Inspector Ghote Hunts the Peacock
Encyclopedia
Plot introduction
An injury to Inspector GhoteInspector Ghote
Inspector Ganesh V. Ghote is a fictional police officer who is the main character in H. R. F. Keating's detective novels. Ghote is an inspector in the police force of Bombay , India....
's commanding officer prevents him from attending an international police conference on drug smuggling that is to be held in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Inspector Ghote is ordered to go to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, attend the conference, take notes and produce a presentation on behalf of his superior.
On arrival Inspector Ghote is met by his cousin and his wife, who run an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n restaurant in London. He intends to stay with them for the duration of the conference but quickly learns that they expect him to find their missing 17 year old niece, Ranee, who is nicknamed "The Peacock" for her bright attitude and dress.
In between attending the conference Ghote investigates the girl's disappearance, has his high expectations of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
dashed by a grey and grimy London and tries to acquire a gift to take home to his wife.
Explanation of the novel's title
The title refers to Inspector Ghote's search for the missing girl.Plot summary
Inspector Ghote is tasked by his Superintendent to attend the London police conference and present a prepared speech. On arrival at London airport Inspector Ghote is met by his cousins, Mr and Mrs Datta, who run a London restaurant. Their niece, 17 year old Ranee, known as the Peacock for her brightness, has disappeared. The family suspect her boyfriend, 35 year old pop music star Johnny Bull.An interview with the girl's friends reveals that they believe she has been killed but do not know who by.
Ghote visits the singer in his flat where he is told that Johnny has not seen the Peacock since she disappeared and that Johnny has taken up with another girl, Susan. Johnny is a self-confessed opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
user and informs Ghote that the Peacock herself was a drug user who acquired her drugs from a local public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
known as the "Robin's Nest".
At the "Robin's Nest", Ghote extracts a confession from the owner of having supplied opium to Peacock. He learns of a protection racket being run by the Smith brothers and is surprised to find that the Peacock's uncle, Vidur Datta, is an opium user.
Later, Ghote manages to confront the Smith brothers at their home (where they live with their mother), only to find himself in immediate danger. He is rescued by a passing policeman who advises Ghote against interfering in an investigation being conducted by the British Police and suggests in a patronising manner that Ghote should stay in busy well-lit streets.
Ghote decides to take up the matter with the local police station where he encounters a prejudiced desk sergeant.
Believing he has reached a dead end to his enquiries, Ghote decides to drop the case. The Peacock's aunt, Mrs Datta, quickly changes his mind by making it an issue of professional pride.
Ghote keeps watch on the Smith bother's home the following night and gains access while they are out. While talking to their mother he learns they were in police custody before and after the disappearance of the Peacock.
Returning to the "Robin's Nest" Ghote accuses the owner of lying and attempting to steer him into harm's way. Ghote satisfies himself that the man could not have murdered the Peacock however.
Ghote attempts to interview Johnny Bull again, but fails to get past Susan. He learns that Johnny will be at a particular recording studio that afternoon. He returns to the conference where he listens to a superb presentation and learns that his own presentation must follow it the next day. He begins to become nervous about addressing a crowd.
At the recording studio, Ghote conceals himself and overhears enough from Susan to realise that Johnny Bull could not have kidnapped or murdered the Peacock.
When he returns to his cousins he informs them of his findings so far and is promptly scolded for spending so much time finding out who has not kidnapped or murdered the girl.
The next day Ghote has developed a cold as a result of the British climate. He finds the conference has moved into a much larger and grander room for the last day. His speech will be the last of the conference and he becomes increasingly nervous as the time for him to speak. However, the man who is to introduce Ghote is twenty minutes late, leaving him in a state of consternation. Finally Ghote gives his presentation and makes an appalling job of it. Frustrated and angry at everything that has happened, he adds what he has learned about Johnny Bull using opium and walks out.
