All Drama, No Queen-Andaleeb Wajid

Book: All Drama, No Queen
Author: Andaleeb Wajid
Publisher: Penguin Random House India

Do you think we all need a bit of drama in our lives?

All Drama, No Queen by Andaleeb Wajid takes the characters from Twenty-Nine Going on Thirty, and tells the story of Farida, whose parents passed away in an accident when she was young. Brought up by a distant relative, Reshma Phuppu, who is secretly planning to take control of her ancestral property in Bangalore. To add to that, her best friend, Priya’s boyfriend digs out her old crush, Irshad, a doctor living in Mumbai. The plot thickens when they meet and he brings along his fiancée, Shagufta. As Farida comes to terms with her feelings for Irshad, and Priya makes some life-altering decisions, would the drama in Farida’s life subside, or is she just inviting more trouble?

There is a certain charm to romantic dramas that involve love and heartbreak. In the book, Andaleeb has woven threads of love and friendship seamlessly as she explores the characters’ lives. The storytelling is excellent and the shadow of drama looms over the plot throughout the story. I loved how the focus of this book is on Farida and her reactions to things happening around her. Be it her equation with Irshad, or her friendship with Priya and Mini, each of them play a crucial role in the plot and help it move forward. Another interesting bit about the story is the plethora of comebacks that Farida has and seamlessly they flow out of her character. The language of the book is simple and easy to understand, making it a breezy read. The detailing of the scenes in terms of clothes, sound effects, expressions etc. is meticulous and is helpful in visualizing the scene, making the experience of reading this story even better. The story arc with Reshma is imaginative and it is no less than a filmy plot unfolding. The last part of the book was a surprise, and frankly, Farida’s actions justify the title to the T. The climax is fun and bubbly and closes this chapter of Farida in a beautiful manner.

Coming to the characters, Farida’s character as a person is well drafted with uncertainties and indecisions dogging her all the way. She shows many shades of her personality throughout the book, be it vulnerable, die hard romantic, sad lover or a friend. Her story arc is well plotted, and it was interesting to see how Andaleeb hasn’t changed the core of her character and we see the same person that we meet on the first page and the last page, yet she matures in a certain manner in some relationships. Irshad as a character was a revelation in the manner that I wasn’t sure of his intentions till the last page of the book, and I think that is the best way I can describe the brilliance of this one. Priya as a best friend was all that Farida needed and her character plays that role beautifully, especially the interrogation scene.

Overall, the book is a definite recommendation from me if you love reading romance and love drama playing out in someone’s life. I can assure you that at no point does the plot become boring, rather you would prefer sitting with a notepad to note down the catchy phrases. The book gets a 4.75/5 from me.

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A Home for Urvashi-Sanchali Bhattacharya

Book: A Home for Urvashi
Author: Sanchali Bhattacharya
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Do you think your past can come to change your present?

A Home for Urvashi by Sanchali Bhattacharya is a story that depicts the bond of sisterhood that transcends death. Dulari is separated from her twin sister Ujjwala as death knocks on her doors when they are born. With an ability to travel between worlds as a ghost, but she has to live alone, without a family, however she has a dream, to be reborn as Ujjwala’s daughter and have a home. Twenty-nine years pass by in this hope. While Ujjwala’s first born is a boy, she now longs for a daughter. Things take a turn when a person from her past turns up, threatening to expose a secret that can destroy her completely. Only Dulari has the ability to save her sister, but she would have to let go of her dream. Would she intervene and save her, or would her belonging for live overpower the love for her sister?

A lot of stories have been told where an unrequited lover from the past comes into someone’s life to disrupt it, however Sanchali has taken it to an interesting arc. Choosing a ghost as a narrator is the first off-beat thing that greets the reader. The plot is well crafted and covers a lot of aspects from love to relationships. She has explored a world that exists beyond life and used that as an interesting premise to explore the events of the past. The language is quite interesting that it is simple, yet very relevant to the location and the characters. My favorite aspect of the story is how there are parallel story tracks that are in play at a certain point. Another aspect that stands out is how the concept of the planets is used to explore the netherworld. Sanchali has used the myth of Urvashi as a foundation to tell the story of Dulari and Ujjwala. She has also used the story to comment on social evils in the society. The imagery is vivid and helps the reader connect to the plot. The climax is interesting and innovative.

