Googled by God - Book Review

Title: Googled by God 

Author: Pulkit Ahuja

Publisher: Srishti Publishers & Distributors

ISBN: 978-93-82665-44-1

Number of Pages: 164

Price: 195 [INR]

Genre: Fiction

The Blurb:

In 1986

Everyone has their secrets… But what if one common student’s secret has the potential of bringing down an entire nation’s financial markets. What would it take for him to reveal this secret?

In 2014

One of Nation’s leading investment bank is in danger of losing its fifty million dollar investment just four weeks after funding a start-up at a valuation of one thousand crore rupees.

In 2015

A man is faced with a most peculiar choice – to avenge his brother’s murder or take revenge for his father’s betrayal?
Googled by God is a fast moving financial thriller that takes the reader on a journey to the dark realms of entrepreneurship and technology. Revolving around the ever changing worlds of stock markets, investments and money, the reader soon finds himself in the middle of a dangerous game of emotions and karma.

My Review:

       Money is the ultimate goal for many people. What crossroads can one take to earn more? How much greed can a person have and to what extent will this be satisfied?

       Vijay and Paul, back in their college days, invented a machine which they called God or Noek. It had the capability of earning huge profit for them at the cost of jeopardizing the whole nation's financial market. But what happens when Paul kicks out Vijay out of his own machine?

       Akram, JASON's head is facing some fluctuations in their trade and he has no idea what or who it is responsible for the loss he is suffering from. Rahul, the young to-be entrepreneur is found dead as soon as he signed his contract with JASON.

       When Sahil connects the dot and finds a link with all these incidents, will he be able to take his revenge? Could he bring justice or will he fall prey to his own trap?

Things I Liked:

• The chapters are short and precise.
• The author has narrated the story in a no-nonsense manner.
• The language was simple and the narration quite engaging.
• The whole idea of Noek and MemoryWall was fascinating to read. 
• Sahil's plan and the way he executed it was something I liked.

Things I Disliked:

• The pace was too quick. The dots were getting connected sooner that I would have liked. It gives the reader little time to get into the mystery cracking mode but the story ends very soon.

Verdict:

       A fast paced book in which the dots get connected soon and the game is over even before you have realized it. It will leave you asking for more.

My Rating:

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Starry Eyed Reader :)

An Invitation to Death - Book Review

Title: An Invitation to Death 

Author: Anil Thakraney

Publisher: Srishti Publishers & Distributors

ISBN: 978-93-82665-43-4

Number of Pages: 159

Price: 195 [INR]

Genre: Thriller

The Blurb:

An Invitation to Death is the gripping story of a serial killer set in contemporary India. Darius Irani, a hyper-intelligent young man, goes on a murderous spree, targeting young, beautiful, urban women, who fall prey to his easy charm, sense of humour and innate madness. 

Strangely, he does not rape his victims, but the brutalisation is savage-like, indicating a deep hatred for women. The killer manages to evade the cops every single time. As the inevitable cat and mouse game plays out – with a great deal of blood spilling along the way, and climaxing in a devastating reality – the journey reveals the depravity of the human mind, and the way politicians, police and media deal with hard crime in this country.

My Review:

Characters:

       Darius is a handsome stranger that women fall for from the first sight. Quite a charmer, he is also the most wanted serial killer of the nation who has left everyone aghast with his brutal killings. An intelligent man but with a twisted past - that is Darius Irani for you.

       Meet Azeem Khan, a retired crime branch officer, who had caught one of the most wanted criminals in his days of service. Now pulled out of his retirement due to the threat that has left the nation aghast and the crime branch in shame, Khan has only one mission. Catch Darius before he strikes again. Old school, Out of the box thinking and an instinctive person are the words that I would use to describe Khan.

Plot:

       With a high IQ that puts scholars to shame, Darius could have done wonders but things change when he start using his brilliance to cause havoc. Killing random women in a brutal way and at random places, no one knows what Darius is after or who will be his next victim. The media doesn't fail to make the killings a huge news and the minister puts pressure on the crime branch as he is targeted by the ministers of other nations and public alike. It is under these circumstances that khan is pulled out of his retirement to catch Darius. Thus begins the chase.

      The story continues depicting the plotting Khan does to catch Darius and Darius's excitement as he sees himself getting famous. He isn't afraid to strike again and he isn't a fool either to leave behind any traces. Khan is determined to find him but will he be able to do that before Darius strikes again? Or will Khan be too late? Does his lateral thinking help him this time too or will he end up failing everyone?

