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Death in the Air
“Glamorous, gripping, absolutely heaps of fun. I loved this.”—Lucy Foley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List and The Paris Apartment
"Unexpected delights await on every page of Ram Murali’s impressive and captivating debut. Crisp as a gin and tonic and delightfully wicked, this smart, smart novel delivers a sophisticated, subversive murder mystery set in the highest stratosphere of the international idle rich. I had to force myself not to binge it in one night so I could savor it like the rare and exquisite meal that it is." —Kevin Kwan, New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians
The White Lotus meets Knives Out meets Crazy Rich Asians in this devilishly entertaining debut novel: both a sophisticated locked-room mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie, and a provocative literary whodunit for the twenty-first century.
Ro Krishna is the American son of Indian parents, educated at the finest institutions, equally at home in London’s poshest clubs and on the squash court, but unmoored after he is dramatically forced to leave a high-profile job under mysterious circumstances. He decides it’s time to check in for some much-needed R&R at Samsara, a world-class spa for the global cosmopolitan elite nestled in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. A person could be spiritually reborn in a place like this. Even a very rich person.
But a person—or several—could also die there. Samsara is the Sanskrit word for the karmic cycle of death and rebirth, after all. And as it turns out, the colorful cast of characters Ro meets—including a misanthropic politician; an American movie star preparing for his Bollywood crossover debut; a beautiful heiress to a family jewel fortune that barely survived Partition; and a bumbling white yogi inexplicably there to teach meditation—harbors a murderer among them. Maybe more than one.
As the death toll rises, Ro, a lawyer by training and a sleuth by circumstance, becomes embroiled in a vicious world under a gilded surface, where nothing is quite what it seems . . . including Ro himself. Death in the Air is a brilliant, teasing mystery from a remarkable new talent.
"Unexpected delights await on every page of Ram Murali’s impressive and captivating debut. Crisp as a gin and tonic and delightfully wicked, this smart, smart novel delivers a sophisticated, subversive murder mystery set in the highest stratosphere of the international idle rich. I had to force myself not to binge it in one night so I could savor it like the rare and exquisite meal that it is." —Kevin Kwan, New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians
The White Lotus meets Knives Out meets Crazy Rich Asians in this devilishly entertaining debut novel: both a sophisticated locked-room mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie, and a provocative literary whodunit for the twenty-first century.
Ro Krishna is the American son of Indian parents, educated at the finest institutions, equally at home in London’s poshest clubs and on the squash court, but unmoored after he is dramatically forced to leave a high-profile job under mysterious circumstances. He decides it’s time to check in for some much-needed R&R at Samsara, a world-class spa for the global cosmopolitan elite nestled in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. A person could be spiritually reborn in a place like this. Even a very rich person.
But a person—or several—could also die there. Samsara is the Sanskrit word for the karmic cycle of death and rebirth, after all. And as it turns out, the colorful cast of characters Ro meets—including a misanthropic politician; an American movie star preparing for his Bollywood crossover debut; a beautiful heiress to a family jewel fortune that barely survived Partition; and a bumbling white yogi inexplicably there to teach meditation—harbors a murderer among them. Maybe more than one.
As the death toll rises, Ro, a lawyer by training and a sleuth by circumstance, becomes embroiled in a vicious world under a gilded surface, where nothing is quite what it seems . . . including Ro himself. Death in the Air is a brilliant, teasing mystery from a remarkable new talent.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2024
About the author
Ram Murali
1 book28 followersRam Murali was born in New York, New York.
Death in the Air is his first novel.
Death in the Air is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
June 15, 2024
Death in the Air is a slow burn mystery set at a luxury spa in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. It’s a debut novel and while the aim might have been for a Knives Out type vibe, it kinda missed the mark. The characters weren’t that interesting and the humor was sporadic or didn’t land at all.
The health and wellness aspects of the story were fascinating to me as well as the bits of history and culture info about India. Unfortunately the mystery took too long to develop. Once the murder gets the ball rolling my curiosity was piqued for a long stretch. But then it drags on and even though the action picks up in the final portion of the story, I wasn’t wowed by how everything was wrapped up. It’s not a bad conclusion but it needed to be stellar in order to make up for the overall slow pace.
The writing showed promise but the story needed to be trimmed in length and reworked in order to reach its full potential.
Thank you Harper for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
The health and wellness aspects of the story were fascinating to me as well as the bits of history and culture info about India. Unfortunately the mystery took too long to develop. Once the murder gets the ball rolling my curiosity was piqued for a long stretch. But then it drags on and even though the action picks up in the final portion of the story, I wasn’t wowed by how everything was wrapped up. It’s not a bad conclusion but it needed to be stellar in order to make up for the overall slow pace.
The writing showed promise but the story needed to be trimmed in length and reworked in order to reach its full potential.
Thank you Harper for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
June 13, 2024
Conditional rating 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for Goodreads.
Why conditional? Trusting the publicity, I approached this book with certain expectations, and was sorely disappointed that they weren't met. I found the story to be totally implausible and weirdly immature such that I almost gave up on it a few times. But then at around the 40% mark I decided to adjust my attitude - to read the book for what it was, rather than what it wasn't - and from then on I kind of enjoyed it. I expect readers who are looking for something fun and unchallenging, rather than clever and sophisticated (and well-concluded!), will really dig it.
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for an advance copy to read and review.
