This is book 5 in a series. Bad Day at the Vulture Club is about Chopra an inspector who along his sidekick (the elephant) investigate a murder of one of the members of the Parsees - one of Mumbai's wealthiest families.

There are twists and turns, great well-crafted characters, and a good storyline. You can't go wrong.

Another evocative and comforting instalment in the BABY GANESH AGENCY INVESTIGATIONS series. I absolutely adore this series and every book is like a warm hug thanks to the endearing characters.

These books are a joy. They are incredibly popular with customers at my library, and I think they would make a brilliant TV series. Highly recommended.

I do love this series. There is just something wonderful about the whole thing. From the brilliant characters that Vaseem Khan has created, to the way in which he paints such a vivid picture of the sights, sounds and culture of Mumbai, all wrapped up in a wonderfully twister murder mystery, or in this case two, really just pulls me into the story and keeps me amused to the very last page.

This time around we find India's most unconventional crime fighting team investigating the murder of a very prominent Indian businessman, Cyrus Zorabian, whose body is dumped at one of his own buildings, the 'Tower of Silence', the very place the Parsee leave their dead. It seems that there are no end of possible suspects, from his personal assistant, to business rivals and wealthy Parsee peers, even to his own family including a son he disowned simply because he fell in love with the wrong woman. The more we get to know the victim, the easier it is to see why he may have been targeted, but not necessarily who may have actually done the dirty deed. Alongside this Chopra's assistant, Rangwalla, is investigating a devastating building fire which led to the death of a young woman. Two very different cases, but ones which lead the pair back to their old colleagues and, in Chopra's case, a nemesis, in their quest to find the truth.

I always find these books fascinating as whilst the cases that Chopra investigates are always exciting and full of mystery and adventure, I am constantly learning more about the rich and diverse history of India and its many different cultures. I had absolutely no idea about the Parsee culture before reading this book, or their belief that the bodies of the dead should be left for the many vultures of Mumbai to feast upon. I can understand why this is a frowned upon custom - it is hardly hygienic let's face it - but I can also appreciate the very organic nature of the tradition and they way in which it feeds into the Parsee beliefs and religion. It was also interesting hearing about the decline of the Vultures and the was in which they are both feared and revered in the Indian culture. Personally I think they are strangely beautiful creatures and thinking of their not so natural decline as man takes over modern India made me a little sad. Don't get me wrong, there is more to this story than meets the eye and as well as being an important commentary on modern environmental issues, it does link well into what happens in the rest of the book.

As always there is a good amount of action and threat in the book, Chopra's life once more under threat as someone seeks to stop him and his investigation that sees Chopra uncovering dodgy dealings, personal vendettas, family feuds and links to the Mumbai underworld. Somebody wants Chopra dead, the who and why not clear, but it seems that not everyone wants to see the former Inspector succeed, and if it weren't for some quick thinking on the part of lovely Ganesha, the book would have had a very different ending. No wonder Poppy is less than impressed with this latest investigation.

This is another beautifully crafted mystery, full of the usual blend of humour and serious investigations, with a thoroughly satisfying ending. Vaseem Khan has great skill in creating tension and excitement without leading readers too far towards the dark side. Cosy crime, with an unconventional elephant sidekick, that carries an important environmental and emotional message, I would definitely recommend this whole series as it is a joy.

In uncertain times, such as these, I think that the benefits of reading are immeasurable to aid an escape and distraction from global events. Looking for more of a comfort read, I turned to Vaseem Khan’s excellent Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation series of which I have read a few now, and this is the latest in the series.

As much as I love the colourful and whimsical covers on these books, I always worry that readers may avoid them, lumping them in with the more cosy elements of crime fiction. What Khan actually achieves is a skilful balance of the cosy, encapsulated by the home life of Inspector Chopra and his intuitive charge, Ganesha the baby elephant and sharply observed social commentary that really taps into the grinding poverty and political corruption of India as a whole, and Mumbai more specifically. As we are equally amused by some of Chopra’s associates and Ganesha’s uncanny ability to keep Chopra safe from harm, and some truly laugh out loud moments, the true character of Mumbai and its inhabitants is referenced throughout the book. In keeping with the best crime writers who specialise in urban crime, there is a feeling of affection on the author’s part for the city, in all its grime and glory, and a reticence to look away from the darker aspects of it too, giving him a great canvas to create these taxing cases for the indomitable and always focussed Chopra.

