The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

By: Tarquin Hall

Narrated by: Sam Dastor

Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Dr. Suresh Jha, best known for unmasking fraudulent swamis and godmen, dies in a fit of giggles at his morning yoga class when goddess Kali appears from the mist and plunges a sword into his chest. The only one laughing now is the main suspect, a powerful guru named Maharaj Swami, who seems to have done away with his most vocal critic.

Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Investigator, master of disguise and lover of all things fried and spicy, doesn’t believe the murder is a supernatural occurrence. How did the murder weapon miraculously crumble into ash? To get at the truth, Puri and his team of undercover operatives—Facecream, Tubelight, and Flush—must travel from the slum to the holy city of Haridwar on the Ganges.

©2010 BBC Audio (P)2010 Sacred Cow Media, Ltd.

The author and narrator are a fabulous combination

If you could sum up The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing in three words, what would they be?

Delightful exotic romp.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing?

When the Goddess Kali appears from the sky.

What about Sam Dastor’s performance did you like?

He is the best - so many different Indian accents and voices. The story tended to ramble but even when I was a little lost on the details I still enjoyed listening to the different voices.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I just found it entertaining. It didn't create an emotional response.

Any additional comments?

I didn't enjoy the story in this one quite as much as The Case of the Missing Servant, but the narration made up for what the story lacked. It was a good mystery, mind you, but with the several story lines I didn't get as caught up in it as with the first one.

Sherlock Holmes of India!

Where does The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the most engaging and funny mystery series! If you really want to see India and all the complexities that surround it, you should definitely read this book. He is a master at peeling back the veil and showing what goes on underneath this vibrant culture.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

All the characters were interesting and he kept all the story lines moving in a funny, yet mysterious way.

Which character – as performed by Sam Dastor – was your favorite?

They are all wonderful. Mr. Pulli (aka Chubby) and all the others who support him in his endeavors are wonderfully drawn out in these stories.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Although our detective is somewhat of an egotistical windbag, he is always lovable and able to determine the truth of those who scheme to trick and defraud the good people of New Dehli.

Any additional comments?

If you enjoy a wonderful mystery with an international flavor, I recommend this series. You wil not be disappointed by either the narration or the story.

Very Entertaining a very different story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Certain ones. Not all like this kind of mystery. It's kind of fluffy.

Have you listened to any of Sam Dastor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

This was a nice change from the other mysteries I'm used to reading or listening to. I usually read Robert Ludlum, Christopher Reich etc. You get my drift. Very intense and hard to put down. This was a casual listen.

A Smashing Good Mystery, Na?

This is another in a series of mystery novels that are light and yet complex and twisty enough to satisfy. Filled with the colour of India, I have enjoyed each one I have listened to and certainly think they are worth a credit. I suggest you start with this, as it is even better than The Case of The Missing Servant, Although that was also very good.

Vish Puri is back at it!!

wonderfully narrated as usual charming story with a few new characters... delivered a good read as usual

A great favorite!

I have listened to this novel more than once. The narrator is splendid and the story terrific. I love the humor and the dueling mysteries between Mummy and Vish.

Excellent example of genre

A sort of "locked room" mystery interlaced with two or three subplots. Narrator Sam Dastor does a spectacular job of juggling UK, Indian, and American accents. A brief, painless glimpse into contemporary India.

Great Fun!

This book was a modern Sherlock Holmes with a bit more fun. An easy read/listen. Only one thing, not really a complaint, but I am familiar with indian cluture, but the author used quite a few words in Indian. Most the author uses the english word, or a discription of the item right after, but a few he does not. (mainly food items) It would have helped me envison the scene better if I knew what it looked like. Otherwise I really enjoyed it. The narrarator is Fantastic!! Even though he does the voices for a few women, they sound just like I would expect them to sound.

Overall good who done it novel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you enjoy listening to audio books and you love mysteries this is a good audio book for you. It is longer than most audio books, however, when I am driving I can listen to it and relax.

What did you like best about this story?

As most mysteries, you have several possible suspects to choose from through out the story. I can usually figure out the suspect long before the end of the story. It was not so for this book. It kept me guessing up to the end.

Have you listened to any of Sam Dastor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

A Fun Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Sam Dastor is a great reader, fabulous with accents. It is a fun and amusing novel.