The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing: Summary and book reviews of The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing by Tarquin Hall, plus links to an excerpt from The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing and a biography of Tarquin Hall.
The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing From the Files of Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator
by Tarquin Hall
Hardcover: Jun 2010,
320 pages.
Paperback: Jun 2011,
320 pages.
Yet a prominent Indian scientist dies in a fit of giggles when a Hindu goddess appears from a mist and plunges a sword into his chest.
The only one laughing now is the main suspect, a powerful guru named Maharaj Swami, who seems to have done away with his most vocal critic.
Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Investigator, master of disguise and lover of all things fried and spicy, doesn’t believe the murder is a supernatural occurrence, and proving who really killed Dr. Suresh Jha will require all the detective’s earthly faculties. To get at the truth, he and his team of undercover operatives—Facecream, Tubelight, and Flush—travel from the slum where India’s hereditary magicians must be persuaded to reveal their secrets to the holy city of Haridwar on the Ganges.
How did the murder weapon miraculously crumble into ash? Will Maharaj Swami have the last laugh? And perhaps more important, why is Puri’s wife, Rumpi, chasing petty criminals with his Mummy-ji when she should be at home making his rotis?
Stopping only to indulge his ample Punjabi appetite, Puri uncovers a web of spirituality, science, and sin unique in the annals of crime.
The contrasts and contradictions in modern Indian life lie at the heart of Tarquin Hall's mystery, not only in the reflections of his protagonist but also in the mystery plot itself. Past clashes with present, superstition collides with rationality, as Hall cleverly captures--even in the guise of a fairly breezy murder mystery--the essential nature of contemporary India. (Reviewed by Norah Piehl).
Entertainment Weekly
India, captured in all its pungent, vivid glory, fascinates almost as much as the crime itself."
Kirkus Reviews
As tasty as Puri's favorite aloo parantha.
Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Hall has an unerring ear for the vagaries of Indian English, the Indian penchant for punning acronyms, peculiarly Indian problems...and an obvious affection for India, warts and all.
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by bookworm amazing book This is really an excellent book. I'm 13 yearr old and have found this book really interesting. It's a mystery about Goddess Kali appearing suddenly in the middle of a laughing session going on at India Gate and killing a person called Dr. Suresh... Read More
Investigator Vish Puri just won't stop his quest for the elusive killer. Unless, of course, it's dinner time. Or lunch time. Or time for an afternoon snack. If you already like Indian food, The Man Who Died Laughing will make your mouth water. And if you haven't tried Indian food, here's a cheat sheet to some of the Most Private Investigator's favorite dishes:
Aachar: a pickle made of vegetables or fruits cooked in mustard oil and spices.
Aloo Tikki Masala: spicy friend potato patties
Barfi: a dessert made from condensed milk and sugar
Biryani: a rice-based dish made with spices, rice, meat, fish, eggs, or vegetables
Daal: a spicy lentil stew
Kadi: a tart, spicy curry made from gram flour (ground chickpeas) fried in butter and mixed with yogurt or buttermilk
Kheer: a dessert pudding, made with rice or vermicelli cooked with milk and...
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