Coming to the characters, Sanchali has told the story with some very wonderful characters. While the character arc of Ujjwala doesn’t change much, Dulari comes a long way from the character we come across on the first page. Rituraj is another character that is very well crafted and the message that the author wants to project comes across very well. Other characters in the plot such as Rhea, Yash etc. are given due time to develop and become a cohesive part of the narrative.

One thing that stands out from the story is the detailed descriptions of Kolkata, its taxis, food, and the life that makes the story come alive.

A well-told story, the book scores a 4.38/5 for me.

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The Right Kind of Wrong-Shilpa Suraj

Book: The Right Kind of Wrong
Author: Shilpa Suraj
Publisher: Self Published

Have you ever felt that you have fallen in love with the wrong person?

The Right Kind of Wrong by Shilpa Suraj is the story of what happens when an unnamed person is wheeled into the hospital with a security detail that could compete with that of the Prime Minister, riddled with bullet holes and is put under the care of Dr. Aria Dubey. Intelligence Officer Karan Bhatnagar is more than she can ask for, but might just be what she needs, however he has only vengeance on his mind, and he wants to avenge the murder of his parents. Things take a turn when he disappears from the hospital. There's only one thing left to do...find the killer and end him before he ends them. Will Karan and Aria risk everything for a love that is all kinds of wrong? And yet, is the right kind of wrong.

Finding love among the scrubs when the other person is sticking needles into you is a bit unique, and this is what makes this plot interesting. The plot is simply told, focusing on both, the thriller, and the romance aspects, not letting the one overpower the other. The storytelling keeps the reader hooked as the twists are quite surprising and can make them jump out as well. The language is easy to understand and in line with the plot. Shilpa has used vivid imagery to explain the scenes, be it a spy sequence, or a romantic scene. The thing I loved about the book was the suspense that is maintained in the undertones of Aria and Karan’s love. Another aspect that stands out is the juggling of Aria’s and Karan’s feelings and how that forms a crucial part of the story. The one thing that could have been improved in the plot was that a back story of the Minister’s family could have been also introduced, rather than them being just passing characters as it could have added a bit more suspense into the plot as well. The climax was inventive and a worthy close to the story.

Coming to the characters, Shilpa has sketched the characters in detail, with their emotions conveyed properly and each of them get their own space to grow and develop. They have layers that get unveiled at just the right time and this is one highlight of the story that is applicable to the major players. Karan Bhatnagar, a hardened intelligence operative displays a soft side, Aria, a doctor shows nerves of steel, and this is what adds a wonderful flavor to the story. Another favorite of mine was Avinash and how his character plays out towards the end.

Overall, this is a romantic thriller I would recommend you to read if you like reading romance and/or thriller. The story gets a 4.38/5 from me.

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The Zodiac Games (The Star Sign Trilogy 2)-Michele Khalil

Book: The Zodiac Games (The Star Sign Trilogy 2)
Author: Michele Khalil
Publisher: Self Published

Would you give your life to save the cause you are fighting for?

The Zodiac Games is the second book in The Star Sign Trilogy by Michele Khalil. Set in the immediate aftermath of the first book,  The Thirteenth Sign is rising and the ancient battle between the Imperium and the Ambigua is finally brought to light. With Talah’s memories now mangled, she struggles to find the balance between right and wrong. When her power manifests in a way she could never have imagined, she must find the truth in order to save her world. But nothing is ever as it seems. Would Talah be able to fulfill her destiny, or would she fail?

