"A mysterious death at Sainik farms" by Rukmani Anandani. This book is published by Rupa publications in 2012 and has 240 pages.
Ugrasen, a wealthy businessman and father of three adult sons, is dead in his house full of family and relatives. There is a typewritten note. Private Investigator Ganapaty Iyer and his side kick Vinayak Verma, luckily, land their first case in Delhi.
Is the death a murder? Can GP successfully investigate? Will police cooperate? Whodunit?
A big rich family, patriarch murderd, lot of suspects, most of them with motives, slow story, meticulous investigations, assembly at the end to reveal the murderer. Sounds familiar? This can be the synopsis of most of Agatha Christie books. So is it for this book. While reading the book you get a feeling that you are reading an Agatha Christie's Indian novel.
Characters are good. Bossy father, Suppressed and rebellious sons, a femme fatale, jeleous wife, dubious brother, friendly sister-in-law, sharp niece, dependent relatives, impatient police, smart but not that smart side kick and finally logical, deductive, methodological detective.
To add some differentiating factor, here is a detective (GP) who can recite verses from Kural of Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar, at will, appropriate to the occasion.
I was able to recognize the killer half way through the book. GP finds the killer based on other clues, not the one I used for my deduction. Should ask the author if my deduction is also valid.
One thing that escapes the reader is how GP can be so confident, convincing and all knowing in his first case. Reason for missing will is also weak.
Cover shows an old wooden rocking chair at night, on the background of a wall with peeling paint and plaster. I was not able to determine how exactly is this cover relevant to the story.
Based on how the novel ends, it is evident that Rukmani is planning to write a series for this lovable private investigator Ganapaty Iyer. Would like to read another one.
Read if you like Agatha mysteries.
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