This book won't change your life, but it will entertain you for sure.
For someone who hasn't been to India, and doesn't watch Bollywood films, the way the country and its people were portrayed was delightful. Yes, I'm sure it's biased and somewhat cartoonesque, but I wasn't going for documentary-quality information. The atmosphere was carefully crafted at all times, and you could really see what was going on.
Some of the characters are great. I read another review saying Puri is the Poirot of India and that's pretty accurate. There were moments when he was a bit too fond of himself, but overall I liked him. The best character is probably Mummy-ji. Adorable and kick-ass.
The story was good and, even though I figured part of the mystery out, there were things I didn't imagine, so it surprised me, without being far fetched. The only thing I could have done without was Brigadier Kapoor story, it didn't add much. The story of the shooting showed how awesome Mummy-ji is, but it fizzled out, which was a pity.
Bottom line: worth reading and very enjoyable.

I was surprised at how much I liked this. Outside of my normal genres, but a pleasant, interesting, very quick read. The dialog was great.

I received this book as a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

Vish Puri is India's Most Private Investigator and handles discreet personal investigations as well as the occasional murder. Tarquin Hall writes a very interesting cozy mystery which reminds me of Alexander McCall's series set in Botswana. In this first in the series, Puri is hired to investigate a granddaughter's fiancé as well as to solve the case of the missing servant. Utilizing his employees in various undercover capacities and liberally handing out rupees, he is able to bring both cases to a close. This is an auspicious start to the series and I will pick up the next one soon.

3.5 stars. Funny and easy to read. Only warning might be that you need to be familiar with "Indian speak" else the grammar/sentence structures may seem a little weird. It's a humorous murder mystery set in India. Can't really say much more than that! Good fluff :)

I've found a new, favorite private detective: Tarquin Hall's Vish Puri.

"The Case of the Missing Servant" is the first title in the series which chronicles the adventures of India's Most Private Investigator, Vish Puri. Centered in Delhi, India, the novel takes us along as Puri and his team of operatives seek to clear the name of Ajay Kasliwal, a successful attorney who has set out to expose the corruption rooted so deeply in the judicial system. Kasliwal's political opponents accuse him or killing one of his servant girls. Do they have proof? Nothing conclusive, but the accusations are bound to take a toll. And so he turns to Vish Puri for help.

Who is Vish Puri? As the novel opens, we find him sitting at a desk about to tuck into an order of green chili pakoras. He has to eat them on the sly to avoid detection by his wife and his doctor, both of whom insist that he needs to eat more healthily. Of course, he can't hide the results of his dietary indiscretion: every one in his family calls him Chubby, and he doesn't seem to mind. Puri has his foibles, of course, but he is also a clever, compassionate man who finds himself feeling increasingly out of place in a fast changing world. He likes to write letters to the editor of the newspaper decrying the social decay, but Puri is also a man of the world (parts of it anyway), and he isn't totally unwilling to learn some new tricks or adjust his thinking. And we will, on occasion, find him skirting the law, though always in the pursuit of Justice.

Puri doesn't work alone. He has a team of operatives that he calls on whenever he needs a specialty service. Most go by a nickname that Puri has given them: Tubelight, Face Cream, Door Stop, etc. The nicknames, I'm sure, make it easier to for Westerners to keep track of who is who, but the names also allow Puri (and us) to keep them at a distance. They have families, passions, and histories that we are not immediately privy to. They are colorful characters and powerful tools in the hands of Vish Puri. Puri prefers to let them have their privacy. The reader may well want to pry a little deeper.

All this is set in India, a vibrant, bustling hive of activity. Few mystery novels have fired my imagination as much as this one. Whether we are in a crowded slum or a quiet social club for the privileged, I want to explore every corner and examine every detail. I think a book like this would be enhanced greatly if I could easily access the internet while reading. Fortunately, Hall has included a glossary at the end of the book to give us a few more details should we want them. (The glossary for the first book is quite comprehensive. Glossaries in subsequent novels seem to leave out some words mentioned in previous novels, so keep the set handy.)

For the most part, the Vish Puri novels fit well within the International Cozy Mystery Genre -- there is such a thing, right? There is more history and social commentary than you will find in the average cozy, and we also learn how to say 'b*stard m*therf*cker' in Punjabi (a bit over the top, perhaps, but such uncouth language is really quite rare). But we also have the lovable, grumpy detective, his meddling Mummi, and lots of delicious food.

I've read all three of the current V.P. novels and I'm looking forward to the fourth. It's definitely a series worth checking out.

[I received a copy this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.]

While this book could be read as a classic P.I. novel complete with stake outs, uncover operatives, disguises and chases it could be enjoyed even by those who aren’t big on that stuff just for the chance to immerse themselves in the language, food and culture of India. I really liked reading about little thing like the women’s “kitty parties” (part Bunco party part personal loan system). I also enjoyed the “B plot” where the detective’s mummy solves mysteries of her own.