The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck - Vish Puri Mystery by Tarquin Hall Paperback

Book Synopsis

Portly, perceptive and spectacularly moustachioed, India's finest private detective, Vish Puri, tackles his most difficult case to date in the long-awaited return of Tarquin Hall's delightful humorous whodunit series set in New Delhi.

'Vish Puri is the Indian Poirot' Financial Times
'Vish Puri [is] a Punjabi Sherlock Holmes' The Guardian

When Vish Puri, India's Most Private Detective, learns he's won the long-coveted International Detective of the Year award, it's supposed to be a secret. But within hours, it seems all of Delhi knows - and his indomitable Mummy-ji announces she'll be coming with him to the ceremony in London, never mind that she's not been invited.

To add to his woes, a senior government bureaucrat gives him an undercover mission he can't refuse. Puri is tasked with tracking down India's most-wanted fugitive: a billionaire pharmaceutical fraudster codenamed Bombay Duck, who's rumoured to be hiding in the British capital.

Puri's only spending a week in London . . . and he's already promised his wife he won't work during their once-in-a-lifetime trip. In desperation, he enlists the help of his reluctant nephew Jags and dives headfirst into the case. But can Puri hook the Bombay Duck and bring him to justice - all the while keeping his investigations secret from his wife and meddling mother?

Review Quotes

Humor is mixed with skilful plotting and realistic descriptions of contemporary India's overflowing street life

-- "Booklist Starred Review of The Case of the Love Commandos"

A comic and insightful detective story-- "Booklist"

A strong setting, a likable cast of characters, and a well-plotted story that will appeal to all mystery lovers, particularly fans of Michael Stanley, Alexander McCall Smith and Colin Cotterill-- "Library Journal on The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken"

A thoroughly engaging series . . . Hall presents a complex hero in a complex country with a great deal of history, humor and panache-- "Booklist Starred Review of The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken"

An amalgam of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes . . . Will please fans of Alexander McCall Smith-- "Library Journal"

Hilarious . . . Filled with engaging twists. Vish is a wonderfully realized character . . . You can dive in anywhere in this series and be rewarded with a rich experience-- "Booklist Starred Review of The Case of the Reincarnated Client"

Lively, amusing . . . Hall creates delightful characters and provides illuminating glimpses of contemporary Indian life-- "Publishers Weekly on The Case of the Reincarnated Client"

Solving the mystery is only part of the fun. Jolly good-- "Kirkus Reviews"

This concisely told tale is stuffed full of plot and wonderful characters-- "Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine"

Thought-provoking and charming-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of The Case of the Love Commandos"