I will admit right up front here ... I picked this book up because of the first line of the first chapter: "On the day that he was due to retire, Inspector Ashwin Chopra discovered that he had inherited an elephant." How could I resist that? What followed was a delightful read as Inspector Chopra adjusts to his new life ... being retired, and responsible for an elephant. The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, by Vaseem Khan is a charming read. Loved the ending! Looks like it is the start of a new series, too, the first in A Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation books.

Was it fate? I found Behemoth: the History of the Elephant in America, by Ronald B. Tobias on the same day as the book by Mr. Khan! Well written and well researched I must add this warning: this is a hard book to read as there is much about cruel and inhumane treatment of animals, mostly, but not limited to, elephants. The sections on the use of elephants in advertising and tourist attractions (huge, elephant shaped buildings housing offices, apartments, restaurants, etc.) kept me going. Not for the faint of heart.

Reading Hermit With Dog