Why conditional? Trusting the publicity, I approached this book with certain expectations, and was sorely disappointed that they weren't met. I found the story to be totally implausible and weirdly immature such that I almost gave up on it a few times. But then at around the 40% mark I decided to adjust my attitude - to read the book for what it was, rather than what it wasn't - and from then on I kind of enjoyed it. I expect readers who are looking for something fun and unchallenging, rather than clever and sophisticated (and well-concluded!), will really dig it.
With thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for an advance copy to read and review.
June 30, 2024
Disappointing, exasperating and pretentious. I chanced upon this book randomly while looking for mysteries set in hills in India and this seemed like the perfect read. Never did I imagine how much this would trigger me. So the short review is: avoid unless you have nothing else to read. In which case, first try reading labels of things, old newspapers, random pamphlets, you get the drift (or just meditate -- that would be a fitting response to this book). Now, on to a rant to get this out of my system.
I understood this book to be a desi version of The White Lotus and that reeled me in. The very first thing that put me off was the author trying to show off his knowledge about the ultra wealthy: name dropping brands, locations and quirks to a point of being distracting. It comes off as extremely pretentious and not really believable. It's like the rich are all playing being rich. On top of it is the lame attempt to sound intellectual and reflective which is limited to the protagonist speaking randomly in French and spewing inane things like "Objectivity is white subjectivity". What does that even mean?!
The protagonist is a lawyer who is apparently always perfect and logical, but relies on a psychic pendulum for signs and decisions! I am all for complex, contrarian characters, but it seemed that the author couldn't decide on the characteristics of his protagonist which ended up in the character being comically unreal. The mystery itself felt amateurish and while I guess the author wanted to be clever with the climax, it felt derivative. The use of partition as a plot point felt disingenuous and shallow as well. I recommend reading Midnight at Malabar House instead for a mystery set in the Indian subcontinent. Part of my frustration is because this book had so much potential to be a smart, funny thriller with cultural subtexts. Alas!
Fin.
PS. Did I mention that the book is filled with stereotypes -- the blackmailer is a mysterious femme fatale, the public servant is corrupt, the gym trainer is handsome and gay, the Hollywood actor is happy-go-lucky, the inspector is gruff and straight-laced, so on and so forth. It could have been funny or a parody which would be enjoyable but this unfortunately wasn't.
I understood this book to be a desi version of The White Lotus and that reeled me in. The very first thing that put me off was the author trying to show off his knowledge about the ultra wealthy: name dropping brands, locations and quirks to a point of being distracting. It comes off as extremely pretentious and not really believable. It's like the rich are all playing being rich. On top of it is the lame attempt to sound intellectual and reflective which is limited to the protagonist speaking randomly in French and spewing inane things like "Objectivity is white subjectivity". What does that even mean?!
The protagonist is a lawyer who is apparently always perfect and logical, but relies on a psychic pendulum for signs and decisions! I am all for complex, contrarian characters, but it seemed that the author couldn't decide on the characteristics of his protagonist which ended up in the character being comically unreal. The mystery itself felt amateurish and while I guess the author wanted to be clever with the climax, it felt derivative. The use of partition as a plot point felt disingenuous and shallow as well. I recommend reading Midnight at Malabar House instead for a mystery set in the Indian subcontinent. Part of my frustration is because this book had so much potential to be a smart, funny thriller with cultural subtexts. Alas!
Fin.
PS. Did I mention that the book is filled with stereotypes -- the blackmailer is a mysterious femme fatale, the public servant is corrupt, the gym trainer is handsome and gay, the Hollywood actor is happy-go-lucky, the inspector is gruff and straight-laced, so on and so forth. It could have been funny or a parody which would be enjoyable but this unfortunately wasn't.
March 29, 2024
Review: This was so, so boring. Slower than a slug at a salt lick. Boring as a bag of wet hammers. Did I say smug? Oh, yeah. Every instance was presaged with "He looked at his Cartier watch.......her gold/pearl/diamond jewelry" blah blah blah. Right, everyone is filthy rich. We get it. But, do we have to be reminded of it on EVERY FRICKIN' PAGE? I don't think so, as well read people are generally more aware than most.
If the author had moved the story line towards building better characters from within rather than from an external source, like the world, this may have flown higher.
As it is, DNF
If the author had moved the story line towards building better characters from within rather than from an external source, like the world, this may have flown higher.
As it is, DNF
May 30, 2024
Death in the Air primarily takes place at a resort called Samsara in India. Ro, after leaving his job, has been recommended by many to take a vacation to this resort over the Christmas holidays. Here he'll receive massages, do yoga and meditation, and have doctor visits. Along the way he makes a lot of friends… and also gets caught up in a lot of murders.
This was definitely a unique book for me. I can't remember reading a mystery that takes place in India, and I found this book to be a little educational as far as Indian culture.
However, I felt like that was part of the point - to use the story to heavily share the religious and cultural beliefs of many Indians. Ro also brings up the Partition, a major historical event, though I still am not sure exactly what happened.
I liked how the story was at this health resort. It was a secluded location. It was obvious that the culprit was one of the people at the spa. Nothing was obvious and the story was very intriguing.
Most, if not all, of the main characters are rich, which became annoying. The readers often read in-depth descriptions of the jewelry and clothes people were wearing. I've read some books where there are some rich characters, but this book really beats a dead horse with it.
I would recommend this book because of how unique it felt.
This was definitely a unique book for me. I can't remember reading a mystery that takes place in India, and I found this book to be a little educational as far as Indian culture.
However, I felt like that was part of the point - to use the story to heavily share the religious and cultural beliefs of many Indians. Ro also brings up the Partition, a major historical event, though I still am not sure exactly what happened.