The second book in the trilogy continues the storytelling flair from the first part seamlessly. The plot thickens as the events post the happenings at the Capitol come to light and the characters deal with the aftermath. The author has built up apt tension in the story as multiple events occur in quick succession. The book also helps us understand the fictional world a bit more as the Ambigua travel across to various parts. I loved the fact that the humanity of Talah is explored, along with the powers she has. Another thing that stands out in this part of the series is how things take a turn at every step, and how the situations reverse quickly. The language is easy to understand, and the glossary helps understand terms which are derived from the vernacular. The way this book ends is exceptional, and I am looking forward to how the series concludes.

While most of the characters are carried forward from the first part and their character arcs are explored, giving more details as to how things have impacted them, we see quite a few new characters that become a part of the story such as Samira. I loved Kam’s raw power and the support she provides to the team as a whole. However, the best part, for me was the dark side of the councillors and the actions they can take to save their power.

Overall, a worthy successor to the first part, I have my fingers crossed to see how Talah’s story concludes. This book scores a 4.69/5 for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Zodiac Trials (The Star Sign Trilogy 1)-Michele Khalil

Book: The Zodiac Trials (The Star Sign Trilogy 1)
Author: Michele Khalil
Publisher: Self Published

What is the one thing you look for in a fantasy series?

The Zodiac Trilogy by Michele Khalil kicks off The Star Sign Trilogy that explores a fantasy world where the zodiac signs grant 2 special abilities to people born under them. The twelve signs had maintained balance in their world for centuries, but things take a turn when a thirteenth sign shows up. Talah had been living on Earth, hidden from the Galaxy, until one day she comes back to compete in the Trials and join her people. Firas had spent his whole life training for the Trials to take his true place as the Soulinus heir, until  he is hunted down for the extra abilities he was born with. Now the leader of a people facing genocide, he has to outwit a centuries-old society with powers that rival his own. Thrust into a forgotten civil war neither truly understand, Talah and Firas must find the balance between tradition and freedom.

The plot of the story is quite imaginative and well told. Michele has taken her time in setting up the premise, explaining in detail about the various zodiac signs and the role they play in the story. The idea of using the star signs as a basis of a fantasy story is quite interesting and sets the tone for a good trilogy. The language used is simple as well as gels well with the idea and the usage of native Arabic words adds to the charm. While the plot initially looks like a cross between The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, it is unique in the way it is planned and executed. The conflict and the tense moments continue to develop and simmer as it builds up to an interesting climax, and the scene was both unexpected as well as well written.

The series is quite character driven, and to set the plot in the right way, the characters have to be well settled and Michele does this very well. Be it Firas or Talah, each of them take their own time to settle into their skins. The idea of a pureblood society is very well conveyed and through characters such as Firas’s father, the societal divide is well explained. Another character I loved was Talah’s father and I would love to see how his character arc plays out in the books ahead. Overall, the character descriptions are vivid, with details upto the clothes and accessories making the characters stand out.

Overall, a wonderful start to a trilogy and I am looking forward to reading more about the Galaxy and the Zodiacs. The book scores a 4.5/5 for me.

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Name Place Animal Thing-Lux Narayan

Book: Name Place Animal Thing
Author: Lux Narayan
Publisher: Notion Press

Have you ever faced an existential crisis?

Name Place Animal Thing by Lux Narayan is a fable that tells the tale of Kai’s life changing journey, inspired by the childhood game of the same name. Soul-searching at that all-too-familiar crossroads in life and career, Kai learns to outgrow an impending sense of personal crisis when a series of eye-opening encounters reveal the building blocks of a fuller life, all rooted in a childhood game: Name, Place, Animal, Thing. This practical wisdom for a life lived beautifully comes together into a one page visual; a do-it-yourself blueprint for reigniting a life of curiosity, humility, and empathy - a picture that’s worth more than a thousand words.  Try it now. What is your Name, Place, Animal, Thing?

