The One You Cannot Have, by Preeti Shenoy

Some authors leave a mark on your reading. Though the stories aren’t absolutely amazing, they still have those drops of brilliance that linger after the read; something that makes you eager to pick up the next novel of that author and read it. One such author, in my opinion, is Preeti Shenoy.

The One You Cannot have is a love story. The story mainly follows Aman, Anjali, Shruti and Rishabh. There are other characters too, each with their own importance but I feel it is these four who make the tale. Like the title says, it’s a story about the one person each cannot have. And the storyline I feel does that justice. Aman and Shruti were once inseparable, but when the latter left suddenly, the former, to recover, goes abroad. So what will happen when Aman returns to India years after? There are two girls in his life… Anjali, who is in love with him, and Shruti, who he has a hard time letting go of, even though she is already married. Throw in characters like the flirting friend Mark, and the husband Rishabh, and you know you’re in for a quick, yet enjoyable read.

What makes this book worth reading? It’s the characters. To me, they feel real. The way they react seems real, like hiding an old suitcase or jumping at the chance of finding love again. Or even the way they accept certain things. The book also has some subtle humor. The narration is simple, yet has the pace to keep the reader hooked. The alternating character narration helps to get into the skin of the character too.

What doesn’t work? The ending is predictable. I suppose the genre is one that doesn’t necessitate unpredictability, but still, I’d have liked a little suspense. Another thing I didn’t like was that once the story of the main characters is completed, the book ends with an epilogue. Some things end suddenly with that epilogue, and some aren’t ended at all. In a series, that’s kind of acceptable, but not in a standalone book.

The book is one that will take hardly a few hours to finish, and it is a one-time read. But like I said earlier, it was an enjoyable read. And would pick up her next book when it releases as well.

---

Book: The One You Cannot Have
Author: Preeti Shenoy
ISBN: 978-93-83260-68-3
Publisher: Westland Books

Baker's Dozen - The ELLE Tranquebar Book of Short Stories

I will begin this review with a quote, which has got nothing to do with the book. It is by one of my favourite writers, whose writing style is something I have always tried to learn from.

"People ask me why my style is so simple. It is, in fact, deceptively simple, for no two sentences are alike. It is clarity I am trying to attain, not simplicity. Of course, some people want literature to be difficult and there are writers who like to make their readers toil and sweat. They hope to be taken more seriously that way. I have always tried to achieve prose that is easy and conversational. And those who think its simple should try it for themselves." - Ruskin Bond

In my entire journey with Baker's Dozen, this fond quotation was ringing in my head. Not because I wasn't enjoying what I was reading, but because I was applying a lot of my brains into understanding thoughts which I would much rather flow with. Writing in a fashion which is complicated and extravagant is perhaps the order of the day, and it carries with it streaks of brilliance too, but it is not something which gives you the comfort of book you may snuggle in the bed with. This, I am saying despite having enjoyed the ELLE Tranquebar book of short stories thoroughly.

Baker's Dozen is the kind of book which enchants you from the time you receive it in your hand. The minimal art-work on the cover, and the thought behind the title are the first things you marvel at, and the ride promises to get better. Contrary to what one might expect, it is not a collection of 12 tales, rather, it has 13 hand-picked short stories - the 13th thrown in for good luck, just like bakers traditionally would do with a loaf of bread. The stories come divided into two sections - one by ELLE and the other by Tranquebar- and both sections have stories which are gem-like in their sparkle. I remember being a little harried with the plot of the first story, only to become a big fan of the author,Sharanya Manivannan later. Her story, Greed and the Gandhi Quartet is nothing like what you might have ever read in the name of short fiction, ever. Her narrative is in the form of a conversation, leading to a richer storyline at the backdrop of it all. Something to learn, something to simply be impressed by, something also to connect with.

