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Colonel Acharya #3
An Invitation to Die
It begins with a simple mystery - elderly widow Violet William's van goes missing after her granddaughter Pia forgets to lock the door when using it to cater for a wedding reception.
But this is Ramsar, and soon, a simple case turns sinister when ASP Timothy Thapa finally finds the missing van, and promptly discovers a dead body inside it.
Enter Colonel Acharya, Ramsar's resident amateur sleuth, with his merry band of bridge-playing Watsons.
As the detective begins his investigation, he finds that things are not what they seem, and with few clues, several suspects, and no leads to go on, Colonel Acharya might be facing his most challenging case yet.
But this is Ramsar, and soon, a simple case turns sinister when ASP Timothy Thapa finally finds the missing van, and promptly discovers a dead body inside it.
Enter Colonel Acharya, Ramsar's resident amateur sleuth, with his merry band of bridge-playing Watsons.
As the detective begins his investigation, he finds that things are not what they seem, and with few clues, several suspects, and no leads to go on, Colonel Acharya might be facing his most challenging case yet.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2021
About the author
Tanushree Podder
55 books55 followersA BRIEF BIO
Born at New Delhi, she worked in the corporate sector for eight long years before Tanushree quit the rat race to wield her pen and found her calling.
A well know travel writer and novelist, she is also known for the hundreds of ‘Middles’ that entertained readers of almost all English dailies in the country for over a decade. Tanushree is passionate about travelling and writing. If the lady is not packing her bags to zip around the world, she is sure to be found tapping the keys of her computer.
Among her bestselling books in non- fiction genre are Death of a Dictator - The Story of
Saddam Hussein, Secrets of Happiness, The Ultimate Food for Body, Mind and Soul, The
Power of Relaxation. The book Smart Memory has also been translated into Tamil and Spanish.
She has published 15 novels till date. Nurjahan’s Daughter, Boots Belts Berets, Escape from Harem, On the Double, Solo in Singapore, I fell in love with a soldier, Cakewalk Murder, No Margin for Error, A Closetful of Skeletons, The Breath of Death, Decoding the Feronia Files, The Teenage Diary of Rani Laxmibai, The Girls in Green, Spooky Stories, An Invitation to Die, are a few novels written by her.
Boots Belts Berets and On the Double - are soon to be adapted into web series.
She lives with her husband in Pune.
Tanushree can be contacted by email via her website at http://www.tanushreepodder.com. on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tpodder
Instagram
@poddertanushree
Twitter
@tanushreepodder
Her travel stories can be found at http://tanushreez.wordpress.com
Born at New Delhi, she worked in the corporate sector for eight long years before Tanushree quit the rat race to wield her pen and found her calling.
A well know travel writer and novelist, she is also known for the hundreds of ‘Middles’ that entertained readers of almost all English dailies in the country for over a decade. Tanushree is passionate about travelling and writing. If the lady is not packing her bags to zip around the world, she is sure to be found tapping the keys of her computer.
Among her bestselling books in non- fiction genre are Death of a Dictator - The Story of
Saddam Hussein, Secrets of Happiness, The Ultimate Food for Body, Mind and Soul, The
Power of Relaxation. The book Smart Memory has also been translated into Tamil and Spanish.
She has published 15 novels till date. Nurjahan’s Daughter, Boots Belts Berets, Escape from Harem, On the Double, Solo in Singapore, I fell in love with a soldier, Cakewalk Murder, No Margin for Error, A Closetful of Skeletons, The Breath of Death, Decoding the Feronia Files, The Teenage Diary of Rani Laxmibai, The Girls in Green, Spooky Stories, An Invitation to Die, are a few novels written by her.
Boots Belts Berets and On the Double - are soon to be adapted into web series.
She lives with her husband in Pune.
Tanushree can be contacted by email via her website at http://www.tanushreepodder.com. on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tpodder
@poddertanushree
@tanushreepodder
Her travel stories can be found at http://tanushreez.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 17, 2021
The serene and peaceful town of Ramsar where everyone knows everyone. But one morning this peace is broken by discovery of a dead body in a ramshackle van. It begins with a small carelessness, elderly widow Violet William's van goes missing after her granddaughter forgets to lock the door when using it to carter for a wedding reception. Now it's up to the retired Colonel Acharya and ASP of the town to solve the puzzle behind this mysterious death.
Nothing is more relaxing than reading your comfort genre in an equally comfortable weather. It feels like you have all the time in the world. An Invitation to Die is a detective fiction set in the picturesque of a small hill town. The town's resident and an amateur sleuth Colonel Acharya is determined to bring justice to the town's folk and maintain peace.
A simple crime/ mystery, this book starts with a flat storyline but as the book proceeds it becomes more interesting. The plots are arranged meticulously but to my utter disappointment I figured out the culprit and what actually might have happened in the story. This book give away too many clues, any ardent reader of detective fiction like me can figure out the culprit. But I appreciate the focus on tiny details although I would prefer the small chitchat parts to be omitted.
Characters were okay, Colonel Acharya's character has Hercule Poirot vibe in it and I won't lie I enjoyed his character although his sleuthing is bit amateurish. There are some non-essential characters and small talks which made this book unnecessarily draggy in few areas.
It's an one sitting read. I took leisure in reading this book although the anticipation died when I figured out everything way before I should. I recommend it to beginner readers.
Nothing is more relaxing than reading your comfort genre in an equally comfortable weather. It feels like you have all the time in the world. An Invitation to Die is a detective fiction set in the picturesque of a small hill town. The town's resident and an amateur sleuth Colonel Acharya is determined to bring justice to the town's folk and maintain peace.
A simple crime/ mystery, this book starts with a flat storyline but as the book proceeds it becomes more interesting. The plots are arranged meticulously but to my utter disappointment I figured out the culprit and what actually might have happened in the story. This book give away too many clues, any ardent reader of detective fiction like me can figure out the culprit. But I appreciate the focus on tiny details although I would prefer the small chitchat parts to be omitted.
Characters were okay, Colonel Acharya's character has Hercule Poirot vibe in it and I won't lie I enjoyed his character although his sleuthing is bit amateurish. There are some non-essential characters and small talks which made this book unnecessarily draggy in few areas.
It's an one sitting read. I took leisure in reading this book although the anticipation died when I figured out everything way before I should. I recommend it to beginner readers.
September 8, 2021
'An Invitation To Die' by Tanushree Podder is set in a fictional hill station of India named Ramsar. Ramsar is a haven for retirees, and crime rates are negligible. But when a dead body is found in the van of Violet Williams after her granddaughter Pia forgets to lock the door, things go haywire.
Now, it's up to Tim Thapa, ASP of Ramsar's Police Station, and Ramsar's resident sleuth Colonel Acharaya to find out the main culprit behind the murder. Will the Colonel and Tim be able to find out the culprit?
You have to read the book to find it out.
I have read 'A Closetful of Skeletons' by the author and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. This is the reason why I was excited to read 'An Invitation To Die'. I assure you that you won't take much time to finish reading 'An Invitation To Die' as it is very fast-paced. The writing style of the author is simple but also engaging. The book managed to keep me at the edge of my seat until the very end. I loved the way the author has vividly described the scenic beauty of Ramsar. It was as if I could visualize everything that was happening around me.
However, the reason I could not give the book five stars is because of its predictable ending. When I was halfway through this book, I could predict the murderer. So, when the murderer was revealed at the end, I was not surprised. Nevertheless, I loved the efficient storytelling by the author as she was successful in sustaining the tension of the murder mystery.