Things I Liked:

• The plot - The author has done a great job in sketching the plot carefully enough to keep the readers glued to the novel. While Darius's brilliance and Khan's sharp wit keep the readers enticed, Singh and Kamble's plotting and spice to the story. 
• The story is divided into bits and the scene keeps changing almost in every page. Though it was difficult to keep up with in the beginning, this very fact adds up as an advantage as the story progresses.
• The pace is fast and the story is written in an absolutely no-nonsense manner.
• And the best and my most favorite part of the novel was the ending. Just when I thought everything has settled down and all is well, there goes a B-A-N-G that had my jaw dropped, wondering how did that happen!

Things I Disliked:

• It was a little confusing in the beginning to understand what was going on.
• Few Hindi dialogues are included in between which add to the flow of the story but might be difficult for those who aren't well aware of the language.

Verdict:

     A gripping tale that is worth every penny paid! Highly recommended for those who love to read thrillers.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars!

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)

All Yours Stranger - Book Review

Title: All Yours Stranger 

Author: Novoneel Chakraborty

Publisher: Ebury Press

ISBN: 978-8184006858

Number of pages: 264

Price: 175 [INR]

The Blurb:

For those of you who don't know me yet, I'm Rivanah Bannerjee, a Kolkatan trying to find her footing in Mumbai. Even though I’m currently in a relationship with a great guy, I can’t help but miss my ex-boyfriend despite knowing that he cheated on me. But that’s the least of my worries. The stranger has gone missing since the police tried to nab him unsuccessfully. Where is he? What does he want from me? Why did he come into my life in the first place? Will he ever contact me again? These and many more questions continue to torment me every day. I’m desperate for the stranger to come back to me knowing full well that he may destroy me forever. But then that’s the sexiest thing I have ever known about someone.

With every revelation, it seems the truth is far more twisted than Rivanah can imagine. Wickedly plotted, All Yours, Stranger—Novoneel Chakraborty’s gripping follow-up to his hugely popular Marry Me, Stranger—will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page. Book two of the Stranger trilogy.

My Review:

This is the 2nd book of the Stranger Trilogy. Read my review of the first book 'Marry me Stranger' here.

Characters:

       Meet Rivanah Bannerjee, aka Mini, our protagonist, who is a bright young girl from Kolkatta. Working in Mumbai, Rivanah lives with her boy friend Danny. Smart, beautiful, daring and impulsive; that is Rivanah Bannerjee for you.

       Meet 'Stranger' the most intriguing character, who keeps you hooked to the book. Stranger is the person who sends Rivanah all sorts of mysterious clues, helps her when in trouble and threatens and punishes her when she doesn't comply. Sometimes a friend and sometimes a foe, that is 'Stranger' for you.

Plot: 

       The story starts with Rivanah trying to figure out the mystery behind Hiya and coming to a dead end. When she returns to Mumbai, Nitya comes into picture and Rivanah acts the jealous girl friend's role. Things get serious and ugly between Rivanah and Danny when Rivanah's insecurities get better out of her. And to complicate things, Ekansh comes into picture too. 

       Rivanah goes to desperate measures to get the stranger back in her life and when he does come back, there are consequences she has to face. She is again made to do things against her wishes and Rivanah is still hiding all this from Danny. And, hold your breath, for the first time we have a suspect for stranger!!!

Things I liked:

       Mystery is the best part of these 'Stranger' books! The mysterious identity of 'stranger' will keep you glued to the book. The suspense, the clues, the hide and seek game will all make sure you won't put the book down till the end and even then, you will be disappointed because you have to wait till the next book is released to find out what will happen after that shocking end!

       I love how the dots are connected and one by one the clues are put together. Through Rivanah, the story of a confused girl is portrayed who has so many ups and downs in life. She is a loner among friends, hiding secrets she can't share with anyone. The stranger's strange ways, the riddle about Hiya and Ekansh's entry - they all make the story more exciting. The flow of the story is good. It is a fast paced novel which is perfect for the plot.

Things I Disliked:

       For once, I don't have anything to say here. I hated Rivanah sometimes but again that is what made story interesting. I just hate the fact that I have to wait for I don't know how long for the next book.

Verdict:

      Racy, thrilling and enticing - that is how the book is. Once you start reading, you have to read till the end; there is no stopping in between. highly recommended thriller readers :)

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars!

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)

The Seventh Cup - Book Review

Name: The Seventh Cup 

Author: Nitesh Jai

Publisher: Cyberwit.net

Type: E-book

ASIN: B00S9WRDIS

Number of Pages: 302

Price: 186 [INR]

Genre: Mystery

The Blurb:

       A man drinks exactly seven cups of coffee everyday in the same restaurant and believes in Mind Transportation. Two newly married Swiss detective agents arrive and begin a shocking tale of love, friendship, betrayal and death. From the colorful coasts of Goa, India to the enchanting backdrop of Zurich,Switzerland, the mystery of Verona Schmidt baffles everyone. With shocking twits and turns in every chapter, The Seventh Cup might just have the addictive flavor to stir the readers mind...may be forever !!!

My Review:

Plot:

       Verona Schmidt, a history student, suddenly disappears from Switzerland without any trace. It has been 8 months since her disappearance but the CIDS has no clue about what happened to her. When detective Susanne and her husband Thomas takes up the case, slowly the mystery begins to unravel as one by one the pieces of the puzzle start falling into place. But watch out! Because the final clue of this mystery will leave you completely shocked!

Things that Worked:

       I liked the set up; the way the story has another story within. Avinash's book, the story set in Goa, the clues that lead the detectives towards the criminal and then the climax which was even more shocking! The author has cooked up a perfect mystery to keep the reader engaged. The language used is simple and easy to read. The pace is normal and the narration enticing.

       I also liked the theory of 'Attraction' and the way it has been explained in this book. It does make a lot of sense. The amount of research that has been done is impressive. 

Things that didn't Work:

       The beginning!! I had to put some effort to keep reading. The story takes a lot of time to build up and there are chances that the reader might not continue with it. The story picks up pace only once it reaches the middle and I felt it was a little late! But once the reader reaches this part, the book becomes unputdownable.

Verdict:

       If you like reading mystery novels, this book might prove as an interesting red. Just have the patience in the beginning and let the story develop and you will enjoy the rest.

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars!

This Tour is Hosted by 

Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Pinterest | Linkedin

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Delirium - Book Review

Title: Delirium 

Author: Sowmya Aji

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India

Type: eBook

ASIN: B00K4QM2KQ

Number of Pages: 224

Price: 169.10 [INR]

Genre: Romance

The Blurb:

I was addicted. 

To him. 

Anjana Narendra just can’t keep her head straight when it comes to the nation’s heartthrob,cricket vice-captain Avinash Katagi.The mere sight of him sets the heart of this thirty-one-year-old television journalist pounding, and fills her stomach with butterflies. He seems smitten too – taking her out for romantic walks in the botanical gardens, appearing by her side when she has a road accident,knocking on her door in the middle of the night. Even as Anjana is swept off her feet into a whirlwind romance,the reporter within her sniffs out the biggest scoop of the season. all too soon, she is neck-deep in trouble with her bosses and the cricket board, struggling to make sense of the sordid world of steroids and celebs. Will anjana give up the delicious young man she is hooked on to? and does she even want to? Sinful and alluring, Delirium is a heady cocktail of intrigue, temptation and betrayal.

My Review:

Characters:

       Meet Anjana Narendra, who works as a journalist with the National TV, Bangalore. In her early thirties, she is intelligent, fun loving and isn't scared of adventures. Married to Naren and in love with the Indian cricket team Vice-captain Avinash.

       Meet Avinash Katagi, Vice captain of the Indian cricket team and the nation's heart throb. In his late twenties, he has achieved a lot of success but is caught in the drug scandal which has the potential to destroy his image. Silent in front of the world, he couldn't stop himself from falling for the National TV's journalist.

Plot:

       Anjana, who is desperately trying to catch some exclusive news for her channel, crosses path with Avinash who takes an instant liking to her. She thinks he was just flirting but when he keeps on appearing in her life again and again, she is not sure about that anymore. And what's more shocking is, Anjana discovers that she has feelings for Avinash too, despite being married to Naren, who is a caring and loving husband!

