The Case of the Love Commandos

From the Files of Vish Puri, India's Most Private Investigator

By: Tarquin Hall

Narrated by: Sam Dastor

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this contemporary Romeo and Juliet story set within India's caste system, private investigator Vish Puri faces his most difficult challenge to date - a high-stakes mystery involving one of India's most controversial commodities: love.

When Ram and Tulsi fall in love, the young woman's parents are dead set against the union. She's from a high-caste family, but her boyfriend is an untouchable from the lowest strata of Indian society. Young Tulsi's father locks her up and promises to hunt down and kill the "lover boydog." Fortunately, India's Love Commandos, a real-life group of volunteers dedicated to helping mixed-caste couples, come to the rescue. They successfully free Tulsi, but Ram has gone missing.

The task of finding him falls to India's "most private investigator." Unfortunately, Vish Puri is not having a good month. He's already failed to recover the millions stolen from the First National Bank of Punjab; his wallet has been stolen; and worst of all, his arch rival, investigator Hari Kumar, is also trying to locate Ram. To solve the case and reunite the star-crossed lovers, Puri and his team of misfit assistants must infiltrate Ram's village and navigate the caste politics shaped by millennia-old prejudices.

Critics hailed the The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken, the last installment in the Vish Puri Mysteries, as Tarquin Hall's best yet, saying that each audiobook is "more complicated and dangerous than the one before." (HuffingtonPost). Now, with The Case of the Love Commandos, Hall keeps raising the stakes, delivering more twists, turns, and surprises than ever before.

©2013 Tarquin Hall (P)2013 AudioGO

Another Gem!

This is another very entertaining gem in the Vish Puri detective series. Besides the well thought out and well-paced mystery plot (actually, plots), the book features detailed and lively descriptions of everyday life in modern India—the food, the traffic jams, the religious practices, as well as insights into social customs and family life. As in the previous Vish Puri stories, there are particular social issues about India that are featured in this story. In this case the social themes are the changing views in India toward arranged marriages and toward the social caste system. These themes are woven naturally into the broader tale and treated at times with humor as well as from their serious side.

A word about the narrator, Sam Dastor. In my opinion the narration of this story makes it twice as enjoyable as a mere visual read would be. The narrator captures Indian accents and speaking mannerisms in a way that makes the story and characters come fully alive. I highly recommend this book on its merits alone. I doubly recommend it with Sam Dastor as the narrator.

Enjoyed earlier books in series better

Well, the publisher's summary points out that each of the Vish Puri novels has become more complicated and dangerous. Yes, I agree--but what it has accomplished with that end in sight, it has done by sacrificing the rather delightful combination of quirky characters that amused as much as impressed--in the service of trying to make a more serious mystery I suppose.

I am saddened that Mr. Hall has chosen to depart (to some degree) from what was originally a charming set of stories that, read by Sam Dastor, were among my all-time favorites from Audible. I have no idea why Mr. Hall decided to move from the earlier, more amusing, stories. Others may feel this was a natural progression, a good conclusion to the series, but I regret that he didn't just keep with the approach that was so much fun to read.

This is good--if you enjoy mysteries, you will enjoy it. But I really missed something of the delight that went with the first of the books. Recommend, but with that caveat.

Complicated

If you could sum up The Case of the Love Commandos in three words, what would they be?

Too many storylines

Would you recommend The Case of the Love Commandos to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes. I love the private detective and his different situations he gets into.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the plot was resolved.

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

Laugh out loud in places.

Any additional comments?

This story had too many story lines to follow. I like it for its simplicity and this particular story was very complicated. Lots of different things happening in different places.

I would love for the author to simplify and give us more about Vish in his own life; the chilis, his mother (but don't switch between feeble and strong old lady), his staff and their interactions, etc. I want to know more about him!

Wonderful narrator and story

This is a thoroughly entertaining listen. I wish this author wrote more about this detective and this narrator brought the characters to life brilliantly.

the story was good, the performance was okay!

The story was a good story, I love hearing about the culture, it give me a little glimpse of India living. however the performance was not the best. I got confused of who is talking. the name sounds way too similar. one person had multiple name and it made it difficult to Know who is who?

What fun!

Just that: What fun!
Great narration, good story, wonderful characters.
I need five more words for it to accept the review ...

I guess on audible

Slow going...

had fun with the other books in this series, but couldn't make it through this one.

Puri and Mummy are always fun

This series continues to be amusing, with Puri, who always seems a bit slow on the uptake, but is actually figuring out the case, and Mummy, who solves riddles Puri isn't even aware of. I don't know whether someone from India would find the comedy and accents offensive. To me they are very funny and the characters, though from a different culture, are relatable. Sam Dastor as narrator is what makes the series so enjoyable for me.

Best yet!

A wonderful series with fabulous characters - I especially like Mamagee, Vish Puri's mother, with her ability to uncannily outshine her son

Well written and very entertaining

I love how this author!!! I can't wait to hear more cases (stories) from India's #1 Detective. Tarquin Hall's vivid descriptions of the many characters makes me laugh and at times shake my head. Throughly Entertaining!!