The Mumbai School for Murder by Meeti Shroff-ShahMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Hooter: Old-school whodunit soap opera style
The Mumbai School for Murder is the third book in Meeti Shroff-Shah's series, but my first. Read as a standalone, it works well enough, though I suspect that's also why the mystery felt more familiar than surprising.
The setup is engaging at a prestigious Mumbai school, simmering rivalries between students, parents and faculty, and a murder that pulls everyone into the spotlight. The investigation throws in enough diversions to keep you guessing: suspicious teachers, ambitious parents, old grudges and conveniently timed secrets all take turns looking guilty. These wild goose chases do their job, but they never quite managed to shake my expectation of where the story was headed.
That's not to say the journey is dull. The school ecosystem feels authentic, especially the politics around reputation, admissions, PTA dynamics and the pressure-cooker environment that surrounds elite institutions. If you've ever attended a school annual day where every parent behaved like a campaign manager, some scenes will raise a knowing smile.
Perhaps readers who've followed the earlier books will appreciate recurring characters and relationships that add more depth. Coming in fresh, I found the central mystery competent but a little too predictable, with the final reveal landing closer to "as expected" than "I didn't see that coming."
An enjoyable weekend read if you like light, contemporary Indian murder mysteries but don't expect the ending to graduate at the top of its class.
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