That’s the place creator Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari’s genius lies: in laser-eyeing by way of all of the hypocrisies of Indian society and arriving on the nub of the ache. The title of his new novel, The Menon Investigation, might sound particular, however it’s a “multi” entendre, a reference to the lead policeman dealing with a chilly case, a deep-dive into his psyche, and into the society that created him. The result’s an unsettling novel that pushes the boundaries of style fiction whereas nonetheless being respectful of fan sensitivities.
Cold instances have lengthy been a favorite of crime writers for the web page and for the display screen. For one, it permits investigators — and, consequently, fiction-writers — to take out the drudgery of police work and deal with the cerebral. That is how we first encounter IG Vijay Menon, as he ruminates over the case whereas ready for his little blue tablet to take impact for his affected person spouse, the forensic surgeon Padmini Menon.
Eight years in the past, a senior policeman by the identify of Kannan Moses was shot, stabbed and burnt to loss of life on a seaside close to Kozhikode. The preliminary probe went nowhere. Now Menon has been entrusted the duty for closure — however he is aware of it doesn’t come with out strings connected.
“He knew that investigating the investigation was an arduous job… You find yourself both investigating the earlier investigators, or proving them incompetent by fixing the case, or climaxing in entrance of a door you can’t dare to knock on. The finish result’s all the time bitterness or humiliation.”
Shot at society
How Menon traverses this tough street — whereas concurrently coping with a associated disaster on the house entrance — includes the majority of the novel. But Kannanari splits the main target with one of many perpetrating criminals and, in doing so, gently pushes us to contemplate them each — in addition to the murdered Moses — as victims of a cruel, caste-ridden patriarchy.
To place male protagonists in such a lightweight just isn’t a simple job, however the creator’s intimate information of Kerala — and bigger Indian society — informs these passages with a bitter cynicism that each one readers should admit to be true and justified.
To study a folks, learn their crime fiction, a clever individual as soon as mentioned. The Menon Investigation validates the commentary by way of and thru. If I’ve one quibble (okay, two), it’s the Tharoorism — for need of a greater time period — that afflicts the creator. He shows a particular fondness for random massive phrases (I used to be undone by ‘snollygosters’ and ‘rufous mumu’ and ‘biweekly titivation’, that means grooming), which don’t showcase erudition as a lot as an acquaintance with the thesaurus.
The second quibble is in regards to the woeful under-use of Padmini Menon — however one can hope she is going to get extra play in additional instalments of the lifetime of Vijay Menon. That is, if the end result of this case has not shot, stabbed and burnt his profession already.
The reviewer is a Bengaluru-based author and editor.
The Menon Investigation
Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari
Penguin/Viking
₹599
Published – October 17, 2025 06:05 am IST
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