All in all, I enjoyed reading 'An Invitation To Die' and will recommend it to readers who love reading murder mysteries.
Now, it's up to Tim Thapa, ASP of Ramsar's Police Station, and Ramsar's resident sleuth Colonel Acharaya to find out the main culprit behind the murder. Will the Colonel and Tim be able to find out the culprit?
You have to read the book to find it out.
I have read 'A Closetful of Skeletons' by the author and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. This is the reason why I was excited to read 'An Invitation To Die'. I assure you that you won't take much time to finish reading 'An Invitation To Die' as it is very fast-paced. The writing style of the author is simple but also engaging. The book managed to keep me at the edge of my seat until the very end. I loved the way the author has vividly described the scenic beauty of Ramsar. It was as if I could visualize everything that was happening around me.
However, the reason I could not give the book five stars is because of its predictable ending. When I was halfway through this book, I could predict the murderer. So, when the murderer was revealed at the end, I was not surprised. Nevertheless, I loved the efficient storytelling by the author as she was successful in sustaining the tension of the murder mystery.
All in all, I enjoyed reading 'An Invitation To Die' and will recommend it to readers who love reading murder mysteries.
October 26, 2021
We all have often heard the stories of peaceful towns suddenly shaken by some mysterious or uncalled for happening. Its the very unsettlement out of the blue that causes the eerily atmosphere to prosper further.
Similar things were found in the town of Ramsar when a corpse was discovered out of nowhere. There enters Colonel Acharya with the promise of setting everything right. Set in the backdrop of a small seemingly insignificant city ,it moves slowly but surely and leaving clues here and there meets the end on expected lines.
The novel is written simply. It is reasonably engaging but mainly aimed at beginner readers of thriller genre who have just started it. Most of the seasoned readers will find it predictable and can easily join the pieces of puzzles themselves. The characterisation is done well but then more characters are introduced with a bit of back story than necessary. Store would have been better had it been shorter though the pedantic eye of author is well on display here.
Overall an easy going thriller.
Similar things were found in the town of Ramsar when a corpse was discovered out of nowhere. There enters Colonel Acharya with the promise of setting everything right. Set in the backdrop of a small seemingly insignificant city ,it moves slowly but surely and leaving clues here and there meets the end on expected lines.
The novel is written simply. It is reasonably engaging but mainly aimed at beginner readers of thriller genre who have just started it. Most of the seasoned readers will find it predictable and can easily join the pieces of puzzles themselves. The characterisation is done well but then more characters are introduced with a bit of back story than necessary. Store would have been better had it been shorter though the pedantic eye of author is well on display here.
Overall an easy going thriller.
December 5, 2021
My love for mystery novels started with Agatha Christie. The crime and mystery stories of today are usually fast paced and breathless with a good old Christie-type vintage mystery rare to come by. Tanushree Podder's 'An Invitation to Die' took me back to the world of Agatha Christie. As I started reading the novel, it took me to the world of Miss Marple with a pleasant rural town, varied kind of people, an army colonel, a gossipy lady, and a cute romance. All the ingredients of the classic Christie novel can be found in this book.
The book is part of a series. I should have started at #1, but looks like you can start reading from any point and there is no continuity involved. The series features Colonel Acharya, a retired army man who is modelled after the great Hercule Poirot. His Captain Hastings is the local ASP Tim Thapa.
This is a simple mystery of a suspicious death at a small town. The fictional town Ramsar has been so well created by the author that you can almost visualise it. The characters have been sketched out well and each have their individual identity. There are twists, turns, and sudden developments that starts to move the story quickly. The author leaves a clue in the story. Like me, if you are a mystery fan you will spot the clue and that will help you identify the criminal well before the mystery is revealed.
Just like the Christie novels, there is a session at the end where the whole mystery is unravelled. And the story ends on a nice feel good note. This book is a pleasant read meant for all lovers of a good classic mystery without too much of violence, ugliness, and stark evil. Christie fans will definitely love this.
The author has a very engaging style of writing that is smooth and satisfying. If you are looking for a mystery story that is a quick read and also leaves you fully satisfied, this is the book you need to read.
My only grouse is that the romantic angle could have been developed a bit more. Probably, the author may take it forward in the next book of the series.
I recommend this book not just to mystery lovers but to anyone who wants a good read.
The book is part of a series. I should have started at #1, but looks like you can start reading from any point and there is no continuity involved. The series features Colonel Acharya, a retired army man who is modelled after the great Hercule Poirot. His Captain Hastings is the local ASP Tim Thapa.
This is a simple mystery of a suspicious death at a small town. The fictional town Ramsar has been so well created by the author that you can almost visualise it. The characters have been sketched out well and each have their individual identity. There are twists, turns, and sudden developments that starts to move the story quickly. The author leaves a clue in the story. Like me, if you are a mystery fan you will spot the clue and that will help you identify the criminal well before the mystery is revealed.
Just like the Christie novels, there is a session at the end where the whole mystery is unravelled. And the story ends on a nice feel good note. This book is a pleasant read meant for all lovers of a good classic mystery without too much of violence, ugliness, and stark evil. Christie fans will definitely love this.
The author has a very engaging style of writing that is smooth and satisfying. If you are looking for a mystery story that is a quick read and also leaves you fully satisfied, this is the book you need to read.
My only grouse is that the romantic angle could have been developed a bit more. Probably, the author may take it forward in the next book of the series.
I recommend this book not just to mystery lovers but to anyone who wants a good read.
October 6, 2021
Ramsar, a peace-loving town was shaken to the core when a dead body was found in the missing van of Violet Williams and the whole town was stunned after knowing that the dead person was not a local but a guest Deepak Dabral who came to Ramsar to attend a wedding reception.
At first sight, it looks like a suicide, even Police was handling the case accordingly but the local sleuth Colonel Acharya was not positive, he instigated the investigation with ASP Timothy Thapa and their investigation leads them to several suspects but a little clue.
Where the DSP Jang Bahadur Singh was convinced that the killer was Deepak's cousin, Colonel Acharya's intuition warned him towards a sinister plan.
Who doesn't love murder mystery especially when written intriguingly? 'An Invitation to Die' by Tanushree Podder is nothing less than a roller coaster ride where you'll have to rack your mind to unearth the culprit.
Although the author has added all the suspense required yet I was able to predict the murderer which was a turn down for me. However, this doesn't make this book less approachable or boring, you'll still hold till the end just to get your guess correct.
There is no doubt that the storyline is effective and the execution is smooth and flawless. And the vivid description creates clear images in mind which help in connecting with the story well.
If you are someone who has not read many murder mysteries and want to try out the genre then this book is surely for you.
At first sight, it looks like a suicide, even Police was handling the case accordingly but the local sleuth Colonel Acharya was not positive, he instigated the investigation with ASP Timothy Thapa and their investigation leads them to several suspects but a little clue.
Where the DSP Jang Bahadur Singh was convinced that the killer was Deepak's cousin, Colonel Acharya's intuition warned him towards a sinister plan.
Who doesn't love murder mystery especially when written intriguingly? 'An Invitation to Die' by Tanushree Podder is nothing less than a roller coaster ride where you'll have to rack your mind to unearth the culprit.
Although the author has added all the suspense required yet I was able to predict the murderer which was a turn down for me. However, this doesn't make this book less approachable or boring, you'll still hold till the end just to get your guess correct.
There is no doubt that the storyline is effective and the execution is smooth and flawless. And the vivid description creates clear images in mind which help in connecting with the story well.
