Review: Iliana Xander's 'Love Mom'

 

Iliana Xander is making waves globally in the crime fiction genre, and much like Freida Mcfadden and Coolen Hoover (though she is more into Romance Fiction) her once self-published books are now getting a conventional paper back re-issue. So, when I came to know that her debut Novel ‘Love, Mom’ has just got released in India through Penguin, I couldn’t resist buying a copy of it. Though a bit lengthy , at about 390+ pages, I finished reading this book in two days and I must say that the critics haven’t been wrong about this thriller. Xander is definitely a name to watch out for in the Psychological thriller/ Crime-Fiction genre!

Elizabeth Casper was a best selling author. She has recently died in a freak accident. Her Daughter Mackenzie,  has always lived in the shadows of her Celebrity mother. Though she has never been that close to her Mom, she is still mourning the loss and is yet to come in terms with the void left behind. But Mackenzie is left with more than she bargains for when investigators start asking questions. Then, a mysterious mail arrives , containing pages from her mother’s diary. What Mackenzie reads leaves her in shock. Then arrives the next letter… Mackenzie is soon left with more questions than answers and that leaves her with no other choice than to unravel the mysteries clouding her very own existence. What was that ‘secret’ which her famous Mom was hiding all through her life?

There are only a handful of characters in this novel besides the protagonist Mackanzie, Elizabeth and her Husband, Ben Casper. EJ ,Mackanzie’s boy friend appears through out in the Novel and I must say that at times I found the banter between Mackanzie and him to be a bit irritating. The Grandma character , though appears only towards the latter half of the book is particularly worth mentioning. The Novel also reminded me of Coolen Hoover’s ‘Verity’ , though plot wise both these works have nothing in common between them.

As I mentioned before, this one has a really fast past narrative which makes good for the multiple logical issues in the core plot. There are a couple of decent twists happening in the novel and I liked the way the author tied up all the loose ends towards the end (though a bit too convenient, and far fetched ), but I honestly believe that she could have done away with that excessive 'spoon feeding' in the tail-end portions.

(Mild Spoiler Alert)

Some of the narrative tropes which the author has relied on to give that 'shock element' are hardly innovative and i must say that some of the recent thrillers have used the exact same (Riley Sager-The only one left, Freida Mcfadden- The tenant) 'twist', albeit a bit more succesfully.

If you are a thriller fan  who is on a staple reading pile of modern day  western thrillers(Freida Mcfadden, Riley Sager et al) I would say that 'the pivotal twist ' which is happening towards the end of the first half (the first pov) of the book might come across as a bit mediocre one for you.

On the whole, Love Mom  doesn't break any new grounds in terms of craft or story telling in the psychological thriller genre. Agreed, it's racy and twisty and has never  a dull moment in it's narrative. But, if you are a crime fiction afficionado, in probability you will find some of these twists and turns, way too familiar thereby relegating this to an okay thriller experience!

-nikhimenon

Jason Rekulak's Hidden Pictures

 

Even though I had never heard about this Author before,  I still gave this one a try as the online reviews were largely positive. I am so glad that I picked this one up , as it turned out to be a genuinely good read. The scares did work big time and so were the twists which landed really well!

So, we have the Protagonist in Mallory , an ex-junkie who is just out of her rehab and all set to work as the Nanny for the Maxwell Family . Ted Maxwell and Carolene Maxwell are a successful couple who have just relocated to their new upmarket neighbourhood in Spring Brook. Their five year old Son, Ted , though keeps largely to himself is a  lovable Kid and has an uncanny ability to drawing.

Though at the core of it, this one uses a time tested template, it’s the use of the innovative tropes (like the Pictures drawn by little ‘teddy’) which makes this one a stand out work. The pictures are so nicely done, feels authentic  and comes along really well to mood and tone of the Book. I really didn’t see that twist coming. I really liked how the author tied all the loose ends and made this one a coherent reading experience towards the end. I also particularly liked the fact that the author smartly incorporated those super-natural elements into the narrative  without really going over board. The climax, though a bit predictable also delivers big time!

On the whole, this one is a good psychological thriller! I am giving it a 3.5 out of 5!

(Hidden Pictures is the Author’s second Novel and is an International Best Seller)

-nikhimenon

 

Book Review: Do Not Disturb by Freida Mcfadden

 

It’s another Sunday and I am back with Yet another Freida Mcfadden. ‘Do Not Distrub’ is one of the earlier works of Freida which has got a Paperback version recently and I couldn’t help picking this one up as soon as it got released. This one is more of a fast paced Domestic Thriller which you can devour in one sitting and has that typical Freida Mcfadden signature all over it .

This one starts off with a Bang. Quinn Alexander has just killed her super-rich husband and she is on the run. But an unexpected snow storm forces her to take refuge at a broken down inn, the isolated Baxter hotel located in the outskirts of the City. But pretty sure, she figures out that the Baxter’s Motel might not be that safe place to be in and the handsome and kindly owner of the place, Nick Baxter might have sinister plans for her!

Told from Multiple Perspectives, (besides Quinn, we have Rosalie-the hotelier’s wife, Claudia (Quinn’s Sister), Rob (Claudia’s husband) narrating the story at different points), ‘Do Not Disturb’ is a  real page – turner. Though Freida has used this same narrative trope (of a young woman getting stranded in an isolated Home/Hotel due to poor weather) years later in ‘Crash’ , this one still feels fresh as some of  the twists are really good (that twist involving Claudia was really good) and the narrative really fast paced .

On the down side, I felt that a few of the climax reveals were a bit of a let down (especially the one involving ,Greta’) and some of the characters are not really worth sympathising for.  Neverthless,these minor flaws aside,  this one delivers as a really enjoyable pop-corn read!

-nikhimenon

Regional: 1980 by Anver Abdulla

 Though Anver Abdulla is an accomplished name in Malayalam Detective fiction (he has given us some genuinely memorable detective Novels like Compartment and Onnaam Saakshi Sethuramaiyyer), not many know that he is also a screenwriter and Director. The writer’s fascination for the film industry has been evident in some of his past work (Operation Blue Star, Republic, Camera- the Novella in ‘Kappal Chethathinte Raathry’). But it is in 1980 (his latest work and the fourth installment in the Detective Perumaal franchise), his knowledge and mastery over the visual medium has come out in full glory.

One  night, an old acquaintance turns up in Detective Perumal’s house with a rather odd request- re-investigate the accidental death of the yesteryear Super Star Jagan! Jagan died almost 40 years back in the sets of a film named Padayorukkam during its Helicopter climax fight sequence shooting, which had received widespread media attention. So, when the Detective is confronted with this rather strange request, he is taken aback by the sheer absurdity of this request and he  immediately dismisses it.But a rather strange turn of events forces him to go back on this decision and pretty soon Perumal finds himself in the middle of the most challenging murder investigation of his career. Will he be successful in bringing out the mystery behind one of the most ‘notorious accidents’ from the past? 1980 is the story (but not limited to ) of this latest investigation by Detective Perumal.  

1980 is a work never confines within the limited realms of crime fiction .This can also be called as a  a work of speculative and altered historical fiction. With almost all the characters modelled on real-life personalities and real-life events, and the author’s perspective and imagination spicing up the proceedings, it often becomes impossible to distinguish the thin line between fact and fiction. Even the enigma around the late actor Jayan’s unreleased film (Panchapaandavar, incidentally set in Bombay) which had a stellar cast of Jayan, Raghavan, Poojappura Ravi and two others gets the author’s take in 1980. The Novel also serves as an ode to the Malayalam Cinema of the 70 s and 80 s. The story also has genuine heart warming moments. The episode involving the yesteryear stunt master  , and his final moments were delicately done. It is also pretty evident that the writer has also been inspired by some of the youtube interviews of yester year technicians of Malayalam and Tamil Cinema. It is remarkable that Anver Abdulla could come up with a gripping tale around an incident that shook not only the Film industry , but the whole of Indian Film Industry in the 80 s. The incident also paved the way for serious debates about the safety in the film shooting sets.

On the downside, the book also has it’s own share of cheesy moments. Some of the wild guesses of Perumal, including the speculative theory about Jagan living a secret life in America turned out to be unintentionally funny. Like wise, the portions pertaining to M.V.R’s crush with Saumini was also stretched a bit too far. Also at times, the reader finds it extremely difficult to differentaiate the real life personality from the fictional character. You also feel like Kamalhassan, Prem Nazir, MG.R, Latha , Balan K Nair, I.V Sasi, Seema et al are reprising their real life roles as fictional characters in the Novel which was some sort of dampener for the reader in me.The climax was also a bit convenient.

On the whole, these minor flaws aside, 1980 is a brilliantly written work by one of the finest writers of Detective Fiction in Malayalam.

-nikhimenon

Regional: Sakhaavu By T.Padmanabhan

 Prakaasham Parathunna Penkutty was one of the first short stories in Malayalam I read in my lifetime. If my memory is correct, the story was there in the Malayalam curriculum of Kerala State Syllabus in sixth or seventh grade.

T Padmanaabhan’s Sakhaavu, published by Mathrubhumi Books, is the compilation of his ten latest short stories. The book also features an interview with the author by Pradeep Perashanoor. Though most of the stories in this anthology were published in the leading weeklies of Malayalam in the past year or so, I hadn’t read any of them. So I didn’t hesitate much before buying this latest compilation.

Critics often lament in Public Forums and Social Media Platforms that stalwarts like T Padmanabhan and M.T. have lost their mojo and have, in turn, lost connection with the present-day realities. But after reading this latest work by T. Padmanabhan, I can confidently say that none of these so-called critics hasn’t probably read any of the recent works by T.P.

In most of the stories in this anthology, the author is the narrator/principal character. The black humour and wit in some of them are spot on. Be it the episode around the wannabe NRI writer in ‘ Aadyathe Novel’ or the hullabaloo ensuing in the event of a famous officer’s superannuation in ‘Manoharam’; the sarcasm is unmissable. The title story, ‘Sakhaavu,’ tries to be a commentary on present-day politics and partially succeeds in its attempt. Peerumettilekkulla Vazhi is a memory lane trip that deals with themes like immigration and self-discovery. Snehathinte Vila is about kindness and humanity, whereas Ennittu delves with second chances. Though some stories have ambiguous endings, it doesn’t make them monotonous reads.

The book is edited well and has a good production design. The cover design and the beautiful illustrations (Devaprakash) interspersed between stories also deserve special mention. The interview with the author is also genuinely exciting and manages to illuminate the writer’s perspective on the current socio-political scenario.

On the whole, ‘Sakhaavu’ is an enjoyable anthology.

Ps- In the author’s bio, it is mentioned that he had refused Odakkuzhal Award, Kerala Sahithya Academy Award and Kendra Sahithya Academy Award. I found it rather amusing. I am unaware of the circumstances for him declining  the award, but if he found himself accepting those awards not worthy of his stature, why is he proclaiming the same in his bio as if refusing it is a great badge of honour?! Pathetic, to say the least!

-nikhimenon

The Ten Notable Books of 2022: Part 1

 It's that time of the year when everyone is scribbling down their year-ender lists, and not wanting to be left too far behind, out of the 80-odd books read in the past year, I also managed to compile my list of the best of the year gone by. (Opinions, strictly personal and based on the books read last year)

 Rock Paper Scissors (Alice Feeney, HQ)

Alice Feeney's Rock Paper Scissors is one of the few genuine thrillers I have read for a long time. Adam and Amelia are spending the weekend in the Scottish Highlands. Adam is a successful screenwriter, and Amelia is his wife. The remote location is perfect for what they have planned. But can they trust each other? Twisty and engaging with a bit of horror element thrown in, this one is definitely worth your time and money!

2. 

1980 (Anver Abdulla, Mathrubhumi)

1980 is a work which can be safely bracketed as a work of speculative fiction. Inspired by the real-life accident of yester year Super Star Jayan, 1980 marked the return of Detective Perumal. An engaging mystery and an ode to the Malayalam Cinema of the 80 s, this work by Anver Abdulla can be regarded as one of the best works in the franchise. With Characters modelled on real-life personalities, the Novel also has some genuinely heartwarming moments, which makes this one much more than your typical detective story.

3.      The Tattoo Murder (Akimitsu Takagi, Pushkin Vertigo)

2022 was also a year where I found a taste for vintage Japanese Crime fiction. Set in Post War Tokyo, this vintage locked room Japanese mystery is the story of three cursed tattoos and the series of murders connected with them. Though the core story might have gotten dated a bit, the backdrop of Seedy Tokyo, dive bars and Yakuza Gangs makes this one a worthy read.

4. 

Aanandha Bhaaram (Jisa Jose, Mathrubhumi)

In a year which saw a slew of below-par works which tried to compensate for their hollowness with fake female centricity,  Aanandhabhaaram, stood out for its genuine writing and believable characters. Rathnamekhala and Parimalam were real, and their miseries were relatable. The Novel also had many heartwarming moments, and the ending was quite satisfying. Mudritha indeed got its worthy successor in AanandhaBhaaram.

5.   

The Trees (Percival Everett, Influx press)

Perhaps the bluntest and the most provocative books of this lot, this black comedy was short-listed in this year's Man Booker Prize. A series of murders are happening in a small town in Mississippi, and two State Detectives are brought in to investigate the same. This page-turning potent Satire of U.S. racism is a challenging yet racy read. Though this one is packaged as a regular Murder Mystery, its themes are pertinent and thought-provoking.

 (The Second Part of this post will be post will be published tomorrow)

-nikhimenon

Sesishi Yokomizo's The Inugami Curse

 

Thanks to the overnight success of the English Translations of kiego Higashino, many forgotten classics from Japanese Mystery have started finding their way to global readers. The efforts of  Pushkin Vertigo in reviving many of the forgotten Japanese classic murder mysteries and presenting them to bibliophiles worldwide are also worth mentioning.

Since this one is a mystery, and I don't wish to spoil the fun for those who are yet to read it, I am not going much into the plot details. But if you ask me to brief a bit, here it is- The story is set in the 40 s, the wealthy head of the Inugami clan has just died, and his family is eagerly waiting for the reading of his will. But a series of bizarre, graphic murders ensue, and how these all are connected with Inugami's will and his past is what the Novel is about.

Though this work is almost 82+ years old, it has to be noted that it hasn't become outdated. The twists and turns feel fresh, and not even during the narrative can the reader feel that the whole story is happening in an era where mobile phones and modern gizmos were unheard of. It is also recalled that even though this work was written a long time ago, that hasn't given way to any jarring plotholes in the narrative. Though I have had this book with me for almost a year now, I had so far refrained from picking it up to read as I had anticipated this one to be a confusing mystery. Still, I am glad this one ended up as a pretty straightforward, engaging Mystery for me. Special thanks to the Publishers for including the character list upfront so those who might find it difficult to follow the character names can use this as a ready reckoner. The translation is quite good, and special mention the efforts taken by Yumiko Yamazaki for making this an enjoyable read for present-day readers. The backdrop of the War and Japanese tradition also comes across nicely in the Novel.

On the downside, I found the climax revelation slightly underwhelming. Agreed, all the loose ends have been tied up, but still, the villain's identity didn't come as a shocker to me.

Overall, The Inugami Curse by Seishi Yokomizo, Published by Pushkin Vertigo, is engaging. If you love Mystery thrillers, you should try this one.

-nikhimenon

 

Ultra Short Review: Harlan Coben's 'Missing You'

 ‘Missing You’ is a stand alone Novel by Harlan Coben which first came out almost eight years back. The protagonist, Kat Donovan is a forty something NYPD detective who has a past. She had to call off her engagement with Jeff, the love of her life almost eighteen years back. Now, she stumbles across his profile in an online dating site only to find out that he is no longer interested in her.

In a parallel track, in the quest to find out the truth behind her father’s homicide, she gets to know that someone very close to her might have had a role to play in his death. As she is battling her own demons, she gets a call from a troubled teenager asking for help. His mother has suddenly disappeared with a man whom he thinks is a scamster. How Kat finds out the mystery behind all these seemingly disconnected events and how it impscts her otherwise troubled life is all this book is about.

Like Coben’s other stand alone works, Missing You is also an absolute page turner. There are twists happening at regular intervals and the moment you think that you have figured it out all, the master story teller pulls the rug from under your feet. The characters are real and relatable and I liked the gentle references to Windsor Lockwood somewhere in the narrative. Kat Donovan is a likeable character and her ambitions and apprehensions feels genuine. The track involving the scamsters was also decently done.

On the whole, Missing You is an intriguing thriller.  

-nikhimenon

Mini Book Review: the Woods by Harlan Coben

 

Harlan Coben is one writer who comes to my rescue whenever I face some reader’s block. So far, his books have been safe bets for me; fast-paced and entertaining! So, when I picked up his 2007 stand-alone thriller (which has also been made as a Netflix series), ‘The Woods,’ I was expecting nothing short of a paisa vasool racy thriller. Did it succeed in entertaining me? Well, read on.

Paul Copeland is a Public Attorney. Almost two decades back, four teenagers and his sister went missing in the woods of a Summer Camp. Paul is raising his daughter alone after the death of his wife. But then a body is found, and the well-buried secrets of the past come back haunting. Is the victim that of the man as claimed by the Police, or has it got something to do with Paul’s history?

At 450+ pages, this one is quite a lengthy read. Though there are many characters, none except the protagonist Paul and his old flame, Lucy, register. A couple of sub-plots involving Paul’s family(his dead wife, sister-in-law, and parents) and KGB (it might have been relevant when this book was first released almost two decades back, though!) are there, which are speed breakers at best!

I was disappointed with this novel by Harlan Coben. Agreed, this is one of his earlier stand-alone works(and a best-seller at the time of its release), and he has since churned out reasonably pacy and twisty thrillers. But to be very frank, this one falls way off the mark, be it in the thrill quotient or the pacing. The book has pacing issues. After a reasonably good start, the plot drags on and on with avoidable scenes and boring dialogues. The subplot around the court trial was interesting initially, but it turned pointless and bland after a point. The innumerable characters in the form of Lorraine and Raya Singh didn’t serve much of a purpose rather than adding pages and pages of dull prose to the narrative.

The novel does pick up pace towards the end with a couple of decent twists and reveals, but by then, I almost got exhausted and stopped caring about what was going on!

On the whole, I am giving a 2.5 out of 5 for this one!

 -nikhimenon

Stephen King's ' The Colorado King'

 

Colorado Kid is a Stephen King Novel that first came out in 2004 and has been out of print for the last decade. Published under the Hard Case Crime imprint by Winterfall LLC (in association with Titan Books), this one is a fast-paced mystery read which can be devoured in one sitting.

On an island off the coast of Maine, a man is found dead. Though seemingly a case of choking, there is no body identification, and the local investigators never cared much about the case either. A pair of local newspaper journalists and a graduate of Forensic Science take up the investigation and try to find out the truth behind the death.

This Stephen King Novel works to a considerable extent as a neatly written mystery. Colorado Kid is not your conventional police procedural, as the focus here is mainly on the identity of the victim and the reason for his mysterious appearance on Maine Island. The interactions between the principal characters, I believe, are the highlight of this book. Though a mystery thriller, the writer gets due credit for not making this too dark. Written in a light-hearted tone, the novel also takes a satirical look at the tabloid culture and police apathy. The book also has underlying themes of discrimination, high-handedness of investigators, investigative journalism, tabloid culture, and life in the 80 s. I liked how the author managed to throw little clues at regular intervals  (the pack of cigarettes with the stamp, the Russian Coin ), slowly unraveling the mystery. The climax is also decently done.

On the downside, the book takes its own sweet little time to arrive at the main plot as the initial pages are mostly spent introducing to the readers the news staff of The Weekly Islander and their new intern Stephanie and her deduction skills. As mentioned earlier, the initial few pages feel a bit off as a lot of time is spent establishing the setting. Also, there might be mixed feelings for those looking for a straight forward climax.

This new edition published in 2019 is also an illustrated one, and I must say that it did help in making it an enjoyable reading experience.

The fans of the author would relish this one!

-nikhimenon

 

Book Review(Regional): Akhila Loka Aadu Company by Majeed Syed

 

Majeed Sayeed is one writer with that uncanny ability to derive humor from innocuous situations. Like his previous work, ‘Chembilammini Kolacase,’ Akhila Loka Adu Company is a humorous take on the state and the society we are living in. Part social satire, part allegory, and social commentary, ‘Akhila Loka..’ is a novel that sees the world we live in through the eyes of Pokkar, a twice ‘converted’  male goat.

The novel almost reads like the life story of the Rajasthan-born, Kerala-raised “Pokkar Aadu,” but I must say that this one is indeed a well-written social satire. The world that Majeed creates is so vivid and lively that once you start reading it, you can’t put this down until you finish reading it. The author has no qualms in making fun of most present-day quandaries.

The characters are a good mix of humans and animals, but often the line gets blurred, and one feels that the animals are far more civilized than their human counterparts. The novel has a wide array of characters: Baby, Balkis, Chekkutty, Lilly, and Pratap Singh. The writer has also poked fun at the Malayalee Psyche of ‘treating anything as holy’ at the slightest instigation of half-truths and part-boiled facts. The ‘Lilly-Holy Goat’ episodes are a hoot. At just about 70 pages, this one is a fast-paced read! For Majeed, the goat and the setting are just a prop to drive home some pertinent statements. There are no holy cows in the world that he creates. To the writer’s credit, he has successfully weaved in the themes of Casteism, regionalism, and communal undercurrents in the narrative in a very subtle but effective manner.

Through the mind of the Pokkar, the author also reminds us of some essential life lessons. So when he laments that “we are far better than humans who get rid of their parents when they fall ill” or when he quips that “it is better to end up at the dinner table rather than continuing living in the world dominated by humans,” one can’t agree more!

On the whole, this one is a thought-provoking read! If satire is your cup of tea, go grab a copy now!

-nikhimenon

 

Book Review (Regional): Kuttasammatham by Siby Thomas

 

Have you ever thought about what goes in the mind of a murder convict? What if he is the one who is the victim and not the perpetrator as it is portrayed to be? Kuttasammatham by Siby Thomas is a novel that delves into a crime and its aftermath and offers a deep character study of those involved.

The novelist being a police officer in real life has helped bring much-needed authenticity to the police proceedings narrated in the novel. Crime and Punishment form the central theme of this 200-page novel, and the author has succeeded in keeping the author engaged throughout the proceedings to a considerable extent. Though this one is unlike the many sensationalistic thriller novels hitting the Malayalam Pulp Fiction Market every week, it is an enjoyable read.

The story is told in the first person by Thomas, the Circle Investigator of Veleswaram. Babu, a quarry worker, is found dead in a lodge room, and the police quickly capture the murderer. But little did they know that he had a troubled past, and he might not be the person he thinks he is.

Kuttasammatham is not an edge-of-the-seat police procedural, nor does it intend to be one as the crime, victim, and the culprit are all revealed within the first fifty pages. The novel is mainly about the travails of the culprit, who seems to have done the crime as an act of self-defense. The author's practical experience appears to have come in handy as Court proceedings, and trial details are written authentically and realistically. The police officers in this novel are also quite relatable and not the filmy types with heavy-duty dialogues and Sethuramayyar style crime deduction skills. The author has also made them entirely down-to-earth and humane. With short chapters and pretty simple language, a non-discerning reader can quickly finish the book in one sitting.

On the downside, the book has some pacing issues. Some scenes (especially those in Gopi's ancestral home) feel dated and give the 90's Malayalam Cinema Vibe of the typical Palakkadan Nair tharavadu with the Valluvanadan slang! Similarly, though the intention behind the detailing regarding Thomas's personal life is laudable, most of the scenes don't add much to the narrative. It comes out quite odd that the Inspector's wife, Reshma, is so obsessed with the plight of Gopi. Also, some of the scenes (the investigators spending a night at the culprit's home and all) are unconvincing. If you pick up this book, thinking it to be a twisty thriller(taking into account its title and cover page)), I must say that you might be a bit disappointed. But that doesn't mean that this one is a tedious affair.

The novel's questions towards the end are pretty valid and relevant. After all, as they say, man is a victim of his circumstances.

On the whole, Kuttasammatham is an engaging read. It has its share of flaws, but it does raise a few pertinent statements about the idea of justice in our contemporary society.

Published by Mathrubhumi Books, this novel is priced at 260 Rupees.

-nikhimenon

Book Review(Regional): Mini P.C's Devil Tattoo

 

Malayalam Crime Fiction is going through a golden period now. Gone are the days when crime Fiction writing was looked down by mainstream critics and publishers. More young writers and publishers are not only coming up with their titles; the better works among them are also getting lapped up by the readers. Mini P.C's Devil Tattoo from Mathrubhumi Books is a crime thriller novel set in the backdrop of West Kochi and the thriving tattoo artists residing there.

