Cold Justice-Vish Dhamija

Book: Cold Justice
Author: Vish Dhamija
Publisher: Pan Macmillan India

Revenge is a dish best served cold, isn’t it?

Cold Justice by Vish Dhamija is the story of what happens when Akash gets a call from Judge Shilpa Singh who was arrested in situ – at the scene of the crime – with a knife in her hand. She has been charged with first-degree murder. To make matters worse, the police seem determined to ignore all other evidence that points towards a corrupt politician who had threatened Shilpa while she presided over an ongoing trial against him. The murder charge against Shilpa could easily derail his trial. Two of India’s best defence lawyers, Akash and Vansh jointly take up the case, but they soon realize they are pitted against one of the sharpest prosecuting brains in the country, Ravi Nanda, who is always a step ahead of them both, and pulls the carpet from under their firm feet. Twice. What happens when the judge is on trial for Murder?

Cold Justice picks up the characters from his earlier book Unlawful Justice and while the premise of Akash and Shilpa’s romantic liaison is derived from that book, this book stands on its own merits. The plot of the book has been crafted in detail and there are minute details in the book that make it an amazing read. Right from stating case laws to a perfect example of a hostile witness, each scene in the book has been researched well. The storytelling is quite masterful and I loved how Vish keeps it close to the genre and the courtroom scenes have been so wonderfully described that visualizing them happen is quite easy. The idea of a sitting judge on a trial for murder is quite interesting and I liked how Vish treats this situation to set up the plot of the book. As is with Vish’s stories, the witty repartees and the humor that adds a wonderful flavor to this story. Another thing I would like to highlight the way the story has been structured, and as we go through the crime, the trial and the verdict, you realise that you just lived through a flavorful case. The climax, however is something that is the cherry atop the cake. The way the tables turn and the things that come to light will leave you astounded and with a wide grin on your face.

Coming to the characters, Cold Justice is a story that is propelled by its characters. I liked the fact that due focus has been given to develop them into powerful ones. Starting with Akash, I liked how she humanizes him and right from page 1, we see the side of him that legal thrillers usually avoid. Another interesting character is that of Pentium, and I liked the way Vish structures him and while he appears on and off, I loved the way his role drives the story. Nanda’s character is a perfect prosecutor to Vansh’s defence and the way he structures his arguments and the line of questioning is something that keeps you turning the pages.

This is a legal thriller that I would recommend to anyone who loves to savor a well-researched and well plotted story. The book scores a 4.94/5 for me.

I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Get your copy from the nearest bookstore or Amazon India.

Teen Machine-Ishita Agarwal

Book: Teen Machine
Author: Ishita Agarwal
Publisher: Rupa Publications

Do you have memorable stories from your coaching centers?

Teen Machine by Ishita Agarwal is the story of Avani, a tenth-grade student, who has been living in a bubble—she gets top grades at school, loves to read and spends way too much time on her laptop, despite her mother’s disapproving glares. Her life seems perfect—until she is faced with the consequences of a life-altering decision: she decides to prepare for one of the most competitive entrance exams in the world. Thrust into the cut-throat world of IIT JEE coaching in eleventh grade, she is determined to disprove her mother’s doubts about her abilities, live up to her father’s expectations of being a ‘smart kid’ and be on a par with her peers or even better. Will Avani be able to balance exam stress, her interests, new and old friendships, crushes, her parents’ expectations and still be the ‘best’?

The book is an excellent recollection of the mind of a teenager who is on the cusp of making a major life decision. Ishita traces the journey of Avani and how she realizes her potential and the value of relationships as she wades through a very turbulent time in our life. The plot is well thought of and Ishita keeps the story simple and the author focuses on the mind of a teenager and how she looks at the world and its expectation from her. The storytelling is linear and I liked how she keeps the story relatable. Having been in the same situation some years back, I could relate to quite a few incidents. The climax has been interestingly crafted and I liked how she gives the book a happy closure.

The characters are very interestingly crafted and quite apt for the story she is trying to tell. A teenage smart kid, who is best at everything meets her match at the coaching centre, and how things unfold is a wonderful set up. Avani’s character has been well crafted, and I liked how she represents her mind and her relationships with her friends and family. Another interesting aspect of the story is that she emphasizes the need for a support system and how the people around us are important for us to keep our sanity, and the very important part of our life is doing the things that make us happy.

This is a wonderful read, and regardless of your age, this can be a wonderful read. The book scores a 4.38/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore.

Atharva: The Origin-Ramesh Thamilmani

Book: Atharva: The Origin
Author: Ramesh Thamilmani

Publisher: Virzu Studios

Do you like reading Graphic Novels?

Atharva: The Origin is a new age graphic novel project by Virzu Studios featuring MS Dhoni as the superhero character. The novel is based on a very young earth, in a time long forgotten, a warrior makes a difficult and lone journey. ‘Atharva’ chronicles that journey, taking the hero and you on an awe-inspiring adventure encountering magnificent lands and strange beasts – a true treat for the soul and the senses. In an effort to offer an immersive experience to the readers, we have worked with a team of artists diligently for several years to create the Mystical world of Atharva. Teleporting the readers to a different universe, this graphic novel features over 150 lifelike illustrations which present the gripping and racy narrative.

The book has two major components that make it a wonderful read. Starting with the story and the plot, the book is a hero’s journey as he moves from the lowest point in his life to the highest ones in his life. The story keeps you engaged because as we get introduced to Atharva, we start connecting with him as he faces various trials and tribulations. The plot is pacy and keeps you turning the pages. The thing I liked about the plot was the fact that while it is a hero’s story, it does not over glorify a person, rather creates a character that is very much like one of us. The idea that the author wanted to push about believing our own selves is quite powerful. The second component that makes it a wonderful read are the graphics and the illustrations that elevate this reading journey even more. The key moments in the book have been sketched in, and this helps quite a lot in creating the image of the world the author and the illustrator wanted to put us into. The details are powerful and as the images change one after the other, we journey through various parts of the world he crosses.

Coming to the characters, Atharva’s character has been crafted beautifully, and I liked how his character as a hero isn’t created without his flaws, or his share of self-doubts. As he builds up his life and belief as he journeys, we see him change and evolve. Apart from Atharva, I loved the other characters that form a part of Atharva’s journey and how tiny details that he builds into the story become a critical aspect of the climax.

Overall, this is a wonderful book if you like to read a graphic novel that explores a reformative journey. The book scores a 4.44/5 for me.

A copy of the book can be found on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore!