The Girl in the Glass Case-Devashish Sardana

Book: The Girl in the Glass Case
Author: Devashish Sardana
Publisher: Penguin India

What is the key to a good psychological thriller?

Simone Singh, assistant superintendent of police, would rather spend her days locking up criminals than apologizing for her lack of social skills, and she knows that time is running out to piece together the clues as the Doll Maker has made it clear that the killings have only just begun. Another serial killer, the Clipper, who enjoyed nine years of infamy as India's most notorious butcher, erupts into an all-consuming rage when he is cast aside by the media in favor of the sick new slayer-the Doll Maker. The Clipper turns his fury into blood-soaked revenge to capture the top spot. As corpses start to pile up, Simone fights to maneuver the Doll Maker into a clever trap. But the Clipper is hell-bent on striking first and regaining the crown with his most grisly murder yet. Can Simone take down the two serial killers and stop the psychotic competition before it gets out of hand?

When we talk about psychological thrillers, the basic expectation is that the plot holds till the end, and The Girl in the Glass Case by Devashish Sardana does more than just do justice to the concept. The plot starts off on a great footing and as the story moves, you get engrossed into the plot so deeply that you feel the emotions of the characters as they feel it. The storytelling is superb and the almost onion-like layers that keep peeling off makes the plot even more interesting. The plot is well thought of, and the intricacies have been worked out perfectly. As the author explores the psychological condition, there are subtle hints, but nothing is revealed until the very end, and I think that is the best thing about the book. The plot is so tight and well edited, that there are no loose ends that unravel or weaken the story. The climax is another wonderful thing about the book as the big reveal happens and its execution is almost as good as the story. Reading this book is an experience that shows that even a thick book can be pacy. The journey that you take through the book is quite imaginative and I loved how the author has focused on the details to keep the reader hooked.

The characters in the story are the soul of the story and just like the story, the attention to detail is quite uncanny. Simone’s character and her quirks form an interesting part of the story, but unlike usual cases, I was more impressed by the antagonists of the story. The intense planning and the war between the two serial killers adds a bit of spice to the thrill of the story. I loved how the author uses the character’s past to set up the plot points and while doing that, does not let the plot loose even for a bit. Zoya’s character is quite interesting, and I liked that how closely it ties into the climax.

Overall, this is a book I would definitely recommend if you like reading a well baked psycho thriller that would have chills run down your back. This wonderful book gets a 5/5 for me.

Thank you BookReviewersClub for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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