#BookReview: Utrecht Rain by Jonathan Wilkins

My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars

Maaike Meijer is attacked in a senseless outbreak of violence at the Dom Tower in Utrecht. Her brother, Freddie, fights off the assailants, but how is the brutality linked to a series of violent threats, cyber crime and the Dutch Secret Service? 
Truus Heda continues her work as a private investigator whilst caring for her lover before finding the missing link. As the nightmare unfolds we enter the world of Serbian gangsters and Utrecht Goths and see how Hoofdinspecteur Caes Heda and his overworked team tackle a crime that could consume the city



Utrecht is a city in Netherlands ( Holland ) and so the story is set in the Dutch society. I think it is better to know the setting beforehand so one can get used to the differences in the writing & way the city works from the other countries. It also gives an atmospheric sense to the story which has a lot of  mystery elements.This book has a few terms and words from the Dutch language used frequently in the story . This can be understood from the synopsis also but it more clearly established in the first few chapters and  after a while one gets comfortable with the same.

The story starts with attack on Maaike & her twin brother Freddie. Caes Heda is the head inspector for them and also is father of Maaike's girlfriend Truus. The police has not recovered from the attack when the city is hit with two bank robberies involving sophisticated technological knowledge and then a brutal murder that leaves no clue for the victim behind. Only thing linking, maybe two of the crimes is that they are done by masked men , dressed in all blacks and no one ever see them leaving the crime scenes. There is a rich heir , corrupt businessmen , personal investigators and also secret agency involved in the mix and it is never clear who is pulling what strings in this. This is a good police investigation story in all possible ways with all threads closed neatly in the end.

But what makes this book more of an interesting read is the details of the personal lives of the characters. Maaike & Truus have a beautiful relationship and it felt so natural to see them take care of each other physically and emotionally when Maaike is recovering from her nightmare. Then we have Caes still coming to terms with the loss of his wife ten years ago by therapy and with help from his daughter & friends. There is a strong emphasis on engaging in activities that keeps one busy and also healthy to deal with all personal demons and it was such an inspiring aspect of the story. Caes's team in the police station are all different from each other and the author sets those details carefully. there is a human side to most of the people which make them relatable to the reader. Apart from their professional lives , the personal interests and conversations between some of the characters were so good to read. It had an overall positive vibe towards life even in the face of all the crime & voilence.

In a lot of ways , the book felt more like a slice of life mixed with mystery than a usual formula based book. I enjoyed all the characters and would like to keep reading more books in the series.

My only complain is from editing where the pronouns were suddenly mixed and it was a little abrupt. Plus some of the place names were a little hard to track in the beginning but once the story picked up, I did not find them concerning any more. It is though something some of the readers might find as a deterrent.


Purchase Links: Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2VnE1Xk
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3g0pKYz

About Jonathan Wilkins: Jonathan loves to write. He is a retired teacher, lapsed Waterstones’ bookseller and former Basketball Coach. He taught PE and English for 20 years and coached women’s basketball for over 30 years.
He regularly teaches creative writing workshops in and around Leicester.

Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/WriterJWilkins
Website: www.jonathanwilkins.co.uk

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Review: Secrets of Milan, Book Two of the NightFlyer Trilogy by Edale Lane

 My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While Florentina as the Night Flyer searches for a mysterious underworld organization that has attempted to murder the woman she loves, Maddie struggles to deal with the danger Florentina is courting. Her brother, Alessandro, has become the most prominent merchant of Milan, but the Night Flyer uncovers a secret so shocking it could destroy them all.

Secrets of Milan is the second book in Edale Lane’s Night Flyer Trilogy, a tale of power, passion, and payback in Renaissance Italy.

Picking from the previous book - Merchants of Milan [ book review post linked ] , the story starts with Maddie worrying about her relationship with the Night Flyer / Florentina. It was good to see her doubts about her new love considering she is a widow and worried because of her own sense of guilt. she starts distancing herself from Florentina till Alessandro makes her see the truth in a different light. The romance and the relationship between the two ladies from that point is beautifully handled and has all the traits of a mature equal partnership between the two ladies. 

The author does not lose focus of the main plot of the book which is to find who wants to kill Maddie and for what purpose, and the action scenes between the hired assassin and the Night Flyer are exciting to read. There is much improvement in the pace , the scene setting and the way the plot moves forward in this book. But what I loved reading more was the character development shown in other cast of the story -  the young boy who went to war front , the fallen merchant and his family , the city sergeant etc. Everyone adds a different dimension to the story and makes this such an engaging read. Maddie's kids interactions with Florentine are such a joy to read and even learn a bit from their lovely teacher about science, history and some art. 

We learn more about the Milan during this era and how war takes the attention away from things & ideas that might help humanity more. How it changes people and landscapes is easily visible through this story. 

There is a secret society , a cryptic diary , more history & scenes from the beautiful European cities, Leonardo Da vinci's inventions , action , romance and above all, the desire to make a difference to the world in whatever way one choses. 

I loved the second part more than the first and eagerly await the last installment.  

Kindle Version:  https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Milan-Night-Flyer-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B088HFM7Q5/

Amazon Print Version:  https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Milan-Night-Flyer-Trilogy/dp/B088N8ZQPD/

About the author:  Edale Lane is the author of an award-winning 2019 debut novel, Heart of Sherwood. She is the alter-ego of author Melodie Romeo, (Vlad a Novel, Terror in Time, and others) who founded Past and Prologue Press. Both identities are qualified to write historical fiction by virtue of an MA in History and 24 years spent as a teacher, along with skill and dedication in regard to research. She is a successful author who also currently drives a tractor-trailer across the United States. A native of Vicksburg, MS, Edale (or Melodie as the case may be) is also a musician who loves animals, gardening, and nature.

Official Site:  https://pastandprologuepress.lpages.co/

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Romantic Bouncers, by Ram Vignesh

I've read books where cricket and the genre are mixed, and not come out well. The impression that Ram Vignesh's Romantic Bouncers gave from the blurb was that it would be worth the read. It promised not just a story in the cricketing world, but also a romance and a thriller. A small part of me still wondered if mixing so many aspects would muddle the story and the impact that it makes.

Rabin is an aspiring cricketer. His dream is to be part of the Indian National team. As is the dream of his best friend Sarath. But they know that's not going to be easy. The romance angle brings in Kristina, who studies in the same college. Any aspiration of such levels usually has an antagonist. That is his father. And such a dream will also a silent supporter, who is Bharaga. The story follows the aspiration of Rabin, and the journey towards that, while bringing twists and other characters into and around that.

The mix of so many things - romance, mystery, family drama, cricket etc. - would usually be a bit difficult to read, and to be honest, at times, it does feel like that, but the narration is steady, in a simple language, and doesn't make that feeling last long. I liked the characters what Ram Vignesh brings, especially the silent supporter Bharaga and of course Rabin, the main protagonist. It has enough essence to keep the reader engaged.

I'm slightly miffed that though characters were introduced well, two of them did not quite appeal to me. Kristina's character in the book doesn't work that well, and probably because she's shown as dead first, and then the reader taken back in time. And, though I cannot tell why exactly, the character of Hoariest Bung didn't quite make an impression on me either.

The novel is not one that everyone will enjoy, but it's worth trying. I'm looking forward to more from Ram Vignesh, and will see if I can procure a copy of his earlier book.

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Reviewed by Vinay Leo R. for the author, who gave a copy of the Book
(Review dated 31/12/15 to match as per my marking on Goodreads).

Just You, Me and a Secret, by Ganga Bharani Vasudevan

Mysteries intrigue me, and I end up playing the sleuth to find out what happened. This book is a mystery, but not one to sleuth. Just You, Me and a Secret is a book where the protagonist Meera is a mystery, not only to me, the reader, but to herself as well. And as she finds out more about herself, so do we. When we first meet Meera, she has woken up in a hospital. She doesn't know who are the people around her, and she doesn't remember anything, not even her own name. She is in the care of Ashruth, a man who says that they were going to marry soon when fate brought that unexpected obstacle in their way. Can she believe him? And will her memory ever return?

This book is a very easy read. It's not light, but the mystery of Meera's life had enough in it to keep me engaged for some time. The author has done justice to her character, and I felt the pathos for her predicament, which is essential. The twists that come with parts of her life coming to light are good, and help in no small amount to keep it interesting. Writing down moments in a journal or diary is useful should one need to revisit them, and I thought introducing "Clara" - Meera's diary/journal was a nice touch.

At times though, Meera's actions to unravel the mystery of herself feel a little unbelievable. And though we see Meera's character come to life with the story, the sub-characters, some of whom are quite important, don't seem that important. The story, which develops nicely in the first part feels hurried towards the end, and perhaps diluted the read a little for me as well. I thought the presentation was a little odd, but I don't know if it was because I read it on the Kindle. Some of these points aren't deal breakers, but the book would definitely improve more with these in mind, I feel.

The language is easy to read, and quite simple, and for this book, I think that worked quite well. All in all, if you're looking for an interesting book to keep you occupied for a few hours, this book might be worth considering. I'll rate it between 3 and 3.5 stars.

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3 Stars < Rating < 3.5 Stars
Genre: Love/Mystery

Reviewed by: Vinay Leo R.

This is not a paid review. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

Where the Rainbow Ends, by Anurag Anand

Indian writing in English has a plethora of writers attempting the genre of romance or love stories. Such being the case, it takes something extra to stand out from the crowd. By adding a bit of family drama and mystery to the plot, Anurag Anand kind of accomplishes that.

