Inspector Ghote Caught in Meshes

Inspector Ghote #3

by H.R.F. Keating

Anthony Boucher
"...the color and suspense sequences are fine -- especially a grand siege in a pornographically decorated temple." -- New York Times Book Review

Genres: Mystery, India, Fiction, Detective, Mystery Thriller

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Henry Reymond Fitzwalter Keating was an English writer of crime fiction most notable for his series of novels featuring Inspector Ghote of the Bombay CID.

H. R. F. KEATING was well versed in the worlds of crime, fiction and nonfiction. He was the crime books reviewer for The Times for fifteen years, as well as serving as the chairman of the Crime Writers Association and the Society of Authors. He won the CWA Gold Dagger Award twice, and in 1996 was awarded the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for outstanding service to crime fiction.

Series:
. Inspector Ghote
. Harriet Martens

Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Perfectly Criminal

Reviews

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Ghote good read.

[Writerlibrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an all shades of grey kinda plot. Ghote is torn between loyalty to his country, to his job and the friendship that's he's developing with Professor Gregory Strongbow, who's brother Hector death Ghote is investigating. It's a particularly interesting point of view, essentially almost all Ghote, to a situation he's very unsure about. Caught between duty and friendship and trying to save his own life Ghote walks the narrow line in this one and it gives the reader something to think about.

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm of two minds about this book. From the first two volumes I got the feeling that these are supposed to be very tongue-in-cheek; that the Inspector is almost a "Closeau" type character. But in this book he almost seems to be a character of ridicule. Maybe its me and I'm becoming to sensitive to the way non-whites are represented by white writers? As my ex told when she told me we were getting divorced--its you not then(me).

So as to the story itself, its a little week in the mystery police procedural part and heavy in the Ghote and Indian sociological part. That's OK but doesn't make for the most engrossing novel. I am going to finish the whole series, its just going to take me more time than I expected.

[Sue Law · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointing entry in the Inspector Ghote series, uneven, patchy, relying on idiocy to keep the plot going.
An American tourist (who happens to be a scientist) is targeted by assassins. After starting on the case Ghote finds himself transferred to the command of part of the Indian secret service. The rules are very different to those of the Bombay CID.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing from start to finish. A ludicrous plot and a denouement that seemed to be plucked out of thin air. I’ll try one more book to see if this was an anomaly but I haven’t been overly impressed by the quality of the series so far.

[Denise Tarasuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Inspector Ghote comes to the rescue! So honest and so good, but who can he trust? I did not want to miss a word. Fantastic to the last word!

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than #2 but not enough to move the the series closer to the top of my 'read next' list. A pleasant enough distraction on a very hot day.

[Fran Irwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Eva B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspector Ghote is always enjoyable

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best Ghote book so far. More action and less of the interminable detail. The crime took centre stage as opposed to the detective who has a tendency to be dull and repetitive.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I went back and saw that this was originally published in 1965 this book and story made a whole lot more sense to me. The whole nuclear plot seemed more believable and the political climate of that time seemed more accurately portrayed. Inspector Ghote is taken off the police force to serve in some shady, secretive, government bureau because the brother of an American professor visiting India has been murdered and the professor himself is in great danger. Ghote tries his best to keep the professor alive and almost fails on multiple occasions which moves the story along at a rapid clip. In his quiet, persistent, subservient way, Inspector Ghote saves the day and exposes who is behind the murder and attempted murders. This is my third audio experience with the Inspector and I'm really enjoying the stories, the narration and the glimpse into a country I've never been to. Good little chair-bound vacation packed with action and adventure!

[Geert Daelemans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much like a comic book

On the lonely and dusty road between Bombay and Poona, Hector, the brother of the famous American hydrology professor Gregory Strongbow, drives his car like he is fleeing for someone. At a bend a farmer is blocking the road with his oxcart. When Hector, ignorant of any danger, steps out of is car to urge the farmer on, a few shots are fired from the bushes. Hector dies instantly. When Inspector Ghote arrives on the scene he quickly gets acquainted with the stubborn professor Gregory Strongbow, who refuses to tell what his brother was up to. It is the task of Ghote to find out what is happening before someone tries to kill the professor. It doesn't take the inspector a lot of time to stumble upon a complot that goes up the the highest ranks of Indian politics.
This crime novel has a lot in common with some Tintin comics: the antagonist gets into trouble but is each time saved miraculously as by some godly intervention, the characters are as flat as flat can be and the story line goes straight from one action scene to the next, without seeming to pay attention to reality. If this was a comic it could have been forgiven, but you won't get away with this in a novel. At least the story has some nice cliffhangers that made reading the story bearable, but nevertheless it was only mildly entertaining.

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the answer is whether free or not I just should not read mysteries set in former British colonies that were written some time ago. It is not the city name changes (Bombay to Mumbai as an example). Keating seems intent to portray Inspector Ghote as someone who does not see himself as the equal of of his American visitor who's brother's murder Ghote is investigating. Perhaps, that attitude existed once upon a time, but I find it hard to believe it was the case when the book was written (copyright 1965). True, my attitude is colored by the Indians with whom I grew up with in the U.S. In addition, this is far from a "fair play" mystery as Ghote seems to reach his conclusion at the end by snatching facts out of thin air. A shame because Ghote himself is not an uninteresting character, but not interesting enough for me to come back for another book.

[Hester · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked "Bribery, Corruption Also," and so expected to really like this book. Unlike so many authors, Keating got better with time. This was only his third Inspector Ghote book and while there were a couple interesting characters and a major twist, it didn't have much content. I cannot be too harsh, however, when he got better as he got older and I read one of his earlier works.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought it was time to visit India and spend time with the Inspector. This was an amusing sort of story. I could see it in comic strip form for some reason. I did guess it all, but that's okay. It was a good diversion.