LS081 Murder, They Read: "The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra", by Vaseem Khan

On his last day before forced retirement, Mumbai police inspector Ashwin Chopra faces two surprises: the suspicious death of a young man dismissed as accidental, and the arrival of an unusual gift—a baby elephant named Ganesha from an uncle he barely knew. Unwilling to let the drowning case go, Chopra begins an unofficial investigation, venturing from Mumbai’s wealthy enclaves to its poorest slums. Along the way, he navigates corruption, political intimidation, and domestic tensions, with his spirited wife Poppy questioning his secrecy.

Ganesha, more perceptive than expected, becomes a quietly indispensable ally—sometimes in ways that baffle Chopra himself. Together, man and elephant untangle the truth behind the boy’s death, confronting the city’s underbelly while offering flashes of humor and warmth. The novel blends classic mystery with vivid evocation of Mumbai life, launching a detective duo whose bond is as unusual as it is endearing.

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