If you are someone who has not read many murder mysteries and want to try out the genre then this book is surely for you.
October 8, 2021
Set in the quaint little Himalayan hill town of Ramsar I cannot have asked for a better Indian equivalent of an English small town with close-knit communities where everyone knows everyone's businesses. The setting gives you a perfect stage for domestic suspense where you suspect a few characters and you might even get accustomed to some older characters, if it's a series.
An Invitation to Die belongs to a series featuring retired Colonol Acharya who helps local Inspector Timothy in solving some difficult crimes that doesn't often happen around Ramsar. A place which is mostly occupied by retired oldies who spend their time baking, eating and gossiping about boring stuff, you can understand how excited they must be when suddenly there's a death of a stranger, that's soon declared a murder!!
The pace of this book is rather simple and conversational making it a very enjoyable read. I'd such a wonderful time getting to know the inhabitants of Ramsar and I'd really love to see more of the budding romance between Pia and Tim both of them making a lovely pair.
As for the Colonel, he's quite humorous and uses his sleuth skills appropriately, especially when Tim faces the pressure from his boss and the system is just too slow to deduce anything. He uses practical, simpler ways to get the information he's looking for and it's quite entertaining, especially when you this it will most definitely happen in our country!
An Invitation to Die is an enjoyable, atmospheric read with lovely characters and a witty writing making it a cool series to look forward to.
An Invitation to Die belongs to a series featuring retired Colonol Acharya who helps local Inspector Timothy in solving some difficult crimes that doesn't often happen around Ramsar. A place which is mostly occupied by retired oldies who spend their time baking, eating and gossiping about boring stuff, you can understand how excited they must be when suddenly there's a death of a stranger, that's soon declared a murder!!
The pace of this book is rather simple and conversational making it a very enjoyable read. I'd such a wonderful time getting to know the inhabitants of Ramsar and I'd really love to see more of the budding romance between Pia and Tim both of them making a lovely pair.
As for the Colonel, he's quite humorous and uses his sleuth skills appropriately, especially when Tim faces the pressure from his boss and the system is just too slow to deduce anything. He uses practical, simpler ways to get the information he's looking for and it's quite entertaining, especially when you this it will most definitely happen in our country!
An Invitation to Die is an enjoyable, atmospheric read with lovely characters and a witty writing making it a cool series to look forward to.
October 26, 2021
Ramsar, a town known for peace and no crime rate but recently a dead body was discovered in the van of Violet, where the grandaughter Pia forgets to lock up.
If I summed this book up, it would be a page-turner, well written with a great plot.
The story starts with a simple van that goes missing owned by Violet Williams, because her granddaughter forgets to lock up the night before, that van was used for catering purposes. The story took a turn when a dead body was discovered and since there this book was a great page-turner for me, The plot was well-driven filled with thrill and mystery, The narration is simple and the language is flowy, definitely a pick up for my thriller fan out there.
If I summed this book up, it would be a page-turner, well written with a great plot.
The story starts with a simple van that goes missing owned by Violet Williams, because her granddaughter forgets to lock up the night before, that van was used for catering purposes. The story took a turn when a dead body was discovered and since there this book was a great page-turner for me, The plot was well-driven filled with thrill and mystery, The narration is simple and the language is flowy, definitely a pick up for my thriller fan out there.
February 8, 2022
This was a clean, compact and good read. Unfortunately, there was no mystery as such. In a cozy mystery, the killer(s) and the victim have to be outsiders. That's exactly what happened here. The solution was also devoid of any spices. Motive was mundane as well.
All in all, I think that like any nice hill-station, this series has been good. But there are no reasons that might persuade me to overstay.
All in all, I think that like any nice hill-station, this series has been good. But there are no reasons that might persuade me to overstay.
October 30, 2021
3.5 stars
A cosy murder mystery. Set in a picturesque hill station in Kumaon with a likeable cast of characters. The plot doesn't spring any huge surprises but all in all an enjoyable read.
A cosy murder mystery. Set in a picturesque hill station in Kumaon with a likeable cast of characters. The plot doesn't spring any huge surprises but all in all an enjoyable read.
October 26, 2021
After house of hollow this is the 2nd best crime, mystery I've read. This story is set in a small town named Ramsar where everybody knows everyone's business.
So, the story started with a heat argument between violet and her granddaughter pia . Pia was at a party last night amd she lost the gumma's decades-long van. Pia called the ASP Timothy Thapa next day for the van and was shocked 😲😳 to hear 🙉 that there's a dead body in the van.
It's not as simple case as it seems so to catch the culprit retired colonel acharya also join this case with mr Thapa. But as the investigation begins many mysteries unfold with bo clues to go on.
But whose dead body is it? Is there a relation between pia and the dead body? Will mr. Thapa and Acharya will be able to solve the case?
Oh, i really love the mystery and suspense and this book has it all. Characterization is very good and the narration is very smooth and fast paced. The language used throughout the book is pretty good. And this book will surely keep uh hook till the 🔚. Though I've already guessed the culprit but still it was such a enjoyable read.
Recommended to all mystery lovers.
So, the story started with a heat argument between violet and her granddaughter pia . Pia was at a party last night amd she lost the gumma's decades-long van. Pia called the ASP Timothy Thapa next day for the van and was shocked 😲😳 to hear 🙉 that there's a dead body in the van.
It's not as simple case as it seems so to catch the culprit retired colonel acharya also join this case with mr Thapa. But as the investigation begins many mysteries unfold with bo clues to go on.
But whose dead body is it? Is there a relation between pia and the dead body? Will mr. Thapa and Acharya will be able to solve the case?
Oh, i really love the mystery and suspense and this book has it all. Characterization is very good and the narration is very smooth and fast paced. The language used throughout the book is pretty good. And this book will surely keep uh hook till the 🔚. Though I've already guessed the culprit but still it was such a enjoyable read.
Recommended to all mystery lovers.
December 29, 2021
Yet another intriguing murder mystery in the Colonel Acharya Mystery series. Friendly and relatable characters. Feels as if we are also living in the same neighbourhood as the Ramsarians. Awaiting the next book in the series.
September 14, 2021
The plot is so intriguing with the defining beauty of Ramsar and author story narrating style makes you easily visualize the situation so you can connect it more.From the beginning the author creates a suspenseful journey by not giving any clue about the killer which makes me to complete this book in one sitting.So,let's talk about it.
👉Ramsar was a haven for retirees. The tiny hamlet was dotted with red-roofed bungalows, rhododendrons, oaks, and cedars, and was blessed with an unobstructed view of the majestic mountains to the north.The scenic beauty and bracing air were a big blessing.Violet Williams, the Anglo-Indian widow of a British army officer, had settled in Ramsar after her husband’s demise.Violet granddaughter Pia arrived from Melbourne to spend some time with her grandmother and decided to open her own Cafe in Ramsar after taking a sabbatical.However, the main story begins with the disappearance of her grandmother's van during a party because Pia forgot to lock it, and police discovers Deepak Dabral's dead body inside this van.Now ASP Timothy Thapa and Colonel Acharya begin their thorough investigation to find the true culprit.After some investigation Colonel discovered that Deepak Dabral has a property dispute with Umesh Gudyal but their is no clue of the true murderer.Who is the main Killer behind this murder is there Umesh Gudyal who didn't want to share his property part or Dabral have also some other personal animosity with anyone who carried out this murder?Read to know this.
