The Case of the Missing Servant: from the Files of Vish Puri, India's Most Private Investigator

Tarquin Hall's mystery novel, The Case of the Missing Servant, introduces readers to a memorable detective, Vish Puri. Known to old friends and family as Chubby, Vish Puri runs Delhi's Most Private Investigators Ltd., from which he and his staff spend most of their time performing investigations on potential marriage candidates to be sure that families aren't surprised by skeletons in the closets of a bride or groom. While part of The Case of the Missing Servant uncovers sensitive information about a bridegroom, the bulk of this mystery involves the disappearance of a servant and Puri's efforts on behalf of his client to prove that he did not murder the missing girl. Vish Puri has the grey matter to solve a case with the skill of a Hercule Poirot, the ability to draw information from others along the lines of Mma Ramotswe, and a distinctly 21st century Delhi temperament. Readers who love India or mysteries will enjoy reading The Case of the Missing Servant.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)
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In an exotic, far-away country, a detective of traditional build - whose deceased father was a source of pride and wisdom - sits contemplating a case while guiltily munching on a fried treat. He's on a stake-out of - Wait, did you think I was talking about Mma Ramotswe sitting in Botswana, eating a donut? Silly of you...but understandable. No, I'm referring to Vish Puri, the owner of Most Private Investigators Ltd., the hero of Tarquin Hall's new mystery "The Case of the Missing Servant." (An uninspired title, to be sure; at least "The Case of the Missing Maidservant" would have an alliterative quality.) How closely does this novel (presumably the first of a proposed series) resemble Alexander McCall Smith's wildly popular "The Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency" books? The bad news is that it's a blatant bid to compete with the latter, an obvious case of a writer and his publishers' capitalizing on someone else's success. (For all I know, Hall's been working on this novel for years, but I doubt it.) The good news is that, in spite of the opening image, Hall's book is unique and diverting enough to stand on its own.

Vish Puri couldn't be any more different from Mma Ramotswe, nor could his agency and its circumstances. Puri is, in his own words, "the best [detective] in India," and runs a large, thriving enterprise, employing numerous operatives (including ex-intelligence officers and masters of disguise) who help ensure the successful outcome of every case. He's made many enemies in the line of duty, and often finds his life in danger. And he has a meddling mother who's not averse to taking professional matters into her own hands, much to Puri's dismay. All this adds up to an entertaining, if slight, crime novel. Hall is a terrific writer, with a firm grasp on both the descriptive and comic aspects of his story, and the book is never less than a pleasurable read. But as engaging as is Hall's style and the characters he's created, what's missing is the heart and soul that's made the McCall Smith books such a huge international success. Hall never tugs at our hearts, which, to be fair, may not be what he's interested in doing. But he's clearly set himself up in competition with the Botswana series (the blurb on the book's back refers to Puri having "the provincial appeal of Precious Romatswe"), and I think he falls short.

For one thing, that "provincial appeal" is something of a problem, in my opinion. As in the McCall Smith series, there's a slight air of condescension that permeates "The Case of the Missing Servant." We're clearly supposed to be partial to Vish Puri, and we are. He's like Hercule Poirot - another comparison the publishers have made - meticulous, fussy and endearingly confident in his own brilliance. But at moments it seems that Hall would like us to laugh at Puri and his cohorts as much as laugh with them. He has Puri listening to "Yanni Live at the Acropolis" on his nights off, he has Puri's secretary refer to wifi as "whif-ee," and he tells us that "the most ingenious attempt [on Puri's life] had been orchestrated by a cunning murderer (a naturalist by profession)...who had secretly sprayed Puri's clothes with a pheromone that attracted one-horned rhinos." Come on, is he pulling our collective legs, or what? By the time Puri suffers a severe, anxiety induced bout of flatulence, the condescension had degenerated into parody, which is unfortunate. It's one thing to give your hero foibles; it's another to invite your audience to join you in making fun of him.

And as good a writer as Hall is, I wish he didn't rely so heavily on native Indian words and phrases. It certainly adds to his credibility (Hall "divides his time between London and Delhi," according to his short bio), but constantly having to refer to the 15-page glossary at the back of the book goes from being a distraction to an annoyance very quickly. Particularly at the times when Hall could simply "speak English." He refers to a character who has "overcooked the chaval," or how another "barely had enough time to eat his khana..." The glossary explains that "chaval" means "rice," and "khana" means "food." So...would it have killed Hall to simply write that his character "overcooked the rice," or "barely had time to eat his food?" In the first chapter alone, I had to refer to the glossary 16 times, sometimes as much as 4 times in a single page. In future, maybe Hall will learn how to maintain ambience without unnecessarily taxing his readers. As another reviewer pointed out, footnotes would address the issue in a more reader-friendly manner.

