Inspector Ghote Plays a Joker

Inspector Ghote #5

by H.R.F. Keating, Vaseem Khan (Introduction)

Inspector Ghote, 'one of the great creations of detective fiction' (Alexander McCall Smith), is assigned his most baffling case preventing the murder ... of a flamingo, in this classic mystery - with a brand-new introduction by bestselling author Vaseem Khan. Inspector Ganesh Ghote of the Bombay CID is taken aback when his boss, the rage-prone Deputy Superintendent Naik, cheerfully summons him with an unusual to stop a murder. But his boss's good mood turns out to be the least bizarre thing about the situation. For the potential murder victim is an expensive flamingo ― a gift from the US Consul ― and if Ghote doesn't prevent it meeting the same tragic end as its three companions, it could result in serious embarrassment for the government. Saddled with the most incompetent sergeant in the history of policing, Ghote investigates with his usual thoroughness, and soon suspects the flamingo-slaying is linked to a whole series of elaborate, unkind pranks. Who would do such a thing, and why? The hard-working inspector doesn't get the joke. But when the case takes a darker turn, all thoughts of humour are forgotten...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook

181 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1969

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

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. Full review at classicmystery.blog

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasantly insubstantial old-fashioned mystery. Inspector Ghote operates mostly by hunches and intuition, not police procedure or ratiocination. A good book for a day when you don't want to work very hard.

[William P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best mystery I've ever read, and not nearly as good as the Vish Puri books, but not bad. The mystery is interesting, the characters are a little shallow but not horribly so, and the plot moves along at a decent pace. Overall, I'd say it's worth a read, but only if you're looking for a mystery taking place in India and have exhausted the Vish Puri books first.

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ganesh Ghote is sent by his boss to find out who is shooting the Flamingos that were given to the Bombay Zoo by the US Ambassador. Three of them have been killed by rifle shot, and the fourth is killed while he is there. It turns out that someone in Bombay has been enjoying himself by making a mess out of nationally reported events.

On the morning of the India Derby, when his handlers go to get the favorite, their is a donkey in his stall, and he is found hours away in his owner's training center in the country to late to run in the race. This joker has also messed up an experiment for desalinization of ocean water, and of a famous hathayogi to walk on water.

Who is it, who is able to be involved in these disparate situation. To assist him in this endeavor, his boss has given Ghote a sergeant, who turns out to have been shuffled among the different Police sections because of his consistent incompetency. He is not only of little use but most of the time he is off trying to place or take bets to support his family.

We all know that Ganesh will overcome all obstacles and solve the problem.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

set in (the then) Bombay, India where this dimwit detective can't understand his superiors, can't follow directions, can't keep a thought. He is such an idiot that story is frustrating to follow in the beginning. But we soon find that the citizens have more authority than the police, and no one is in charge. Turned out to be great, Fun Read.

[Writerlibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set a few years after Independence, Inspector Ghote's pursuits of criminals gives us readers a view of India that we do not have the chance to encounter even if Keating only went to India 10 years after he started to write the series.

This particular inquiry starts with a bang and a truly strange victim but soon we are following Ghote through the maze of suspects and are given a satisfying solution.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun, though the ending felt a bit abrupt.This is the first I have tried in the series and I will try more

[Phyllis Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story is dumb, but I listened to the audiobook, and the reader is excellent.

[Bachyboy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted a good detective novel set in India but this was pretty stupid really.