I’m not usually a fan of mysteries, and that is what makes it all the more remarkable how well the M4 series by Mallika Ravikumar works for me. I read The Case of the Mysterious Witches some time ago, and it left a powerful impression on me. The Case of the Vanishing Gods was no different.
The story begins with a simple robbery–Mrs Shenoy’s jewellery is stolen, and along with it, an antique idol. Malhar, a fan of detective stories, is determined to find the criminal, and soon, he ropes in his sister Meera. However, two urban kids living in a bubble of privilege have little experience of a murky world where innocent people are jailed and beaten. Enter Mirchi, who might not be able to read well but certainly knows the ways of the world. With the dog Munna, we have the M4 who dip their toes into a theft and find themselves neck deep in a racket far bigger than they imagined.
What I admire about Mallika Ravikumar’s work is her attention to layering and detail. With remarkable deftness, she shows us the darkness of the justice system that often discriminates, instead of doing serving justice. Yet, even as she forces us to remove our rose-tinted glasses when it comes to the law, she doesn’t fail to give us a glimmer of hope, showing us an existing problem and encouraging us to act upon it.
The Case of the Vanishing Gods exposes the darkness of the art world and layers of corruption. It is a gripping middle grade story with high stakes, and although I was unsurprised when the criminal was exposed, I enjoyed the story and finished it feeling satisfied and pensive.
| Title | The Case of the Vanishing Gods |
| Author | Mallika Ravikumar |
| Tags | M4 Series, Middle Grade, Legal Mystery |
| Ages | 11+ |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.5 |
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