‘THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO DIED LAUGHING’ OUT NOW IN PAPERBACK IN THE USA
“Delightful…Hall splendidly evokes the color and bustle of Delhi streets and the tang of contemporary India.” SEATTLE TIMES, A Best Crime Novel of the Year
“A terrific book with wonderful puzzle plot and a great setting.” GLOBE & MAIL
“Hall writes amusing mysteries…[his]affectionate humor is embedded with barbs.” NEW YORK TIMES
“Hall has an unerring ear for the vagaries of Indian English, the Indian penchant for punning acronyms, peculiarly Indian problems…and an obvious affection for India, warts and all.” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (STARRED REVIEW)
“As tasty as Puri’s favorite aloo parantha.” KIRKUS
“Vish Puri…[is] a wonderfully engaging PI… [A] funny, entertaining novel… The characters – including members of Puri’s complicated family – are splendid, and it’s a joy to read.” THE TIMES
“With humor and grace, Hall provides appealing characters, a strong sense of place, a complex plot, and mouth-watering Indian cuisine.” LIBRARY JOURNAL EXPRESS
“So brilliantly does Tarquin Hall capture the sights, smells, sounds and foibles of modern India, not to mention the nuances of English-Indian speech, that it is hard to believe he is not himself India…Wonderfully comic.” DAILY MAIL
“Puri takes the reader into a very Indian, very Delhi web of spirituality, sin, slums and power broking, but all treated with a veneer of wit and intelligent absurdity.” INDIA TODAY (Favourite Subcontinental Books 2010)
“Unlike those of Alexander McCall Smith, the books in this series (this is the second) are genuine detective stories, but they are every bit as warm and entertaining and should appeal to much the same readership.” DENVER POST
“Unlike other detetctive novles that deal with serious cases of murder and mayhem, the Vish Puri mysteries keep you in splits till the end.” ASIAN AGE
“A ripe comedy of Indian manners, brimming with well-observed detail.” MAIL ON SUNDAY
“Hall knows his Delhi, and with this book he opens up some of its secrets and shows it to us as if it were an exotic receipe…enticing and stimulating the appetite.’ THE TABLET
“I still can’t believe the author isn’t of Indian origin.” OYE! TIMES
is the author of the Vish Puri Indian detective series and three works of non-fiction, including the highly acclaimed 'Salaam Brick Lane' and 'To the Elephant Graveyard'. You'll find details about his books, articles and reviews on this site. Leave a comment on the home page or click 
I’m so glad I came across your books. I have never laughed so hard! I look forward to reading many more of Vish Puri’s investigations. It’s about time an Indian Sherlock Holmes/Hercule Poirot was created. Thank you for giving us such luscious characters to sink our teeth into.
I loved The Case of the Missing Servant.
I will recommend it to everyone!
Loved the first book on Vish Puri. Am looking forward to the second book and the third and the fourth,..
Vish is surely the most Private investigator
I am mid-way through the second book, “The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing.” I cannot stand the thought that, at the end of this book, there will not be another Vish Puri book to amuse me, make me think about the solution to the crime, and smile at the interaction of the wonderful characters. Please tell me that you are madly at work on the next edition of Vish’s adventures.
I loved the fist two Vish Puri books and am eagerly awaiting the 3rd one in the series!
I just discovered Vish Puri this summer and I am utterly enchanted by this Most Private Investigator and his world!
Oh what an absolutely fabulous book! you really understand north india and put it in such an amusing perspective. I do hope there are loads of more Vish Puri books coming
Found both at the library…Loved them! Want to read more about “chubby”. He’s the best.
I read Missing Servant” in one sitting and fell in love with the India you describe. the characters ar so beautifully describes…the customs so easily interwoven…I can’t wait to read the next . Incidentally…I am a Kindle reader.
I just finished reading the first in the series – The Case of the Missing Servant – and its simply amazing. I loved the book, its top-class, can’t wait to order the second one and start on it. The writing is very engaging and Mr Hall manages to capture the Delhi ethos so well, we can almost smell the pakoras
Keep going sir!
Absolutely love Vish Puri, his family, colleagues, and the India you portray! The food sounds delicious as well, and I am looking forward to going to an Indian restaurant for the frist time. Please keep on writing about “Sherluck!”
