The Therapist-B A Paris

Book: The Therapist
Author: B A Paris
Publisher: HarperCollins India

What is the house you are living in hides a terrible secret?

The Therapist by B A Paris is a psychological thriller that tells the story of what happens when Alice and Leo decide to move into a gated neighborhood in London, The Circle. It is everything that ticks all the boxes on their lists, but as it happens, appearances can be deceptive. As Alice starts to interact with the neighbors, she discovers a devastating secret about the home, and starts developing a strange connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there before. As she tries to piece together the information she is gathering as to what happened two years ago, she realizes that things are not as perfect as they seem.

A good psychological thriller is only as good as the reveal, and this the author nails it in this book. The plot of the book is simply told, with a single-person narrative, with flashbacks in the middle. The element of mystery and the tension in the air is sustained till the very end and I loved the rush of adrenaline that comes in the end. The storytelling is powerful in the sense that I could connect with Alice as well as Nina in the story and to a certain extent understood Leo as a person as well. The author takes her time to establish the premise and though that is a bit stretched out, it makes sense towards the end as things are closed with a bow. The language is simple and easy to comprehend, making it a breezy read. The thing that stands out for me was the level of detail and small things that make sense in hindsight. The climax is unexpected, well-planned, and precisely executed.

Coming to the characters, Alice as a character impressed me with her persistence and dedication to a cause, though it did come across as a bit obsessive of her. Her ability to connect with people was something I could relate to easily. Debbie as a friend was someone I would love in my corner and I think she was the one that kept Alice from toppling over the edge. The community of The Circle was a character in itself and it is my opinion that the neighborhood itself acted as a character with its exclusivity and poshness. Thomas Grainger was a character I loved, especially in the manner he acts and works throughout the story.

Overall, a wonderful read that scores a 4.19/5 for me.

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Silent Screams-Neenv Raju Akunuri

Book: Silent Screams
Author: Neenv Raju Akunuri
Publisher: Papertowns India

If you had to pick, which one would you choose-Unconditional Love or Conditional Marriage?

Silent Screams by Neenv Raju Akunuri is a crime thriller that investigates the murder of Saysha Mehta where her husband Jai is the prime suspect. Naseen Rajnath is a criminal lawyer, and a close friend of Saysha, who is mourning the death of her friend. Naseen decides to defend Jai in the court because of her belief in Jai, who loved her deeply, couldn’t have done the deed. Its is now upon ACP Jason Sahayam to untangle the mystery and find the truth to get justice dispensed. Set in Chennai, this is a story of how closely guarded secrets, once hidden, now threaten to get exposed and make Jai, Naseen and Jason question their very identities.

Putting Silent Screams into a specific genre is a very difficult task. Primary a legal thriller, there are subtle shades of romance woven into the plot as well as psychological elements that make it an interesting read. The plot of the story is well detailed, and the author has painstakingly woven minute details to make the story interesting. Told with multiple POVs, the characters play a crucial role and Neenv takes her time to establish the plot and the premise. The story does not slack, even for a moment, and keeps you hooked to turn the page, only to discover a new revelation. Another thing that works in the favor of the story are the emotions it manages to invoke in the reader they become a part of it. The storytelling is amazing and the way the plot is structured speaks volumes about Neenv as a storyteller. The courtroom scenes are detailed and imagining them is easy with the subtle visual clues placed throughout the writing. Coming to the language, it is simple and easy to understand, and no legal jargon has been used. The climax is a beauty in itself. Closed succinctly, I am in awe of how the tables turn and I was agape in the manner the last scenes play out.

As I mentioned, the characters are the ones who drive the plot in this story. Naseen Rajnath is a character I would love to meet in person, and probably have in my corner if I ever need a lawyer. Steadfast and unfazed, she is the force that drives the narrative all throughout the book. Her personality, as a lawyer and as a friend is explored in detail and has a deep impact on the plot. Jai Mehta is another character that amazed me through the layers that have been built into him. Connecting with him and empathizing with him is almost automatic and as the case progresses, you begin to relate with him and his grief. ACP Jason Sahayam is someone I would like to see more of, specially as a series because I loved his sense of duty-both as a police officer and as a friend. The key factor in Neenv’s characters is their detailing and their relativity to the people around us. Crafted with their own individual traits, with strengths and weaknesses, each character has been given space to grow and develop and then become a part of the narrative.

