Detective Harith Athreya is back to investigate a death at an archaeology site. Although this is the second novel in the series I went into the book with no prior knowledge and loved it. I honestly can say that I have never read crime/thriller from Pushkin Vertigo that I didn't love and this was no exception; 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the first book in the series enough to be curious about what might follow. It is not a runaway favourite that I would unequivocally encourage everyone to try out, but it has its charm and, for those looking for it, something different. I will definitely continue to read this series.
The mystery and the setting are solid, and the background the author has provided online about his personal visit to the actual location where the plot is based was entertaining as well.
Our detective has been invited to an archaeological dig site because of an anonymous tip-off regarding financial irregularities within the team. It is only when he gets to the location and meets several of the people involved he finds out there are several other issues at play.
The most entertaining part of the book was the different aspects of the problems we initially think are part of the same whole.
There are a fixed set of characters, each with their own small/or big secret, which ultimately muddies the central investigation (as is obviously the purpose). I would not call them red herrings, mostly because they all lead to actual quantifiable solutions.
There is a ghost story in the background that seeps into the narrative, and there is a reveal concerning that if it is in the supernatural realm or not. Only reading the book will confirm.
I read a lot of 'cozy' and normal mysteries in any given year. The location and the people tend to sometimes blur together. Everything about the location here stands out, and I liked my overall visit to a haunted spot and the unruly group of archaeologists who were working in that area.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

A solid mystery, an intriguing puzzle, and a story that could be or not featuring mythical causes.
An excellent book that kept me turning and I throoughly enjoyed
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

A Genuine Puzzle..
The second in the Harith Athreya mystery series and the enigmatic detective is back and this time investigating suspicious occurrences on a remote riverside dig. Myths and legends abound but murder itself is very real. Can Athreya possibly unravel the reality from the legendary? With a genuine puzzle at its’ heart this is a gentle and rather charming mystery in traditional vein with emphasis on plot, crime solving tactics and sheer deduction.

First of all, thank you to Pushkin Vertigo and NetGalley for this ARC! This review was written by me voluntarily.

In general, I have a quite interesting read although it took sometimes to finish it. The story is a good example where a legend or superstition is manipulated and used to cover a crime. This novel has a lot of things that I like in mystery novels such as a lot of red herring and clues for readers to solve. However, it is the detective that makes me want to read this to the end. I really like how he solves the crime and how he uses his resources and network to help him solve the crime. Even though he is portrayed as a smart and resourceful detective, I like how the author shows that he also has his own weaknesses that can affect his performance in crime-solving. It makes his character more human.

This is a cosy crime almost in a place in India I had not heard of before so that was unique. It felt rather old fashioned but that was its charm. There;s an island, an archaelogical dig and a lot of secrets. Seen through the eyes of one person, this is not a novel for lots of characters but that adds to its charm.

Absolutely loved reading this second book in the series. Set in Jhansi, near river Betwa in India, this second Harith Atreya outing was as interesting as the first book and reminded me so much of Christie's Murder in Mesopotamia because of their similar settings.

Highly recommended. Many thanks to Pushkin Vertigo and the author for a copy in return of my unbiased review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Pushkin Press for an advance copy of Grave Intentions, the second novel to feature detective Harith Athreya, set in Jhansi in the the Indian region of Bundelkhand.

Athreya is in Bundelkhand to investigate an archaeological dig, but before he can get started a member of the dig team is murdered, found on a local island where a curse dooms all those who set foot on it. Is the curse responsible or is there a more human explanation?

I thoroughly enjoyed Grave Intentions, which is a charming, old fashioned murder mystery, set in an exotic (to me) location. I liked it so much that I have already bought the previous novel in the series to catch up.

The novel is told entirely from Athreya’s point of view, which gives the reader a fair chance of solving the crime, but not entirely as he cheats. He has outside sources of information that he doesn’t share immediately. I’m blaming this for not having a clue about who was involved, because, obviously, there’s more than simple murder at stake. Nevertheless, it all adds to the fun.

Athreya’s investigative style is to interview and re-interview his potential suspects, looking for discrepancies and trying to build a narrative of what actually happened. I found it quite fascinating as they all appear to have a motive and secrets that are slowly revealed. I was impressed by the way the author kept the big ticket secrets under wraps until the reveal, where my eyes goggled at all the unguessed and unforeseen information coming out.

This is at heart a gentle novel. Yes there is violence, but it’s not graphic and the emphasis is firmly on crime solving. I liked the comparison between mythology and the more mundane reality and the use of said mythology to further criminal acts. It muddies the waters.

The characterisation in the novel isn’t strong, but it doesn’t have to be as it is a plot driven novel in an older style, and is more than outdone by a good sense of location and atmosphere.

Grave Intentions is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.