The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown

June 13, 2016
Khan’s winning second Baby Ganesh Agency mystery (after 2015’s The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra) smoothly combines an affable lead, a seemingly impossible crime, and an endearing and highly unusual sidekick—a baby elephant named Ganesha—who’s adept at surveillance. While PI Ashwin Chopra, a retired police inspector in Mumbai, India, and his wife are attending an exhibit of the British Crown Jewels at the Prince of Wales Museum, smoke fills the room, Chopra faints, and the crown of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, is gone by the time he regains consciousness. The jewel in that crown is a legendary diamond, the Koh-i-Noor, which many Indians believe the British stole from their country in the 19th century. When the corrupt police arrest Insp. Shekhar Garewal, a former colleague of Chopra’s who was in charge of the exhibit’s security, Garewal beseeches the detective for help. Fans of Alexander McCall Smith will find a lot to like.

The appealing lilt of narrator Sartaj Garewal's Indian English is not only pleasing to the ear, but it also instantly transports the listener to Mumbai, where the magic and intrigue of the Inspector Chopra mysteries take place. This second book in the popular series brings the British Crown Jewels to India, where the Queen's crown is promptly stolen. Chopra, the likable retired policeman, and Ganesh, his baby elephant, are again pressed into service. Garewal's accent and ability to modulate intensity and tone convincingly portray the long-suffering Chopra. Furthermore, his skillful use of pacing, subtle inflections, and occasional sound effects adds authenticity. Together, Garewal and Khan deliver a highly entertaining audiobook that projects the mystical aura of India. M.O.B. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine