The India Exhibition: A Mystery at the Smithsonian

In this delightful debut, Conroy mixes greed with Washington bureaucracy and slapstick. On loan from the State Department, Henry Scruggs is serving as head of the Smithsonian Institution's foreign affairs office. He agrees to the proposal of India's cultural attache, Bhagat Gupta, that the museum mount an exhibition on the life of K. V. Chandra, who ``provided much of the philosophical bedrock upon which Gandhi later built.'' Enter Violet Strauss, who designs exhibits for the Smithsonian and has ``a feel for things Indian,'' says Gupta. But Violet, who soon persuades Henry to move in with her, has an even stronger ``feel'' for sex and drugs. Sent to India to photograph Chandra's locale, Violet sends back superb photos and a request for $10 million in federal insurance for a gold-and-ruby statue of Chandra for the exhibition. The statue, seven feet high and 1100 pounds, proves stunning; but it is discovered missing from the exhibit hall on opening day. Also missing is Violet; then Gupta disappears and Henry is left on his own to solve the mystery and save his career. Conroy delivers wit, humor, clearly drawn characters and a clever, if slightly implausible, resolution. (Aug.)