Book Review : The Case of the Missing Turtles

 

The Case of the Missing Turtles
Mallika Ravikumar
Speaking Tiger Books, 2024
Genre : Children's Fiction


This is the second book in the M4 series. If the first was a crime thriller, this one is an environmental thriller as the title suggests.

Mirchi is approached by Shimplya whose father has been arrested for smuggling turtles by the police. Strangely enough, someone has planted a bag full of river turtles on his boat while the fisherman only ventures out to the sea to catch fish. So who has done it becomes a case for the M4 to solve. 

Step in NGOs that protect wildlife, the M4 and the readers are schooled on which are protected wild life and which are not in India,the Asian wildlife smuggling network and how children are used in it. As the M4 investigate pet shops, they are shocked by how easily the pet shop owners are able to access protected wildlife 

The writing is crisp, fast paced and provides awareness of wildlife law in India. It also provides awareness about police arrests and the legal procedure for getting bail. 

While there is a happy ending, it shocks  the reader how commonplace wild life smuggling is in India.   

To buy the book go here Speaking Tiger Books

Book review : The Case of the Vanishing Gods

 

The Case of the Vanishing Gods 
by Mallika Ravikumar
Speaking Tiger Books, 2023
Genre: Children Fiction.

When a robbery takes place in an apartment complex in Maulsari and the police are left clueless, Malhar and his elder sister Meera, think this would be a better way to spend their summer holidays solving the mystery. Mirchi and Munna join them and the M4 is born. However, they are dragged into not just the robbery but a much larger mystery which involves international idol smuggling. Are the children able to crack this case? This is the first book in the M4 series. 

If you enjoyed reading Famous Five, Five Find-Outers as a kid or Perry Mason as a young adult, then this merges both. It also introduces you to the difference between criminal and civil offense and multiple legal terms for children and adults as a part of the narrative. Same thing goes for police procedure. Since most Indians are unaware about correct police procedure and legal procedures as it is not taught in schools, this would be a good book for all. It also shows how people suspected of crime are treated by Indian police especially if they are poor and why it is important to be aware of the law. 

The writing is clear, crisp and will hold the attention of anyone. If you are looking for a good book for your kids as neither Famous Five nor Harry Potter doesn't hold their attention, this book has the right balance of both mystery and law.  The author is a lawyer and keeps the narrative both engaging and educates the reader in police procedure. She is India's own Enid Blyton and Erle Stanley Gardner combined.  

If the "In the Name of God" by Ravi Subramanian was for adults, this one is for children, though it has enough legal information for adults too. 

To buy the book go here  Speaking Tigers