‘A first novel set in Delhi that offers penetrating insights into the new India.’ — NEW YORK TIMES

‘Great fun – a seething slice of the sub-continent.’ – THE TIMES

‘An amusing, timely whodunit…Hall has woven his impressive knowledge of India into a tautly constructed novel that is a highly readable introduction to the country for newcomers.’ – GUARDIAN

‘India’s Most Private Investigator uses stealth, cunning and above all discretion to turn the tables on a killer…lively and quick-paced series debut.’ – KIRKUS REVIEWS (Starred Review)

‘India, captured in all its pungent, vivid glory, fascinates almost as much as the crime itself.’ – ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

‘Entertaining…Hall combines an insider’s insight with the eclectic eye of a good foreign correspondent…. The very opposite of the “exoticism” of which this kind of fiction is often accused. Instead of escaping into “another world”, western readers are encouraged to see an unflattering reflection of their own values and desires.’ – FINANCIAL TIMES

‘A good mystery and a fun read.’ – THE DAILY NEWS (New York)

‘The stories from “the files of India’s most private investigator” make hilarious reading and also paint a vivid picture of life in a modern Indian city. It’s all great fun.’ – THE WASHINGTON TIMES

‘Hall’s mystery…is as whimsical and colorful as its cover suggests… This novel could easily have been just a playful pastiche of the traditional British mystery, but through its comic tone and ironic point of view, the novel becomes a take on justice in post-colonial India.’ – MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

‘Tarquin Hall is a distinguished journalist and has no problem marshalling details to create a sense of what everyday life is like in Delhi: the smell of chat and kachoris seems to waft from the page, as indeed does the stench of political corruption.’ – DAILY TELEGRAPH

‘The debut of what promises to be an outstanding series… The novel is dense with atmosphere, creating a delightful mix of the exotic and familiar… An excellent, delightfully humorous mystery with an unforgettable cast of characters, The Case of the Missing Servant immediately joins the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency as representing the best in international cozies.’ – BOOKLIST (Starred Review) » More: New York Times: “A first novel set in Delhi that offers penetrating insights into the new India.”

“The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing”

“Sometimes a reviewer gets lucky. A book will find its way into your hands that you may not have seen scanning the vast shelves of a massive bookstore. And that book charms you. It renders you mentally content, so sated, that your faith in reading crime fiction is renewed. THE CASE OF THE MAN WHO DIED LAUGHING…is such a magical tome.” CRIMESPREE MAG.COM

“The setting is Delhi, India, where it’s even hotter and more humid than Alvin, Texas, and Hall does a great job of getting that across. In fact, he does so well with the setting that it’s almost like being there. He captures the language, too, and that’s another part of the book’s charm… The book is funny, the mystery is complex, and the pace is quick. Check it out.” BILL CRIDER”S POP CULTURE MAGAZINE

“All the while I was reading this book, I had a sort of silly smile stuck to my face… Hilarious and topical just like the first one, with a touch of the bizarre to boot.” NISHITA’S RANTS AND RAVES

“It is so refreshing to have read a mystery that doesn’t rely on the cliches of a “bumbling detective” whose assistant modestly and quietly solves the mystery for him or the heroine on the wrong end of a barrel of a gun who needs to be rescued right as she figures out who done it.  All the females present are more than capable of uncovering dirt and getting out of danger on their own.” STACKED

“The Case of the Missing Servant”:

“The story is complex, fast-paced with hilarious and touching moments while looking at Indian culture. Puri’s investigations take him from the country clubs and mansions of the wealthy classes to the squalor and poverty of the slums of Delhi and Jharkhand. In the end, Puri has done what he could with the majority of his cases closed and the missing servant located in a manner befitting Perry Mason.” BARBARA MARTIN

“This was a quirky book, filled with much humor. But it also had great detective stories and a great character in Puri, who, for all his faults, has a mind equal to Sherlock Holmes or Poirot.” LOST IN BOOKS

“Charming, witty, clever and atmospheric, Hall’s foray into fiction is a winner.” MOSTLY FICTION

“It’s to the author’s credit he paints all his characters in the round. We see their uniquely Indian faults and virtues. We don’t experience intense thrills or chills, complicated twists and turns, or white-knuckled tension in this book. But for an armchair excursion to an exotic locale, seen from the inside out, for characters we develop an exasperated affection for, it’s perfect.” BEWILDERING STORIES

“The story is sometimes comical, continuously suspenseful, and endlessly fascinating for its detailed depiction of how middle-class Indians live, eat, and navigate through the punishing traffic and the vicissitudes of a bureaucracy gone wild.’ Mal Warwick’s Blog

‘Several reviews I read compared this to Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels, and it’s true that both feature charming detectives in exotic locales. But in Puri, Tarquin Hall has created an endearing detective all his own. If the comparison gets him a wider readership, then I’m all for it, but the book is entertaining enough on its own not to need any coattails.’ A LIFE DIVIDED

‘Hall…has a silky smooth style, ripe with colorful descriptions and honest dialogue.’ BOOKGASM

‘A who-dun-it with Indian Tadka can not get better than this. Not at all over the top, has lovable characters & the taut writing makes the book an immensely entertaining read. I am now waiting for a series of cases to follow. So go grab your copy NOW!!!’ BOOKS, LIFE N MORE

‘Hall is able to bring to life the social complexities of the large, polyglot country. The divide between rich and poor, the confusion and dislocation of Delhi, the rigidly stratified social system – Hall builds them all up around Puri so we understand not only the detective, but the world he lives in.’ THE DIE IS CAST

‘A delightful mystery that immerses the reader in contemporary Indian culture. Readers of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series will be thrilled to find a book that combines a foreign locale and an engaging main character with a humorous/cozy bent.’ POP GOES FICTION

‘I enjoyed Chubby’s philosophizing (he also writes letters to the Times) about the woes of modern India as much as the cleverly plotted mystery. Vish Puri, Most Private Investigator is tremendous (at times even farcical) fun – where else would you find a PI whose wife admonishes “Danger doesn’t worry me…but those deadly pakoras and chicken frankies you like so much do.” Don’t miss this one!’ BOOKLOONS