Shadow in the Mirror-Deepti Menon

Book: Shadow in the Mirror
Author: Deepti Menon
Publisher: Readomania

Do you believe perceptions can alter a person completely?

Shadow in the Mirror by Deepti Menon begins with Nita’s death, a pregnant woman who falls from her balcony, which becomes the string that unravels a sinister plot that is afoot. As the story progresses, a shadow is cast over many lives, her father, husband, and Vinny, a young journalist drawn in by the allegations of foul play and murder. This leads to a riveting telling of stories within stories that tell the tale of splintered relationships, and some aspects of life that come together, and go away, only to come back together. Would the mystery of Nita’s death come to light, or would the secret be buried in the past in diary entries and letter?

The story does not have a straightforward and simple narrative that takes us through an investigation. It tells a deeper story about the human psyche and how events of the past can affect a person and leave scars so deep that they can never heal. Starting from the present of 1990s, it goes back to the 1970s as it explores the lives of all our characters as they happen. The language is easy to understand, and it is able to convey the emotions that Deepti wanted to portray. The mystery in the story is maintained till the very end and the core idea of the book jumps out of each page, but only in hindsight. I loved the manner in which the author structured the book and how each piece of the puzzle comes out and comes together in the end to show a complete picture. The climax was quite imaginative and unexpected, and I loved the way how everything culminates in that.

The story is quite character driven, and the narratives move ahead along with the progress of the character arcs. Each of the characters have been given due importance and they have been sketched keeping in mind the big picture that the author wants to show us. The deep dive into the lives of Kavita, Roma, Vinita and Krish is an important part of the book that establishes their purpose in the story and helps the reader connect with them, and experience the story in its entirety.

Overall, a story well told that scores a 4.38/5 for me. A Definite recommendation if you prefer a thriller genre.

Grab a copy of the book here.