22 Tuesday Oct 2024
Posted in Constructive Criticism: Book reviews
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A haunted well. A haunted generation of medical students. A lovelorn couple. A ghost who will stop at nothing to avenge her murder … but does she know who murdered her?
Dr Siddharth’s medical horror gives deja-vu moments of the thrills and banter that every 1st year med student faces – the ragging, the terror of putting a scalpel into a cadaver, the groupism, the student-teacher favoritisms.
At 151 pages, the book is a rapid-fire chill ride. Enjoy it!
14 Monday Oct 2024
Posted in Constructive Criticism: Book reviews
Jaya pens a fast-moving thriller-horror story that doesn’t slack or disappoint.
Every chapter is happening (literally), keeps one hooked and excited for the next chapter. Despite a mere 104 pages, the book has precise character sketches.
Varun and Anandi are much in love couple on a vacation/honeymoon. When wifey starts showing an upped sexual drive, smoky red eyes and a growing physical transformation Varun is horror struck. He and Anandi’s sister valiantly set off on an expedition to uncover the jigsaw puzzle put into their lap.
Its protagonists make a lasting impression- whether it be the stuntman who transforms from faithful husband to lover, from a vacationer to a seeker of truth, from a man in love to a man in mourning.
Quite a surprise package this. An ending that leaves a bittersweet taste.
Amazon link: https://amzn.in/d/0IjdMsa
24 Tuesday Sep 2024
Posted in Constructive Criticism: Book reviews
A chilling real crime – a heinous murder using a slithering, live weapon- poisonous snake! Hats off to criminal creativity.
Aloke and Maanas Lal recreate the crime in flashbacks. While it’s not a whodunit, since the murderer is presented to us upfront, the real fun is in the nitty gritties of police investigation & their herculean struggle to build up substantial evidence.
Too often police in Bollywood films are either corrupt or dumb enough to mess up evidence. ‘Fangs of death’ deals with a systematic unfolding of the case buildup, the relevant IPC sections, the vital issues in an autopsy report, the thorough and painstaking struggle to build a concrete wall which can withstand scrutiny in court.
Real life photos of the concerned police and criminals adds to the feel of watching a Netflix docu- drama of real crime.
30 Sunday Jul 2023
Author: Navreet Sran
Pages: 202
Whirlpool of life and emotions
Picturize a luxury yatch cruising along scenic waters before a tornado smashes into it… and therein begins survival. Navreet Sran’s ‘Diamonds and Stones’ beguiles the reader into guessing whether the plot involves a corporate slugfest, or an Indian bride propelled into NRI world or bitchy boss Namita’s murder. Instead, it veers abruptly into unexpected terrains – both emotional and geographic. Ambitious and dreamer Meera’s life goes topsy turvy once she is kidnapped.
Continue reading14 Tuesday Jun 2016
Tags
betrayal, book review, chess, kings, murder mystery, reincarnation, revenge, sandeep sharma, thriller
Seamless fusion of History with Mystery. Sandeep Sharma (author) weaves an intriguing revenge saga spanning over 4000 years.
Storyline– a spate of seemingly unrelated murders start unraveling once they coalesce into a common link. This kickstarts a tale of bitter betrayal and rousing rivalry between 2 warring kings of yore.
The author touches on myth (immortal Shamans), science (DNA replication, electromagnetic radiations) and philosophy (immortality, rebirth) to create an enthralling page turner.
I liked – Breathless pace of story. Numerous twists around every corner. Unexpected death of a key character. Effective use of flashbacks and flashforwards between 2 timelines. One of the best written prologues in recent times. Amusing undercurrents of competition between CLAW, RAW and police force. Continue reading
Impractical Dreamer: Sweety Shinde 