Dharma: A Rekha Rao Mystery

by Vee Kumari

Meet my protagonist, Rekha Rao, a thirty-something Indian American professor of art history. Disillusioned by academia and haunted by the murder of her father, for which she believes police convicted the wrong person, she moves away from her match-making family. She’s focusing on managing her PTSD and healing her heartbroken by an abusive boyfriend.She gets entangled in a second murder, that of her mentor and father figure. An idol of the Hindu Goddess Durga is the murder weapon left on the body. Detective Al Newton asks her to look into the relationship, if any, between the meaning of the statue and the motive for the murder. Rekha is attracted to Al but steers clear of him because of her distaste for cops and fear of a new relationship, sticking to her job. The two constantly clash, starting a love-hate relationship. Meanwhile, her family sets her up to meet a suitor, an Indian attorney, who turns out to be a very likable man.When police arrest one of her students, and accuse her mentor of idol theft, Rekha’s dharma, her sense of duty, rears its head, and propels her into looking for the killer on her own. Despite admonitions from Al and bodily harm caused by an intruder who broke into her home, Rekha finds the killer, and in the process, emerges from the cocoon of a protected upbringing, to taste the prospect of a romance, and discover her true identity.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 22, 2020

About the author

I am a Professor Emeritus (a fancy word for 'retired') of the UC Davis Medical Center and USC Keck School of Medicine. Since my retirement in 2012, I have pursued writing and acting as careers.
"Dharma" is my debut novel, inspired by my love of the mystery genre and based on my observations of the Indian immigrant and Indian American lives in the US.
I recently produced and was the lead in a short film HALWA that earned the first prize in HBO" s 2019 APAV contest. You can watch it on HBO GO/NOW!
I live in Burbank near her two daughters and their families.
More about me... if you want to know, go my website: https://www.veekumari.com/
Growing up
Coming to America:
How did I get into writing?
What am I doing now?
I'd love to get to know you all!

Reviews

[Dipankar Bhadra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rekha Rao, an Indian American professor, has her world turned upside down when her father is brutally murdered. The police arrest the janitor, Eduardo Lopez, but Rekha knows he's innocent. Despite her beliefs, Eduardo is wrongly convicted. Years later, Rekha's mentor is also murdered, and she decides to investigate with the help of Detective Al Newton. Rekha faces dangers and warnings, but she's determined to find the truth. As she balances her personal life and her quest for justice, Rekha uncovers ancient secrets and solves the mysteries. The book has a good plot and interesting characters, but it could use some refinement. Despite its flaws, it's an entertaining story about love, betrayal, and the consequences of holding onto the past.