Death by Murder & Other Stories- Asim Jaffri

Book: Death by Murder & Other Stories
Author: Asim Jaffri
Publisher: Notion Press

Death by Murder by Asim Jaffri is a collection of 4 short stories, and six bite-sized stories. 1815 AD, East India Company is fast encroaching upon monarchies and domains. The kingdom of Chhatargarh however stands strong under the rule of Raja Prithviratan Singh. A mysterious occurrence catapults Ajit and Anu into an uncharted territory of horrors. Can they find their way back or will they perish in their newfound phobias? A ruthless criminal murders an old man for money. Little does he know what shall fall upon him due to this heinous crime. Can his conscience break the profanity, or will he be entangled in it for life? September 1947, the Indian subcontinent has just been liberated and partitioned. A family travels from Lahore to Delhi aboard the Frontier Mail. Will they be able to realize their dream of reaching newfound land or will the perils of partition be too extreme upon them to survive?

Asim’s storytelling is interesting in the way it takes the premise and spins a tale around it that excites the reader. Each of the stories that are a part of the collection are crafted beautifully. From the story set on the cusp of the British entering India to the one where they left, the 4 stories explore various human emotions. The storytelling is powerful and keeps the reader hooked to the pages. Death by Murder is a cleverly penned fable that explores the idea of transition and how things might not seem what they really are. Unbreakable as a story touched me because of the way the emotions run through the entire plot and how things come a full circle, and that is what made this such a wonderful story for me. The Dark Precinct was again a fable about our inner emotions and how there are things that we usually keep inside of us until someone calls out to us and wakes us up. Train to Delhi is a story that drives on coincidences and shows us the power of human connections and emotions.

The characters that Asim has picked up for his stories are drawn from real life and are relatable. The descriptions are just enough for one to visualize them, but not too deep to overshadow the story. I also liked how he keeps some aspects of the characters hidden for the big reveal in the end, considering how they are dependent on the characters’ details for the intended effect of the climax.

The six bite-sized stories are well penned and are a wonderful end to this book as they are quick page turners and cover a range of topics. My favorite is The Ventilator for it highlights an important aspect of the world as we know it.

Overall, a wonderful book that scores a 4.81/5 for me.

Thank you Asim for sending over a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Get a copy of the book from Amazon India here.

The People Tree-Beetashok Chatterjee

Book: The People Tree
Author: Beetashok Chatterjee
Publisher: Readomania

Do you like reading stories about people?

The People Tree by Beetashok Chatterjee has fourteen stories, a veritable potpourri of tales, each different from the other in style and substance. From the Khalistan insurgency in Punjab to a glimpse of the Mumbai underworld. From a doomed love affair in Hyderabad to a mature gay relationship. From a lifelong friendship formed in unusual circumstances to the pangs of a schoolboy crush to robbing an art museum there is something in this collection for everybody. And more. Love, loss, survival, lust, deception, greed Beetashok Chatterjee has covered them all. And more.

The stories in the collection are among the best I have come across. With a common theme of people and life running across the 14 stories, each of them is quite unique and presents a fresh canvas with each chapter. The storytelling is quite engaging and Beetashok’s narration is simple yet keeps the reader hooked to move to the next page. The language is simple and easy to understand. The one thing that stood out for me was the fact that the stories are drawn from our normal day-to-day life on observations and incidents that we would all have experiences. From coincidences to chance encounters, the stories build upon the very basic human emotions and the author then elevates it to another level with the storytelling. The climax for some of the stories was quite poignant and makes me wonder if they are based on real events.

The characters that feature in the stories are quite relatable and drawn from normal life. They are not extraordinary people, rather ordinary people with extraordinary stories. From a New York Cop to a professional hitman, the characters spread across the spectrum and present stories with a multitude of colors.

If I had to choose, The Little Oxford Dictionary, Ground Zero & The Vintage Car Rally were the stories that stood out for me for they were the ones that made me have a varied range of emotions about the characters.

The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Thank you Readomania for providing a media copy in exchange for a honest review.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here.

The Deadline Effect-Christopher Cox

Book: The Deadline Effect
Author: Christopher Cox
Publisher: Simon & Schuster India

What is your take on deadlines?

