• The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

  • By: Tarquin Hall
  • Narrated by: Sam Dastor
  • Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (718 ratings)

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The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing  By  cover art

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

By: Tarquin Hall
Narrated by: Sam Dastor
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Editorial reviews

Tarquin Hall has evidently taken the criticism of his fun but simplistic first detective novel to heart; this second installment in the Vish Puri series is a head and shoulders above The Case of the Missing Servant, which was not too shabby in the first place. Where the first book was a fairly straightforward case, this one has at least a half dozen spectacular false endings that will keep you guessing until the very last minute.

Luckily, what hasn't changed at all is Hall's wonderful sense of authenticity in the dialogue. His ability to capture the flavor of New Delhi is impeccable, but a bigger treat is the return of narrator Sam Dastor, whose delivery of the rich dialogue is utterly unimpeachable. From English to Hindustani to Gujarati to Punjabi to even a little bit of ancient Urdu, Dastor does not miss a single beat while following the trail of Vish Puri, india's Most Private investigator, and it is his voice work that truly highlights what a good job Hall has done of showcasing all the comic wonder that northern india has to offer.

The case this time is much more complicated than just a missing servant. When "guru buster" Dr. Jha dies laughing in the face of an apparition of Kali, who slays him with a giant sword in a public park in the middle of the afternoon in front of dozens of witnesses, the alleged miracle appearance by the goddess touches off a whirlwind of speculation and debate between the rationalists and the godmen. it is too easy to accuse Maharaj Swami, the cult religious figure of the moment, who had long promised Jha he would get the "miracle" that was coming to him.

To assist him in solving this supernatural murder mystery, Puri enlists his team of various amusing undercover agents to infiltrate the confidences of his suspects and root out the evidence of the case. Thrown in for good measure is a minor secondary mystery involving the robbery of a ladies' gambling circle, presided over by Puri's own fairly witty wife and his overwhelmingly clever mother. Filled with criminal magicians, shady preachers, snooty academics, slimy bureaucrats, and a generous helping of police who are slow on the uptake, Hall's solid, classic characters are given fresh, spicy life thanks to such a charming narration. To read the book in print is to miss all the fun, as there is no better guide to Vish Puri's world than the flawless interpreter of Sam Dastor. Megan Volpert

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.

What listeners say about The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Vish Puri again

Excellent like previous stories. Well done!
Keeps you guessing and more insight into Puri's operatives. First class story. Can't wait to hear the next one.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Title

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

Very high marks

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the characters and facts about I nDian culture

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

Buy it you won't be disappointed

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun and entertaining

This is a wonderful froth of a story with excellent narration that brings the story to life. There are no downsides. It is beautifully told with lots of detail, including lots of references to delicious food, which is always a plus for me. The sub-plot with the detective's mother was also a joy. The book combines the intellect and detection skills of Sherlock Holmes and the humor of Stephanie Plum (if she were a chubby Indian detective). I'm hungry for more from Tarquin Hall.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I am ready to hit Delhi

This seemed like a good choice because I am headed off to India for two weeks and I wanted to soak up some atmosphere in advance. The laughing detective was the perfect solution, both murder mystery and social commentary. Vish Puri, his family, and his odd cast of business associates deliver a fast paced tale with non stop twists and turns. The narrator brought the characters alive. I don't want to need Vish Puri while I am in Delhi but it certainly would be fun to meet him.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

light and different

I enjoyed this book. It's very short and very light. I learned a lot about Indian culture.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Narrator, Characters and Story

This book was a joy to listen to. The Narrator was excellent, the Delhi Accents were charming, the story was fun and intriguing. Most excellent choice!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

3 Mysteries on One

Would you try another book from Tarquin Hall and/or Sam Dastor?

Not bad but not my particular favorite listen.

Would you be willing to try another book from Tarquin Hall? Why or why not?

I am not sure if I would do another book like this one. I did find enjoyment but felt other books are better.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator was as I thought the charter should be. A good fit.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun and murder in India!

India, mystery, murder investigation, great fun

Intriguing and fun novel in which a man makes his living solving crimes for the police while remaining a private investigator in India. The murder appears to be committed by a Hindu god and witnessed by many, but Vish Puri stubbornly researches everyone until he and his colleagues find the truth. The characters are fascinating, the plot is ingenious, and the situational and verbal humor is nonstop. Enjoy!
Sam Dastor helps the whole thing along with his interpretation of an Indian speaking ESL.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Loved some it, but it was a slow one...

I loved the food and lifestyle descriptions. However, overall, I had a little trouble getting through it. The story is a bit slow for me.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Entertaining

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book was a delightful departure from my usual Agatha Christie. Set in India, it gave the reader insight into that culture and dialects.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked all the major characters, but Facecream was my favorite.

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

I liked all the ladies at the party that had the theft.

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