The White Lotus meets Knives Out meets Crazy Rich Asians in this devilishly entertaining debut novel.
Welcome to Samsara, a world-class spa nestled in the Indian Himalayas where all your wishes are only a gilded notecard away. Ro Krishna has just checked in. With his rakish charm, Oxford education, and perfect hair, he had it all – well, until he left his job under mysterious circumstances. It was super hectic, and Ro decides it’s time for some much-needed R&R. At Samsara, he’s free to explore the innumerable yoga classes, wellness treatments and guided meditation sessions on offer alongside the rest of the exclusive hotel’s guests.
Until one of the guests – gorgeous, charismatic, well-connected, like most of them – is found dead. As everyone scrambles to figure out what happened, Ro is pulled into an investigation that endangers them all and threatens to spiral beyond the hotel walls. Because it turns out it’s not just heiresses and Bollywood stars-to-be that have checked in: cocktail hour is over, and death is on the prowl . . .
Bursting with wit, glamour and smarts, Death in the Air is a murder mystery like no other: at once a love letter to Agatha Christie and a razor-sharp exploration of colonialism and class.
Buy a copy of Death in the Air here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
This is a great read! A very enjoyable mystery in a unique setting combining old and new in a fantastic blend. Shannan, NSW, 5 stars
Devilishly intoxicating and full of mystery. It’s spellbinding! Set in the mountains of India, the novel takes you on a journey of Indian culture, meditation rituals with a killing spree on the side. The characters are exotic, and hold some secret pasts. I found it intriguing with its twists and turns and the discovery of the meaning behind the title, which gets a small airing in the novel. Very descriptive and conversational in text. Vital reading if you love a good murder mystery. Sharon, QLD, 5 stars
What a great gem! I must admit I was a bit overwhelmed by the ostentatiousness of the people and their belongings/lifestyles to belong with but soon learned that this thread was an important one. This theme flowed throughout the story, albeit with good humour and lightheartedness. The central character, Ro, was intriguing and well-constructed. The other important characters, Amrita, Mrs. B, and Catherine were a veritable mix of personalities, professions and we mustn’t forget the Inspector Singh too. The backstory of the characters and how they all came to be at Samsara is important to understand the climatic final pages. The setting at the foothills of the Himalayas, Samsara retreat was fabulous, a haven for the rich and famous to hideaway and recharge. It sounded eerie at times as guests meandered through the paths then ramped up to classy and refined in the dining area. I found this a fun and entertaining mystery to delve into. It had intrigue, glamour, twists and even a dash of fun. My husband thoroughly enjoyed it too! Will be recommending it to my reader friends in need of a fun mystery to loose themselves in. Gillian, QLD, 5 stars
Death in the Air by Ram Murali was such an enjoyable read – right from the first page through to the last. Its characters are rich and beautiful and was a pure joy to delve into their psyche – but pay attention as you go, take mental notes and see if you can connect the dots. I didn’t. Co-existing with the tapestry of characters are equally lush and magnificent settings – twisting and weaving their way into the plot – it’s an inter-continental adventure. This magnificent book does have it all and it’s just waiting to be discovered by you – so get to it with my highest recommendations. Cathy, QLD, 5 stars
A whodunnit with a cultural twist, I couldn’t put this down! Atmospheric and at times funny, thoroughly enjoyable Rach, QLD, 5 stars
What a ride, one of the best books I have read in a while. Absolutely can’t wait for Ram to write His next gripping tale. Deanne, VIC, 5 stars
Death In The Air is an example of going against the grain. This is a fun ride, very different to others, which is important and what sets it apart from its contemporaries. Added the beautiful imagery and completely original characters who are complex and a little nutty this makes for a weirdly readable, fun and unique read. Suzanne, NSW, 5 stars
Strangely implausible, but acceptably funny, this totally unique book pushed welcomed boundaries as a completely funny gem. Well written and pushing boundaries this was a cleverly written and well plotted locked room mystery. Well to do folks in lavish surrounds, this was a fun peek into how others live. This is what fiction is designed for. A wild romp allowing the reader to suspend belief and put on their judgmental hats at some of the well-drawn characters. Well done! Suzanne, NSW, 5 stars