I like the way that Khan shines a light on the city both through Chopra’s cases and the social missions that his wife Poppy embarks upon, much to the chagrin of the wrongdoers and their neighbours respectively. In this way, Khan can cover many different issues in the course of one book, keeping the stories realistic and, most importantly, engaging, as we as readers discover so much about this uniquely vibrant, yet sharply contrasting city. I found the background to this particular case incredibly interesting, as I was not familiar at all with the finer details of the Parsee religion, its ceremonies, traditions and how modern practices are beginning to encroach on these traditional rites. I thought that this gave an incredibly solid grounding to the case Chopra becomes inveigled in, and again reflects the prowess of Khan’s writing, both here and in other books in the series, to utterly engage us in a particular aspect of Mumbai society, underscored by a no doubt fascinating research process, and to carefully balance this with a compelling crime plot.

Chopra is a beautifully drawn character, as a former police officer turned private investigator of some repute. He is an incredibly moral man, with a defined code of justice, that instils a trust and respect in him by those who know him best, and those that come to seek his help. He is always completely focussed on the victims he encounters, and no matter how trying or dangerous an investigation gets, he retains a dogged determination to expose the perpetrators and gain justice or clarity for the victims. As Chopra says himself, “For me, each and every case is a personal matter. It is the only way we can be sure to see things through.” This sense of dogged determination seems to carry over to his personal life too, as the logistics of caring for his unusual young charge, Ganesha, and the particular challenges that his tenacious and headstrong wife presents, keep Chopra well and truly on his toes. It can never be said that Chopra is not a practical and pragmatic man though, which stands him in good stead for all the challenges that his life presents. Khan’s characterisation in general is always spot on, with a wonderful supporting cast for Chopra himself, and an innate ability by the author to focus so perfectly on people’s visual characteristics, and quirks of appearance. He does this is in such a way that every character is vividly drawn in the reader’s mind, and compounded by the sharp and perfectly pitched dialogue adds another layer of enjoyment to these excellent books.

Love them! Highly recommended.

I completely adore Vaseem Khan's crime stories. By turns they bring joy, tragedy, laughter and tears, and this latest book in the series did not disappoint! I can't wait to see where the series goes next.

In this mystery Vaseem Khan introduced me to the Parsees, of India. Inspector Chopra and his sidekick, Ganesha - the baby elephant solve another murder mystery. Along the way, the book brings out many details regarding the culture, mores and geography of a continent I would know very little about otherwise.I recommend to all mystery lovers

Book five in the Baby Ganesh Agency series of mysteries and Inspector Chopra has a new case on his hands and a murder to investigate. A well written and thoroughly engaging read with an intriguing storyline and credible characterisation. Can be read as a standalone in terms of the mystery itself but it's well worth reading from the start of the series for pure enjoyment value and character development. A worthy addition to the series.

4.5*

I am a huge fan of this series and have read the four previous books plus the short stories (they kept me going while I was awaiting the next full-length novel!) and this is another fine addition to the series. The same elements are present: cozy crime, the hustle and bustle of Mumbai, the wonderful baby elephant Ganesha, the human characters: Chopra, Poppy, Homi, Irfan, Rangwalla, etc.

I took a half star off here because I found the ending a bit of a stretch! Can’t say more for obvious reasons.

Nevertheless, it reads well as always and is another to recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Vaseem Khan for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another mystery for Inspector Ashwin Chopra and baby Ganesha.

Perizaad Zorabian has employed Inspector Ashwin Chopra (retired) to re-open the investigation into her father, Cyrus's death. His body was found inside Doongerwadi, the holy ground where all Parsee bodies are placed after death. Perizaad has called in Chopra because the police investigation, under ACP Suresh Rao of the CBI had ruled it as a “burglary gone wrong”.

Chopra, as always accompanied by his baby elephant, Ganesha, must sift through Cyrus Zorabian’s personal life, which appears to be almost perfect, to find out why someone has gone to so much trouble to kill him and make it look like a burglary gone wrong.

At the same time, Chopra’s assistant private investigator, Abbas Rangwalla is trying to ascertain if a man, now in prison, has been framed for causing not only the collapse of his building but the death of many of the workers trapped inside the building at the time. Could these two cases be linked?

There is something so very special about this series. Vaseem Khan captures not just the heart of living in Mumbai, but also the complex natures of India's citizens, both good and bad. Chopra, his wife Poppy and mother-in-law, Poornima are beautifully drawn. In this novel, Poppy has a new campaign, The Poo2Loo Campaign. Some scenes had me laughing very loud.

We also get to know Rangwalla better in this book. Again Vaseem Khan has drawn a beautiful picture of a man who is not quite as smart as Chopra but who through tenacity and hard work, manages to find answers that others have not been able to uncover.

What fascinated me most was learning about the Parsee faith and their practice of leaving the bodies of their dead on their sacred burial site, for the vultures to consume. Unfortunately, the vultures themselves are being targeted and killed by poison, and Chopra needs to find out by who.

If you looking for a series that is different from the run-of-the-mill detective stories, look no further. However, I would recommend that you start with book 1 when Ganesha first joins Ashwin and Poppy Chopra and changes their lives forever.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

I do believe that these books have gotten better with each installment - as you learn more about Chopra and how he works and ticks and how he interacts with people, you start to get a feeling of what truly drives him and makes you wish there was a real life version of him working for the "lesser" people of India. His love of country, even with all of its flaws, or in spite of them, is what really drives him and these books. He just wants justice for those who have been wronged, no matter what they may or may not have done. Such is the case with this book - murder is always wrong, even when, in the end, it looks right. Chopra is able to take all of that and show you just how wrong it truly is.

This book was...a lot. There are two stories here [along with Poppy's campaign, that will bring much laughter, but also much enlightenment to a problem in India that they all know about, but until recently, rarely talked about] and they are not happy stories. Murder rarely is, but these are particularly heinous. Vaseem Khan does a very good job in writing this so that you see the absolute seriousness of what is going on, while injecting some humor [that never, ever crosses the line] that will have you absolutely laughing out loud.

The best of the series in my opinion - I will be waiting with baited breath for the next installment. Very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fifth full length book in the wonderfully charming Inspector Chopra series of stories and although a little more series in nature than some still retains the touches of humour between all the main characters that so often make me chuckle out loud. After his retirement from the Mumbai police and having received his unexpected inheritance of an elephant calf (no ordinary elephant his Uncle Bansi warns him) Chopra has opened a restaurant, and in the wake of solving a huge case as he left the police he has also formed a detective agency. I would recommend reading at least book number one first to get all the background to the characters. The resourceful and highly intelligent elephant Ganesha now travels most places with him in the back of his van, and is generally accepted and adored wherever he goes. In this gripping new Baby Ganesh Agency novel, Inspector Chopra and his elephant sidekick investigate the death of one of Mumbai's wealthiest citizens, a murder with ramifications for its poorest. The Parsees are among the oldest, most secretive and most influential communities in the city: respected, envied and sometimes feared. When prominent industrialist Cyrus Zorabian is murdered on holy ground, his body dumped inside a Tower of Silence - where the Parsee dead are consumed by vultures - the police dismiss it as a random killing. But his daughter is unconvinced, believing that the police did not investigate properly and employs Chopra to find the truth. Unfortunately this brings Chopra back into contact with his former boss, the hated and corrupt ACP Suresh Rao now of the political Central Bureau of Investigation. Chopra is uneasy at entering this world of power and privilege and is soon plagued by doubts about the case. But murder is murder. And in Mumbai, wealth and corruption go in hand in hand, inextricably linking the lives of both high and low. Chopra has earned so much goodwill during his time in the Mumbai police that he has no trouble in calling upon people to help him with the investigation. This in itself is a measure of the man who fervently believes in justice since half the police and government are suspected of being corrupt. Whilst carrying out his own enquiries into the man believed to be trying to help the poor of the city whilst upholding the old traditions of the Parsee community, he stumbles upon another failed police investigation into two deaths, and it leads him to wonder if they were mixed up in his own case. Meanwhile his assistant in the detective agency Abbas Rangwalla is pursuing a separate investigation into the explosion in a building that killed his client's daughter. The building's owner languishes in prison as a result but the father does not believe he was at fault. Once more this case promises to lead into a murky world of corruption and crime. Chopra's wife Poppy is still proving a force to be reckoned with and is also busy with her own campaigning, the different storylines demonstrating the wide gulf between the richest and the poorest in the land. As the story progresses lots of different threads and theories all come together as the cases are solved but there are many twists and shock discoveries along the way. With each of these books I find myself learning more about the rich and varied history and culture of India, in this case all about the Parsees and their vultures, a much unloved and undervalued bird. I even learned more about the campaigns to make India more sanitary, including "Poo2Loo" - as Chopra often says, "only in India..." I can highly recommend this series for anyone who wants a great mystery story with learning and laughter thrown in.

