I been a fan of Tarquin Hall's most very private detective since the first book.
Hishave latest is just as delightful and just as fun as his previous books. However, there was nothing new in the characters. His operatives are still one dimensional, his Mummy still nosey and his poor neglected wife still forgotten and dismissed.
Although I liked the book and clever plot, I think I wanted more growth and development of the characters.

The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck by Tarquin Hall is my first book by this author and did enjoy it. You don’t have to read the previous books. This series to get into this one. Here we have our Indian detective Vish based on New Delhi. People think of him as Indian Hercule Poirot. When something interesting happens in Vish’s professional life he gets asked to nab one of Indian’s most wanted fugitive. We have some enjoyable side characters including his meddling mother, his nephew that helps him the case and his wife that doesn’t want him to work on their long waited trip. This was enjoyable story abs I will continue this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC. These thoughts are my own!

This sweetly funny story of the world’s greatest detective, Delhi based Vish Puri, is so charming you will be completely drawn into his family and work life. As the book opens, he’s just been named “International Detective of the Year.” Unfortunately, the “secret” news has leaked out, and his office is deluged with congratulatory phone calls and sweets. Even worse, his mother calls and lets him know she’ll be accompanying he and his wife to London when they go for the award ceremony.

It comes with other minuses as well – an unwelcome associate has pledged to attend the ceremony, and Puri is summoned by a high up bureaucrat and instructed to find a notorious missing businessman who has fled to London with his millions, leaving in his wake victims of a medication that caused deaths rather than a cure. It seems like a lot to pile on, and what’s more, he’s instructed to investigate without the knowledge of the diplomats in London.

It’s with this on his mind that he boards the plane for London, his wife having to secretly drug him to overcome his fear of flying. When they land he’s irritated by the long line at customs and by the fact that he’ll apparently have to shlep his own luggage (a friend had warned him that the West is “DIY”). They arrive at a cousin’s where they are to stay and to Puri’s dismay, he discovers she’s not only vegan, she’s a terrible cook.

Puri, however, soldiers on and reaches out to an old friend at Scotland Yard to share information on the whereabouts of the missing man, dubbed by his friend the “Bombay Duck.” Puri also has operatives back in Delhi watching the wife, and they’re sure she’s planning to make a run for it. Meanwhile, Puri’s wife is delighted to be in London and wants to see all the sights there are to see. My favorite scene may have been high tea at the Savoy that Puri somehow ends up paying for the in the hopes of spotting his quarry.

As Puri works his investigation while also trying to accompany his wife when he can, he’s assisted in his task by his young cousin, who speaks and behaves like a Londoner but has some impressive tech skills and street smarts. Every character here is lovingly delineated – Hall obviously loves these people and if there were any kind of condescension on his part, it would have made the characters wooden on the page. Instead, they are fully alive, and while Puri can indeed be a bit ridiculous, he gets his man through some very smart investigating.

He’s also ably assisted by his mother who sees through him at every turn and is incredibly observant. Even his young cousin tells Puri to give her a break – she may irritate him (she’s his mother, after all) but she knows what she’s talking about. This concisely told tale was stuffed full of plot and wonderful characters. I didn’t mind starting with book six, but I now feel somewhat compelled to seek out the earlier books, with the worry that the delicious food described so vividly by Hall made me want to order up some Butter Chicken ASAP.

I was a bit worried that I wouldn't enjoy this book, as I hadn't read the previous books in the series. Still, I am an avid mystery reader and thought I would give it a go.

This was a fun, enjoyable mystery with a colorful and entertaining cast of characters. It was a quick, delightful read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun escapist mystery.

3-3.5/5 Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
I've enjoyed other books in this series in the past, and was happy to be able to read the newest instalment.
Vish Puri is getting a prestigious award and uses the occasion to take his wife and mother with him to London for an extended vacation.
Of course, it's not going to be simple, as he's enlisted by the Indian and British governements to help track down a dishonest billionaire with Indian connections who's currently in the UK.
There's lots of scenery streaming by the cab windows as Puri and his street-smart nephew try and track the bad guy, and some shenanigans with the team back in Delhi as well.
While I prefer the Indian adventures, this book is a must for Puri fans, and shows off London to good advantage.
Recommend for fans of cozy mysteries with an international flair.

3.5

This is the first of Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri series that I've read (leaving me way behind everyone else I assume).

The story follows Puri as he heads to London, ostensibly to pick up a prestigious award but, as appears to be normal, taking on the case of Harilal Bhatt, a dodgy businessman who has - so far - eluded Scotland Yard. It's a wild ride with poisonings, chases and lots of disguises being the order coffee the day.

The character I really enjoyed was Puri's Mummy who, I gather, has just as much expertise in catching criminals as Puri himself. She's incredibly entertaining and far more forthright than Vish.

My scoring may seem a little mean but the writing felt a little unpolished to me and the dialogue somewhat clunky at times.

