A Killer in the Family

I received a free copy of this book from Librarything's Early Reviewer's Club in exchange for an honest review. The book got lost during my move and I recently came across it. It's an intoxicating drama about South East India immigrants to the U.S. and their life in New York City.

The publisher's summary:

It’s time for Ali, a good-natured Mumbai party-boy, to grow up. The first step to settling down is an arranged marriage to Maryam, the daughter of Abbas Khan, a New York real estate tycoon. She’s pretty, demure, and respectable—unlike her sister, Farhan, a sexy, rebellious divorcée.

After the wedding, Ali moves to New York and enjoys the privileges of being an honorary Khan: private helicopters, supertall skyscrapers, and a Gatsbyesque house in the Hamptons. But soon rumors begin to surface about Abbas Khan—accusations of corruption and hidden affairs—and Farhan hints that a violent secret underlies Abbas's success. Though Ali's wife insists the insinuations are unfounded, he can't shake the feeling that there's something he doesn't know.

To uncover the truth, Ali launches his own investigation, which takes him deep into Abbas’s dealings and past. As he closes in on the truth, Ali must decide: Can he remain part of the Khan family, and pay the moral price demanded by unimaginable wealth and power?

A Killer in the Family is quite the page turner. The suspense was built up slowly and there were many twists. I was confused throughout the story as to the identity of the villain. It seemed that every character could have been the primary villain but when the real one was revealed in the last chapter I was stunned.

This is a character driven story. All of them are complex and make the book irresistible. Ali's failure to launch and uncertainty about everything in life have handicapped his career moves. He is meek. His doctor wife, however, turns out to be ruthless in her maneuvering to gain control of the Khan family business. I didn't see this coming but should have given her devotion to her job in a hospital. Maryam hides underneath a patina of politeness though. Her sister Farhan is the typical drug addled person who has been unstable her entire life. In this respect she is like Ali which is probably why they had a lengthy affair. Ali's father in law is the consummate tycoon. He is always working and has been rewarded with riches the rest of us can only dream of. 

The murders are first mentioned at the 100 page mark. It was hard to determine how they were related to the Khan family or their employees. Around the 70% mark of the plot the possible killers were fleshed out. The big reveal was not too exciting. What was exciting was the evolution of the characters. 

The glittery setting of New York City's wealthy homes and lifestyles was enticing. I really wanted to have those big homes, expensive artworks, to eat at those restaurants and have the power to change people's lives for better or worse. Sadly, I am a poor blogger. 

A Killer in the Family is an intriguing read. I highly recommend it to mystery lovers. 5 out of 5 stars.