Book Summary and Reviews of The Case of the Love Commandos by Tarquin Hall

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Cloggie Downunder

Indian cosy crime at its best.
The Case of the Love Commandos is the fourth book in the Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator series by British journalist and author, Tarquin Hall. Troubled by a robbery case that isn’t presenting a solution, Vish Puri is reluctant to head off on a planned pilgrimage with the family in Jammu. His reprieve is a call from one of his operatives, Facecream, who moonlights as Love Commando, Laxmi. She urgently needs Puri’s help.

Making his apologies to family on the Jammu train before he heads off to Lucknow, Puri’s pocket is expertly picked, his wallet missing. From his own train carriage, he calls to enlist Rumpi to track down the thief but, against his express orders, she involves Mummy-ji who undertakes the task with alacrity. But even though the wallet is recovered, Mummy-ji is suspicious of what else the culprit might be up to: is he planning to get rid of his loudly-critical, obese wife? To rob the shrine? Definitely something…

The Love Commandos exist to help couples from different caste overcome obstacles to their marriage and, this time, the prospective bride, Tulsi Mishra has been plucked from her disapproving Brahmin father’s grasp only for her Dalit groom to be missing from the safe house. Has her father made good on his threat to kill Ram Sunder? Puri is a firm believer in the virtues of arranged marriage, so the Love Commandos’ raison d’etre goes against his grain, but an innocent young man’s life is at stake, and that takes priority.

Puri rushes to Ram’s village, where all is not as expected: a drunken father in a brick home he couldn’t possibly afford, Ram’s mother missing, and evidence of violence from outsiders. When the local police arrest Vishnu Mishra for the murder of Kamlesh Sunder, despite his cast-iron alibi, Puri knows something underhand is going on. Facecream sets up as a relief teacher in the village to find out what really happened to Ram’s mother, but soon finds herself fighting village-level corruption.

Something the villagers tell Facecream lead to Puri checking out a genome research lab, where he learns of the death of one of their scientists: he’s not convinced it’s accidental. And, to his chagrin, he hears that his rival PI, Hari Kumar is also on the case. On the road back to Delhi, a car following worries Puri enough for him to cock his pistol, and back in town, he learns his office has been bugged.

While he is not a superstitious person, his stubborn theft case, the pickpocketing and Hari Kumar’s involvement have Puri wondering if his usual boastful attitude about his successes has attracted the evil eye. He makes an offering to Shiva, and vows to do less bragging. Will he manage to solve this most challenging case?

As always, Hall provides a handy glossary, and as a bonus, some delicious-sounding recipes. The dialogue is always a delight, there are twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, and fans will look forward to the next in the series, The Case of the Reincarnated Client. Or they might like to peruse The Delhi Detective’s Handbook. Indian cosy crime at its best.

Other books by Tarquin Hall at BookBrowse