The murder mystery story is set in a world-class spa in Samsara, India over Christmas and New Year. I enjoyed reading the book because it was fun, mysterious, and glamorous. It’s hard for me to guess who was responsible for the chaos. I also learned that the Beatles went to Rishikesh (the yoga capital of the world) to study meditation. Ro, with a lawyer background, decided to spend his Christmas time in India for an Ayurvedic thing. Shockingly, one of the guests was murdered, so Ro is involved in the investigation. When the death toll rises, everyone seems to be in danger including Ro himself. Would he be able to solve the mystery and escape from danger? Margaret, NSW, 5 stars
Death in the Air is a who dun it that begins with a group of very rich acquaintances meeting up at a spa retreat in Indian Himalayas. As the death toll rises suspicions fall on each other. Ro, a Londoner of Indian ancestry is the central character comes to suspects his new friends – who can he trust, why is he there? Nothing is as it seems and comes to be revealed in final chapters. Krystine, VIC, 4 stars
Ram Murali’s Death in the Air is filled with as many twists and turns as an Agatha Christie novel. The story follows Ro Krishna, who has found himself at a crossroads. No stranger to finer things Ro feels dejected and adrift when he is forced to leave his high-profile job under a cloud of mystery. He soon makes the acquaintance of a beautiful heiress who suggests he take some R&R at Samsara, a world-class spa located in the foothills of the Himalayas. Knowing the spa as a popular place among the elite and with the urging of his friends, Ro decides a trip to his native homeland might help him gain some much-needed perspective. It would also be the perfect place for some self-reflection. Not long after arriving Ro finds himself embroiled in a murder investigation when he is engaged as the spa’s lawyer. Soon the bodies start piling up. Set in a place that is supposed to help you relax and find inner peace, the juxtaposition of worry and restlessness felt by Ro while investigating with these deaths is a fantastic foil. Death in the Air will keep you guessing right up to the last page. Jamye, VIC, 4 stars
Death In the Air was unexpectedly intriguing and well worth a read. Ro Krishna is forced to leave his high-profile job under difficult circumstances and decides to take a break at Samsara, a luxury spa resort in the Indian Himalayas. When a wealthy client is murdered, Ro, a lawyer by training, gets dragged in to the investigation to represent the owners of the spa. I started this novel with a high degree of trepidation, I am not a big fan of wealthy characters, and I find them difficult to relate to. Death in the Air started slowly in this vein and after several lengthy descriptions of designer clothing and jewellery I was wondering what I had got myself into. However, I am a big fan of locked room mysteries and once Ro arrived at Samsara, the novel began to feel like a dark, slightly offbeat Agatha Christie mystery. Once the murders started, the pace picked up and I was hooked! I couldn’t help but like Ro- although his inconsistency also frustrated me- and the many suspects were complex enough to keep me guessing. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting until the end. A terrific mystery. Debbie, NSW, 4 stars
Good fast paced easy read with some surprising twists! Some great fun and interesting characters, different to what you normally read. Kristen, NSW, 4 stars
The story whisks you into a world of people who have endless money, jewels and riches in life. As you start to try and get your head around how they have all ended up so fortunate and dive into their lives things start to unravel. The murders happened a contained site of the resort leading to a classic whodunnit style of story. As you look into the lives of each of the characters there are endless flaws and possibilities. The twist at the end brings it all nicely back together to wrap it up neatly. Tina, QLD, 4 stars
Death In The Air is a murder mystery full of glitz, glamour and twists and turns. It is set in a spa for the rich and famous called Samsara. It made me think about class while I was trying to solve the murders. I enjoyed the style of writing. This was a great read with a twist right at the end! KJ, QLD, 4 stars
A gripping locked room mystery novel. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the lives of the very wealthy. In the beginning of the novel we are taken to a number of stunning locations around the world- Bermuda, Paris and London as we get to know our main protagonist, ex- lawyer, soon to be amateur detective Ro, his amazing hair, and all this friends. Pretty much all of were quite unlikeable! The rest of the novel takes place over a ten day period during Christmas and New Years Day in an exclusive yoga retreat Samsara in India. It was fun to see the day-to -day life in the retreat, complete with yoga, meditation, steam treatments and communication between characters with notes on luxurious stationary. Despite the slow burn start and the unlikeable cast, I was completely engaged in the story and keen to see how things played out. Murali drops hints and clues to things to come the whole way through. I found myself trying to guess who the murder victims could be, falling for red herrings and then trying to guess the identity of the murderer. I certainly didn’t pick the ending and enjoyed that the action kept going right up until the last page. Now that Ro is at a bit of a loose end, I’m hopeful to see him back with another mystery to solve soon. Kirsten, ACT, 4 stars