I liked how the story was at this health resort. It was a secluded location. It was obvious that the culprit was one of the people at the spa. Nothing was obvious and the story was very intriguing.
Most, if not all, of the main characters are rich, which became annoying. The readers often read in-depth descriptions of the jewelry and clothes people were wearing. I've read some books where there are some rich characters, but this book really beats a dead horse with it.
I would recommend this book because of how unique it felt.
March 21, 2024
ARC for review. To be published June 18, 2024.
Lawyer Ro Krishna is an Indian American living in London who was raised in a posh lifestyle. He’s a bit adrift after being forced out of a prestigious job under less than ideal circumstances. To regroup he plans to spend Christmas and New Years at Samsara a five star resort in the Indian Himalayas.
Some of the other guests include a horrible politician and his delightful wife, an American movie star preparing for a new role, and his interesting wife, one of Ro’s closest friends from college, a gorgeous heiress to a jewelry fortune and a yogi at the resort to teach meditation. At least one person isn’t going to leave Samsara alive. And someone at the resort is a murderer. Can Ro get to the truth?
Oh, joy, a locked room mystery. I love and adore these! And while Ro could be a bit much at times, and was a little bossy to the women around him (check that, to everyone around him,) I loved this book. Resorts are a common setting for this type of mystery, but Samsara was described so vividly. The notecards for the guests (I love that we knew what colors each guest chose, thank you for that detail…I just kept worrying whether or not purple would be available for me, so if the author could send me a private message letting me know it would really ease my mind!), the laundry area, the specifics of the menu…SWOON!
And a wonderful cast of characters. The movie star wasn’t annoying! Mrs. B. was so charming. Connie had such bite and didn’t seem to like anyone - I loved her! The whole thing wasn’t perfect at all, but it so wasn’t a formulaic thriller, and that was so very refreshing. Definitely highly recommending this book. A strong 4.5 stars rounded up.
Lawyer Ro Krishna is an Indian American living in London who was raised in a posh lifestyle. He’s a bit adrift after being forced out of a prestigious job under less than ideal circumstances. To regroup he plans to spend Christmas and New Years at Samsara a five star resort in the Indian Himalayas.
Some of the other guests include a horrible politician and his delightful wife, an American movie star preparing for a new role, and his interesting wife, one of Ro’s closest friends from college, a gorgeous heiress to a jewelry fortune and a yogi at the resort to teach meditation. At least one person isn’t going to leave Samsara alive. And someone at the resort is a murderer. Can Ro get to the truth?
Oh, joy, a locked room mystery. I love and adore these! And while Ro could be a bit much at times, and was a little bossy to the women around him (check that, to everyone around him,) I loved this book. Resorts are a common setting for this type of mystery, but Samsara was described so vividly. The notecards for the guests (I love that we knew what colors each guest chose, thank you for that detail…I just kept worrying whether or not purple would be available for me, so if the author could send me a private message letting me know it would really ease my mind!), the laundry area, the specifics of the menu…SWOON!
And a wonderful cast of characters. The movie star wasn’t annoying! Mrs. B. was so charming. Connie had such bite and didn’t seem to like anyone - I loved her! The whole thing wasn’t perfect at all, but it so wasn’t a formulaic thriller, and that was so very refreshing. Definitely highly recommending this book. A strong 4.5 stars rounded up.
June 24, 2024
I hope the obviously immensely talented Mr. Murali doesn't mind my saying that this a very strange book, and not one that I much liked, though I admire the skill with which it is done. Ro Krishna, an Indian-American now living mostly in London, lives in the upper reaches of international luxury, with large numbers of friends and no shortage of money. But he has been unjustly fired from his job, and feels burned out. He decides to spend Christmas in an Ayurvedic spa in the foothills of the Ganges, along with one of his college friends. Of course, he has other acquaintances there. And when there is a mysterious death, he's asked by the hotel owner, whose son-in-law is a friend of his father's, to support her in her dealings with the police.
June 25, 2024
Death in the Air. Devilishly intoxicating and full of mystery. Its spellbinding! Set in the mountains of India, the novel takes you on a journey of Indian culture, meditation rituals with a killing spree on the side. The characters are exotic, and hold some secret pasts. I found it intriguing with its twists and turns and the discovery of the meaning behind the title, which gets a small airing in the novel. Very descriptive and conversational in text. Vital reading if you love a good murder mystery. 5 stars for this debut novel by #rammurali
July 18, 2024
Wow. This book absolutely grew on me and blew me away.
At first, the author opens on a flippantly rich and appearing dead inside guy who honestly I hated at first. As the novel goes, you start to like him more but at the end the author reinforces your initial opinion that yes this character is as bad as you thought. Excellently paced, wonderful twists, and and ending that kept me on the edge of my seat.
At first, the author opens on a flippantly rich and appearing dead inside guy who honestly I hated at first. As the novel goes, you start to like him more but at the end the author reinforces your initial opinion that yes this character is as bad as you thought. Excellently paced, wonderful twists, and and ending that kept me on the edge of my seat.
June 24, 2024
3.5 Stars. What a peculiar little novel this is. Based on the publisher synopsis and author endorsements, I went into Death in the Air expecting some witty repartee and ‘light-hearted’ dark humour in a similar vein to Kevin Kwan’s Rich People Problems. But, what I found myself reading was actually a surprisingly dark satire with a brooding menace and frequent malevolent undertones.