Ultimately, "The Case of the Missing Servant" is worth the trip. And I'll probably check out Puri's further adventures, should there be any. But it will be interesting to see if readers flock to Delhi the way they have to Gabarone. I don't see that happening unless Hall writes a bit more from his heart, and a bit less from his patronizing funny bone.

I love India. I'm a big fan of its food, culture, religion, folklore and history. So when I had the opportunity to review a mystery set in India, written by a person who lived in Delhi, I thought it would be fun to do so. Well, Tarquin Hall knows India and the aspects of Indian culture were well done, but the story was very dry and dull and it took me forever to wade through this book. I found most of the characters to be two-dimensional and at times, the rambling subplots and the attempts to enjoin "Chubby" and "Mummy's" stories felt rushed and poorly done. Characters sometimes had little to no description while others had a great deal. The book just felt like it could have used some tightening up and a better editor.

Now the non-fiction parts of the book were brilliant. Tarquin really knows his India and I LOVE that he provided an Indian glossary and forced readers to learn some new words while trying to keep text and dialogue authentic. I've also read one of his other books, "To the Elephant Graveyard," which I quite enjoyed and it wasn't until after I ordered this book I realized they both had the same author. Unfortunately, I believe Mr. Hall is best left to the non-fictional forays.

First Sentence: Vish Puri, founder and managing director of Most Private Investigators Ltd., sat alone in a room in a guesthouse in Defense Colony, south elhi, devouring a dozen green chili pakoras* from a greasy takeout box.

Private Investigator Vish Puri has his hands full. An honest and respected public litigator has been accused of murdering his maidservant. The police say they have witnesses of him dumping the body. Puri must prove the man's innocence and find the real killer. A second case has Puri investigating a potential bridegroom. The bride's father is certain there is something his daughter's fiancée is hiding. And who attempted to kill Puri while he was on his own rooftop?

Puri is often compared by others to Sherlock Holmes but he also reminds me of Hercule Poiroit, albeit with a larger spirit. He also made me think, a bit, of Louise Penny's Gamache because of his four rules of detection. All together, he is a very likable, appealing character. He's not perfect, fortunately, as he has an intense fear of flying.

Puri is supported by a fascinating team of operatives, each with their own background. Best of all is Mummy, his mother, who conducts her own investigation and has the experience for so doing. No amateurs here.

It is fascinating to look at an entirely different culture. One forgets how old a civilization is India yet it a culture in transition. There is a bit of a moral and/or cautionary tale for Westerners here. The gap between the wealthy and the poor is huge. The old jobs for the individual and the poor are disappearing. The Indian court and justice system is a shamble. Bribery is the way in which much gets done. "How can India reach superpower status with all the corruption around." Yet Puri also observes that Krishna stated "The discharge of one's moral duty supersedes all other pursuits, whether spiritual or material.".

The three mysteries within the story are very well done. There is nothing obvious about them and the investigation is done through following the clues and investigative procedure. I like that. The writing is first rate; not a portent or cliff hanger in sight.

This was a very enjoyable book and one I probably would not have picked up had it not been a selection of my mystery readers' group. I would read more in the series and would definitely recommend "The Case of the Missing Servant."

THE CASE OF THE MISSING SERVANT (PI-Vish Puri-India-Cont) - VG
Hall, Tarquin - 1st in series
Simon & Schuster, ©2009, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9781416583684

Tarquin Hall has hit the nail on the head. Vish Puri is the slightly eccentric and now sadly disappearing product of the peculiar post independence period in India. These were anglophiles who were fanatic nationalists, religious but not extremist, socialists but not communists, proud of the achievements of independent India, the military and the civil service were their professions of choice and they were just as rigid about who gets in the club as the British were. Unfortunately these interesting characters are now being replaced by photocopied materialistic corporate types. If you've spent any significant time in India, the characters will come come alive to you. And thank god for the glossary. Even though I understand a rough approximation of Hindi, there were many unknown phrases and I found the glossary very helpful. Another reviewer has complained about having the glossary at the end of the book and would have preferred asterisks or parenthesis throughout. I disagree. I find that having the meanings of local phrases throughout the book, spoils the flow. As soon as I found out that there was a glossary, I just read all the phrases so I wouldn't have to keep going back to it. An excellent mystery, set in the turmoil of fast evolving modern Delhi.