I did, however, enjoy the book and I'd suggest fans of Vaseem Khan or Richard Osman would also enjoy these books. I'll certainly read the previous ones in the series - for no other reason than to increase my enjoyment of Mummy.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Severn House for the advance review copy.

Private detective Vish Puri travels to London to receive an award as the private detective of the year, with his wife Rumpi and his mother along for the ride. He receives a commission to undertake while there - to find an Indian pharmaceutical executive who has fled India to avoid prosecution. As he is carrying out the search in London, Rumpi and her mother-in-law undertake their own investigation into a family matter, and Puri's colleagues look into the missing executive's life back in India. An enjoyable read watching Puri carry out his investigation far from his usual setting. Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for the eARC.

Author Tarquin Hall had not released a Vish Puri novel in five years, so I had given up hope. How thrilled I am to discover the release of No. 6 in the series featuring the rotund, self-admiring head of Most Private Investigators in New Delhi. In The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck, Puri’s ego is further inflated by a summons to receive the 2021 Private Detective of the Year by the International Private Detectives Ltd. in London. Puri’s wife Rumpi and his mother accompany him to England.

But while Puri’s there, an Indian bigwig insists that Puri partner with Scotland Yard to track down a fugitive pharmaceutical CEO. At the same time, Rumpi and Mummy-ji conduct their own investigation into an Indian ex-pat servant being cheated of her wages and benefits. Readers will adore both cases, each of which has plenty of surprises. But it’s Vish Puri’s Chav but clever nephew Jagat (better known as “Jags”) that steals every scene he’s in. This first-generation Londoner taking a gap year is trying to find himself — and, thanks to Puri, he might just have found his calling. Highly, highly recommended.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Severn House in exchange for an honest review.

Vish Puri, owner of India's Most Private Detective Agency was awarded the Private Detective of the Year with the ceremony being held in London. Just as he was going to have a nice vacation with his wife, Rumpi, he was summoned to the Ministry of Finance office and requested Puri to track down Dr. Bhatt, CEO of BioSolutions, a pharmaceutical company, who fled the country and is hiding in London. So instead of enjoying his time site seeing he coheres his nephew Jags to help him navigate the streets of London. Puri also contacts his friend Inspector Bromley of Scotland Yard for assistance. All the while keeping this mission a secret from his family.
A very entertaing story in the series with the characters that we have gotten to know and in a new location for this adventure. Even Puri's Mummy-ji has her own case to solve while helping her son.
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read this e-galley of "The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck".

mystery, detective, multicultural, situational-humor, verbal-humor, fun, investigation*****

Let me whine a bit because the ebook is Not TTS enabled and my vision is not working well. I could only read part of it, but enough for me to go ahead and preorder the audio so I could laugh my way through another Vishi Puri mystery with that incredibly delightful cast of characters.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected reader's proof from Severn House via NetGalley.
Avail Mar 04, 2025 #TheCaseoftheElusiveBombayDuck by Tarquin Hall #VishiPuriMysteriesBk6 @SevernHouse #NetGalley #CozyMystery #MurderMystery @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @waterstones ***** #Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk

I hadn't read a Tarquin Hall mystery in so long, but was excited to reconnect with this cast of characters and see what they were up to! My favorite character by far is Tarquin's mother, who is unstoppable and such an entertaining and lovable read.

This book actually takes place mostly in London, which was a fun change. The description of the Desi community in London seemed accurate to me (or at least close enough for someone who has only visited), and the cultural differences and misunderstandings were funny but not too contrived or trite.

The mystery itself was two fold as Tarquin's wife and mother in law were involved with a mystery of their own, and we still got to hear about some of the other wonderful characters from past books as they did investigative work and research back in India.

I highly recommend this book to any mystery fans - it is a compelling read with fun and well developed characters. It would work as a stand alone read even though it is part of a series, and the mysteries are layered and complex so the resolution will be a surprise (or at least was for me).

For those fans of Vish Puri, this is another great read in the mystery series this time set in London. All our favourite characters are there - his wife and his mum. It is not an easy adjustment for Vish Puri with the rainy cold weather and the underground but they all seem to enjoy their stay and accomplish a lot of problem solving. I am so thrilled to see Tarquin Hall add another book to his series!

I was eagerly awaiting this one as I had read all the previous books in the series and the last one was a while ago.

This one really didn't work for me though. I understand the use of exaggerated humor (as in how Vish Puri's family talks) but with a very thin plotline, the same bits seem to be repeated with the intent of comedic effect. In the previous books, there were some funny bits (or atleast, that's how I remember it). This book just seems to be a rehash of the same, just in London. Once or twice is novelty, 6 times is not.

‘The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck" by Tarquin Hall is the sixth book in the Vish Puri series, featuring India’s Most Private Investigator. I’m a new reader to this series and can’t wait to read the others as I really enjoyed this one.