The initial setup makes clear to readers that the characters involved are ‘dangerously’ wealthy and entitled, and their perspectives from within that prism are questionable to say the least. For example, this discussion during an extravagant dinner in a London private members club:
“You look great for your age,” Alex said.
Ro considered the oyster in his hand. “I think that’s because I’m asleep most of the time. Being awake is very aging I find.” He slurped it down.
So, are the characters likeable? Not by any stretch.
Is the writing style a pleasure to read? No. It’s very simplistic in places. And unsettling.
I almost did not make it past the first few chapters of Death in the Air. However, while not entertained by Murali’s narrative, I was sufficiently perplexed and intrigued by it to continue reading. It was like one of those really arty movies where you think to yourself, “Is this part really happening, or is it a characters’ dream sequence?”. The shock factor is weirdly compelling. And, while I believe I understood much of the ‘cleverness’ woven into the dialogue and complex character machinations, there were still times the inside joke fell flat for me. Continue reading: https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/...
The initial setup makes clear to readers that the characters involved are ‘dangerously’ wealthy and entitled, and their perspectives from within that prism are questionable to say the least. For example, this discussion during an extravagant dinner in a London private members club:
“You look great for your age,” Alex said.
Ro considered the oyster in his hand. “I think that’s because I’m asleep most of the time. Being awake is very aging I find.” He slurped it down.
So, are the characters likeable? Not by any stretch.
Is the writing style a pleasure to read? No. It’s very simplistic in places. And unsettling.
I almost did not make it past the first few chapters of Death in the Air. However, while not entertained by Murali’s narrative, I was sufficiently perplexed and intrigued by it to continue reading. It was like one of those really arty movies where you think to yourself, “Is this part really happening, or is it a characters’ dream sequence?”. The shock factor is weirdly compelling. And, while I believe I understood much of the ‘cleverness’ woven into the dialogue and complex character machinations, there were still times the inside joke fell flat for me. Continue reading: https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/...
July 19, 2024
I LOVED THIS there was a lot going on here but in the best way! one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in months!!! even when it was confusing & unsettled there was an element of peace to it
July 7, 2024
Really liked this. It's not politically correct, but that made it even better.
June 25, 2024
The mystery presented was reminiscent of Agatha Christie - slow build up, lots of bodies, and most importantly, a twist at the end. It was absolutely a page-turner, but I finished it thinking about more than just the murders. The author’s protagonist is very intelligent and thoughtful and reflective.
June 6, 2024
My Bookish Thoughts 💬
I was instantly drawn by the description of a murder mystery set in an exclusive wellbeing retreat in the Himalayas.
Death In The Air is a slow-paced, angst-filled murder mystery. The main protagonist, Ro Krishna, is drawn into a murder investigation. Utilising his experience as a lawyer, he collaborates with other guests to uncover the culprit.
Despite the large cast of characters to remember, I found them to be well-written and memorable. The author brought them to life with their unique quirks and mannerisms, making it easy to picture them in my mind. As with any good murder mystery, I was suspicious of everyone and constantly on the lookout for clues and slip-ups.
Ro, the main protagonist, was someone I couldn't help but like, although his extreme disdain for VB sometimes confused me. Catherine, on the other hand, lacked empathy, and her reactions to certain parts of the interviews disturbed me. Perhaps a sequel will delve deeper into her character.
Mrs. B made for a great hostess, and the wellbeing retreat, with its focus on serenity, meditation and healing, created a wonderful contrast to the looming threat of murder. The atmosphere was well-depicted, though I would have loved more descriptions of the location, as it fascinates me and I’d love to visit.
I got a bit lost in the middle and felt the mystery could have unfolded sooner, but the final section really picked up pace.
Huge thanks to the author and Atlantic Books for the beautiful gifted copy and NetGalley for the ebook.
I was instantly drawn by the description of a murder mystery set in an exclusive wellbeing retreat in the Himalayas.
Death In The Air is a slow-paced, angst-filled murder mystery. The main protagonist, Ro Krishna, is drawn into a murder investigation. Utilising his experience as a lawyer, he collaborates with other guests to uncover the culprit.
Despite the large cast of characters to remember, I found them to be well-written and memorable. The author brought them to life with their unique quirks and mannerisms, making it easy to picture them in my mind. As with any good murder mystery, I was suspicious of everyone and constantly on the lookout for clues and slip-ups.
Ro, the main protagonist, was someone I couldn't help but like, although his extreme disdain for VB sometimes confused me. Catherine, on the other hand, lacked empathy, and her reactions to certain parts of the interviews disturbed me. Perhaps a sequel will delve deeper into her character.
Mrs. B made for a great hostess, and the wellbeing retreat, with its focus on serenity, meditation and healing, created a wonderful contrast to the looming threat of murder. The atmosphere was well-depicted, though I would have loved more descriptions of the location, as it fascinates me and I’d love to visit.
I got a bit lost in the middle and felt the mystery could have unfolded sooner, but the final section really picked up pace.
Huge thanks to the author and Atlantic Books for the beautiful gifted copy and NetGalley for the ebook.
May 27, 2024
Thanks so much to Harper for the physical arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!
This book is about a bunch of rich people at a spa and someone ends up murdered.
I am having a hard time with rating this one. I did like the premise and the setting. I loved the secluded spa by the mountain. The setup was good because it was like a locked room mystery and you go through the suspects to find the killer.
However, I didn’t like any of the characters. Everyone was so rich and full of themselves. It was hard to connect with anyone. I also feel like some of the yoga and meditation stuff was a little confusing to me but that might just be me not having any background on the different practices.
