Radhi returns home to Mumbai to lick her wounds after a failed relationship and a spate of writer's block, but she soon falls into the tangled mystery surrounding the death of her best friend's father.

I picked up this book because I was feeling nostalgic for India, and I'm glad I did. This is a compelling mystery with a plethora of suspects and a complex, lovable amateur detective who is determined to seek out the truth even if it hurts. The author immerses the reader in the rhythms of the daily lives of the residents of Temple Hill, showcasing a world you don't often get to visit in books. I enjoyed how Radhi and Sanjana went about solving the mystery - we can follow them and their trains of thought quite easily.

I did wish that the author did not leave some loose ends to be tied up at the very end (regarding the motives of suspects who were found not guilty) as by then I had forgotten the specifics of their interrogations - but this is a small quibble that did not affect my enjoyment of the story.

Overall, an absorbing read, and I will definitely read the next book in this series.

Atmospheric, Immersive Mystery…
Amidst the posh turrets of Temple Hill in Mumbai a tragedy unfolds. Novelist Radhi has returned for other reasons but now she is determined to get at the truth surrounding the death that has been deemed a suicide but that she is sure is not. Atmospheric, well plotted, with a superlative sense of place and with a wholly credible cast of characters this is an enjoyable and immersive read and hopefully the start of a long running series. Bravo!

I really enjoyed this read! Loved all the size stories that make the main one! My favourite characters being Radi and her sister and Aunty! Look forward to reading more mysteries in Temple Hill.

Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
As I lived in Mumbai for three lovely years, I loved this book. It was well written, with such great atmosphere and sense of place, plus a very likeable heroine, I just couldn't put it down.
The mystery itself is a puzzler and I didn't guess the perpetrator, but in the time up to it, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and my mouth was watering all the way through ... all those delicious foods! It made me feel homesick as well for those years spent in Mumbai, it's a city like no other.
Highly recommended!

I usually only read murder mysteries set in the UK, bit India being so totally different, I thought I'd give it a try, and I'm very glad I did. I love learning new things and this book taught me lots. I'm going to be looking up lots of the recipes and finding out much more about Jains.

Plus it's a really good book. Loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

Among the rarefied circles of Mumbai’s posh Temple Hill, there is nothing more tragic than the loss of face — not even loss of life.

Award-winning novelist Radhi Zaveri flees home to Temple Hill trying to escape a broken heart and humiliating writer’s block.

But she is met by a terrible tragedy. Her pregnant best friend Sanjana’s father has killed himself.

And yet, just hours before, he was telling Sanjana that he couldn’t wait to hold his grandchild in his arms. What triggered this desperate act? And why is their young maid so terrified?