There are very few stories that check all the boxes I look for in a story and Silent Screams is one of them. With a storyline that engages, a plot that enthralls and a story that holds, this is one book that scores a 5/5 for me. If you love reading crime thrillers or courtroom dramas, then grab a copy of this book and I am sure you will not regret reading it.

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Build The Home Team-Dr. Amit Punjabi & Kiahra Punjabi

Book: Build The Home Team
Author: Dr. Amit Punjabi & Kiahra Punjabi
Publisher: Self Published

Do you believe family is an integral part of our success?

Build The Home Team by Dr. Amit Punjabi & Kiahra Punjabi is a book that takes up an important aspect of our life-family, and then goes on to detail how important is to manage it properly.  The core focus of the book is on the point that while people tend to spend a lot of their time, money & energy in building great teams at their work places, they forget that there is a great team available for them at their home. This team at home is what helps us generate the best from every area of our lives & they need to be nurtured, guided & mentored to be a high performing unit.

The book is well-plotted and well-planned. Divided into 4 sections of Treat, Empower, Align and Measure, it uses this acronym to lay emphasis on the importance of family in our lives. The one thing that stood out in the book for me was its simplicity and the easy-to-implement ideas. The authors do not take a moral high ground and preach, rather use examples from their lives to drive the point home. Another good thing about the book were the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and their relevance to the discussion that happened in that part of the book. Amit and Kiahra have used their experience to pen this down and it shows in the earnestness that keeps the reader hooked to the book. The concept of equating family as a team and then drawing parallels to improve the work as well as home teams is commendable. The comparisons are interesting as well as valid. The examples provided are well suited to the concept and add to the value of the book.

However, there are certain things that could have made the book even better. First is the editing and proofreading. There are certain areas where spelling and grammatical issues popped up. A second round of editing can easily fix those. Second thing that could enhance the book is the inclusion of a few activities that the readers could do to incorporate the learnings from the book. Lastly, using a few diagrams and figures to explain the concepts could have made the experience richer as well.

It is a short read, but an effective one. Overall, the book scores a 4.25/5 for me.

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Nightwatchman Pvt Ltd-Naveen Kundra

Book: Nightwatchman Pvt Ltd
Author: Naveen Kundra
Publisher: Notion Press

What is the one thing that inspires innovation?

Nightwatchman Pvt Ltd by Naveen Kundra opens on the 24^th of May when Dhan Nagri wakes up to the news that a shocking incident has taken place, and a killer is on the loose, putting the lives of the citizens at risk. As the pressure mounts on the CM Yudhisthir Sanghvi to find a solution, the city comes to a grinding halt. In one part of the city, Sanjay Dhingra is preparing for his imminent arrest as his brainchild Nightwatchman Pvt Ltd is the centre of a larger-than-life drama and he now left to face the music. In another part of the city, his rival Khsirsagar is planning something sinister, and the love of his life has shacked up with someone powerful. This is the story of a rum-drinking entrepreneur that delves deep into the innards of power, seduction, espionage, and forgery. Can Sanjay, who has nothing to lose, gain everything?

The idea of the book to introduce and discuss the problems an entrepreneur faces is quite innovative. Naveen has taken up the concept and placed it in an imaginary world, where locations are recognizable, yet it is completely fictional. The storytelling has a parallel track, and that adds to the mystery element in the book, but that is also the thing that goes against it. The storytelling is quite slow, and the premise of the plot gets clear well after the second half and that could deter readers from moving ahead. One thing that didn’t work for me were the editing and proofreading errors that led to a lot of spelling and grammar issues which reduced the reading experience further. The story is extremely detailed, and the intentions of the characters do make sense in the way they were doing what they were doing, but that takes up quite a bit of time. Another thing that didn’t work for me was that the innovation and its subsequent revelation did not live up to its hype and I expected it to be a bit better. The climax could have been executed well and compared to the story, did not live up to the expectations.

Coming to the characters, Naveen has created an interesting set of characters for the story. Sanjay’s character is well plotted, and his character arc is well sketched. I loved the fact his spontaneous decision making and the fact that he did what he did to make his venture a success. His presence of mind is well articulated and well presented. Chandra and Ruhi are two characters I found quite complex and the way in which each of their arcs goes makes the plot interesting and readable. Other characters such as Khsirsagar, Yudhisthir etc. are relatable as well and people like them can be seen around us.

Overall, a good book that can improve with a second round of editing and proofreading. It scores a 3.5/5 for me.

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Three Men and a Strange Murder-Chitrangada Mukherjee

Book: Three Men and a Strange Murder
Author: Chitrangada Mukherjee
Publisher: Self Published

Do you think love drives us to do strange things?

Three Men and a Strange Murder by Chitrangada is the story of what unfolds in the sleepy town of Agartala when a honeymooning couple stumble across the corpse of a local woman in their backyard. Identified to be that of one Rituparna Bagdi, a teacher at a local school, the case is handed over to Inspector Jui Roy, for whom this is the first big case. As the investigation proceeds, Jui comes across Rituparna’s diary and the story takes a turn as it tells the tale of three men in Rituparna’s life-Her Ex-Husband Mrinal, her colleague Virendra Jha and her student Paul Jamatia. As Inspector Roy and SI Das investigate, they come across some shocking revelations and an aspect of human psyche that is primal in its very nature. The question remains, who was the who led to the horrific crime.

The plot of the story is told in a parallel fashion, with Rituparna’s monthly diary entries forming one set of narratives, and the murder investigation forming the other. The idea of using a diary to tell the story of the victim is an interesting way of comparing and contrasting the events of the present. Another aspect that stands out is the simplicity of the plot and things have not been made complicated just for adding an element of intrigue to it. The storytelling keeps the reader hooked and manages to capture the reader’s interest into the investigation. The element of surprise is maintained till the very end and true to the premise, the strangeness of the crime is not let out of the bag anytime before it is supposed to be. The language is simple and easy to understand. The best part for me was that the story arc of all the characters comes together and no part of the story was random or seemed forced. There are a few grammatical issues in the latter part of the book, though nothing too serious. The climax is seamlessly integrated and excellently executed.

Coming to the characters, I was impressed by the character of Inspector Jui Roy and the manner in which she has been sketched. With shades of grey, her way of investigation was quite interesting and with the teasers into her life and equations with a couple of other characters, I would be more than happy to read more crime fighting exploits from her desk. SI Pritam Das comes across as another promising character and his quirky mannerisms did make the read funnier. Rituparna’s character was a surprise though I felt a bit more personalization to her could have added more to her relativity with the reader. Other characters , and specially the three men, were devised beautifully and their individuality stands out and adds a wonderful flavor to the story.

Overall, A recommendation if you are looking for a breezy murder mystery. The book scores a 4.31/5 for me.

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Club You To Death-Anuja Chauhan

Book: Club You To Death
Author: Anuja Chauhan
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Would you kill someone to keep your secret buried?

Club You To Death by Anuja Chauhan is set in the posh area of Lutyens’s Delhi where a hunky personal trainer is found asphyxiated to death under a barbell at the Delhi Turf Club, on the eve of the elections for the President of the Club. Initially identified as an accident, facts emerge soon that points to the fact that one of the posh Dilliwallahs, a member of the club, is a cold-blooded killer. As the conspiracies rage through the lanes of Delhi, ACP Bhavani Singh is handed the case to investigate, and he enlists Akash Dogra, who despises all that the club stands for, and Bambi Todi, a girl who loves DTC almost like a second home, to help him make inroads with the members. A bloody good romance, the question is whether Bhavani Singh would be able to solve the case, or would the story stay unfinished.

