The Belvoirbrooke Haunting-Abhirup Dhar

Book: The Belvoirbrooke Haunting
Author: Abhirup Dhar
Publisher: Redgrab Books

What is the scariest horror story you have heard?

The Belvoirbrooke Haunting by Abhirup Dhar is set in the tea gardens of Darjeeling in the year 1990 when a newly married couple Nihith and Jemisha come to live in the Belvoirbrooke Tea Estate, which was founded in 1865. After a few days of calm, somethings start happening that hint towards the presence of a paranormal entity in that place and drives Jemisha on the brink of insanity, or just bow down to the rules that govern the local legend. To soothe the nerves of his wife, Nihith hires Chitin Barman, a paranormal investigator and a clairvoyant psychic. Is the mystery of the haunting solved, or do they fall prey to an urban legend?

Horror is a genre that walks on thin ice. With subtle spine-chilling horror scenes and the continuous ominous mood, this story is a perfect horror story, one that scares you, but not beyond a point that it seems ridiculous. The plot is executed in a perfect arc that takes the reader through multiple levels of horror and the author has taken time to establish the horror in the story. The commendable thing about this book is the fact that while the book is quite short, almost a single sitting read, but there is no detail that Abhirup has skipped. There is explanation, paranormal investigation, horror, romance and a certain mystery that makes it an amazing read. The climax of the book was truly unexpected, and the last scene will tingle your spine, and not just because of the horror element. The one thing that could be improved in the book is the division of scenes with some markers.

Coming to the characters, I’ll take this opportunity to feature our beloved paranormal being and his scariness was truly hair raising. A being created with alacrity and one that does not overact, I loved the part he plays in this book. Chitin Barman is another quirky character that adds a certain charm to the book. The show, however, is stolen by Nihith and the manner in which his character develops through the book.

The book is a perfect Halloween read that scores a 4.5/5 for me.

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Murder Before Carnival-Sameer Kumar

Book: Murder Before Carnival: A Tale of the Floating Body 
Author: Sameer Kumar
Publisher: Flipping Pages

Which is your favorite murder mystery?

Murder Before Carnival by Sameer Kumar is the story of what happens when a dead body is found inside the idol of the Goddess on the last day of Durga Puja at the Red Road Carnival when it is being immersed. As the election dates are close, this becomes an important issue and the top echelons of the state machinery get involved. With the Chief Minister vowing to find the people responsible and bringing them to book within 48 hours. How does the power, politics and people’s emotions impact the investigation forms the story.

There are few murder mysteries that are able to execute the level of detail in a manner which can keep the reader hooked. Murder Before Carnival does that with relative ease. The plot is well planned and being the first book of a series, the amount of information presented is just enough to pique the reader’s interest for upcoming books. There are references to current scenarios as well as some interesting political powerplays that make the story seem authentic. Sameer has taken up the unique murder and the book has been well researched in terms of forensic science and investigation methods. The one thing that can be improved in the book is the editing and the grammar as I found that there were quite a few errors and that actually takes away the fun of such an amazing book. The climax of this book is quite intriguing, and I would love to see the next part come out real soon.

Coming to the characters, I loved the character of Aahana and the many shades of her that we see in the book. While she seems not to be the primary character of the book, the climax of the book suggests otherwise, and I am sure we’ll get to see more of her in the future books of MBC. Another set of characters that I loved were Pradeep, Sudipto and Parimal as they put some very interesting scenes out through the book. The professional rivalries between them was the spice that added fun to this book. I am hoping to see more of John Mark as he did seem to be an interesting piece of work.

Overall a good murder mystery that scores a 3.88/5 for me.

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Yama-Kevin Missal

Book: Yama
Author: Kevin Missal
Publisher: Simon and Schuster India

Would you be comfortable if someone else decided your fate?

Yama by Kevin Missal is the tale of a vigilante called Yama who is killing people across the country who are outed on social media for being corrupt and guilty. Things take a turn when Dhruvi Rajput, a psychotherapist gets a call from him. Already lost 2 people in her life, this call threatens to change her life forever. When the CBI gets this case to investigate, Basheer Ali, a Senior Inspector is assigned this case for his track record, but with his history of watching the rich and the powerful walk free, he finds himself on a crossroad. As the story moves across the country with Dhruvi and Basheer looking for the God of Death, would they choose the right thing, or the one that is moral?

The plot of the story is crafted with a lot of detail, and as it progresses, one cannot help but sympthasise with the vigilante as things unfold. The pace of the book is good and there are no moments where the story drops or seems boring. The central premise of the book seems eerily relevant in the times we live in and the way it is presented, one might actually stop and take a break to let the story sink in. As is with Kevin’s other books, the book is well researched and the mythological references in the story are interesting, though this one is a bit light in the mythological aspect. As a vigilante book, this is well told, however I seem to have come across a similar plot some years earlier as well, but the two are different on many aspects as well. An unputdownable book, each chapter is so engaging that a reader will definitely move on to the next one immediately. Filled with contemporary references, the plot is well sketched and well executed. I would have loved to read a bit more about Rahul Rajput and Pia and their backstories which would have given a bit more credence to the story.

The characters are the backbone of this story as it hinges on their moral compass and their beliefs. Dhruvi Rajput as a character is quite interesting and the manner in which she reacts to various situations was quite interesting and there are times when you actually question her role in the story. The character of Basheer Ali is an enigma and his arc throughout the story was the one that propels the story forward. Onto our protagonist, who I felt was the star of the book. With an admirable sense of style in the manner in which he dresses, I became a fan from the first page itself. The manner in which the identity is revealed is something that will surely surprise any reader.

Overall, an interesting book that takes up multiple topics, yet binds them together seamlessly. The book scores a 3.88/5 for me.

P.S. The cover makes sense when you reach the climax.

Get your copy here.

Once Upon a Spy-Suvash Dev

Book: Once Upon a Spy
Author: Suvash Dev
Publisher: Kalamos Literary Services

Which is the best fictional spy you have come across?

Once Upon a Spy by Suvash Dev is the story of Vishwamitra Saini, an Indian spy who falls in love with a girl and which leads to him blowing his cover. As a result, he is put on the shelf and is then he decides that the line has been crossed and he defects to Pakistan, putting the secrets in jeopardy. As the agencies start looking for Saini, they stumble upon a mysterious person, The Rook, who wants to trade information from the other side, but has not yet shown all his cards. As Saini navigates through a web of politics, betrayal, love and spy craft, we journey through a story about people who, in the business of pretending, have left their true selves behind.

The plot of the book starts on an excellent note with some very interesting scenes that would engage the reader into the premise of the book and the story of Saini. As the story moves ahead, things start getting a bit hazy as the lines between truth and lies get blurred. While this is a good thing in a book on spies that focuses on people double crossing, too much of this tends to make things confusing for the reader, which is what happens. The manner in which the story has been told is quite interesting and Suvash as a storyteller can go places with the eye for detail that he has. The premise of the story is well crafted, but I felt that the execution could have been a bit better. The climax of the story started on an amazing note, but did not do justice to the level I expected from it.

Coming to the characters, the story has some of the best characters that can be present in a story about spooks. With tragic backstories and nefarious pasts, each one has their own agenda and throughout the book, the reader is kept guessing the identity of the Rook. Personally, Vishwamitra was one of the favorites because of the manner in which his arc develops and the manner in which he twists and turns the story to his advantage. Hayat was another character that caught my fancy in the way he carried himself, and how his mannerisms changed.

Overall, a good spy novel that scores a 3.50/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here. 

Twilight in a Knotted World-Siddhartha Sarma

Book: Twilight in a Knotted World
Author: Siddhartha Sarma
Publisher: Simon and Schuster India

What is the most interesting account of the thugs during the British period have you come across?

Twilight in a Knotted World by Siddhartha Sarma is set in the years when the British East India Company had just come to India and was just making its mark in the subcontinent. Captain William Sleeman was posted in Jabalpur and was looking for the long-buried remains of a long-dead giant, along with his wife Amelie, when he is given an additional task of investigating a class of criminals who strangle their victims called as Phasigars. Together with Lieutenant Reynolds, he embarks on a discovery that surprises him with a completely different set of beliefs, language and a very unique style of criminals. As they move further, they realise the key to their answers is a legend among the Phasigars. This is a story that presents a completely new dimension of a country to our protagonists, as it intertwines caste, religion and the basic will to survive.

The plot of the book is extremely interesting in the manner it is constructed. The author took up the main plotline of the idea of the problem of the Phasigars to talk about our society as a whole. Through the eyes of the characters, we journey through a transitional time in the Indian Modern History. While the plot is fictional, the contexts seem oddly real with the social commentary on the practice of Sati, the Indian Caste system and the idea of creating a penal code for the country. The book opens with an interesting scene that sets the context of the entire book in a very wonderful manner, and specially the callback to the first chapter of the book in the later parts is quite interesting. Siddhartha’s storytelling is not pacy, rather it lets the reader soak in the events that have passed, making sure that one does not miss out on the nitty gritties of the book. I loved the manner in which the central plot of the book unfolded slowly, after setting up the scenes around it. Personally, I loved the part of the book where the salt traders are stopped at the check post and the manner in which things unfold post that. Another aspect of the book that I liked was that of Captain Sleeman’s summary of the events in the climax and how that ties up the entire plot. The story has infact now motivated me to go and read up a bit more about the Thugs of India and the legends that surround them.

Coming to the characters, I admired the manner in which the characters have been sketched through the course of the story and how each scene is important to each character that lives through it. Captain Sleeman is an interesting character study as we see him graduate from looking for bones of animals to searching for the victims of the Phasigars. His eye for detail, and following the letter of the law, and yet choose the right thing on a crossroad is extremely commendable. Another character that I liked was that of his wife, Amelie, who supported Sleeman in all his endeavors, and acted as his moral compass during testing times as well. I liked the fact that she added the much-required human touch to the entire plot. Lastly, the Phasigars as a group add to my list of favorites in the book because of the dedication they had towards their craft, as well as the sheer brilliance of the planning and execution they exhibited in the crimes they committed.

Overall, an excellent book that scores a 4.63/5 for me.

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A Tea-stall by the Side of the Road-Murad Jawed

Book: A Tea-stall by the Side of the Road
Author: Murad Jawed
Publisher: Bluerose Publications

Do you believe that ghosts exist?

A Tea-stall by the Side of the Road is a collection of 8 stories across various genres that depict the human nature. Based on the local folklore and urban legends from across India, the stories are presented in first first-person narrative. These stories are based on actual experiences shared by people with the author. From recounting a love story lost to the sands of time in Megha: A Forgotten Love Story, to a couple of dramatic stories titled A Train Journey to Pune where the tales of a corporate employee is told, and The Peepal Tree. With the thrilling tale of The Closure, we move towards the triad of horror tales titled The Shadow Man, Scary Story and The Haunted Diaries.

The plot of each of the 8 stories is well crafted with attention to detail such that one cannot easily find loopholes in them. True to the genre of each story, the elements in the stories will make you feel the way the story is progressing. In the sole romantic story, one can actually feel the pain of the lovers and in the triad of the horror stories, each one of them makes the hair stand. The storytelling is quite fluid, and helps you create vivid imagery that makes you live the story, not just read in, and I believe that is the best thing that one can do while penning them. In the drama stories, however, I felt a bit more of substance could have been added as they seemed paler in comparison to the other stories. The climax of each of the stories is excellent though, and personally, I would love to see more horror stories from the author’s pen.

The characters of the book are ordinary with extra ordinary stories. These are people that can be found among us, and even the situations that he has penned are almost quite real, and the reactions help establish a feeling of connect with the characters. I loved the characters in the horror stories, and I connected a lot with the character in A Train Journey to Pune.

Overall, a good collection of stories that scores a 3.69/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

The Captive-Lavanya Nukavarapu

Book: The Captive
Author: Lavanya Nukavarapu
Publisher: Eka Press

Do you think we all have demons inside of us?

The Captive by Lavanya Nukavarapu is the story of how things unfold when a when a kidnapped girl escapes and sets the alarms ringing on at least 15 unsolved murder cases, mostly involving female victims. Kruthi Shah who escaped from the wooden cabin after killing one of her abductors. She makes it her life’s purpose to dish out what she sees as the punishment to the perpetrators of this crime. Madhuri Mahiwal, the Officer In-Charge, wants nothing but justice for Kruthi. How does the team crack the case and find the one who held Kruthi and the others?

The plot of the story seemed captivating in the beginning and had a solid start in the beginning as we saw how Kruthi was kept as a captive, but the plot unraveled too fast. I loved the manner in which the search operation was shown and the subsequent unravelling the mastermind of the story. Frankly, the search for the boss was one of the best parts of the book and how the author actually told the backstory, telling it one piece at a time. the title of the book holds many meanings in the book and as they show themselves, it is almost as if a sweater is unravelling, one thread at a time. The thing that could have been improved was the that the suspense could have been held on for a longer period. I would have loved to see a bit more of the wild goose chases in the story. The climax was fresh and interesting.

Coming to the characters, Kruthi as a character did fascinate me with her mental strength and personality as she faced all adversities, yet does not flinch. The way her arc has been established is noteworthy and I loved the surprise in the end. Avinash is another interesting part of the story that does make you think twice before coming to any assumptions as to his role in the story. The character of Madhuri as a police officer and her quest for justice seemed genuine and there was an earnestness in his character that appealed to me.

Overall, a good book that scores a 3.75/5 for me.

 Grab a copy of the book here.

Papa -Jiganshu Sharma

Book: Papa
Author: Jiganshu Sharma
Publisher: Bluerose Publications

What is your favorite murder mystery?

Papa by Jiganshu Sharma is the story of the Mehra family of Delhi who faced a double whammy in the short span of a few months. The murder of Ishita Mehra shocker her family and the people who knew them. Shortly after losing their father to a car crash, the family was in distress as the mother, Kanta had gone into depression, and they had a younger girl who was deaf and had ADHD. The eldest son Pawan was pursuing his MBA and offered to leave his course and help his family, but his brother Ritesh stopped him and shouldered the responsibility of the family. Rajveer Singhmar, a newly recruited cop gets assigned to the case who gets quite involved in it. Can he identify the killer and bring justice to the family?

The plot of the story has been drafted well but the execution of the same could have been better. The murder mystery, which is supposed to be the main plot gets sidelined in all the emotional description that the author introduced in the story. The idea of a middle-class family, wrought with challenges, facing unprecedented hurdles was an interesting setting, coupled with parallel storylines that could have added volumes to the story. with Rajveer’s personal story overshadowing the main plot, the idea of a murder mystery is lost. Another thing that irked me was the overload of information and the insistence of the author of explaining things too much. The book has multiple grammatical and spelling mistakes and needs a second round of editing to make it better. The climax was good but by that time, the interest of the reader in the story wanes away. At the same time, not all is bad in the story. It has its good moments when we see Rajveer interacting with his wife, or when we see his dedication to work.

Coming to the characters, Rajveer as a character was interesting and I loved how emotionally invested he was in his job. Jiganshu created a character that paid attention to detail and I loved the quirkiness that he had. Ritesh as a character was another one that fascinated me with his ability to sacrifice for his family. His dedication to his responsibilities was commendable. I would have loved to see some insight and role of the elder brother, Pawan as well, and it would have made an interesting addition to the plot. The description of Rajveer’s wife, however, was unnecessary and it took up a lot of space in the plot line.

Overall, a decent book that could have been better. It scores a 2.5/5 from me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Dozen Pebbles Washed Ashore by Life-Aura Bhattacharjee

Book: Dozen Pebbles Washed Ashore by Life
Author: Aura Bhattacharjee
Publisher: Storymirror Infotech

Do you think observations around you make for good stories?

Dozen Pebbles Washed Ashore by Life by Aura Bhattacharjee is a collection of 12 short stories, each of which carries a subtle message for the reader. Short stories that pair up perfectly with a kulhad or two of steaming tea, travelling on the last row of a public bus, or wading the Mumbai rains to grab the fast local to Andheri. The stories span across people, places and food across Bengaluru, Chicago, Kolkata and Mumbai. Drawn loosely from the author’s life, there are stories that tell the tales of the people like you and me.

The book is a refreshing read with stories that are simple, yet subtle. Each of the 12 stories was different from each other and shows a flair of storytelling that Aura has. The manner in which a plain track of the story gets a sudden burst of a twist in the end was something I liked. Since they have been drawn from her own life, the stories strike a raw nerve in the reader and help them visualize the scene as it unfolds. The descriptions of people, places and emotions is quite vivid and adds a different dimension to these stories. A couple of the stories could have been better in terms of its content, otherwise I liked the rest. My favorites from the pack were Rendezvous, Full Course Meal and Ancient Love as they struck a chord with me somehow.

Coming to the characters, the one thing that stands out about them is their rusticness. These are people one would see in their families, offices, trains and basically around them. Aura has recounted her experiences and thus each of the character felt real, as if it is a real person. Despite being short stories, the characters are well defined and there are almost no loose ends or wayward people. With just the right amount of characters, it felt like a perfect party where the guests are telling their life stories.

With a score of 3.69/5, the collection of stories a recommendation from me if you are looking for a light read, one that fits all your moods and will make you smile, regardless of what you were feeling before reading the book.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Those Delicious Letters-Sandeepa Mukherjee Datta

Book: Those Delicious Letters
Author: Sandeepa Mukherjee Datta (aka The Bong Mom)
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Do you think letters convey an emotion that no other medium can?

