by RV Raman
SYNOPSIS
MIST
Ageing millionaire Bhaskar Fernandez has invited his relatives to the remote, and possibly haunted, Greybrooke Manor, high up in the misty Nilgiris.
MOUNTAINS
He knows his guests expect to gain from his death, so he writes two conflicting wills. Which one of them comes into force will depend on how he dies.
MURDER
Fernandez also invites Harith Athreya, a seasoned investigator, to watch what unfolds.
When a landslide leaves the estate temporarily isolated, and a body is discovered, Athreya finds that death is not the only thing that the mist conceals. . .
REVIEW
Bhaskar lives in the impressive Greybrooke Manor in Nilgiris with members of his extended family and long-term staff. After several near death experiences/possible murder attempts, he invites retired detective Harith Athreya to come and stay with them to learn about the situation and to investigate in the event of his death.
As so many people would benefit if he died, Bhaskar has written two wills as a kind of insurance policy - the first would be valid if he died of natural causes, but if there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death (an accident or murder), the second will would come into play. This second will eliminated many of the benefits of the first in an attempt to avoid any further attempts on his life.
When a landslide cuts them off in an already remote location, and a body is discovered, it looks like Bhaskar's plan has been foiled. It's now up to Athreya to work with the feuding family to solve the crime.
The “locked room mystery” is one of my favourite categories of crime novels and it really did seem like I was reading one of the classic whodunnits from the Christie era, it was only when there was the odd reference to a mobile phone or other modern items that I remembered that it was set in the present day. This unusual mix of contemporary and Golden Age mystery gave the story a really unique feel.
A Will to Kill has a detailed and intricate plot. As Athreya interviews each of the suspects there are plenty of clues and red herrings, motives and suspicions to work through before reaching the big reveal. As well as an ending I wasn't expecting, the story also introduced me to a setting I have never read about before which provided a stunning backdrop to the story. This novel was both refreshing and a pleasure to read.
Thanks to @tara_mcevoy and @PushkinPress for the opportunity to read and review.
Genre: Mystery / Cosy Crime
Publisher: Pushkin Vertigo
ISBN: 978-1782277323
Pages: 272pp
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