That evening at his cousin's restaurant, Ghote realises he has solved the mystery of the Peacock's disappearance. Ghote accuses his cousin, Vidur Datta, of murdering Ranee "The Peacock" Datta because she was blackmailing him with his secret opium habit. The body is concealed under the restaurant's rubbish.
No sooner has Ghote made the accusation and secured a confession than the British Police arrive, eager to congratulate him on the information he supplied about Johnny Bull. Johnny has been arrested and confessed to smuggling drugs in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
he has been using in his latest songs.
Characters in "Inspector Ghote Hunts The Peacock"
Inspector Ganesh GhoteInspector Ghote
Inspector Ganesh V. Ghote is a fictional police officer who is the main character in H. R. F. Keating's detective novels. Ghote is an inspector in the police force of Bombay , India....
: A hard working Indian Police Inspector who normally lives and works in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Johnny Bull: A fading pop music star who is now in his thirties, he is trying to change his look in the hope it will help him appeal to the younger generation. His new look includes an Indian aesthetic. He became addicted to opium on a trip to India, where he met Ranee.
Ranee "Peacock" Datta: A 17 year old girl raised in both India and the United Kingdom. She is missing throughout the novel but her character is central to the plot. She is very western in her attitudes, described as being bright and confident with a love of new clothes and pop music, particularly Johnny Bull's.
Jack Smith: Eldest of the Smith brothers, a criminal trio who run a protection racket and who are possibly involved with drugs.
Pete Smith: Described as "not right in the head" by Ghote's informant, Pete keeps a dangerous dog and appears to be mentally disabled. He is, however, very strong.
Billy Smith: Youngest of the Smith brothers, Pete flirted with Ranee but failed to achieve a relationship.
Mrs Smith: Mother to the Smith brothers, who live at home with her. She appears to have a frank and open relationship with them concerning their criminal activities, of which she is happy to accept the benefits.
Sandra: Johnny Bull's new girlfriend and a white British girl the same age as Ranee. Hostile to Ghote's investigation and protective of Johnny Bull, she is willing to bully Johnny when it comes to his career and drug habit.
Robin: Owner and bartender of the "Robin's Nest". Also a dealer in opium who supplies the Peacock and Vidur Datta.
Major themes
Inspector Ghote deals with themes of culture clash, post-imperial relations between Britain and India, racism, crime, drugs and murder.Literary significance & criticism
This is the fourth in the Inspector Ghote series of novels. The series itself has won two Gold Daggers, awarded by the Crime Writers' AssociationCrime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
.
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
This novel takes place in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the capital city of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and includes famous landmarks such as the Thames river, Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name...
and the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
Inspector Ghote Hunts the Peacock was adapted for television as part of the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series Detective. It was broadcast on 12 October 1969 as the sixth episode in season three. Hugh Leonard dramatized the novel and it was directed by Ben Rea. The role of Inspector Ghote was played by Zia Mohyeddin. Vidur Datta was played by Marne Maitland. The name of Johnny Bull was changed to Johnny Britain and the role was played by Alan Tucker.
Release details
- 1968, United Kingdom, E. P. Dutton, ISBN 009957960X, June 1968, Hardback
- 1969, United Kingdom, Penguin Books Ltd, ISBN 0-14-003020-4 / 978-0-14-003020-4, September 1969, Paperback
- 1985, United Kingdom, Constable, ISBN 0-09-466320-3 / 978-0-09-466320-6, April 1985, Hardback
- 1985, USA, Academy Chicago Publishers, ISBN 0-89733-179-6 / 978-0-89733-179-1, November 1985, Paperback
- 1988, United Kingdom, Arrow Books Ltd, ISBN 0-09-957960-X / 978-0-09-957960-1, April 1988, Paperback
- 1991, USA, Curley Publishing, ISBN 0-7927-1135-1 / 978-0-7927-1135-3, December 1991, Paperback
- 1992, USA, Curley Publishing, ISBN 0-7927-1136-X / 978-0-7927-1136-0, March 1992, Paperback