Bats Fly Up for Inspector Ghote

Keating is one of those authors that I really can't predict. He wrote one of my top reads of 2009, but also one of my worst reads. This one is in the middle, but more towards the top. Inspector Ghote is chosen for a new assignment. He is recruited for the Black-money and Allied Transactions Squad, who investigate illegal transactions designed to circumvent income tax or import fees. There are some big sums at stake, involving shiploads of illicit gold. But twice in a row, when the squad goes to make a big arrest, someone has tipped the crooks off before they get there. So who's the informer? Ghote's real job is to find out. As his time with the squad increases, he finds himself suspecting everyone. There are only 5 men on the squad. Who can be trusted? Ghote's instincts tell him to trust no one, but that attitude starts seeping into everything he does, even with his wife and young son. He'd better hurry up and solve this case before he loses it all. I liked this one a lot, but I didn't love it as much as Under a Monsoon Cloud last year. This one doesn't have quite as strong a feeling of place. It would have helped also to read this one first, as it rather was rather spoiled by knowing that one of the characters was innocent, since he was in a later book. If you do want to read the series - and good luck, they are out of print but worth searching for - read this one before Under a Monsoon Cloud. Highly recommended.