The best novel I had read set in contemporary India (until I discovered Shantaram which equals it). The daily Telegraph said it "Bursts at the seam with SEX, violence,corruption and death" and they are not far wrong. It also engages you in a mystery. Why would a local hoodlum build a shelter from a nuclear bomb. How will our policeman, who is quite low in the power pecking order, solve this case?

The descriptions of India ring very true and accord with (some of) my experience of living in Bombay in the 1970's. But much in this book goes way beyond my experience. Parts of this story are reminiscent of the early years in America of Puzo's The Godfather.