by Sarah Erwin

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

A Nest of Vipers is book three in Harini Nagendra’s Bangalore Detectives Club mystery series and can easily be read as a standalone. (Although I’ll admit that I have already downloaded book one, The Bangalore Detective Club, from the library because I enjoyed this entry so much that I want to get caught up!)

It’s January 1922 in Bangalore and the city is preparing for a visit by Edward, Prince of Wales. In previous visits to India in 1921 there have been rumblings and demonstrations demanding independence from Britain. Tensions are high in Bangalore and police work to keep trouble at bay.

Kaveri and her husband are given free tickets to a local circus and the headliner is a well-known magician who asks to meet Kaveri, “the famous lady detective,” before the performance. He expresses interest in Kaveri’s help, but Kaveri is called to her seat, unsure of what assistance he may need.

During the magician’s final act, a gang of masked men surges through the crowd, robbing the people in the front rows. The magician disappears, leaving his son behind. In the confusion of the audience trying to escape the robbers, Kaveri, Ramu and Anandi stumble upon the body of Anandi’s brutal ex husband. Anandi is believed to be the murderer, and Kaveri knows she must prove Anandi’s innocence. Kaveri is then approached by the magician’s son who is desperate to find his father. Kaveri’s caseload is suddenly very full.

This is a true adventure story that is full of twists and turns, and Kaveri is never sure who she can trust. The more clues she uncovers, the more she realizes that bigger, more sinister plans are at work. I was anxious for Kaveri’s safety as she bravely dove headfirst into situations, determined to root out injustice and uncover the truth.

I found the vocabulary list and historical notes at the back of the book fascinating and was so interested to learn about the tension between the British and the Indian people. I am glad I could hear the story from Kaveri’s point of view as well as her friends. The characters are wonderful in this story, and I especially enjoyed Kaveri’s relationship with Ramu. I love that they worked to solve the mysteries together.

In addition to the solid mystery and storytelling, I adored the descriptions of the setting. I felt immersed in life in Bangalore in the way that the author described the sights, sounds and tastes. I was truly transported. Fans of strong female detectives like Stella in Clara McKenna’s historical Stella and Lyndy Mysteries will enjoy this!

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of A Nest of Vipers, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “vipers” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 15, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.