Where the Rainbow Ends is the story of Rahul. He falls in love with Shalini and marries her, and lands himself a good job thanks to his rich father-in-law. The marriage doesn’t work out because of lapses on her part, and even the birth of their daughter Myra doesn’t help the cause. Rahul successfully gets custody of his daughter but that has its own consequences. Then Avantika lands into the father-daughter duo’s life, like a rainbow after the storm. When things seem to be looking up, Avantika vanishes, and another tough phase begins for the duo.

In its bare structure, the novel is a love story, be it Rahul and Shalini, or Rahul and Avantika. But the twists thrown in to both these sub-stories hit quite hard and leave the reader thinking. Rahul is the centre of the story, but it is Avantika’s character that the reader falls in love with, and Myra’s character that the heart often goes out to. The novel essentially exudes hope, even when the character has his back against the wall. A story written in a simple yet touching fashion.

Though the author’s language is mostly lucid, the starting part actually feels confusing. It brings a smile, yes, but it is confusing. The story for the most part was predictable. And I am not a big fan of the way it ended either. All wrapped up neatly in a bow with the epilogue. The story as a whole lacked something, though I cannot quite put my finger on one particular thing and say that that was it.

I wouldn’t say it is the best book that is there, but it has enough in it to stand out of the romance crowd. A breezy read, I think it is best for a journey.

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Why should you read it?

It is love story with elements of a mystery thriller that will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. Realistic characters brought to life in a simple style.

What you may not like…

The story overall lacks something. The plotline is predictable, and I’m not a big fan of the ending.

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Rating: 3.5 on 5

Book Details:
Title: Where the Rainbow Ends
Series: N/a
Author: Anurag Anand
Genre: Romance
ISBN/ASIN: 9789382665014
Publisher: Srishti
Price: INR. 150

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Shared with
1) First Reads Challenge at b00k r3vi3ws
2) Indian Quills 2014 at Tales Pensieve.

Reviewed by Leo, for Srishti.

The Bridge of Deaths - M.C.V. Egan

THE BRIDGE OF DEATHS
AUTHOR: M.C.V.Egan
Genre:  History, Mystery
ISBN-13:  9781463410414
NO. OF PAGES: 372
PUBLISHER: Authorhouse (2011)
PRICE: Rs. 934 (on flipkart.com)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   M.C.V. Egan lives in South Florida with her husband and teenage son. She is fluent in four languages; English,Spanish,French and Swedish. From a young age became determined to solve the 'mystery' of her grandfather's death, she has researched this story for almost two decades. The story has taken her to Denmark, England and unconventional world of past lives and psychics. (from http://thebridgeofdeaths.com )

SUMMARY: On August 15th, 1939 an English passenger plane from British Airways Ltd. Crashed in Danish waters between the towns of Nykobing/Falster and Vordingborg. There were five casualties reported and one survivor. Just two weeks before Hitler invaded Poland with the world at the brink of war the manner in which this incident was investigated left much open to doubt. The jurisdiction battle between the two towns and the newly formed Danish secret police, created an atmosphere of intrigue and distrust.
In the winter of 2009-2010 a young executive, Bill is promoted and transferred to London for a major International firm. He has struggled for the better part of his life with nightmares and phobias, which only seem to worsen in London. As he seeks the help of a therapist he accepts that his issues may well be related to a 'past-life trauma'.

Through love, curiosity, archives and the information superhighway of the 21st century Bill travels through knowledge and time to uncover the story of the 1939 plane crash.

The Bridge of Deaths is a love story and a mystery. Fictional characters travel through the world of past life regressions and information acquired from psychics as well as archives and historical sources to solve "One of those mysteries that never get solved" is based on true events and real people, it is the culmination of 18 years of sifting through sources in Denmark, England and the United States, it finds a way to help the reader feel that he /she is also sifting through data and forming their own conclusions.

The journey takes the reader to well known and little known events leading up to the Second World War, both in Europe and America. The journey also takes the reader to the possibility of finding oneself in this lifetime by exploring past lives. (from  http://thebridgeofdeaths.com )

SWARNALI SPEAKS: I got this as an e-book from the author (through FL) to review.  M.C.V.Egan’s book The Bridge of Deaths was a serious read, not something you could start and end in one go. But by “serious” I don’t mean the book isn’t interesting, its that it is not a light read and takes a lot of time to read and comprehend. The book is very intriguing and informative.

The best thing about the book is the amount of research of the background of the World War II that the author has done and the minute detailing that has been paid attention to in the writing of the book. What I particularly liked is how the author has documented each information source in the footnotes,so that the reader can easily refer to them for further reference,if required.

The author has created characters who are individuals with very real fears and dilemmas. One particular instance is that Catalina is somewhat unaware that she is scared of knowing the truth, the fear arising from the fact that the search for the truth which constitutes a major part of her life would come to an end and her life may suddenly lose all the motivation and reason that it had for so many years. Each person in the book has a distinct personality and is etched out individually, both emotionally and psychologically. Another interesting feature about the book is the fact that the author herself is a character in the book. She uses her middle name Catalina in the book to represent the character. 

Several ideas are dealt with in the book apart from the search behind the mysterious crash of the British Airways plane. The religious idea of a previous life, the possibility of incidents from that previous life haunting us in our present life in dreams and a psychological delving into the psyche of the characters are some of them.

The book has romance, history, mystery and psychology all rolled into a great combination. The fiction and real parts in the book are really well blended. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book.

MY RATING: 4.5 / 5

Murder on the Mind by LL Bartlett

About the author:

LL Bartlett is a former copy editor, and lives in Rochester, New York. She honed her characterization and plotting skills as a frequent writer for romance magazines. Shealso writes the New York Times bestselling Booktown Mysteries under the name Lorna Barrett, and the Victoria Square mysteries under the name Lorraine Bartlett.

My thoughts on the book:

Hunting for free mystery and thriller books on Kindle, I came across the title Murder on the Mind by LL Bartlett. The book is her first published novel (published in 2005) and the first title in the Jeff Resnick series.

We are introduced to, and drawn into the mind of Jeff Resnick. The protagonist is a formerly unemployed, and a newly appointed insurance claims agent. He’s celebrating the occasion by playing pool with friends. During the game, he has a sudden vision, one that he cannot understand or explain. He decides to leave early so he’s not late for work. He’s thinking of the future, of asking a girl out, of the future. Bad luck strikes then and he’s mugged, beaten to within an inch of his life.

The book resumes showing us that Jeff is now under the care of his half-brother Dr. Richard Alpert and his live-in lover Brenda. He still gets the sudden visions that he can’t make sense out of, and his health has expectedly receded after the mugging. He also finds that his sixth sense has gone up, and can sense something awry, or feel something odd to enter a room. He finds Richard doesn’t believe in his visions much, but that Brenda does. Richard, from the brother’s and physician’s perspective, thinks that the visions are just hallucinations from his brother’s unfortunate condition, that his serious head injuries are the reason for it.

Meanwhile, Jeff connects the vision to the death of a prominent banker. He starts to feel a moral responsibility to solving the mysterious nature of the death, and with Richard’s reluctant help, begins to dig deeper. He crosses paths with the local police, who want him to stay out of their way, and the wife who still is deep in mourning. The light read thriller follows Jeff’s psychic visions that lead him to various turning points in the mystery, and Richard’s reluctant but timely help to his brother.

Positives:

The story isn't boring in what differentiates it from other thrillers. The first person narration helps us get into the mind of the protagonist, and the twists and turns keep the story flowing. The family angle explored is also nicely done.

Negatives:

If I were to pinpoint negatives, I'd say the mugging was a tad unbelievable. The protagonist's psychic vision starts before the mugging, so it'd have been good if he continued to explore that way. Bringing in a rich step-brother who didn't get along with him felt odd. It lent pathos to the plot for sure. The psychic vision also helps zoom over parts that needed detection, or solving.

Overall:

I quite liked the story overall. If I'd had the hardcopy, perhaps I'd have finished it in one or two sittings. Reading it on Kindle took a little longer. Other than few parts that might leave you disappointed, the story holds well.

Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by Leo

Book Details:
Title: Murder on the Mind
Author: LL Bartlett
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: Polaris Press
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Type: Kindle e-book
Price: Free

Shared with First Reads Challenge @ b00k r3vi3ws.

A Case of Imagination by Jane Tesh

Impressions off the blurb:

A mystery of non-killing proportions escalates to a kill, and needs the protagonist detective to change her plans. The description terms it as a playful first mystery, but with a murder involved, I’m wondering how it can be playful as such.

My thoughts on the book:

I’m new to reading on a Kindle Cloud Reader. This is the first book I have read there, and I must say that the app makes it the reading seem easier than a PDF does. Oddly enough, I don’t have a payment option that lets me purchase Kindle books, so I had to start off with the free ones.

The protagonist is a freelance detective Madeline Maclin, who was a former pageant queen. She stays and works at Parkland, a town in North Carolina. Without a case to solve and having some time to spare, she agrees to go with her friend Jerry Fairweather to the neighboring town of Celosia where he has inherited a house from his dead uncle. Jerry is a self-proclaimed occult expert, who does séances and readings etc.

While at Celosia, the two of them see a parade before a pageant. There is also a protest against the pageant going on. One of the protesters suggest Madeline to investigate into some sabotage that has been happening at the pageant, since the organizer Evan James seems to think it’s their work. Madeline finds a case like that, and begins to look into Evan’s bad luck. Between pageantry recollections and investigations, there are also suggestions that there is the supernatural involved too. That brings Jerry’s interest in the story, and his girlfriend Olivia’s non-interest, as she tries to coax Jerry out of moving to the uncle’s house.

The light reading seems to be going well and the incidents seem to be just pranks played by bored kids of Celosia when the twist comes. The girl with the most odds to win the pageant is found murdered. The police warn the detective to stay away, but she continues. The new found attraction of Madeline to Jerry also brings a romance element into the mix. With twists and turns and new revelations, the protagonist appears to be getting herself into some danger as well, even in the usually dull town of Celosia.

Overall experience:

I can understand why the mystery would be called playful. It doesn’t seem to have a deep danger or series of murders and such. The language is simple, witty and direct. Jane Tesh mixes humor, seriousness and romance quite nicely, though there is no direction to one type. I don’t find that a drawback as such, esp. considering it as a playful mystery. I liked what I read. It’s very difficult to keep the flow and attention of the reader in an e-book, but the story wasn’t a drag and it kept my attention quite nicely, if not grabbing it completely. The characters are many, but endearing. The villain is unpredictable, the motive different. The ending somewhat leaves me wondering as to the future of the detective. I’m intrigued to know what lies ahead for her.

Rating: 7.5 / 10

Book Details:

Title: A Case of Imagination

Author: Jane Tesh

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Sold by: Amazon Digital

Price: Free (as of now)

About the author (as on book-page):

Jane Tesh lives and works in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, Andy Griffith's home town, a real life Mayberry. She is a retired media specialist and the author of five mystery novels, as well as numerous plays for children. When not writing, Jane plays the piano for productions at the Andy Griffith Playhouse and teaches aerobics at the local gym.

Reviewed by: Leo

Also for: Mixed Variety Challenge at ALOP, First Reads Challenge at b00k r3vi3ws.

A is for Alibi - Sue Grafton

Impressions off the back:

A private investigator digging into a case, a murder that happened eight years back, and for which her client was convicted and sentenced for… not the usual run-of-the-mill mystery I think. I’ve only heard of a couple of Perry Mason novels by Erle Stanley Gardner that remind me of such a plot. A mystery I’m sure I’ll like digging into.

My thoughts on the book:

First off, I would like to say that I hadn’t heard of Sue Grafton or the alphabet series of mysteries before. It was a chance find from Nimue’s giveaway earlier that I saw the title, and it was the second one that made me want to read it, that and the cover which had a gun on it. Personally, I don’t like guns on a cover page, so I requested that since there was one version without a gun, could I have that instead? I got my wish, and the book came by yesterday evening.

As you get from the back cover itself, the protagonist of this series is a private investigator named Kinsey Millhone, who stays at, and works at a city in California called Santa Teresa. She is thirty-two years old, twice divorced. And recently she has killed someone. The story, narrated in first person, starts with that statement, and a description of her and her life. She is hired by Nikki Fife, wife of Laurence Fife, a divorce lawyer who was murdered eight years previously, and for which Nikki was convicted. She is hired to prove Nikki is innocent of that crime, not for a reason for revenge, but Nikki’s curiosity and determination to know who killed Laurence, and put her in prison for a crime she did not commit. Kinsey does not commit immediately to the job, but goes to the lieutenant in the Santa Teresa PD who handled the case eight years back, looks at the evidence he had collected back then, and seeing ends not meeting in the case, agrees to look at it for Nikki.

Kinsey follows the trails of Laurence’s life… his ex-wife and his two kids from that marriage, his old partner at the law firm, his secretaries there and their parents… whatever angle she can open up with her hunches and evidence that she can find. She is thorough, not wanting to miss anything that can open a new lead in the case. She falls in love with someone, and not having been with a man for years, finds herself bending to his charm and good nature. She goes out of the city as she follows Laurence’s old steps, and doesn’t miss a beat. Her prying into old closed matters isn’t well received by some, and she opens a Pandora’s Box for some others which make her feel guilty. In the end, a twist comes that she doesn’t expect and which leaves her doubtful if she was a novice to have not seen that, get distracted and making assumptions that had no base.

Overall impressions:

The cover page has a quote review from the Daily Mail: “Will keep you awake until the last page has been turned”. I agree. Grafton does that with this novel. I haven’t noticed the time fly by as I read it. It is an engrossing read. Her language is simple, her attention to detail profound. Every little facet of Kinsey’s life is brought out from a brilliant first person narration, right down from her fears, to her pet peeves, to her character and her choices of life. Just when you begin to think Kinsey is emotionless on the job, Grafton brings love, a heart aching for a man’s company into the picture. When you feel she’s going out of the case, losing focus…. Bam! Grafton brings back that attention… and all this in first person narration which makes the read even more excellent. If the rating below isn’t enough to say I loved it, I’m pretty sure my next purchase of a book will be beginning “B is for…”

Rating: 5 / 5

Book Details:

Title: A is for Alibi

Author: Sue Grafton

Genre: Crime Fiction / Mystery

ISBN: 978-1-4472-1221-8

Publishers: Pan McMillan

Price: INR 350

Reviewed by: Leo

Also for the First Reads Challenge at b00k r3vi3ews blog.

The Premier Murder League by Geeta Sundar

Impressions off the back:

A humorous murder mystery perhaps (I know that’s a little oxymoron, but can’t help it) with lots of twists and turns, investigation and two detectives who are police officers. With politics involved, that can lead to trouble too for the duo. It promises to be an interesting tale that combines two of my favorite things to watch on television, cricket and crime shows.