Kasim is the personal Chef of Ronaldo Douglas, the dreaded Don of South Goa. The latter is hugely fond of Kasim's Naadan dishes, and as the adage goes, he has found his way into Don's inner circle through the excellent meals he cooks for him. But things go wrong when his sons go missing, and the Don has every reason to believe that Kasim is in some way connected to their disappearance. Left with no other choice, Kasim runs off to West Kochi and finds his hideout in West Kochi with the help of his old friend Vincent. In West Kochi, Kasim finds company in Pranchi, Veroni, Ann Lucy, and life slowly settling down for him, but soon a series of mysterious deaths get reported from the town. Grossly disfigured bodies get piling up, and the local Inspector Ravi starts investigating the case. With Kasim and the events surrounding him and the seeming act of a serial-killer happening in what appears as two parallel tracks in the beginning, as the story progresses, twists are thrown in at regular intervals making the reader question the real identity of each character. Who is Kasim? Who is the 'serial killer on the loose? Why are the victim's bodies mutilated with mysterious tattoos on their torso?

Unlike some of the recent Contemporary crime thrillers in Malayalam, which only focus on delivering instant shocks and surprises, Devil Tattoo has a solid story of revenge and redemption to narrate. The language though pretty simple, has a literary flavor and might appeal to those who are also looking for some degree of academic quality. The world and the characters that Mini P.C builds in are so lively and set on a vast canvas. The dark underbelly of the Tatoo Industry has been touched upon, though a bit topically, in this Novel. The characters, be it Paulettan, Veroni, or Hena, are tangible yet believable. The culture and life at West Kochi also become an integral part of the narrative. Though the book's cover page indicates that this one is a "crime thriller," which it certainly is, I must say that it is much more than that. Devil Tattoo is the story of a few hapless people, their troubles past, and their efforts to seek redemption.

On the downside, I felt that at 240+ pages, the book is a tad too long for a crime thriller. Towards the beginning, the writer seems to spend too much time narrating the backstories of every character who comes into the picture. Some of it could have been quickly done away with. Also, the investigation part is underwhelming, with the principal investigator, Ravi, not adding much to the story. The climax also felt a bit clunky, with too many things happening in a pretty short period.

On the whole, Devil Tatoo is an engaging read.You won’t regret buying this one!

-nikhi menon

Harlan Coben's Stay Close

 

Whenever I suffer from reader's block or (even writer's block, for that matter), I turn to Harlan Coben! All these years and with so many books under his credit, Coben has never failed to surprise me. Almost all his books have been genuine page-turners for me. (I haven't read his adolescent-friendly Mickey Bolitar series, though). Stay Close was first released almost a decade back, and Netflix has recently made it into a mini web series.

Stay Close has three parallel tracks. In one, there is Ray, a talented photographer with a troubled past. Parallelly, there is the story of Megan, a Suburban Mother who also has her secrets. In the third, young men are disappearing from the city in the most dubious circumstances leaving behind the traces of a serial killer behind the act.

The author succeeds in keeping the audience guessing to a large extent. The language is pretty simple, and Coben has tried to make the proceedings enjoyable by throwing in twists at regular intervals. There aren't many characters in the story, and the reader can easily keep track of each one of them without getting confused. The novel also has surprise appearances by some of the iconic characters from the Coben Universe towards the Climax.

Coming to the negatives, I felt that this one had severe pacing issues, unlike Coben's previous and follow-up works. Suspense and unexpected twists have always been his forte, and In that regard, Stay Close is undoubtedly underwhelming. The regular readers of the author might also find most of the twists underwhelming and even a bit ridiculous. At 350+ pages, the novel is a bit too long, and that subplot involving Megan's mother-in-law could have been quickly done away with.

On the whole, Stay Close is an okay read. If you are a diehard Harlan Coben fan, you can give this one a try!

-nikhimenon

 

Book Review: Maidens by Alex Michaelides

 

'Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides was not only an international best seller but also one of my favourite thrillers of all time. Alex's world was profoundly atmospheric and enthralling in his debut work, replete with twists and turns. Having had a debut success of that magnitude behind him, his follow-up work 'Maidens' was undoubtedly one of the year's most anticipated books. Has he managed to hit the bull's eye this time around? Let's have a look.

Maidens is the story of a group therapist named Marianna, mourning the loss of her beloved husband, Sebastian. She gets to know that her niece, Zoe, a student at Cambridge, has just lost her best friend. Without wasting time, she leaves for Cambridge only to find that the police have arrested someone she thinks is innocent. Will Marianna manage to find out the truth? The book essentially tries to unravel this mystery.

It's a well-known fact that writing a follow-up book for your debut best seller is a highly daunting task. It's a double challenge. You are attempting to please the fans of your previous work and win over those who hated it in the first place.

While 'The Silent Patient' had a novel premise, 'The Maidens' is a generic thriller, at best. The writer has tried novelty in the narrative by throwing Greek mythology in between. But to be very frank, those bits felt forced and didn't gel that well with the main plot, unlike in the first book. The plot twists are hardly unpredictable and, at times, are pretty illogical.

Towards the climax, the antagonist reveals to another character making a significant revelation –' they were just a distraction, a red herring.' Though the author has presented it as a 'big reveal,' most of the discerning readers might have already guessed by then that a massive chunk of the scenes preceding it was also nothing but distractions or red-herrings! This also sums up exactly what is the major problem with the book. A significant portion of the novel is spent on the protagonist's paranoid obsession with a professor named Edward Forensca and his secret study group. To give Alex due credit, it works in the beginning. Still, as the story progresses, it becomes pretty evident that the 'secret' study group is also nothing but another red-herring.