After the slapstick comedy of the last Baby Ganesh Agency mystery, Murder at the Grand Raj Palace, this latest book has a much more serious tone and is the best and tightest constructed mystery so far in the series. Although the tone is more serious, there are still scenes that gave me fits of the giggles, so those of you who prefer light-hearted mysteries, take note. I think one of my favorite chuckles was Khan's homage to Edgar Allan Poe with an injured vulture glaring at people from atop Chopra's bookcase.

The mystery in Bad Day at the Vulture Club kept me guessing, and Chopra, with all his years of police work, is an excellent investigator-- even if his baby elephant sidekick does get into mischief occasionally. In fact, Chopra has such a good reputation with many in the Mumbai police force that his contacts and goodwill there stand him in good stead.

One of the things I enjoy most about this series is the way the character of Chopra's wife, Poppy, has grown. Chopra has a one-track mind and focuses on his investigations while Poppy adds her social issues and causes to the mix. This makes Poppy a very important part of the series because what she's involved in really give readers a true feel for Mumbai-- armchair travel at its best. She and her mother are also gifted with some of Khan's wonderful sense of humor.

After reading Sujata Massey's two Perveen Mistry historical mysteries and now Bad Day at the Vulture Club, I feel that I'm getting to know the Parsees, a group that continues to play such an important part in Mumbai's past, present, and future. In addition, my appreciation of vultures has grown (they may be ugly but they are an important part of life on our planet), and my learning about the Poo2Loo movement (pun intended) has enriched my knowledge of one of the most fascinating countries in the world.

Yes, I highly recommend Vaseem Khan's Baby Ganesh Agency mysteries. Read them and you'll enjoy, learn, and laugh. It doesn't get much better than that.

I had recently started, and in each case given up on, a number of recommended new mysteries because they either couldn't engage, or couldn't keep my interest. This book had me the moment the protagonist introduced his companion--not pet: a year-old baby elephant calf, who accompanies him almost everywhere. I read on just to find out more, and soon got lost in this intricate, many-layered mystery in Mumbai. This is the first book I've read in this series. The author manages to describe the complex life and confusing juxtaposition of ancient and modern that is present-day India in an understandable fashion, although the detail needed to do so sometimes causes the story to bog down in places. A good ' peeling-the-onion' mystery, as he uncovers each new layer of clues, conspiracies, and connections. There are a number of good characters, including the curious, compassionate, and clever little elephant, Ganesha, and a belligerent buzzard, who's fallen down on the job. During the course of solving the mystery, the story showcases the harsh reality, yawning income disparity, and rampant corruption in this rapidly-rising nation, as well as the earnest and honest individuals trying to make a difference--sometimes hilariously so. A good mystery and a good read.

A light, funny mystery read. It feels like a cozy but with a bit more spice. I enjoyed reading a book set in India. A lovely, easy read.

This is a fabulous crime mystery series set in the vast metropolis that is Mumbai in India, written by Vaseem Khan with its star central protagonists of retired police Inspector Ashwin Chopra and his resourceful and intelligent baby elephant, Ganesha who goes everywhere with him, generating equal levels of consternation and joy in his wake. This latest addition to the series is a stellar read, which begins with Chopra worried about Ganesha feeling the blues. At the magnificent, if crumbling palace, the Sumandra Mahal, Chopra is hired to investigate the 3 month old shocking murder on holy ground of the rich Cyrus Zorabian, one the most respected grandees of the Parsee community, with its Zoroastrian faith. His reputation as a industrialist and philanthropy had made him a force to be reckoned with and much loved in Mumbai. He was estranged from his son, Darius, and it is his daughter, Perizaad, who believes the police investigation was incompetent in dismissing the murder as a random killing.

So begins an intricate and complex investigation that brings Chopra in contact with the hated and corrupt ACP Suresh Rao of the political Central Bureau of Investigation, in charge of the original murder inquiry. Chopra struggles to make headway as he enters the world of power, privilege and corruption, but is intrigued by strange notes in Latin, a piece of paper with what looks like an unbreakable code and the shooting of an unidentified man and woman whose bodies were burnt. Chopra's deputy in his agency, Abbas Rangwalla, is pursuing a separate investigation involving a explosion that killed many and which resulted in the imprisonment of the owner of the building. As Chopra digs deep, he begins to uncover a nest of secrets, political corruption, the involvement of ruthless underground figures, a murder victim that bears little resemblence to his saintly reputation and surprising connections with Rangwalla's case. Poppy, Chopra's idealistic wife has the bit between her teeth as she champions the real Unicef social campaign Poo2loo, and a poisoned and injured vulture, an endangered species, takes up residence in the Chopra home to recuperate.

Khan provides an insightful social and political commentary on the state of India as he vibrantly brings alive Mumbai with its desperate poverty and vast inequalities, the corruption, fraud, injustice, and the criminal underworld. One of the most fascinating aspects of this novel was its coverage of the powerful but well liked Parsees, a sect of which little is known, originally Persian, but who settled in Mumbai after persecution and were historically integral in the growth and prosperity of the city. It is true that the Parsees believed in having their dead disposed of by being eaten by the carrion vultures. This was a brilliantly entertaining read with it's wonderful comic touches, it immerses the reader into the everyday life and culture of Mumbai, and with the winning inclusion of the charismatic Ganesha, a baby elephant you cannot help but fall for. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.

Another amazing book about the Baby Ganesh Detective Agency. I loved the previous books, and this one is no slouch at all. I will continue to read about a sweet baby elephant and his master.

Easy read, good fun, and who doesn't love a mystery?

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of Bad Day at the Vulture Club, the fifth novel to feature the Mumbai based Baby Ganesh Detective Agency.

Former police inspector Chopra, proprietor of the Baby Ganesh Detective Agency, has built a solid reputation as an investigator since his forced retirement from the police force on health grounds, in fact he has more requests than he can handle but there is something about the murder of rich Parsee, Cyrus Zorabian, that intrigues him.

I thoroughly enjoyed Bad Day at the Vulture Club which is a charming mix of mystery and social commentary. The plot, told in the third person from Chopra’s point of view, held my interest from start to finish with its gradual unravelling of Cyrus Zorabian’s character and the resulting emergence of suspects and motives. It is well done with regular reveals at strategic moments but not enough to give the reader a sporting chance of an early guess.

For me, as good as the plot is, the main attraction of these novels is the light they throw on Indian life which is something I know little about. It could be argued that as the novels are on the cozy side there is no grit to the social commentary but surely any light is better than darkness? Without preaching Mr Khan makes it abundantly clear that poverty and corruption go hand in hand at the expense of the poor. It’s an interesting approach which I like and in the case of Chopra’s wife Poppy’s Pooh2loo campaign, a humorous take on a serious issue.

I also enjoyed the insight into the Parsee culture. This is a secretive sect with Persian origins which has, over the centuries, cultivated a reputation for wealth and philanthropy. Every day is a school day with these novels.

Characterisation is another strength of the novel. Chopra is a thoughtful, almost idealistic man with a thirst for justice. Accompanied by his “ward”, a two year old elephant cub called Ganesha he pursues his investigations diligently and persistently across Mumbai. He is a serious, literal man so Ganesha produces the light humour, along with Poppy who is the underestimated star of the novel. Childless, Poppy throws her energies into social campaigning with the Poo2loo being the latest (NB this is a real UNESCO sponsored initiative). Her campaign style in unorthodox with frequent, amusing mishaps but she is bright, enterprising and imaginative and gives Mr Khan another vehicle for commentary.

Bad Day at the Vulture Club is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is really one of my favorite series. It has charming characters, one of which is a baby elephant. Chopra is hired in this one to look into a random murder that the man’s family thinks wasn’t random at all. He was a very prominent man in the Parsee community, and unfortunately, there are many suspects. Along the way, he takes in an injured vulture, deals with his wife’s Poo2Loo campaign, and butts heads with his former boss. A highly enjoyable read with a memorable cast of characters.

What's not to love a Bad Dat at the Vulture Club? Pachyderms, Parsees...and poo! This series continues to be one of my favourites and this fifth installment is just as fun, charming, quirky and well written as the rest. Highly recommended if you like gentle mysteries that are not too dar, gory or will keep you awake at night. If you've read The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series then you will love this.