The Cosmic Clues

By Manjiri Prabhu

Book Overview

Sonia Samarth couldn't have predicted it--after only a day, her first advertisement had drawn dozens of responses. In the bustling city of Pune, India, with its winding alleys and exotic customs,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440241723
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Dell
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.0" x 1.0" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Asian mystery novel by writer from India

One of my favorite genres for fiction reading is mysteries. I never read for pleasure as a child. I liked playing with toys indoors or running, jumping, swinging, climbing, creating, and exploring outdoors instead. I began my fiction reading for pleasure as a teenager and I started it with mystery novels. I have my local public library to thank for my love of mystery novels: some industrious librarian printed up a hand-out of recommended mystery novelists on a book mark. Due to that book mark I started with a very broad exposure to all types of mystery writers and continued by myself long after I finished reading novels and stories by the writers on the list. The one limit on my reading has been that the mysteries must have been published in English and available in the bookstores in the United States. I mentioned the above because I find this novel, "The Cosmic Clues", to be unique in my experience of reading mystery writers. I have read mysteries with asian detectives before but never one written by someone native to and living in Asia (India). So "The Cosmic Clues" is something very new for US readers: a book about an Indian detective (private investigator) written completely from the point of view of a native of India. This is the East, not a westernized version of it. The novel contains a series of mysteries solved by the heroine, using her powers of deduction and observation along with her knowledge of Vedic Astrology (which is not the same as the Astrology familiar to most US citizens). The heroine, Sonia, is a modern fiesty young woman with a young male assistant, Jatin, who also has a modern point of view regarding his female boss. Both Sonia and Jatin are well drawn characters. Another star of the novel is the cat Nidhi. If Nidhi was real, I would run right out and adopt her! The mysteries solved are not terribly complex or baffling. What is outstanding about this novel is the setting, the language, and the cultural differences that would never be used in a mystery novel set in India written by a non-Indian. The author gives us a very thorough exposure to everyday life in modern India. One immediately notices that the language in the novel, the sentence construction, the usage of verbs, and the capitalization of certain nouns are all quite different than what would be found in something written by a US or UK mystery writer or even a mystery novel translated into English. The language, though English, is a very different flavor of English than Europeans and Americans are used to. The descriptions of Pune are alluring. We learn about vehicles, traffic patterns and streets in Pune, housing in the various neighborhoods in the Pune area and tourist attractions in Pune. The author's words build in our mind a full and colorful picture of Pune. The author's novel includes descriptions of dress/costume in India (both traditional and modern)and descriptions of furnishings in offices and homes. One mystery solved involves a traditional

The Stars Incline, They Do Not Compell

Sonia Samarth has set up her detective agency in Pune, India, using the principles of astrology to give her insights into the characters of her suspects. Even in an India where most everyone has had their birth chart done, people are skeptical of Sonia's use of astrology to solve crimes. It takes some time, as well as several successful cases, before she can show that her methods work. I enjoyed the old Agatha Christie format of a main plot with smaller mysteries solved in each couple of chapters as the book moves along. The horoscopes used in Sonia's method are set up differently than the circular charts to which I am accustomed, but by the end of the book, I could follow her square charts with numbers for the astrological signs, and the ascendant at the top of the chart, pretty well. All in all, an enjoyable read. The customs and locales may be exotic, but people are people, and crime is crime, the world around. Besides, you have to like Sonia's attitude and her willingness to act on her beliefs.

From My Point Of View...

This book is truly fascinating as it opens the doors to the world about Hindu astrology. It is also based in a place where not many people visit as tourists which makes the reader to know more about the place itself. I loved this book and would like to recoment to anyone who would like a decent novel.

A Fascinating Mystery after a long time!

THE COSMIC CLUES is a really unique combination of brain-racking mysteries and plots, well-developed characters, humour and a fantastic setting! Not to miss the dash of romance underlying the whole book, neatly tied together with a cat and 'The Owl'! A must-read for all, not only "mystery mongers" but readers of all kinds. I look forward to reading next books in the Cosmic Series. Brent, UK.

one of a kind crime solver

In Pune, India, the owner and chief investigator of Stellar Investigations Sonia Someth has a unique way of handling her client's problems; a master of Verdic Astrology, Sonia applies horoscope readings of her customers and others involved in her cases to supplement the more common investigative techniques. No one takes Sonia seriously until she ferrets out a killer and prevents homicides from taking place. The police respect her skills and call her for help. Freelance TV journalist Mohnish, who also owns a garage, a photo studio, and a flower shop, learns of Sonia's abilities. He is a mysterious figure who appears and disappears from her life without explanation. Sonia believes he is her secret admirer who keeps sending her bouquets until she realizes a legendary jewel thief has taken a special interest in her, a person who was a client she thought quite attractive. THE COSMIC CLUES is a one of a kind novel that readers will find charmingly original. The use of the Hindu horoscope as a tool to aid in solving crimes comes across as reasonable and plausible. The heroine grows in stature with each case she solves so by the end of the book readers will accept her as a first class private investigator. Her relationship with Mohnish develops into a friendship that hints at future romance as well as the Cat fixated on Sonia showing up in subsequent tales. Though a table setter story line, this is still a fine refreshing novel. Harriet Klausner