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.

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