This is a very traditional mystery, steeped with a good sense of place and character. Remote Greybrooke Manor has had a curse upon it since it was owned by the British, which seems to be following the contemporary Indian family who owns it now. Patriarch and true crime aficionado Bhaskar Fernandez has invited investigator Harith Athreya to visit after a recent home invasion. There are now two wills, the family only gets to see which one takes effect upon the manner of his death. There is a lot of mist (and a ghost story), an unlucky thirteenth guest at dinner and enough family drama to keep the story playing out until the end.

I am big fan of Christie and the classic whodunit so I was very excited to get my hands on this book. Having a manor house mystery set up in India and written by an Indian author also appealed to me. I really enjoyed the mystery but I wish the author would have spent more time on character development. The backdrop of Nilgiris was haunting and perfect for this mystery. I enjoyed Detective Athreya and look forward to his next case. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. #NetGalley #AWillToKill

This is a traditional country house whodunit mystery set in contemporary India, narrated by Indian detective Harith Athreya, He is invited to Greybrooke Manor in the Nilgiris outside Chennai (formerly Madras) by a wealthy retired antiques dealer, Bhaskar Fernandez, who fears someone is plotting to kill him. There has been several mysterious accidents and events aimed at him. One was an unsuccessful break-in at the manor when an intruder attacked Bhasker with a dagger. Bhasker shot his attacker, who escaped with only a gunshot wound. Since that attack, Bhasker wants to protect himself by writing two wills, each of which will distribute his estate differently depending upon the manner of his death. If he dies of natural causes his assets are distributed one way, but if he dies "unnaturally" there is a different distribution which is kept secret from the beneficiaries. This plan has been successful in warding off further attacks. Bhaskar has planned a family reunion of sorts, bringing together his family following the settlement of a lengthy legal dispute over the family's property. Athreya has been invited to this event, even though he is an outsider. After a long journey to the manor by steam train and jeep, Athreya arrives at Greybrooke and is marooned there by a landslide. After meeting his host and the other residents and guests, Athreya is embroiled in events which soon culminate in the discovery of a body, and surprisingly it's someone other than his host.

The story is told with a lengthy lead in and a suspenseful sense of place. The mountainous location of the manor in the Blue Mountains is prone to mist and rain creating an atmospheric backdrop for the mysterious Greystone Manor. It has a "chequered" history of mysterious deaths and even a resident ghost. Complementing this atmosphere is the large cast of supporting characters: the family members, manor household staff, the shifty owner of a nearby resort, an offbeat artist, and the local priest. The people and their individual stories are woven into a complex narrative which concludes in a classic drawing room reveal.

This is a cleverly crafted mystery with a cast of unique characters, some of them either not who they first appear to be, or hiding secrets. There's plenty of atmosphere and local colour against which the sleuthing is conducted in order to resolve a complex set of puzzles. It's been inspired by the traditional country house detective stories of the Golden Age of Mystery writers like Agatha Christie.

Recommended for fans of golden age detective fiction, particularly for its exotic locale and clever plotting.

My thanks to Polis Books and Netgalley for providing a complementary advance reading copy of the eBook for my review. The opinions expressed about it are unbiased and entirely my own.

I chose to read this book because I read woefully few books based in my home country and even fewer written by an Indian. It seemed like a good place to make up for the lost time.
This is a decent start to a series. We meet an already renowned detective who is asked down to a family manor and bribed with the intriguing concept of two wills and the fear of imminent death. We are told numerous facts about our lead, Harith Athreya, but I wanted more action on his part than the hints he kept dropping throughout the narrative. I did not feel the awe that his list of accomplishments should have cloaked the character in.
The family is an Anglo-Indian family (I am guessing from the names and the history, although I do not remember any specific such statement) whose head is aged and crippled and is sure someone intends him dead. He is not technically 'in fear' for his life because of his personality and the life he's lead. The plot only covers a few days where there is a tentative locked room scenario, and multiple red herrings. There also seemed to be things hidden behind every possible resolution. I finished/liked this book because of the way the plotline (s) wrapped up: I did not see a few things coming. The dysfunctional family setup was used to its advantage.
The narrative style took a little getting used to. The English used seemed a lot more formatted than required for the setting, which slowed down my reading time, but it was not really unrealistic for the kind of people we encounter. I would read the next book in the series, but I hope to be better settled into a story of this ilk than I was in this first instalment.

