MURDER WITH BENGALI CHARACTERISTICS – A NOVEL

A brave new voice on India’s
literary scene.’ – Indian Express A teacher lies dead in a small village near
Calcutta. Since the Chinese took over, things in the Bengal Protectorate have
been sliding from bad to worse. It looks like the work of the New Thug
Society, whose members are determined to free Bengal from Chinese oppression.
Under Governor Wen, who is confused and slightly weepy, the law and order
situation continues to deteriorate. Resurrected members of the Bengal
politburo stalk the land, demoralizing all those who thought they were dead.
The Maoists are still in the jungle, and remain strangely reluctant to
re-integrate with the Motherland. Meanwhile, Didu has escaped, the price of
fish is rising, and the Competent Authority, undisputed ruler of India, is
trying to start a war with China Unimpressed by the rising threat of war,
which is none of his business, Inspector Li of Lal Bazaar doggedly pursues
his prey. Why is Propagandist Wang so keen that he investigate something
else? What are mining magnate Sanjeev Verma and his partner Agarwal up to,
and how is Governor Wen involved? Will Inspector Li be able to interview his
suspects before General Zhou shoots them all? And why does his ex-wife keep
calling, even though her new boyfriend is rich enough to have a duplicate
Eiffel Tower in his garden? Outrageously funny and wickedly imaginative,
Murder with Bengali Characteristics marks the return of one of our finest
comic writers.