Ro Krishna, a young man born in the US of Indian parents, is well-educated, stylish, cool, well-connected and very rich. His career has recently been sabotaged by a manipulating boss who passes off his work as her own. To recover his calm and find a new direction, Ro heads off to a luxury spa in India, where he meets or reconnects with a cast of interesting characters – all rich and cool but each with their own stories and secrets. Then the murders begin! Everyone is a suspect. I found the story difficult to engage with initially. It was hard to warm to the unlikable, entitled, characters, including Ro. Nevertheless, I persisted and became engrossed in solving the murder mystery. The plot is complex with lots of hints, twists and clues. I wasn’t entirely convinced by the ending, nor did I understand the meaning of all the clues (or the significance of the pendulum). One message that did come through loud and clear: Justice and Karma are not the same. In short – it is intriguing and thought provoking, but you need to persist. Susan, VIC, 4 stars
Ram Murali’s entertaining whodunit touches on class divides, cultural appropriation, the relentless spectre of colonialism and lifestyles of the elite. Of course greed pervades everything and the young “entitled” lawyer finds himself negotiating his way and place in the world as well as solving more than one murder. Set in a luxurious spa in the Indian Himalayas I imagine it won’t be long before this is made into an entertaining and easily digestible TV series or film that ticks all the boxes. H Hyatt-Johnston, NSW, 4 stars
Death in the Air by debut author Ram Murali is a fabulous cosy crime reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel! Set at the foothills of the stunning Himalayas , Samsara is a retreat for the very rich indulged clientele , one being our protagonist Ro Krishna. Such a peaceful spa resort and then a body is found and the pace quickens with lots of twists and surprises along the way. Love all the quirky characters, descriptive setting and unexpected ending. An enjoyable easy read! Ilona, VIC, 4 stars
A really interesting story, but I found the way it was written very distracting. I think the narrative and language would work well as an audio book or turned into a TV series, I found it hard to keep going. Kelly, VIC, 3 stars
A fun holiday read. As long as you’re not holidaying at health spa. If you love crazy rich Asian’s and a murder mystery then this is a book for you. This will keep you guessing to the last page. Natalie, WA, 3 stars
This is a slow burn. I would say it was enjoyable but there seemed to be a bit too much detail in some sections but not enough in others (mainly the ending)… It took me far too long to get through a standard size book. There was a bit going on throughout the whole book… A large number of characters, locations and countries and at times, was difficult to keep up. There are also numerous cultural references which are most of the time explained within the text, and some French passages, which I had to bypass as I don’t speak French. Ultimately it was a good read but I wanted it to be great. Melissa, QLD, 3 stars
Everything and everyone are not as it seems. So many hidden agendas and unravelling the truth could be baffling at times. Ro Krishna born in America to Indian Parents who escaped from India during the Partition. Highly educated and he had a high-profile job that he was forced to leave. He heads to Samsara for some much-needed R and R at the foothills of India. It is here with some friends that there are murders happening all around him, and as the death toll rises Ro, a lawyer by training represents Samsara in the investigation. I found this book to be all jumbled at the beginning with so many characters being introduced and wasn’t making much sense until Ro arrived at Paris. Otherwise, it was an okay read. Annette, NSW, 3 stars
It is said that “ Knives Out meets Crazy Rich Asians in this entertaining and witty whodunnit where murder has never been so glamorous.” That pretty much sums it up. All the characters are very rich, but for me, I wasn’t keen on any of them. It’s a bit Agatha Christie visits a Spa in India for the exclusive use of the rich and famous Asians. It was an interesting read in that it is so different, but I think it would make a better movie than a it has a printed book. Liesl, NSW, 3 stars
This interesting mystery genre novel finds a young Indian American man playing detective after a murder occurs while he’s on vacation. Ro Krishna is our detective – an educated, affluent, jet-setter – who has found himself on vacation at the luxury spa, Samsara, in India after being forced out of his job under a cloud of mystery. When a guest at the spa is murdered, Ro finds himself helping the local inspector, the hotel’s owner, along with a CIA agent to solve the crime. The relationships formed between the myriad of guests at the spa creates the foundation for the psychological intrigue of the mystery. The narrative flows due to the interactions within the different pairs and groups as the storyline takes some well-timed twists. Light-hearted jokes are scattered throughout the story but with real heart woven in as we often find Ro dealing with grief. Though he often claims to feel alone, Ro’s at-ease relationships with the rest of the characters creates sympathy and humour. A wonderful narrative to please every lover of mysteries! Nicole, QLD, 3 stars