The story which falls second on the list of my favourites from this book is The Howling Waves of Tranquebarby Madhulika Liddle. It is a story whose end did not surprise - but the craftiness and imagination of the author deserve a full score. Set in an eerie locale, this story takes the reader from shivers to amusement - and it one of the most amazing examples of good and effective story telling.

Baani and Salted Cashews, by Payal Mukherjee and Divya Sreedharan respectively, take up compelling social issues and create a hard-hitting narrative about them. Salted Cashews tells you about the kind of perversion which exists in our society at a subterranean level, capable of and successful in robbing of the innocence and gaiety of childhood. Baani takes one to the world of refugees, their struggles with life on a daily basis. You will find other stories in this anthology throwing light on various facets of existence, including love, including sexual advances at workplaces, including dreams and desires, and so much more.

To state in a single sentence - this is a thoroughly enjoyable book, a collectible, where no two stories are alike, where you need breathing space while hopping from one tale to the next and where, you will end up being enamoured by the kind of writing talent which exists in India. My only problem with the book is its often cryptic, high-flown language. I will admit, I tried hard but could not complete Mridula Koshy's stories at the end. I am the kind who stubbornly pursues even a very boring novel just for the satisfaction of having finished it. And these were short stories I abandoned. They might be stylistically brilliant, but they do little to prove that good literature is the one which needs to be embellished with incomprehensible narration. Literature is supposed to reach out, to touch, to perhaps also reform - a little simplicity in telling a tale in what I would earnestly hope for in future stories which come my way.

It could've easily been a 4+ star book for me, but just for the amount it made me toil, I think I would settle with 3.5 on 5 stars.

Book Details -
Author - Various authors
Publisher - Tranquebar/Westland
Published - 2013
Book Source - Review Copy
Genre - Short-fiction/Anthology 
Price - Rs. 250
Pages -  192

Urban Shots: The Love Collection, edited by Sneh Thakur

The book in a nutshell:

A collection of love stories, 31 of them from 27 different authors, compiled by Sneh Thakur.

My thoughts on the book:

So this is a love story anthology, right? What’s the most important ingredient to a love story? Well yeah, it is love. That ingredient appears to be mostly missing here.

When I started the read with the first story, “Written in the stars”, I knew the ending. It’s right there in the title. Put two and two together, and you know where the story is headed. OK fine, corny as the idea was, you’d think there was more about the lovely couple and their relationship. But no, that story was more about the protagonist and his obsession with “the stars”. Till the last page of the story, the damsel doesn’t enter the scenario. With love supposedly involved, you’d be forgiven if you think the guy was dating the astrologer.

With the standard set so high (no, I’m not talking literally), I thought some of the other stories would be better. Sad to say, the trip didn’t fare that well. The story “Rishta” was mostly, if not completely about parental argument and arranged relationships. The story “For Convenience’s Sake” had the ex lover’s sister blasting the protagonist guy for being him. “Making out” (yes, you can interpret literally to know the essence of the story) was more about the guy’s past than the kissing. Moving on, “Coffee” ended with a bitter taste in the mouth. “The Girl Who Was Too Loud” was just too one-note, not about love but of raw sex perhaps.

A few stories save the book from being totally down. Not coz of a love factor, but coz of difference in ideas maybe. I enjoyed “High Time” coz though it was quite a lot about arranged marriages, with the “dekhan dekhai” ceremony, and the parental blackmailing of the protagonist, the story had a humorous touch to it, and it showed there is another side to things. The story “Twisted” was one that had a twist, but the ending wasn’t as believable. “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” was perhaps the best in the book.

Overall, the book has more of these direct stories. Direct tone in love stories doesn’t work that well. The few stories that do work, and are enjoyable, don’t do enough to counter the effect of the not-so-enjoyable stories. I give this a 2.5 from 5.