The Deadline Effect by Christopher Cox looks at the impact deadlines have on us, and how we can use them to deliver the best results for all parties. Social scientists have revealed that most negotiations run right up to the deadline before a deal is finally struck. What they also discovered was that this deadline effect usually results in a worse deal for both parties. Cox shows you how, instead, the deadline effect can be used to bring about success not failure. Based on his own experience as a magazine commissioning editor, where coaxing writers to deliver on time is an art form, he also embeds himself in other businesses, such as a ski patrol ahead of the first day of the winter season, to see how they meet deadlines that cannot be missed.

When we look at non-fiction books, they usually tend to be preachy, but this one moves almost like a case study, rather than a book that tells you what works and what doesn’t. Taking the examples of some seemingly unrelated industries and setups, Christopher goes on to show how deadlines can be an effective tool to extract the best in the people and processes. I loved how the book is clearly divided into sections, each one talking about a separate case, and how deadlines were managed in that scenario. Another aspect I liked was that Christopher uses primary data and puts himself in the scenarios to experience the impact of the strategies and that shows that the concept he is talking about is easy to learn and implement. As a person who has focused on project management for specialization, I found out that the concepts he has given are easy to implement, and personally, I feel that I did take away some points which I would love to implement in my workplace.

Christopher’s writing is gripping and keeps the reader glued to the page, and he has a knack of telling a story so as to keep a person hooked to what he is saying. The research for the book is quite detailed and as we journey through the examples, we see that each of them have been researched, experienced, and then written about, and there are extremes to what Christopher has gone to get his content. The last chapter felt a bit rushed to me, and I would have loved a bit more of fluidity in that, but overall, it is good.

This is a book I would highly recommend to people who work on things that usually have close deadlines, and more specifically to people who are looking to build careers in Project Management or Consulting, for this gives an interesting peek into what a person is getting into when you are put into a high-pressure situation. The book scores a 4.31/5 for me.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster India, for providing a media copy in exchange for an honest review.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here.

A Plane Story-Anmol Malik

Book: A Plane Story
Author: Anmol Malik
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Do you believe in the concept of coincidences?

A Plane Story by Anmol Malik is the story of Dev and Tara, two strangers who meet on a plane to Paris on their way to break the wedding. When a freak volcanic eruption disrupts air travel globally, the two are left stranded on Heathrow. And that's when the real tamasha begins. Welcome onboard Flight APS through London, Paris, and Ludhiana. Please pay attention to the safety demonstration because things are going to get real weird, real fast. While chasing the woman of his dreams, he ran into the love of his life, the question is what happens at the end of the line?

A Plane Story is a book that reads like a movie, literally with Dev and Tara alternating narrations, but also with the interspersing of a third person as a narrator who breaks the fourth wall to set the context of some scenes. The plot has an interesting concept and I loved how Anmol explores the concept of coincidences, not just once, but at multiple points in the story. The storytelling is sharp and groovy, which keeps the reader turning the pages. Another interesting aspect of the story is that a major part of it occurs in a confined space, and yet it feels like a journey because you get to experience multiple emotions as well as characters. I liked the fact that each thing that was mentioned in the story holds context, and it comes up at a certain point in the narration, be it Sandy’s Sandwiches or Manny. The emotional theme that the book explores in terms of relationships, old and new, especially the way to walk away from certain ones, and some that you should never walk away from was something I really liked. The climax is very Bollywood-like, and oddly, it felt fitting to the crazy journey that you undertake while reading the book.

Coming to the characters, both of our protagonists, Dev and Tara are complex characters and as we read the book, their personalities start emerging. I liked how Anmol uses the entire storyline to develop their personas and present to us these flawed, crazy people who are literally stuck in a series of unfortunate events. As characters, I loved how they influence each other and transform themselves into something each of them would have never done. The character sketches as wonderful and the details that make them unique are well mentioned.

Quirky aspect of the book that I would like to mention is that the entire story is told like a journey with chapter titles being in-flight announcements, and the same holds true for the introduction and the last page. The Harry Potter references, and the very desi Hindi announcements add a nice touch to the storytelling.

Overall, this is a story that would be loved by people who like to read a love story that is quite filmy and are hardcore romantics for it has some moments that cannot be described anything but cheesy, but they fit perfectly into the mold of the story. The book scores a 4.38/5 for me.

P.S. a crucial part of the story is music, and so do check out this playlist I made on Spotify!

A media copy of the book was provided to me by HarperCollins India in exchange for an honest review.

Get a copy of the book from Amazon India here.

Mauri-Saiswaroopa Iyer

Book: Mauri
Author: Saiswaroopa Iyer
Publisher: Bloomsbury India

Have you heard about Mauri from the Indian Epics?