The book takes the seemingly innocuous game of Name Place Animal Thing that all of us have played in our younger days and weaves an inspirational tale where each of the aspects of the game stands for something important in our lives. Told in an interesting manner, it meshes fiction with life lessons in a way that doesn’t bore you and makes you gravitate towards implementing the message the book is giving. The best thing about NPAT is that it is not preachy and does not paint a larger-than-life solution, rather than uses the readers’ own mind to help them see the way to improve. The exercises suggested are easy to implement and can easily become  apart of one’s lives over a period of time. NPAT has a wonderful arc that develops over the period of time and as Kai experiences the changes, so does the reader imagine a feeling of change bubbling from inside. Another aspect that impressed me was the interconnectedness of things and how the people in the story framed a chain as it moved ahead. Drawing experiences from Ikigai and other self-help books, NPAT can actually help you find the thing that drives you and make you strive for more.

This is one book that can help you learn about yourself, and the one thing that I am taking away from the fable right away is the introduction and to include more about my personality, rather than the work. The language of the book is easy to understand and the concepts easy to grasp. I loved how the summary of the content comes out in the form of a graphic.

Overall, a definite recommendation for people who wish to find meaning in their lives, and for people who wish to improve themselves. This scores a 4.5/5 for me.

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The Part I Left With You-Rahul Saini

Book: The Part I Left With You
Author: Rahul Saini
Publisher: Juggernaut.in

Does the meaning of Love change over time?

The Part I Left With You by Rahul Saini is the story of a young, starry-eyed Ratna, who finds herself on the doorstep of an author she idolizes, Ronit Sukhdev, and manages to stay with him for a few days. Ronit, after his break up with Nitasha, however, has decided to stop writing stories while she is trying to move ahead in her life. This is a story of three different people, intertwined by fate, finding their way in life.

The plot of the book is an attempt to explore the idea of love, and how each of the characters attempt to understand love in their own way. The story explores how different are Ronit and Ratna as they discuss the way love changed their lives, and not just romantic love, familial and the way it paved the path of their lives. The storytelling is interesting with a non-linear narrative as it explores the current and past lives of Nitasha, Ronit and Ratna. Rahul’s usage of imagery and audio-visual cues is laudable. There are parts of the story which are quite imaginative and will make you laugh, and at the next moment bring you to tears, but at the same time these are scattered and there is a certain disconnect among some scenes in the book. Nitasha’s story track seemed a bit away from the Ronit-Ratna track and this disturbed me a bit. Another thing that I would have loved in the book was an epilogue with Ratna’s essay and her take on the happenings which would have added a wonderful dimension to the plot. The climax however was well rounded in the way it was presented.

Rahul’s characters have a very relatable quality about them. Be it Ratna, a harrowed student worrying about assignments, or the world-weary jilted lover in the form of Ronit, their descriptions are detailed. From their mannerisms to the situation, they are in, Rahul has given them a distinctive identity that makes them stand out from the crowd. I loved the way their backstories drive their present lived and how each person loved, lost, and thus loved the meaning of love.

Overall, the story is an interesting one that shows how love affects each of us differently. It scores a 4.25/5 for me.

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It Ends With A Dream-Medha Nagur

Book: It Ends With A Dream: The Farther You Go, The Closer We Get
Authors: Medha Nagur
Publisher: Self Published

If given a choice, would you choose career over love, or vice versa?

It Ends With a Dream by Medha Nagur is the story of Yadnya, a lawyer aspiring to be the youngest MLA of Telangana, and Yashika, a doctor from Coorg. Strong and capable in their own ways, there is very little that sets them apart, but it is this window that creates a chasm which makes them meet, only to separate again, not once but thrice since their childhood. When life gives them one more chance, would they stay together, or walk away for good? This is a story of love-familial, platonic, and romantic, and how it affects our lives.

