Breaking and Entering (An Inspector Ghote Mystery) [Paperback]

H R F Keating (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2001 | Series: An Inspector Ghote Mystery

Officially excluded from the most baffling murder case to occur in Bombay for many years, Inspector Ghote has only one option - to track down the killer unofficially instead. All Bombay is buzzing with news of the murder of Anil Ajmani. It is certainly a baffling case, for the millionaire was found stabbed to death in his tightly secure mansion. Every inspector in the Crime Branch hopes to nail the killer. Including Inspector Ghote. Unfortunately, he is the only officer not assigned to the case. Instead he has been given the less glorious task of tracking down a cat burglar. Aided - or perhaps hampered - by his old friend Axel Svensson, Ghote races to uncover Yeshwant's true identity. And in doing so unexpectedly finds that he may be the one to solve the murder of Anil Ajmani after all...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Breaking and Entering: An Inspector Ghote Mystery, the prolific H.R.F. Keating (Doing Wrong) puts another notch in the belt of his popular hero, Bombay Inspector Ganesh Ghote. When Ghote is assigned to a series of jewelry thefts instead of a high-profile murder, his investigation might lead him to the murderer.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'Inspector Ghote is one of the great characters of the contemporary mystery novel.' New York Times

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan (November 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0330483048
• ISBN-13: 978-0330483049
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,665,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another brilliant novel from a true master, December 18, 2002

By 

God (London,England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking and Entering (Hardcover)

I had been eagerly anticipating the new HRF Keating novel as i had so greatly enjoyed his last masterpeice,luckily all my hopes were fulfilled. I took this book on my holiday with me and found i hardly had time to do all the sightseeing etc. that i had hoped to do,as i was so utterly engrossed in my book!It was packed full of thrills and suprises and i feel more a part of the world he writes about with every book i read!Breaking and Entering will definately be on my list of gifts to give to friends,it's marvellous!

4.0 out of 5 stars "I see all is not as simple as I had thought.", December 20, 2009

By 

E. Bukowsky "booklover10" (NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking and Entering (An Inspector Ghote Mystery) (Paperback)

It is a hot and humid October in Mumbai, India, and Inspector Ganesh Ghote is annoyed that Deputy Commissioner Kabir has assigned him to find a cat burglar instead of a murderer. The perpetrator, who has been nicknamed "Yeshwant" (a large and nimble climbing lizard) by a pushy female journalist, climbed through quite a few windows in the middle of the night and absconded with expensive jewelry. Although other investigators have already looked into the matter, Ghote must interview all of the victims once again, looking for that elusive clue that will solve this difficult case.

Much to Ghote's chagrin, his solitude is interrupted by the loud voice of Axel Svensson, a large Swede who helped Ganesh investigate a murder some years ago. Axel, a childless widower whose wife is dead, once worked for UNESCO and the Swedish Department of Justice. He is retired and has returned to India, anxious to be Ghote's sidekick once again.

"Breaking and Entering," by H. R. F. Keating, is a witty and skillfully constructed novel. Although Ghote's first instinct is to ditch Axel, this proves to be no easy task. Svensson often tags along as Ghote makes the rounds of the houses where Yeshwant has struck, and surprisingly, his presence sometimes proves useful. Ghote is anxious to figure out just how the burglar knew which homeowners had valuable jewels ripe for the picking.

Although Inspector Ghote is not particularly daring or aggressive, he is clever and alert, and eventually he solves not just one puzzle, but two. "Breaking and Entering" is at times too talky and repetitious. However, it is an engaging character study of a man who has little ambition to rise above his rank, but enough pride and tenacity to keep pursuing his elusive quarry. Keating has a lively sense of fun, and he enjoys exploring the ways in which men and women rationalize their misdeeds. The book's colorful atmosphere, low-key suspense, and gentle humor make this an entertaining and amusing mystery.

3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting take on police science in India, November 23, 2001

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Breaking and Entering (Hardcover)

Inspector Ganesh Ghote is assigned Bombay's second most important case. While the rest of the elite Crime Bureau pursues the murder of one of Bombay's influential and well-protected millionaires, Ghote is supposed to track a mysterious jewel thief. This thief climbs high buildings, entering through open windows, and steals only a single item--always the most expensive and precious. Unfortunately, the police have already investigated and Ghote is stuck with looking into aging evidence and interviewing the rich and influential women whose jewels were stolen.

To Ghote's consternation, he runs into Swede Axel Svensson, formerly with UNESCO and now a tourist in India who insists on being included in Ghote's work. While the huge European provides strong backup, he can also be counted on to wallow through the sensibilities of the upper class victims of the burgular.

Author H. R. F. Keating offers an interesting look into policework in India. Ghote seems to be a different person when he deals with the wealthy and influential, and when he meets with their servants and the lower classes. Svensson is alternately disappointed by Ghote's reluctance to press his rich witnesses, and shocked by his harsh treatment of the lower classes.

The relationship between the two men is odd and somewhat disturbing. Ghote seems to hold Svensson in contempt, growing angry with the Swede's repeated failures to correctly pronounce Indian names and susceptability to Indian beggars, yet repeatedly calling on Svensson for aid. Svennson thinks of Ghote as his friend despite the way Ghote mistreates him.