Fast, with out pondering an excessive amount of, title the one villain in your life that is additionally a villain in each Indian’s life, whether or not they acknowledge it or not. That is proper, it is the patriarchy. Straightforward reply — however attempt framing it in a criminal offense novel and it is probably even the sharpest thoughts will stumble. In any case, how do you state afresh what everybody already is aware of?
That is the place writer 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 Investigationmay appear 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.
Chilly instances have lengthy been a favourite 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 give attention to the cerebral. That’s how we first encounter IG Vijay Menon, as he ruminates over the case whereas ready for his little blue capsule to take impact for his affected person spouse, the forensic surgeon Padmini Menon.
Eight years in the past, a senior policeman by the title of Kannan Moses was shot, stabbed and burnt to dying on a seaside close to Kozhikode. The preliminary probe went nowhere. Now Menon has been entrusted the accountability 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 tip result’s all the time bitterness or humiliation.”
Shot at society
How Menon traverses this difficult street — whereas concurrently coping with a associated disaster on the house entrance — contains the majority of the novel. However 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 is just not a straightforward job, however the writer’s intimate data 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 find out about a individuals, learn their crime fiction, a clever particular person as soon as mentioned. The Menon Investigation validates the statement 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 writer. He shows a particular fondness for random large phrases (I used to be undone by ‘snollygosters’ and ‘rufous mumu’ and ‘biweekly titivation’, which means grooming), which don’t showcase erudition as a lot as an acquaintance with the thesaurus.
The second quibble is concerning the woeful under-use of Padmini Menon — however one can hope she’s going to get extra play in additional installments of the lifetime of Vijay Menon. That’s, 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
Revealed – October 17, 2025 06:05 am IST