The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

by Tarquin Hall
This is the second book in the series about Vish Puri, head of Delhi's Most Private Investigators.  The books remind me of the No. 1 Lady's Detective Agency in that they involve a P.I. who uses a folksy approach to solving crimes.  However, while the main character in the No. 1 Series solves non-violent crimes, Puri's crimes do involve murders.

In this book a man, who goal is to show the fraud behind religious cults/leaders, is killed by a vicious spirit while participating in a Laughter Therapy session in a park.   The event is captured on a cell phone and it does indeed appear to have been a supernatural event.  Puri agrees to try to help the police, unofficially, and sets off to investigate the event and also the leader of an ahsram.  At the same time that Puri is conducting his investigation his wife and mother have their own crime to solve.  They are investigating a "Kitty Party", where a robbery occurred.  They don't staff to delegate to spy on others but they use their female network and track suspects themselves and eventually both Puri and his lady family members uncover the truth.

As it turns out the man had faked his own murder as part of a plan to discredit a Swami.  However, the man ends up being murdered by someone who wants to steal his secrets for a levitating device and the Swami, while his is shown to be a criminal, is able to escape.

The books in this series give a sense of life in India for the poor and the changes that are occurring with the growth of the midddle class.  The books include humour through the eccentric main character, his relationship with his wife and family, and his employees and the incompetent officials and other people they encounter.  An entertaining read if a bit stereotypical.