Those Delicious Letters by Sandeepa Mukherjee Datta is the story of Shubha, a quadragenarian, settled in the United States who starts receiving mysterious letters from an old lady in Calcutta, who claims to be her grandmother. The surprising part: each of the letters carries a traditional Bengali recipe. While not a person fond of cooking, these recipes bring a feeling of nostalgia and she gets sucked into the world of forgotten food, one letter at a time. Her flavors become a favorite with everyone, except her husband Sameer who is too busy to be at home to taste them. Intrigues by the letters, Shubha tries looking for the old woman, and in the process unravels her past, allowing her to travel to a time past. Balancing her search for this woman, the feeling of success and saving her marriage, Shubha tries to find the recipe for her life.

The plot of the book is extremely well crafted, with attention to minor details. Sandeepa has blended the two languages with such ease that it just feels right as we read the Bengali terms interspersed with English, almost as if one has cooked the cholar dal, with just the right amount of sugar. The story is very touching and the manner in which it moves stirs nostalgia inside a person, specially if they have lived in the area of Kolkata and its suburbs. The book was an amazing ride down the lanes of the food that is a part of the Bengali culture and this is an excellent way of keeping some iconic recipes alive. Coming back to the story, I loved the manner in which the story has been divided and the concept of an Inland letter getting delivered every month to Shubha, and how those transform her life. The idea of providing the recipes in the book was an added bonus! Taking the idea of a mid-life crisis and how people usually behave, Sandeepa has shown a flair for research before penning down this book. The plot has no holes, and frankly, I was drooling at times while reading the book. One thing that deserves a mention in the review is the true idea of the book right till the end when it all comes together. Frankly, the climax was something that was unexpected, and I actually brimmed up when those things unfolded.

Coming to the characters, the book has some very interesting assortment of characters that are funny, quirky and what not, sometimes at the same time. Shubha, our protagonist, is an interesting study as she believes to be above all vices that one has, yet falls prey to the simplest of them. A confident woman who makes her own choices, I loved the way her character arc was sketched and developed through the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations in her head, and sometimes not! Kajol as a character impressed me with her belief systems and her trust in Shubha and her team. I loved the character of Jai, and would have loved to see a bit more of him than the doi maach scene. Coming to Sameer, I am amazed as to how much detail would have gone in creating his arc, with all the things happening. I am awestruck by how Sandeepa hid some details in plain sight that seem obvious in hindsight.

Overall, I simply loved the book and I am happy I read this one. Those Delicious Letters is not just a book, but an experience akin to having a food-infused journey through the eyes of the writer. The impact of the story can be seen by the fact that I could taste the flavors and imagine the letters as they were being read out. The book is a complete full course meal from Hing’r Kochuri to Khichuri and finally completing the palate by the ever favorite Sondesh.

The book is almost perfect with a score of 4.94/5 for me.

 Grab a copy of the book here. 

Check out her website here.

Our Song-Milan Vohra

Book: Our Song
Author: Milan Vohra
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Music has the ability to invoke something deep inside a person and to bring out the raw emotion one has in them.

Our Song by Milan Vohra explores the story of Ragini, a struggling music composer who walked away from her training of Hindustani Classical Music to find her own tunes in Bengaluru, to do something which her heart desired, and Andrew, the head of a mega pharma company. Andrew being Indian on his father’s side, and British on his maternal, has a personality that is magnetic. They cross paths when Andrew’s company needs a song composed for the silver jubilee celebrations and he zeroes in on her. Ragini needs this collaboration to be able to do what she loves doing, make her own music. The problem-they set off sparks in each other and that is something neither of them wants to focus on. This is the Jugalbandi of emotions and music that the story explores.

There are stories that you can imagine and then there are the ones that make you feel the emotions in the plot. Our Song falls in the second bucket. The plot of the book is simple, but the way it has been told is quite interesting. It is primarily a love story, but it talks about love at multiple levels. The music of the book is so deeply entrenched that one can actually hum the songs that Ragini composes. Milan unravels the story bit by bit, so much so that taking a break between the book becomes a challenge in itself. Another thing that interested me was the way the perspectives in the scenes change from Ragini to Andrew and back, such that you can imagine yourself hovering over the scene, living it with them. The exquisite details in the story make it a worthwhile journey from the crowded city of Bengaluru to the enticing hills of Kasauli. One thing that I would love to mention here is the fact that while each of the character had a past, the way it was unveiled was quite interesting and added a different flavor to it. There are a couple of grammatical errors, nothing that a second edit cannot fix. The climax was extremely filmy and considering the way the plot moves, this is actually a fitting way it would have ended. The underlying feeling of hope is something that would surely catch the attention of a reader.