The book is told in a third-person narrative focusing on the protagonist Marianna and her inner demons. The characters are flat and one-dimensional, with the only exception being Fred. The climax has got two big reveals. Though the first one (about the antagonist) was entirely predictable, I must confess that I didn't see the second one coming. It was perhaps the only high point in the narrative as far as I am concerned.

The principal narrator of Silent Patient, the renowned psycho-therapist Theo Faber, also appears in 'The Maidens' towards the third part of the story. (Well, I don't want to reveal any spoilers here, but I must say that the appearance of Theo did help the narrative elevate a bit). The scenes involving Marianne and Theo were well written, I felt.

But all these little attempts don't help this from becoming a half-baked attempt.

On the whole, 'the Maiden's' is not a boring book. It's pretty racy and entertaining. But with its cliched plot and illogical twists, it's no great work either. If you are pretty okay with generic thrillers, you can give this one a try. But don't expect a 'Silent Patient,' you might get disappointed!

I liked the way Alex ended the novel by bringing in the characters from his previous work. I wish the rest of the book were also that much fun!

 -nikhimenon

 

The Books I loved in 2021!

 It’s that time of the year where we reminisce about the best and the worst of the year gone by. Keeping up with our tradition, we are compiling the best and worst of the year gone by. Here is the R.T. year-ender list of the best reads of 2021. (The post will be in two parts, and this list is not in any particular order)

                        

1. Kadalinte Manam (P.F.Mathews, DC Books):

‘Kadalinte Manam’ is the fourth Novel (and perhaps the ‘lightest one’) from the master storyteller, P.F.Mathews.  ‘Kadalinte..’ which tells the story of a middle-aged Government employee named Sachidanandhan and his muse Safiya, is also incidentally the first Novel to hit the bookstores after the writer won the coveted Kerala Sahithya Academy Award through Adiyalapretham (Green Books).

Populated with tangible yet believable characters like Maya, Safiya, Santhosh Babu, Kariya Sir, Bhaskara Menon, ‘Kadalinte Manam delves with strong themes like sexual frustration, mid-life crisis, fake morality, corruption, love, longing, and helplessness. Though the writer has painted his characters with broad strokes of grey, at no point in time does he take a moral stand or make them feel apologetic for their actions as each one of them is nothing but a victim of their circumstances. Tremendous work of literature indeed!

A must-read!

2. Coma (Anver Abdulla, Deecee Upmarket Fiction):

Anver Abdulla is one of those rare writers who could successfully create a bonafide Malayali detective in Perumal when crime thrillers weren’t such a fad in Malayalam. Through Coma (not to be mistaken with the Novel of the same time by Robin Cook, which came out sometime in the 1970 s), he introduces a new detective in Jibrieel., an anarchist detective who is disciplinarily self-developed, artistically trained, technically creative, and uniquely humane!

The story is about a high-flying lawyer named Paul who slips into a coma after handling a sensational case. Though the Novel is a tad long at 260+ pages or so, with intelligent plotting, exciting twists and turns, and a logical climax, Coma succeeds in being a page-turner.

3. Mudritha (Jisa Jose, Mathrubhumi Books):

Jisa Jose’s Mudritha starts like an investigative thriller and soon metamorphoses into something entirely different. The story of a tour operator named Anirudhan and the ten women he encounters as part of his job, Mudritha, is a deliciously warm novel on female bonding and aspirations. Perhaps, after Anitha Nair’s ‘Ladies Coupe,’ Mudritha is undoubtedly one of the most heartwarming take-ups on women’s lives in contemporary India. After reading the blurb, I picked up this one, mistaking it to be a murder mystery but was pleasantly surprised to figure out that there was much more to it.

A delicious read indeed!

4. New Comer (Kiego Higashino, Abacus):

Kiego Higashino is one of the most respected detective novelists of the decade. His books have not only sold millions of copies worldwide but have also got onscreen adaptations in multiple languages. Newcomer is an intricately plotted, absorbing mystery about a forty-something divorcee found dead in a Tokyo apartment.

Detective Kyochiro Kaga, who appeared in Higashino’s earlier work,’ Malice’ is the investigator here who tries to unravel the secrets behind a complicated life with his calm demeanor and sharp intuitions.A classic detective story with multiple layers narrated in a highly inventive manner; New Comer is not one of those regular run-of-the-mill pulp thrillers which hit the bookstore every two weeks or so.

Newcomer is vintage Higashino. Period!

5. Kappithaante Bharya (Bipin Chandran, Mathrubhumi Books):

At a time when Malayalam Popular fiction was getting overdosed with serial killers and psychopaths, Bipin Chandran’s ‘Kappithaan’ came as a breath of fresh air. In this hilarious, cute little Novel, Bipin packs in as much nostalgia and references as the reader is swept into the world of Rosily Aunty, Captain, Annieyamma, and Thomassukutty. The book is as much about them as it is about the world they live in.

An absolute gem of a Novel, this one should be devoured for its lightheartedness, nostalgia, and humor!   