👉I believe that when a murder mystery book proves the reader's guess wrong, it can be called a true murder mystery and this book proved it very well. While reading this novel, I felt completely connected to the characters, which added to the realism and I suspected the killer from the beginning, but the ending left me completely surprised.Because of the author's captivating story-telling approach, I thoroughly liked this novel over the weekend and strongly advise you to read it at least once.Thanks for your precious time.
👉Ramsar was a haven for retirees. The tiny hamlet was dotted with red-roofed bungalows, rhododendrons, oaks, and cedars, and was blessed with an unobstructed view of the majestic mountains to the north.The scenic beauty and bracing air were a big blessing.Violet Williams, the Anglo-Indian widow of a British army officer, had settled in Ramsar after her husband’s demise.Violet granddaughter Pia arrived from Melbourne to spend some time with her grandmother and decided to open her own Cafe in Ramsar after taking a sabbatical.However, the main story begins with the disappearance of her grandmother's van during a party because Pia forgot to lock it, and police discovers Deepak Dabral's dead body inside this van.Now ASP Timothy Thapa and Colonel Acharya begin their thorough investigation to find the true culprit.After some investigation Colonel discovered that Deepak Dabral has a property dispute with Umesh Gudyal but their is no clue of the true murderer.Who is the main Killer behind this murder is there Umesh Gudyal who didn't want to share his property part or Dabral have also some other personal animosity with anyone who carried out this murder?Read to know this.
👉I believe that when a murder mystery book proves the reader's guess wrong, it can be called a true murder mystery and this book proved it very well. While reading this novel, I felt completely connected to the characters, which added to the realism and I suspected the killer from the beginning, but the ending left me completely surprised.Because of the author's captivating story-telling approach, I thoroughly liked this novel over the weekend and strongly advise you to read it at least once.Thanks for your precious time.
November 18, 2021
What happens when a dead body is found in the missing van of a lady and the whole Ramsar town is stunned- more so after knowing that the dead person was an outsider who came to Ramsar to attend a wedding reception.
It's suspected to be a suicide, and the Police start handling the case accordingly but a certain Colonel Acharya does not find that to be believable, so he starts a parallel investigation with ASP Timothy Thapa and their investigation leads them to several suspects but not enough clues.
Where the DSP was convinced that the killer was the cousin, Colonel Acharya's intuition warned him that a more sinister plan was at work.
Set in the Himalayan hill town of Ramsar, one couldn't have asked for a better location to prepare a murder plot where everyone knows everyone's businesses. The setting gives you the perfect stage for gripping suspense where you might suspect a few characters and might even get accustomed to some other characters like you would if it's a series.
"An Invitation to Die" is part of a series featuring retired Colonol Acharya who assists Inspector Timothy in solving some unusual crimes that don't often happen around Ramsar. Ramsar is your typical retirement heaven which is occupied by people who have hung up their boots and now spend their time baking, eating, and gossiping about boring stuff. One can only imagine what blood rush they must have had when suddenly there occurs death of a stranger, and that too is soon declared a murder!!
The book is evenly paced and conversational making it a very enjoyable read. As for the Colonel, he's quite humorous and uses his skills appropriately, especially when Tim faces pressure from his boss and the system is just too slow to deduce anything. He uses practical, simpler ways to get the information he's looking for and it's quite entertaining, some would say even James-Bond like!
An Invitation to Die is an enjoyable, atmospheric read with lovely characters and witty writing making it a cool series to look forward to.
It's suspected to be a suicide, and the Police start handling the case accordingly but a certain Colonel Acharya does not find that to be believable, so he starts a parallel investigation with ASP Timothy Thapa and their investigation leads them to several suspects but not enough clues.
Where the DSP was convinced that the killer was the cousin, Colonel Acharya's intuition warned him that a more sinister plan was at work.
Set in the Himalayan hill town of Ramsar, one couldn't have asked for a better location to prepare a murder plot where everyone knows everyone's businesses. The setting gives you the perfect stage for gripping suspense where you might suspect a few characters and might even get accustomed to some other characters like you would if it's a series.
"An Invitation to Die" is part of a series featuring retired Colonol Acharya who assists Inspector Timothy in solving some unusual crimes that don't often happen around Ramsar. Ramsar is your typical retirement heaven which is occupied by people who have hung up their boots and now spend their time baking, eating, and gossiping about boring stuff. One can only imagine what blood rush they must have had when suddenly there occurs death of a stranger, and that too is soon declared a murder!!
The book is evenly paced and conversational making it a very enjoyable read. As for the Colonel, he's quite humorous and uses his skills appropriately, especially when Tim faces pressure from his boss and the system is just too slow to deduce anything. He uses practical, simpler ways to get the information he's looking for and it's quite entertaining, some would say even James-Bond like!
An Invitation to Die is an enjoyable, atmospheric read with lovely characters and witty writing making it a cool series to look forward to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2021
Ramsar was a tiny laid back and a serene town which was considered as heaven to the retiree’s and a gossip and rumour mill where nothing was a secret and everyone’s life was an open book. Most of the inhabitants had found like-minded friends and formed groups, which acted as a support system to each other. In this small town lived Violet an Anglo Indian with her chirpy, helpful and a beautiful grand daughter named Pia who had come to temporarily visit her from Australia but soon decided to stay a little longer and opened a very famous bakery store which was loved and admired by residents of all the ages for its coffee and baked stuff.
But mysterious incidents too happened in such a safe place too where almost everyone knew everybody.
Pia informs her grandmother Violet that she lost her decades old car after parking at the Bhandhari’s party. Soon after an heated argument between the two Timothy Thapa aka ‘Tim’ the assistant superintendent police officer calls Pia and tells her that he found Violets car crashed at the edge of the hill with a dead body inside it and very soon the body was identified as one of Bhandhari’s guest at the party.
This incident had currently become the talk of the town and colonel Acharya an amateur detective begins his investigation and soon he finds that things are not what they seem, and with few clues, several suspects, and no leads to go on, he might be facing his most challenging case yet.
A very interesting story with a beautiful start it seemed a visual imaginary to me. I started picturing the place and the characters in my mind as it’s so nicely narrated.This story is so alluring that you cannot give a break until you finish it. Author Tanushree Podder has a very enchanting and a flamboyant way of presenting the story and I truly loved it. The mystery remained till the end. I am definitely gonna read her other books too.
But mysterious incidents too happened in such a safe place too where almost everyone knew everybody.
Pia informs her grandmother Violet that she lost her decades old car after parking at the Bhandhari’s party. Soon after an heated argument between the two Timothy Thapa aka ‘Tim’ the assistant superintendent police officer calls Pia and tells her that he found Violets car crashed at the edge of the hill with a dead body inside it and very soon the body was identified as one of Bhandhari’s guest at the party.
This incident had currently become the talk of the town and colonel Acharya an amateur detective begins his investigation and soon he finds that things are not what they seem, and with few clues, several suspects, and no leads to go on, he might be facing his most challenging case yet.
A very interesting story with a beautiful start it seemed a visual imaginary to me. I started picturing the place and the characters in my mind as it’s so nicely narrated.This story is so alluring that you cannot give a break until you finish it. Author Tanushree Podder has a very enchanting and a flamboyant way of presenting the story and I truly loved it. The mystery remained till the end. I am definitely gonna read her other books too.
October 30, 2021
𝐀𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐈𝐄
𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫
Ramsar, a small town in hills, apparently a peaceful abode mostly inhabited by senior citizens. It was all peaceful until a disturbing incident happens to disturb the harmony of the residents. As mystery starts to unfold by the joint effort of Colonel Arjun H. Acharya, ASP Tim Thapa and DSP with every clues they unwraps more mysteries gets entangled. Several suspects, no leads and everything starts looking deceptive
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙊𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙢 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙇𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙄𝙨 𝙊𝙛 𝙉𝙤 𝙐𝙨𝙚
Elderly Widow Violent Williams van's goes Miss after her granddaughter Pia forgets to lock it after using it as a cater for a wedding reception. Assumed it as just a robbery, Until Pia's phone rings and that states that a dead body has been found inside it.
𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙤 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙣𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙊𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙮 𝙏𝙤 𝘼 𝘽𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚
Detective mysteries has always been mine favourite genre and this book belonging to the same got an instant liking of mine. I won't say it was a spine chilling suspense thriller but rather a slow burn thriller of mild pace. It was kinda predictable maybe side effects of reading too many detective novels. But I believe that it's not the destination but the journey that matters not the what but hows and whys. And the journey with this book was quite impressive. I like the character of Colonel Acharya and Tim very much it always fascinates me when more than one person is involve in solving a mystery their quirky chit chats makes the book more engaging. There were some characters, their banters and plots which doesn't plays any effective role in progression of the mystery that felt drab and unnecessary
𝙈𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙝é𝙧𝙚, 𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙄𝙨 𝘼 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙄𝙣 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨
Overall It was an enjoyable read devoid of any complexities which can be easily grasped by beginners of this genre and that can be accompanied with a cup of hot chocolate on a silent night.
𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫
Ramsar, a small town in hills, apparently a peaceful abode mostly inhabited by senior citizens. It was all peaceful until a disturbing incident happens to disturb the harmony of the residents. As mystery starts to unfold by the joint effort of Colonel Arjun H. Acharya, ASP Tim Thapa and DSP with every clues they unwraps more mysteries gets entangled. Several suspects, no leads and everything starts looking deceptive
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙊𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙢 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙇𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙄𝙨 𝙊𝙛 𝙉𝙤 𝙐𝙨𝙚
Elderly Widow Violent Williams van's goes Miss after her granddaughter Pia forgets to lock it after using it as a cater for a wedding reception. Assumed it as just a robbery, Until Pia's phone rings and that states that a dead body has been found inside it.
𝘼𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙤 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙣𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙊𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙮 𝙏𝙤 𝘼 𝘽𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚
Detective mysteries has always been mine favourite genre and this book belonging to the same got an instant liking of mine. I won't say it was a spine chilling suspense thriller but rather a slow burn thriller of mild pace. It was kinda predictable maybe side effects of reading too many detective novels. But I believe that it's not the destination but the journey that matters not the what but hows and whys. And the journey with this book was quite impressive. I like the character of Colonel Acharya and Tim very much it always fascinates me when more than one person is involve in solving a mystery their quirky chit chats makes the book more engaging. There were some characters, their banters and plots which doesn't plays any effective role in progression of the mystery that felt drab and unnecessary
𝙈𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙝é𝙧𝙚, 𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙄𝙨 𝘼 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙄𝙣 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨
Overall It was an enjoyable read devoid of any complexities which can be easily grasped by beginners of this genre and that can be accompanied with a cup of hot chocolate on a silent night.
October 7, 2021
Did you get an invitation to die? After thinking a lot on this, I was landed into a bucket full of troubles.
People thought that I have lost my mind as normal person with no abnormalities regardless to say this will never invite death to their happy and easy-peasy life styles. Readers out there who are reading me ask this question to me I will say never ever I want to invited death at my threshold. Then why am I saying so?
Just two dyes back finished read this book and this is what I am saying to all. I have read fiction books based on crime genre according to 100 of them but never Reda a masterpiece like this. This is my first read on the author and yes I have fallen in love with her books. Now, I feel there can’t be a second author taken birth to beat her writing capability in writing such kind of masterpiece.
Lets dive into the boo directly. I never give spoilers and even today also will nit do this but want to share little bit on this book so that you people can understand into how much death the book digs in.
Violet is shouting at the tip her voice and losing her temper as it is very much natural for her as her van which has served her in so many years even till the present went missing due to the negligence of near granddaughter Pia, which she cant bear.
But, Pia with her simple style of confessing told the truth and hold it in front of Violet talking about Ramsar, a safe place form which a van gone missing is very much uncanny. Yes, just a van.
Things take a bad turn when it is not just a van but a series of cases get attached as a dead body is found in it and it falls on Colonel acharya to unravel the thread of this death or may be a murder ? What happens to Pia, is she to be blamed for all these ?
Highly recommended.
People thought that I have lost my mind as normal person with no abnormalities regardless to say this will never invite death to their happy and easy-peasy life styles. Readers out there who are reading me ask this question to me I will say never ever I want to invited death at my threshold. Then why am I saying so?
Just two dyes back finished read this book and this is what I am saying to all. I have read fiction books based on crime genre according to 100 of them but never Reda a masterpiece like this. This is my first read on the author and yes I have fallen in love with her books. Now, I feel there can’t be a second author taken birth to beat her writing capability in writing such kind of masterpiece.
Lets dive into the boo directly. I never give spoilers and even today also will nit do this but want to share little bit on this book so that you people can understand into how much death the book digs in.
Violet is shouting at the tip her voice and losing her temper as it is very much natural for her as her van which has served her in so many years even till the present went missing due to the negligence of near granddaughter Pia, which she cant bear.
But, Pia with her simple style of confessing told the truth and hold it in front of Violet talking about Ramsar, a safe place form which a van gone missing is very much uncanny. Yes, just a van.
Things take a bad turn when it is not just a van but a series of cases get attached as a dead body is found in it and it falls on Colonel acharya to unravel the thread of this death or may be a murder ? What happens to Pia, is she to be blamed for all these ?
Highly recommended.
November 7, 2021
Full review on my blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2021/11/bo...
Violet Williams is elated that her granddaughter Pia has come to stay with her in Ramsar, though her son and daughter-in-law have stopped being in touch. Pia has set up a small café and has also grabbed her first catering order for the marriage reception of the Bhandaris. As Violet is busy making plans to find a suitable groom for Pia, her van has been stolen after the marriage reception and is found with a dead body the next morning. Deepal Dabryal, a guest for the marriage reception and an outsider to Ramsar is found dead which is initially suspected as a suicide.
The local police get busy trying to crack the case who are joined by the local sleuth retired Colonel Acharya. The autopsy reveals it is a murder, followed by suspects, witnesses and more deaths in the sleepy town of Ramsar. Will ACP Tim and Acharya be able to find the truth behind Deepak’s death and find the real culprits forms the rest of the story.
Like any murder mystery, the story starts with a death and the police trying to unravel the truth. I earlier read a book from the Colonel Acharya series, Before you Breathe and hence the setting and few characters are familiar. The backdrop of a hill station Ramsar helps in building the mystery as elsewhere in current days, technology would have taken a front-seat in finding the culprit versus the old school process of interrogating suspects.
The close knitted community in a small hill station, their simple habits, lifestyle adds to the atmosphere of the story. The group of woman consisting of Violet and her friends and their quirky banter adds the much needed warmth to the otherwise quaint Ramsar, so does that of the friends of the Colonel who assemble daily at Rhodo cottage for a game of bridge.
The book is strictly for beginners of mysteries as experienced readers would be able to spot the culprits early in the story. I would have liked to see more suspects and a tighter narration as the clues are obvious. The second half is where the story picks pace. The characters are well crafted with Tim and Colonel having majority of footage. Pick this one if you like to read murder mysteries.
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2021/11/bo...
Violet Williams is elated that her granddaughter Pia has come to stay with her in Ramsar, though her son and daughter-in-law have stopped being in touch. Pia has set up a small café and has also grabbed her first catering order for the marriage reception of the Bhandaris. As Violet is busy making plans to find a suitable groom for Pia, her van has been stolen after the marriage reception and is found with a dead body the next morning. Deepal Dabryal, a guest for the marriage reception and an outsider to Ramsar is found dead which is initially suspected as a suicide.
The local police get busy trying to crack the case who are joined by the local sleuth retired Colonel Acharya. The autopsy reveals it is a murder, followed by suspects, witnesses and more deaths in the sleepy town of Ramsar. Will ACP Tim and Acharya be able to find the truth behind Deepak’s death and find the real culprits forms the rest of the story.
Like any murder mystery, the story starts with a death and the police trying to unravel the truth. I earlier read a book from the Colonel Acharya series, Before you Breathe and hence the setting and few characters are familiar. The backdrop of a hill station Ramsar helps in building the mystery as elsewhere in current days, technology would have taken a front-seat in finding the culprit versus the old school process of interrogating suspects.
The close knitted community in a small hill station, their simple habits, lifestyle adds to the atmosphere of the story. The group of woman consisting of Violet and her friends and their quirky banter adds the much needed warmth to the otherwise quaint Ramsar, so does that of the friends of the Colonel who assemble daily at Rhodo cottage for a game of bridge.
The book is strictly for beginners of mysteries as experienced readers would be able to spot the culprits early in the story. I would have liked to see more suspects and a tighter narration as the clues are obvious. The second half is where the story picks pace. The characters are well crafted with Tim and Colonel having majority of footage. Pick this one if you like to read murder mysteries.
September 12, 2021
I love a well-cooked murder mystery and this story ticks off all the boxes for me. The storyline is well-plotted, and the execution is excellent, specially keeping the identity of perpetrator a secret. The storytelling is engaging and the buildup while introducing the plot is just right. The descriptions are vivid, and it engages the mind to create a visual imagery as things unfold, keeping the reader hooked. The one aspect that stood out for me in the story was how the blame was squarely placed on a person, but the sleuthing continues to reach a conclusion. Tanushree gives all suspects a believable motive of the crime, and for a moment, I was drawn into a world very similar to Baker Street and imagining Colonel Acharya as Holmes. The climax is well-executed and the way it closes this murder mystery yet keeps the door ajar for further stories is well-appreciated. I would love to read more of the adventures of Colonel Acharya for he promises to be a detective who can develop a cult following.
Another interesting part of the story are its characters, specially with a motley of interesting residents of Ramsar. The characters are well-sketched and are a critical part of the storytelling. Starting from Pia, her character is sketched in a manner that introduces her sufficiently to be a crucial part in the further adventures of Colonel Acharya. Her café is a wonderful part of the story that becomes a part of the story in an integral manner. Another character I liked was that of ASP Thapa and how he juggles between respecting orders and respecting the duty to dispense justice. His interactions with the DGP and with the Colonel are enlightening as well as entertaining.
Another interesting part of the story are its characters, specially with a motley of interesting residents of Ramsar. The characters are well-sketched and are a critical part of the storytelling. Starting from Pia, her character is sketched in a manner that introduces her sufficiently to be a crucial part in the further adventures of Colonel Acharya. Her café is a wonderful part of the story that becomes a part of the story in an integral manner. Another character I liked was that of ASP Thapa and how he juggles between respecting orders and respecting the duty to dispense justice. His interactions with the DGP and with the Colonel are enlightening as well as entertaining.
October 29, 2021
Ramsar is a beautiful and peaceful small town in Himachal where everyone knows everyone. One day, elderly widow Violet discovers that her van is missing after her granddaughter Pia forgets to lock the door while using it to cater for a wedding reception. This book starts with quite a simple plot but develops into a nice murder mystery eventually and things take an interesting and sharp turn when ASP Tim finds a dead body inside that van. Retired Colonel Acharya and ASP are all set to unravel the mystery but things are not as simple as they seem because there are a lot of suspects and no significant leads making the case even more messy.
I was highly intrigued to pick this book up after looking at the catchy title but still didn't expect much because looking at the blurb, the plot seemed quite simple. Nonetheless, I actually enjoyed this book because of the atmosphere created by the author and the rich writing style. The pace is moderate, it is definitely not a fast paced thriller as there were some unnecessary details that could have been avoided but still was an enjoyable read because of the well penned characters. Climax might be a little predictable and can be guessed if you are an avid thriller reader but it is undoubtedly a nice pick for beginners who are just starting with detective mystery.
I was highly intrigued to pick this book up after looking at the catchy title but still didn't expect much because looking at the blurb, the plot seemed quite simple. Nonetheless, I actually enjoyed this book because of the atmosphere created by the author and the rich writing style. The pace is moderate, it is definitely not a fast paced thriller as there were some unnecessary details that could have been avoided but still was an enjoyable read because of the well penned characters. Climax might be a little predictable and can be guessed if you are an avid thriller reader but it is undoubtedly a nice pick for beginners who are just starting with detective mystery.
June 1, 2023
"An Invitation to Die" by Tanushree Podder is my first foray into crime fiction, and I can confidently say that it was worth the read. Set in Ramsar, the story revolves around a murder and the subsequent investigation by the police, with several suspects in the mix. It follows a familiar murder mystery plot, reminiscent of what we often see in movies, complete with a likely murderer.
The plot maintains a moderate pace, and what sets this story apart is the meticulous description of both the characters and the setting, which lends a sense of realism throughout. Furthermore, the writing style is rich and captivating, yet accessible enough for beginners to interpret the story without difficulty.
The standout character in the entire plot is undoubtedly Colonel Acharya, who not only serves as the protagonist but also acts as the sole solver of the captivating mystery. While the plot itself is straightforward, the story is presented in a flamboyant manner. The climax may be predictable, and the title itself is undeniably eye-catching. From beginning to end, the story is engaging and never once becomes dull, making it an enjoyable read for any avid reader.
Overall, "An Invitation to Die" deserves praise as a well-crafted crime fiction novel. I would highly recommend it to fans of the genre.
The plot maintains a moderate pace, and what sets this story apart is the meticulous description of both the characters and the setting, which lends a sense of realism throughout. Furthermore, the writing style is rich and captivating, yet accessible enough for beginners to interpret the story without difficulty.
The standout character in the entire plot is undoubtedly Colonel Acharya, who not only serves as the protagonist but also acts as the sole solver of the captivating mystery. While the plot itself is straightforward, the story is presented in a flamboyant manner. The climax may be predictable, and the title itself is undeniably eye-catching. From beginning to end, the story is engaging and never once becomes dull, making it an enjoyable read for any avid reader.
Overall, "An Invitation to Die" deserves praise as a well-crafted crime fiction novel. I would highly recommend it to fans of the genre.
October 12, 2021
'An Invitation to Die: A Colonel Acharya Mystery' book by author Tanushree Podder. It's a murder mystery suspense based novel. The story is from a small town named Ramsar. Violet William's van goes missing because of her granddaughter Pia. The case is investigating by ASP Timothy Thapa and he finds the missing van in crashed condition with a dead body. The dead person is not from the same town. And the case looks like suicide. After know all this town get stunned. Retired Colonol Acharya who helps ASP Timothy to investigate the case further they find difficulty in solving the case. They find several suspects. So is this murder or suicide? why a non-local dead body found in town? who is the murderer to known more go for the book...
