Devi Nair
π±π Read on Kindle π Read time: 4 hours π·οΈ Publisher: Joffe Books π Publication Date: June 16, 2026 π ARC received via NetGalley
I didn't expect to fall for a cozy mystery set in Bangkok, but here we are. Mithran Somasundrum's second Vijay Mistry novel hooked me not because of the murder (though it's cleverly done), but because of the setting. Reading this felt like wandering through the streets of Bangkok with a local guide who knows all the shortcuts and the best street food. The cultural texture, rickshaws, antique shops, chai wallah conversations, Indian expat community dynamics, was the real star here. I haven't visited Bangkok, but I felt like I had a window into it, and that's the kind of armchair travel I'm always here for.
Now, full transparency: I jumped into Book 2 without reading Book 1, and yeah, there were a few speedbumps. References to past cases and relationships felt like inside jokes I wasn't in on. But Somasundrum doesn't gatekeep his series. He gives enough context for newcomers to follow along without derailing the pacing. Vijay Mistry is a charming lead, thoughtful, methodical, and endearingly out of his depth in the most competent way possible. The locked-room setup is classic, and while the mystery itself didn't blow my mind, the journey through Bangkok's cultural layers kept me turning pages. The Indian cultural references felt authentic and grounding, and I'm already planning to backtrack to Book 1.
Would I recommend it? If youβre in the mood for a mystery that doubles as armchair travel, with vibrant setting, cultural depth, and a likable amateur sleuth, this is absolutely worth picking up. The Bangkok setting and cultural richness elevate what could've been a standard cozy mystery into something memorable. Add this to your TBR, especially if youβre craving something outside the usual Western settings.
π±π Read on Kindle π Read time: 4 hours π·οΈ Publisher: Joffe Books π Publication Date: June 16, 2026 π ARC received via NetGalley
I didn't expect to fall for a cozy mystery set in Bangkok, but here we are. Mithran Somasundrum's second Vijay Mistry novel hooked me not because of the murder (though it's cleverly done), but because of the setting. Reading this felt like wandering through the streets of Bangkok with a local guide who knows all the shortcuts and the best street food. The cultural texture, rickshaws, antique shops, chai wallah conversations, Indian expat community dynamics, was the real star here. I haven't visited Bangkok, but I felt like I had a window into it, and that's the kind of armchair travel I'm always here for.
Now, full transparency: I jumped into Book 2 without reading Book 1, and yeah, there were a few speedbumps. References to past cases and relationships felt like inside jokes I wasn't in on. But Somasundrum doesn't gatekeep his series. He gives enough context for newcomers to follow along without derailing the pacing. Vijay Mistry is a charming lead, thoughtful, methodical, and endearingly out of his depth in the most competent way possible. The locked-room setup is classic, and while the mystery itself didn't blow my mind, the journey through Bangkok's cultural layers kept me turning pages. The Indian cultural references felt authentic and grounding, and I'm already planning to backtrack to Book 1.
Would I recommend it? If youβre in the mood for a mystery that doubles as armchair travel, with vibrant setting, cultural depth, and a likable amateur sleuth, this is absolutely worth picking up. The Bangkok setting and cultural richness elevate what could've been a standard cozy mystery into something memorable. Add this to your TBR, especially if youβre craving something outside the usual Western settings.