The Doctor in the Corner Clinic

The Doctor in the Corner Clinic: The Room Was Never the Mystery is the second book in the author's Corner Room mystery series. I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say though that this is a wonderful locked room mystery. The book was published on April 22, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

Dr. Ashok Kulkarni is found dead inside his locked clinic. Gun in hand. Door bolted from the inside. An open-and-shut suicide, the police say. Inspector Praveen Kumar is not convinced.

Ashok was a celebrated cardiologist, a Padma Shri recipient, and one of Bangalore’s most trusted doctors. But as Praveen retraces the final months of his life, he uncovers a burned letter, a growing fear, and a secret powerful enough to destroy more than one life.

What begins as a locked-room death soon turns into something far more dangerous: a search through buried relationships, quiet betrayals, and truths hidden behind respectability. As the case deepens, Praveen finds himself drawn into a mystery where every answer raises a darker question, and where the cost of the truth may reach far beyond the dead. Because the room was never the only thing that was locked.

The story opened with Dr. Ashok Kulkarni receiving a visitor while he worked late at night in his office. The visitor climbed the outside wall leading to Kulkarni's office on the third floor. He then made a demand on behalf of Jaya to which Kulkarni complied but stated this was the last time. The next chapter begins with the discovery of Kulkarni's body the next morning. He had been shot.

Inspector Praveen Kumar is assigned to investigate the death. It was quickly determined to be a suicide but Praveen had a hunch that there was much more to the incident. He continued looking into the death by interviewing friends, family and a few patients of Ashok. Some of the characters did not seem to be telling the truth but Praveen did not know where to turn in the investigation. 

In addition to being an engaging locked room mystery, I would also describe the book as a psychological thriller because the deceased's life seemed to hold the keys to the suicide. Unfortunately, no one who knew him had any idea of what had upset Ashok enough for him to want to die. Ashok had a perfect life. He had a wonderful career as a cardiologist, an intelligent wife and two happy kids. Why would he want to die?

The story had a swift pace with several twists. As Praveen discovered secrets about relationships in Ashok's life he thought that each of these relationships held the key. However, they all were dead ends and Praveen had to start over from scratch several times. The plot kept me guessing through all of the layers of family and professional secrets in the Kulkarni family. 

I enjoyed reading this novel and am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.