The Bangalore Detective’s Club

By Harini Nagendra

Group Comments:

Plodded a bit, but enjoyed History that added a sense of place. Did like, but not as much as the other one (took more days before going back to it). A lot of recapping. Thought mystery was pretty tight, interesting how they made the villain. Enjoyed time, place, characters. Upsetting at times. Want to give her a chance – probably a first novel. 

Figured mystery out pretty early. Enjoyed so different from a classic cozy setting – everything unfamiliar.  Nice to be exposed to food, customs, day-to-day life of her community. Her husband was very supportive (refreshing). Like that she encouraged other women in her community. Juxtaposition of locking killer up in asylum. Exposure of English mystery writers – comment on colonialism. Found setting interesting

Complex husband character – learning to be a feminist through course of book. Strong Emma vibes (young, privileged, naïve and inserting herself into other people’s lives). Disappointed that it didn’t cycle back to man in prologue. Can see the people she is gathering around her to form the club.

Liked mystery, but knew murderer as soon as it was announced. Author is a professor of history (assume she knows what she’s talking about settings wise).  Mental institution very British. Do think that she is very naïve, but make sense based on her age, etc. Did like descriptions of her meeting with prostitute. Mad that it never showed formation of club/return to that guy. Enjoyed book, would read second one

Liked the sense of place/characters. Got Tommy and Tuppence vibes later on.  Took a while to get into. Liked detecting skills, how she solved crime and who she talked to. Caste system. Liked good set-up, hope future books would focus on mystery more. Would read next one.

Really enjoyed. Language and cadence seemed slower. Felt it was accurate – overly involved in other people’s lives: 19, recognizes privilege. Seemed like a real person. Learned a lot (hopefully accurately). Didn’t figure out mystery at all. Already reading the next one. 

Already read next one. Don’t try to guess, just a long for ride, but knew this one based on size of person.  Favorite thing was sense of place – Bangalore, time period.