       Things are bound to go against them when Anjana gets an exclusive interview about the drug scandal from a senior cricketer on the promise of anonymity. What first appears as the scoop of the year, soon turns to be the beginnings of a series of frightening events for both Anjana and National TV. The BCCI is set on proving her news as fake and Anjana's job and reputation is at stake. And to add more to her pile of worries, Avinash's image is jeopardized too! Will Anjana be able to clear the mess her life has become? Will she be able to stop herself from falling more for Avinash? 

Things that Worked:

       I loved Anjana's character. She isn't scared of adventures. When the BCCI threatens her, she doesn't just cower up under their threat but she faces them head on and counter strikes their threat with her witty remarks. I liked the fact that she kept her source's anonymity even when she was at the brink of losing job. I loved Ratan's concern for his friend and the bold step he takes to help them out.

       I loved the pace of the story. It keeps you hooked right from the beginning. There are so many layers to the story and it gets more and more interesting as the story progresses. The cover page is designed beautifully and it goes perfectly with the story line.

Things that didn't Work:

       I didn't like Avinash. Sometimes cold and sometimes sweet, he really wasn't the ideal hero! But again, it is this very behavior of his which takes the story forward. I felt sorry for his fiancee who wasn't given much importance here.

Verdict:

       I usually don't like cricket but for a change, I loved reading this book. It is different and it is engaging. The emotions are handled very well and the book makes a great read. Highly recommended if you are looking for a fast paced novel with romance, suspense and mystery all rolled into one.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

This Tour is Hosted by 

Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Pinterest | Linkedin

Until the next review,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)

The Mystery of the Missing Iguana - Book Review

Title: The Mystery of the Missing Iguana 

Author: Ruchira Khanna

Publisher: Lekha Publishers

ASIN: B00MAU0V48

Number of Pages: 40

Price: 200 [INR]

USP: 2-8 years will love it

Type: eBook

The Blurb:

      Alex and his pet chimpanzee Angelo are the young detectives of their neighborhood. When a friend's pet Iguana goes missing, Alex and Angelo immediately take on the case, and the sneaky reptilian leads them on an exciting chase. How will Alex and Angelo use their sleuthing skills to solve this mystery?

My Review:

       The Mystery of the Missing Iguana is the first in the detective series by Ruchira Khanna. The story is about Alex and his pet Chimp Angelo, who solve the mystery of the missing Iguana. The first thing that caught my attention was the illustrations which are very cute and spot on. As a kid, I used to love such books. Reading one now brought back the sweet memories.

       Ruchira has used a mixture of easy and difficult words. While it is easy for the kids to understand the easy ones, the difficult words will help them learn new words. The story is short which is good because kids don't have patience to sit and listen for lengthy ones. The story is engaging and has many elements like pet, school, friends, playing - the ones kids can identify themselves with and this makes the book even more interesting for them. I am waiting to read this book to my 6 months old niece who is visiting this weekend. I am positive that she is going to love this one.

       Ruchira, I do hope you will write many books in this series. It will definitely be a huge hit.

My Rating: 5/5 Stars!

This Tour is Hosted by 

Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Pinterest | Linkedin

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Breach - Book Review

Title: Breach

Author: Amrita Chowdhury

Publisher: Hachette India

ISBN: 978-93-5009-855-4

Number of Pages: 334

Price: 350 [INR]

Genre: Mystery

The Blurb:

How secure are your secrets in the virtual world?

Weeks before pharma-gaint Acel is ready to file a global patent application for cancer wonder-drug Calore, its offshore data centre in Mumbai is hacked. The charismatic, young leader of its Indian business, Dr Udai Vir Dhingra, finds himself being blamed for negligence and breach of security.

Battling market pressures, media scrutinity, livid American bosses and crumbling relationships, Vir must find the perpetrators, or see his career - and his life - spiral downwards. But the deeper he gets dragged into the shadowy world of masked online identities and muddied digital footprints, the more Vir discovers that nothing is easy or obvious, and everything has a price.

Set across Mumbai, Washington and Guangzhou, Breach is a compelling and edgy cyber thriller that explores the dark and dangerous underbelly of our increasingly virtual existence.

My Review:

Characters: 

       Meet Dr Udai Vir Dhingra, the charismatic young leader of Acel's Indian division, whose mantra for life is 'Multi-millionaire by thirty and retired by forty'. But at thirty three, he finds the goal still unaccomplished, the business he is managing at the brink of destruction, American bosses shouting absurdities at him, a fiancee about whom he is unsure and a ex, who still continues to have the same magnetic effect on him.

