A Mysterious Death at Sainik Farms by Rukmani Anandani is a well written crime story, with characters rich enough to feature in subsequent books – they are slick private investigator Ganapati Iyer and his alter ego and North Indian flatmate, Vinayak Verma. There is also the taciturn Delhi ACP Bijon Dasgupta.
Ugrasen is the successful but domineering head of the Arora family, doing well in the leather business, but currently coping with the downturn in the stock market, where investments are blocked. He wished his three sons would involve themselves in his enterprise, but the eldest takes up law, while the youngest becomes a rebellious activist. The middle son is forced to give up his dream of becoming a doctor midway through studies, and join Ugrasen. Wife Kamini is resentful and suspicious of Ugrasen’s young and very good looking executive secretary, Jasleen, who lives with them, and is even included in Ugrasen’s will. Brother Indersen is upset when Ugrasen turns down his request for financial help. One morning, Ugrasen is found dead, the safe ransacked.
A Mysterious Death at Sainik Farms
by Rukmani Anandani
Rupa Publications
Rs.195