Into the Leopard's Den

Bangalore Detectives Club, Book 4

De: Harini Nagendra

Narrado por: Soneela Nankani

Bangalore, 1922: Pregnant and confined to the house by her protective mother-in-law, Kaveri Murthy has resolved to take a break from detection. But when an elderly woman is stabbed at night and dies clutching a photograph of Kaveri while asking for her help—how can she refuse? Missing the assistance of her husband Ramu, who is working in Coorg, Kaveri investigates her new case with her able assistants, milk boy Venu and housemaid Anandi. They find a trail of secrets that lead them to suspect the killer may be in Coorg.

Eager to be reunited with her husband, Kaveri sets off to Coorg to investigate. When she arrives, she encounters a thorny thicket of cases. Why does a ghost leopard prowl the forests at night, terrorizing the plantation workers? And who is trying to kill Colonel Boyd, the Coffee King of Coorg? When two vulnerable children appeal for her help, Kaveri is drawn deeper into the case. Soon, one murder turns into two—and then a few days later into three. Now the killer has tasted blood and needs to be stopped. Racing against time, Kaveri must take on her most complex challenge so far, with the assistance of Anandi and Venu in Bangalore, and with Ramu and Inspector Ismail in Coorg. In this stunning new novel by an acclaimed master of the form, the Bangalore Detectives Club must find and expose a brutally intelligent killer before they strike again.

©2025 Harini Nagendra (P)2025 Tantor Media

Delightfully Addictive Historical Mystery Series

How delightful!!! This historical mystery book by the brilliant Ms. Harini Nagendra is just as gripping and wonderfully sinister as the previous 3 books in this series!

I feel like I have just returned to reality after spending such a short time with my friend Kaveri Murthy, sleuthing away in 1922 Bangalore, India! The only negative about this book is that it had to end...Now what am I going to do to top this much fun?

The narration by prolific and wonderful Ms. Soneela Nankani is just simply superb! She owns each and every character, and there is no doubt as to who is speaking...she does not narrate, but she "performs" this book, and makes it come alive.

Very few historical mysteries have captured both my full attention, but also my heart as The Bangalore Detective Club. Being a fan of India and its culture, all the pages of this series tell us stories about the location, the people, the sounds, the tastes and the brilliant colors of amazing India! ...and a murder or two has to be solved by pregnant Kaveri, who travels to Coorg, which is not a fictional city.

There was so much research done for his book by Ms. Nagendra, and we learn so much from it. Thank you for all the fun facts that you weave into the stories within this book.

This is one of this year's most notable books that I have read. There is not enough praise that I could write about this book, so the best recommendation for me to post is for you to buy this book, or to request it through your library.

The plot is great! Writing is good too!

While I find that narrator to be generally food, this story takes place in Bangalore, Karnataka and uses quite a bit of Kannada words. I find to distracting when the narrator is unable to pronounce the Kannada words correctly. It def takes away from an otherwise outstanding performance.

Original, Plot Twist and Indian Inspired! *****

I rarely leave reviews, but after years of listening to audiobooks on Audible, I have to recommend this Indian‑flavored mystery series. It’s perfect for anyone who loves feeling immersed in a rich culture and wants a mystery/detective story set somewhere magical and vibrant.

The entire series is fun, engaging, and full of plot twists and character development. It’s captivating without being too dark or scary — great for listeners like me who enjoy audiobooks before bed and don’t want nightmares. You really do feel like you’re solving the mysteries right alongside the lovable characters and their detective club. It’s refreshing and different from the usual mystery fare.

What I Didn’t Love

• The narrator wasn’t the strongest, especially when switching between character voices. Still, the story was good enough that I binge‑listened to the whole series anyway.
• I wish the books included a reference section or PDF with the Indian dishes mentioned. I love the cultural and culinary details, but I couldn’t always catch the names clearly enough to look them up or ask my Indian best friend about them.
• I also wish the full series could be purchased as a bundle instead of individually.


What I Especially Loved

• The plot keeps you wanting more without relying on extreme cliffhangers.
• The mysteries are clever — not too easy to guess — with satisfying twists.
• It’s a clean, light‑hearted series that nearly any age can enjoy.
• Perfect for crime‑fiction fans who want something engaging but not too intense for bedtime listening.

My Rating Summary ~

•Category •Rating
•This Book Overall 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 4.6
•Series Overall 🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐️ 4.8
•Captivating 🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐️ 4.9
•Plot 🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐️ 4.7
•Development 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.9
Compared to Other Mystery/
••Detective Series 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 4.5
•Ending 🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐️ 4.9
•Satisfaction 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.8
•Narrator 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.2