I’m going to land in the middle for this one and give it three stars. I liked some stuff but overall it was not my favorite.
This book is about a bunch of rich people at a spa and someone ends up murdered.
I am having a hard time with rating this one. I did like the premise and the setting. I loved the secluded spa by the mountain. The setup was good because it was like a locked room mystery and you go through the suspects to find the killer.
However, I didn’t like any of the characters. Everyone was so rich and full of themselves. It was hard to connect with anyone. I also feel like some of the yoga and meditation stuff was a little confusing to me but that might just be me not having any background on the different practices.
I’m going to land in the middle for this one and give it three stars. I liked some stuff but overall it was not my favorite.
June 15, 2024
I had high hopes for Ram Murali's Death in the Air. Unfortunately, almost none of those hopes were realized. First of all, the writing style kept me at a distance. I felt like I was peering down at the stage from the nosebleed seats. This kept me from being fully engaged in the story.
Secondly, the setting in the Himalayan foothills was one of the major reasons why I chose to read this book. As far as the setting goes, Death in the Air could have been set anywhere.
Thirdly, the cast of characters did nothing to engage my interest. They were an assortment of entitled young people swanning around the resort in designer clothing and jewels. Oh, and most of the men had great hair, too.
The only thing that truly interested me was the mystery itself even though one of the reveals at the end wasn't a surprise to me. Death in the Air is a mystery for the plot-driven reader, who should enjoy deducing whodunit. Alas, I am not a plot-driven reader.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
Secondly, the setting in the Himalayan foothills was one of the major reasons why I chose to read this book. As far as the setting goes, Death in the Air could have been set anywhere.
Thirdly, the cast of characters did nothing to engage my interest. They were an assortment of entitled young people swanning around the resort in designer clothing and jewels. Oh, and most of the men had great hair, too.
The only thing that truly interested me was the mystery itself even though one of the reveals at the end wasn't a surprise to me. Death in the Air is a mystery for the plot-driven reader, who should enjoy deducing whodunit. Alas, I am not a plot-driven reader.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
July 9, 2024
I really enjoyed Ro's experience and the mystery at Samsara, the exclusive, elite spa retreat in India. While Ro is our many character, we really dive into a full ensemble cast of spa guests, where no one is quite who they say they are. I thought the way the author wove together conversation, and the little moments that make up a day, were great. Conversations were written in a realistic way, people talking over each other trying to hear another person within a large group—it felt immersive and very relatable.
While I really enjoyed the book, I found the ending too open for my liking. While I don't need everything tied up in a nice little bow, I also don't like being unsure of the motivations behind what actually happened. The author knows how it ends, the characters know the truth, but as a reader I felt like I was on the edge of an inside joke leaving me with a handful of questions! The main mystery is answered but there are other things left open. One reviewer speculated there might be a sequel, which would actually make a lot of sense given how the last few pages unfold. I would definitely read it!
I will say that the culprit was a surprise. I thought for sure it was going to go one way and it didn't! I also think the comparisons to White Lotus and Knives Out are accurate so if you like those, you'd really enjoy this!
Thank you Harper books for the gifted ARC.
While I really enjoyed the book, I found the ending too open for my liking. While I don't need everything tied up in a nice little bow, I also don't like being unsure of the motivations behind what actually happened. The author knows how it ends, the characters know the truth, but as a reader I felt like I was on the edge of an inside joke leaving me with a handful of questions! The main mystery is answered but there are other things left open. One reviewer speculated there might be a sequel, which would actually make a lot of sense given how the last few pages unfold. I would definitely read it!
I will say that the culprit was a surprise. I thought for sure it was going to go one way and it didn't! I also think the comparisons to White Lotus and Knives Out are accurate so if you like those, you'd really enjoy this!
Thank you Harper books for the gifted ARC.
July 21, 2024
I have always liked to support South Asian authors, and when I was approached to read a copy of this book for the book tour, I readily agreed.
Murder mysteries aren't my usual choice of genre, though I have been known to read them.
Ram Murali's main character, Ro Krishna, is involved in work-related problems from the beginning of the book. He meets some shady characters mentioned at the beginning, but they seem to disappear until the end.
Taking a complete break from his usual life, he ends up at a spa resort in the Himalayas, Samsara. There, he meets a few of the other guests and meets new people from completely different backgrounds.
Then tragedy strikes and a body is found.
He ends up being involved in the investigations and tries to solve the mystery with some of the others and the Police.
Honestly?
I was intrigued to find out what happened.
Still, I did find it hard to get into because there were many references to fashion brands, sometimes unnecessarily, and not every situation was clear.
Ro has a crystal, Pendy, whom he talks to, and their communication isn't always easy to understand.
I'm not sure the ending was as clear-cut as I had hoped.
Murder mysteries aren't my usual choice of genre, though I have been known to read them.
Ram Murali's main character, Ro Krishna, is involved in work-related problems from the beginning of the book. He meets some shady characters mentioned at the beginning, but they seem to disappear until the end.
Taking a complete break from his usual life, he ends up at a spa resort in the Himalayas, Samsara. There, he meets a few of the other guests and meets new people from completely different backgrounds.
Then tragedy strikes and a body is found.
He ends up being involved in the investigations and tries to solve the mystery with some of the others and the Police.
Honestly?
I was intrigued to find out what happened.
Still, I did find it hard to get into because there were many references to fashion brands, sometimes unnecessarily, and not every situation was clear.
