Wrath of Shiva: An Anita Ray Mystery

A vivid look at the culture and landscape of Kerala, South India, more than compensates for the less than compelling crime plot of Oleksiw’s second mystery featuring Indian-American Anita Ray (after 2010’s Under the Eye of Kali). Anita accompanies her auntie, Meena Nayar, owner of Hotel Delite, to the house of Punnu Chelamma, Anita’s great-aunt, after her “cousin-sister,” Surya, fails to arrive as expected. When one of Punnu’s maidservants begins to have trances and predicts that Surya will never arrive, Punnu, called Muttacchi as the respected eldest woman of the Nayar family, orders an exorcist. Worried about her cousin and curious about the exorcist as well as the disappearance of some valuable family antiques, Anita begins an investigation that explores the region’s religion, myths, and legends. Armchair travelers and cozy fans will be satisfied. (June)