The book is suspenseful has twists and turns and a journey of detective to solve the case and one of the challenging cases for the Colonol Acharya. The plot of the book is engaging and will sticks you till the end. The author has tried to put every small detail which shows a clear picture of the story. the writing of the story is lucid. The characters as well developed with emotion. An Invitation to Die is a really enjoyable read. Recommended to all those who like to read murder mystery based
books.
The book is suspenseful has twists and turns and a journey of detective to solve the case and one of the challenging cases for the Colonol Acharya. The plot of the book is engaging and will sticks you till the end. The author has tried to put every small detail which shows a clear picture of the story. the writing of the story is lucid. The characters as well developed with emotion. An Invitation to Die is a really enjoyable read. Recommended to all those who like to read murder mystery based
books.
October 23, 2021
An invitation to die by Tanushree Podder is a fictional murder mystery, set in the hilly town of Ramsar, Uttarakhand. The story begins with a van going missing, which belongs to an owner of a coffee shop. Finally, when police traced the van, they found a dead body of a man, which was at first thought to be a suicide case, but after post-mortem, they found several injury marks.
Colonel Archarya and the ASP start with the investigation and the plot slowly unfolds.
The setting of the novel, and the peace-loving people of Ramsar, closely knitted, enjoying a cozy comfortable life with friends and family, was portrayed neatly. The story started off well and I thought it might be related to Pia’s coffee shop. But to my surprise, the plot moved in a completely different direction and the plot was unpredictable for me. Colonel Archarya did try his best to impress the reader with his investigation and at times it gave me Kaka Babu vibes ( the famous Bengali detective kakababu).
What I didn't enjoy at times were scenes in the book which did make it slow.
I enjoyed Laxmi's character, the most 'chatakdar' gossipy character. I am hoping as a reader we are going to get more of Arjun Archarya'ss series solving mysteries soon from the author.
Colonel Archarya and the ASP start with the investigation and the plot slowly unfolds.
The setting of the novel, and the peace-loving people of Ramsar, closely knitted, enjoying a cozy comfortable life with friends and family, was portrayed neatly. The story started off well and I thought it might be related to Pia’s coffee shop. But to my surprise, the plot moved in a completely different direction and the plot was unpredictable for me. Colonel Archarya did try his best to impress the reader with his investigation and at times it gave me Kaka Babu vibes ( the famous Bengali detective kakababu).
What I didn't enjoy at times were scenes in the book which did make it slow.
I enjoyed Laxmi's character, the most 'chatakdar' gossipy character. I am hoping as a reader we are going to get more of Arjun Archarya'ss series solving mysteries soon from the author.
October 25, 2021
A suspicious crime happens in the serenity of Ramsar when Pia leaves her grand mother, Violet William's van unlocked outside a wedding reception while going in to set up a coffee counter. Ramsar is known for its quit, peaceful environment so when one morning the poilce finds out a dead body inside a missing van, things seems to stir up breaking the tranquility of Ramsar. But right in time, the ASP Tim Thapa, Colenel Acharya and the DSP step in to solve the murder/suicide mystery.
The beginning seemed a little over the place to me. There were some many irrelevant characters giving me a hard time to get a hold of the story. But as the murder investigation moved forward and some prominent characters came into picture, the story became somewhat engrossing arising my interest. Now, I'm not into thrillers or mysteries. I hardly ever read them. So considering myself a total noob at thrillers, I found the plot quite predictable. I could see who the culprit was way before reaching the climax. That's that.
The writing seems to be fluid, not too metaphorical, not too complicated, just right to read the whole book in one sitting. I enjoyed reading it as it also gave me a way out of my usual genres. I might go into exploring more thrillers and mysteries now, which is good, I believe.
The beginning seemed a little over the place to me. There were some many irrelevant characters giving me a hard time to get a hold of the story. But as the murder investigation moved forward and some prominent characters came into picture, the story became somewhat engrossing arising my interest. Now, I'm not into thrillers or mysteries. I hardly ever read them. So considering myself a total noob at thrillers, I found the plot quite predictable. I could see who the culprit was way before reaching the climax. That's that.
The writing seems to be fluid, not too metaphorical, not too complicated, just right to read the whole book in one sitting. I enjoyed reading it as it also gave me a way out of my usual genres. I might go into exploring more thrillers and mysteries now, which is good, I believe.
October 2, 2021
📍 This is a mystery novel. It begins with a small mystery, when a van goes missing.
📍 This is Violet William's van. Her granddaughter Pia forgets to lock the door of the van or something seems like it and it goes missing.
📍 This all is happening in Ramsar. So nothing is so simple as it seemed. It turned bad when ASP Thapa finds out the missing van and finds a dead body inside it.
📍 Now, who is this dead person? What's the connection between Pia and dead person? Is she the killer or is there someone else trying to make it look like that?
📍 Now a new person enters in the case, Colonel Acharya. Colonel is also a resident of Ramsar. He is a detective.
📍 When the Colonel starts his investigation to this case, he finds out that things are not what they seem, and with clues, several suspects, and no leads to go on, Colonel Acharya is facing a difficult case here.
📍 Will he be able to crack this case? Who is the real murderer?
📍 The language of the book is lucid. The story keeps you turning pages. If you love read mystery books then it's a good to go book for you.
📍 This is Violet William's van. Her granddaughter Pia forgets to lock the door of the van or something seems like it and it goes missing.
📍 This all is happening in Ramsar. So nothing is so simple as it seemed. It turned bad when ASP Thapa finds out the missing van and finds a dead body inside it.
📍 Now, who is this dead person? What's the connection between Pia and dead person? Is she the killer or is there someone else trying to make it look like that?
📍 Now a new person enters in the case, Colonel Acharya. Colonel is also a resident of Ramsar. He is a detective.
📍 When the Colonel starts his investigation to this case, he finds out that things are not what they seem, and with clues, several suspects, and no leads to go on, Colonel Acharya is facing a difficult case here.
📍 Will he be able to crack this case? Who is the real murderer?
📍 The language of the book is lucid. The story keeps you turning pages. If you love read mystery books then it's a good to go book for you.
October 31, 2021
Murder mysteries won't last long if they are interesting.
I have a strange feeling for this book,𝗔𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶���
The pace kept changing in every few chapters.Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.But as a person who loves analysing the literature,i really liked the book.
Ramsar was a place that rarely saw crime.Majority of the population was old and preferred being at peace rather than partying.But the marriage of Rahul Bhandari brought along many crimes to Ramsar.
This mystery is based around the murders that shook the residents of Ramsar.A heavily irritating case for the police authorities and the colonel Acharya.But eventually mysteries are solved.
It is a beginner friendly novel where there aren't many nodes that requires a heavy knowledge of science,which is quite common in murder mysteries.
Most of the time the investigators,Tim and colonel Acharya reached roadblocks where they couldn't find any appropriate link with the murder.And every time this occurred,the author introduced us to a different character or brought out a sudden change in the plot.Which isn't acceptable to many readers.So this one was a different experience for me.
I have a strange feeling for this book,𝗔𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶���
The pace kept changing in every few chapters.Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.But as a person who loves analysing the literature,i really liked the book.
Ramsar was a place that rarely saw crime.Majority of the population was old and preferred being at peace rather than partying.But the marriage of Rahul Bhandari brought along many crimes to Ramsar.
This mystery is based around the murders that shook the residents of Ramsar.A heavily irritating case for the police authorities and the colonel Acharya.But eventually mysteries are solved.
It is a beginner friendly novel where there aren't many nodes that requires a heavy knowledge of science,which is quite common in murder mysteries.
