This is a cozy mystery set in 1920s India. The author is a Professor of Sustainability who lives in Bangalore.

A young bride, Kaveri, has moved to Bangalore to be with her new husband Ramu. Kaveri is smart and forward-thinking and loves solving calculus equations. Ramu is a doctor at the local hospital. She is afraid Ramu will be firm and traditional in his views but finds him kind and progressive. Ramu introduces her to the English hospital director Dr Charles Roberts, and his wife Daphne. While having dinner at the Century Club they discover a man has been murdered, Ponnuswamy the local pimp.

Kaveri becomes obsessed with helping Deputy Inspector Ismail solve the crime.

This was an enjoyable read which provided some background to the area, including recipes at the end. I struggled somewhat with the number of characters and their names, probably due to listening to the audiobook version. It would have been easier to keep track on a different format. I don’t really like murders when the motivation is blamed on mental health, as it seems a little cliche and perpetuates a misconception.
I would also have liked to see more development of their relationship as it was brand new but didn’t feature greatly. There were also a few inconsistencies such as speaking about her love of complex calculus when she is solving a simple arithmetic problem, and they both seem very modern for the era. Nevertheless these small things aside, Kaveri was a likeable character and I would happily read another of her adventures. ( )

Easy read, lovely description of the 1920s Bangalore and its intricate social hierarchies wrapped up in a gripping mystery. Totally recommend this for a leisurely read. ( )

Sporadically engaging and readable, the story provides a picturesque insight of 1920's India and the colourful life of well-to-do citizens. While it is pleasant to read about Kaveri, the main protagonist, the flawed plotting and unrealistic portrayal of the life and times detracted from a solid narrative. The novel is not plotted sufficiently well, being contradictory or begging belief too many times. ( )

It was enjoyable from a cozy mystery perspective, a bit of political/cultural tension. But overall the sleuthing/mystery part was a bit dull. The main character spoke to suspects and they just spilled their secrets. She moved easily from clue to clue, and the police inspector started sharing evidence with her. ( )

This charming mystery, set in 1920s Bangalore, India, is full of surprises. Kaveri is a young bride who barely knows her husband, Ramu, a handsome doctor. They’re attending a party at the Century Club when a murder takes place, and Kaveri’s curiosity draws her into sleuthing. Unlike so many traditional husbands who want to hold their wives back, Ramu is proud of Kaveri’s cleverness (though he’s also concerned for her safety). Another surprise is the police officer on the case, who admires Kaveri’s skill rather than being alarmed or defensive. The author weaves aspects of Indian culture into the story and even shares some of the main character’s recipes at the end of the book. I enjoyed Kaveri’s caper and hope to read many more! ( )