The Murder of the Maharajah

Inspector Ghote #12

by H.R.F. Keating

A princely state in India, 1930, under the British Raj. To Bhopore and its opulent Summer Palace comes a handful of Western visitors to meet the outrageous Maharajah and his entourage. There they met the Maharajah's heir, the sensual Porgy, and his English chorus-girl mistress. They meet the enigmatic chief minister--and the aloof British Resident, with his dignified little nine-year-old son. And before long they also meet sudden death....Various people in the Palace become suspects, and an imperturbable District Superintendent of Police is called in. But who will he find guilty of the murder of the Maharajah?

Genres: Mystery, India, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Crime, Historical Mystery

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

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

[DeAnna Knippling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Maharaja is killed. Five people are suspected. One detective teaches another how to go about the business of investigation. An homage to classic puzzle mysteries.

I didn't care for this. One of the best parts of an Agatha Christie novel is figuring out which reader assumption she's screwing with. This is about character assumptions, and the assumption was repeated so often that it was obvious what was going on. Some mysteries are fun to read even if you have the whodunit in hand; this one wasn't.

A lot of this felt like smoke and mirrors to draw out a short story--and then the smoke and mirrors plots were all left hanging once the mystery was solved. One particular red herring involves a twist that goes absolutely nowhere, even though it's strongly supported with several strong plot points.

I found this a frustrating, dull read. Your mileage may vary, though, if you don't spot the setup.

[Lisa the Tech · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I enjoy reading books that few have read, I'm a little surprised nobody has read this or rated it. I've read a couple of the Inspector Ghote books by the same author, and I greatly respect his book 'Whodunit?' as well.
The departed Maharajah in this book is not the most agreeable of men, to be sure, and everyone connected with him probably had a reason for wanting him dead. Unfortunately, it's just a little too much like Agatha Christie's style. Christie with an Indian flavour.
I have just finished reading it, and it unfolded very much in the Christie style. I know it was done as a homage to Christie, so that makes sense. I probably will not read it again.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
In 1930s India, eminent guests arrive at the summer palace of the outrageous Maharajah, notorious for his practical jokes. The party is soon in full swing - until one prank leads to murder.

[Shahana Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favourite. A delightful murder mystery set in a decadent ruler of an Indian princely state's palace in the 1930s. Cleverly crafted by the author who left the most delightful aspect of the mystery literally in the very last word on the last page of the book.

[Joggingt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow but interesting

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: we're in 1930 under the Raj. To the Maharajah's Summer Palace come western visitors. Soon sudden death. Ghote is called in.

[Two Envelopes And A Phone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting whodunit, certainly in terms of time-and-place evocation; the Maharajah’s palace in Bhopore, 1930, is the place to be even before someone drops to the ground murdered. I was confused for almost the entire book as to how this qualified as ‘an Inspector Ghote Mystery’ - I had read a later one, ages ago, and did not recall it being set in the 1930s…and even if I was mistaken about that, why was Ghote waiting forever to show up in this one! All questions regarding this answered, of course, as well as all questions tied to what is a multi-faceted and very clever murder mystery. This is a book where many of the suspects have very clear motives for contemplating homicide, but a reader might be afraid to discount anyone present who seems to have no possible motive, but definitely had opportunity. The reader may be even more suspicious of all circumstances, when it becomes evident that, really, only five people could have possibly done the dirty deed. This is never something you want to buy, even if it seems a given; which good suspects seem to have been cleared a little too easily…?

I knew I was potentially in a sea of red herrings swimming along phantom currents. I became perturbed about keeping the field of suspects wider than seemed prudent - wider than the detective was focusing on, after a certain point - rather than hoovering up only those details pertaining to the ‘Sure Five’; was I wasting my time grasping for explanations that could not work, or would make the novel outlandish? I did have a sense that the sea of red herrings drowned maybe only a precious few clues…or had I missed a heap of hints.

I wouldn’t say this novel ultimately cheats, or subtly mutilates the rules of whodunit ‘Fair Play’; in truth, as the big reveal came - and the biggest thing that had got slipped past me, the best clue one needed to get or think back to - I did sit back and try to assess if the author, in attempting to include something while camouflaging it, had put in place just a teeny bit too much ‘camouflage’ to make the whole thing Fair. But it’s actually a wonderful clue, with a wonderful way of pushing it down under the radar - my own radar, anyway. Flipping pages back, to revisit That Critical Moment, showed me that Keating worked very hard to obscure and reveal, both at the same time; and strangely, glancing at other paragraphs while looking for the one I wanted, showed me there were other little hints, things I missed, while I spent so much time looking for the person with the telltale orange stains on their hands (I thought I at least had that bit figured out, so as to feel at least one tenth decent detective - but alas, that and any other theories I conjured up all eventually smelled like herring).

4.5 stars rounded down.

[Susan Collinsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, this does not feature Inspector Ghote. I did listen to it, but I'm pretty sure the District Superintendent's name was Howard. And there were several references to the fact that he is born of English parents but has never left India. This, apparently, gives him a different status. Also the story takes place far removed from Bombay. So.
Anyway. Pretty decent mystery. The usual- several people have more or less convincing reasons to want the victim dead. I LOVED the reader! (audio book) Some features became tiresome. Mrs Alcott was so very stupid. For DS Howard, "hooded eyes" are not a character quality.
I would read more by this author. He did an excellent job writing in the 1930's style similar to Sayers, Christie, and Forster.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

1930 India when the British ruled government and politics and the maharajahs commanded tradition, culture and religion. Detective Superintendent of Police Howard must contend with both and is a silent white clothed specter who sees all, hears all and thinks much.

SPOILER ALERT!


Really curious that this is the prequel to the series, and introduces Schoolteacher Ghote.

[thearcher89 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am/was writing a story set in an Indian palace, so I thought I would read this to see if there is anything unique or cool. It is a subpar mystery -- a lot of talking and covering the same points over and over again -- about how there's only five suspects, ad nauseum. The explanation is a bit prolonged, and reenactment is rather painful to read.

[Teddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun cozy mystery. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Masayuki Arai · Rating 3 out of 5]

What did the next Maharajah do about the dam?

[Human Entity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captures the lifestyle of the British Raj in great detail. Overall, the mystery was not that complicated.

[Regine]

Charming.

[Terence Blowfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this whodunit. A goodread.

[Anno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was slow paced and a bit redundant but I enjoyed the "historical' references and the descriptions of life in India under British rule. Quite surprised to find out that interesting tidbit at the very end!

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Maybe the narrator made it sing.

[Les Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best Ghote book, but still a good read.

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off - not an Inspector Ghote novel. Fair play mystery bit the middle section is overlong. Full review at classicmystery.wordpress.com