Ro has a crystal, Pendy, whom he talks to, and their communication isn't always easy to understand.
I'm not sure the ending was as clear-cut as I had hoped.
May 18, 2024
I really struggled to get into this book. The characters (as advertised) are filthy rich which obviously is intriguing but it also makes them ridiculously hard to relate to or care for. Honestly, I dnfed at around 45% because I didn’t have the energy to continue. I had high hopes for this one but I just don’t think the storyline is for me. Maybe it’s worth another try someday but I don’t think I’ll be reading it again anytime soon.
July 16, 2024
An interesting cast of characters conversing in wonderful dialogues. I enjoyed the pace and lively conversation, as well as the believable setting with nods to the issue of cultural appropriation of yoga. It’s set up for a series to continue.
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 18, 2024Slow, dull, & the main character is a condescending snob. Couldn't care less what happens to any of the characters tbh. DNF'd at 45%.
June 18, 2024
thank you to @atlanticbooks for sending me an ARC of this book!
disclaimer, this is unfortunately going to be a negative review. sorry not sorry. I hate being hateful (do I?) points for the cover though.
well im disappointed, obviously. i had high expectations because it was marketed as “a mix of knives out, crazy rich asians, etc.” which are all things i loved and enjoyed.
I didn’t get that though. Instead this book is made up of many charming and compelling elements that, sadly, end up amounting to nothing. perhaps because they are executed badly.
We’ve got a secluded spa set in india. an interesting cast of characters. murder. I started off hooked but soon after it fizzled out.
Our main character, Ro, is weird. He is mysterious and he isn’t really made likable. Sometimes he says good sentences, commentary on race and white privilege that was well done. But then he says stupid things that leave me “??”He’s also apparently very smart and cool and everyone likes and trusts him, god knows why. He’s also empty…meaning his logic doesn’t really always add up and we don’t end up sympathizing with the problem he complains about.
I can’t say I cared for any of the characters. I was observing them with interest but other than being insufferable, they are also not really well understood. I felt there was a lot of potential for a more interesting delve into the characters or a more interesting plot line but it is all lost.
The story takes turns I didn’t expect, but not in a thrilling way, more in a “nvm this isn’t what I thought I’d be reading” way. The ending leaves you hanging and is confusing, I was left with so many questions and gained no conclusion.
It’s underwhelming because I do think it could’ve been a strong read but it felt short in so many ways and left me confused and unsatisfied
disclaimer, this is unfortunately going to be a negative review. sorry not sorry. I hate being hateful (do I?) points for the cover though.
well im disappointed, obviously. i had high expectations because it was marketed as “a mix of knives out, crazy rich asians, etc.” which are all things i loved and enjoyed.
I didn’t get that though. Instead this book is made up of many charming and compelling elements that, sadly, end up amounting to nothing. perhaps because they are executed badly.
We’ve got a secluded spa set in india. an interesting cast of characters. murder. I started off hooked but soon after it fizzled out.
Our main character, Ro, is weird. He is mysterious and he isn’t really made likable. Sometimes he says good sentences, commentary on race and white privilege that was well done. But then he says stupid things that leave me “??”He’s also apparently very smart and cool and everyone likes and trusts him, god knows why. He’s also empty…meaning his logic doesn’t really always add up and we don’t end up sympathizing with the problem he complains about.
I can’t say I cared for any of the characters. I was observing them with interest but other than being insufferable, they are also not really well understood. I felt there was a lot of potential for a more interesting delve into the characters or a more interesting plot line but it is all lost.
The story takes turns I didn’t expect, but not in a thrilling way, more in a “nvm this isn’t what I thought I’d be reading” way. The ending leaves you hanging and is confusing, I was left with so many questions and gained no conclusion.
It’s underwhelming because I do think it could’ve been a strong read but it felt short in so many ways and left me confused and unsatisfied
June 11, 2024
I received my ARC from Better Reading and Allen & Unwin for an honest review and all I can give you is that….an honest review.
This was definitely not the book for me and I’m really struggling to find the positives in any of it.
It was very slow to start and I hoped that it was going to get better as it progressed, but alas that just was not the case. It was marketed as White Lotus meets Knives Out meets Crazy Rich Asians, but I just don’t think that it worked. The wealth of the characters became clear as you got into the book, but it just wasn’t portrayed well and came off as very patchy and had me, as the reader, completely and utterly confused from the beginning to the end.
It was only my pure stubbornness that resulted in me finishing the story and not marking it down as a DNF.
Sorry guys, I just didn’t like it at all.
Release date 18 June 2024
#BRPreview
#deathbyair
#rammurali
#notforme
#allen&unwin
This was definitely not the book for me and I’m really struggling to find the positives in any of it.
It was very slow to start and I hoped that it was going to get better as it progressed, but alas that just was not the case. It was marketed as White Lotus meets Knives Out meets Crazy Rich Asians, but I just don’t think that it worked. The wealth of the characters became clear as you got into the book, but it just wasn’t portrayed well and came off as very patchy and had me, as the reader, completely and utterly confused from the beginning to the end.
It was only my pure stubbornness that resulted in me finishing the story and not marking it down as a DNF.
Sorry guys, I just didn’t like it at all.
Release date 18 June 2024
#BRPreview
#deathbyair
#rammurali
#notforme
#allen&unwin
July 10, 2024
I read this book in one day, and I am already looking forward to his next book. It's like if Kevin Kwan wrote an Agatha Christie murder mystery.
