The City of Clues

It is with deep reverence and a sense of adventure that I present this collection of Mumbai-based mysteries, the first in a planned series chronicling the exploits of Vikram Deshmukh and Rohan Patel—a detective partnership inspired by none other than the legendary duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created a universe that has fascinated me ever since I first turned the pages of A Study in Scarlet as a child. Over the years, I have read, reread, and delighted in every one of his stories—even the most obscure corners of Baker Street. Doyle’s Holmes, with his keen mind and singular habits, and Watson, offering empathy and balance, were more than characters to me: they were an invitation to see the world as an endless puzzle, where every clue, every human quirk, and every shadow might matter.

Growing up in the irrepressible city of Mumbai, I often wondered what it would be like if such detectives walked our bustling streets. Mumbai, with its blend of tradition and technology, colonial grandeur and streetwise hustle, seemed equally suited to enigmas both classic and contemporary. It is here, in the city of my birth and upbringing, that I have set these stories—an homage to both Doyle and to the metropolis that shaped my own imagination.

The heroes of this book, Vikram Deshmukh and Rohan Patel, are unmistakably modern, yet grounded in the spirit of their Victorian predecessors. Vikram, a Maharashtrian private investigator with immense intuition and the restless curiosity of Holmes, brings relentless logic and an eye for hidden detail to every case. Rohan, a Gujarati wellness coach, yoga trainer, and Ayurvedic practitioner, offers the grounding, empathy, and cultural awareness so vital in a city that never slows down. Through Rohan’s eyes, you will see not only the crimes, but also the human stories, the small acts of healing and insight that anchor each larger puzzle.

Inside these pages, you’ll find mysteries as diverse as Mumbai itself: high-society scandals, digital con games, lost jewels, vanishing brides, cybercrime, blackmail, and secrets lurking in luxury towers as well as rain-soaked alleys. Each story stands alone, yet taken together, they form a tapestry of friendship, trust, and the pursuit of truth.

This is only the beginning. As I pen this first volume, I am already at work on at least four more books, each promising a fresh set of ten mysteries—over forty more tales on the anvil. My aim is to entertain, to inspire curiosity, and perhaps, in some small measure, to do for Mumbai what Doyle did for London: to reveal its many mysteries, both grand and humble, and the quiet, persistent hope that lies beneath its restless surface.

Thank you for joining Vikram, Rohan, and me on this journey. Whether you are a lifelong Holmesian, a fellow Mumbaikar, or simply a lover of mysteries, I hope you find these stories as delightful to read as they were to write.

You can grab the book here: https://amzn.to/3KBWOuB