Our hero is Vish Puri, a brilliant private detective and has a group of agents at his disposal: all of which are fun, colourfully written characters. The mystery is an intriguing, fun and engaging. As a first time reader jumping in, I really enjoyed it.

Superb book, with delightful oddball characters, beautifully drawn. I loved the main character Puri, and his wonderful mother. Hadn’t realised that this is number six in a series of books featuring Detective Puri.
A treat awaits me in the form of the previous five books!

The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck by Tarquin Hall is another delightful entry in the Vish Puri series. Vish, India’s top detective, is sent to London to find a fugitive while dealing with his meddling mother, Mummy-ji. The book is full of humor, cultural insights, and delicious descriptions of Indian food. Mummy-ji’s antics are a highlight, and Vish’s team adds charm to the story. Though it can be read alone, earlier books offer a richer experience. A fun, light-hearted mystery perfect for fans of witty, character-driven stories!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading about Delhi and London, the foods that Puri enjoys in both cities, and especially finding out about the Indian community in London, the foods, the nearby Hindi temple, etc. I was hoping for a light read with the humorous detective, but though the book started out that way, it became cumbersome to read. So many different people involved in the case, in India and in England, so many different cases of corruption and crime, and so many people arrested in the end.

Making the plots a little more streamlined and less elaborate would have made it a better read for me.

"The Case of the Elusive Bombay Duck" by Tarquin Hall is the sixth installment in the delightful Vish Puri series, featuring India’s Most Private Investigator. As a long-time fan of the series, I was thrilled to see a new addition. And it is just as good as the other books!

The hero of the piece is Vish Puri, a brilliant private detective and owner of a detective agency who is offended when people dare to compare him to the fictional Sherlock Holmes. Unlike other classic detectives, he does not work alone and has a host of colorful agents at his disposal: Handbrake, Tubelight, Flush, to name a few. Also, there is Madam Rani, his secretary and the recorder of his exploits.

Vish is 59 years old, smart, patriotic, a master of disguise, and a passionate lover of everything fried and spicy (even if he's not allowed to). He is a detective in the old-fashioned sense. His main tools are common sense and intuition, combined with the technological skills and daring of his assistants.

When he wins the International Detective of the Year award, he is asked to keep it a secret. Within hours, it seems all of Delhi knows – including his indomitable Mummy-ji, who announces she will come with him and his wife Rumpy to the ceremony in London, much to their dismay. The plot thickens when a senior government bureaucrat asks him to track down India’s most-wanted fugitive, billionaire pharmaceutical fraudster code-named Bombay Duck, rumored to hide in London, a request he can't refuse.

Vish’s predicament is both humorous and chaotic as he juggles keeping the investigation secret from Rumpy - who would not approve of him working during their much-anticipated vacation - and from Mummy-ji, who has her own ways of meddling. Alongside his nephew Jags and Bromley, an English police detective, Vish dives into the case while his mother pursues an investigation of her own.

I absolutely loved the book! It’s brimming with humor, clever wordplay, mouthwatering descriptions of Indian food, and comparisons between the Indian and British cultures. Mummy-ji is a sharp, hilarious force of nature, and her adventures were a highlight. The story seamlessly weaves between London and New Delhi, juggling multiple plotlines that all tie together brilliantly.

While the book can be enjoyed on its own, I recommend reading the earlier installments to fully appreciate the characters and their dynamics. The chapters include helpful explanations of cultural concepts, and a glossary of Indian words and terms at the end enhances the experience.

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read that captures the essence of its settings and cultures. I found myself smiling at Vish’s struggles to find non-vegetarian food while staying with his vegetarian hosts, or when he failed to catch the irony of Inspector Bromley. If you’re a fan of Alexander McCall Smith’s series, you’ll adore this book even more - it delivers a richer mystery, vivid characters, and plenty of substance. Highly recommended!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Thoroughly Engaging..
The sixth entry into the Vish Puri series of mysteries and the long awaited rerun of India’s finest and most enigmatic of detectives. Puri has discovered that he has won the International Detective of the Year award - supposedly a guarded secret, although it appears that the world and his wife already know of his success - and is to attend a ceremony in London. With wife and mother tagging along, an unexpected undercover mission on his plate (a fraudster code named Bombay Duck), Puri is at his wits end and, so, he enlists some help….what could possibly go wrong? A delightful instalment to the series, brimming with wonderful characterisation, perfectly executed backdrops and a pacy plot bubbling with wit, humour and satirical observations. Thoroughly engaging.

Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Detective (and quirky gentleman), has won the International Detective of the Year award and travels to London to accept his prize. Mayhem and murder ensue, and author Tarquin Hall explores the intersection of Indian and British culture clashes to poke fun at the characters. Vish is a delight, a not-young detective genuinely curious about the world around him. The crimes explored in the book seem a bit caricatured (and the resolution of the Mummy-ji plot line feels rushed), but this is an excellent and fun read. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.