A review by doreeny
The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing by Tarquin Hall

In this second Vish Puri mystery, the detective assists a police inspector investigate the death of Dr. Jha, a scientist whose life mission was to debunk fraudulent gurus claiming to have magical powers. Dr. Jha was apparently killed by an apparition of the Hindu goddess Kali at a Laughing Club meeting, but Puri suspects the mastermind is Maharaj Swami, a self-proclaimed holy man whom Dr. Jha had been working to expose as a con-man. Swami has friends in high places in government, so Puri's investigation encounters obstacles which require a great deal of ingenuity on the part of both Puri and his operatives to overcome.

The book is a good read; it describes both the beauty and the ugliness of India, and includes astute detective work and comical situations.