Death in the Air by Ram Murali works because the charm and humor of its main character allow any shortcomings to be forgiven.
In this whodunit which reflects the clear influence of Agatha Christie (who has a work of the same name), the generationally wealthy Ro Krishna is licking his wounds from having accepted a settlement agreement and a career setback caused by a racist boss. (“Can you describe her in five words or less?” “A latrine with a face,” Ro responded, counting on his fingers).
To re-center, Ro heads to Samsara, a Himalayan spa where the Beatles studied meditation (which is mentioned four times). This sets the stage for the murder of one of the guests, after which Ro–a family friend of Samsara’s owners and a trained attorney–is engaged to assist with the investigation while keeping the incident under wraps.
This read is a slow burn, with this initial murder happening relatively deep into the novel and remainders coming far later. Rather, the initial focus is on the development of Ro as a character and his journey to Samsara, which many may enjoy but others may find slightly tedious.
The author may have been aware of this latter possibility, based on teasers planted very early on:
He began to calm down. He would soon be mixed up in five murders, maybe more.
Death hadn’t arrived at Samsara just yet. He was planning to check in tomorrow.
In other words, “Don’t stop reading! People will die soon! ON IT.”
Early body count or not, this book is worth reading, largely because of Ro, our main character. He’s fun, with the candidness of a child. (“I guess it just means that I don’t like your face,” when asked why he won’t help another guest). Other characters are also a joy to read, including Mrs. B, the resort’s owner, and Catherine, a movie star’s wife and member of U.S. intelligence. These three are the team investigating the murder on the premises, and their reactions to the other guests and each other turn the pages despite any lulls in action.
As a side comment, Ro’s sexuality was also something of an accidental mystery. While there’s the mention of an ex-partner named Charlotte, Ro can accurately identify jewelry and fashion brands at a glance. (This made me think of the scene in Legally Blonde where Elle outs the pool boy when he disses her “last season Prada shoes” by asking Warner to describe the shoes she’s wearing: “Um . . . brown?”). Ro is in his late thirties and single, but he does not explore his ambitions in personal relationships while meditating at Samsara.
If you’re a reader looking for some rollicky, twisty thriller, that’s not Death in the Air. It is, however, a fine modern twist on our beloved Agatha Christie novels with a memorable main character.
Sarah Reida is a writer of dark comedy thrillers. Her Kirkus-starred adult debut, Neighborhood Watch, is Desperate Housewives meets Agatha Christie, and it was recently honored as an Amazon editorial pick as one of the Best Books of the Year So Far 2024. If you’re interested in reading a locked room thriller (i.e., a neighborhood) about terrible people getting murdered, click here. And join Sarah’s elite group of Instagram followers here.
