Title: Tree Bears Witness
Author: Sharath Komarraju
Publisher: Westland
Sharath Komarraju’s ‘Tree Bears Witness’ is the second book
in the Birbal Mystery series. However, this novel easily stands alone without the
first-time reader of the series having to worry about missing out on the first
book.
Set in the golden age of the Mughals, the novel revolves
around the royal court of Agra. There’s political intrigue, personal enmities,
and hidden rivalries and everyone is a suspect until proven otherwise in the court
of Akbar the Great.
The plot is set with the royal marriage having taken place
and Akbar returning to his palace with his newly wedded wife and princess of the
Rajput Empire, Jodha. She has brought with her a royal retinue. The days should
have followed in celebrations but sadly Sujjamal, Jodha’s brother, is found
murdered in the palace gardens. The murder has taken place at a spot between
two mango trees in a garden and the two guards, who are eyewitnesses, have
conflicting versions of what could have happened. With his honour and
reputation at stake, Akbar asks his trusted advisor Birbal to solve the
mystery.
Nicely edged characters, perfectly choreographed events, and
clipped narration make this otherwise linear plot a good read, interesting
even. This whodunit never becomes boring and the reader would definitely follow
Birbal’s investigation with bated breath until he draws the curtain on the probe
at the end of the novel. There are times when it becomes evident who the
culprit may be. But at the end it doesn’t matter much because the execution of
the investigation itself is interesting to follow.
Komarraju has managed a perfect novel for lovers of classic mysteries
who’d like to watch a clever and introspective detective solve a tricky puzzle.
Sharath Komarraju is an author of fiction and nonfiction
based in Bengaluru, India. His best known work (to date) is the Hastinapur
series, in which he speaks into the silences of the Mahabharata story through
the voices of the epic’s many women characters. His first novel, Murder in
Amaravati, was longlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize, 2013.
Once a software engineer, he now tells stories full-time.
When he is not writing or reading, he can be found watching cricket on
television, talking to his wife, or munching on the nearest chocolate bar.
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I'd like to thank the publisher for letting me review the
book. I do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much
for stopping by, and happy reading!
* I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange
for an honest review.
** Picture courtesy: Amazon.in
Very well written review. I have read this book where Birbal is in the center to solve the cases. I love these kinds of mystery oriented books.
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