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The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

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About this listen

Early one morning, on the lawns of a grand boulevard in central Delhi, a group of professionals are attending their therapeutic Laughing Club when a 20-foot apparition of the Goddess Kali appears, and strikes one of their number dead. The goddess disappears without trace, and soon news of the crime has all India agog. For the victim is celebrated sceptic and rationalist Dr Suresh Jha, enemy of all gurus and mystics, and he has been silenced in a manner calculated to unnerve even his most loyal supporters. As the media go into frenzy, it becomes clear that the case goes to the heart of the battle between superstition and rationality in modern India. But the fact remains that a murder has been committed. And as it becomes clear that powerful forces are at play, one man is perfectly placed to investigate: the portly detective Vish Puri. In fact, the idea that he could resist getting involved in such a tantalizing murder is preposterous. There is as much chance of him going without his lunch.

©2011 Tarquin Hall (P)2011 Random House AUDIO GO Crime Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Crime Fiction Murder
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I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. Very easy listening, great characters and storyline and the narration is up there with the best.
So nice to have a great mystery series set somewhere other than UK or USA.

An excellent series

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I have enjoyed all Tarquin Halls Indian detective novels both for the intricate interwoven plots but also for the cultural feel imparted in the language, fascinating historical facts and attention to detail conjuring up a real sense of life in Delhi through the food, living conditions and characters. This is especially brought to life by the wonderful narrator Sam Dastor who gives voice to all the characters in a real authentic way.

Best Indian detective stories

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Great listen, unusual plots, wonderful characters, all enhanced by the narrator. The background setting adds to the interest, and they are funny as well!

Fed up with the predictable then try this series

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There are simply too many characters to keep up with in this second outing for Detective Puri. While the descriptions of place & character are as colourfully evocative as in the first novel, the web of intrigue became more and more unintelligible, as I tried to distinguish one character from another.
This reader got lost on a number of occasions in the quagmire of the author's "cleverness".

Vast cast of characters gets confusing

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Smart and heartwarming, funny and beautifully written - and the narration couldn’t be more perfect. Hoping for many more from the series.

Beautiful story, perfect narration

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