by Tarquin Hall (read by Sam Dastor)
Book 3: Vish Puri
Wherein Vish Puri faces his prejudices
I found this series a few years ago but did not rush to finish it. With the help of the library, I have now read the first four of five and will wait until the fifth becomes available at the library. The writing is good. The characters are interesting and developing over time. Hall is taking his time, letting us know what we need to know when we need to know it, not rushing like some insecure speed-dater trying to tell everything in three minutes. Character development is more like peeling an onion, one layer at time, and we are now beyond the pompous middle-aged detective we met in the first case.
For a cozy mystery series, the stories have a bit of a hard edge. In this episode, the author delves a bit into the India-Pakistan situation and the discontent sown when Pakistan separated from India and became an independent country. Vish Puri must confront his own fears, prejudices and misconceptions when a case requires him to make his first trip to Pakistan. I can't say much more without spoilers--and I don't want to spoil the book for anyone.
Three and half stars for this one, I think, because of the way Hall was able to weave a history lesson into the story without being preachy or judgemental.
Halloween Bingo: Genre: Mystery, Lethal Games, Cozy Mystery, Murder Most Foul
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