The Cellist-Daniel Silva

Book: The Cellist
Author: Daniel Silva
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Do Spy thrillers engage you to read them?

The Cellist by Daniel Silva features the art restorer and legendary spy Gabriel Allon. Viktor Orlov signed his life away when he stared a crusade against the kleptocrats who have seized control of the Kremlin. While protected to the core, he meets his maker when he receives documents contaminated with a  deadly nerve agent. As the investigation unravels the threads, the connections start showing up and the evidence points to an assassin from the Moscow centre, but Gabriel thinks otherwise. As he takes the mantle and examining the events, he unravels not just the story behind the assassination, but also a plot to plunge America into chaos. Would Allon, with a young woman employed by the dirtiest bank be able to stop it?

The plot of the book is well-planned and meticulously so with exquisite details of operations as they are planned and executed mentioned. The storytelling is powerful, and the reader’s imagination is used to the core to help them visualize things. Another interesting thing is that the fiction part of the book uses real life events to make a point which is a mark of a well-researched book. Perhaps a sign of things to come, I loved the contemporary context that Daniel uses by incorporating the post-covid world with social distancing and lockdowns, and using them as a part of the book. The thing that did not work for me in the book was that the level of detail in some parts of the book was excessively done and that acted more like a filler to me. Secondly, the climax of the story seemed stretched out and for me, it felt as it was a hurried addition, and not an organic part of the story as originally planned.

The characters are well sketched, and they are relatable as well as believable as none of them is over-the-top in terms of sleuthing or heroics. Each character gets their moment of fame to shine, and I loved the character arcs that develop throughout the book. For me, Gabriel’s character stood out from the rest for his planning and shrewdness. Another character that impressed me was that of the banker (not mentioning the name to avoid spoilers).

Overall, a good spy thriller that scores a 4.19/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

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An Invitation to Die-Tanushree Podder

Book: An Invitation to Die
Author: Tanushree Podder
Publisher: HarperCollins India

Do Murder Mysteries intrigue you?

An Invitation to Die by Tanushree Podder is based in the quaint hill town of Ramsar, where it begins with a simple mystery of Violet William’s van going missing after her granddaughter Pia forgets to lock it when she used it to cater to a party. Things take a turn when ASP Timothy Thapa finds the missing van, albeit with a dead body inside it. Here enters Colonel Acharya, Ramsar’s very own sleuth, with his merry band of bridge-playing Watsons. As the investigation progresses, secrets tumble out of the closet, and it dawns on the people that things are not always what they seem. The question is, will the killer be identified, or this murder will remain a mystery?

I love a well-cooked murder mystery and this story ticks off all the boxes for me. The storyline is well-plotted, and the execution is excellent, specially keeping the identity of perpetrator a secret. The storytelling is engaging and the buildup while introducing the plot is just right. The descriptions are vivid, and it engages the mind to create a visual imagery as things unfold, keeping the reader hooked. The one aspect that stood out for me in the story was how the blame was squarely placed on a person, but the sleuthing continues to reach a conclusion. Tanushree gives all suspects a believable motive of the crime, and for a moment, I was drawn into a world very similar to Baker Street and imagining Colonel Acharya as Holmes. The climax is well-executed and the way it closes this murder mystery yet keeps the door ajar for further stories is well-appreciated. I would love to read more of the adventures of Colonel Acharya for he promises to be a detective who can develop a cult following.

Another interesting part of the story are its characters, specially with a motley of interesting residents of Ramsar. The characters are well-sketched and are a critical part of the storytelling. Starting from Pia, her character is sketched in a manner that introduces her sufficiently to be a crucial part in the further adventures of Colonel Acharya. Her café is a wonderful part of the story that becomes a part of the story in an integral manner. Another character I liked was that of ASP Thapa and how he juggles between respecting orders and respecting the duty to dispense justice. His interactions with the DGP and with the Colonel are enlightening as well as entertaining.

Overall, this is a murder mystery I would recommend to you if you are a Christie or a Doyle fan for the sheer brilliance in storytelling and a crafty murder mystery. The book scores a 4.91/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here.

A Slice Of Life: Every Person Has A Story- Smita Das Jain

Book: A Slice Of Life: Every Person Has A Story
Author: Smita Das Jain
Publisher: Self Published

Do you like reading stories with a twist?

