Murder Under a Red Moon is an interesting second book in the Bangalore Detective Series. My first impression was the clear improvement in both the story buildup as well as the writing. Since both the books are set during the colonial period and that too in Bengaluru, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them. Our protagonist is a young woman who is newly married to a kind hearted doctor and is still getting used to her mother-in-law‘s volatile nature. Kaveri is a curious woman who always has an itch to learn more, to figure out things and also to solve mathematical equations. Set just a few months after her first case, Murder Under a Red Moon is a good sequel.

Kaveri’ mother-in-law requests her to look into an embezzlement case of her closest cousin. Surprised by Bhargavi’s request, a woman who usually isn’t appreciative of her detective work, Kaveri agrees to look into the case. Shanthi, wife of the owner of Sampangi Mills is worried that someone is smudging their accounting books and is causing loss. When she approaches Kaveri along with her sullen looking stepdaughter, Kaveri’s mind starts whirring, trying to gauge these characters. Quickly, this simple financial issue leads to a murder and Kaveri finds herself being pulled into the very heart of it.

Rest of the book gives a detailed explanation of how she resolves the murder. Harini’s strength is in building a captivating story to support her characters. While the actual suspense itself is quite predictable, you still wouldn’t mind reading further because of her writing flair. I enjoy reading about Kaveri’s little quirks and the relationship she shares with her husband. Both her books are strongly women oriented and this is something that I truly appreciate.

Murder Under a Red Moon may not be a gripping thriller but it definitely makes a light and entertaining read. Thanks for the copy @hachette_india