I received an ARC from NetGalley; the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

RV Raman’s A Will to Kill is a quick and fairly entertaining mystery with a beautiful setting. I like the vivid writing and the interesting mystery but some of the plot twists are too implausible and I wish the characters and plot were a lot stronger.

Seasoned investigator Harith Athreya receives a mysterious invitation to a party in the misty Nilgiris at remote Greybrooke Manor, an isolated colonial mansion with a dark past. His host is gruff wheelchair-bound patriarch Bhaskar Fernandez who wants to reunite his estranged family after a long and painful legal battle over the mansion. After a series of suspicious and near-deadly incidents, Bhaskar believes that one of his relatives cannot wait for him to die to collect their share of his impressive inheritance. Therefore, Bhaskar has written two conflicting wills in the event of foul play in his death. The old man commissions Athreya to investigate in the event of his unnatural death or the demise of any of the other guests. However, when a landslide isolates the partygoers from the outside world and a murder indeed occurs, Athreya finds himself in the middle of a tangled mystery.

I really enjoyed Raman’s beautifully descriptive writing. Greybrooke Manor is a wonderfully spooky and atmospheric setting. This is a very quick read that kept me interested. The plot is fast-paced and doesn’t drag. While many of the twists are predictable, there are some interesting turns. However, several of the incidents are implausible while there are also some plot holes.
Furthermore, I don’t think that the overlapping intersections of the mystery plot worked as well as it could have. I also would have liked more thrill and suspense.

This novel is set in modern-day India but I’m not sure that the time period fits the story. I enjoyed the classic and cosy feel of the book and characters which seem more suitable to a bygone era. The dialogue is often very stilted and formal.

Athreya is a decent protagonist. He’s kind and intuitive. However, he really doesn’t have much of a personality or a memorable presence. The other characters are mostly forgettable and predictably developed. I struggled to connect with them.

A Will to Kill is a fairly solid and traditional read. The characters and plot could be a lot stronger but the mystery kept me engaged. I would read another book in the series because I’m interested to see where Raman takes this.





⛰️ ⛰️ ⛰️ out of 5 misty mountains!

A promising start to a new series featuring an Indian sleuth.

I really liked the plot and the setting. Written in classic locked-room mystery style, Athreya reminds you of your favorite mystery classics detective.

The story seemed a little dragged in the middle. Having said that, the ending is really impressive. We have the angle of the two wills, a (possible) killer on prowl and the country mansion cut out from the rest of the world due to a landslide. (The setting reminded me a tad of Ellery Queen's Siamese Twin Mystery).

Overall, this was a good read. I am certainly looking forward to reading more of Harith Athreya's sleuthing adventures.

A Will To Kill is the first book in a new murder mystery series by R.V. Raman. Released 1st Dec 2020 by Agora on their Polis imprint, it's 340 pages (print edition) and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is an isolated country house murder mystery very much in the classic golden age style of Carr, Christie, Allingham, and the rest of the pantheon. Although set in the modern era, it's full of creepy atmospheric (haunted?) settings from the RAJ era of Indian occupation, rich eccentric characters, despicable grasping family members, contested wills, in the midst of which an acquaintance of the family is thrust into the role of investigator. The investigation follows the rules of engagement; the reader is given all pertinent info as clues are uncovered. There are twists and red-herrings aplenty and I found myself thoroughly charmed and engaged as the mystery unfolded.

The writing is beautifully and precisely well crafted, with clearly described settings, finely rendered characterizations, and dialogue that flows well and freely. My only struggle came from the plethora of relatives, servants, and other secondary characters - keeping them straight in my head was difficult (but not impossible - I really love the search feature on my e-reader).

Classically appealing and engaging murder mystery with a cleverly twisty plot. Four and a half stars. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next installment. Highly highly recommended especially to fans of classic golden age mysteries.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A WILL TO KILL is the first novel in the Harith Athreya mystery series.

It's easy to see why this novel is being compared to Knives Out and classic Agatha Christie locked-room mysteries: because it is, in fact, an intriguing, engaging and gripping mystery! Complete with a natural impediment to them all leaving, this also had a couple of echoes of the movie Clue. The author has a gift for evoking atmosphere and setting, with some brilliant descriptions. It will be interesting to see how the series progresses, and the main character develops.

Overall, an enjoyable and entertaining mystery. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Recommended.

A Will to Kill by RV Raman is modeled after the classic mystery style. A wealthy man draws up two wills, one for if he dies of natural causes and one if he does not to discourage would be inheritors from killing him off. He hires a detective to come and investigate and wouldn't you know it, one of the thirteen members of the house party turns up dead. This book reminded me an Inspector Pirout mystery. There was a lot to unravel and it made for quick reading.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
An interesting idea behind this story but it sadly failed to deliver. I found the story staid and predictable. The writing is OK.
An OK read.

