"Banquet on the dead" by Sharath Komarraju. The book is published by Westland Ltd. in 2012 and has 265 pages. This is Sharath's second novel.
An eighty year old matriarch (Kauveramma) of a well to do house dies by falling into a well within the compound of house in a town named Hanamkonda. But the lady was extremely terrified of water. Autopsy shows that she died before drowning. Her house consists of three sons (one unmarried, one lame and one married with wife and children), one widow daughter with her married son & unmarried daughter and servants.
Upon request of a family member police inspector seeks help of Mulla Hamid Pasha (An ex criminal who has 'gone clean' for 15 years) as private investigator. When the investigation starts skeletons start tumbling out of closets. Every family member seems to have something to hide.
Was it an accident? Or was it a murder? What was the motive? Whodunit?
It is evident that the story does not take place in present times. Author has placed the story in indeterminate recent past.
I found a lot of similarities with Agatha Christie mysteries. Rich lady murdered, big house, number of relatives, meticulously laid out plot, slow pace, polite detective, too many clues and lot of sub plots, revelation of murderer at the end etc. Sharath has demonstrated a completely different style of writing from his previous book. He has shown his versatility.
The book has a noir title, but it's a murder mystery, a classic whodunit! How ever I was able to guess the murderer early enough.
It would have become more interesting if author had provided map of the house and property around.
Author has left a few loose ends and minor mysteries unresolved like why Swami and Karuna hate each other? What was the tipping point about decision of murder? What is the mysterious illness troubling the doctor? Why book is titled the way it is? These may not be significant things but would have tidied the story.
If you like Agatha Christie mysteries, you might like this.
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