Author: Nikhil Pradhan
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Do you think the past has a habit of catching up with our present?
Yesterday’s Ghosts by Nikhil Pradhan is the story of Black Team which was disbanded in
the wake of a disastrous war in Sri Lanka, three decades ago. In the present,
the members of the team, now well past their prime and in their 50s and 60s are
living the civilian lives, with the past being in the past, when one day they
receive a mysterious message, written in a code they had left in the annals of
time, and it is when it dawns upon them that the past they had walked away from
had followed them home. A story of secrets that haunts the people who carry it,
it is a story of a team of disgraced spies, and a code that should not exist.
The story has
been crafted beautifully with the plot twisting and turning at the right
moments. The author has used chess terms and the comparison is prevalent
throughout the book in multiple places such as section names, code names etc.
The details have been revealed bit by bit as the plot moves and the past has
been revealed in a manner that leaves the reader hungry for more. The
interrogative tone in the book is a nice touch, one that adds credence to the
entire premise. The language of the book is simple but engaging and keeps the
reader hooked till the last page. The research that would have went in the
crafting the story would have been immense with codebooks and number stations
in such intricate detail being explained in the book. I loved the part where
the story has layers of supernatural elements, just hints and Nikhil has very
precariously balanced the narrative between a thriller and a tinge of
supernatural element. The climax was truly unexpected and terrifying. I
specially loved the prologue and the epilogue of the book and the powerful
symbolism embedded in it.
Coming to the
characters that make the story the way it is. I loved the element of mystery
that shrouds the Black Knight and how the author has maintained that persona
throughout the story. Castellan was another favorite of mine in the manner in
which he carries himself and conducts the entire interrogation, with some very
interesting moments that come out in the open. Zed as a person surprised me
with his mental acuity and the way he shows various facets of his character at
various junctures, and how despite being a rebel, is a better soldier. The one
thing that would have added more flavor in the story if we could find out the
story behind the Knight as well.
Overall, the
book is an excellent composition and is a must read if you like chess, spy
thrillers or have a penchant for the unknown. The book scores a 4.85/5 for me.
Grab a copy of the book here.
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