There are very few plots that can make you feel for the characters and imagine their turmoil. This story manages to do that beautifully. The storytelling is quite gripping and makes you sit up and read the book cover to cover. The book has elements of romance, politics and love that covers multiple aspects. Medha covers the idea that love does not always have to be romantic, and that familial love is something we all take for granted, and as cheesy it sounds, it is something we realise very late. With a twisting plotline that teases the story all throughout, manages to keeps the cover on till the very end. Another thing I loved about the story was its honesty and the very truthful manner in which the characters behave in the story. The politician remains a politician till the end, and a lawyer’s thinking is present all throughout which lends the air of familiarity with the characters. Medha also touches upon social topics such as absence of healthcare, politics trumping welfare etc. but briefly. The climax is heart wrenching, and that is what takes the story to a level that highlights the storytelling nature of Medha, who does not give in to a happily-ever-after ending and takes the leap to end the story the way she did, and I would recommend keeping tissues for people while reading it.

Well defined characters are the pillar on which a story stands, especially a character driven one like this. Be it Yadnya or Yashika, each of the character in the story has a complex storyline that is distinct and well-defined in its own right, and ties well with the other character in the story. The character descriptions are almost like the layers of an onion was we peel then, one chapter at a time. The best thing I liked about Yadnya’s character was his indecision and how that forms the core of the story, while Yashika is steadfast in her ideas and how she has been created as an opposite to Yadnya. Other characters like Nana, Ramya, Giridhar have their own stories and I was taken aback by the way their story plays out. I would have loved to talk more about the characters, but it is almost impossible to not do that without spoilers.

Overall, a story about love, relationships, emotions, and life that will make you smile and shed tears at the same time. The book scores a 4.81/5 for me.

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The Goodbye Man-Jeffery Deaver

Book: The Goodbye Man
Authors: Jeffery Deaver
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Would you go undercover to save a life?

The Goodbye Man by Jeffery Deaver is a part of the Colter Shaw Series. Set against the backdrop of an idyllic community, we have a charismatic leader who has a cult that promises to transforms people’s lives. Completing an assignment in Washington State, investigator Colter Shaw witnesses a suicide that pricks his conscience. To unravel the truth, Shaw goes undercover in the Foundation and discovers a horrifying secret. To escape the clutches of the Foundation, there is only one way, and that one might just have to pay with their life. Can Shaw bring down the Foundation, and escape the compound alive?

The story of the book has been developed with good intentions. The plot moves steadily and the buildup to the climax is quite good. The overall idea of a cult that brainwashes people is not new but Jeffery takes it to a new level, and it presents a plausible narrative. The book starts on a good note and we meet our protagonist and understand his motivation in doing what he does, but then the pace drops significantly. The storytelling becomes longish in the sense that the details, while enriching the story, seem irrelevant at times. Another aspect that I didn’t like was that the scenes at the Foundation were quite mellow and did not do justice to the buildup that came up in the first half of the story. The language is simple and easy to comprehend. The climax is well executed, and does justice to the plot.

Coming to the character, Jeffery takes his time building up his characters, and that is evident in both, Colter as well as Master Eli. I loved the way Colter’s personal life surfaces in the story and blends into the plot of the book, specially during the discussions. Master Eli’s character is sketched in the manner of a true Cult Leader, with the mannerisms and details. The surprise characters who come up towards the end are interesting and add a new dimension to Jeffery’s storytelling.

Overall, a good book that scores a 4.3/5 for me.

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The Maharaja’s Fake Fiancée-Alisha Kay

Book: The Maharaja’s Fake Fiancée
Authors: Alisha Kay
Publisher: Self Published

Would you fake an engagement to save your dreams?

The Maharaja’s Fake Fiancée by Alisha Kay is the story of Nivy Sharma, a free-spirited actress, and Veerendra Singh, the Maharaja of Devgarh who broke her heart five years ago. Fate comes into play when one day both of them are running from the people their parent’s have fixed up for them and they run into each other. To stave off the advances of these people, they decide to put up an act of being engaged till the time Veerendra’s sister gets married. Life, however, has other plans for them, and the story goes on to narrate what happens when old flames rekindle.

The plot of the story is quite well-done and the ingredients that Alisha has put in to cook up this tale feel amazing. The plot has an interesting curve that goes up and down, making the reader turn the pages without a break. The relationship between Veer, Nivy, Jessie and the other characters are well defined and add to the story. The sweet-sour exchanges between Nivy and Veer are amazing, and they seem almost real in they way they have been detailed and described. The plot has flavors of sweet and spicy, and some of the scenes are quite graphic and detailed, hence advisable to mature audiences only. The idea of love has been explored nicely with Jessie on one hand and Nivy and Veer on the other. Alisha has also wonderfully explored the idea of uncertainty and fears in a relationship and how that can affect the people who are in that situation. I loved the scene with the dhaba, and the one with the earrings as it was just the primary characters and their emotions driving it. The climax was a bit cliché, but well done so no complaints on that end.

Coming to the characters, I would say that Veer as a character did impress me, especially with the layers of emotions he exhibits, along with the love he brings out. Another character who deserves a mention is that of Rani Ma, and how her steadfastness and the ability to understand her children adds to their own characters. This is another aspect of love that Alisha has portrayed beautifully. Alisha’s female characters have a steadfastness that I would love to see in the other characters she creates, for each of the characters in this one, be it Nivy’s Mother, Rani Ma, Jessie, Nivy or for that matter Anika exhibit it and are the forces driving the narrative.

A special mention to the nicknames that Veer gets called and calls Nivy in the book as they add a certain rustic charm to the story and makes it a notch better.

Overall, a story I would recommend reading if you like reading passionate romances. The book scores a 4.31/5 for me.

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Bowled, But Not Out-Ruchira Khanna

Book: Bowled, But Not Out
Authors: Ruchira Khanna
Publisher: Self Published

What would you do if you were stuck in a marriage with no hope?

Bowled, But Not Out by Ruchira Khanna is the story of Saru Bhatia, a steadfast woman, who loves to take challenges head on. A chance encounter makes her meet Sumeet Bajaj, and sparks happen, and after a short courtship, they get married. Saru expected her life to turn for the better when she found love and married. Instead, she kept getting deliberate Yorkers from her mother-in-law. Things were expected to change  when a baby arrived, but things got worse soon after. Her appeal to the umpire fell on deaf ears. Finally, she walked out of the stadium, and let go of the first love of her life, and moved to the US to pursue Masters. The question is, what happens in Saru’s life and does she get a second chance? Bowled, but Not Out is an entertaining family drama full of heart and thoughtful life lessons and will resonate with anyone fond of cricket.

Cricket and Family Drama have one thing in common, you cannot predict what happens. The same happens with the story of the book. The plot incorporates an interesting idea that compares Saru’s life with a cricket match, and each of the incidents is compared with a type of an element of a cricket match, which makes the story quite engaging. The book basically explores the idea of love, and how family is an important aspect of one’s life, and how it can affect a person. The story also highlights the importance of boundaries (cricket, and otherwise) in life and how that can make even love disappear when they are crossed. Another aspect that Ruchira explores is the relationship between a Mother-In-Law and Daughter-In-Law, and does an interesting comparison by introducing two parallel relationships. The cricket references make the story fun, but they tend to become less frequent towards the end, and I would have loved to see a bit more of them. Another thing that could have been improved is the American perspective on Indian events. The climax is touching and interesting which provides a good closure to the reader.

Coming to the characters, Ruchira has focused quite a lot on the parents, both Saru’s and Sumeet’s. The comparison is quite stark, and the changes that occur in Sushma, the Colonel and Usha based on the events shows the detailing the author has put in the story. Another character that I would like to mention is that of Rita, and it is commendable how just a few incidents can make a reader hate a particular character to the core, and Ruchira manages to get that done. Sumeet’s character was well crafted and is well suited to the part he plays in Saru’s story.

Overall, a recommendation if you love family drama and cricket. This book scores a 4.13/5 for me.

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One Dozen English Stories-Abhijit Chakraborty

Book: One Dozen English Stories
Authors: Abhijit Chakraborty
Publisher: Notion Press

One Dozen English Short Stories by Abhijit Chakraborty is a collection of 12 short stories that revolve around the theme of social evils that talk about the lives and the different journeys, experiences and the consequences that the characters face. From assaults to necrophilia, the stories touch upon various topics that are eye opening as well as a bit of a lesson.

Each of the stories has a unique plot, drawn from the stories that we can see around us and from the day to day news that we can read. Abhijit picks up one topic and weaves a story around the aspect that he wants to cover, and creates the story that tugs at the readers’ hearts. The storytelling is quite good in some stories, and that actually helps the reader connect with the plot. Abhijit has also summarized each story before it begins so the reader is a bit prepared as to what is coming up next and that helps soften the blow. The thing that needs to be improved is the language and the grammar as there are a lot of language issues in the storytelling that reduce the experience that the stories bring to the table. Another thing that didn’t work for me was the suddenness in the plot in terms of the climax in some stories which put a sudden break in the plot.

If I had to pick, I would say that Roadside Saviours was my favorite among the 12 stories that form a part of the book because of the simplicity and the manner in which it unfolds.

Overall, a good attempt that can be improved by a second round of editing. The book scores a 2.94/5 for me.

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The Windsor Knot-S.J. Bennett

Book: The Windsor Knot
Authors: S.J. Bennett
Publisher: Zaffre (An Imprint of Bonnier Books UK)

The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett is the story of a murder of a guest that takes place in the Windsor Castle and the victim is discovered the morning after the Queen’s dinner party, with a rope around his neck. The Police and the MI5 begin to investigate, and the servants are the first to be suspected, but The Queen has other thoughts, for the servants are fiercely loyal, and because she has lived an  extraordinary double life ever since her coronation. Away from the public eye, she has a brilliant knack for solving crimes. As the Queen, she has a responsibility to protect her family as well as her image, and so this secret must never get out, but would The Queen, along with her secretary Rozie be able to catch the killer, without getting themselves entangled?

The plot of the story is quite innovative, and well plotted. The idea of Queen Elizabeth II being an investigator is refreshing and paves the way for an interesting series of stories to evolve. The storyline is well-told, with focus on details and vivid descriptions of people and events, along with reference to real life events and people, adding the touch of realism to the plot. The mystery is well shrouded, and the layers are well hidden as to unravel only when the time is right. However, there are places where the story becomes a bit stretched out and boring, especially the parts which are not very related to the murder mystery. While the plot does focus on solving the murder, there are places where the digression is quite apparent, specially when talking about horses etc. While these are important from the perspective of setting the stage, I believe some of the scenes could have been shortened. The climax is very well done, and the way the nudges have been used and implemented is commendable.

Coming to the characters, I loved the way the author has created a set of characters that have a proper back story to them. Be it Rozie, or Sir Simon, each of them has been explained in detail, and the motivation for them to be a part of this plot. Even the other characters such as Vadim who might seem to be just fillers, turn out to be interesting ones. Bennett also creates an interesting character of the Queen by showcasing a fictional side of her that is very intriguing.

Overall, the book is a recommendation for anyone who loves a good mystery thriller and would like to see The Queen investigating a murder. The book scores a 4.19/5 for me.

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The Last Ones-Multiple Authors

Book: The Last Ones
Authors: Multiple Authors
Publisher: HarperCollins India

The Last Ones is a crowdsourced novel that explores the journey of Manorama, who is the only person left in the city. She wakes up one day and finds herself in a world where there is no one, but herself. She can hear the birds chirping, but no humans can be seen. In this state of being alone, her phone rings and soon discovers a person who claims to be her husband’s illegitimate child. As Manorama and her unlikely companion embark on a journey to find some answers, they realize that the nightmare is only just beginning. Can Manorama confront the demons from her past to make sense of the present, or will the truth destroy her? The Last Ones is a crowdsourced story about loneliness and human connections, built chapter by chapter by writers across the world, brought together by the power of storytelling.

