The Death of Mr. Love
Indra Sinha
(Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan)
2004 William Morrow
ISBN: 0060562463

A compelling novel of fact & fiction based on a real-life murder in Bombay, India.

Senior Associate Narayan Radhakrishnan writes:

For people in India, the 1950’s Nanavati Trial is a part of folklore, a case that changed the criminal law of the nation. The Death Of Mr. Love is based on this headline-capturing trial.

Before delving into the book as such, let me, in brief give a broad outline of what the Nanavati trial was all about. Dashing, suave & debonair Navy Officer Kawaas Nanavati is absolutely devoted to his wife Sylvia. & he is devastated when he catches his wife in bed with a playboy by name Prem Ahuja. In a fit of rage he kills Ahuja. In the much publicized trial that followed, the jury found Nanavati not guilty. However, the Judge reversed the jury’s finding & sentenced him to jail. After a public outcry, the state Governor granted Nanavati pardon & he left the shores of India, forever.

Incidentally, “prem” in Hindi stands for “love” & The Death of Mr. Love takes us behind-the-scenes of this trial of the murder -- with just the names being changed. Was Nanavati the actual culprit, or was there anyone else? Has someone or something gone unnoticed, or unpunished?

Through the eyes of Bhalu, a bookseller & Phoebe, childhood friends & children of two main protagonists of the Nanavati trial the story unfolds. The year is 1950 & Sybil Killigrew is lonely & frustrated. Her husband James Killigrew (aka Nanavati) is a high ranking officer who has no time to spend with her. It is then, Sybil meets Mr. Love & is soon infatuated with him. But then she meets Sylvia -- & soon they become friends -- they have the same interests, hobbies, etc... & Mr. Love. Thus in a subtle but strong way the author presents the background of the Nanavati Case. Another main character is Maya, who knows both Sybil & Sylvia & about their clandestine dealings with Mr. Love, & who had also written a book on the murder titled “Retribution”.

To add a further twist to the tale, Bhalu the bookseller is the son of Maya & Phoebe, the daughter of Sybil. Fifty years after the murder, Phoebe & Bhalu join to see what really happened back then. Was there something more to the case than met the eye?

Indra Sinha also highlights some loose ends, which if properly & promptly had been followed might have changed the course of the trial. What follows is an engrossing read, where fiction meets reality, such that it becomes hard to distinguish where fact ends & fiction starts.

Recently India lost one of its most prolific & venerable literary figures, who brought Indo-Anglo literature to international limelight -- Mulk Raj Anand. The author dedicates this book to that great man. & truly, The Death Of Mr. Love is a wonderful tribute.

A beautiful, stylish read! The Death Of Mr. Love is highly, highly recommended.

More from Indra Sinha:
The Love Teachings of Kama Sutra: With Extracts from Koka Shastra, Ananga Ranga & Other Famous Indian Works on Love.
The Cybergypsies: A True Tale of Lust, War, & Betrayal on the Electronic Frontier.
The Great Book of Tantra: Translations & Images from the Classic Indian Texts.
(02/27/05)

Narayan
2005©Narayan Radhakrishnan
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I am a 26 years old lawyer practicing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Along with my legal practice, I have finished post-graduate studies for both Business Law & Human Rights. I am a self proclaimed numero-uno legal thriller lover & am the proud owner of all of Grisham's & Turow's novels. I enjoy John Mortimer's Rumpole & relish an occasional Martini & a rare Scot(ch)t-oline with a Patterson on the side.

My work A FICTION OF LAW is now about 500 pages in length & features 500 lawyer authors & 2000 legal thrillers covering a 300 year period - inclusive of entries from the USA, UK, Asia, Europe, China, Middle East etc. Still in search of a publisher.
www.keralatourism.org