Murder with Bengali characteristics by Shovon Chowdhuri

"Murder with Bengali characteristics" by Shovon Chowdhuri. This book is published by Aleph book company in 2015 and has 204 pages.

China has invaded Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Bengal. Bengal is now a protectorate of China. China has also aquired Korea and Japan. Inspector An Li has transferred from Bejing to Calcutta. There is a murder of a party worker by strangulation. Thugs are suspected. Li investigates. 

Why was Barin Mondol killed? Who killed him? What is the conspiracy? What are the Bengali characteristics?

This book is a stand alone sequel of 'The competent authority'. Nuclear war between China and India happened in that book. Kashmir is a waste land. Bengali communists invited China during that war. Thus Bengal is now a protectorate of China. 

The story takes place in Year 2035. Chinese are ruling the second class, unintelligent, poor Bengalis. It's poverty, protests, executions, arson all around. Bengalis are angry as usual. 

The story is weak. I had a feeling that actually story is secondary. The dystopian society and its functioning, or lack of it, is the real thing. Author has portrayed the society with a bit of humor and a bit of sarcasm. The category of humor is dry humor. 

Information officer's job is to prevent public from getting too much information. There is severe regulation and blockage of information. There are high tech gizmos like flying cars, personal drones, anti telepath cap, voice command computers at the disposal of Chinese in one side and jungle dwelling Maoists, poverty stricken Bengalis and profit seeking businessman on the other. 

There is a conspiracy with the Bengali characteristic. What's that? Well! What is most closely associated with Bengalis? Of Course, fish. How is it related to conspiracy and murder?

Although I liked authors take on the status after Chinese control, the story becomes secondary and thus the book does not generate interest. Eventually the reason of murder, though grave, does not impact the reader as much as it should. 

Why did I read this book? Title. Good reviews for 1st book.    

What I didn't like? Weak story. 

What did I like? Dry humor. 

Give it a miss.