A Nest of Vipers (The Bangalore Detectives Club Series)
A lot can happen in a circus in Bangalore in 1922. And one evening, a lot does. Kaveri Murthy meets an enigmatic father-son magician duo backstage. In short order, Kaveri hears about a spate of thefts, she realises that she has been misled about who gifted her ticket, her friend Inspector Ismail acts hostile, a disappearing act takes a surprise turn, a woman Kaveri is protecting is confronted by an abusive husband, and a ring of bandits materialises out of thin air.
All this would be trouble enough if it wasn’t for the delicate state of national affairs. The Prince of Wales is on a visit to India. His visit is already marred by untoward incidents, and the Raj is on tenterhooks. On the other hand, the Indian freedom movement has much to lose if its non-violence gives way to vandalism.
The game is certainly afoot. The stakes are high. Given that the police are well-meaning but not super-bright, who will stand against the forces of evil?
Enter detective Kaveri, she with a freshly minted certificate of matriculation. Kaveri is no ordinary sleuth. She is a master of the martial art kalari. She is fond of cars but often hails a bullock cart to the scene of action. She works with an endearing bunch of irregulars. As Kaveri and her team, including her caring husband Ramu and a doughty neighbour, Uma aunty, peel off the many layers of criminal activity that threaten the peace, we are treated to rich social and culinary commentary.
Some plot points seem a bit weak, and one may wonder how the police failed to reach a conclusion that Kaveri inferred by reading the newspaper. With her cerebral and physical ability, though, it is no surprise that the forces of evil have met their match.
