Go West, Inspector Ghote

Inspector Ghote #13

by H.R.F. Keating

Inspector Ghote meets California. Ghote has been sent across the world by a Sindhi businessman to remove his daughter from a Californian ashram retreat. This classical ‘locked-room mystery’ provokes teasing question after teasing question about two very different societies and two seemingly opposed attitudes to life. And he has to deal with an American Private Eye of appalling brashness as well as a swami who is part miracle-worker, part charlatan. Not surprising that Len Deighton wrote to the author: ‘Wonderful! I’ve always said I would follow Ghote to the end of the earth and here he is in California : what a truly inspired confrontation.’

Genres: Crime, Fiction

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Henry Reymond Fitzwalter Keating was an English writer of crime fiction most notable for his series of novels featuring Inspector Ghote of the Bombay CID.

H. R. F. KEATING was well versed in the worlds of crime, fiction and nonfiction. He was the crime books reviewer for The Times for fifteen years, as well as serving as the chairman of the Crime Writers Association and the Society of Authors. He won the CWA Gold Dagger Award twice, and in 1996 was awarded the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for outstanding service to crime fiction.

Series:
. Inspector Ghote
. Harriet Martens

Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Perfectly Criminal

Reviews

[Viva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead. I've been on an Indian detective kick (Vish Puri and Chopra), and I've finished those. GR recommended this so I tried it. I first just tried sampling another one online but didn't get a good feel for it so I borrowed this one as the premise seemed interesting.

As per the blurb, Ghote is tasked to find a rich man's daughter who came to California to study. She apparently got induced into joining an Ashram, withdrew all her money and stopped corresponding with her father.

I was surprised to find that this book was published in 1981. Based on the writing style and the content of the text I would have thought this was set in the 1960's. The writing style is a bit humorous but slow and plodding. After reading the much smoother Chopra and Vish Puri books this type of writing just couldn't hold my interest and I dnf'd it.

[Eva B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2
Inspector Ghote in Southern California: what fun

[Петр · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector Ghote outside of his usual environment but equally entertaining.

[Terence Blowfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy book to read. Storyline was alright, but it was not a page turner.

[Mary Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a fish out of water story. Inspector Ghote from Bombay certainly is one in Los Angeles. This is a light read, easy to put down and forget to continue. Ghote is a fun character to follow. I would like to read one of the series set in Bombay.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

And he never visited India!

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

can he write?
yes he can..