The Delhi Cowboys are taking on the Kolkata Colts at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, where Vish and Rumpi Puri are about to take their seats among 50,000 screaming cricket fans. At the risk of stating the obvious, cricket is extremely popular in India. What I didn't know was how popular gambling was, especially gambling on cricket. But gambling on cricket is illegal in India, which makes it all the more attractive to dishonest and unsavory characters. Making things even more interesting is the inclusion of eight Pakistani players on the Colts' team. India and Pakistan don't really get along. (Google 1947 Partition to learn more from experts!) So when the father of the Pakistani star of the Colts keels over dead in his butter chicken, Vish Puri finds himself right in the middle of a tense and dangerous game. Amazingly the key to the mystery seems to lie with Vish's Mummy-ji. Now, Vish believes that Indian mothers have no business being private detectives, just don't say that to Mummy-ji! Together they uncover mysteries and lies hidden for over 50 years, and Vish discovers that even those closest to him can have unimaginable secrets.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these books! I have never been to India, but Tarquin Hall brings India to me with all of its sights, sounds, triumphs and failures. He obviously embraces his adoptive home, and passes that affection on to his readers. I hope you enjoy The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken as much as I did, and you can even enjoy the title dish...there's a recipe in the book!
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