The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken: A Vish Puri Mystery

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The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken: A Vish Puri Mystery (Vish Puri #3)

by Tarquin Hall (Goodreads Author)

3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 · rating details · 606 ratings · 155 reviews

In his most daring assignment yet, Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Investigator, infiltrates the dangerous world of illegal gambling to solve the murder of a high-profile Pakistani on Indian soil. Dubbed “a wonderfully engaging P.I.” (The Times, London), Tarquin Hall’s irresistible protagonist Vish Puri has become an international favorite through a series that “splendidly...more In his most daring assignment yet, Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Investigator, infiltrates the dangerous world of illegal gambling to solve the murder of a high-profile Pakistani on Indian soil. Dubbed “a wonderfully engaging P.I.” (The Times, London), Tarquin Hall’s irresistible protagonist Vish Puri has become an international favorite through a series that “splendidly evokes the color and bustle of Delhi and the tang of contemporary India” (Seattle Times). Now the gormandizing, spectacularly mustachioed sleuth finds himself facing down his greatest fears in an explosive case involving the Indian and Pakistani mafias.

When the elderly father of a top Pakistani cricketer playing in a new multimillion-dollar cricket league dies frothing at the mouth during a post-match dinner, it’s not a simple case of Delhi Belly. His butter chicken has been poisoned. To solve the case, Puri must penetrate the region’s organized crime, following a trail that leads deep into Pakistan—the country in which many members of the P.I.’s family were massacred during the 1947 partition of India. The last piece of the puzzle, however, turns up closer to home when Puri learns of the one person who can identify the killer. Unfortunately it is the one person in the world with whom he has sworn never to work: his Mummy-ji.

With riotously entertaining prose, a boisterous cast of characters, and a pitch-perfect sense of place, Tarquin Hall has crafted a gripping whodunit that takes us deep into Indian history and society. He brings a hugely appealing culture to life with all its sights, sounds, smells, foods, and complexity. As the title implies, The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken is a succulent read by a writer at the top of his game.

In his most daring assignment yet, Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Investigator, infiltrates the dangerous world of illegal gambling to solve the murder of a high-profile Pakistani on Indian soil.

Includes three mouthwatering recipes from the Vish Puri family kitchen.(less)

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published July 10th 2012 by Simon & Schuster (first published March 1st 2012)

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Jan 10, 2013 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Just finished. In the midst learned something of the partition of India, incredable suffering. He cites the book 'The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of India' as a reference.
I like the Vish Puri dectective stories, this is Tarquin Hall's third one.

BTW The Butter Chicken recipe in the back of the book is delicious! My daughter made it for us over the Holidays. http://www.cravebyrandomhouse.ca/2012...

Also a helpful Glossary in the back explaining some of the terms used in the bo...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Sanhita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read all three books in a row and find that plots are improving, which is a good sign. Tarquin Hall is well aware of the sub-continents ills and issues and love for cricket and also the controversies around it. The special twist of course is the personal revenge bit and what a difference it has made to the plot.
Vish Puri is the most unlikely detective you can imagine but he has an unique way to look into the problems and solving the mysteries.His Mummyji is getting greater role as a detective...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Indiabookstore rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dilli-boy Vish Puri is on his third outing as India’s “Most Private Investigator” in Tarquin Hall’s The case of the deadly butter chicken and yet, this is only the first book of the series that I have read. The previous two books definitely feature quite prominently in my to-read list now.

