New Books Network Harini Nagendra, "Into the Leopard's Den: A Bangalore Detectives Club Mystery" (Pegasus Crime, 2025)
Nov 6, 2025
Harini Nagendra, an ecology professor and acclaimed author, delves into her latest novel in the Bangalore Detective Club series. She discusses Kaveri Murthy's intriguing case set in 1920s Bangalore, blending historical detail with themes of colonial exploitation and ecology. Harini reveals the inspiration behind her characters and how she weaves real-life environmental issues into her storytelling. Plus, she shares her unique writing process and the significance of including sensory recipes to evoke the era.
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Character Visitation Sparked The Series
- Harini says Kaveri parachuted fully formed into her head and demanded a book be written about her.
- Harini began the series after a creative 'visitation' while researching Bangalore's history in 2007.
Why The 1920s Fit The Stories
- Harini chose the 1920s because it's a data-rich 'golden age' between world wars with rising independence and women's public roles.
- The period offers archival detail and social change ideal for lighthearted historical mysteries.
Literary And Personal Inspirations
- Harini names Miss Marple, Tommy and Tuppence, and Miss Silver among her detective influences for domestic insight into people.
- She also drew inspiration from real Indian women entrepreneurs and her grandmother's constrained potential.