Each chapter is penned by one person, and the list of the authors are Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Nikita Singh, Sandeepa Mukherjee Datta, Kanchana Banerjee, Sumira Khan, Krusha Sahjwani, Neha Gupta, Mohana Talapatra, Snigdha Mallik, Harini Srinivasan, Gitanjali Maria, Shreya Gupta, Shylin Sam, Ananya Banerjee, Leena Pandey, Priyadarshika Ingle.

The story of the book takes an interesting turn with each chapter. The idea of a crowdsourced novel attracted me the most to the story and I wanted to see how this chain of storytelling happens. The first thing I would like to mention is the seamless connectivity and continuity, despite each chapter being written by a separate person. The story from the beginning till the end does not lag and the plot makes sense in the manner it goes on. The language is comprehensible, and a comfortable read, with no over the top words or phrases.

Secondly, while one story came out in the end, each of the author left their own mark in the chapter they wrote. Kanchana’s chapter has some elements that are almost her signature, while Sandeepa’s chapter had an element of food, which is her forte. Nikita’s chapter was an apt closing, and like her stories, it had a pleasant and a soothing element to it. The story that Chitra starts could have gone in any direction, but after reading it, it feels that this was truly the natural flow of the plot.

Each writer preserved the essence of the base character of Manorama, and yet added their own flavor to her which helped develop a person that exhibited a myriad of shades of love, anger, and envy. Other characters are well crafted and seamlessly become a part of the narrative once introduced.

Overall, this idea of a crowdsourced novel by HarperCollins India is something I would love to see again, and I am glad I picked up this story. This was truly a story that shows us that even though we are sitting apart, the emotions running through us are similar.

I would give this story a 4.63/5.

Get your copy here.

The Chronicler of the Hooghly and Other Stories-Shakti Ghosal

Book: The Chronicler of the Hooghly and Other Stories
Author: Shakti Ghosal
Publisher: Half Baked Beans

The Chronicler of the Hooghly and Other Stories by Shakti Ghosal is a collection of 4 stories which chronicles the lives of 5 characters, each quite different from the other. In Ashtami, we see the story of Sujit and how it changes for him and his family when he moves to Delhi from Calcutta when the Capital of British Raj shifts to Delhi, and Shanti, born of a forceps delivery gone wrong, comes into their lives. Pandemic is a two-part story that spans 1919 and 2020 and how Dipan and Indranil face tragedies under different social conditioning and Development. In Fault Lines, we meet Anjan who suffers injuries from a gas explosion, and he comes across his childhood friend Savio who shows him the demons of the past he has left behind, and how they come back to haunt him in his present. In The Chronicler of the Hooghly Samir takes a sunset cruise on the Hooghly where he meets The Chronicler who tells him a story spanning two and a half centuries that surround the curse of a fabled pearl necklace.

The stories in the collection seem independent, yet they are inherently bound together by Hooghly and the times that the river has seen. Each of the stories features the area around the river as a prominent part of the story. The plotlines of the stories are interesting and engaging, and will keep the reader hooked till the end. Shakti’s storytelling is quite imaginative with good descriptions and emotive words that help connect with the characters. Out of the 4 stories, The Chronicler of the Hooghly was my favourite for the manner in which it meshes history with fiction, and how the author has merged stories and fables and history to pen this fable. The ups and downs are penned nicely, and the tension in the story is maintained till the very end. The one story that did not work for me was Pandemic and while it was good, it did not match up to the level of the other stories.

The stories are quite character driven and the author has created quite an interesting motley of characters. Be it The Chronicler who loves narrating the tales of the happenings around the Hooghly, or Sujit, who as a junior clerk is trying to provide the best to his family. Anjan and Savio from Fault Lines were interestingly plotted, and I loved how the author peels of one aspect of Anjan’s character, one anecdote at a time. Similarly, the pearl necklace for me was no less than a character in The Chronicler of the Hooghly in the manner it was driving the narrative and the incidents.

Overall, a recommendation from me if you like reading short stories. The collection scores a 3.56/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.