u/Overall_Bathroom_557

After decades working in finance and forensic-style review work, one thing I noticed is that most crime fiction treats corruption like a single villain hiding money offshore.
In reality, corruption usually survives because ordinary systems quietly cooperate with it:
approvals,
emergency exceptions,
procurement shortcuts,
documentation nobody reads,
and people convincing themselves they are only signing one harmless form.
That became the foundation for my crime mystery series set in India. The violence matters, but the real danger is usually institutional momentum.
I’m curious:
what crime novels do you think handled bureaucracy or institutional corruption realistically?

After decades working in finance and forensic-style review work, one thing I noticed is that most crime fiction treats corruption like a single villain hiding money offshore.
In reality, corruption usually survives because ordinary systems quietly cooperate with it:
approvals,
emergency exceptions,
procurement shortcuts,
documentation nobody reads,
and people convincing themselves they are only signing one harmless form.
That became the foundation for my books set in India. The violence matters, but the real danger is usually institutional momentum.
I’m curious:
what crime novels do you think handled bureaucracy or institutional corruption realistically?

I have 4 books about Indian noir mysteries. I originally translated my first into Hindi but have not sold many in India.

Not sure if it is poor marketing on my part or as some have said most educated Indians speak and read in English.

Would translation of the others into Hindi, Marathi, etc. help in your opinion or have no effect? I already have a Delhi distributor who holds the inventory and sells from his premises so shipping is not a cost issue.

I will be writing a new mystery novel about the city and plan on a visit for research. Beyond the standard sites one always sees, are there any recommendations about places to visit that are off the path and might help with a story?

I am writing mystery books now. My first three took place in Mumbai and now they have now moved to Delhi. Do people generally like the comfort of their own city or would you feel interested in another city or state, somewhere out of your knowledge?

I once did an A B poll on another social media platform and got maybe 20 different suggestions.

I am writing mystery books now. My first three took place in Mumbai and now they have now moved to Delhi. Do people generally like the comfort of their own city or would you feel interested in another city or state, somewhere out of your knowledge?

I once did an A B poll on another social media platform and got maybe 20 different suggestions.