Author: Anand Ranganathan

The novel is a compelling page-turner and keeps you on the edge of the seats till the end and yet the last paragraph too leaves you wanting for more.

Business tycoon Mihir Kothari falls dead after he takes a bite of the specially prepared souffle earmarked for him. The circumstantial evidence points towards renowned celebrity chef Rajiv Mehra. Soon, other evidence emerge and that helps the police build a watertight case against Rajiv. So compelling is the evidence that the defence has nothing to counter the prosecution and Rajiv is sentenced to death. This brings an end to the high profile murder case taking the country by storm. However, Inspector Dayanand Apte, the case in charge despite soling the last case of his career before retirement, is not a happy man. He feels there is a void that can’t be explained, lacunae that can’t be filled…

Parallelly as Rajiv is transported to a holding place where the gallows await him, the vehicle meets with an accident resulting in the death of all the police personnel but Rajiv escapes with injuries.

The rest of the story follows the pursuit of finding the truth with a few red herrings thrown the reader’s way and I give it to the author for the vivid imagery he painted. helps keep you glued.

On the flip side, however, there are a few moments that turn the tide of the story but don’t seem to be plausible. For instance the execution of a capital punishment so quickly… however high profile the case may be we know how staggered our judicial system is. Also, Rajiv fighting a trained assassin and even managing to kill him, seems impossible… Or the inspector going way ahead of his boundaries post-retirement…like travelling abroad to find clues…There are a few of these absurdities.

The plot is brilliant and if these few drawbacks can be taken care of then the book is a masterpiece.

The book is authored by renowned pediatric nephrologist Dr. Pankaj Deshpande.

He has used anecdotes from his clinical practice to spread awareness of different nephrological issues. The USP of the book is, that each anecdote is laced with humour.

Whenever children come for a medical procedure or visit a super-specialist the parents are already tensed because of the case history. The doctor plays a vital role in not just diagnosis and treatment but also in easing the parents’ anxiety and apprehensions. I have personally experienced Dr. Deshpande’s expertise for my son when he was younger.

Every story written in this book has a personal touch and promises to leave the reader smiling even hours after you have put it down.

Special mention to the cartoonist who has recreated the characters including the author himself!

Those interested in reading this can connect as follows:

Author: Vish Dhamija

This is my second book by this author, and his brilliance in this genre surpasses others in the field. If you enjoy courtroom thrillers in the style of John Grisham, Vish Dhamija is the right author to explore from the perspective of the Indian legal system, which, as we know, is rife with its own share of courtroom drama.

Judge Shilpa Singh finds herself arrested, and circumstantial evidence points to her involvement in a first-degree homicide. She seeks the services of Akash Hingorani, a prominent defence advocate with whom she had a brief affair in the past, to represent her. The judge had been presiding over a case involving a corrupt politician, and it appears that this very politician might have trapped her.

The most significant piece missing from this puzzle is the identity of the deceased individual.

What follows is a roller coaster of emotions as the author takes us through the tumultuous journey of the lawyers’ efforts to secure Shilpa Singh’s acquittal.

The most astonishing revelation, however, occurs at the end, leaving the reader thoroughly astounded.

Overall, it is beautifully written with a superb narrative.

Author: Monica Singh

The pandemic ‘paused’ our lives and changed it for good. It gave us time to retrospect and introspect our lives bringing to the surface hidden emotions we never knew existed.

The book is a collection of 7 short stories based on actual life experiences, partly revolving around the pandemic. The author has done a great job of bringing out the raw emotional connection that binds the reader to the intricacies of each story. Every story makes the reader ‘pause’ and think… it feels like the reader is treading through some portion of his life through these.

The basic crux of the book is to show that one can rise above all, and face every curveball that life throws your way to rise from the ashes.

A couple of those stories have the potential to be expanded to full-length novels. Overall an intriguing and poignant read.

Author: Dinesh Prasad

To summarise the book in a single line: This book will consume you in its throes and you will be drowning in the ocean of brilliant literary play before you know it.

With a sheer dance of figures of speech garnishing the poetic flawless language and narrative the book captivates you from the go.

The narrative is in the form of second person POV throughout and that itself shows the author’s calibre. He hasn’t swayed away even once from the plot that could have happened in this form of narrative. The thirst protagonist Mahesh is the narrator. the story revolves around Frieda, Alfie and Mahesh and their interpersonal relationships spanning a lifetime…

Frieda is forced to marry Alfie after her beau leaves her stranded at the altar. Five years of loveless marital life is filled with despair for the couple. Frieda can’t give her heart to Alfie while Alfie can’t seem to forget how much he loves Frieda. Mahesh is Alfie’s close friend who storms into Frieda’s life one fine day and remains an integral part of her life. The myriad personalities of seven sons born to her from Mahesh have been artistically described and it throws light on Frieda’s relationship with her husband whom she never left and cared for till the end and her paramour. At a glance, one may judge and hate Frieda for the kind of woman she seemed especially having strayed in her marriage.

The author has painted Frieda’s character with a plethora of personality colours that leave the reader wondering till the end about her innermost desires. Yet she is worshipped, is looked upon with enigmatic views, with lust and with gay abandon.

That according to me is the book’s USP

There is a line towards the end of the book, “The seeds we sow do not bring life until the seeds die and are consumed…” This is profound and defines the crux of the narrative.

A well-recommended read for lovers of literature, drama and pathos.

Author: Vikkas Arun Pareek

What happens when a child grows up in a toxic environment where the mother hates the kid because she is born a girl? This is the first-generation to second-generation transition where Shakuntala is the mother and Janki, is her daughter. Shakuntala is married off very early and practically grows up along with her husband Shekhar who later goes into the Army. Through her letters to her mother, Shakuntala vents out her anguish when she speaks about her difficulties in a different household from her maternal home and later falling in love with her husband, not wanting a girl child and finally losing it all when she delivers a stillborn child. She brazenly admits to ill-treating her daughter who eventually revolts and grows up to hate her mother.

The other set of letters is from Janki to Shakuntala where she agonises over the lack of maternal love that she craved all her life and her mindset during crucial junctures of her life.

The story unravels the raw pain of each of the women, Shakuntala her daughter Janki and later Meera, Janki’s daughter. It speaks volumes about how a safe haven filled with love and acceptance is crucial for a child’s upbringing. Janki is a rebel who pays a heavy price later in life.

It’s only after Janki’s passing in the 9/11 incident that Meera inherits her letters and it takes over a decade for Meera to be able to read them and in turn, understand her mother and grandmother.

the first-person POV in the letters keeps the reader glued throughout as he navigates the emotional roller coaster.

The ending could have been a bit different, yet the book makes for a very interesting read.

Author: Vish Dhamija

It’s a superbly spun plot. What began as an accidental death investigation years ago will soon emerge as a crucial piece of evidence and the unravelling of a crime that hits the nation. hard.
The story belongs to the protagonists Raaj Kumar and his svelte wife Serena the ultimate power couple. Raaj is found dead in an accidental fire in his plush residence. He is a financial advisor to high-net-worth individuals and though the inspector in charge Michael D’Cunha suspects foul-play, he can’t prove it. the case is closed and Seremna moves ahead in life.
However, the twist in the tale is unforeseen and I have to credit the author that the thriller writer in me didn’t expect this.
Enter SP Kabir Singh who is transferred to CBI to investigate a high-profile case that affected the nation years ago. As the mystery unravels, connections from the past emerge as D’Cunha and Kabir investigate stealthily.
What exactly happened that day when Raaj died? Was there anything amiss and what was the crucial link connecting the two cases years later?

A very intriguing unputdownable read!