Think of the perfect detective, and your mind might just veer towards the likes of Sherlock Holmes. Vish Puri is nothing of the sorts. A mustachioed detective with a hearty appetite, our Punjabi munda from Dill...more

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Jan 02, 2013 T.S. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Indian tourist commission really owes Tarquin Hall a debt of gratitude. Perhaps, even a fat check. In his Vish Puri Mystery series, Hall is able to exhibit the unusual, (to anyone not from India or familiar with its vernacular) and the sublime that the country has to offer. But with this installment of the series, The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken, Hall has stepped a bit further out into the cultural vibrancy that India can claim. Namely: cricket. The father of a Pakistani cricket hero h...more

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Dec 25, 2012 VaultOfBooks rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

By Tarquin Hall. Grade: A
This is the third in the chubby PI Vish Puri’s crime-solving series, but my first. Fortunately for me, these mysteries read well as stand alone novels.
Long-held secrets, deadly lies, a sports scandal, and a poisoned helping of butter chicken — all in a day’s work for the head of Delhi’s Most Private Investigators, in this latest book in the delightful Vish Puri detective series. When the father of a Pakistani star cricket player falls dead during a glamorous India Premie...more By Tarquin Hall. Grade: A
This is the third in the chubby PI Vish Puri’s crime-solving series, but my first. Fortunately for me, these mysteries read well as stand alone novels.
Long-held secrets, deadly lies, a sports scandal, and a poisoned helping of butter chicken — all in a day’s work for the head of Delhi’s Most Private Investigators, in this latest book in the delightful Vish Puri detective series. When the father of a Pakistani star cricket player falls dead during a glamorous India Premier League dinner, clearly it isn’t just a case of Delhi Belly. But which of the VIPs at the victim’s table is responsible for poisoning the man’s butter chicken? And was the victim killed for his involvement with a gambling syndicate that controls cricket’s illegal billion-dollar betting industry?

The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken by Tarquin Hall
The answers seem to lie across the border in Pakistan — the one country Puri swore he would never set foot in. Or do they? For Puri’s beloved Mummy-ji, who has a unique insight into the killing, believes there is much more to this murder than meets the eye. Puri and Mummy-ji’s search for the truth will lead them to uncover decades-old secrets and tragedies thought best forgotten in their most compelling case yet.
Vish Puri is a curious mixture between Jacques Clouseau and Sherlock Holmes. He loves food like all Punjabis I have ever known, and is thus called Chubby by his friends and family. He runs an agency called the Most Private Detectives, and is assisted by a large group of colourful secondary characters (Tubelight, Facecream, Handbrake, Flush, and Chanel No.5 – for reasons unknown).
When the book opens, our immodest and puffing Vish Puri is called to solve the crime of a stolen moustache. (I thought it was a joke too.) Turns out, the moustache was the result of nearly two decades of dedicated waxing and combing, and the owner is crying for blood. Fortunately for us, things start looking up when at a high-profile after match party, the father of the star player is murdered. His butter chicken is found poisoned. Aside from the handful of guests sitting on the table, nobody else approached, but everybody ate the chicken, and no one else suffered.
Our modest PI knows how efficient the Delhi Police is, and is appointed by a group to get to the bottom of this case. Things are not as simple as they look. A few scraps of paper and some plain old-fashioned eavesdropping confirms what Vish suspected: Faheem Khan (the victim) was into match-fixing. The syndicate is controlled by powerful men who don’t want things stirred, and make sure Puri knows that. The VIP suspects, too, refuse to cooperate with his investigation and threaten him for daring to approach them. It looks like the great Vish Puri has reached a dead-end when information comes from an unexpected source: Mummy ji! Spying and puzzling out mysteries runs in the family, and Puri realizes that the story of Faheem Khan’s murder dates sixty years ago to the Partition of India. The trading of blood diamonds is added to this eclectic mix and makes for a pretty irresistible plot!
It’s easy to see why Vish Puri is so popular. Tarquin Hall captures every nuance of India perfectly – uncomfortably so. Every word from his pen shows the love he holds for this dear country, and the idiosyncrasies of its people, but he does not skim over the flaws. He gives readers a multi-faceted, honest, yet humorous look at his adopted country. I was surprised at his deep understanding of Delhi’s subculture, and knowledge of the best and the worst that the city offers. The author also does a marvelous job with the dialogue, bringing the cadence of speech into play without making it too confusing.
The best thing about this book is that it is ideal for readers looking to learn more about India. There are few fiction plots set in India meant for non-desi readers. That is because India, with its billion plus populace, its unimaginable wealth and sickening poverty, its genius scientists and millions of illiterates, is difficult to compartmentalize, too contrasting to make sense of. Hall accomplishes that admirably.
To sum up, I liked the plot, and loved the writing. If you’re looking for something fresh and funny, you should check it out.

