Customer Reviews

Breaking and Entering (Hb) (An Inspector Ghote Mystery)

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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!

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.

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.