Geisha in the Gota Patti-Chetna Keer

Book: Geisha in the Gota Patti (A Gulmohar Suspense Saga #3)
Author: Chetna Keer
Publisher: Readomania

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What if a tea set could lead to a murder?

An exotic global tale of tea as a healer in these times of world strife and wars. When a high tea for former diplomats is hosted in honour of an enigmatic relative from the Orient visiting an old Dilli kothi, what secrets and scary prophesies scrape off, layer by layer, like its crumbling plaster? Death dangles over whose head at the ex-diplomats’ reunion in a posh Delhi Club? What are the ghastly shadows, guile and grey sunset lurking yonder the grand Gulmohar nestled in this ancestral kothi, presided over by a Grande Matriarch? Sareeholic sleuth-on-the-side, book blogger Lollita is back in this destination drama navigating Delhi’s old-world ethos to a Himalayan tea terrain cradling folk wisdoms and ancient secrets. A heartwarming tea tale about love and loss, hope and healing.

The third book in the Gulmohar Saga brings the story close to home where our in-house sleuth has to uncover a tale of treachery that might just implicate someone very close to her. Chetna explores the culture of tea as a background in the book and through the pages, you get to learn the various facets of tea preparation, drinking and its symbolism through the residents of Ekaanth as well as the members of the Book Club in the lush foothills of Kangra. Chetna’s writing is quite interesting with loads of similes and metaphors that add a lot of flavour to her storytelling. She also manages to blend in local cultures, importance of various traditions as well into the story, both local and international while telling this tale. Using various tea-sets and through Bade Beeji’s storytelling, the author sets the tone for the book and the core mystery of the book that Lollita must solve. I liked the fact that the murder-mystery part of the book was short and succinct, but the build up was always there in pieces in each chapter. The author also explores the themes of love and loss as each of the character narrates a part of their live, and how each of them chose hope and healing, when it was easier not to. The climax is well-written and while some readers might call it sudden, I think it was needed to close the story that was brewing through all the sub-plots that we read.

 Coming to the characters, Lollita impresses as always through her sheer deductive skills and the power of observation. Her interactions with the Jaapani Bahu were quite interesting to read, specially considering the climax. Badi Beeji’s storytelling as well as her memory of each of her tea sets was lovely to read, and how that becomes a core aspect of the storyline. The Gulmohar Tree and the Roshandan were the two elements that I really loved. How she uses there 2 mute objects to provide the big picture that everyone involved in the story misses.

Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the series and a definite recommendation from me, specially to lovers of tea and tea sets. The book scores a 4.69/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or a bookstore near you.