{"product_id":"death-in-the-air-a-novel-isbn-9780063319301","title":"Death in the Air: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A stunning, sophisticated, scalpel-sharp murder mystery. Powerful, fun, and hugely rewarding. Immensely impressive.\"—Chris Whitaker, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWe Begin at the End \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eAll the Colors of the Dark\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Unexpected delights await on every page of Ram Murali’s impressive and captivating debut. Crisp as a gin and tonic and delightfully wicked, this smart, smart novel delivers a sophisticated, subversive murder mystery set in the highest stratosphere of the international idle rich. I had to force myself not to binge it in one night so I could savor it like the rare and exquisite meal that it is.\" —Kevin Kwan, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eCrazy Rich Asians\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe White Lotus \u003c\/i\u003emeets \u003ci\u003eKnives Out \u003c\/i\u003emeets \u003ci\u003eCrazy Rich Asians \u003c\/i\u003ein this devilishly entertaining debut novel: both a sophisticated locked-room mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie, and a provocative literary whodunit for the twenty-first century.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRo Krishna, the American son of Indian parents, is educated at the finest institutions, equally at home in London’s poshest clubs and on the squash court, but unmoored after he is dramatically forced to leave a high-profile job under mysterious circumstances. He decides it’s time to check in for some much-needed R\u0026amp;R at Samsara, a world-class luxury spa for the global cosmopolitan elite nestled in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. A person could be spiritually reborn in a place like this. Even a very rich person.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut a person—or several—could also die there. Samsara is the Sanskrit word for the karmic cycle of death and rebirth, after all. And as it turns out, the colorful cast of characters Ro meets—including a misanthropic politician; an American movie star preparing for his Bollywood crossover debut; a beautiful heiress to a family jewel fortune that barely survived Partition; and a bumbling white yogi inexplicably there to teach meditation—harbors a murderer among them. Maybe more than one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the death toll rises in this thrilling murder mystery, Ro, a lawyer by training and a sleuth by circumstance, becomes embroiled in a vicious world under a gilded surface, where nothing is quite what it seems . . . including Ro himself. \u003ci\u003eDeath in the Air\u003c\/i\u003e is a brilliant, teasing classic whodunit from a remarkable new talent.  \u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e\"[A] clever high-altitude murder mystery. . . . Samsara’s heady blend of decadence and spirituality is deliciously evoked.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A tale of cultural identity; of the difficulty of feeling disconnected from one’s roots after moving to a new country with a different language and customs, and of ultimately finding oneself again . . . . Ro is not only solving the murders of the upper elite, but he is also figuring out who he is and what it means to be an American son of Indian parents. Peppered with dark humour, charm and cleverness, \u003cem\u003eDeath in the Air\u003c\/em\u003e will make you laugh, think, and struggle between bingeing it all in one go or savouring every juicy detail.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eReadings\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“This novel gives me everything I love about a Golden Age whodunnit, brought bang up to date: a gloriously escapist setting (a spa nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas), a cast of overprivileged characters we love to hate (think Bollywood wannabes and heiresses aplenty), and intrigue galore. The world of the book is so richly and fascinatingly evoked that I wanted to luxuriate in it, even as things started to go very wrong indeed. It’s the perfect, escapist summer read with a sting in the tail.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eiNews, \"The five best murder mystery novels of all time, according to Lucy Foley\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Fans of \u003cem\u003eThe White Lotus\u003c\/em\u003e will enjoy this entertaining resort-based murder mystery . . . . An Agatha Christie-style locked-room mystery that threatens a higher body count, and doubles as a wicked satire on the foibles of the ultra-rich. Murali has written a comic crime novel that mixes elements from two popular genres into a colourful and clever detective story, full of memorably eccentric characters.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSydney Morning Herald\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A clever closed-circle whodunit . . . . There's enough originality and atmosphere on offer to keep readers on tenterhooks for Murali's sophomore effort. A nerve-jangling good time.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A disgraced politician, a greedy Hollywood star, and a meditation guru are all part of the sinister underbelly that hides beneath the Samsara, a luxurious spa amidst the Himalayas. Seeking solace after a professional debacle, the protagonist, Ro Krishna finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue and murder. Treading the treacherous terrain, Murali’s debut novel offers a clever and thrilling exploration of identity and deception.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHarper's Bazaar (India)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Murali’s debut is an engaging story in which he skillfully pulls off a compelling tribute to Agatha Christie.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAsian Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"[\u003cem\u003eDeath in the Air\u003c\/em\u003e] seems to be following in the generic footsteps of an Agatha Christie murder mystery but offers a variety of themes and reflections on diasporic life that challenge the conventional detective fiction genre.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIndia Currents\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"An ideal set-up for a \u003cem\u003eWhite Lotus\u003c\/em\u003e\/Agatha Christie-style ‘closed world' mystery mashup. . . . \u003cem\u003eDeath in the Air \u003c\/em\u003eis certainly a page-turner: smart, funny and compelling.