Tarquin Hall

Even allowing for the lighter nature of this series, the idea of death by Hindu goddess in the middle of a laughter class is a bit of a stretch for anyone's imagination. But the thing I really like about the Vish Puri series of books is the gentle humour that eases the underlying message. The message of THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO DIED LAUGHING appearing to be the tension between modern and age-old Indian society, and hypocrisy in all its guises.

Knowing that the author married an Indian woman, and has lived in India for a period of time explains why a man with such an English name seems to be writing about that society and those messages with a combination of understanding, exasperation and great affection. Whilst Puri is a larger-than-life character, often referred to as the Indian Hercule Poirot, with his own particular set of mannerisms and ... well affectations ... underneath the slightly stereotypical persona there is an interesting mindset, and a man with a way of operating that seems somehow, quintessentially Indian.

The books also provide an insight into family life, and the way that the society functions within Puri's own particular class. Personally I love the character of Puri's Mummi-ji, even though I can't get Ummi from the Kumars at No 42 out of my head whenever she appears on the page...

The lightness of touch does rather deceive in this book though. At the start I just kept thinking the whole plot was too fantastic, too ludicrous to possibly be able to be explained logically and physically, and whilst there are more twists and turns to come before the resolution, the whole thing did ultimately make sense.

As this is now the second of the Vish Puri books don't let that worry you. Both of them would work out of order, so don't not pick up THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO DIED LAUGHING because you've not read THE CASE OF THE MISSING SERVANT. I'd also say don't be put off by the feeling that the both of them could be a bit light on, fluffy or even a tad unsympathetic. Sure they are entertaining and funny, but there's a little starch in the kurta at the same time. Oh and the food descriptions are positively cruel.... you can't read these books without a craving for authentic Indian food that just will not go away.

Two initial observations - book covers, especially for some reason, I've noticed, when the books are Sub-Continent or Asian based, can't be trusted; and we need a new genre - something along the lines of Food Crime Porn. The latter for the sort of books that describe food that would make you care less about the surrounding crime wave - something THE CASE OF THE MISSING SERVANT specialises in. The earlier comment because something odd seems to be going on - Shamini Flint's books aren't strictly cosy but the covers are, whereas the covers for the paperbacks of this series don't exactly scream funny. I do love these titles though, particularly as they really suit the somewhat old-worldly environment of Vish Puri's India. Needless to say, THE CASE OF THE MISSING SERVANT is a little bit cosy, a little bit Sub-Continental Poirot, a little bit Food Crime, and big bit of good fun.

What's so much fun about these books is the larger than life character of Puri. Not just physically, Puri is a man who also dominates his world with a larger than life personality. Dedicated to his profession of Private Detective, he is not a man given to doubts about his own ability. He has a way about him when it comes to nicknames, managing his big team of operatives and dealing with the complications of a mother who thinks she's a bit of a detective in her own right.

The humour is dry, rather laid-back and feels very accurate, albeit stereotypical. There's a vague feeling of a longing for The Raj which might worry some readers, although to be fair, I thought there was more affection than ridicule. The plot is, however, very much standard Christie type fare, and whilst these books are definitely more on the cosy side than I'd normally look for, the humour and the food (oh the food) made THE CASE OF THE MISSING SERVANT a nice way to pass some time.