       Tracey, Vir's fiancee flies to India to spend time with him. But the more she stays, But the more she stays, the more they find that their relationship is crumbling down.

      Diti, who dumped Vir years back, refusing to maintain a long distance relationship, now finds herself still drawn towards Vir when their paths cross again in Mumbai. But what can she do now that Vir is engaged?

       Ankita - witty and immature, Madhu - target of bullies and national topper, Raghu - with a passion for hacking and Suv - who thinks he is a hacker; four teenage students whose life was revolving around mundane stuffs till they are accused of the data breach of Acel's Mumbai office.

      Andrew Rudd, the Head of Research at Acel Biosciences, Dr Peter Lee, the mastermind behind Colare, Sandman - the mysterious hacker, peevs - one of the programmer of Indian division, Karthik - the best ethical hacker in India and Jake - the head of security at Acel.

Plot:

       There are just few weeks left for the filing of a global patent application for Colare, a cancer wonder drug by Acel when things start going awry. The data seems to have gone wrong from the Indian division. Upon closer inspection, an open port is found in the security system. The hacker is not only accessing data but also modifying it after copying out. Gives more reason for Andy to dislike the Indian centre of Acel, who has opposed creating one from the beginning. But who is doing it?

       The Indian centre is blamed for the breach and Vir finds himself held responsible for everything that is going wrong. His personal life isn't going well either and the crisis at work just adds more to the mess that his life has become! Accusations flow freely and experts are hired in India by the American centre for solving the mystery of hacking.

       Unsuspecting commoners are becoming prey of hackers and blame is placed on four teenagers. Will they be able to convince their innocence? Especially when Raghu is involved in hacking some sites.

       When the investigation starts, there are so many people involved and the mystery just get deeper and deeper. Every turn they take seems like a dead end and every step they take seems to aggravate the American centre. And to add more to the misery, media gets a whiff of the security breach and it is all over the news. In this situation, will the team be able to find the hacker? Can they successfully file the patent application before it is too late?

Things which Worked:

       Story line - A lot of research has been done and it is evident from the story line. By explaining different scenarios to giving slight insights about the characters, which helps you to connect with them, the author has done a splendid job.

       The suspense - With so many dimensions, it was difficult to point out who the culprit actually was. The different layers provided to the plan worked well.

       Pace - The pace wasn't too racy or too slow. It was easy to read without getting bored.

       Language - The language was good and there weren't many typos which made reading easier.

Things that didn't Work:

       The narration - Though the narration was good, there were many biology and technical terms used. While it was necessary for the story line, I guess people who aren't aware of them find themselves clueless at such times and slowdown the pace.

      The start - It takes a little time for you to understand as what is happening actually! The initial few chapters were confusing but once the data breach issue is raised, you will get into the loop.

The Verdict:

       This book is recommended for mystery/thriller novel lovers. But I would advice to pick this book at leisure time because it is definitely not for a quick read. Trust me, you would want to take it slow to enjoy the story.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

This Tour is Hosted by 

Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Pinterest | Linkedin

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)

God Is A Gamer - Book Review

Title: God Is A Gamer
Author: Ravi Subramanian

Publisher: Penguin Books India
ISBN: 9780143421399

Number of Pages: 310
Price: 299 [INR]
Genre: Thriller

Blurb on the Book:

What happens when you cross Gamer, Banker, Politician and Terrorist with virtual money?

From the bestselling author of 'If God was a Banker' comes the first ever bitcoin thriller. God is a Gamer is a world where money means nothing, martyrs are villians, predators are prey, assassination is taught by the ancient Greeks, and nothing is as it seems.

Moving from Washington's Congress to Delhi's finance ministry, the beaches of Goa to the corporate boardrooms of Mumbai, this is Ravi Subramanian's most gripping novel yet.

My Review:

The story starts with the cold blooded assassination of US senator Gillian Tan in Washington. Agent Adrian Scott of FBI is assigned this case and everyone including him clueless as to how the bulletproof car was blown up. Seemingly unrelated events start happening in different parts of the world. Virtual money called bitcoins are used for online transactions. An online company dealing with drugs and illegal activities is extensively using bitcoins to handle their business. FBI is clueless as to who are the owners of this company. A phishing scam in Mumbai leads to loss of crores of rupees to NYIB, the suicide of Malavika, the ex- CEO of NYIB all which seem unrelated in the beginning will start coinciding as the story progresses. 

