Description
Who is Rosa Rodriguez and why did she come to Chartsville Hall? In the
answer to that question lies the key to solving her murder. Inspector Ram Sen
sets about diligently finding it, ably assisted by the redoubtable Mrs Tweedy,
who knows everything that goes on in Shimla, though she hardly ever leaves
her little cottage.
The line-up of suspects includes William Parker-Smith, the seemingly bland
and boring Assistant Deputy Commissioner, his wife Helen, a very pukka
English memsahib, and his acid-tongued sister, Emily; the gin-swilling Rani
Sahiba of Manon and her dashing ADC, Johnny Singh; and a disgruntled
domestic staff, led by Matilda, Helen's faithful ayah.
Which of them had a hand in Rosa's murder-and why? As Ram Sen and Mrs
Tweedy-with help from William's gentle niece, Mary, and Boris, the taciturn
Russian-unravel the mystery, they are led into the murky world of the
Lower Mall, of drug dealers and opium addicts, spies and assassins.
With her unerring ear for dialogue and skilfully drawn characters, Bulbul Sharma
recreates the world of the British Raj-complete with English memsahibs who
stroll down the Mall with their parasols, mansions with manicured lawns, and
Brigadiers and their ladies who can crack a crime over bridge at the club. In
the tradition of Agatha Christie and Alexander McCall Smith, Murder in Shimla
doesn't let up on the mystery and suspense until the last page.