I love a great whodunit and this fits the bill! Athreya, the seasoned investigator, is keen in eyes and mind that reminds me of Agatha Christie's Poirot and Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

What is not to love? The book has a haunted manor house, estranged relatives, a will, and a murder― set in modern-day India? What can I say: the book drew me in!

The plot is classic yet filled with twists and turns that left me trying to figure out what may happen. The books left me wanting more.


Thank you NetGalley and Agora Books for this wonderful arc in exchange for an honest review!

I've been looking for an Indian mystery for a while now. So when I came across A Will to Kill in Netgalley set in one of my favorite places in India (also close to my home town), I just had to request it. In so many ways, this is a typical Agatha Christie type mystery - there's a death (in an isolated mansion, no less) and the investigator/detective tries to solve the mystery. Harith Athreya is visiting the owner of the mansion, Bhaskar Fernandez, where a small gathering has been planned for the owner's relatives and friends. Bhaskar has written two wills - and how he dies will determine which will goes into effect. That night, there is a murder and Athreya spends the next few days trying to find the culprit.

I generally enjoy the Agatha Christie class of murder mysteries. They are more crime focused and the thrill is in the solving of the crime and the unmasking of the villain. The writing and characters are usually not as emphasized. This book was no different - the mystery got complicated with each page and I absolutely loved that. That said, I do think the writing could be better. For someone who seems to have solved several crimes, Athreya's behavior occasionally came across as a very junior investigator. There was also too much structure to the scene when the murder is discovered and far less terror. These didn't however take away my enjoyment of the book.

RV Raman has entered the realm of mystery fiction with his inaugural book entitled “A Will To Kill.” This story harkens back to the good old days of classic mysteries ( thanks Agatha!). It is solidly written with the added bonus that it avoids profanity, raunchy sex, and other assorted 21st century narrative add-ons. There is something charming sitting down with my mask on my face, six feet from my dear wife, and reading a “cosy mystery” set in rural India. The writing is solid if not spectacular. We meet the mysterious wealthy, wheelchair-bound Bhaskar Fernandez, who has established two distinct wills: one if he dies a natural death and the second if he dies...unnaturally. He has family members who have their own selfish motives for gaining his wealth. Plus they are all holed up in a rural mansion cut off from the rest-of-the-world due to heavy rains.
We need an attorney, Harith Athreya, to enter the drama and figure out “who done it.” Will he or won’t he? Enjoy reading “A Will To Kill” as much as I did and grateful to NetGalley for the chance to enjoy.
I look forward to the next mystery starring Harith Athreya...that is, if he survives the plot!

Entertaining And Engaging.....
The first in what may be a new series featuring investigator Harith Athreya and a nod to the Golden Age of crime in an entertaining and engaging mystery with a genuine puzzle at its’ heart. A colourful cast of characters populate the plot and Harith is both a likeable and enigmatic protagonist. A promising start to a series.

There were definitely moments when I definitely felt like I was in an Agatha Christie novel – the large group of characters (all members of a family), the seasoned investigator, the “locked room” feel of isolating the group in a remote location, a large family home, red herrings and twists and turns…. it was all GREAT fun.

The mystery kicks off when investigator Harith Athreya is invited to Greybrooke Manor, the home of Bhaskar Fernandez. Greybrooke is supposed to be cursed and Bhaskar, who isn’t taking any chances, has drafted two wills. One in case he dies of ‘natural causes’ and one if he dies under ‘suspicious circumstances’. Bhaskar wants extra insurance and hires Athreya for the future – if Bhaskar dies mysteriously, Athreya is to investigate and find the culprit.

Of course, there are suspects aplenty amongst the squabbling family members – all of whom have their own reasons for wanting their share of the inheritance. What follows is a brilliant mix of traditional murder mystery (with TWO bodies!), modern family problems, complicated twists, ghost stories and an exotic and lush setting.

I knew I was in for a treat when we first meet Harith Athreya. He’s a bit mysterious – we know that he’s an investigator of sorts, but he’s not officially with the police (sort of like Hercule Poirot). As the story unfolds, you get glimpses of how well-respected he is and that he’s achieved some big successes with the police. However, nothing is told to you directly – I’m hoping that more of Athreya’s background comes out in future stories. His methods are sound and he is an intriguing and interesting character, if not just a tad too enigmatic.

