A charming cozy mystery, set in India, with a charismatic detective, whose life is constantly invaded by his Mummy-ji, who knows her son well. She is happy to manipulate him for her ends. A clever woman, observant, well-connected and a natural investigator, she is effectively a silent partner in the private detective firm.

Indian customs and society are integral to the story, and historic events are also included, which add interest to the plot. The cast of characters is eclectic and enigmatic and gives this story its quirky appeal. There are several cases to be investigated, but it is the one Puri wants to ignore that proves the most absorbing and challenging.

This is the fifth book in the series, but it is possible to read as a standalone, as I did. However, series like these are always worth reading from the beginning.

At times humorous and often poignant, this is a well-written mystery with a memorable detective, a diverse set of cases and a distinctive cultural ethos.

I received a copy of this book from Severn House Publishers via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My feelings about Tarquin Hall's The Case of the Reincarnated Client are mixed, but I will admit that they got more enthusiastic as I kept reading. This is an interesting series, set in modern-day Mumbai, one that I've been wanting to check out. Beginning with the fifth book in the series probably wasn't the best way to do things, but that's what I did.

The fact that this is a series matters immensely. Readers are assumed to know something about the relationships among the characters, to anticipate how they will respond in specific situations, to foresee points of conflict or humor. Because I didn't know the characters, I was reading in a sort of back-pedaling way. Hall would signal that something should be surprising or funny, and I had to take that on trust, realizing a few pages or chapters later what the surprise or the joke was.

The book is pretty extensively footnoted, commenting on references to previous cases, presumably from volumes 1-4. I have to acknowledge that this is a device I don't enjoy. I want a book to succeed or fail on its own, without requiring regular bits of explanation. If I need to know something, tell the story in a way that makes that something clear—don't pull me out of the narrative to explain that something then expect me to move right back in again.

That said, I really did warm to this book, though that didn't start happening until after the halfway point. Once I'd spent enough time with the characters to get to know them a bit, I was able to do the kind of anticipating and appreciating I'd been missing earlier on. I particularly enjoyed the author's ability to blend humorous and serious plot lines.

The novel juggles several related cases. The one referred to in the title gets the most coverage. Vish Puri, owner of The Most Private Detective Agency gets pulled in by his mother, Mummy-ji, to investigate a woman who may be the reincarnation of the victim of an unsolved murder from the anti-Sikh riots og 1984. The case is significant for Chubby (that's what everyone call Vish) because his deceased father, a police officer, had led the original investigation. Added to that case are a number of variations on money-laundering, necessitated by the government's cancellation of a particular monetary denomination—intended to prevent fraud, but actually sparking all kinds of new fraud as individuals try to unload any bills of the the soon-to-be-cancelled denomination before they become worthless. Finally, there a problem with a bridegroom Chubby previously investigated (apparently a fairly typical assignment for a private detective in this part of the world) who has turned out to be an unbearably loud snorer. The bride's father, who had commissioned the initial investigation, threatens to sue Chubby for failing to discover and report on the snoring issue before the marriage took place. Lots of cases, lots of humor, occasional real danger.

If you like "cozy" mysteries with an international flair, you should enjoy The Case of the Reincarnated Client, though you may want to work through the series sequentially.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

{I will add reviews on Edelweiss and Amazon once that becomes possible.)

A very good mystery with a fun plot, humor, and interesting characters. Recommended for mystery fans. This is very talented author.

I really appreciate the copy for review!

By god, isn't this one of the best stories I have read this year or what!! Interesting character names, weirdos and even weirder stories, cartloads of jalebis and fun, what else can a reader ask for!!

Rajma chawal, aloo parathas and all the gastronomic delicacies left me drooling for more! Usage of Hindi words and slangs made this read even more enjoyable.

Saanvi and Riya Kaur's mystery was absolutely brilliant. Mummy-ji turned out to be an excellent detective. By god, Vish should recruit her as his side-kick. The quirky doos of weirdo characters make you laugh out loud. Characters with names like FaceCream, TubeLight and HandBrake makes you giggle.

The Case of a Reincarnated Client is a brilliant story with a tadka (tempering). (No Indian dish is complete without a tadka!) I recommend this story to one and all. Brilliantly concocted plot, wonderful and hilarious characters, ek dum top-class sleuthing by Vish Puri - what else does a mystery lover need?!!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of The Case of the Reincarnated Client, the sixth novel to feature New Delhi’s most private detective, Vish Puri.

When Puri is presented with the case of a young woman who claims to be the reincarnation of Riya Kaur, a young woman who was presumed murdered in the 1984 race riots, he initially wants nothing to do with it but pressure from his mummy-jii and the fact that Riya Kaur was one of his father’s unsolved cases persuade him to take a look. This is not, however, his only case as a disgruntled father is insisting that he re-investigate his son-in-law, claiming that Puri’s investigation should have uncovered the son-in-law’s marriage breaking snoring.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Case of the Reincarnated Client which is a humorous romp with a good mystery attached. It made me laugh but it is equally capable of tugging the heartstrings when discussing the poverty and casual cruelty in Indian society. Not that the author labours these points, rather they just appear as a natural part of his narrative as do the 2016 demonetisation where most bank notes became obsolete overnight and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots which killed hundreds. I found the novel extremely informative on Indian culture, a subject I know little about, and I liked the way it was part of the story without overwhelming it.

There is a hint of the absurd in the plot, especially the snoring part, which gives the novel a warm, feel good tone so this tone and the mental contortions involved in solving the cases make it an easy, absorbing read.

The characterisation adds to the charm of the read. Vish Puri is a middle aged, overweight man with high blood pressure who runs a successful detective agency. This does not mean he is without issues as his wife is frequently pulling him up for overworking and his mummy-jii rides roughshod over him at every turn. She is the star of the show, being smart, determined and extremely capable of getting her son to do as she wants.

The Case of the Reincarnated Client is a fun read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Vish Puri, India's Most Private Investigator, is asked by his mother (Mummy), to investigate the young woman who claims to be the reincarnation of Ria Kaur, a wife and mother who disappeared
during the bloody anti-Sikh riots in 1984 Delhi. Puri is not interested, but Mummy is adamant and drags him kicking and screaming into the mystery. At the same time Puri is threatened by a former client, who wants his money back, claiming his son-in-law wasn't investigated properly and is now driving his daughter mad with his loud and persistent snoring. My teen years were spent in Mumbai, some of the happiest of my life, leaving me with an insatiable appetite for all things Indian. This series is a favorite of mine. Not only are the cases good, with a touch of humor (Mummy always insists on getting involved), the glimpses of life in modern day India are fascinating. Puri's prodigious appetite leaves me drooling, all those delicious dishes make me look up the recipes and try them out in my kitchen, with mixed results.
A highly recommended series, don't miss out on it!
Each book can be read as a standalone, but if possible, read them all.