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The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra

The warm and witty cosy crime series from the acclaimed author of the Malabar House novels

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The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra

By: Vaseem Khan
Narrated by: Sartaj Garewal
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Mumbai, murder and a baby elephant combine in a charming, joyful mystery for fans of Alexander McCall Smith and Harold Fry.

On the day he retires, Inspector Ashwin Chopra inherits two unexpected mysteries.

The first is the case of a drowned boy, whose suspicious death no one seems to want solved.

And the second is a baby elephant.

As his search for clues takes him across the teeming city of Mumbai, from its grand high rises to its sprawling slums and deep into its murky underworld, Chopra begins to suspect that there may be a great deal more to both his last case and his new ward than he thought.

And he soon learns that when the going gets tough, a determined elephant may be exactly what an honest man needs...

(P)2015 Hodder & Stoughton©2015 Vaseem Khan Asia Cosy Crime Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery South Asian Creators Fiction Detective Elephant Feel-Good Crime
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Critic reviews

Keeps things heart-warming while tackling corruption at the highest levels and violent crime at the lowest. Endearing and gripping, it sets up Inspector Chopra - and the elephant - for a long series.
Enchanting
Chopra, diligent, incorruptible and not entirely at ease with shiny new India, is a delight, as is his redoubtable wife, Poppy - and Ganesha the elephant, once he has cheered up a bit, proves a very useful ally indeed. Utterly charming
Delightful and uplifting
A cast of intriguing characters that it will be a joy to see develop. But the greatest strength is the setting in the teeming city of Mumbai, from which the colour and atmosphere flows out of every page in this enjoyable, whimsical tale
A sparkling debut with a zippy plot and an endearing set of characters
A quirky murder mystery... full of colourful characters and insightful details about human motivation
A debut Mumbai-based "cosy" - complete with baby elephant - that keeps things heartwarming while
tackling corruption at the highest levels and violent crime at the lowest. Endearing, exotic and gripping, it sets
up Inspector Chopra's detective agency - and the elephant - for a successful series.
All stars
Most relevant
What a fantastic "read" enjoyed every single word. I came across the book when the author was interviewed on BBC Radio 2, his enthusiasm for the storyline was evident. This isn't a story about an elephant its a well written story about a central character and the many and varied people who he comes into contact with. The twists and turns keep coming right up to the last word. Really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next episode.

Unexpected storyline😀

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Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

If you are looking for charming , positive imagery , told in a lively humorous way this is not to be found here . Its title reminds one of The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. But that's as far as it goes . The colours and textures of Mumbai are wonderful , and I'm sure the author made decisions about letting us in on the gritty and realistic side of life on the streets . I was not comfortable to be regaled with animal cruelty , in a light detective novel. I wasn't thrilled to learn that baby elephants are dragged about on rusty chains, and stray dogs are kicked in the face. Most of us are aware of the brutality towards animals in the world ., but perhaps it's best kept for adverts appealing for funds to save animals .

The reader is disappointing as he becomes tired whist reading and lapses into a dry mouthed monotone . The most appealing character seems to be Poppy the Inspectors wife I'm disappointed , it's not the stuff of bed time stories.... It could be , just needs much more fine tuning ... . The point about Mma Ramotswe , is we know she's idealised ( I lived in Africa 30 years) we know and share the dream that Africa can be as wonderful as its most generous , warm, caring citizen,Mma Ramotswe kindles hope , whilst presenting the interesting tensions that exsist culturally. Let's hope Inspector Chopra is work in progress.

And now for something completely different .....

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I enjoyed this story- which was a fun and easy listen. The narrator spoilt it at times though. His voice for some of the characters- in particular the female characters- was grating and ruined parts for me, taking away what should have been some of the best moments. Other than that, it’s a decent listen.

A nice listen

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a great story with original twists, the settings and side stories add to this highly enjoyable storyline, I can't wait to get the next book! The narrator is perfect too, I would highly recommend this book

highly entertaining

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A very enjoyable novel. The reader is excellent and he tells the story very well.

Very enjoyable

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