The book is quite well-plotted, and the idea of meshing romance and a murder mystery is very well executed by Anuja. The story has a dynamic plot which twists and turns with each page, and each of the chapters is a revelation in itself. The romance angle and the murder mystery move independently, yet coincide at just the right moments to add substance to the story. The language of the story is something that is a signature of Anuja’s. The very Dilliwallah accent, and writing the words as the characters would pronounce it bring out the class difference extremely well. From Bhavani Singh’s “we” to the posh Delhi “Dipping Sauce” and not chutney, the nuances that Anuja has built in just help paint a wonderful picture of events as they occur. The idea of a murder at a posh Delhi club and how each member’s motivations are explored almost makes it as good as a Christie Mystery. Another aspect that stands out is how each detail of the story comes together in the end, no matter how insignificant it seems in the beginning. A good mystery is only as good as its climax and the author nails it perfectly. The way all threads join together and weave the events that lead to the crime is ingenious.

CYTD is a very character driven story, and it is made what it is by the details that the characters bring to it. Akash “Kashi” Dogra impressed me with his no-nonsense attitude and the very non-posh manner in which he was created. I loved the way his equations with other characters were explores, especially Bambi Todi. Coming to her, I loved the way she has been crafted like a typical Posh-Delhi girl, but there are shades of her that highlight that she is more than what meets the eye. This, infact, is an undertone that can be seen throughout the story. Be it Behra Mehra or Cookie Katoch. Another thing that catches the attention of the reader is the creatively designed names each of the character has and even the good ACP hasn’t been spared who becomes ACP Brownie. Picked up from people around us, the relativity factor is very high, and this is what keeps the reader hooked to the story all along. All of us have had one or more of these people in our lives.

Overall, Club You To Death is a story that is inherently Delhi and its story as well as the characters ooze the myriad shades of what makes Delhi what it is. A book that scores a 4.63/5 from me, it is a definite recommendation from me if you love to sit and enjoy a bloody good romance and a gripping murder mystery.

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Rogues Among the Ruins-Achala Moulik

Book: Rogues Among the Ruins
Author: Achala Moulik
Publisher: Niyogi Books

Do you think bureaucracy has changed from the colonial times to today?

Rogues Among the Ruins by Achala Moulik portrays the conflict of civil servants caught between ideals and thirst for success. The novel adopts the style of great masters like Gogol and Cervantes who, in their search for truth, evoke laughter through tears. The first part of the book is basically a fictionalized account of the workings of the Archaeological Survey of India and the painful predicaments of a dedicated but naïve scholar faced with temptations. The scholar’s son, a morally indifferent bureaucrat, chronicles a later era in the second part. It tells the story of how bureaucracy works and how the drama unfolds in the corridors of power.

The idea that the book wishes to portray is that of the evolution of bureaucracy and it uses a generational change to explore the same. The author starts with the work of ASI and how it was a cover for the British to collect information, and how that very idea changes post-independence. The issue that I faced was that the book was not able to deliver on this front as it could have. The first part of the book seems to have no connect with the second one, and more importantly, they are two unequal halves, and we see more of Raman, than we do of Elangovan. While there is a call back in the end, the reader might not continue till the end to see the same. The language used in the book is easy to understand and simple, and matches the tone of the characters and the situations. There are no grammatical errors, and the plot moves seamlessly. The plot has a relatively straight arc and travels in that motion throughout, with a bit of humor that crops up now and then. The climax is good and executed well.

The characters are well defined, though the primary characters are a bit varied, and a lot is dependent on the scene playing out and the perspectives change, though most of the book is told from Raman’s and Elangovan’s Point of View. The character descriptions are vivid and quite detailed. I loved the fact that whenever the POV changed to either Raman or Elangovan, there was a clear mention and a very unique one at that.

Overall, it is a decent read that could have been executed better to put the message across. The book scores a 4/5 from me.

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