Mauri by Saiswaroopa Iyer is the story of the titular character who vows revenge after her world is shattered after her father’s death. Mauri is torn away from everything she had once loved. Anger has replaced every emotion within her, and she seeks only one thing-to kill her father's killer. Even if the man is none other than Krishna Vaasudeva, the man whom people worship as God. Someone is standing in the way though, reining in her bitterness when she is least prepared for it-the rakshasa prince Ghatotkacha! But by the time love sprouts within her, Mauri has gone too far in her thirst for vengeance and has endangered Kamarupa, the high seat of the Supreme Goddess. Can Mauri fight her own monsters and defend the temple? Can Mauri save herself and Ghatotkacha before both their worlds are destroyed?

The story traces an interesting plot, one that is not commonly known, and the author has done her research establishing a plot that is interesting and takes mythological events into consideration. The plot is engaging, and since there are quite a few nail-biting moments, the reader is captivated into the story of Mauri and her thirst for revenge. The subtle references to social norms and a commentary on them through the eyes of various characters is nicely done. Having said that, and having read the author’s previous work, this book does fall short on a few aspects. The background story as to what leads to Mura’s death has been skipped, apart from a few references, which creates a void, and the readers connect to Mauri remains incomplete. Secondly, the book moves too fast for the complex plot and thus a few of the aspects that should have been focused upon get missed. The climax, again, while well executed, seems hurried and I felt it could have been done in a better manner.

Coming to the characters, Saiswaroopa’s strength lies in finding characters from the epics and weaving a story around them that is mostly hidden from the people. In this case also, Mauri’s character has been developed steadily from childhood to her young-adult stage as she goes through various emotions and events in her life. Ghatotkacha’s character was an interesting surprise, and I loved the way his story was developed. I would have loved to see a bit more of Mura’s and Dhrati’s character develop and add a bit more background to the events that occur.

Overall, a good book that explores the story nicely, and it scores a 4.06/5 for me.

Thank you Bloomsbury India for providing me a media copy of the book in exchange of an honest review. 

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here.

Dawn’s Desire (Shades of Night #3)-Shilpa Suraj

Book: Dawn’s Desire (Shades of Night #3)
Author: Shilpa Suraj
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

Do you think opposites attract?

Dawn’s Desire by Shilpa Suraj is the third book in the Shades of Night series that explores the story of Rishi and Sehar. Rishi cannot forget the beautiful woman who swept into his life for one incredible night and then disappeared...with the contents of his wallet and large chunks of his heart. Sehar Mirza's one night of rebellion destroyed any chance of a normal future. But her heart cannot regret her choice. For in that one night, she laughed, she loved, and she lost. She lived an entire lifetime. When their paths cross again, Sehar and Rishi find their feelings for each other haven't dimmed. Can they learn to look beyond their past mistakes and hope for a shared future? Can Rishi forgive a betrayal so large that it leaves his already battered heart in pieces at Sehar's feet?

The third installment in the Shades of Night series moves onto the third couple in the group, Rishi and Sehar, one which is the most complicated of them all. This story explores multiple elements that complicate their lives and how it impacts their lives, and not just the two of them, but also the group dynamics. Add to it the complicated relationship that both share with their families, and it becomes a roller coaster ride. The storytelling, like the previous books in the series, has an arc that moves from romance to the tension to the final hurrah, but what set the tone of this story apart was Sehar’s wit and Rishi’s blind romance. The language is interesting, and I personally loved the sarcasm that forms a part of the narrative at multiple points. The concept of family that Shilpa explores in this particular story is touching and I loved the emotions that run through you as you read it. The climax was quite amazing and puts an end to the story nicely.

The focus characters in the story are Sehar and Rishi, the people we see in the other two books, but the focus was never on them. As we explore the history of how they came to be, we come to know how the past can come calling at the moments we expect the least. The character descriptions are vivid and as you read about them, and with the information from the previous books, one is able to conjure up an image of them to go along with the story. Rishi’s father was an interesting character and while we see him at only a few junctures, they are detailed enough to make up an image. Sehar’s confrontation with Rishi’s father is an exchange I thoroughly enjoyed, and I would definitely love to single them out as a high point from the story for me.

Overall, the third book is as interesting as the others in the series and this one scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon Kindle here.

Twilight’s Temptation (Shades of Night Book 2)-Shilpa Suraj

Book: Twilight’s Temptation (Shades of Night Book 2)
Author: Shilpa Suraj
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

Do you think opposites attract?

Twilight’s Temptation by Shilpa Suraj is the second book in the Shades of Night series that explores the story of Manav and Diana. Complicated, surly, and sexy, Manav Apte was probably the only photographer who resented his muse. From the day he’d seen her, there had been no other. Passionate, talented, and gorgeous, Diana Severes refused to give the temperamental ass behind the camera the satisfaction of knowing he got under her skin. Their dislike and distrust of each other is legendary in the fashion industry and yet, the sparks that fly when they come together for work are enough to light the sets on fire. Will the Golden Girl of India’s fashion scene be able to see beyond his hatred to the love he’s desperately trying to mask? And will the country’s most talented photographer realize that his true talent lies not in what he views through his lens but what he sees through the filter of his heart?

The story takes over from the first part where we explored the story of Dev and Avni, and in this book we move on to the second pair in the group, that is Manav and Diana. I loved how the two books are linked, yet it can be read as a standalone book. The storytelling is interesting, and it manages to keep the reader hooked through the journey that the characters take. I loved the way the author uses various methods to keep the story interesting, and I admire the wit and sarcasm that are a part of the story, and it is what keeps the plot moving. Another thing I liked about the story was that there is an undercurrent of tension that builds up the plot and brings the story to a close, and the climax is quite movie-like in the way it gets executed.

Coming to the characters, I loved the mirror image that Shilpa creates with Diana and Manav. With one of the pair as a confident, organized, and feisty one, and the other as a conscious and unorganized one, the comparison is hard to miss, and this becomes a wonderful plot point which propels the story forward. Another interesting thing about the characters is how, while focusing on the protagonists, the other characters are not ignored, and their stories are also touched upon.

Overall, this is a wonderful continuation of the series, and I loved the experience that the book gives. It scores a 4.69/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Dakhma-K Hari Kumar

Book: Dakhma
Author: K Hari Kumar
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Have you heard about a Dakhma?

Dakhma by K. Hari Kumar explores the story of Anahita and Varun, who move into an apartment in Malabar Hill, eager to begin their new life together. Unfortunately, nothing goes as expected and Anahita begins to witness things she cannot explain. After sunset, a presence makes itself known in a manner that leaves Anahita terrified - but determined to find answers. Her search leads to a window named Parizaad: a woman who was haunted by phenomena she believed to be linked to a tower of silence, or Dakhma, that is deeply affected by environmental changes. As Anahita wades further into the mystery around the life and death of Parizaad, she uncovers a devastating secret that threatens many lives.

There are horror stories, and then there are stories that send a chill down your spine, and Dakhma belongs to the second category. The book is a wonderful experience in storytelling and the art of writing a horror story that is chilling yet is devoid of the conventional bells and whistles. From the very first page, Hari manages to draw the reader in, and keeps them hooked till you turn the last page. The primary plot of the story has multiple threads that keep weaving a tale that has horror, politics, and a side of religion, and yet the endgame is surprising until the moment it comes up in the story. The language is simple, easy to understand, and is told in a gripping manner, that keeps the interest alive. Another interesting aspect that I noticed were the reality-adjacent events that help you visualize places and locations, and that adds a wonderful dimension to the story. The climax is excellent and the way the different elements come together to close this story (I hope), was a surprise and I was in awe in the way things changed.

Coming to the characters, the people who are a part of this story have been created in exquisite detail. When you turn the last page, you realize the amount of work the author would have had to do on the characters to create this complex web that connected so many of them, in so much detail. Anahita’s character is a deeply emotional character, one that has deep ties to the story, and I loved how Hari uses multiple events in her past to set up the character arc and at the same time talk about how trauma affects us. Mehr’s character was another surprise and the way she changes from a side character to a main one was interesting to read.

Overall, Dakhma is a story that I would urge you to read, even if you skirt away from the genre, for the brilliant storytelling and a lesson in how to hook a reader between the pages of a book. Be it the cover, the content, the story, the language, or the overall feeling of experiencing the story, the book hits a perfect score for me on all counts, and so it gets a 5/5 on the chart.

This review is a part of the Blogchatter Review Program. 

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here.

The Rossogolla Murders-Debeshi Gooptu

Book: The Rossogolla Murders
Author: Debeshi Gooptu
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

What is the weirdest murder weapon you have come across?

