The Secret Diary of a Conman-Vish Dhamija

Book: The Secret Diary of a Conman
Author: Vish Dhamija
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

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

What, do you think, is the key to a successful con?

One heist. One night. No second chances. Fresh out of prison after being double-crossed by his former partners, a cardsharp turned conman extraordinaire finds that Mumbai’s underworld is no place for a failed criminal. Having spent years amassing a fortune and securing a reputation that few can compete with, he has learnt the hard way that playing high stakes is a dangerous game – especially when one’s comrades can be just as crooked as one’s rivals. He plots an elaborate heist to take revenge: an epic night of gambling amongst the city’s upper echelons, with crores of rupees – and his life – on the line. When the ever-thickening web of lies and deception he has woven begins to threaten those he loves most, he is forced to make an impossible choice. The deck is stacked against him … but this master conman has a final ace up his sleeve.

There are stories about conmen and heists, and then there is this book which cons the reader itself with multiple misdirects. The book is written in the form of diary entries by a man who is a card sharp and was double crossed by his partners. The book then explores the story of how he plots his revenge with his partners. What I loved about the book was the manner in which it is written and in the first person narrative, takes you through his life as a cardsharp and how he came into this life. The book is divided into 5 sections, each corresponding to one suit, and an extra chapter for the Hearts. Vish’s writing is excellent and you are drawn into the story so much that you miss the subtle cues that he has placed throughout the book. Each chapter corresponds to a song which matches perfectly with the vibe of the book and if you plug into the playlist and hum while you read, trust me, you’ll enjoy the book a lot more. True to the format of diary entry, there are scribbles on the margins that also fit in with the storyline, and give you the feel of reading someone’s diary. There are moments in the book where you, as a reader, are fooled into a sense of discomfort and miss the cues that misdirect you completely. Another aspect of the story that I loved was the research and the mind-boggling planning it would have taken to plan out the events in the book, given that not a word out of context is mentioned, and I take the example of the “three doorbells” here, giving no spoilers at all. The climax of the book, however, is the cherry atop the cake. It takes deviousness of another level to come up with what happens in the end.

I’ve always been a fan of Vish’s writing, and the way he likes to play around with his characters’ emotions, and by extension the readers’. Even in this book, you cannot help but feel sorry for our Dimpy Raja when you read his story. Another lovely character was that of Zara and how she added that zest to the entire story through her role in the entire con. Then there is this sub-plot of importance of friends that is the key to this entire story. Puja and Ranjit’s characters were crafted beautifully. In the relationship between the three of them, Vish manages to highlight how the friends we make when we are young are the ones we can bank upon, even for the craziest and the riskiest of plans.

Overall, the conman managed to con me and my rating scale to make me give a 5/5 for this diary, and the extra half star was just for the 1 misdirects that caught me blind!!!

P.S. I loved the Rita Ferriera reference in the book!

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore!