Breaking and Entering

Rating:
Summary: Another brilliant novel from a true master
Review: I had been eagerly anticipating the new HRF Keating novel as i had so greatly enjoyed his last masterpeice,luckily all my hopes were fulfilled. I took this book on my holiday with me and found i hardly had time to do all the sightseeing etc. that i had hoped to do,as i was so utterly engrossed in my book!It was packed full of thrills and suprises and i feel more a part of the world he writes about with every book i read!Breaking and Entering will definately be on my list of gifts to give to friends,it's marvellous!

Rating:
Summary: An interesting take on police science in India
Review: Inspector Ganesh Ghote is assigned Bombay's second most important case. While the rest of the elite Crime Bureau pursues the murder of one of Bombay's influential and well-protected millionaires, Ghote is supposed to track a mysterious jewel thief. This thief climbs high buildings, entering through open windows, and steals only a single item--always the most expensive and precious. Unfortunately, the police have already investigated and Ghote is stuck with looking into aging evidence and interviewing the rich and influential women whose jewels were stolen.

To Ghote's consternation, he runs into Swede Axel Svensson, formerly with UNESCO and now a tourist in India who insists on being included in Ghote's work. While the huge European provides strong backup, he can also be counted on to wallow through the sensibilities of the upper class victims of the burgular.

Author H. R. F. Keating offers an interesting look into policework in India. Ghote seems to be a different person when he deals with the wealthy and influential, and when he meets with their servants and the lower classes. Svensson is alternately disappointed by Ghote's reluctance to press his rich witnesses, and shocked by his harsh treatment of the lower classes.

The relationship between the two men is odd and somewhat disturbing. Ghote seems to hold Svensson in contempt, growing angry with the Swede's repeated failures to correctly pronounce Indian names and susceptability to Indian beggars, yet repeatedly calling on Svensson for aid. Svennson thinks of Ghote as his friend despite the way Ghote mistreates him.