Most of the time the investigators,Tim and colonel Acharya reached roadblocks where they couldn't find any appropriate link with the murder.And every time this occurred,the author introduced us to a different character or brought out a sudden change in the plot.Which isn't acceptable to many readers.So this one was a different experience for me.
November 29, 2021
The small town of Ramsar is shocked by two murders. In steps Colonel Acharya with his sleuthing to find out who the culprit is, along with Tim Thapa, the Assistant Superintendent of Police.
"An Invitation to Die" is a cosy murder mystery. In other words, the pace of the book, like the pace of life at Ramsar is slow to build up. This, of course, doesn't affect the readability of the book at all. In fact, the reader is charmed by the town of Ramsar and its inhabitants. A close-knit community where everyone is aware of everyone else's business, keeps the reader entertained by the idiosyncrasies of the characters. Another point in favour is how well the small town in the hills has been described. It reminded me of my childhood.
Col Acharya, as our desi Hercule Poirot, pays attention to detail that helps him crack the case. There are flashes of humour that keeps the reader chuckling. Interactions between Col Acharya and DSP Jung Bahadur are quite funny.
The only downside for me was that I could guess the culprit, but that can be blamed on having read maybe a tad too many mysteries.
This book is recommended for people who prefer murder mysteries with a twinge of humour.
"An Invitation to Die" is a cosy murder mystery. In other words, the pace of the book, like the pace of life at Ramsar is slow to build up. This, of course, doesn't affect the readability of the book at all. In fact, the reader is charmed by the town of Ramsar and its inhabitants. A close-knit community where everyone is aware of everyone else's business, keeps the reader entertained by the idiosyncrasies of the characters. Another point in favour is how well the small town in the hills has been described. It reminded me of my childhood.
Col Acharya, as our desi Hercule Poirot, pays attention to detail that helps him crack the case. There are flashes of humour that keeps the reader chuckling. Interactions between Col Acharya and DSP Jung Bahadur are quite funny.
The only downside for me was that I could guess the culprit, but that can be blamed on having read maybe a tad too many mysteries.
This book is recommended for people who prefer murder mysteries with a twinge of humour.
October 7, 2021
There are very few occasions when I have come across a murder mystery which is not only suspenseful but also has a humorous undertone to it. This book fits that bill for me. With ample twists and turns to keep you engaged, this book was an enjoyable read. Although I had somehow guessed the antagonist before the climax, I was excitedly looking forward to how the author would proceed with the story and truth to be told, I was not expecting the climax as it turned out and that was a thumbs up for me.
The language used throughout the story is very simple and I found the narration smooth and fast-paced. There were multiple characters involved but I liked the fact that they were weaved in the story in a way that they played significant parts but were not overwhelming in any way.
I especially liked the character of Colonel Acharya and it is not wrong to say that I will be looking forward to reading more of his adventures. Overall, this was an enjoyable and engrossing read for me.
The language used throughout the story is very simple and I found the narration smooth and fast-paced. There were multiple characters involved but I liked the fact that they were weaved in the story in a way that they played significant parts but were not overwhelming in any way.
I especially liked the character of Colonel Acharya and it is not wrong to say that I will be looking forward to reading more of his adventures. Overall, this was an enjoyable and engrossing read for me.
October 8, 2021
Title - An invitation to Die
Author: Tanushree podder
Review.
"Himalayan town of Ramsar, is a such a safe place that Pia never lock the van"
Violet and her granddaughter pia lived a very small cottage by trees and a few good friend. Pia run a cafe what was popular known as Pia's Peaberry. Bhandaris One of the richest families in Ramsar invited pia to work as a caterer. Deepak dabral was his colleague who were invited to attend the wedding reception, in same night deepak leave the reception in a state intoxication than come the news of his death and corpse meet in Pia's van.
ASP Timothy thapa and Retired Colonel Aacharya who was the investigator of this sinister case.
It really a suicide case? Could it be anything other than suicide?
now the question bother is why he chose to go down in pia's van.
The story has a great details, the most impressive aspect of the novel is prose.
I think that many Will enjoy this.
Highly recommend.
4/5.
Author: Tanushree podder
Review.
"Himalayan town of Ramsar, is a such a safe place that Pia never lock the van"
Violet and her granddaughter pia lived a very small cottage by trees and a few good friend. Pia run a cafe what was popular known as Pia's Peaberry. Bhandaris One of the richest families in Ramsar invited pia to work as a caterer. Deepak dabral was his colleague who were invited to attend the wedding reception, in same night deepak leave the reception in a state intoxication than come the news of his death and corpse meet in Pia's van.
ASP Timothy thapa and Retired Colonel Aacharya who was the investigator of this sinister case.
It really a suicide case? Could it be anything other than suicide?
now the question bother is why he chose to go down in pia's van.
The story has a great details, the most impressive aspect of the novel is prose.
I think that many Will enjoy this.
Highly recommend.
4/5.
October 30, 2021
This is a murder mystery novels written by tanushree poddar. The story is from a small town named Ramsar in himachal. One day, Violet William's van goes missing because of his grand daughter Pia as she forgets to lock the door.
Next day, pia calls ASP timothy thapa for investigation and they finds the missing van in crashed condition with a dead body. The while town was stunned to know that the dead person was not a local but a guest who came to attend a wedding reception to ramsar.
Now a new person named colonel acharya enters in the story who is a detective. While investigating the case he finds out that things are not what they seem because there are a lot of suspects. What do you think is this a murder or suicide?
It is a fast-paced book. The writing style is simple but engaging, the language is easy to understand, the characters are well developed and the cover is chosen well. Overall, it was an enjoyable read for me.
Next day, pia calls ASP timothy thapa for investigation and they finds the missing van in crashed condition with a dead body. The while town was stunned to know that the dead person was not a local but a guest who came to attend a wedding reception to ramsar.
Now a new person named colonel acharya enters in the story who is a detective. While investigating the case he finds out that things are not what they seem because there are a lot of suspects. What do you think is this a murder or suicide?
It is a fast-paced book. The writing style is simple but engaging, the language is easy to understand, the characters are well developed and the cover is chosen well. Overall, it was an enjoyable read for me.
Read
November 8, 2021An invitation to die is a murder mystery in the small town of Ramsar when an elderly woman named Violet lived with her granddaughter Pia who runs a coffee shop. There were no secrets in the town. Everyone knew each other's business and what goes around the neighbourhood.
Violet's can goes missing and when the ASP Tim Thapa found it, what they discovered was horrifying. A person was murdered or was it a suicide? And the body in a stolen van.
In a peaceful hill station where there's not much to spice up the lives of the retired people living a murder was terrifying. When colonel Acharya decided to help officer Timothy Thapa with the case.
Well, the book was slow-paced but I enjoyed it a lot. I liked how the author build the plot around the people and the characters were well depicted. It was a fun read. The narrative was relaxing and simple. It was a great read. I would recommend this novel. It was worth reading!
Violet's can goes missing and when the ASP Tim Thapa found it, what they discovered was horrifying. A person was murdered or was it a suicide? And the body in a stolen van.
In a peaceful hill station where there's not much to spice up the lives of the retired people living a murder was terrifying. When colonel Acharya decided to help officer Timothy Thapa with the case.
Well, the book was slow-paced but I enjoyed it a lot. I liked how the author build the plot around the people and the characters were well depicted. It was a fun read. The narrative was relaxing and simple. It was a great read. I would recommend this novel. It was worth reading!
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