Death In The Air by Ram Murali has so many twists and turns as the mystery unfolds. Certainly an ending I didn’t see coming. Sheree, NSW, 3 stars
A regular Agatha Christie with a Poirot twist! This book was an enjoyable read and was quite surprising at the end. The story in itself was a great mystery with some self discovery along the way with a lot of new age melded in along the way. I loved the use of ‘Pendy’ – it was quite strange, but an interesting twist. I loved the way the author was able to bring in some humour into the serious context of a murder investigation. However, I thought that the narrative did get bogged down at times and was a bit convoluted with the amount of characters and sometimes inane conversations that didn’t really add anything to the story. Sarah, TAS, 3 stars
A cosy murder mystery set in a health retreat in India. A collection of funny characters and fans of Agatha Christie’s books will love this one! 3 out of 5 stars for me! Jacinda, NSW, 3 stars
So Ram Murali’s – Death in the Air, almost lost me after the first few chapters, with the characters being pretentious entitled rich folks. I thought, where is this story going with these guys, but preserved. I was pleasantly surprised by the change of pace once the story got going so unravelling the mystery of how the death of a woman at an exclusive Indian retreat, way up in the mountains, could have actually happen. Ro, a lawyer, who was recommended to Samsara, stumbles into the role of sleuth as he soon finds out, nothings is as it seems and could all that has happened, just karma ! An easy read and great for those who love a good murder mystery. Suzie, WA, 3 stars
Who knew such a glamorous (and murderous) experience could be had at the spa Samsara! Lots of rich people behaving weirdly, this was a fun and enjoyable read. Kate, QLD, 3 stars
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this one before. It’s pretty quirky! Big personalities, high glamour and mysterious goings on which will surely appeal to fans of Agatha Christie and Indian culture. A little too bizarre for me and I was unable to connect with any of the characters, but I know there’ll be an audience that will enjoy the fun and craziness of this story. E, QLD, 2 stars
“Death in the Air” by Ram Murali intrigued me with its premise, and despite a slow start, I was drawn in once the mystery began to unfold. The setting of the spa in the Indian Himalayas was vividly portrayed, and the mix of characters added depth to the story. The plot kept me guessing, which I appreciated. However, I struggled with the characters as I found it difficult to connect with or sympathize with any of them. By the end, there was little redemption, leaving me unsure of some character arcs. The descriptive writing, while rich in detail, occasionally became overwhelming, especially with the focus on brand names and jewellery. I wasn’t sure if this was intentional to highlight certain characters’ traits or to immerse the reader, but it detracted from the overall experience for me. In conclusion, while I did enjoy the story and found it engaging, I don’t think it quite lives up to comparisons of other similar books and movies. The book delivers on its premise, but there were aspects that left me questioning if it was setting up for a sequel or simply overdoing certain elements. Personally, I would prefer other books and would recommend a pass on this one. Shrek, NSW, 2 stars
Loved the variety of characters and how the author wrote about them but I really struggle to get into this book. Wasn’t a favourite of mine Rebecca, QLD, 2 stars
Unfortunately this book didn’t live up to it’s write up, a lot of potential but didn’t quite get there. Sue, WA, 2 stars
A slow burn that built to a murder mystery set amongst an over indulged and idle rich set. While captivating in parts, the story failed to maintain momentum, and was overloaded with tedious detail. Overall, a hard novel to read and finish. Geoff, WA, 1 star
This is a stylish and cleverly written novel. However I found the majority of characters unreachable. The privilege enjoyed by Ro and those in his social circle gave them a level of superficiality that resulted in me not caring much about what happened to any of them. I found anomalies in the language used at different points in the novel. Do people aged around 40 really describe others’ outfits as ‘sick’? And when one of the female characters shared that her husband had had affairs, Ro’s response was ‘My my’. Perhaps this response would have been more fitting if uttered by Ro’s great-grandmother. I did not find this novel either ‘gripping’ or ‘heaps of fun’. Joanne, QLD, 1 star
Buy a copy of Death in the Air here.
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