This is Tarquin Hall's first mystery involving Vish Puri the owner of India's Most Private Investigators, LTD.—I sincerely hope there are many more to come (several of my other book series have been terminated of late due to the demise of the authors). Puri and his company are based in Delhi and reminds me of the detective Gittes in the movie Chinatown with perhaps a little small dollop of Hercule Poirot mixed in.

Whereas the staple of American detectives is supposed to be infedility cases, this is Inda and Puri's most common cases are performing background checks on potential spouses in the typical arranged marriages. However, not all of Puri's past cases have been so mundane as Puri has not trouble assembling a list of potentially lethal enemies. As the title states, the main, but not sole, case of this novel revolves around locating a missing servant rather than a premarital investigation.

In addition to a well plotted, well characterized mystery, Hall provides us with a view of modern day India where the offshoring business has caused some segements of India to burst into relative prosperity while surrounded by old India. The new prosperity has apparently outstripped Indian infrastructure as well as sorely tested traditional Indian values. While it is dangerous to take as gospel a novelists depiction of an unfamiliar place, the picture painted by Hall is fascinating and provides a unique backdrop for the mystery.

I cannot believe there are so many five star reviews from Amazonians for Tarquin Hall's `The Case of the Missing Servant'. I wanted so much to like this novel, but it turned out uneven and unengaging. It is just plain unsatisfying.

The premise was a good one: Follow a Delhi detective agency through several cases and learn about India and the people at 'Most Private Investigations'. 'The Case of the Missing Servant' was a good platform from which to launch a whole series of Vish Puri Detective Stories. However, first-time author Tarquin Hall doesn't give us enough reasons to want to crave future Vish Puri mysteries.

Hall contributes greatly to my tiny Indian vocabulary, especially words of Indian cuisine. However he doesn't do a good job of describing the appearance, taste or texture what's being savored. I can also thank/blame Hall for increasing my repertoire of Indian cuss words. Words I'd never in a million years hear uttered by my polite and refined Indian friends and coworkers.

Vish Puri is a foppish, clever and resourceful second-generation gumshoe who solves cases while munching fatty fried treats. I'd have loved it if Hall had fashioned Vish into a hard-boiled, two-fisted Philip Marlowe-type of detective. But... he didn't.

While Hall paints Puri in colorful detail, other characters are only faint sketches. Is Puri's attractive female undercover operative Facecream tall, short, pudgy or slim? Why is she is so good at extracting information? What techniques does she employ? I don't know because Hall just doesn't bother providing any detd ails. Same goes for Puri's other detective helpers, Handgrip and Tubelight. The novel would have had greater substance if Hall had given some description and support to his supporting characters.

At times Hall portrays Puri as clever, insightful and well-suited to his work. Then he describes Puri as superficial, vain and egotistical. Puri tries hard to balance these inconsistencies while dealing with clientele who already show little respect because of Puri's low-caste, keyhole-peeping occupation.

I don't ever throw in spoilers in my reviews. Except now. Hall fails horribly as a mystery writer when he reveals the murderer at the same moment we meet that character for the first time. Where's the sport in a mystery if the Reader doesn't have a shot at solving it himself?

If Hall had written a different story in a different genre and made Puri a chef or tour guide, he would have produced a better product. I might take another chance on Vish Puri and Tarquin Hall if there is a second novel. But I'll read the Amazon customer reviews first.

An interesting start for a possible book series and I enjoyed this inaugural effort very much. Vish Puri, the proprietor of Most Private Investigators Ltd., is a bit of a fop, fussy and pedantic, but in the end shows a keen intelligence and just as important, a kind heart. The supporting cast of characters helps the book considerably because they are clearly delineated and appealing, especially the ace detective's mother. I'm quite sure her role will increase with each installment.

I've only been to India once briefly, so I don't know if middle class Indians really talk with a mish-mash of idioms and odd verb usage. If a reader thinks the author is using stereotypes, "The Case of the Missing Servant" might not be appealing.

"...That is why substitute batsmen like myself are making good innings."
"...Ask the doctors and all. They must be knowing."

I think that's how most Americans think Indians speak English. Do they really? I don't know. I still enjoyed the book even though the junior high library cover and the title don't help. Hopefully, they will be changed for the first printing.

Avid readers of "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" should try this book. After all, after you devour the latest Alexander McCall Smith installment, it's a long wait for the next visit with Precious Ramotswe.

The Case of the Missing Servant is the fiction debut from Tarquin Hall, but it hardly comes off as a freshman effort. This mystery novel features Vish Puri, India's Most Private Investigator whose slogan is, "Confidentiality Is My Watchword". Puri's cases mostly consist of investigating one of the parties of an arranged marriage, but our story finds Puri landing a case of much greater substance. High profile lawyer, Ajay Kasliwal, is accused of the rape and murder of one of his servant girls who turns up missing. Prior to being officially charged, Kasliwal hires Puri to find out what really happened to Mary. Armed with little more knowledge than this (not even Mary's last name), Puri and his team of operatives set about trying to unravel the riddle of Mary's disappearance. Because a direct approach of investigation is ineffective in India's culture, Puri and his team resort to various undercover operations in order to piece together the truth of the matter until the story reaches a satisfying conclusion.

The characters of the story are pretty well done. Most characters are known by nicknames, and this is especially true of Puri's Team made up of Flush, Tubelight, Facecream, and Handbrake. Even Puri is known to many as Chubby (family and friends) or Boss (his operatives). Puri is portrayed as a smart but quirky detective, and he is very likeable. While a master at his craft, he doesn't have as good of a handle on his health. He is overweight, and he resists his wife's and his doctor's attempts to get him to eat better. While her role is minor, Puri's "Mummy" was one of my other favorite characters. She actually takes up the investigation (much to Chubby's chagrin) of the attempt on Puri's life early in the story. It would have been nice to have seen more of her in the novel.

While not a comedy the story does have some funny moments. Chubby avoids air travel if at all possible, but he is forced to fly between Delhi and Jaipur on one occasion. His fear of flying leads to a rather humorous sequence of events. While it only lasts a page or so, it was a laugh out loud moment.

The Case of the Missing Servant is fairly tame. It rarely contains foul language, and it is usually in Hindi. While every good mystery requires a body or two, none of the violence is graphic or gratuitous. The one thing that may trip some people up is the moderate use of Hindi or other foreign terms. There is a short glossary at the end of the book for most of these terms, but I hardly found this to be a problem.

Overall, The Case of the Missing Servant is a very well done novel, and I hope to see future adventures of Vish Puri.

Overall: A-

First Sentence: Vish Puri, founder and managing director of Most Private Investigators Ltd., sat alone in a room in a guesthouse in Defense Colony, south elhi, devouring a dozen green chili pakoras* from a greasy takeout box.

Private Investigator Vish Puri has his hands full. An honest and respected public litigator has been accused of murdering his maidservant. The police say they have witnesses of him dumping the body. Puri must prove the man's innocence and find the real killer. A second case has Puri investigating a potential bridegroom. The bride's father is certain there is something his daughter's fiancée is hiding. And who attempted to kill Puri while he was on his own rooftop?

Puri is often compared by others to Sherlock Holmes but he also reminds me of Hercule Poiroit, albeit with a larger spirit. He also made me think, a bit, of Louise Penny's Gamache because of his four rules of detection. All together, he is a very likable, appealing character. He's not perfect, fortunately, as he has an intense fear of flying.

Puri is supported by a fascinating team of operatives, each with their own background. Best of all is Mummy, his mother, who conducts her own investigation and has the experience for so doing. No amateurs here.

It is fascinating to look at an entirely different culture. One forgets how old a civilization is India yet it a culture in transition. There is a bit of a moral and/or cautionary tale for Westerners here. The gap between the wealthy and the poor is huge. The old jobs for the individual and the poor are disappearing. The Indian court and justice system is a shamble. Bribery is the way in which much gets done. "How can India reach superpower status with all the corruption around." Yet Puri also observes that Krishna stated "The discharge of one's moral duty supersedes all other pursuits, whether spiritual or material.".

The three mysteries within the story are very well done. There is nothing obvious about them and the investigation is done through following the clues and investigative procedure. I like that. The writing is first rate; not a portent or cliff hanger in sight.

This was a very enjoyable book and one I probably would not have picked up had it not been a selection of my mystery readers' group. I would read more in the series and would definitely recommend "The Case of the Missing Servant."

THE CASE OF THE MISSING SERVANT (PI-Vish Puri-India-Cont) - VG
Hall, Tarquin - 1st in series
Simon & Schuster, ©2009, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9781416583684