My thoughts on the book:

It was quite accidentally that I landed up on the home page of Penguin Metro Reads. I wasn’t exactly looking for this book but when I saw the title and the quite simple cover design staring back at me, I got interested. It was like the book was calling out for me to buy it. Needless to say, I did. I think this is the first time I’ve seen the sides of a book colored red, and though that would go well with the murder mystery theme, I felt it was an overkill that needn’t have been done.

The story begins with the vivid detailing of the death of Mr. SN Rao, who is the minister for sports and a cricket board member. It is a richly described prologue in my opinion, with the mental suffocation of the victim being brought across exceptionally well. The interest of the commissioner to make sure the high profile death isn’t having any foul play associated with it lands the case in the lap of the deputy commissioner Ravi and the assistant commissioner Rahul. In true investigative style, and with a will to complete investigations completely and quickly, the duo gets to work with chasing the trail, finding clues and hints given by the victim and unearthed with the steps they take. The duo appears to be on the same wavelength which aids the investigation. They also take the load off each other when three more cases surface during the case, and they have to find out if it is related to theirs.

It is a page-turner, not very pacy but not deadpan slow either. The narration is good, keeps you engrossed but I could find a couple of typos. However, it was nothing so serious that it affected the read. Rahul is as adept at finding clues and links as his senior Ravi is, and Geeta Sundar puts this to Ravi’s credit and mentorship. It bodes well for a fan of crime fiction. I liked it.

Overall impressions:

Though many secondary characters surface as is expected in a mystery, I find it wonderful that she keeps the detectives as the cynosure throughout the book. To me, three specific parts are there to a mystery novel.

1. The victim: Her fondness for cricket brings about this victim, a power figure and hence a must cause for a more in-depth investigation. So it makes sense. The other victims, as they surface, do not make immediate sense, but they are all connected in the end.
2. The detectives: The DCP-ACP duo was well chosen. They play their strategy and thoughts on the case off each other, and work together very cohesively. Simple character sketching, but it works well.
3. The motive: I can’t say what it was, it’ll give it away, but it works. I felt so, and it made sense too.

Anyone who follows T20 cricket will relate to this book, which I feel is a catch for both crime fiction lovers and cricket lovers. If anything I felt detracts, it was the overemphasis on the cohesion of the detectives, with the same being mentioned expressively in two or three places in the narration. When the reader can visualize that well enough, I find it unnecessary to point it out specifically. Oh yes, and the red colored sides as well.

My Rating: 4.25 / 5

Book Details:
Title: The Premier Murder League
Author: Geeta Sundar
ISBN: 9780143067825
Genre: Crime Fiction / Mystery
Publisher: Penguin Metro Reads
Price: INR 150

Reviewed by: Leo
Linked with: First Reads Challenge at b00k r3vi3ws blog.

The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore by Joan Lowery Nixon

The book won the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery.

From the book cover : She spots the masked man in the dark, lonely parking lot--but too late. Grabbed and drugged, Christina is kidnapped and held for ransom. When her family pays, she thinks her ordeal is over. But then she realizes that her family thinks she planned the kidnapping! How will Christina prove her innocence?

Nimue Says : First , I was surprised to find that the book was originally written about 30 years back. And thank god for that. After realizing i picked a YA , i was so afraid of all the hot kisses and all the hormonal action that usually takes place in most books. This one was clean , to the point and quite charming in many ways.

Christina is the kind of girl you can immediately NOT notice. She is a silent creature and though not much is told of her school life , you can imagine her to be studious and bright kind, but still not really social. 

The book starts with her at her favorite place one Friday evening , waiting for her best and only friend , where the owner and his wife suddenly try to strike a conversation with her. Move on to her grandmother and later introduced to her family and people associated with them. One can easily identify why and when Christina went into her own shell over the years.

Same night , she is kidnapped and kept in a basement , though the kidnappers are too nice to her otherwise. The time she spends at that place , her thoughts and her attempts to escape or know more about her kidnappers is worth admiration. but then , is it not expected from her.

The real twist comes when the kidnappers are caught and they manage to prove that the plan was made by Christina herself to get money from her grandmother. since the police can not prove either this story or Christina;s true tale , the charges are dropped somehow and she returns home amidst all rumors and arguments between the family members. 

Here you see Christina change as a person while she struggles to prove her innocence on her own. She is helped by a stranger Kelly.

The simple plot keeps you hooked enough to finish this book in 2-3 sittings. The end is not really a great show but still it answers everything in your mind. It might get a little predictable if you pay good attention but I admit I was quite taken by surprise for one twist.

Give it a read to appreciate that even 30 years back YA novels had great heroines who learned to defend themselves and grow as an inspiring characters.

