This is an entertaining read from Anuja Chauhan, bringing together a disparate group of suspicious characters, and weaving out of their motives a promising whodunit.

The reader is introduced to certain cultural traditions that they may be unfamiliar with, including that of the Hindu festival of Karva Chauth, where wives fast in order to ensure that their husbands are blessed with health and longevity.

Needless to say, the husbands are never expected to fast, or give a second thought to their wives' health or longevity. Nevertheless, any wife who fails to fulfill her duties is considered disrespectful, and will be blamed if anything whatsoever subsequently happens to her husband.

Usually though, nobody expects the punishment to be as dire as a bullet. But that is what appears to have killed the jeweller - whose wife coincidentally broke her fast too early.

The problem is, he was not well liked, so there is a whole bunch of suspects who could be considered good for having played a part in it.

Now Inspector Bhavani Singh must unravel the mystery against the backdrop of torrid romance, filmi shenanigans and the complex web of relationships in Shivajinagar, where even the street dogs can be heard howling their opinions amidst the melee of everyday Indian life...

Nowhere near Anuja Chauhan's best, but still enjoyable enough to blitz through in the manner that one does when a favourite writer has something new out. The murder at the centre is intriguing, and Bhavani Singh is likeable as ever, but the chemistry between Jhoomar and Haider is hardly the stuff Chauhan is known for, nor is their romance particularly memorable, especially given the couple who drove the action in "Club You to Death".

Chauhan makes for an interesting murder-mystery writer: the writing stays accessible, but it is also strangely aloof, which is the last word I'd think of associating with her.

The book is thought provoking and engaging. The characters are well written and the plot is good. The revelations at the end were shocking. The author has written about Indian culture and shared the conversations that happens between Indian people as well shared about the gossips and the things that fascinates us. There was also descriptions of other cultures and people of other religion. There were some complex relationships as well. Though the author has portrayed the relationships so well. This is a murder mystery.

Thanks to Publisher, Author and Netgalley.

Love Anuja Chauhan's books and this is another feather in her cap! Absolutely gripping from the beginning and keeps you guessing right till the last page.

I loved 'Club you to death' and this is another very good addition to her thriller repository. A bunch of suspicious characters, well woven backstories, interesting leads and we'll written dialogues make it really interesting. The way it is written especially is the backbone of the story. Definitely recommend!

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

An excellent mystery, well plotted and humorous. One of those books you hope it will be read by plenty of people as you find yourself immerse in another culture and way of living.
The mystyer is solid, twisty and I had a lot of fun.
ACP Bhavani Singh is a strong and well plotted character and I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers, India for an advance copy of The Fast and The Dead, a cosy crime thriller set in Bengaluru featuring ACP Bhavani Singh.

Elderly Dondi Pais lets off several shots at the local stray dogs. The next day it is discovered that one of those bullets has killed a local, very unpopular jeweller. There is no end of suspects in the neighbourhood, including the jeweller’s wife who broke her religious fast and a Bollywood star. ACP Bhavani Singh, on an annual honeymoon from New Delhi is drafted in to investigate the circumstances, accident or murder?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Fast and the Dead, which has an easy joie de vivre about it with a dash of humour and a strong mystery. I must admit that I struggled with some of the dialogue that uses unfamiliar language with no translation and many of the cultural references, for example Karwa Chauth, where the wife fasts for a day to ensure her husband’s longevity. Still, I’m not one to shirk a learning opportunity so the novel broadened my horizons and I didn’t mind a little displacement into the unfamiliar.

I found the investigation engrossing as Bhavani tries to unravel the motives and the relationships between the characters. It is loud and mostly cheerful, but also complicated with so many suspects and so many competing motives. I had no idea and I don’t think many readers will as the solution involves previously disclosed information put together in a lateral way. It is clever and very unexpected. I appreciated the nod to Agatha Christie in the denouement scene with all the suspects in the room and all accused until the final reveal.

This is not only a crime novel as there is a romance as well between local vet Jhoomar Rao and Bollywood star Haider Sait. I think that this may be more groundbreaking than is apparent to Westerners as he is Muslim from a poor background and she is a formerly rich Brahmin, so crosses many divides. It’s a bit soppy, but adds to the warmth of the narrative.

The Fast and the Dead is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.