Mourning Raga

By Ellis Peters

No case is too strange or too baffling for the policeman George Felse and his son, Dominic. Over 13 instalments and two decades, the Felse Investigations will take them from their home on the Welsh Borders to the southernmost tip of India.

When his girlfriend's beautiful but erratic filmstar mother Chloe calls to ask a favour, Dominic Felse fears the worst. But she makes the couple an offer they can't refuse: an all-expenses-paid trip to India to escort 14-year-old Anjili Kumar, the daughter of Chloe's co-star, to stay with her father while her mother is filming in England.

But Dominic's fears are not unfounded as they soon discover that travelling with the spoilt, precocious Anjili is no sinecure – and the task of delivering her back to her family proves less than easy. Dominic and Theodosia find themselves embroiled in a mystery that swiftly and shockingly becomes a murder investigation. For behind the colourful, smiling mask of India that the tourist sees is another country – remote, mysterious – and often shatteringly brutal...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Head of Zeus
• Release date: Aug 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784972875

Ellis Peters

Ellis Peters (the pen name of Edith Pargeter, 1913–1995) is a writer beloved of millions of readers worldwide and has been widely adapted for radio and television, including her Brother Cadfael crime novels, which were made into a series starring Derek Jacobi. She has been the recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger, Edgar Award for Best Novel, Agatha Award for Best Novel, and was awarded an OBE for her services to literature in 1994.

Reviews for Mourning Raga

[gypsysmom_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another Indian location for a murder and another mystery for Dominic Felse to solve.

[katekf_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an odd book, because while there is a well written mystery within it, the heart of the story is a child coming to know her father's home and learning about the life of the Buddha. Anjli has spent her life with her mother, an American film actress, but is going to live with her father in Dehli, Dominic Felse, the son of Peter's modern day detective ends up helping. His fiancee is also a daughter of a movie actress and so is glad to provide some stability for Anjli on her trip, yet when they get there things aren't as they seem. The mystery itself is a simple one of finding people and isn't terribly complex but Peters uses the story to discuss the life of Buddha and the lessons of his life. I would recommend this book to readers who know Peters but wish to read her take on India and spiritual traditions of another continent.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting twists, as usual. We learn a little more about Tossa, too. People in disguise, sneaky tricks of all sorts - but the oddest thing is how many people immediately feel themselves responsible for Anjli, while she feels quite responsible for herself. And a bit more of the proper care and feeding of the adolescent psyche. I remembered bits, enough not to trust what people said but not enough to know what they really meant. The story of the Buddha was interesting too, though what became of Anjli's father echoed more for me with Kipling. As usual fun to read, but not one of my favorites.