June 27, 2024
Absolutely loved this book! If you like Agatha Christie and Crazy Rich Asians this book is for you! I’d love to see where Ro and pendy end up next.
June 12, 2024
The murder mystery story is set in a world-class spa in Samsara, India over Christmas and New Year. I enjoyed reading the book because it was fun, mysterious, and glamorous. It’s hard for me to guess who was responsible for the chaos. I also learned that the Beatles went to Rishikesh (the yoga capital of the world) to study meditation. Ro, with a lawyer background, decided to spend his Christmas time in India for an Ayurvedic thing. Shockingly, one of the guests was murdered, so Ro is involved in the investigation. When the death toll rises, everyone seems to be in danger including Ro himself. Would he be able to solve the mystery and escape from danger?
June 20, 2024
I was instantly captivated by the description of this novel. It seemed like such a fascinating setting and premise. A murder mystery set in an exclusive wellness resort in the Himalayan mountains. Fantastic! On that front it didn’t disappoint.
The setting is amazing. I loved the juxtaposition of the wellness, meditation and healing with the threat from the murder. This was so clever and created such a strange atmosphere that made for a wonderful lack of stability as you try to put clues together. I would have liked to have seen more description of the location and mountains though, part of the draw for me was that this was set in the Himalayas but we didn’t see a huge amount of this and it would have been appreciated.
The book was compared to White Lotus, a program I found fascinating, and this was certainly a draw. I could see the similarities and it was useful to hold this in my mind. I was really shocked at the callousness of the characters. They are extremely wealthy and they behave rudely, arrogantly and with little regard for the fellow humans. Death is often treated as a joke and human life has little value beyond the shallow attraction/ entertainment the dead provided for the remaining living. I was quite horrified by this at times. It was hard to empathise with the characters when they themselves seemed so lacking in empathy. There was some language that made me uncomfortable.
This was a really clever murder mystery. I didn’t solve it and I was thrilled with the ending as it made so much sense but felt so unexpected. Very good!
The setting is amazing. I loved the juxtaposition of the wellness, meditation and healing with the threat from the murder. This was so clever and created such a strange atmosphere that made for a wonderful lack of stability as you try to put clues together. I would have liked to have seen more description of the location and mountains though, part of the draw for me was that this was set in the Himalayas but we didn’t see a huge amount of this and it would have been appreciated.
The book was compared to White Lotus, a program I found fascinating, and this was certainly a draw. I could see the similarities and it was useful to hold this in my mind. I was really shocked at the callousness of the characters. They are extremely wealthy and they behave rudely, arrogantly and with little regard for the fellow humans. Death is often treated as a joke and human life has little value beyond the shallow attraction/ entertainment the dead provided for the remaining living. I was quite horrified by this at times. It was hard to empathise with the characters when they themselves seemed so lacking in empathy. There was some language that made me uncomfortable.
This was a really clever murder mystery. I didn’t solve it and I was thrilled with the ending as it made so much sense but felt so unexpected. Very good!
April 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this tale of retribution set in a luxury India resort.
April 5, 2024
I am not really sure how to describe this book, except as a wild ride. And by that, I don't just mean the storytelling, but also my emotions about the characters, including the protagonist, a rather privileged Indian-American man named Ro (short for Rohan).
It took me a while to get into the book, and in the first quarter I was almost beginning to give up hope that it would deliver on the rave reviews by the likes of Lucy Foley. Then things suddenly got interesting, and from that point up to the last 10% of the book, I was fully engaged.
On the plus side, this felt a lot like an Agatha Christie murder mystery set in a world class spa in India. The cast members were all quite fascinating, and brought to life very effectively by the writer. There was a woo-woo element to this story, but it was not the usual exoticisation of India that I expected and dreaded. The Indian characters were in fact very believable and as a person from this region, I don't say that lightly. I have met Mrs B.
But the inconsistencies in Ro's character got a bit annoying after a while. On the one hand, you could (and I did) like him for not being obnoxious despite his privilege, and for his treatment of characters like Mahesh.
On the other hand, his handling of other issues such as the fate of the Latrine (you'll know what I mean if you read the book), or the degree of his aversion to the VB did not seem to fit with what you would expect from somebody who thought about existential issues and spirituality, particularly with respect to Karma.
I felt as though the writer was trying so hard to make him interesting and multifaceted (which he was), that it led to the cramming in of too many mysterious elements and unusual, sometimes contradictory personality traits in one person!
I also felt that the murderer's motivation was not entirely justified or justifiable. It was an interesting idea, though.
The book's real strength lies in the diverse group of characters, many of whom were quite fascinating. And, as it turned out, complicated. The setting was also utilised very effectively. Its portrayal of the rich was a little cliched, also wrt brand name-dropping, but perhaps that was inevitable, given the "global elite" aspect. Still, I thought it was a bit over the top. The ending also felt too abrupt, though I suspect there may be a sequel...
But there were many interesting and insightful little touches in this story. It avoided the stereotypes that many non-resident Asian (or Asian origin) writers are also guilty of offering up to western readers, which I appreciated. And the supporting cast of characters, I must say yet again, was outstanding. So, all in all, worth a read. It gets 3.5 stars, but missed 4 due to Ro's shortcomings, touched upon earlier!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
It took me a while to get into the book, and in the first quarter I was almost beginning to give up hope that it would deliver on the rave reviews by the likes of Lucy Foley. Then things suddenly got interesting, and from that point up to the last 10% of the book, I was fully engaged.
