"Excellent debut & intriguing start to a unique mystery series."

Most super sleuths have their very own unique way of solving crimes, and Sonia Samarth is certainly no different. As Chief Investigator of Stellar Investigations, Sonia combines her degree in criminology with Vedic Astrology when she needs a road map for her brain to follow to sort out various clues and unexplained mysteries. Assisted by her sidekick, the boyishly handsome Jatin, she places an ad in the paper and makes ready to solve crime. No one wants to take either the ad or Sonia's skills seriously at first, including her honorary uncle, Inspector Divekar, of the Pune, India, police force. However, as she solves case after case, she wins the respect of not only her uncle, but also of Mohnish Rai, an extremely good- looking freelance reporter who hosts various local TV shows.

Using her unique talent with the aid of music that sets her mind, body and soul free, Sonia solves numerous cases. This includes murder vs. suicide, blackmail, bigamy, personal psychoses, missing items and anything else fate throws her way. Charting and dancing down her chosen path, she's blessed with the aid of a mysterious stray cat she names Nidhi (wealth) and an equally mysterious secret admirer. The question is, can she solve the biggest case yet about The Owl, an unidentified thief of international renown, or will she remain as stumped as the police?

This is an intriguing first book in Prabhu's 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. It's like you are really experiencing it firsthand with her characters. For those with a taste toward the unusual, she includes numerous Vedic Astrology layouts. While the charts don't necessarily explain how it works, it still lends that air of mystique and enchanted quirkiness, making the reader feel a part of the story. Each chapter pretty much reads on its own, and yet each continues to draw you eagerly onward to the next chapter/case. As Sonia solves each successive mystery, you feel her grow in confidence, ability and stature. It's a truly unique experience. Additionally, the reader knows that Sonia is destined for love, but is left pleasantly dangling as to just whom the lucky person is going to be. I enjoyed this debut novel immensely and cannot wait to read the next book in this series, THE ASTRAL ALIBI.

Reviewed by Anne Barringer
Posted September 20, 2004

Summary

Sonia Samarth couldn't have predicted it--after only a day, her first advertisement had drawn dozens of responses. In the bustling city of Pune, India, with its winding alleys and exotic customs, Sonia is launching a brand new business: private investigation--using Hindu astrology as a crime-solving tool. In an ancient city steeped in tradition, Sonia's unique brand of investigation is raising eyebrows. But she seems to have found a niche--and, before long, a case of murder. When a cat leads Sonia to her very first investigation, she quickly unmasks a killer, using astrology as her guide. Suddenly clients begin streaming in: a persistent, handsome TV personality; a terrified bride-to-be; a missing husband with suicidal tendencies...all challenge Sonia's astrological abilities to prevent a crime. All apparently isolated experiences, but bound by an invisible thread. And while Sonia has stellar success in unraveling the truth, very soon she'll have to look closely at her own stars. Because the most notorious international criminal has just crossed Sonia's path--and he has his own plans for her future!