Originally reviewed at http://vaultofbooks.com/(less)

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Dec 01, 2012 Val Sanford rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: asian-mystery, fiction, mystery

I can't really help myself. When a new Tarquin Hall comes out I have to read it, even though I groan with the obvious puns and the smug, self-importance in which Indian detective, Mr. Vish Puri, goes about solving crimes in his beloved country.

Called Chubby by his wife, mother and friends, Puri loves his butter chicken, warm Peshawari naan and of crisp aloo parantha. His detective work slips and slides around buffet tables, street vendors and posh parties.

In the Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dear Mr. Vish Puri,

Last summer I had the good fortune to read two detailed accounts of your fine detective work, and since then, I have often wondered how you were doing.

I would even say to my husband, Jon, "What do you think Vish Puri is up to right now?"

So it was with great anticipation that I waited for the third account of your work to come out this summer.

And for the most part, you did not disappoint. Good work, Mr. Puri.

However, this third account felt crowded and rushed, and I really had...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Kathleen Hagen added it · review of another edition

The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken, by Tarquin Hall, a-minus, narrated by Sam Dastor, Produced by audiogo, downloaded from audible.com.

This is the third in the wonderful Vish Turi series which continues to evoke the different flavors, (food and otherwise) of India. In this one, Vish’s nephew is part of India’s national cricket team and they are playing in a tournament against the Pakistani team. This is an intense game because India and Pakistan have been enemies since the partition into nati...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Beatnik Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
Vish Puri is a lovable, weight-conscious, gourmand private detective in Delhi who will solve any crime, big or small. Someone has cut off the whiskers of the man with India's longest moustache? Vish is on the case. The father of a professional cricket player is poisoned at a VIP dinner? Vish can handle that too.

I've been struggling to describe the quirky and delightful tone Tarquin Hall achieves in this book. It's like Slumdog Millionaire meets Dirk Gently...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Book Him Danno rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, books-sent-by-author-publisher-for

A cozy mystery in the classic sense. A bloodless murder takes place off camera (a poisoning) and our private detective, the best private detective in all of India, takes on the case. Of course the whole time he must battle the quirky cast of characters that make up his family and associates.

Not to say this book is all fun and games. The author digs into the very serious world of sports gambling and its relationship to organized crime. A very slight working knowledge of cricket is useful when re...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Harsha Priolkar rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

The third mystery in the Vish Puri series by Tarquin Hall does not disappoint! This time we have the inimitable Mr. Puri involved in a high-profile cross-border case that involves cricket and match-fixing, while also dealing with a 'moustache-thief'!! Yes you heard right ;) In his usual brazenly wily style, Puri navigates his way through Delhi's high society - its rich & famous, who are also its greedy and immoral! With his trusted lieutenants, Tubelight, Facecream, Handbrake; some invaluabl...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Aspasia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries

Tarquin Hall's mystery series featuring Vish Puri keep getting better and better. In this third book in the series, the reader must wade through a more complicated storyline while envisioning the colorful food and cultural mashup that is modern day India.
Vish Puri takes on a case that really doesn't suit his private detective reputation-the world record holder for the longest mustache is in need of Puri's detective skills when he wakes up one morning to find half of his mustache gone. While rumi...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Duckpondwithoutducks rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries

I really like this mystery series set in India starring Vish Puri, who is not just a Private Investigator, but a Most Private Investigator!

