My Days in Jaipur

Namaste and welcome! My name is Maya Mallick, private investigator based in Seattle and employed by Detectives Unlimited of India (DUI). I am proud to report that DUI is the most successful detective agency in India, staffed only by women.

India, did you say? Yes, I was born and raised there, came to the USA to study (criminology being one of my pursuits.) and, after graduation, settled in Seattle. Although DUI is in Kolkata, thousands of miles away from Seattle, I am delighted to be working for them.

What takes me to Jaipur, India? The case I am currently investigating. It involves the loss of a rare, pricy ruby, the most precious in the world. How such a ruby can be taken from its highly secured place in a Jaipur home—no sign of any broken entry—is a mystery and I’ve been retained to solve it.

I like the challenge. And I don’t mind spending time in Jaipur. First, my mother lives there. I’d love to visit her. Second, Jaipur, often called the Pink City because of the use of pink sandstone in its architecture, is a fascinating place for sightseeing. Third, Jaipur is a global hub for selling precious gems and jewelry. Here’s a fact you must know. Indians love baubles for wearing and gift-giving. Special celebrations call for ornaments worn specifically for that occasion.

Well and good, but how would I even get started with this theft? One of my first acts would be to go visit the site from where the gemstone was stolen. The location of a crime is important, especially in the event of a theft. I’d contact many interviews, but I’d soon find out that few people will speak the truth to me.

So, what does the ruby look like? Here is my reaction when I’d first lay my eyes on that precious object. “Her eyes opened wider. The huge scarlet ruby, deep and vivid, with a bluish tinge, rested in a velvety box. Complex in shape, the stone sparkled like a cluster of stars, a symbol of wealth, mystique, and royalty, as well as a source of strength. Translucent and velvet-toned, it radiated mystical powers with its shimmering brilliance. It was as though it held a fire within. In the ruby’s heart, in what might be an optical effect, she could detect a six-rayed star with beams that were equidistant. Her cheeks burned and hands trembled. Then, in seconds, she felt calm, alert, and hopeful, her heart warming. It was as though the gemstone had connected with her, hypnotized her. She could stand there forever and contemplate it.”

The case would prove to be far more complex than it initially appeared to be. A murder would be committed. There would be betrayals, heartbreaks, and family estrangements. It’d become unsafe for me to be there. Still, in trying to get to the bottom, I’d pick up a few lessons: What’s most important in life? How crucial is it to adhere to tradition? And ultimately, what’s enough?

Murder at Jaipur, A Maya Mallick Mystery Book #3
Genre: Private Investigator
Release: June 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link – Amazon, BN, Bookshop

Maya Mallick, Seattle P.I., receives a call from her mother Uma, who lives in Jaipur, India. It appears that Uma’s partner Neel Saha, a gemologist, has been arrested by the police on charges of stealing a rare ruby. The heirloom, an object of much superstition, belonged to Neel’s client, Rana Adani, a young, charismatic Jaipur business tycoon. Insisting that Neel is innocent, Uma begs Maya to fly to Jaipur and clear Neel of the charges. Further complicating matters, Uma’s domestic help and chauffeur Sam, a kite-flying champion, well loved by the family, has gone missing.

Maya arrives in Jaipur, hoping to reconnect with Uma and help her. But Uma inexplicably distances herself, whereas Neel, now freed from jail, turns abusive toward Maya.

When Rana’s estranged wife Bea is killed by the glass-coated string of a falling kite, suspicion falls on Sam, who has quietly reappeared on the scene.

Who has misappropriated the ruby and why? Could it have been the late Bea? Anita, Rana’s difficult aunt? Sam, who’s disappeared again? Or Uma, who seems to be hiding from Maya? How many more lives will be lost?

Maya must recover the precious object soon to prevent further bloodshed.

Meet the author
An award-winning and multi-talented author, Bharti Kirchner has published eight previous critically acclaimed novels (in various genres, such as historical, literary, and mystery) and four cookbooks, including the best-selling The Bold Vegetarian. Her about-to-be-released 2023 mystery novel is Murder at Jaipur: A Maya Mallick Mystery (Book 3 on the series). Bharti’s work has been translated in German, Dutch, Spanish, and Marathi, and she has been widely read in the EU countries. Her short story “Promised Tulips,” first published in Seattle Noir, was recognized as a top noir story by Publisher’s Weekly and reappeared in USA Noir.

All comments are welcomed.