The Rossogolla Murders by Debeshi Gooptu explores what happens when a retired judge drops dead at a swish party in Kolkata. The needle of suspicion points to Punjabi mirchi Dolly Luthra. Now it’s up to her friend, the strait-laced Mrinalini Sen, to don the detective’s hat and clear Dolly’s name. Easier said than done when bodies start piling up and there’s a crafty killer on the loose. Will the two be able to put their differences aside and solve the murders?

This story is a finely crafted murder mystery and Debeshi takes us through the lanes of Kolkata as she attempts to solve the mystery and clear her friend’s name. The storytelling is powerful, and the descriptions are vivid, creating a clear visual imagery of the events as they occur. She has taken some authentic items that are an integral part of the City of Joy and woven them into this murder mystery that would enthrall the fans of the genre. Using an unusual murder weapon, she creates a story that has an ending that no one could have expected. Another thing I liked about the book is how subtly she uses a social evil to be incorporated into the plot and how she does a social commentary on it. The climax is nicely crafted and brings a worthwhile end to the story.

Coming to the characters, I loved the diverse set of characters that make up the world in which the story takes place. Be it Dolly Luthra, or Mrinalini Sen, each of the character gets their 15 minutes of fame. The characters have been given certain quirks that make them memorable, be it Mrs. Luthra’s spelling errors or Mrinalini’s steadfastness, I loved how their mannerisms have been depicted and made a part of the story.

A special mention to her for exploring the nook and crannies of Kolkata, and to bring to us the various cuisines that find themselves at home in Kolkata. From the Chinese food at Chinatown and Tangra, to the small sweet shops dotting across the city, I loved how Debeshi brings them to the fore.

Overall, a wonderful story that I would recommend for it is a delight for anyone who loves a good whodunnit. The book gets a 4.69/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon here.

Avishi: Warrior Queen from the Rig Veda- Saiswaroopa Iyer

Book: Avishi: Warrior Queen from the Rig Veda
Author: Saiswaroopa Iyer
Publisher: Bloomsbury India

Is there an unknown character from the epics that has caught your attention?

Avishi: Warrior Queen from the Rig Veda by Saiswaroopa Iyer explores the story of a relatively less known character. Brought up in the pristine forest school of Naimisha, Avishi reaches the republic of Ashtagani in search of her destiny. When Khela, the oppressive king of the neighboring Vrishabhavati, begins to overwhelm and invade Ashtagani, Avishi rises to protect her settlement but at a high cost. Separated from her love, her settlement broken, with a brutal injury needing an amputation of her leg, what can Avishi do to save herself? Will her disability let her continue to be the warrior that she was? Can she fight Khela and save everything dear to her?

The book is an excellent recollection of the story of a character from the epics that is not mentioned in detail. A very well researched story, the author has used her storytelling skills to fill in the gaps nicely to create a seamless narrative. The story of the coming of age of a warrior who overcomes the hurdles of the society, and physical constraints to rise to the occasion is told in an engaging manner. The plot moves smoothly and presents with the reader with a storyline that amazes with its simplicity yet there is a subtle complexity to the story as it is told. Saiswaroopa’s way of highlighting aspects of a story that stay with you until the very end. Secondly, the research that has gone into the story is evident and while it is primarily a fictional story, the mythological references are well woven into the plot. The climax, I felt, could have been better sketched, specially with the point she wants to put across. Another thing that didn’t work for me was that the story felt long and there were parts that seemed to be a bit stretched out, and personally, I think that a shorter version of events could have worked in some places.

The characters in the story are well crafted, and despite having diverse set of characters, the focus is not just on the titular character, but also on the other characters which have a direct bearing on the actions of that character. Be it Gautam, or Jatila, or Satya, each of them get their time in the plot and the character arc is nicely developed. Another interesting aspect of the character development in the story is that while she takes the inspiration from the epics, she gives them her personal touch to make them an authentic part of the plot.

Overall, the impression that the book gives that it is a very well researched story of a woman who braves all odds to rise to the occasion. The book scores a 4.25/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon here.

His Accidental Princess (The Royal Guard #1)-Kyra Seth

Book: His Accidental Princess (The Royal Guard #1)
Author: Kyra Seth
Publisher: Self Published

Do you like reading sweet & spicy romance stories?