---

Book details:
Title: Urban Shots – The Love Collection
Editor: Sneh Thakur
ISBN: 978-93-81626-47-4
Genre: Anthology / Love stories
Publishers: Westland + Grey Oak
Price: INR. 199

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Reviewed by Leo
Shared with Indian Quills Reading Challenge

Shades of Life - Vasundhara Ramanujan, Mohd. Akmal

About the authors:

Vasundhara retired as secretary general of Mumbai-based Media Research Users Council. She and her husband Srinivas live in Dubai. They have two sons. Mohammad Akmal is a professor of medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine and has directed its dialysis program for more than twenty-five years.

My thoughts on the book:

This book, a non-fiction, is the recollections of the journey taken by a family after one of them was diagnosed with kidney disease. To have a feeling that that might be the problem and then hearing it is one thing, but going to the doctor for a persistent headache and finding out that the matter is something completely different is another. The settled family rises up to help the son, Aditya, fight against the odds. The author Vasundhara, the mother donates her own kidney to him while fighting a disease herself. And their efforts are fruitful as Aditya survives and goes on to get his PhD. For me, the afterword by Srinivas Raghavan was quite touching. He tells us acceptance is a big part in fighting any disease. Consistent negligence is a cause for harsh steps, but though we may not be able to forget the slightest mistake when it comes to our loved ones, we also have to accept that even doctors are human beings. It is God’s will as well what may or may not happen. I rate this 4/5, and feel that it is a book worth reading.

Book details:

Title: Shades of Life

Author: Vasundhara Ramanujan, Mohammed Akmal

ISBN: 9789381626559

Genre: Non-fiction/Motivational

Publishers: Westland

Price: Rs. 195

Reviewed by Leo

Also shared with: First Reads and IQRC.

RIP - Mukul Deva

R.I.P.

Author: Mukul Deva

ISBN-13: 9789382618195

Binding: Paperback

Publisher: Westland

Number of Pages: 298

Genre: Fiction, Thriller

Language: English

Price: Rs. 200 

About the Book: 

R.I.P. The Resurgent Indian Patriots. Self- appointed guardians of a nation seething with anger at the endless scams and scandals rocking its very foundation. Vigilantes who vow to stop corrupt politicians and colluding civil servants. Even if it means killing them. 

Colonel Krishna Athawale and his team of Special Forces officers rally to protect the country from the enemy within. They call themselves the K-Team. And no one is safe from their deadly intent. 

Hellbent on stopping them is Raghav Bhagat, rogue para commando, gun for hire and Krishna's bete noir. 

Caught in the crossfire is Vinod Bedi, Special Director CBI. Reena Bhagat, a glamorous news anchor, embittered by her husband's betrayal. And two young boys, Sachin and Azaan, torn apart by the loss of a parent. 

It doesn't get bigger. 

About the Author:

An alumnus of La Martiniere College, Lucknow, the National Defense Academy, Pune and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Mukul Deva was commissioned in December 1981 into the Sikh Light Infantry of the Indian Army. He took early retirement from the army after fifteen years of service, including a decade of combat operations in India and overseas. Now settled in Singapore, he is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and an executive, business and creativity coach. He is also a Mentor on the United Nations Institute of Training and Research Afghanistan Fellowship. He is India's leading writer of military thrillers, including the bestselling Lashkar series. For more about him, please visit his website www.mukuldeva.com.

Yatin Speaks:

RIP by Mukul Deva is going to be an interesting read, this came in my mind right after I saw the book. A Syringe, a man carrying a gun and sun shining real hard on the cover, the book cover looked very promising and the book didn't disappoint as well and in the first chapter only, three well planned murders take place. WHATTAY !! The book had me from the first chapter itself. 

RIP here means Resurgent Indian Patriots. A team of 6 special forces ex-officers named K-Team. K-Team because all six of them had their name starting with K. Colonel Krishna Athawale leading the team. K-Team is a self appointed guardian of nation and is fed up of current political structure, corruption and scenario of the country. They want Jan Lokpal bill to be passed and a lot of other demands which they keep in front of GOI and want them act on them immediately. The political structure used in the book is similar to what we have in India and you can actually figure out whom the author is trying to target there but let's not get in there. A series of events take place intermingled with the personal lives of the characters of the book. Jealousy, love, ghosts of the past, patriotism, insanity, lust and a lot of emotions are infused in the book in an apt way.

This was my first Mukul Deva book and I just couldn't stop turning its  pages. The story grips you from the first page and forces you to keep turning the pages till the very end. A series of storms one after the another keeps you on your toes and you just keep guessing what is going to happen next. Thumbs up for RIP by Mukul Deva and if you  like pulse pounding thrillers, this one is definitely not going to disappoint you.

Swarnali Speaks :

Starting with the cover, the book has a very interesting and apt cover with a soldier carrying a gun , a syringe at the top and a bullet replacing the "I" in R.I.P. The significance of all three can be understood as the reader finishes the very first chapter. 

The main plot concerns a group of six ex-army men who call themselves the K- Team pledge to avenge the wrong  that the corrupt politicians have been doing to the nation and its people since its very independence. Why are they called the K-Team? Simply because all these six men have their names starting with a K - Krishna Athawale, Kevin David, Kulwant Singh Bajwa, Karan Singh, Kashif Nadeem and  Kamlesh Saikia. Corruption, nepotism, favoritism and the "rape" of the nation that has been happening  for over 60 years have reached the ebb as these R.I.P- Resurgent Indian Patriots decide that it is high time somebody made an effort at changing the prevailing conditions. A very utopic idea if you ask me but the book does manage to provide the readers with a momentary wish fulfillment  at a time when the real scenario of  the nation is exactly the same as depicted in the book. What I found very surprising is how the book managed not to create any political ruckus despite the fact that the author uses names and characters directly from contemporary politics. Characters like Hazarika, Sheila Kaul and her son Ranvijay, D.M. Karunakaran and Lalit Yadav are completely based on current social-political leaders like Anna Hazare, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Karunanidhi and Lalu Prasad Yadav respectively. Incidents like the hijacking of  the Indian Airlines flight IC 814 (which actually took place in Decemeber 1999) and the Ajmal Kasab case (from the 26/11 terrorist attack) are entirely taken from history (the author however, takes the literary freedom to change the time frames of the two incidents) .

The book is a complete page turner as the very first chapter has three quick immaculately planned murders taking place one after another, taking the reader into its grip for the rest of the 298 pages. The language used in the book is extremely simple with very few ornate words used. I loved the description that the author uses at certain points to describe the particular type of weapon and chemical used for the operation. The effects of the succinylcholine, the C-18 hand grenade and its functions are explained briefly to help the reader understand the mechanism and yet not losing track of the main plot by excessive detailing. The occasional  flashes from the past are nicely blended into the stories which help in understanding the characters better. Apart from the occasional repetitive phrases and a few grammatical and typographical errors, the book is a pleasant and quick read.

The book does extremely well for a military thriller ( a genre completely new to me) and I'm planning to read the other books he has written. Grab a copy or borrow it from a friend, if you love thrillers and action, this book won't disappoint you.

Rating :4/5

This review is a part of the biggest Book Reviews Program. for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

The Eye Of The Predator - Abhisar Sharma

Abhisar Sharma's latest book The Edge Of Machete is already creating buzz in the reading circuit. When it dropped at my doorstep for review, I did a bit of googling to know about the author and when I got to know that it  is the second book of trilogy named The Taliban Conundrum, I decided to pick up the first book of the trilogy which is The Eye Of The Predator. Though, both these books are not interlinked in anyway, but if they are a part of any series, I try and read all of them. 

