Inspector Ghote's First Case: An Inspector Ghote Mystery [Hardcover]

H. R. F. Keating (Author)

Book Description

Series: Inspector Ghote Mystery | Publication Date: August 18, 2009

From Gold and Cartier Diamond Dagger–Winner H. R. F. Keating, the long awaited prequel to the acclaimed series

 

Newly promoted Inspector Ghote of the Bombay Police is thrilled to be granted casual leave until he takes up his post, as it allows him to spend time with his heavily pregnant wife, who is desperate to watch a showing of Hamlet at the cinema. Their plans are ruined, however, when Sir Rustom Engineer asks Ghote to investigate the suicide of his friend’s wife.

           

Worried about his wife’s imminent delivery, Ghote nevertheless travels to the home of Mr. Dawkins, where he is unconvinced by the story of Iris Dawkins’s death. Especially when he recognizes the officer in charge, Darrani, who is well known for his closed mindedness. Ghote investigates further, with a Hamlet-esque awareness of how deceiving appearances can really be.

           

The New York Times called Inspector Ghote “one of the great characters of the contemporary mystery novel” and H. R. F. Keating returns to his well-liked Indian detective with much energy and vision.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The sudden, violent death of a British memsahib launches this pleasing prequel to the long-running Inspector Ghote series (Breaking and Entering, etc.) from CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger–winner Keating. Newly minted police inspector Ghote is summoned by Sir Rustom Engineer, the former Bombay police commissioner, to find out why the pregnant Iris Dawkins, who seemed the epitome of the contented young housewife, would shoot herself at the hill station of Mahableshwar. In uncovering the often sad facts of Dawkins's background, Ghote delicately navigates the minefields of touchy British officials, jealous and stupid subordinates, and frightened and obstructive servants while worrying about the impending arrival of his first child back home. Although the solution to Dawkins's death may not surprise many readers, loyal fans will welcome the return of the compassionate Indian investigator with the earnest determination to see right done. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

H. R. F. Keating was the reviewer for the London Times for fifteen years and served as chairman of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Authors. He has been the longest-serving president of the Detection Club, next only to Agatha Christie. He twice won the CWA Gold Dagger, and in 1996, he was awarded the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger. He lives in London with his wife, the actress Sheila Mitchell, who regularly reads his titles as audio books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (August 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312384041
• ISBN-13: 978-0312384043
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,233,205 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "What an impossible task I have been given.", November 19, 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: Inspector Ghote's First Case: An Inspector Ghote Mystery (Hardcover)

This prequel to H. R. F. Keating's Inspector Ghote series takes place in 1960, with good news for the Assistant Inspector and his wife, Protima. The two are living in a cramped junior officer's flat when they learn that Ghote has been promoted to Inspector and will be posted to the Detection of Crime Branch in Bombay. No longer will he be forced to deal with petty criminals in Dadar; soon, he will be a full-fledged detective investigating "only important murder cases or affairs concerning people of the highest influence."

Inspector Ghote eagerly looks forward to his new duties and hopes that he and Promita will be able to move to a more comfortable and conveniently located apartment equipped with a telephone. Much to their consternation, however, they cannot celebrate their good fortune immediately, for Ghote suddenly receives a message from the Assistant Commissioner of Police. As soon as possible, he is to visit Sir Rustom Engineer, "the first Indian to hold the post of Commissioner of the Bombay Police." It seems that Sir Rustom wants Inspector Ghote to drive to Mahableshwar to find out why the much younger wife of a retired English sahib, Robert Dawkins, shot herself to death.

This book brings to mind the Precious Ramotswe series by Alexander McCall Smith. Although Precious is a private detective and Ghote is a trained policeman, both are unassuming people with a strong sense of duty and a great deal of common sense. While Precious reveres Clovis Anderson, author of "The Principles of Private Detection," Ghote's favorite work is "Criminal Investigation," by Hans Gross. Gross states that "a good detective must know men and be eternally vigilant," and that "tact is indispensible." Indeed, Ghote proceeds to carefully interview Dawkins, his servants, and acquaintances. The inspector learns that the circumstances of Iris Dawkins's death may not be as clear-cut as he has been led to believe. Instead of protecting his own interests and backing off, Ghote risks his career and digs deeper until the truth finally emerges.

"Inspector Ghote's First Case" is an amusing and easy-to-take mystery that celebrates hard work, integrity, and family values, but also acknowledges the sad truth: Some people are venal, racist, petty, and malicious. Readers may be annoyed by the fact that the Indian characters speak in a weird English dialect (it is artificial and irritating). In addition, the author is a bit repetitious at times. Offsetting these deficits is the solid presence of Ghote, an ordinary man who is by turns decisive and uncertain, self-confident and insecure. To his credit, he is steadfast in his pursuit of justice, but savvy and empathetic enough to understand why, in a moment of weakness, a person may commit a terrible crime. "Inspector Ghote's First Case" should find a receptive audience among fans of humorous and exotic mysteries with well-drawn characters.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars super first case prequel, August 22, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inspector Ghote's First Case: An Inspector Ghote Mystery (Hardcover)

In 1960 to celebrate his promotion to Detection of Crime Branch Inspector, Ganesh Ghote and his pregnant wife Protima plan to see Olivier's Hamlet. However, before they leave for the movie, his new superior Assistant Commissioner Divekar directs him to visit Sir Rustam Engineer ASAP. Sir Engineer is a legend as the first Indian to become Commissioner of the Bombay Police, but has since retired.

Sir Engineer asks Inspector Ghote to investigate the death of the pregnant wife of a friend. Retired civil engineer Robert Dawkins refuses to believe his Iris would kill herself especially carrying their child. Ghote reluctantly leaves his spouse behind, a sort of harbinger of things to come in "future" investigations, as he travels to Mahableshwar. There his inquiry is stonewalled by servants who refused to speak and by his schoolboy classmate Inspector Pathan "Bullybhoy" Barrani.

Returning to a beloved inspector for the first time in about a decade, H.R.F. Keating provides a super first case prequel that enables readers to solve the case before the hero. However Ghote's sympathy and compassion surface early on and the profound look back at the convoluted Indian-British relationships makes for a great police procedural. Fans will relish the return of Inspector Ghote and Protima as they wait the birth of their first child, Miss Hamlet, and ponder to tell or not to tell that is the question.

Harriet Klausner

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dry, boring and dull, September 15, 2009

By 

Cheryl Koch (CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inspector Ghote's First Case: An Inspector Ghote Mystery (Hardcover)

Inspector Ghote's First Case: An Inspector Ghote Mystery is the prequel to the Inspector Ghote series that consists of twenty-six novels.

The year is 1960. Ganesh Ghote has just received a letter notifying him of his promotion to Detection of Crime Branch Inspector. The promotion has been long over due. In celebration of his promotion, Ghote and his pregnant wife plan a night out to see the Hamlet at the cinema. They never make it to the showing. Inspector Ghote receives a written message from his boss to pay a visit to former Bombay police commissioner,
Sir Rustom Engineer.

Sir Engineer wants Inspector Ghote to investigate why his good friend's wife, Iris would kill herself. Though Sir Engineer doesn't hold much faith that much will come out of the investigation. He would be wrong.

This book started out strong but than quickly fizzed for me. I lost interest in the plot. This is because none of the characters were very memorable to me and I found the story line dry. To be honest I can't remember much of what transpired between the characters. The Inspector Ghote series is one of the longest running series around. Seeing as to the fact that I didn't think this book, I must be in the minority group. Inspector Ghote's First Case will be my first and last case.