I like how it shows the language of those living in India.
For example, the comment of one person: "Some hunger is there. I'll be joining you shortly, na. Just I'll take bath. Ten minutes only is required."
I think it's fascinating how people have different speech patterns in different places, but the same idea is expressed.
Where I live, those thoughts would...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was a delightful surprise. Most of the books from India can be quite oppressive and depressing, but not this one. I really liked Vish Puri, the protagonist, dealing with weight problems, an us against them, (unfounded but ingrained), dislike of Pakistanis, and dealing with his mother. He is an investigator and is trying to unravel an unlikely theft and a murder, which transpires in front of his eyes. When someone dies after eating the Butter Chicken he has also just enjoyed.

I found it...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Ivonne Rovira rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken provides two mysteries, of course -- one involving the murder of the father of a Pakistani star cricketer and another, more light-hearted one on the murder of a mustache. Both mysteries are excellently handled. Smug detective Vish Puri might be overly self-satisfied, but he has reason to be. He really does always get his man. The book would be worth it just for Puri's amusing and skilled investigations and his clever Mummy-ji's machinations.

Puri and his fami...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Carolyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the third book starring Vish Puri (nicknamed Chubby), India's Most Private Investigator. He no longer refers to himself as the greatest private detective in India, which was always amusing.I love the fabulous characters, which include secret sleuthing by Puri's Mommy, and those doing detective work for him. The people who he meets in solving crimes are always interesting and colorful.
Here we have a number of cases to be solved. The major crime was the poisoning of the father of a Pakis...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-or-something-akin-to-it

I wanted to see more Mummy-ji and voila! Here she is, not quite front-and-center, but slipping around the edges trying to avoid Chubby putting an end to her own investigations, but she manages to keep one step ahead, to solve a mystery and to tie up a loose ending from her own past.

And that is only one plot-line of this busy book. Meanwhile, Vish Puri and his staff work to follow a series of connections through the gambling world to solve a murder and betting conspiracy.

Pakistan and Partition ar...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Elvina Barclay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another great Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator, novel from Tarquin Hall. Vish Puri and his trusty gang of operatives must solve two new cases, a mustache thief must be found and the murderer of a Pakistani National killed by a dish of poison butter chicken needs to be caught. This also leads to uncovering and exposing a gambling syndicate.
Mix in Vish's family, especially his ever helpful Mommy-ji, and you have another great mystery to be solved.
Along the way you learn some of Vish's family...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-dramas, funny-mysteries, firstreads, international-reads, justfinished, mystery-thrillers, asian-lit

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book via First Reads and thoroughly enjoyed it. As a bonus, the third installment of the Vish Puri cases includes some delicious-looking recipes at the end of the book, which I can't wait to try! What a great addition since my mouth is often watering as I read about the tasty treats Vish Puri (or should I say "Chubby?"):) eats. I really enjoyed this one, as the 1947 Partition played a key role in the main case...as did Vish's Mummy. I think Vish would hav...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Judith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My I'm Reading entry:
I'd preordered this b/c I so enjoyed Hall's first two Vish Puri novels, and when it arrived from Amazon via that random guy in a Hyundai (Prestige Shipping?), I started it right away, even though I was reading "Slaves in the Family," which is excellent, but grim. I figured it would be a good, quick break--and it was, to an extent. The tone of this installment was a bit more serious than the other two, in that it dealt with the kidnapping and abuse of both Hindu and Sikh as w...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Cliff rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The third of the 'Vish Puri' private detective novels set in Delhi.

The main mystery concerns murders of two prominent figures apparently connected with illegal gambling and match fixing in the sport of cricket, which is immensely popular and has reached its most commercialised form in India. As if this were not enough, Puri is also tasked with finding who is responsible for denuding the upper lips of the possessor of India's longest moustache, and his rival.

The book has all the humour and social...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Sean rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found this book on the new fiction shelf at my local library. I almost did not grab it since it was the third in the series and my library did not have the earlier books. But something just captured by attention so I checked it out.

This was not the easiest read since you had to navigate the language. The book is full of terms local to India. While I can understand how some could find this distracting, I felt like it added to the flavor of the story. I could hear the accents in my head and it w...more

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May 13, 2013 Eileen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't know.... I started out really not liking something about this book. I think it was the strong dialect writing that drove me a bit crazy and made me feel uncomfortable, especially since the writer is British, not Indian.