Rating : 3.5/5

The Hound of the Baskervilles- A Sherlock Holmes Graphic Novel

AUTHOR: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; adapted by J. R. Parks, illustrated by Vinod Kumar

CAMPFIRE is a new generation of talented writers and artists who, inspired by the enduring relationship between a campfire and the stories it evokes, began publishing under the Campfire imprint in 2008, with the vision of creating graphic novels of the finest quality to entertain and educate their readers.

Their graphic novels are presently being published in four exciting categories- classics, originals, mythology and biography. For further information, please visit their website:

www.campfire.co.in

GENRE: Mystery Novel

1ST PUBLISHED: 2009

ISBN: 978-81-907326-6-6

NUMBER OF PAGES: 68

SYNOPSIS:

When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the moors, a heart attack seems to be the likely cause. However, a certain Dr. Mortimer thinks there is more to it than that. Although it seems impossible, he believes that a supernatural hound is haunting the area. His theory suggests that this beast has been on the rampage for years, killing generations of male Baskervilles.

With the heir of the Baskerville estate returning home from Canada, and the mystery still unsolved, Dr. Mortimer turns to Sherlock Holmes for help. He is worried that the deaths will continue until all the Baskerville men are wiped out- or someone discovers the truth.

The unparalleled detective, Sherlock Holmes; his sidekick, Dr Watson, and an intriguing and mysterious plot make Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles a compelling read.

EXCERPT:

"This manor was once held by a man called Hugo Baskerville. He was a wild, profane and godless man...He sought the love of the daughter of a yeoman, who held lands near the Baskerville estate... Hugo's jealousy led him to kidnap her. He locked her away in his bedroom, keeping her for himself. One night, the girl fled into the moor...A terrible rage consumed him. He released his hounds and made a deal with the devil to catch the girl...But... as Hugo was about to act upon his rage, the hellhound of the Baskervilles, summoned from the fiery depths, came to claim its prize... His throat was torn apart by a foul thing- a great, black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound ever seen.

ARPITA SPEAKS:

It had been a long time since I'd read a graphic novel; and although I honestly feel that one cannot quite capture the charm of a novel while adapting it into a comic, this one made a delightful read.

I took my time reading this so as not to finish it off too soon. The plot is, of course, really interesting- the suspense keeps you hooked, even if some things are obviously predictable; like the fact that the charming Holmes could not possibly have remained absent during the climax. (Poor Watson thought he'd solve this mystery on his own.)



There are moments when you'd feel like they've caught someone red handed, and then would come an unexpected twist that would leave you confused. The culprit has the obvious motive, but it's hard to guess who it really is. The pictures and illustrations are brilliant; the font is just the right size, and the cover was so attractive that I was drawn to it immediately in the huge collection of comics that was put up. More than anything else, it was quite nice to read a comic for change. If you're in the mood to read one of late, go for this.

RATING: 4/5

PRICE: Rs.160/- (Purchased at the National Comic Conference at Dilli Haat, when I went there with Nimue and had a blast; we were surrounded by books all around and thought we'd died and gone to heaven! :D

The House of Silk - Anthony Horowitz

THE HOUSE OF SILK

A Sherlock Holmes novel

ISBN - 978-1-4091-3383-4

FIRST PRINTED - 2011

PAGES - 294

BINDING - Paperback

GENRE - Detective/Mystery

AUTHOR - ANTHONY HOROWITZ

Anthony Horowitz is the famous TV screenwriter who created the legendary 'Midsomer Murders' and 'Poirot'

SYNOPSIS - It is November 1890 and London is gripped by a merciless winter. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are enjoying tea by the fire when an agitated gentleman arrives unannounced at 221B Baker Street. He begs Holmes for help, telling the unnerving story of a scar-faced man with piercing eyes who has stalked him in recent weeks.

Intrigued by the man's tale, Holmes and Watson find themselves swiftly drawn into a series of puzzling and sinister events, stretching from the gas-lit streets of London to the teeming criminal underworld of Boston. As the pair delve deeper into the case, they stumble across a whispered phrase 'the House of Silk': a mysterious entity and foe more deadly than any Holmes has encountered, and a conspiracy that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of society itself...

EXCERPT - 'Influenza is unpleasant,' Sherlock Holmes remarked, 'but you are right in thinking that, with your wife's help, the child will recover soon.'

'I very much hope so,' I replied, then stopped and gazed at him in wide-eyed astonishment. My tea had been halfway to my lips but I returned it to the table with such force that the cup and the saucer almost parted company. 'But for Heaven's sake, Holmes!' I exclaimed. 'You have taken the very thoughts from my mind. I swear I have not uttered a a word about the child nor his illness. You know that my wife is away - that much you might have deduced from my presence here. But i have not yet mentioned to you the reason for her absence and I am certain that there has been nothing in my behavior that could have given you any clue.'

FL SPEAKS - Sherlock Holmes is back....

Anthony Horowitz, known for his tv show Poirot, has brought the legendary Sherlock Holmes back...atleast for one last time.