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Murali’s sly, knowing, and affectionate take on the foibles of the international jet set is as charming as it is compelling.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCrime Reads\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"If Agatha Christie took a White Lotus trip to an Ayurvedic spa in the Indian Himalayas, she could do no better than Ram Murali’s debut novel—a murder mystery that pays loving homage to the genre while crackling with wicked humor and subversive social satire.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRolling Stone\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Ram Murali's \u003cem\u003eDeath in the Air \u003c\/em\u003eis inspired by Agatha Christie's locked-room formula and James Hilton's \u003cem\u003eLost Horizon\u003c\/em\u003e, but is far better than Christie and Hilton could muster. It's a smart, empathetic, provocative debut novel . . . . \u003cem\u003eDeath in the Air\u003c\/em\u003e is a strong meditation on diaspora, justice, and identity that proves that formula fiction genres can be adapted to do surprisingly good work.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eReviewing the Evidence\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Glamorous, escapist fun. . . . Bollywood with a touch of arsenic on the side.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDaily Mail (London)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A really fun, propulsive, kind of scary, gripping book which I loved. I hope you love it too.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJenna Bush Hager, the Today show\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003eLittered with designer jewellery, accessories and activewear, \u003cem\u003eDeath in the Air\u003c\/em\u003e fizzes with ambition, managing to be both showy and subversive, operating as it does around the axis of Partition . . . . Although it carries many of the hallmarks of an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, what sets \u003cem\u003eDeath in the Air\u003c\/em\u003e apart, leading to its unique conclusion, is its rejection of Western norms of justice and spirituality. The result is a fun, thought-provoking book—a commentary on greed, cultural appropriation and the peculiar malaise of the wealthy—a daring début.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNii Ayikwei Parkes, author of Azúcar and Tail of the Blue Bird\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A warm broth of Golden Age mystery (both Agatha Christie and Richard Osman would be proud), contemporary comedy (think \u003cem\u003eCrazy Rich Asians\u003c\/em\u003e), and some nameless secret ingredient all Ram Murali's own. Evocative, provocative, and very, very fun.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eA.J. Finn\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Unexpected delights await on every page of Ram Murali’s impressive and captivating debut. Crisp as a gin and tonic and delightfully wicked, this smart, smart novel delivers a sophisticated, subversive murder mystery set in the highest stratosphere of the international idle rich. I had to force myself not to binge it in one night so I could savor it like the rare and exquisite meal that it is.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKevin Kwan, New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A fascinating genre mashup for the discerning—and reflective—mystery reader.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An old-fashioned mystery in the model of Agatha Christie . . . . A frothy, fun, truly escapist read—offering perspective on a certain echelon that feels both hyperbolic and cuttingly real at the same time.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVogue (Best of the Year So Far)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eCrazy Rich Asians\u003c\/em\u003e fans will flip for this ironic and delicious debut thriller set among the international jet set at a lush mountain spa in India, where a series of Agatha Christie–style locked-room murders thoroughly disrupts Ro Krishna's much-needed vacation. The fabulous Himalayan venue, perfect puzzle-box plot, charm and intelligence of the protagonist, and a cascade of knowing details about the lives (and jewels) of the ultra-rich make this a world-class escapist read.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOprah Daily\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A stunning, sophisticated, scalpel-sharp murder mystery. Powerful, fun, and hugely rewarding. Immensely impressive.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End and All the Colors of the Dark\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Twisty and absorbing, \u003cem\u003eDeath in the Air\u003c\/em\u003e is a knockout mystery with a dry, dark humor all its own. It has endless glamor in the old sense of the word: as a sinister enchantment, casting a spell.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFlynn Berry, New York Times bestselling author of Under the Harrow and Northern Spy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Glamorous, gripping, absolutely heaps of fun. I loved this.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLucy Foley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List and The Paris Apartment\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Murder most rich. International and humorous at just the right times, \u003cem\u003eDeath in the Air\u003c\/em\u003e will set you soaring, drinking, and guessing all the way to the last page.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRidley Pearson\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A romp of a whodunit, poking fun at the über wealthy whilst calmly meditating on both the horror of Partition and identity in a globalized world. I rattled through it. Ro is a very charming lead character indeed!\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCharlotte Vassell, author of The Other Half\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44890649788645,"sku":"NP9780063319301","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780063319301.jpg?v=1730233765","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/death-in-the-air-a-novel-isbn-9780063319301","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}