The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star

Inspector Chopra (ret’d) is a bit overwhelmed when a Bollywood legend asks him to find her son, an up-and-coming Bollywood actor who has disappeared in the middle of filming the most expensive Bollywood film ever. It soon becomes clear that he has been kidnapped, but by whom - the film producer’s gangster backers, the mysterious Muslim man who might hold a grudge against the legendary star, other actors who are jealous? The list is endless. Meanwhile, Subinspector Rangwalla (ret’d) is given the task of finding out why a recluse is asking Mumbai’s eunuch community to stay at his estate, a job that requires undercover work that makes Rangwalla very uncomfortable….This third book in the Baby Ganesh Detective Agency series is a show more delight, although there are some quite shocking scenes in the midst of its general mildness (especially at a notorious jail). The reader learns a lot about the history of Bollywood, as well as the curious social position of eunuchs who are somewhat tolerated and somewhat feared by the general public; not to mention some sub-plots involving Irfan’s education and, of course, Ganesha the baby elephant being adorable and mischievous; recommended. show less

The more Vaseem Khan's Baby Ganesh Agency mystery series develops, the more assured, complex, and enjoyable it becomes. The three books that have been published so far are doing a wonderful job filling the gap left by Tarquin Hall's excellent Vish Puri series. Khan has even begun featuring Indian cuisine via Chopra's restaurant, although I don't feel strong enough to try even the tiniest nibble of one of the chef's "Rocket Fuel pickles."

The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star showcases culture, humor, strong characters, a hair-raising escape, and two separate investigations. While Chopra looks for the missing movie star, his associate Rangwalla is working on a case for a group of eunuchs. This investigation has a lot to teach show more readers (and Rangwalla) about this group of people in Indian society and how they're treated. It is a strong investigation in its own right.

Chopra's case is complex and sometimes frightening, and it's amazing how a baby elephant can actually have a part to play in all the action and not make the book seem ridiculous-- but Khan pulls it off with panache. He also shows us a bit of the history of Bollywood-- a film industry many times larger than the American Hollywood-- and fascinating tidbits like the relationship Indian families have with their jewelers.

Good story, good setting, good food, and the type of characters that bind all the pieces together. Rangwalla has a large part in the book, and we also see more of the relationship between Chopra and his wife Poppy. One of the things I enjoy most about these books is Khan's uncanny ability to describe a character in one (often hilarious) line. The film legend Bijli Verma is "a vision of immaculate fury in a sari," and Chopra's mother-in-law mans the restaurant's cash register "as though it were a gun turret."

I think I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star. Give it a try. I'll bet you will, too. show less

The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star by Vaseem Kahn is a 2017 Redhook/ Mullholland Books publication.

Zany and thought provoking-

Inspector Chopra and his sidekick, baby elephant Ganesha, find themselves embroiled in the underbelly of the Bollywood film industry when the hottest heartthrob Vikram Verma mysteriously disappears. His famous mother is desperate to locate her son, but instead of going to the police, she hires Chopra.

While Chopra is navigating his way through his investigation, Chopra’s assistant, Rangwalla is investigating a case where eunuchs housed in a slum, overseen by the Queen of Mysore, are being taken to a mansion to engage in various avenues of performance arts over the weekend, then brought back home. show more Something smells fishy and the Queen wants to find out what is really going on.

The title of this book and that eye-popping cover caught my attention, and so on a whim, I checked it out of the library. I did not notice, until after I had finished the book, that is was the third book in a series. Oh well- it reads fine as a stand- alone and I now have a little incentive to check out the first two books of these series.

I really enjoyed the cultural details in this novel, the vibrant descriptions of Mumbai, and the charming baby elephant, Ganesha.

But, despite the obvious cultural differences, the movie industry, whether it is Hollywood or Bollywood, is still just smoke and mirrors, exactly like you’ve always heard. But, despite being a seasoned police officer and private detective, Chopra still experiences some disillusionment as he searches for Vicky.

By stark contrast, the reader is taken to the seamier side, which is a different and very sobering reality check for the reader. Rangwalla’s case is heartbreaking and tragic, and while I loved the redemptive aspects, and the life lessons applied to Chopra’s case, this one made a larger impact on me.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel, which served as a nice escape into another culture, and the mild humor, plus, its use of terms and names I don’t see or hear every day provided me with a chance to learn new words and even prompted me to do a few Google searches and to add a Bollywood film to my Netflix queue, just out of curiosity. So, it was also a learning experience.

I also liked how the author added a moral to the story, which provided the characters a chance to develop and grow. While that may seem a tad cliché, it still worked as a cautionary tale.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give Ganesha at least an honorable mention. The elephant is an unusual pet to adopt, but he was hilarious and added much charm to the story.

The two mysteries included are not violently graphic, but there is an emotional tug from time to time. The language is mild as well, making this a novel that leans a little in the ‘cozy’ direction and is one nearly any mystery lover could get into and enjoy. So, on occasion, following one of my whims pays off!

I will definitely check out the first two books in the series, which I hope will keep me contented until the fourth book is released. show less

Chopra investigates the disappearance at a live performance of a movie star, a presumed kidnapping. His assistant Rangwalla investigates an odd situation for a group of eunuchs hired to attend unusual weekend events at a large home. Chopra's elephant Ganesh comes to his aid more than once. I love this series because the elephant makes it fun even if it is implausible. The dual lines made the novel a little too busy. The author provides enough details in the beginning that those failing to read earlier installments could still appreciate this one. I listened to the audio version, mostly on a long drive.

A very standard cozy mystery, that only kept my interest because of the Indian culture. I found the "baby elephant" Ganesh to be endearing but the fact that his the detective's sidekick stretched my imagination a little too far.

I believe this is the best in the series so far! The characters have really come into their own and the plot was very intricate without being cumbersome. Looking forward to the next installment!

While Chopra works to discover the whereabouts of a kidnapped young Bollywood Brat/Star his partner goes undercover in the Eunuchs' quarter in order to untangle the mystery of the invisible Master who pays for the girls to dance, sing & entertain for 3 days at a time, as he remains invisible.

The kidnapping part was boring, I certainly disliked the characters, even at the end during the grand revelation.

However, the part about the history of the Eunuchs & their life in Mumbai was very interesting, which earned the book a 2nd star.

Again I skimmed most of the narrative in order to get to the dialog & action portions of the book.