On the plus side, this felt a lot like an Agatha Christie murder mystery set in a world class spa in India. The cast members were all quite fascinating, and brought to life very effectively by the writer. There was a woo-woo element to this story, but it was not the usual exoticisation of India that I expected and dreaded. The Indian characters were in fact very believable and as a person from this region, I don't say that lightly. I have met Mrs B.
But the inconsistencies in Ro's character got a bit annoying after a while. On the one hand, you could (and I did) like him for not being obnoxious despite his privilege, and for his treatment of characters like Mahesh.
On the other hand, his handling of other issues such as the fate of the Latrine (you'll know what I mean if you read the book), or the degree of his aversion to the VB did not seem to fit with what you would expect from somebody who thought about existential issues and spirituality, particularly with respect to Karma.
I felt as though the writer was trying so hard to make him interesting and multifaceted (which he was), that it led to the cramming in of too many mysterious elements and unusual, sometimes contradictory personality traits in one person!
I also felt that the murderer's motivation was not entirely justified or justifiable. It was an interesting idea, though.
The book's real strength lies in the diverse group of characters, many of whom were quite fascinating. And, as it turned out, complicated. The setting was also utilised very effectively. Its portrayal of the rich was a little cliched, also wrt brand name-dropping, but perhaps that was inevitable, given the "global elite" aspect. Still, I thought it was a bit over the top. The ending also felt too abrupt, though I suspect there may be a sequel...
But there were many interesting and insightful little touches in this story. It avoided the stereotypes that many non-resident Asian (or Asian origin) writers are also guilty of offering up to western readers, which I appreciated. And the supporting cast of characters, I must say yet again, was outstanding. So, all in all, worth a read. It gets 3.5 stars, but missed 4 due to Ro's shortcomings, touched upon earlier!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 9, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and to Harper for the ARC of Death in the Air by Ram Murali.
This cover is absolutely gorgeous and immediately drew me in - though my first thought upon seeing it was something more related to the mountains/altitude for death in the air vs the setting in the spa. That was more than fine though, especially with a bit of reflection after finishing the book, and with the comparison of the novel to "Knives Out" meets "The White Lotus" meets "Crazy Rich Asians".
Ro Krishna has just left his job before the holidays and is convinced by some friends of friends to spend Christmas at Samsara, a world-class spa above Rishikesh, India, and the yoga capitol of the world (even the Beatles stayed there for meditation). A few of his friends, and some friends of friends, are also staying there. When, 48-hours into the trip Ro finds the body of one of the guests, a whodunit officially begins as Ro, the hotel owner and another guest work with a detective to internally solve the murder to avoid any bad press. From there the story heads in multiple different directions with multiple different murders piling up and it seems everyone has a motive.
Murali has a great sense of humor and timing - including a Catch-22 esque ending and plenty of cultural commentary on race, class and colonialism that manages to be light/funny while still being damning. He has developed some very interesting characters and placed callbacks and subtle movements and actions carefully to create a compelling mystery. The story is engaging, the setting is very well thought out and described.
Having only just finished the book a few hours ago it's possible I need more time to process all the finer details and story building contained here. I just can't help thinking that some parts of the story have gone a bit over my head. I think I lost some pieces in not understanding the nomenclature and multilingualism of the ultra rich. Perhaps I don't have a strong connection to pendy as Ro has, but there were times I didn't fully understand him as a character and I couldn't fully grasp all the final pieces he was processing or things that were happening to him. Of all of the characters, I think I just wanted to know him better (which may be what he wanted too). This is definitely going to keep me up tonight because even now some scenes are still piecing themselves together as "A-ha" moments.
All in all, this is a great debut novel that infuses today's pop culture/culture with the multi-angled motive lens of Agatha Christie.
This cover is absolutely gorgeous and immediately drew me in - though my first thought upon seeing it was something more related to the mountains/altitude for death in the air vs the setting in the spa. That was more than fine though, especially with a bit of reflection after finishing the book, and with the comparison of the novel to "Knives Out" meets "The White Lotus" meets "Crazy Rich Asians".
Ro Krishna has just left his job before the holidays and is convinced by some friends of friends to spend Christmas at Samsara, a world-class spa above Rishikesh, India, and the yoga capitol of the world (even the Beatles stayed there for meditation). A few of his friends, and some friends of friends, are also staying there. When, 48-hours into the trip Ro finds the body of one of the guests, a whodunit officially begins as Ro, the hotel owner and another guest work with a detective to internally solve the murder to avoid any bad press. From there the story heads in multiple different directions with multiple different murders piling up and it seems everyone has a motive.
Murali has a great sense of humor and timing - including a Catch-22 esque ending and plenty of cultural commentary on race, class and colonialism that manages to be light/funny while still being damning. He has developed some very interesting characters and placed callbacks and subtle movements and actions carefully to create a compelling mystery. The story is engaging, the setting is very well thought out and described.
Having only just finished the book a few hours ago it's possible I need more time to process all the finer details and story building contained here. I just can't help thinking that some parts of the story have gone a bit over my head. I think I lost some pieces in not understanding the nomenclature and multilingualism of the ultra rich. Perhaps I don't have a strong connection to pendy as Ro has, but there were times I didn't fully understand him as a character and I couldn't fully grasp all the final pieces he was processing or things that were happening to him. Of all of the characters, I think I just wanted to know him better (which may be what he wanted too). This is definitely going to keep me up tonight because even now some scenes are still piecing themselves together as "A-ha" moments.
All in all, this is a great debut novel that infuses today's pop culture/culture with the multi-angled motive lens of Agatha Christie.
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