It begins with an introduction by Dr. Watson, Holmes compatriot while solving crimes. Watson mentions that this is one of the two crimes that he didn't publish because of the implications Britain would have faced.

The House of Silk may be one of the most toughest challenges Sherlock ever faced. The narrative is stunning and even though I tried to find a flaw in the author's work, I was surprised to see that it felt like reading Conan Doyle all over again. The details is fascinating and as in the case of Sherlock Holmes, it is always in the details.

A man arrives at 221B, Baker Street asking for Holmes' help to stop a stalker. A case of business transaction and theft gone wrong leads to a vicious murder of a young orphan and introduces us to the elite, powerful group called 'The House of Silk'. What begins as a normal investigation is blown to bits when Sherlock Holmes is arrested for killing a young girl under the influence of heroin.

As Watson races to clear his friend's record and stay ahead of 'The House of Silk', the first case of the stalker comes back to the fore and soon they realize that both cases might be connected in a bizzare way. And to make things worse, Holmes escapes from prison the authorities are after them.

Stunning, stunning tale of brilliance. The ending is mind blowing. Even though Moriarty was his greatest nemesis, 'The House of Silk' may well have been one of the deadliest foes Sherlock has met. The revelation is gruesome and in 1890, you would have actually balked at the possibility of such a thing.

The greatest surpise of the entire plot is the introduction of James Moriarty for the first time. I will not reveal more of this. If you love Sherlock Holmes, you'd want to read this yourself. If you haven't read any of Holmes cases till now, I have no words for you.

Anthony Horowitz, I thank you for bringing a legend back to life.

P.S| Do watch the new show 'Sherlock'. Its simply phenomenal. Season 2 is currently airing.

My Rating - 5 stars

PRICE - INR 600/-

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Name of the Author: Mark Haddon

ISBN: 0-09-945025-9

1st Published: 2003

Genre: Mystery Novel/Literary Fiction

Synopsis:

Christopher Boone suffers from a form of autism. He knows a lot about math, but little about emotions. And he’s never been beyond the end of the road on his own. When a neighbor’s dog is killed, he sets out to solve the mystery, and stumbles across a secret that turns his world upside-down.


Excerpt:


I find people confusing. This is for two main reasons. The first main reason is that people do a lot of talking without using any words. Siobhan says that if you close your mouth and breathe out loudly through your nose it can mean that you are relaxed, or that you are bored, or that you are angry, and it all depends on how much air comes out of your nose and how fast and what shape your mouth is when you do it and how you are sitting and what you said just before and hundreds of other things which are too complicated to work out in a few seconds.

The second main reason is that people often talk in metaphors. These are examples of metaphors:

I laughed my socks off.

He was the apple of her eye.

They had a skeleton in their cupboard.

We had a real pig of a day.

The dog was stone dead.

I think it should be called a lie [and not a metaphor] because a pig is not like a day and people do not have skeletons in their cupboards. And when I try to make a picture of the phrase in my head it just confuses me because imagining an apple in someone’s eye doesn’t have anything to do with liking someone a lot and it makes you forget what the person was talking about.


Arpita Speaks:


Never thought I would see EYE TO EYE with someone who loves math so much; which shows that sometimes we really do have to EAT OUR WORDS. Here’s a book that will make you smile at the way people complicate their lives unnecessarily; that will bring to your notice the things which we take for granted or get used to, but which really do seem silly when you think of them the way our protagonist does. He is someone exceptional, someone the likes of whom you might never meet in real life- which makes this book all the more special.

Adorable and intriguing, Christopher Boone will not fail to win your admiration. This prize winning best seller is a simple story of a teenager suffering from autism who gets down to solving a “murder mystery” like his hero, Sherlock Holmes. And in the simplicity of this story lies the sheer brilliance of the author.

What makes it remarkable is the author’s decision not to glorify the relationships between the characters in the novel; which are portrayed through the eyes of a boy who can only judge people on the basis of their actions, and not their intentions- a boy who does not realize that there can also be grey shades to the people he encounters. One grows to scrutinize the characters on the basis of one’s own discretion- with no preconceived notions whatsoever.

As Christopher goes ahead with his innocent attempt to ‘investigate’ the killing of a dog named Wellington, he discovers a secret which changes, for ever, his life and his perception of the world around him. Through the course of the novel, as one reads between the lines, the value of trust and faith comes to light-as does the fact that forgiveness really is difficult to earn.

The most beautiful aspect of the tale is, perhaps, the relationship between father and son. You may tend to like or dislike other characters; you might ponder over their complex relationships with each other- but you will truly marvel at the bond between Ed and Christopher. Want to know what true love is? They will show you.

It’s amazing…how Christopher, without realizing it, shows us that in some cases one does not need elaborate words or even a loving touch to prove one’s love for another. While this boy will cease to be just some character in a novel, this story will move you in more ways than one- despite being nothing more than a chronicle of events recorded by a boy who thinks with his head, and not with his heart.

Rating: 4 on 5

Price: Rs.269/- (Flipkart)