A Slice Of Life: Every Person Has A Story by Smita Das Jain is a collection of 18 short stories that cover a variety of emotions. Divided into 3 sections, each with 6 stories, each story has a concept that explores a variety of situations from marriage to love and everything under the sun. Whether you like to gobble up stories in bulk, or you like to relish them and consume them slowly, this is a collection that would suit either of you. To quote Smita, “It is a collection of fictional stories of extraordinary narratives of ordinary everyday people who have more to their lives beneath the surface”.

There are very few books that can leave their image on your mind after you have finished reading them. Smita’s book finds its place there. The first thing that came to my mind after I finished reading the first story was awe and surprise for the sheer twist at the end. As I moved ahead, this became a common thread and I would really commend her on the fact that while the stories are short, the twists are equally well crafted. Another interesting aspect of the book is the way the stories are organized. In the first section, we see love as a common thread, humor in the second and relationships in the third one which helps the reader connect the dots. The storytelling is engaging and keeps the reader yearning for more. Irrespective of the plot of the story, Smita’s keen eye for detail and crafty twists give a sense of individuality to each of them.

An aspect of the book, and what I felt justified the title as well was that the stories are almost like what we would have observed around us in our daily lives. What the author does is take them and add her touch to it to make them interesting. Reading this book is almost akin to having a three-course meal with each of the sections acting as a course and each story a separate dish which leave distinctive flavours after you have experienced them. If I had to pick favourites, I would choose “A Tribute to Love”, “Warning! Computer Virus Spreads to Human” and “Graduation Day”.

If you love reading short stories that make you contemplate, then this is a book I would highly recommend. The book gets a 4.81/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

Blaze-A Son’s Trial By Fire: Nidhi Poddar and Sushil Poddar

Book: Blaze: A Son’s Trial By Fire
Author: Nidhi Poddar and Sushil Poddar
Publisher: Rupa Publications

Do you read self-help books?

Blaze: A Son’s Trial by Fire by Nidhi and Sushil Poddar is the story of Divyansh Atman, their son who suffered from cancer, but more importantly it is the story of the courage he exhibits in the face of adversity. Narrated by his parents, the story takes us through the journey that they undertake with him as he his life moves from Mumbai to Jerusalem to USA. Through the memoir, we meet a person who faced a situation which would break anyone, but instead we meet a headstrong person who uses his words to support himself. Divyansh was the embodiment of courage and self-determination in the face of adversities. His life journey shows us how the path of opportunities can still be paved in the middle of adversities. He lived a big and a meaningful life that made a huge impact on the lives of people around him.

The book is a heart-wrenching memoir of a life cut short by a disease that breaks a person from inside. Apart from the person who got affected, the story shows us how it affects the family as they endure through the journey. Nidhi chronicles this experience by compiling the interactions that they had with people around the world as they look for treatment for Divyansh. Nidhi also compiles Divyansh’s writings which show the level of maturity he had despite his age and how he took inspiration from his life rather than feeling despondent about his condition. His poetry and letters have depth that show how he found inspiration in adversity. The thing that stood out for me was the message of humanity and human connection that we develop when the intentions are pure. The relationship that Dr. Or develops with the family, and the connection that Divyansh develops with his caregivers speaks to the value of his words being inspirational and connecting with people on a deeper level.

Overall, a book that inspires and recommended. The book scores a  4.25/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Abhimanyu-The Warrior Prince: Deepak M.R.

Book: Abhimanyu: The Warrior Prince
Author: Deepak M.R.
Publisher: Bloomsbury India

Which character stands out for you from the Mahabharata?

Abhimanyu: The Warrior Prince by Deepak M.R. tells us the story of a young warrior, who is in his quest for love, valor, and honor. As he experiences life to become a great warrior, his journey is one that is full of ups and down. As he embarks on a journey to find his father, he finds the love of his life. As the Kauravas and Pandavas prepare for the great war, he decides to join the fight and put his skills to test. As the sixteen-year-old warrior single-handedly brings the mightiest warriors of the time to their knees, it is treachery that ultimately kills him. A retelling based on Vyasa’s Mahabharata, this is the story a young warrior, the best of his time, a devoted son, a loving husband, and a great warrior.

Mythological retellings are tricky because of the core idea that the basic story is known to all. The key is to recreate the narrative to focus on the central character and use their perspective to narrate the said events. This becomes even trickier when the central character is one who hasn’t has many stories about him. Deepak has taken the story of Abhimanyu, a character who is brave and heroic, yet is mentioned in a small part. Focusing on the epic through Abhimanyu’s character, we see him come to life as a kid and how he matures as a warrior. I loved how his training is explained and how details about his archery skills are shown which exhibit his grit and valor. I loved the part where he breaches the chakravyuha and how the Kauravas break the code to murder him. The description is heart wrenching and Deepak’s narration makes you feel the pain that Abhimanyu experiences.

The character sketches in the book are well developed and I loved the fact that Deepak does not let the focus move away from our central character. Everything that happens in the book is related to him and the incidents are used to build his character and persona. Deepak narrates the story of Mahabharata in short so as to give context but at the same time makes sure to keep his central character in the play.

Overall, a retelling of the great epic that I would recommend if you like mythological fiction. The book scores a 4.56/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India here.

Savage Son-Jack Carr

Book: Savage Son
Author: Jack Carr
Publisher: Simon and Schuster

What happens when the hunter becomes the hunted?

Savage Son by Jack Carr tells the story of another adventure by James Reece where he would have to infiltrate the Russian Mafia to save a person closer than family. While he is recovering from a brain surgery in Montana, a woman is on the run in Siberia, who is pursued by a man determined to kill her. What he doesn’t realise is that a CIA agent had gone rogue and has now found refuge with the mafia. As the chase begins, the question remains as to who will emerge on the top, for this is not just a normal chase, it’s a race to survive.

The plot of the book is quite thick and the concept that the book explores is interesting. The idea of a hunt, both literally and figuratively is well thought of and executed nicely. The descriptions in the book are vivid and the author takes his time setting the plot of the book. The plot is detailed, and the central idea of the book takes time to completely form. This, while is good on one hand as it helps the reader grasp the minutest details, it also drags the story a bit. At times, the descriptions of the weapons and technology overpower the plot, and which might cause a few readers to break interest. One aspect I liked about the book is that Jack gives equal value to relationships in the story as to the thrill, keeping a nice balance. The climax of the story is well executed and ends the story on a high. Keeping the hopes alive for another story from him.

The book focuses on James Reece as a character, and we see him develop throughout the story. I liked how he takes decisions in the face of adversity. I loved how different examples are explored to show his quick thinking and courage. Another interesting aspect of his character that jumps out from the story is his commitment to family and relationships. Alexsandr’s character is another I liked, especially the way in which it is crafted with multiple shades.

Overall, a good thriller I would recommend if you like to read thrillers that have a focus on firepower and strategy. The book gets a 4.13/5 from me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Eye On You-Kanchana Banerjee

Book: Eye On You
Author: Kanchana Banerjee
Publisher: Self Published

Do you think that our digital identity is a risk we are taking?

Eye On You by Kanchana Banerjee is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Myra, who is a young, single woman living in Gurugram. After a house party, she wakes up the following morning to realise that her life has taken a turn. She realizes that she had been raped that last night but the thing that flummoxes her is that she was surrounded by friends, the people she trusted. The question is who the wolf in the sheep’s skin was who betrayed her trust. A cautionary tale of the perils of the ever-connected world, now more than ever and the threat poses to us as individuals and as a society. So, are we truly safe, or does someone has an eye on you?

With the world coming closer thanks to technology, the threats of the same are cropping up faster than we can plug them. With everything from lights to security systems to documents being online, there is a pertinent question that Kanchana puts up through the story, and that is of the idea of privacy and security. The story opens on point with the readers being introduced to Myra the morning after the assault and how the realization dawns on her. What follows is a well-told whodunnit as Inspector Dipti tries to catch hold of a thread that could unravel the mystery of the upheaval in Myra’s life. The one thing that stands out about the book are its vivid descriptions and the time Kanchana takes to set up a scene so that the continuity in the story does not break. This helps the reader visualize and internalize the story, investing into the premise and compelling them to turn the page. Another thing that amazed me were the little clues scattered around the story, that in hindsight, scream out the identity of the perpetrator, and I believe that this is the mark of a well-plotted thriller. Apart from the risks of a world going digital, Kanchana also touches upon how the society looks at women and their choice of lifestyle. That was a wonderful discourse that flows throughout the story. The climax was a wonderful ending to the story, almost poetic, especially the way it is explained.

Coming to the characters, Myra’s character as a modern millennial, living life to the fullest is well crafted. I liked how Kanchana did not hold back in creating her identity, whether be it her professional side, or her social media life. On the contrast, Dipti’s character is a complete opposite, yet create with the same attention to detail, same finesse. Another character that impressed me was that of Hridi and the complexity that she brings to the story. Kanchana also sketched the character of the perpetrator really well, keeping the identity secret hidden in plain sight.

Overall, I would recommend Eye on You to anyone who loves to read a well-written thriller. The book scores a 4.75/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

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