That being said, it's a cozy little mystery, and I can imagine that I would have loved this book 20 years ago when my favorite mystery author was Agatha Christie, and I was discovering Christianna Brand, Robert Barnard, and Michael Bond. Now that I've spent some time with...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Avadhut rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://avadhutrecommends.wordpress.com/

My Rating – 4/5

Summary –

Vish Puri is back. And with a bang! India’s most private investigator is on the most treacherous case of his life – tracking murder of father of a Pakistani cricketer that will take him across the border in the enemy land and bring him face to face with the world of betting that thrives on the dirty nexus of politicians, underworld and a few greedy sportsmen.

Review –

If you have read first two Vish Puri mysteries then you will definit...more http://avadhutrecommends.wordpress.com/

My Rating – 4/5

Summary –

Vish Puri is back. And with a bang! India’s most private investigator is on the most treacherous case of his life – tracking murder of father of a Pakistani cricketer that will take him across the border in the enemy land and bring him face to face with the world of betting that thrives on the dirty nexus of politicians, underworld and a few greedy sportsmen.

Review –

If you have read first two Vish Puri mysteries then you will definitely want to read this one. I like Vish Puri novels not for the mystery (though it is good) but for Hall’s skill of capturing flavour of India. Hall manages to capture India as it is today – growing, changing yet clinging to its past; good as well as bad, a country once dubbed as ‘functioning anarchy’ where everything is changing and yet nothing really changes much. And of course Indian English in its superlative form. You may find it irritating sometimes, but trust me, this is exactly how Hinglish (Hindi+English) is spoken by many in India.

Vish Puri is among the guests in a hotel where father of Pakistani fast bowler Kamran Khan is murdered by poisoning his butter chicken. Vish is employed to track the murderer by people who think the murder was related to betting and want to free the game of cricket of this menace. With his ensemble sidekicks – Flush, Facecream and Tubelight, Vish embarks on the mission of tracing the trail of how betting is operated. His quest brings him face to face with the high and mighty guests, one of whom is the murderer.

As always Mummy Ji is also conducting her own clandestine investigation. But this time it is Mummy Ji who really understands the nature of crime and possesses a vital piece of information linked to the painful memories of partition and her own role after it.

This book has everything in it…. May be a tad too much. There is murder, cricket, illegal betting, politics, hawala racket, blood diamonds and a link to horrible past of India’s partition. Then there is another mystery involving stolen moustaches and I wondered for a long time to find a connection. Unlike his previous books that were focussed on exposing a particular type of hypocrisy (caste system and idol worshipping), this books makes liberal use of recent events in India. There are characters that you can recognise from real life. So if you are aware of current events in India and particularly the game of cricket, then you will have a sense of Déjà vu. But if you are not, actually better. I think you will enjoy the book much more that way.

The book also opens the old wounds of partition. It is 65 years since that dreadful August. Hall has maintained a restrained tone while describing it but it still rekindled the bloody memories even for someone like me from a much later generation. I am sure you will want to do some cross reading about India after you have read this book.(less)

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Aug 20, 2012 Christina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: world-challenge, first-read

I enjoyed reading the third installment of Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri series: The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken. At Shahi Palace here in town, Butter Chicken is by far my favorite dish, so this book sounded delicious from the start. Unfortunately, it was used to poison someone, so in the future, I may have to think twice before eating Butter Chicken. Vish Puri is a private investigator in New Delhi and when his case load has slowed down he accepts the call to investigate the theft of a mustach...more I enjoyed reading the third installment of Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri series: The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken. At Shahi Palace here in town, Butter Chicken is by far my favorite dish, so this book sounded delicious from the start. Unfortunately, it was used to poison someone, so in the future, I may have to think twice before eating Butter Chicken. Vish Puri is a private investigator in New Delhi and when his case load has slowed down he accepts the call to investigate the theft of a mustache...yes I said a mustache. This was not just any mustache; at 13 feet long it is the greatest mustache in all of India. Shortly after accepting the mustache case, Vish and his family are witness to the murder of a cricket player's father, who was poisoned by butter chicken. Vish Puri and his associates delve into the world of mustache mania, poison by aconite, blood diamonds, and the underground world of betting and fixing cricket matches.