Coming to the characters in the book, Ragini as a character amazed me with the way her story was told. With the chirpiness and the spring in her step, she was a bubbly character that added the jazz to the story. her dedication to music, her emotions and her reactions were beautifully crafted, and it was as if I could see her walking down the road on the flyover. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Andrew is the non-nonsense guy, focused on his work, enjoying the carefree life. His detachment adds the serious notes to the jazz that Ragini brings to the story. The manner in which he evolves was something that surprising as well. Anand Arya was a surprise character for me, and I did not bet on his appearance at all.

Overall, it is a musical journey that will drive you to open your music app and create a playlist of the songs mentioned in the book. I have my fingers crossed to hear the Livin’On song quite soon!

The book scores a 4.5/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

The Girl Next Door-Arpit Vageria

Book: The Girl Next Door
Author: Arpit Vageria
Publisher: Srishti Publications

Do you think the lockdown brought about a material change in our lives and the way we look at things?

The Girl Next Door by Arpit Vageria is the story of Ishaan, a guy who had vowed never to return to his place of birth, his hometown after what happened one fateful night and Ruhi, a well-known choreographer and the Chief Minister’s daughter. Both of them had led separate lives in the city of Mumbai but when a lockdown was imposed to cope with the impact of the Aquavirus, both of them travel back to Bhopal. As their eyes meet across the roofs, love starts to blossom, the 90s way. Would they cross roofs and meet, or would they fall victim to the lockdown?

The plot of the story is quite contemporary with Arpit picking up the current scenario of the lockdown to base his story on. The story is the usual boy-meets-girl, only this time the setting is a bit different. The concept of the story seems good, but it fails on the execution aspect. The scenes of the story seem disconnected and the plot suffers from gaps that reduce the reading experience. The style of narration used by Arpit is quite innovative and when the reason comes to light, it is quite shocking and provides context to the entire thing. The one thing that did not work for me in the book was that some of the scenes seeming forced and uncalled for. It is a quick read and good if you are looking for one. The climax was good but could have been better.

Coming to the characters, a good backstory was provided for the Agarwal family to behave the manner they did, and a lot of context was provided for the same. Ishaan’s character curve was interesting, and I loved his treatment in the story. I would have loved to have Ruhi’s perspective of the story as well and it would have given a completely new dimension to it. Nakul as a character did confuse me and his arc did not seem that clear to me.

Overall, the book scores a 3.19 for me.

 Grab a copy of the book here.

Along Came a Spyder-Apeksha Rao

Book: Along Came a Spyder
Author: Apeksha Rao
Publisher: Treeshade Books

Have you ever wanted to be a spy?

Along Came a Spyder by Apeksha Rao is the story of Samira Joshi, a teenager who aspires to be a spy, and that is something that flows in her blood. With a great-grandmother who liked to stick her nose in everybody’s business, a grandmother who loved to track down errant husbands & missing servants to parents who are elite intelligence agents for the RAW, but for some reason, they continuously nag her to pursue the profession of being a doctor. When an unplanned encounter at a coffee house leads to some sleuthing by Samira, she discovers something that might change her life. The question is, can she get what she always wanted?

Apeksha has crafted an interesting spy thriller that engages you from the very first page and keeps you hooked as the story moves ahead. The plot is simple yet intriguing as we uncover the various adventures that Samira takes up in her quest of being a spy. Apeksha brings out another idea of children choosing their careers and how motivation can drive a teenager to become so brave as to face their worst fears. The author also explores the idea of teenage rivalry and friendship through Tina and how their journey evolves through the story. A Young-Adult book, the Spyders are an interesting start to a probable series and I would love to see more of the Spyders in the future with more adventures. The climax was a bit expected and I would have loved to see a twist though. There are many instances in the story that would actually make you gape in awe at the research that must have gone into the book. Wordplay in the title and many places in the book is quite commendable.

The characters in the story are well defined with credible back stories and settings. I loved how the backstory of the Joshis unravels and adds volume to the story. The entire concept of the Spyders and their different members, each with a completely different personality add a lot of credibility to Apeksha as a storyteller. With interesting nuances in the characters such as Col. Baldev Singh and his secretary, I would definitely like to know more about them and their stories as they come along.

The book scores a 3.88/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.