Dnf not to say it wasn't good I read 70% but the dialogue between characters was just too mediocre I found it a struggle. At the start I was so excited for this but it seemed to pan out and plod along.

Intriguing Mystery..
Samsara, a world renowned spa catering to the elite and nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, is an escape for Ro Krishna. He is in need of relaxation and perhaps discovery, following leaving a high profile position in more than odd circumstances. Once there, he is to come face to face with an eclectic group of residents. However, something nefarious is afoot at the spa. But what? Intriguing character driven murder mystery with a deftly drawn cast, a well imagined and atmospheric backdrop and a plot where nothing is as it first appears.

I am not really sure how to describe this book, except as a wild ride. And by that, I don't just mean the storytelling, but also my emotions about the characters, including the protagonist, a rather privileged Indian-American man named Ro (short for Rohan).

It took me a while to get into the book, and in the first quarter I was almost beginning to give up hope that it would deliver on the rave reviews by the likes of Lucy Foley. Then things suddenly got interesting, and from that point up to the last 10% of the book, I was fully engaged.

On the plus side, this felt a lot like an Agatha Christie murder mystery set in a world class spa in India. The cast members were all quite fascinating, and brought to life very effectively by the writer. There was a woo-woo element to this story, but it was not the usual exoticisation of India that I expected and dreaded. The Indian characters were in fact very believable and as a person from this region, I don't say that lightly. I have met Mrs B.

But the inconsistencies in Ro's character got a bit annoying after a while. On the one hand, you could (and I did) like him for not being obnoxious despite his privilege, and for his treatment of characters like Mahesh.

On the other hand, his handling of other issues such as the fate of the Latrine (you'll know what I mean if you read the book), or the degree of his aversion to the VB did not seem to fit with what you would expect from somebody who thought about existential issues and spirituality, particularly with respect to Karma.

I felt as though the writer was trying so hard to make him interesting and multifaceted (which he was), that it led to the cramming in of too many mysterious elements and unusual, sometimes contradictory personality traits in one person!

I also felt that the murderer's motivation was not entirely justified or justifiable. It was an interesting idea, though.

The book's real strength lies in the diverse group of characters, many of whom were quite fascinating. And, as it turned out, complicated. The setting was also utilised very effectively. Its portrayal of the rich was a little cliched, also wrt brand name-dropping, but perhaps that was inevitable, given the "global elite" aspect. Still, I thought it was a bit over the top. The ending also felt too abrupt, though I suspect there may be a sequel...

But there were many interesting and insightful little touches in this story. It avoided the stereotypes that many non-resident Asian (or Asian origin) writers are also guilty of offering up to western readers, which I appreciated. And the supporting cast of characters, I must say yet again, was outstanding. So, all in all, worth a read. It gets 3.5 stars, but missed 4 due to Ro's shortcomings, touched upon earlier!