Throughout the mystery, Tarquin Hall sprinkles in the sights, sounds, and smells of India. He takes the reader through the slums where a young mother is melting a toxic brew of circuit boards for valuable metals while holding a baby. The reader is also introduced to the world of 5 star hotels where appearance matters a great deal. Vish also surveys the movement of modern culture and questions if family will be as important to the younger generations. Throughout the novel family was one of the driving forces and my favorite family member is his Mummy. Vish's Mummy is quite a cantankerous woman and helps him solve the cases, but Vish avoids encouraging this behavior. Vish also ventures to a world where very few Indians would like to go, Pakistan. There is a great deal of cultural, political, and religious tension between these two countries and the novel touches on the India - Pakistan Partition of 1947.

Overall, the book was an enjoyable read. It was humorous in some places, and informative in others. I look forward to reading more Vish Puri mysteries!(less)

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May 09, 2012 James Jensen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

With this third installment, Tarquin Hall firmly establishes Vish Puri as one of the most entertaining Private Detectives in modern fiction. Additionally, in The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken, Hall displays a growing skill of blending the delicious ingredients of puzzle, relevant historical background and humor.

It took me much longer than normal to finish this latest Vish Puri adventure because I was so intrigued by Hall's historical background descriptions that I sought out as much online i...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Anne Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Indian names and vernacular make this book difficult to get through at first but after many visits to the included glossary, the story starts to flow. It's a series of good, complex, (and sometimes funny - a shorn mustache!) mysteries combined with an absolutely endearing cast of characters. There's ususually a thread of underlying, wry humor. In addition to all this, I learned about the India-Pakistan partition in 1947 - something I was not consciously aware of - and this gave me a new unde...more

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Aug 21, 2012 M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was the first Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri mystery I've read, even though there are two proceeding. So now, I have to go back and read the other two, while I wait for the (hopefully) fourth book of the series. If you liked Alexander McCall Smith (I'm thinking of The #1 Ladies Detective Agency), you will like this book as well.

Tarquin Hall effortlessly ushers you into the world of modern day Dehli and places you at the table with a rich cast of characters. There are three separate things going...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Rosemary rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

How does Tarquin Hall do it? He captures interesting forms of speaking English so typical of Indians that is charming and funny. His detective, Puri, and his crew: savvy beautiful women, a technology genius, a skillful driver, but he cannot control his own mother. What a woman whose dress sense is typical of elderly 'aunties' all over India. One gains insight into history a little known but important organization at the time of the separation of India and Pakistan and learns something about the...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-india

Even if India's greatest private investigator Vish Puri didn't have to solve the murder of the father of a Pakistani cricket player with the help of Puri's mother, this would be a delightful if sometimes depressing introduction to life in modern India. But Vish and his Mommy do co-operate on this case, introducing me, at least, to an unknown part of India's history. As an added plus, Vish also has to investigate a case of someone stealing world-record mustaches, right off the lips of the people...more

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About Tarquin Hall

Tarquin Hall is a British author and journalist who has lived and worked throughout South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He is the author of The Case of the Missing Servant, dozens of articles, and three works of non-fiction, including the highly acclaimed Salaam Brick Lane, an account of a year spent above a Bangladeshi sweat shop in London’s notorious East End. He is married to Indian-born jo...more

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Books by Tarquin Hall

The Case of the Missing Servant (Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator, #1)

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing: From the Files of Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator (Vish Puri, #2)

Salaam Brick Lane: A Year in the New East End

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The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken: A Vish Puri Mystery (Vish Puri #3)

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