I simply LOVED Vish Puri. Punjabi baroque indeed!! Cant wait for the next and the one after that….
i just ordered the case of the missing servant and am dying to dive in! down here in antalya it’s too hot to do much other than read, but i can probably manage a laugh or two…
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
As an Indian, I must say that I find a lot of contemporary Indian writers try too hard to sound authentically ‘desi.’
The Vish Puri series is effortlessly Indian, in addition to being superbly written. I love Vish Puri. And Tubelight. And Facecream. And Mummy-Ji. And Flush. And Rumpi.
When’s the next book out?
Vish Puri is breath of freshness in the Mystery/Thriller world. I thoroughly enjoyed both books and hope to read many more of Vish Puri’s adventures.
recently read the case of the missing servant. a most entertaining book. i wrote a review on rohanayyar.wordpress.com, please tell me if you like it.
I was delighted to discover your first book in the spring and am reading the second book now as I recover from surgery. I enjoy the description of cultural modern-day India even more than the mystery. I just sent a copy to my son and daughter-in-law. He spent a summer in Delhi on a grant researching water-management. Her best friend is from India and she has visited with her several times. Please please continue the series.
Brought back vivid and fond memories of the Delhi I grew up in. Wonderfully written in a racy manner evoking a great feeling of nostalgia. Eagerly awaiting an endless supply of Vish Puri’s adventures.
How do you think of these plots!!?? The second book was even better than the first. One criticism, though. It’s not fair to put all that delicious food in front of our faces when we can’t possibly go out and get it for ourselves while we’re longing for it. Am eagerly waiting for your next Vish Puri adventure.
What a fabulous book! I finished the first book in less than 24 hours, a feat considering I have a husband, three children, and piles of laundry. I am recommending these books to all my friends. And the family has decided to call other naughty children “goondas.”
Dear Tarquin:
Have now read both your Vish Puri novels; enjoyed them both very much. You have certainly got Delhi down to a “t”.
It was delightful to meet you and your family.
I look forward to your next three novels.
Valerie
Hi, I love the Vish Puri mysteries! I’m eagerly awaiting the 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. books. What wonderful plots and characters.
Absolutely loved the first and am goi ng out today to get the second.
I’m a major Hercule Poirot fan and I absolutely love your Vish Puri. I discovered ‘The Case of the Missing Servant’quite by accident and now I’m completely hooked. I’m reading the second one now.
I’m also so impressed with how well you have understood the culture of the Delhi ‘NCR’. I spent many years in a ‘pre-NCR’ Delhi and have now returned after about a decade to live in Gurgaon, so I can relate to it all.
So thank you for making me laugh so much and please keep the books coming!
Am in love with Vish Puri and his family and friends. Thanks for the glossary of Indian terms. Also feel as if I am there in India. Hope there will be more fun with the most private detective.
P.S. our library is displaying your novels.
To the elephant graveyard is also wonderful but sad..
Dear Tarquin:
I just read “The Case of the Missing Servant.” It absolutely enthralled me. I am so happy you have another book with the same hero. I took a peek at some of your other books. I will absolutely try them all! God bless you for your incredible talent.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Case of the Missing Servant. All the characters were vividly drawn and seemed very athentic. The plot structure was very well accomplished. I especially liked the glimpses of Indian life at all levels, which you were adept at weaving into the narrative so that the flow of the plot was never impeded. In fact, the Indian culture actually seemed part of the plot. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Hi Tarquin:
Read your ‘The Case of the Missing Servant’ book. Absolutely loved it! Plus, since you have based your stories on NCR region, and as I too stay within that region, I could completely relate to the narration. Could not put the book down till I finished reading the last page. Now looking forward to other books on Vish Puri.
All the best for your future work!
Dear Tarquin,
Just finished “The case of a man who died laughing”, that I just happened to come across in the local library. I picked it up because the concept looked interesting.
Now that I have finished it I can wait to go back to the library and pick up the “case of the the missing servant” and then I shall wait for the next one in the Vish Puri series.
I liked the suspense and the comical mystery bur most importantly I loved the Indian context that the story is set in, it’s hard to believe it has been written by someone who was not born and brought up in India, I guess I have to thank your wife for that to a certain extent.
