By Etinosa Agbonlahor | Tuesday, September 30, 2014- Off the Shelf

I don’t remember why I picked up The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing by Tarquin Hall. Perhaps it was the strange title (How exactly does one die laughing? Did he have a stroke in the middle of relaying a funny joke? Was he assassinated while watching a particularly hilarious Youtube video?) 
More likely, I was drawn in by its brilliant orange and red cover that just begs to be picked up. Either way, I’m glad I gave in and stumbled into the improbably delightful world of Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Detective.

 As it turns out, the man who died laughing is Dr. Jha, a firm rationalist, Guru Buster, and notorious opponent of India’s spiritualists, magicians, and occultists. Yet he’s murdered by the goddess Kali, consort of Shiva, who hovers in the air as she runs a sword through him while he stands laughing, helplessly rooted to the spot. 
Even stranger, he’s murdered in the presence of a group of experts; professors, scientists, lawyers, all members of a weekly Laughing Club hosted by the famed Professor Pandey, a firm believer in ‘laughter therapy,’ and all of whom are also rooted to the spot, giggling helplessly  as Dr. Jha is stabbed.