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Inspector Ghote #18
The Iciest Sin
The iciest sin is blackmail, and that chilling crime is at the heart of this unusual mystery, featuring Bombay police detective, Inspector Ghote. As he investigates, Ghote himself becomes both a blackmailer and blackmail victim. Narrator Sam Dastor does an excellent job of bringing to life a colorful cast of characters, including the wickedly intriguing blackmailer, Dolly Daruwala. The Indian accents Dastor adopts sound very believable to western ears. His polished delivery does much to make this an engrossing tape and to build a following for the dogged, introspective detective, Inspector Ghote. D.L.G. AudioFile, Portland, Maine
162 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
1 person is currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
H.R.F. Keating
157 books54 followersHenry 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 12, 2021
I wasn't really too happy with this book. The main character seemed like a major dweeb, much worse than in previous books, if memory serves.
BUT NOW - the real mystery.
I was recommending this series to another reader, and made mention that the name is pronounced 'Fish'. That came directly from the author in the first edition, first book in the series,back in the '60s. I remember how odd it seemed, but then the Brits are always playing word games. I distinctly remember the explanation (or part of it) - that the 'Gh' was pronounced like the gh in cough. I forget the rest.
But now, both his friendly forward writer and the author himself say the name is pronounced Go-tay, which is what one would think, just looking at it.
So what happened?
Was it changed in following editions because it was too colonialist? Considered racist? Or just that if a reader hadn't read the forward in the first book they would never know? All of the above?
If anybody else knows anything about this, or remembers when he was called Fish, I'd love to hear about it.
BUT NOW - the real mystery.
I was recommending this series to another reader, and made mention that the name is pronounced 'Fish'. That came directly from the author in the first edition, first book in the series,back in the '60s. I remember how odd it seemed, but then the Brits are always playing word games. I distinctly remember the explanation (or part of it) - that the 'Gh' was pronounced like the gh in cough. I forget the rest.
But now, both his friendly forward writer and the author himself say the name is pronounced Go-tay, which is what one would think, just looking at it.
So what happened?
Was it changed in following editions because it was too colonialist? Considered racist? Or just that if a reader hadn't read the forward in the first book they would never know? All of the above?
If anybody else knows anything about this, or remembers when he was called Fish, I'd love to hear about it.
December 23, 2011
Funny little book where not all that much happens. I was expecting a nail-biting "whodunnit" set in an exotic locale. Instead, this is more of a case study of Indian culture as narrated by the protagonist, Inspector Ghone, a quirky, introspective and somewhat neurotic Inspector with Bombay PD -- reminded me of a Hindu Woody Allen. The plot is very slow-paced and yet I found myself inexplicably enjoying the book. So much so that I have started another, The Perfect Murder.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews