The publisher's summary:
This latest novel in the Bangalore Detectives Club mystery series takes the reader deep into the historical era surrounding the visit by Edward, Prince of Wales, to Bangalore in 1921. When the prince begins a tour of a number of Indian cities, he encounters passionate crowds demanding independence from Britain, with rioting on the streets of Bombay in November 1921.
The mood of the prince's subsequent trip to Bangalore and Mysore in January 1922 appears, at first glance, very different and is made to large, welcoming crowds. But perhaps all is not what it seems to be. While exploring another (seemingly unrelated) crime scene, Kaveri and Ramu become tangled in a complex web of intrigue, getting pulled into a potentially dangerous plan that could endanger the life of the visiting prince.
This new novel also takes us into the world of jadoo—Indian street magic—with sleight-of-hand magicians, snake charmers, and rope tricks. Kaveri and Ramu continue their sleuthing, with help from the Bangalore Detectives Club, amidst the growing rumblings of Indian independence and the backdrop of female emancipation.
I thought that the beginning was slow. The Prince of Wales did not enter the plot until two thirds of the way into the story. Several murders did occur throughout the story though. Kaveri relied on social functions that she went to with her husband in order to meet people and ask questions. While I am sure this was realistic for the era, it didn't make for an exciting read.
The setting was prominent to the telling of the story. The reader learns alot about gender roles, Hindu rituals and the foods of India. While the book is advertised as a historical mystery, it reads more historical fiction. The reveal of the whodunnit seemed slow but I believe that I am comparing the book to a suspense story. There is no suspense here and I guess I should have prepared my review for the correct genre of the book. However, I cannot but feel that the book should be suspenseful.
It was fun to get reacquainted with the characters but, for me, it was a slow read. 3 out of 5 stars.
Would you read the next book in the series?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your review with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge