H. R. F Keating - Under a Monsoon Sky

My mother in law bought this book but couldn't get on with it so it was passed to us unread. Actually it's not a bad little book, easily and quite quickly read in a few hours - I really ought to counter that by saying I'm a fast reader, but even so....

If you like the Alexander McCall Smith books then you'll enjoy this. In fact Mr Smith writes a preface in my copy of this book in praise of the author. The detective story is a simple (but a tad drawn out in my opinion) tale of a police trial, but it's the setting in India that adds the necessary detail. Cultural differences from our western ideas are an important layer, as ordinary Indian life (and it's staggering inequalities) is painted along with the traditions and superstitions around the monsoon season as well as the etiquette of Indian society. I think it's these details that lift the story from unremarkable to a good read. It's interesting to muse after reading it on how the story would have ended differently had it been set in this country.

Would I read another Inspector Ghote book? Possibly.. As I said not a bad read, but I'm not a huge crime novel reader. I usually enjoy them if I've found one in a holiday cottage or been given one as in this instance, they're just not my 1st choice when it comes to fiction.