INSPECTOR GHOTE'S FIRST CASE

H.R.F. Keating's book makes for entrancing audio, as most of the story is told through the indecisive monologue of the delightful Inspector Ghote, who is perfectly evoked by Sam Dastor. Poor Ghote cannot do anything without thinking through every possible ramification and fretting over what is the "correct" thing to do in the early days of postcolonial India. Ghote is battling with ex-pat Brits over the death of an Englishwoman, which they would have him believe was suicide. Dastor aptly contrasts Ghote’s singsong intonation with the crisp delivery of the Brits. Keating's comic use of broken Indian English may grate a little on the modern ear, but his books have been warmly received in India, and there is little doubting the benignity of his writing. C.A.T. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]