The Eye Of The Predator has a tight plot. The book just flows from one plot to another. A nicely woven plot with twists and turns and betrayal. Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban is trying hard to make a strong mark on Pakistan but Baitullah gets killed in the most insane way. With the untimely death of Baitullah, a lot of people try too hard to get a hold of his position as the leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban. Too many meetings, discussions, arguments and planning goes among a lot of people including confidantes of Baitullah and people who had sheer disliking for him. Also, Afghanistan and United States involvement in rooting out Baitullah creates a lot of fuss and things go for a toss. 

The book has a tight plot but what was tough for me was to remember the names of the characters. At times I used to get confused because to keep a track of so many long names becomes tough, but that doesn't take away the flair and power of Abhisar Sharma's writing. The Eye Of The Predator is a dark thriller and you already know what is going to happen in the end but if you enjoy such books, give it a shot. You might like it. 

Book Source : Personal Copy
Publisher : Hachette India
Genre : Fiction, Thriller
ISBN : 978-93-5009-074-9 

Sharpening the Machete with Abhisar Sharma

Abhisar Sharma, a popular name in the world of media is also an author. His first book of the The Taliban Conundrum trilogy, Eye Of The Predator was very well received by critics and readers. The second book of the trilogy The Edge Of Machete has been released recently and is already in the news. I got a chance to interview him and here is what he has to say about his personal life, professional life and life as an author.

Ques. What inspired you to write “The Taliban Conundrum” trilogy?

Ans. Well there was no inspiration to write a trilogy. It all fell into place. I wrote Eye of the predator because the plot of Pakistan’s most powerful man dying while in an act of fornication and the entire conspiracy behind his death was very appealing and even seductive. I started writing The Edge of the Machete because the scenario of a CIA agent captive in the hands of the Taliban was very thrilling and I just started developing the plot. It ultimately became the story of 3 people, an undercover CIA agent, a British white Muslim and a kidnapped Indian journalist who find themselves in the most dangerous place of the world. Now The Edge of the Machete ends at a place where it demands a sequel that I am currently writing. Its called “The Dark Side Of Me”. So it all became a part of a trilogy which was unintended and accidental.

Ques. How much time did you take to write your first book “Eye Of The Predator” and the recent one “The Edge Of The Machete”?

Ans. Eye of the Predator took exactly 3 months and Edge of the Machete took 9. But it was just that I wrote “Eye of the Predator in a hurry , like a man possessed. But when I started writing “the Edge of the Machete, I took my time, not to rush up things.

Ques. There are too many genres that you could have opted for. Why only thrillers? Do you see yourself writing any other genre?

Ans. Both novels were not intended as thrillers. Its my agent and the publishers who have branded them as thrillers. My third novel is a coming of age , growing up kind of book, tentatively  titled “A hundred lies for you”. Story of a 13 year old in the backdrop of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. This is a story of  dreams unfulfilled, friendship , betrayal, revenge served cold and brutal, love in its purest form and quite a shocker from the genre that I have attempted till now.

Ques.  Tell us more about “The Edge Of The Machete”?

Ans. I often used to think, what could be the worse case scenario? Lamb in a Lions cage? Oil drums surrounded by raging fires? A CIA agent in Taliban captivity? It was this premise that I started developing.  Edge of the Machete is the story of Ed Gomez sent to avenge his best buddy in the CIA rechristened as Sarfaraz Khan, the next big thing in the world of Jehad. But as he dives into the mission, the lines between his original identity and his assumed identity start blurring. The adulation of the poster boy of Jehad is seductive. Its also a story of 3 other people. Rahul Sharma an Indian journalist caught by the Taliban in Kabul and brought to Khyber in Pakistan and Shaun Marsh, a British white Muslim who is supposed to execute Rahul on tape.

Ques. How would you define Abhisar Sharma as a person?

Ans. Open minded, emotional, free of prejudices, short tempered, restless, easily provoked, indulgent, passionate and not the guy you would want to mess with. :)

Ques.  And Abhisar Sharma as a writer?

Ans. That’s for my readers to decide. I only write things that appeal to me.

Ques. How tough it is to write a thriller?

Ans. Its just those writers blocks that I am afraid of. They last for days and months. Otherwise writing is very fulfilling. It’s a beautiful world out there when you write fiction. You create characters that are an extension of you or maybe extension of people you have known.

Ques. Was it too tough for you to get your first book published?

Ans. Thankfully not. But the road after the publishing was difficult because for some reason the marketing division of the first publishing house was not excited about my book. It died a premature death and I still mourn it.

Ques.  With so many books flooding in these days, what would be your advice to the young writers who are planning to write a book?

Ans. Just write if you have a story to tell. Write what you believe in. It does not matter if you have a limited vocabulary. If you have a story to tell and if you have content, go! If Abhisar Sharma can write 3 books and get published, anyone can!

Ques. Being the face of a popular news channel like Aaj Tak, how tough it is to manage your personal life, professional life and writing books? Does it take a toll on you? 

Ans. Big Time! My work in Aaj Tak takes nearly 11 hours of my life daily. I write when I come back home. Around 11 in the night and I write till late. That takes a toll on my health. I have put on weight since I have started writing. I have become insomniac. My allergies have increased. So, its a big whammy. But I would not leave writing. Its like this amazing affair, like a fatal attraction. But, now I have started regulating my time. I have also started taking care of my health.

Ques. Any special moment associated with your books that you would like to share with us? Your most favourite compliment about your book ?

Ans. The best compliment I got for “The Edge of the Machete” was by celebrated writer and journalist Hussain Zaidi( the writer of Black Friday and the Mafia queens of Mumbai. ) .He said it is unputdownable. He said it is better than Frederic Forsyth’s “THE AFGHAN”. I think I was dreaming. But I did not pinch myself. It felt good.

So, that was Abhisar Sharma, candid and straight forward at his best. His book, The Edge Of Machete has been reviewed here by me.

Book Review - The Edge Of Machete

And you can get in touch with the author on twitter @Abhisar_Sharma ( Yes, he does respond there). His books are available on all the popular online portals and bookstores. Grab your copy soon. I have read both his books and they are unputdownable. Read them.

Bengal, The Cold Weather 1873 - Joe Roberts

Travelogues have their own charm. No matter in which place they are set up, who is travelling and in what era he is travelling, there is something about travelogues which gets on to me and I thoroughly enjoy reading them. What makes a good travelogue is the power of observing things and the way travel stories are narrated. One such travelogue by Joe Roberts dropped in two days back at my place. Bengal, The Cold Weather 1873 by Joe Roberts.

The travelogue is set up in 1873. Edward Lear, a landscape painter and his travel partner cum servant Giorgio who is from Albania and also a nonsense poet, travel from Bengal to Calcutta to honour the invitation sent by Lord Northbrook, the Viceroy. Right from the beginning, Lear meets people who are weird in their own sense and dealing with everyone becomes tough for him on many fronts. Lear is dealing with an epileptic condition as well. He is afraid that the world must not come to know about his condition and he keeps fighting with it all his life. 

The way Joe Roberts has written this book, it shows how intense research he has done to come up with something like this. The characters, the anecdotes and the way he has narrated the whole plot makes it interesting, witty, disturbing at the same time and in equal proportions. Set up in gothic eras, the author has left no stone unturned to showcase the Bengal of those times. He himself has travelled a lot in Bangladesh and West Bengal and is quite fascinated with its beauty and its offerings. His first book "Abdul's Taxi To Kalighat" was also set up in Bengal and was very well received by critics and readers. 

This 130 page book which is divided into 12 chapters containing dialogues, weird poetry, experiences is definitely a light read for someone who enjoys travelogues. I am sure it wont disappoint you.

Book Source : Westland Books/Tranquebar Press
Genre : Travelogue
ISBN : 978-93-81626-89-4 

JFK - Jhangir Kerawala

Nimue Says :

Did i tell you I love reading about murders and the story that has to be traced back to “how and where” it all began ? and then comes few books that open with not one , but two murders in a row ! Whoa ! Now we are talking.

JFK opens with two unrelated people dying within the same night – Ram Prasad Yadav – a man set on revenge, Manish Kumar – one of the most decent person you could know.

Only link that is clearly visible – they were killed by same gun.
Only clue that the police has – Manish’s best friend , the “hero” of the story Jatin received a call from Manish who could only say “JFK” before dying.

Soon Jatin and his friend Montu find themselves protecting Manish’s secret and also trying to figure out what led to his murder.

Jatin is your normal guy who has shit loads of his own issues – unemployment , age , a family to provide and safegaurd and now the best friedn’s murder followed by some shocking truths about him and the stranger Ram Prasad Yadav.

The story of Ram Prasad Yadav and his role in the plot is well crafted and narrated. He is one of the character who even outshines Jatin once his story comes out.
One of the best thing about the book is the relatable feel to the book’s events. This is India as we talk about , as we know it. The way we think , the way we assume and react , the way people act in certain situations. Not a thing is out of place. The cover of the book , the scene setting , the characterization , the timeline and the events all appear to be either well researched or seen from close quarters. I always like when the author can bring that touch to his story. This one is absolute page turner. I have not finished any book faster than this one in the last six months. Only complaint I have is from the font of the book. Its a little too small in the sense that my table lamp reading was affected a bit. also one of the lady character I felt was not given a proper pink slip ! I wondered till the end , what she would be upto after all ?


Rating : 4/5

Yatin Says : 

Another thriller that I just finished reading. JFK is the another book that I spotted along with The Edge Of The Machete in the Tranquebar newsletter. JFK, if you hear the name takes you to John F. Kenneday, but trust me he is nowhere related with this book. Just a mere co-incidence this is. JFK is a book that you would definitely want to read once you read its synopsis given on the back cover of the book. It goes like this 

JFK....a dying man's last word....A plea, an accusation or a clue?

That's what the police couldn't figure out. What they did know was that they had serial murders in broad daylight, and just one suspect with little motive....Jatin F Karunamoi, the dead man's best friend. 

There's a lot more written on the back cover, but I would leave it upon you to explore it or better buy the book.

Set up in the city of Joy, Kolkata, the book opens with two murders back to back. One of an old man, named Ram Prasad Sharma and other person is Jatin's best friend Manish. Before Manish dies, he calls up Jatin to tell him these three letters, JFK and thats how the plot unfolds in the book. More characters get involved, Montu, Jatin's and Manish's common friend, Preeti, Inspector Dutt, Raju Singh, Mohan Singh, Tarun Basu and many more. All of them with their clear roles in the plot. Jhangir Kerawala has ensured that the books doesn't confuse the reader at any point and this is what makes this book a fast paced thriller.

Considering, JFK is Jhangir Kerawala's debut book, I must say, he has done a good job. He has successfully managed to pen down an absolute page turner that will keep you hooked till the end. The book is divided into two parts, 31 chapters and has 225 pages. Its a joint imprint of Westland Books and Grey Oak India. If you are looking for a something that keeps you hooked for constant 5-6 hours, then this is the book for you. Pick it up. You'd surely enjoy it.  

Book Source : Westland Books

Review asked by Westland Books

ISBN : 978-93-81626-73-3

Genre : Thriller

The Edge Of The Machete - Abhisar Sharma

Some three weeks back, I received Westland Books's newsletter called "Tranquebar Times"  where I first saw and read the description of this book "The Edge Of Machete". The cover as you can see features a masked terrorist which intrigued me and then the description told me that its a thriller. Thats when I decided I am going to read this one for sure. Then while surfing internet for the same book, I got to know the Abhisar Sharma, the author of the book is actually writing a trilogy named "The Taliban Conundrum" and this is the book two of that trilogy. I checked flipkart for the same and ordered "The Eye Of The Predator" straight away and started reading it and absolutely loved it. I am going to review it later sometime on this blog. Then came in "The Eye Of The Predator" for review and here I am. Finished reading this book this morning itself.

