Eccentricity meets modern-age revenge psychology: This can be broadly the tagline for this murder thriller by India’s fastest selling crime fiction author Joygopal Podder. Even if you have a psychological bias against Indian crime thrillers, you shouldn’t miss out on this one!
The story starts on a mild, vague note which can put you off. But if you can bear through the first few pages, you will inevitably see yourself in a fast-paced world of Gurgaon with each move carefully silhouetting a darker background, a background that makes itself gradually prominent until the end when it eventually takes over the story, of the characters and of the book. The story talks about a rags-to-riches businessman and his wife, their close knit family and a seemingly enigmatic past of the businessman. It revolves around a basic theme of revenge for a murder; the distinguishing key, however, is the causation of a psychological state which gave rise to a series of psychotic murders. Now, a thing that could’ve put the book off would’ve been a haphazard and hurried change from sanity to questions to insanity. This transition, however, was carried out efficiently and effortlessly. By means of which, there are no questions unanswered or loopholes unfilled. In the end, you are left with an intense satiation of anxiety and goosebumps all over!
The characters are imperfect, which makes them relatable and all the side-characters have been given due importance, apart from some maybe. Less importance has been given to the intricate details of the personality of some characters that is only the behaviors that contribute to the development of a story line have been explained. Thus, at some places, it is almost as if apart from the plot, there is nothing more to the character.
My favorite part about the book was that there was very less prose which made it a lot more easier to concentrate on the story rather than how the table looked or the grass moved. There was just the right amount of emotions required to touch you but still not turn the thriller into a love story. The accuracy here is worth the praise!
The negative point, however, was that the story became very predictable after a certain point which is a sure short no-no for any crime fiction. The author does manage to make our anxiety levels stay up towards the climax, the story just becomes known to us after a point. The final end however is still the best and my favorite!
So, if you have to make a last minute train journey or a night to spare, this book is an ideal partner. It will make you clutch your nearest pillow and heave sighs of relief, that is a guarantee!
Book Details:
| Author: | Joygopal Podder | ||
| Publisher: | Authorspress | Year of Publishing: | 2016 |
| ISBN-13: | 9789352073160 | ISBN-10: | 9352073169 |
| Cover: | Paperback | No. of Pages: | 224 |
| MRP: | Rs 395 | Buy From: | Flipkart.com Amazon.in  |
(Review by Aayushi Shah)
My Verdict
My Ratings
4
If you have to make a last minute train journey or a night to spare, this book is an ideal partner.
