Cheating Death

Under orders from New Delhi, Inspector Ghote is sent to look into the theft and sale of exam papers from one of the most deplorable outlying colleges of Bombay University. At first glance all seems straightforward. The chief suspect, Bala Chambhar, has attempted suicide and Principal Bembalkar has admitted leaving his office safe unlocked.

But life is never easy for Ghote and he soon finds himself head-over-heels in the often farcical world of Indian college life with struggles on the Board of Trustees over who should run the college and student protests leading to kidnapping and violence.

Sam Dastor is not the only narrator who can perfectly reproduce the voice and personality of Inspector Ghote, Bombay Crime Branch. In this superb narration Garard Green brings to life, not only Ghote, but all the colorful denizens of a seedy Bombay college: protesting students, inept administrators and "ivory-tower wallahs." Ghote is there to investigate the theft of examination papers and an attempted murder. Unlike mysteries with complicated plots which can be difficult to follow, especially while commuting, this simple story with its leisurely narration offers pure, undemanding pleasure. J.C. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine