Thursday, June 30, 2011

Case of the missing servant : from the files of Vish Puri, India's "most private investigator"  by Tarquin Hall

Vish Puri, India's Most Private Investigator uses stealth, cunning and above all discretion to help his clients. He holds many accolades including the 1999 Super Sleuth award from the World Federation of Detectives.  But he dearly loves to eat, especially food that is not good for me him as he is called "Chubby" for a reason.  Vish Puri would readily admit that the vast majority of his clients come to him for the mundane purpose of domestic spying.

So when noted Jaipur attorney Ajay Kasliwal hires Most Private Investigations, Ltd. to locate the missing housemaid he's suspected of killing, Puri is ecstatic at the chance for some real detection. Slipping his agent, a Nepalese beauty called Facecream, into the Kasliwal manage to mingle with the servants, Puri has his driver, Handbrake, take him on a tour of the Pink City to see where a simple country girl from Jharkand might hide.

Meanwhile, after an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Puri's life - his Mummy comes to town to find out who is behind the attack.  We learn that Puri's father was a police detective and Mummy used to help advise him on cases.  I enjoyed this side storyline as it gave more depth to the storyline.  I enjoyed the hustle and bustle the story portrayed of modern day India yet kept some of the magic of this exotic place.  Puri was great fun and I had no idea of how corrupt another place could be.  The mystery really wasn't the main focus as it was more about the place and the people.