Anyways, thanks for the book, keep writing…
Sharad
Dear Mr. Hall,
I just read Case of the Missing Servant….How do you understand the Punjabi ethos so well????
I have not laughed so hard at their foibles and you are not even Punjabi yourself!!! You present them with such benign humor…I love it
I loved Missing servant….can’t wait to read Man Who Died Laughing….Hope you are able to churn out one every six months….I have persuaded my library to keep your name on standing order…
You remind me of Alexander McCall Smith and I am so happy you are writing.
Please add my address to your list to notify me when the third Vish Puri novel (and all the ones beyond that) are published. I have grown weary of all the “standard” mystery authors; your books are refreshingly fun!
I have just finished reading “The case of the missing servant”. I loved the book and the characters. I have never commented on a book before but felt I could not let this pass me by and as I read several books a week I hope you find this a worthy comment!!
Vish Puri’s Mummy deserves her own series. What a great character! Thanks for the email Tarquin updating me-glad Mummy will continue to be featured in your excellent books!
I very much enjoyed ‘..the missing servant ‘ and now look forward to reading ‘The Man who died laughing’
I read “The Case of The Missing Servant” in one afternoon. It was laugh-out-loud funny!! Just picked up “The Man Who Died Laughing”. Hope there are more Vish Puri installments to come!
I discovered Tarquin Hall’s Vish Puri series recently. I am amazed at the way Mr. Hall’s writing has captured the minutaie of Indian behaviour and sensibilities. I cant put the book down and I look forward to reading many many more of his books.
Just finished reading “The Case of The Missing Servant.” It brought back happy memories of the delightful trip to India in 2010. Reading it felt like returning there! I’m looking forward to reading “The Man Who Died Laughing” and hope there are many more books starring Vish Puri in the future.
Read both the Vish Puri books back to back. More please!
I’m in a frenzy for Vish Puri books right now.He really seems as good as Poirot.I’ve started reading The case of the missing servant and in just a day I’ve finished it!!! I’m so happy to see the new book out!
The Vish Puri books are absolute gems, especially as Audible books – so beautifully read! We felt as if we were back in India, but with more laughs.
I’ve read both your Vish Puri books and I can’t wait for your next one… I feel totally transported to the sub-continent as I read them. You have captured the Indian/English language beautifully, coupled with your humour and characterisation these books are real winners!! I don’t even like waiting for them to come out in paperback, I buy them as soon as they are released. Thank you for the joy you have given me. Till the next book…
Your books a absolutely amazingly funny. havent laughed reading a book so much as i have since i got involved, with Vish puri and his mummy-ji and the rest. when are we getting more????
Just read both books again and even though I knew “who did it” I found them just as interesting, perhaps more as I could savour all the detail. Thanks for a great read and of course WHEN ARE WE GETTING MORE???
I’m just at the end of The Case of the Missing Servant (I don’t want it to end!) & can’t wait to start the 2nd book in the series. I love Vish Puri, his family & his employees. Thank you for the glossary. I hope there will be many more books in this series.
My husband and I loved both Vish Puri books. We are eagerly waiting for the next one. They are hilarious. Mummy ji should also have her own book.
I’ve been in India and I really found myself in your funny descriptions of delhi people and surronding…I’ve just finished reading the man who died laughing and I couldn’t stop laughing more…I really liked both the story and your humour…
congrats!
awesome book til now(stil readin..)vish puri’s awesome wen he finds about his cliient-where he came from which flight n stuff.should read the book….Ull love it!!
I just finished “The Man Who Died Laughing”. Vish Puri is wonderful. I can’t wait to find a copy of “The Case of the Missing Servant”. Please keep writing these wondenful stories.
I’m reading The Case of the Missing Servant. I’m enjoying it a lot, but had anyone mentioned to your publisher that it’s almost unreadable on Kindle units? They used a format on the Glossary that takes the Kindle’s processor about 20 sec to open each time. Very frustrating!
I am completely smitten with the Vish Puri series. Please, please, please write more adventures for this wonderful character you have created. I’m transported to an India that you create for me. The details you provide create a complete picture in my mind. More Vish Puri!!
I wish another Vish Puri mystery were coming out. The two so far were interesting, funny, and made the reader feel really immersed in the Indian culture and places.
When is book number 3 coming out? Doesn’t have to be soon. Just some news about it would be great.
Thanks