Manjiri Prabhu - The Astral Alibi

Praise for
THE COSMIC CLUES

An Independent Mystery Booksellers Association

Killer Book

One of the more original sleuths aroundThese stories are true puzzles in the grand old tradition that reaches back to Poe and Doyle. Its all good fun, made even more enjoyable by an evocative portrait of modern life in India.

Denver Post

This is an intriguing first book in Prabhus mystery series. The flavor of her writing puts the reader in the middle of India, getting a taste of the customs, the food and the people. Its like you are really experiencing it firsthand with her characters.

TheBestReviews.com

I am completely captivated by this debut mystery. The sights and sounds and smells of exotic India are savored in each chapter. I predict a wonder fulfuture for this series.

Kathy Harig, Mystery Loves Company bookstore

Reminiscent of Alexander McCall Smiths The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agencypart of the detective genres journey into new geographic frontiers.

Indianexpress.com

Different from a typical mystery, each chapter brings the reader a different story, a different set of characterstaught me a lot more than I expected about India, the general way of life and the mind-set of the Indian people. It was a great read.

www.roundtablereviews.com

Manjiri Prabhus tale of a young Indian female detective solving cases with the help of astrology strikes the right balance between the logical and the whimsical, the mysterious and the fantastic. The author also highlights the depth, subtle nuances and tradition of the Hindu religion as well as the somewhat opposing Eastern and Western influences that somehow coexist harmoniously in Indian culture and its effect on young Indians, all through her able protagonist. This is one book that readers will not want to miss!

Curled Up With a Good Book

CONTENTS

To my sister Leena Prabhu, the first writer who touched and inspired me

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many thanks to Scott Eyman and Frances Collin for their professional advice. Also a heartfelt thank you to Kate Miciak, Kathleen Baldonado, and the entire Dell team for treating Astral Alibi as special. And thanks to my mom, to each member of my family, and my friends, for helping me give a valuable, meaningful touch to the book.

A New Neighbour

A full moon pierced the low mist, spreading a silver sheen over the Stellar Investigations Office Building. Nidhi sat on the steps, looking royal in a blue velvet collar, her paws curled, her tail in a straight line behind her, and her whiskers twitching. The cats golden fur gleamed in the moonlight. Night crickets droned in the bushes.

Suddenly the droning in the night was punctuated by a rustling. Nidhi raised her head and picked up her ears. Her nose quivered as she sniffed the air. A figure had stolen into the office premisesslipping cautiously towards the wall, clinging to the shadows and slowly and soundlessly making its way to the windows of the office. The bright moonlight and the distilled shadows did little to hide the figure, draped in floating white. The intruder peered through the dark pane, moving agilely from window to window.

Nidhi watched, her eyes round and focused. Her hackles were up and she meowed angrily. The figure halted, its progress diverted by the animal sound. Slowly the intruder turned to face Nidhi, then with purposeful steps approached the cat.

The glow of a fluorescent peach dawn stained the sky. Birds whistled liltingly, as if practising a variety of melodious notes on a flute. Sparrows danced from the rust tree tops and bulbuls swooped down the Model Colony Lake. The water was a perfect mirror for the pearl-coloured clouds. Breeze whiffed in through the wide-open, blue-and-red-checked-curtained windows of Sonias room.

Sonia sat cross-legged on a cream rug on the lawn-green tiled terrace floor, eyes closed, her breathing even. Her arms were stretched out and resting on her knees. She uttered the Om slow and long, the vibrations of the word tingling through her whole body. In the hazy light of dawn, she looked like a statue of gold. After several repetitions she stopped and opened her eyes. A smile of satisfaction touched her lips. She felt good! She always began her day with Yoga, a few Surya NamaskarsSun Salutation, an excellent exercise that paid homage to the sunand Omkarthe chanting of the sacred word Oma habit instilled in her by her mother. Followed by Praanaayaama rhythmic breathing techniqueher morning routine never failed to invigorate her with the spirit of life.

Sonia rose and leaned against the wooden railing of the terrace, glancing down at the lake. The Samarth bungalowa fancy structure of red brick, stone, and woodstood back from the almost triangular body of water in the heart of the Shivajinagar area. Sonia loved her house. It afforded a wonderful view of the glistening water. She took another deep breath. It was a beautiful morning and she looked forward to going to her office. It was a brand-new day of hopes!

The January morning was cool and a weak sun glinted on the windowpanes. The brown leaves of the huge Banyan tree on F.C.Road carpeted the garden and the path which led to the steps of the Stellar Investigations Office. Sonia drove her van into the parking lot, threw an appreciative glance at natures untidiness, then hastened up the steps.

She paused at the door of the office and a look of pride flashed across her face. The new steel-and-copper nameplate announced Stellar Investigations in flowing writing. She gazed at it critically, gauging the impression it would create on a prospective client. Not bad. The nameplate hinted at an artistic unravelling of issues.

Suppressing a natural urge to flick out her kerchief and rub an invisible spot on the nameplate, she turned to the door opposite her office and hesitated. For the first time in years, the office next door was open and she could hear sounds of activity. Frowning, Sonia swung open the Stellar Investigations door and walked into her outer office.

A big polished brass Om, like a shining cheerful face, greeted her from the wall opposite. Sonia particularly liked that effect. A positive, almost spiritual touch. In the right corner, a small Television sether assistant Jatins contribution to the dcoroccupied prime position. A small glass enclosure in the left corner of the room held more cushioned chairs than the number of prospective clients. Again, Jatins optimism at work. The glass cubicleor cabin, as Jatin preferred to call itwas his domain. He sat working on the computer, playing the role of a perfect detective-cum-assistant.

He glanced up now as Sonia entered.

Good morning, Boss. Jatin raised an eyebrow in anticipation. Well? he asked.

The nameplates perfect!

His face glowed with pleasure. Any word of appreciation from his boss made him feel as if he had won another round of chess. He alone knew how difficult Sonia was to please. For the simple reason that he alone fended with her degrees of intelligence, stubbornness, and frequent acts of unreasonability. His boss was, of course, undoubtedly gifted with the art of cracking criminal cases with the ace craft of Astrology, but that didnt make her any less difficult. In fact, her gift was an added bonus to her already complex character. If it hadnt been for himpatient, tolerant, sensitive Jatin Singhdetective Sonia Samarth would have found herself alone on the path of justice! Jatin gave himself a mental pat of self-appreciation.