"The Edge Of The Machete" is an absolute page turner. Definitely one of the best thrillers I have read so far from an Indian writer. The book opens up with a brutal murder of Jason Wilson, a CIA agent who was on a secret undercover mission. Aamir Sherzai, Tehreek-e-Taliban's new kid on the block killed him brutally and got the entire process shot. CIA people get to see the video and they freak out and a series of planning, execution, murders, lies, under cover missions begin. Jason's best friend, Ed  promises himself and other people at CIA that he is going to kill Aamir and take the revenge of his best friend's death. The book will keep you hooked till the end and would tempt you to read the last few pages to figure out what exactly is going to happen in the end. The same was the case with Abhisar's first book "The Eye Of The Predator".

The book is extremely well written, characters are well defined and the way Afghans and Pakistani's love for bollywood has been shown had me in splits. The story of each of the central characters has been told properly and in an interesting way. Abhisar hasn't left a untied thread, if there is a new subplot opening up in the book, he had made sure that it doesn't get lost in this 332 page book. Also, I would advice you to understand the current geography of Afghanistan & Pakistan, because this will help you understand the places mentioned in the book.

The only problem with the book that I'd faced is its font size. It should have been a bit bigger, would have been easier to read. I might look stupid here, but this is an honest feedback. Rest everything is just near to perfect about this book.

Pick this book up if you are into fast-paced thrillers and I would also suggest you to read the first book of the trilogy, its not that these books are inter-related but they were so well written that you would definitely enjoy reading them. At least I enjoyed myself.

Book Source : Westland Books

Review asked by Westland Books.

ISBN : 978-93-81626-67-2

Genre : Thriller, Fiction

31 - Upendra Namburi

 Title : 31 

 Author : Upendra Namburi 

 ISBN : 978-93-81626-75-7

 Publisher : Westland Books

 Genre : Fiction (Thriller)

 Pages : 372

I received a courier this afternoon when I was reading some other book. The courier had this red coloured book with an interesting cover. A corporate thriller. 31 is an intriguing name for it. So, I decided to leave the other book in midway and start off with this one and I have just finished it a few minutes back. 

31 by Upendra Namburi is a crisp take on the corporate world, banking sector to be more specific. It is about how life of Ravi Shashtry, the protagonist of the book, changes in a month which is considered as the most crucial month for any insitution, March. Yes, if your IQ is considerably okay, then you might relate the title of the book with the month. 

The book had me gripped from its beginning. Right from the appreciation e-mail that Ravi Shashtry gets on the 1st of March then to how things go haywire when some trader in Brazil dupes Imperial Bank's 14 billion dollars in a single shot. The Brazil operations had to shut down and there was some other chaos brewing up in the US. The resultant of this entire mess was another chaos that could be seen across all the offices of Imperial Bank in India. There were too many e-mails, phone calls, off the record conversations among colleagues, rivals, top notch corporate honchos and what not, that I promise would keep you engaged throughout. Also, I should mention the structure of the book plays a huge role in the plot. It is nerve wrecking. You would know when you will read it. 

Also, things go wrong on personal front too for Ravi, as his wife Savitha also faces some similar situations in her office. Infidelity creeps in along with a lot of things which put Ravi into mental dilemma. Office politics has been very well used in the plot and there are too many twists and turns in the story. The narration would definitely grip you and would ensure that you dont put down this book before you finish it. At least, it worked for me this way. There was too much of corporate jargon but one must not complain about it, it had to be there. Pick this book up if you are into fast paced thrillers, where there is a lot of bitching, betrayal, spontaneous decisions and actions. I promise you, you won't be disappointed. 

(Review asked by Westland Books)