His Accidental Princess (The Royal Guard-1) by Kyra Seth is the story of Sona, who was abandoned as a baby & raised in an orphanage, and of Maj. Samar Deshmukh, who wants redemption and a chance to break free of the memories that still hold him prisoner. Sona believes that her life can’t get worse than it already is. And then, she discovers that she is the long-lost princess of Nagaur. Which would be a good thing, if not for the fact that someone is trying to kill her. In this incomprehensible world of snooty royals and their stuffy protocol, Samar is Sona’s only link to reality. And safety. But when she falls head over heels in lust with the surly ex-commando, she realizes that a threat to her life might be the least of her problems. Can Sona ever find happiness with a man who refuses to love her for fear of losing her? This is an exciting, passionate and funny royal bodyguard romance about love and redemption.

The story has a wonderful storyline in the terms that the author is absolutely clear about the path she wants her characters to take. The plot is neatly defined, and the storyline moves with a constant pace, which makes it a comfortable read. Kyra’s writing is a mix of literary sense and a liberal sprinkle of sarcasm that makes you laugh and cry at the same time. From the very first page, the reader is sucked into the world that she creates and believe me, it is a world that has flying food and badly aimed bullets (more than once!). The story is told from alternating viewpoints of Samar and Sona, and as a writer, she manages to bring out the vulnerabilities of each of the characters that drives the story. Another positive about the book is that the love story of the characters is electric as well as subtle, and I loved how the sexual and romantic tension between our protagonists is explored through fleeting moments. The language of the book is simple, and easy to understand. The thing that stood out for me is the element of humour that Kyra effortlessly builds into the story. The climax, though, could have been a bit better as I felt it was a bit rushed and the suspense that was building up came out all of a sudden, but that does not take away the overall impression of the story.

Coming to the characters, Samar and Sona have been sketched nicely, with enough information provided as to understand the reasons behind their actions throughout the story. Sona’s character development and character quirks are nicely written, and the same holds true for Samar. A special mention to Jim Jam and his theatrics that kept the moments interesting. I would have loved a bit more information about the Royal Family and the reasons for their actions, which would have added a nice layer to the plot.

Overall, a book I would recommend if you love reading good, old romance, with a side of a suspense story. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon Kindle here.

Lahore (The Partition Trilogy-1)-Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

Book: Lahore (The Partition Trilogy-1)
Author: Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Have you heard stories of the partition through your family?

Lahore (The Partition Trilogy-1) by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar is set in the months leading up to Independence. In Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel are engaged in deliberations with British Viceroy Dickie Mountbatten over the fate of the country. In Lahore, Sepoy Malik returns home from the Great War hoping to win his sweetheart Tara's hand in marriage, only to find divide-and-rule holding sway, and love, friendships, and familial bonds being tested. Set in parallel threads across these two cities, Lahore is a behind-the-scenes look into the negotiations and the political skullduggery that gave India its freedom, the price for which was batwara. As the men make the decisions and wield the swords, the women bear the brunt of the carnage that tears through India in the sticky hot months of its cruelest summer ever. Backed by astute research, The Partition Trilogy captures the frenzy of Indian independence, the Partition, and the accession of the states, and takes readers back to a time of great upheaval and churn.

The partition of India in 1947 is something that has affected a lot of families and even after 75 years, the wounds are still fresh in the minds of the people who experienced the horrors. This book explores the events that take place since the arrival of Lord Mountbatten up until a month after the independence day. I loved how using two parallel storylines in Delhi and Lahore, Manreet compares and contrasts the mindsets of the people in the two sets-one driving the partition, and the second being affected. The scenes are compelling and the thing that drives the story are the vivid and detailed descriptions, of both the scenes and the emotions. The language that she uses to build up the narrative, incorporating the local words and interweaving them with the main plot was something that did amaze me. It brought to the book a sense of ownership, a feeling that broke the walls and humanized the characters. As a masterful storyteller, her description of the pain and the sufferings of the people as they crossed the border in the second part of the book, helps you visualize and empathize with the events. Ending the book, the way it does, make you want to move on to the second book quickly.

The characters in the book are drawn from History, at least some of them, and while the book is classified as fiction, I am amazed by the level of research that must have gone into to create the people we see in the story. Be it Nehruji, or Vallabh Bhai Patel, or for that matter Lord Mountbatten and his family, each of them has an individualistic identity, one that makes them stand apart and the attention to detail is uncanny with cigarette brands and character quips being built up into the plot. Due attention is given to each characters’ mindset and their discussions with others and with themselves to set their characters.

Overall, a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to read about the partition and loves to read historical fiction that enthralls. The book scores a 4.81/5 for me.

This review is powered by the Blogchatter Review Program.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon here.