Death in the Air

A Novel

By: Ram Murali

Narrated by: Fajer Al-Kaisi

“Glamorous, gripping, absolutely heaps of fun. I loved this.”—Lucy Foley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List and The Paris Apartment

"Unexpected delights await on every page of Ram Murali’s impressive and captivating debut. Crisp as a gin and tonic and delightfully wicked, this smart, smart novel delivers a sophisticated, subversive murder mystery set in the highest stratosphere of the international idle rich. I had to force myself not to binge it in one night so I could savor it like the rare and exquisite meal that it is."—Kevin Kwan, New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians

The White Lotus meets Knives Out meets Crazy Rich Asians in this devilishly entertaining debut novel: both a sophisticated locked-room mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie, and a provocative literary whodunit for the twenty-first century.

Ro Krishna is the American son of Indian parents, educated at the finest institutions, equally at home in London’s poshest clubs and on the squash court, but unmoored after he is dramatically forced to leave a high-profile job under mysterious circumstances. He decides it’s time to check in for some much-needed R&R at Samsara, a world-class spa for the global cosmopolitan elite nestled in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. A person could be spiritually reborn in a place like this. Even a very rich person.

But a person—or several—could also die there. Samsara is the Sanskrit word for the karmic cycle of death and rebirth, after all. And as it turns out, the colorful cast of characters Ro meets—including a misanthropic politician; an American movie star preparing for his Bollywood crossover debut; a beautiful heiress to a family jewel fortune that barely survived Partition; and a bumbling white yogi inexplicably there to teach meditation—harbors a murderer among them. Maybe more than one.

As the death toll rises, Ro, a lawyer by training and a sleuth by circumstance, becomes embroiled in a vicious world under a gilded surface, where nothing is quite what it seems . . . including Ro himself. Death in the Air is a brilliant, teasing mystery from a remarkable new talent.

©2024 Ram Murali (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Last half of the book was great

There were a lot of clues in the story, that I didn’t really understand but I thought the book was good overall. I really liked the ending.

LOVED IT!! Finally a truly captivating mystery novel!

I am so soo happy I came upon this book! I have been so bored with fiction books and this is easily the best one I’ve read in the past 5+ years. I love the writing style and how the characters were built out so well that I felt like I had a true life picture of each. A perfect mystery novel with amazing settings and such a captivating plot lines. Absolutely recommend to anyone!!

Need to know a lot more about India religions

I enjoyed listening to the story unfold and how mystical elements were introduced. However, I also felt I’d have to spend a lot of time researching every moment & person to really understand it. I don’t like having to do that anymore, I’d rather have a straightforward ending. That being stated, it can be a very informative experience if someone wants to do that.
I think the multiple references to current songs, fashion, etc, will eventually keep the book from becoming a classic (like Agatha Christie mysteries).

Couldn’t put it down

Death in the Air is a true page-turner. The serene setting and intriguing cast of characters add to its allure, and the vivid descriptions made the scenes come alive for me. I also loved the spiritual thread woven throughout the book—it added such a unique depth. The story kept me on my toes and lingered in my mind long after I finished. If you’re looking for a gripping and fun read, I highly recommend it!

Total emersion

Loved the narration, loved the story, fell in love with the characters. Looking forward to the next book by this author and hope the same narrator does the audio

not a mystery, just a mess

many people die, but there isn't a discernable plot, no killer identified and it ends with a punk rock song.