Initially, it was a little hard for me to keep up with the proceedings. The story is slow paced but one has to understand the workings of financial organization to get a hang of what is going on. The author has provided the readers with enough details whenever necessary, so as to keep the readers engaged without letting them lose interest. Once the story reaches the second half, that is when it becomes even more thrilling. As the different events get connected and the FBI and CBI start connecting the dots, you just cannot put the book down.

When the culprit is announced by the agents in the end, it will leave you shocked because it is exactly what you wouldn't have expected. But even more shocking is the twist in the end; yes, there is one more twist in the end! Well, I can't say much without spoiling the suspense. All I can say is, go pick up the book and find out yourself! You will enjoy reading it.

Some of the lines from the book that I liked:

• Success is not always measured in terms of dollars earned or turnover. It is measured in terms of the difference you have made to the people around you.
• Even if you have to quit, it's important to quit on a high. That's when the world will respect you.
• If you live, you get to fight your battle another day.
• When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance.
• Reputation has no insurance.
• The problem with theorizing on the basis of incomplete facts is that we end up twisting the facts to suit the theory. We should be doing it the other way around.

All in all, the book is a great read. The narration and language are perfect. It will keep readers engaged till the end. I will recommend it for all mystery lovers.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Private India - Book Review

Title: Private India 

Authors: Ashwin Sanghi and 

               James Patterson

Publisher: Arrow Books

ISBN: 978-0-099-58639-5

Number of pages: 448

Price: 350 [INR]

Genre: Thriller

Blurb on the Book:

In Mumbai, seemingly unconnected people are dying, strangled in a chilling ritual and with strange objects carefully arranged with corpses.

For Santosh Wagh, head of Private India, the Mumbai branch of the world's finest investigation agency, it's a race against time to stop the killer striking again.

In a city of over thirteen million, he'd have his work cut out at the best of times, but this case has him battling Mumbai's biggest gang lord and a godman who isn't all he seems.

And then he discovers there may be an even greater danger facing Private India. Hidden in the shadows is someone who could destroy the whole organization - along with thousands of innocent Mumbai citizens...

My Review:

When I received this book, I was shocked to see the number of pages! Though I don't mind reading lengthy novels, I had my doubts whether I will be able to finish it off in seven days, owing to my busy schedule. But all I had to do was start reading! And as the line on the cover page says, 'The pages turn themselves' and within three days, I was done reading!

Private India is the Indian branch of the worldwide detective agency Private headed by Jack Morgan. Santosh Wagh is the chief of the Indian branch of Private, who is in a constant battle with his alcohol addiction and wanting to perform his duty well. The book starts with the murder of Dr. Kanya Jaiyen and right from here, the story picks up pace. The story is about a serial killer who is on a killing spree, murdering people, women in particular, who seemingly have nothing in common. The murders happen at such a fast rate, almost two per day, that it leaves the Santosh Wagh and his team bewildered. The only thing in common is all these women are strangled with a yellow scarf. The clues left by the murderer are weird stuffs like dolls, drums, egg shells which seem no where connected! And to add more spice (or horror) to the story, there is also a terrorist group which plans on planting bomb in Mumbai, the city where the entire story is based.

The plot is very good and it leaves you guessing who could be the culprit. And to be honest, I couldn't guess it. Of the two suspense, I could only guess one. The book has everything that you encounter in real life - media which is hungry for news, local gangster who rules the entire city, corrupt officers and people who back stab. Like most thriller novels, the story doesn't revolve just around the main character, which is good. It keeps you engaged right from the beginning till the end. You cannot simply just stop reading! Such is the story line.

But the ending disappointed me a lot! A story which started well, ended with too much drama! It was like a movie scene; things that cannot and do not happen in real life are depicted at the climax! I cannot say much without revealing the mystery. So I will just stop at saying that for a book so well written, the ending could have been better! Also there are few unnecessary explanations and flashbacks given, which could have been omitted to optimize the story.

Few of my favorite lines from the book:

• Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
• A smile is a curve that sets everything right.
• There are always second chances - both in metal and men.

So what is the verdict you would ask. Well though the ending could have been better, the rest of the plot is brilliant. The book definitely makes  a good one-time read! I would suggest it to mystery, crime and thriller fans!

My Rating: 3.5 stars!

Until the next review ,
Keep Reading :)

Love,
Swathi :)