Preview
  • The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

  • By: Tarquin Hall
  • Narrated by: Sam Dastor
  • Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (720 ratings)

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The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

By: Tarquin Hall
Narrated by: Sam Dastor
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Publisher's summary

Dr. Suresh Jha, best known for unmasking fraudulent swamis and godmen, dies in a fit of giggles at his morning yoga class when goddess Kali appears from the mist and plunges a sword into his chest. The only one laughing now is the main suspect, a powerful guru named Maharaj Swami, who seems to have done away with his most vocal critic.

Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Investigator, master of disguise and lover of all things fried and spicy, doesn’t believe the murder is a supernatural occurrence. How did the murder weapon miraculously crumble into ash? To get at the truth, Puri and his team of undercover operatives—Facecream, Tubelight, and Flush—must travel from the slum to the holy city of Haridwar on the Ganges.

©2010 BBC Audio (P)2010 Sacred Cow Media, Ltd.
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Editorial reviews

Tarquin Hall has evidently taken the criticism of his fun but simplistic first detective novel to heart; this second installment in the Vish Puri series is a head and shoulders above The Case of the Missing Servant, which was not too shabby in the first place. Where the first book was a fairly straightforward case, this one has at least a half dozen spectacular false endings that will keep you guessing until the very last minute.

Luckily, what hasn't changed at all is Hall's wonderful sense of authenticity in the dialogue. His ability to capture the flavor of New Delhi is impeccable, but a bigger treat is the return of narrator Sam Dastor, whose delivery of the rich dialogue is utterly unimpeachable. From English to Hindustani to Gujarati to Punjabi to even a little bit of ancient Urdu, Dastor does not miss a single beat while following the trail of Vish Puri, india's Most Private investigator, and it is his voice work that truly highlights what a good job Hall has done of showcasing all the comic wonder that northern india has to offer.

The case this time is much more complicated than just a missing servant. When "guru buster" Dr. Jha dies laughing in the face of an apparition of Kali, who slays him with a giant sword in a public park in the middle of the afternoon in front of dozens of witnesses, the alleged miracle appearance by the goddess touches off a whirlwind of speculation and debate between the rationalists and the godmen. it is too easy to accuse Maharaj Swami, the cult religious figure of the moment, who had long promised Jha he would get the "miracle" that was coming to him.

To assist him in solving this supernatural murder mystery, Puri enlists his team of various amusing undercover agents to infiltrate the confidences of his suspects and root out the evidence of the case. Thrown in for good measure is a minor secondary mystery involving the robbery of a ladies' gambling circle, presided over by Puri's own fairly witty wife and his overwhelmingly clever mother. Filled with criminal magicians, shady preachers, snooty academics, slimy bureaucrats, and a generous helping of police who are slow on the uptake, Hall's solid, classic characters are given fresh, spicy life thanks to such a charming narration. To read the book in print is to miss all the fun, as there is no better guide to Vish Puri's world than the flawless interpreter of Sam Dastor. Megan Volpert

What listeners say about The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Tubelight and Facecream rule!

We loved this book. It is very funny with memorable characters you wish you knew. The heat of Delhi and the customs of the city and its inhabitants are conveyed well while maintaining the flow of the story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly good

Have to admit, early on in this book, some of the accents were annoying me and i wasn't sure i'd finish the book. But eventually, i not only got accustomed to that, but the story kind of grabbed me and i quite enjoyed it. The characters were quirky and fun, with a pretty good mix of personal info blended in with the mystery at hand. Not sure if i'll look for another by the same author, but i might.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Listen

The performer, Sam Dastor, brings Vish Puri to life. You end up loving all the charaters, Vish, his wife, is mother Mommy G and all the other fun charaters. Good mystery!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Indian Poirot

What did you love best about The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing?

The use of idioms, isn't it?



What other book might you compare The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing to and why?

It is on par with many other good mysteries, with a slightly exotic flair.

Which scene was your favorite?

The women's group being robbed.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A dose of the subcontinent

Having spent a number of years around a diverse group of Indians but never having traveled to India, I find this series utterly charming. The book stands up well as a murder mystery (unless you like a little gore and sadism in your mysteries), and the characters are real and lovely. Please record more of them.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic

Really funny dip into Indian culture. I loved it. Beautifully narrated by Sam Dastor

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Funny!

Any additional comments?

As a non-Indian who has spent a year in India I got such a kick out of these characters who are so unique and quirky, but also so typical of certain types that you meet there. I loved the way the author captured the special turns of phrase and expressions of Indian English.The sights and sounds, the smells and tastes of Delhi are so vividly expressed. The reader was excellent.Thoroughly enjoyable.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

If you want something different

I have only read or listened to two of these novels. I have thoroughly enjoyed both. Not really heavy, but you can't help liking and smiling at all the characters. Narration is great too.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Man Who Died Laughing

Though I started with the assumption that I'd be drawn into the mystery, I never found much to keep me awake. I even repeated a few chapters with hopes that I'd missed something. Sorry.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun, light and entertaining

Any additional comments?

This was perfect for me, because I love mysteries, and I love India. I'm familiar with the Delhi locations and the cultural references. Might be a little confusing for people who don't have this connection to India, but it's an entertaining listen/read nonetheless. It's light and fun, and keeps you guessing. I am definitely looking forward to more stories from this author.

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