experience more of this series.
April 13, 2017
I come from the region where this story evolve. The geographical and cultural accuracy is amazing.Hundreds of families are committing suicides because of illegal money lending operators .
Susan must have taken great pain in understanding and learning cultural and linguistic intricacies .
The base of the story itself is a big problem the state of Kerala facing at present.
All in all its great reading.
Susan must have taken great pain in understanding and learning cultural and linguistic intricacies .
The base of the story itself is a big problem the state of Kerala facing at present.
All in all its great reading.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews