THE BANGALORE DETECTIVES CLUB

For an old school Bangalorean, this was such a heartwarming read. Wonderful writing, crafted storytelling style. Must read

I admit when I started the book - by the way strange first chapter which was never really explained - I thought it would be a pastiche of a cliché. A mishmash of the Botswana detective books (cutesy local flavor) and the many Parsi-detective historical mystery series that are all the rage these days.In the end though, I enjoyed it, although the heroine is a little too goody-goody to be realistic, hugging all and sundry, including milkmen and prostitutes. I don’t think so, in the 1920’s. And a lot of loose ends, for example the blurb says she uses her mathematical knowledge to solve crimes, but not really. In the end, a likable heroine, young, feisty, observant. I look forward to future outings, hopefully the loose ends will be tied up.

I bought this book with high hopes after reading all the hype and wonderful reviews . However I was most disappointed. The whole story is like a romantic fairy tale in which the young heroine singlehandedly solves the murder- which anyway most discerning readers would solve on page 40 of the 271 page book!Kaveri the main character, is so incredible- she is smarter than the chief of police and provides him all the clues, tips on finger printing, questioning of suspects, etc. Also a superb cook, though in the beginning we are told she dislikes cooking! Her husband too is an innocent pawn who she manoeuvres in the game.Going to the shady places in town, meeting women of questionable character, providing meals to all and sundry, learning to drive in a jiffy, a math whiz= which somehow doesn't add up-where does she use these skills?Her bias against all British is so childish, even though she talks about them being bigots.All in all a book for the young reader who doesn't know better- they might enjoy it and overlook all the sticky sweetness.

I was pleasantly surprised by how the book just warmed my soul and made me finish it up in a day. I think, I might have to start counting the days to its sequel on a calendar, that's how restless I am for the next adventure of Kaveri. The beautiful take on a new marriage in colonial era was beyond refreshing. Each chapter nudges the reader to not put it down and yet brings in a feeling of sadness when one notices how quickly the book went by. The book has a life of its own, the characters make you want to root for them. Grateful to have found the book but really can't wait till March of next year for the next part. I wish, it came sooner. Heartiest congratulations to the writer on this incredible literary feat.

The book ticked all the boxes the story was intriguing, well constructed and also very well written, it also has a lot feel good components in it’s not very heavy in terms of the story so people who are interested in hardcore mystery might find it a bit underwhelming but otherwise it’s a must read according to me.

Intricately plotted with lots of twists and turns and an absolutely delightful cast of characters, this mystery had me hooked from the word - go! Looking forward to reading the next one!

This is one of those soft mystery books that take you on a journey while investigating a crime. It is the first instalment of the Kaveri and Ramu mysteries set in pre-independence India. The reader gets an inkling of the socio-political situation around the time, providing an interesting background for the story to evolve.Our newly-wed heroine Kaveri is new to the big city. However, her curiosity and love for learning make her stand apart from most women around her. At a dinner party she attends with her husband Ramu, she witnesses an altercation that has led to a murder. When a poor, vulnerable woman becomes a suspect, Kaveri puts her inquisitiveness to good use to get her name cleared.It fluctuated between a good mystery and predictability. There weren’t a lot of twists and turns. It doesn’t take much to guess the culprit, although the narrative is good enough to keep you engaged. It is the perfect holiday read. If you’re into hardcore crime and thriller books, then you might want to give this book a miss. However, if you like some social drama and background to go along with a bit of intrigue, then I would recommend you add it to your reading list.

Evocation of the city a century ago. Only book featuring Lady Molly by Baroness Orczy mentioned. Enterprising Kaveri & Ramu slightly resemble Christie's Tommy & Tuppence.

The heroine is a smart, brave young woman with a husband who appreciates her. They form a team to solve a mystery. It’s great fun to look at a romanticized version of India, 100 years ago.

This book although supposedly set in the 1920s, had some flavours of the current century. It felt nostalgic to read about the neighborhood of Bangalore. The detective part was a,'feel good intriguing' book with Kaveri in the fore. Thoroughly enjoyable

J'ai adoré l'histoire et le style d'écriture de cette auteure. Bien qu'elle ait créé un personnage féminin fort, déterminé et ambitieux, elle a également montré l'importance de la complémentarité entre les deux sexes dans un couple. Si vous appréciez la culture indienne et les romans policiers, vous allez également adorer ce livre.

A delightful cozy mystery with a golden age feel to warm these dark winter nights. Set in a pre-partition India still under British rule, this gives an insight into life under colonialism, alongside a hefty dose of murder and mystery. The details and descriptions transport the reader effortlessly into an older world but give us well-drawn characters who strive for equality and change whilst remaining true to the period in which the book is set. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will eagerly seek out the next in the series.

Easy to read, set in India, full of cultural information, and fun. Definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in India and enjoys a murder mystery.