 -nikhimenon

 (The second part of this post can be read here)

Stranger in the Mirror by Sidney Sheldon

                                                     

Stranger in the Mirror is one of the early works of Sidney Sheldon. First published almost fifty years ago, the book tells the story of Toby Temple, a super star stand- up comedian and his love, Jill Temple. Replete with twists and turns coming at regular intervals, the book is undoubtedly a fast paced read and is still relevant even after almost half a decade of it's original release.

The story doesn't have too many characters and is largely about the travails of Toby and Jill, their struggles and ambitions. Born as Josephine, Jill's ambition is to make it big in Hollywood. But the challenges she has to face are enormous. Toby's life is no different either. He also has to go through his own share of  humiliations and ridicule before making it big in the show biz. Clifton Lawrence is Toby's ticket to stardom. 'Stranger in the Mirror' is as much as about Clifton as it is about Toby and Jill.

Toby and Jill aren't entirely likeable characters. This story of greed, lust and passion is an intriguing read. Even after fifty years, this book hasn't become dated, rather it still feels fresh. Shows how great story teller, Sir Sheldon was!

-nikhimenon

The Perfect Wife by J.P Delaney

 

Anthony Capella's 'The Girl Before' was kind of an okayish read for me. So, I picked up this book with mixed expectations and after finishing the read, I am left with pretty much similar feelings.

Tim Scott, the brain behind Scott Robotics has just lost his beloved wife Abbie to an accident. The loving husband that he is, he cannot get over her memories and decides to create a robot (cobot) which looks just like her. The robot  has Artificial Intelligence and it can also think and behave like Abbie Scott. Dany is Tim's Autistic son and has his own share of issues. However, the cobot Abbie soon realises that something is just not right and Tim is hiding something from her. Will Abbie-the cobot be able to unravel the mysteries revolving around Tim Scott is what the plot is all about.

The book has got a pretty novel and interesting premise. The writing is quite fast paced and manages to hold the reader's attention. The book does touches upon issues like Artifical Intelligence, parenting and issues faced by Austic children (full marks for it).The premise is fresh and innovative. There are twists happening and regular intervals but the problem is as the plot unfolds, the twists become far and few in between. The constant shifts between the past and the present becomes irritating after a point and often confuses the reader. At 400+ pages, the book is quite overlong and becomes monotonous after a point.The climactic suspense was quite predictable.

On the whole, I am giving this one a 2.75 out of 5.

-nikhimenon

Regional: Vijayanteyum Omanayudeyum Loka Sanchaarangal

Those who are living in Kochi/Ernakulam might have heard about this couple atleast once. They have been the subject of numerous newspaper articles and television shows. If I tell you that this book is about a Vijayan-Mohana couple who run the tea shop called ‘Balaji Tea Stall’, in Salim Rajan Road, Kathrukkadavu,Ernakulam, it might not ring a bell. But if I rephrase my statement a bit and emphasise again ‘this’ is ‘that couple’ who use the savings out of their earnings from their tea stall to fund for their world travel, I’m pretty sure that atleast some of you will recollect their story.’Vijayanteyum Mohanyudeyum Loka Yathrakal’, as the title suggests is an account of some of the travels done by this lovely couple.

         The book starts off depicting the childhood of Vijayan and how he was fond of travels right from his school days. He also recollects his love for movies and his spendthriftness during his early years. The turning point in Vijayan’s life as he himself has recalled in this book happens after the entry of Mohana into his life.The next few chapters are short descriptions about the various travels they have made till date.

          Coming to the positives, the book is highly readable and is totally unpretentious. There is no attempt to portray the couple as overtly virtuous or create an artificial halo around the couple.Vijayan and Omana have been honest enough to confess their limitations and the mistakes which they have made in life. So, when Vijayan says that he has been highly indisciplined till he met Omana or when she recalls about the bad experiences she had to face soon after her marriage, the reader can totally relate to it.The language is quite simple and conversational and the narrative smooth and crisp.

The production quality of the book(Vee cee Books Kochi and Anaswara Offset Printers,Ernakulam) is top notch and the beautiful pictures which have been included in the book also enhance the reading experience.

           On the downside, though this book belongs to the ‘travelogue’ genre, descriptions of places and the historical aspects behind  these places  hardly gets place in this book.Avid travel readers will find this book a tad disappointing.Instead, if you approach this book as memoirs of Vijayan and Omana and their life experiences, you can finish reading this one with a smile on your face.I'm giving this book a 3 out of 5.

-nikhimenon

QBR(Regional): Double Bell by Harris Nenmeni

                                                        

                                                        Experience

                                                        95 + pages

                                                       Green Books

                                                       Originally Published in 2020
                                                       RT Rating: 3.2/5

'Double Bell' by Harris Nemeni is a highly enjoyable read depicting the short incidents encountered by the author during his stint with K.S.R.T.C (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) The Verdict:This one is a small, enjoyable read featuring real life incidents.
Synopsis: There won't be a single Malayalee who hasn't travelled in 'aanavandi' atleast once in his life time. Many of us have fond memories/experiences of our travel in a K.S.R.T.C bus. But have you ever thought how the life of a 'Aanavandi' conductor would be?If you haven't , this exactly is the book for you.

The Good:the writing which is honest and believable, un-pretentious writing.
The Bad:nothing really!
Recommendations: Buy it!

-nikhimenon