Review of Dharma

[Twylla]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Dharma" by Vee (Vijaya) Kumari.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Dharma by Vee (Vijaya) Kumari is a murder mystery featuring Rekha Rao, a young professor of Indian art history at Occidental College in southern California. Rekha’s mentor, Joseph Faust, was bludgeoned to death with a Durga idol, a Hindu deity. The idol was found at the scene of the crime on the victim's body. The Durga had been stolen from an excavation site in India. The police solicited Rekha’s insight on the significance of the idol to the murder. Several years before, Rekha’s father had been murdered in a similar manner. The more Rekha looked into the secret details of people's lives, the more suspects she discovered with possible motives for the murder.

The characters were all very interesting multi-dimensional people, and the story was a page-turner. I enjoyed reading about the Indian culture including the preparation of Indian food, the arts, and the spirituality in the home of Rekha’s immediate family.

My favorite line in the book was something that Rekha’s father had said to her. “Remember, walking the path of dharma, the righteous course of action, is its own reward.” Hindu texts refer to dharma as inner wisdom or cosmic guidance that governs not only an individual but the entire universe. That inspired me to meditate on my own dharma.

I kept hoping Rekha would choose the Indian attorney as her boyfriend, but she was clearly attracted to the American detective. The Indian culture is so beautiful and rich, I didn’t want Rekha to abandon that part of her life. But then Rekha was not exactly the most traditional Indian woman.

I liked the way relevant social issues were tastefully addressed in the story without passing judgment, including homosexuality, psychiatric issues, and domestic abuse. I thought the Faust murder would somehow be linked to Rekha’s father’s murder since they were killed in a similar manner.

Another thing I liked about the book was there was no profanity, no sexual content, and no explicit violence! This book would be appropriate for the whole family. As the murders were resolved, moral lessons were reinforced. Dharma would appeal to anyone who likes a cozy murder mystery. Combine that with a glimpse into the Indian culture, and it makes this story unique and fun to read. The book was compelling, interesting, and fast-paced. I couldn’t put it down.

There was nothing I didn’t like about the book. It was well-written and professionally edited. I didn’t find any errors. I am giving this book an enthusiastic rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Hopefully, this is the first of a long series of Rekha Rao books.

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Dharma
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[MsH2k]

When I sampled this book, I immediately liked Rekha and hoped she would finally solve her father's murder mystery along with this one. Your review has inspired me to move this book up on my list to read. Thank you for a great review!

[Muna Chizzy]

It's strange for someone to be killed with a Durga idol. I found this book intriguing and such death incidents makes me want to read the book and find out what the outcome will be. Thanks for the great review.