My only complaint with the story that I never connected with any of the characters (except for Athreya) so I didn’t really care too much who the victims or the murderer was (I just wanted to see how the puzzle untangled itself). Part of the problem is that there are so many characters, that it’s hard to spend time developing any one of them significantly. However, this is something that I often found happened in Agatha Christie books too (and also the aforementioned Knives Out). It’s not a major negative for me – as long as I enjoy the main protagonist, I’m generally satisfied enough to follow the series.

Earlier this year I made a list of several mysteries set in India that I wanted to check out and this was one of the first that I’ve read and I was just blown away. Aside from that one minor point of trying to keep track of all the characters, the rest of this story just hums along at a great pace. It’s been a long time since I read a book in one sitting but I just couldn’t put this one down because I *had* to find out whodunnit.

I loved every minute of it. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series!

I was quite taken by this mystery, a nod to Agatha Christie’s “locked room” mystery. The first in the Harith Athreya series, it features an intelligent detective summoned to an estate in southern India, to find out how tried to kill the owner of the mansion. Greybrooke Manor is said to have a curse which ends the owner’s life by non-natural means. Cut off by a landslide, the 13 people are stuck there for three days. During that time another man is murdered. And Athreya finds himself solving several mysteries. The red herrings are excellent in this book. Misdirection abounds and when the mysteries including the murder is solved it is very satisfying.

"Let's go. We should get off this hill before the light vanishes." A Will to Kill is a very good read. I loved the character of Harith Athreya - calm, cool and super, super smart. Raman creates a wonderful sense of place, with the fog enshrouded Greybrooke Manor serving as the scene of a murder, most foul. Bhaskar Fernandez, owner of Greybrooke, suspects someone is trying to kill him - most likely a greedy relative named in his will. He gathers them together for a short stay, and includes Athreya, for the reading of a second will, and in hopes of determining who is trying to kill him. It took me a few chapters to sort the (what a cast of) characters in my mind, but once I did, it was smooth sailing to the clever and surprising finale. I look forward to digging into more mysteries by Raman, but I really like Athreya. #netgalley #awilltokill

P.S. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

India, family-dynamics, friendship, ex-cop, murder, murder-investigation, thriller, international-crime-and-mystery

Fantastic! Better than all the old cliched reads, and not just because the setting is nowhere near Europe. I think it is very notable that Athreya manages to execute his due diligence despite being in a remote location which has been complicated by a landslide. The setting is very atmospheric and scenic, the characters are each well drawn, and the mystery is gripping. The publisher's blurb is pretty good so there is no need to repeat it. I think it's a great tale well told!
I must admit that I am looking forward to the audio because I have a thing about pronouncing names and places correctly.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Polis Books/Agora Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

A Will to Kill is perfect for Agatha Christie lovers. Raman has crafted an intricate plot that keeps all a reader's little grey cells working at high speed in order to deduce everything that's going on (and there's quite a lot). For those who love to concentrate on puzzles and plots, I highly recommend this book.

However, if-- like me-- you're a character-driven reader who also likes a rich, vivid setting, you're not going to enjoy A Will to Kill as much. Although it is very atmospheric, I was hoping that the setting would be more vibrantly Indian as I've come to expect and love in mysteries written by Tarquin Hall and Vaseem Khan, for instance. In the case of this book, it would appear that the British Raj had never ended. That in itself is a setting to be reckoned with, but it's a bit bland. (But it doesn't detract from that plot, eh?)

Yes, A Will to Kill is all about the plot. None of the characters really stood out in my mind, although the compassionate way Athreya deals with a bored, silly woman is quite touching and does say a great deal about the type of person he is. If I'm in the mood for a Christie-esque, plot-driven mystery, I'll pick up the next Harith Athreya mystery. If not...

For you, the choice will be an interesting one.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley who gave me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

An Indian Agatha Christie, but better!!! This is a brilliantly intelligent whodunit, that very slowly gives away clues until everyone gets it, but even then I didn't pick up on what was going on. A bit is kept from the reader, but not much. Harith Athreya is just brilliant and smart and phlegmatic. Almost nothing ruffles his feather, especially murder!

Curiously invited to a hilltop mansion amidst family secrets and Machiavellian derring do, Athreya not only solves the murder but the family mystery as well. I'm not sure I would really compare it to Christie, because it's actually better than reading those ever again. It's much more clever and much more mysterious and relatable.

#awilltokill #HarithAthreya #netgalley