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The Tubewell House: A Quaint Village, Grim Secrets, and a Turbulent Mind | A Gripping Psychological Thriller by Abhishek Chaudhary

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Ashank Sinha, once a high-flying forex trader navigating Mumbai’s financial maze, now finds himself in Lawrenceganj, a quaint village far removed from the world he once ruled. But why has he come here? What links him to Dr Saanvi Sharma at the village health centre? And who is the mysterious girl at the Tubewell House?
As long-buried secrets claw their way back to the surface, Ashank is forced to confront the ghosts of the past that refuse to stay buried.

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Souvik Paul.
227 reviews4 followers
October 23, 2025
The Tubewell House: A Quaint Village, Grim Secrets, and a Turbulent Mind A Gripping Psychological Thriller by Abhishek Chaudhary
I picked up The Tubewell House wanting a tight psychological thriller and what I found was a slow-burning, mood-heavy novel that kept nudging my curiosity until it pulled me in completely. The book teases a contrast between the comfortable routine of village life and the disturbing impulses that haunt its central character — and for the most part, that tug-of-war is where the novel lives and breathes.

Plot & setting (no spoilers)
At the centre is Ashank Sinha, a former forex trader from Mumbai who removes himself from the city and lands in the small village of Lawrenceganj. The village — and specifically the Tubewell House with its mysterious girl — functions almost like another character, an ordinary place that seems to hold very unordinary secrets. The official overview makes clear that Ashank’s arrival, his connection with Dr. Saanvi Sharma, and the resurfacing of buried pasts set the engines of the story in motion, and that’s exactly the engine that drives the book forward.

Characters — who stays with you
Ashank is the obvious focus: we see the world through his uneven, sometimes unreliable perception. That interiority is the book’s strength — it’s not an action-packed hero’s-journey so much as an inward spiral punctuated by moments of external menace. Secondary characters (notably Dr. Saanvi and the figures tied to the Tubewell House) are sketched economically but memorably; they serve as mirrors, triggers or anchors for Ashank rather than fully independent arcs, which keeps the narrative tightly centred on his psychological weather.

Atmosphere, tension & pacing
The atmosphere is the novel’s best card. The writing leans into quiet, everyday detail — the village routines, the heat, the small local rituals — and then quietly lets something feel wrong beneath those routines. Pacing is deliberate: the book builds unease layer by layer rather than relying on jolting shocks. If you prefer breakneck thrillers, this will feel slower; if you enjoy slow-burn psychological tension that accumulates, this will reward you.

Themes & psychological depth
The novel repeatedly asks what happens when instincts start to battle intellect, and how past trauma or buried choices can rematerialize and distort the present. Identity, guilt and the unreliability of memory thread through the pages. I appreciated that the book doesn’t hand me neat philosophical answers; instead it creates a mood in which those questions feel urgent and personal. That thematic restraint — posing uncomfortable questions and letting the reader sit with them — is, for me, a sign of mature psychological storytelling.

Writing style & language
The prose is plain but atmospheric. The author favours concreteness — a smell, a gesture, a small domestic routine — over grand metaphors, which suits the novel’s rural setting and the claustrophobic quality of Ashank’s mind. There are moments of real clarity and images that linger. At times I wanted slightly more interior variety or sharper secondary arcs, but the focused approach also helps the book maintain a steady psychological pressure.

What I liked / What I didn’t
What I liked: the constant, low-level unease; the way the setting becomes an almost sentient presence; and the portrayal of a man whose own mind is as uncertain as the mysteries he’s trying to unravel. What I didn’t: a few secondary characters could be deeper, and readers expecting nonstop plot twists might find the tempo measured rather than breathless. Overall, the balance tilts toward the book’s strengths — atmosphere and psychological detail — and it mostly avoids thriller clichés.

Final verdict
If you enjoy psychological novels that favour slow-burn tension and interior drama over high-octane chase scenes, The Tubewell House will likely satisfy you. It’s thoughtful more than sensational, unsettling more than gory, and it leaves you thinking about the characters and the village long after you close the book. I’d recommend it to readers who like character-driven thrillers with a strong sense of place.
Profile Image for Kitabi Keeda.
630 reviews71 followers
December 19, 2025


When reality fractures, trust no one—not even yourself!

🏚INSIGHT: Set in the fictional village of Lawrenceganj, the book revolves around Ashank, once a successful forex trader living in Mumbai, who has since relocated, & Saanvi, a young doctor at the local health centre. When the two cross paths, something different blooms, but the secrets one of them hides could alter everything, forever.

🏚REVIEW: Standing out in a crowd, the novel revels in its quiet, unhurried pace, much like the routine humdrum of the village it is set in. From the outset, it zooms in on the ordinary realities of rural life & the everyday lives of its protagonists, rather than serve the reader with a scandalous whodunnit premise, yet, managing to create a narrative that is thoroughly engaging. The setting itself, through the author's skills, pulses its breath in anticipation as the book progresses. The story addresses social issues, but instead of doling out a quick fix or idealistic notions, it sheds light on the status quo. When the plot twist hits, you'll be shocked, but again, not actually, because something insidious was building, & you knew it; you just couldn't pinpoint. Therein lies the triumph of the author — the atmosphere he has remarkably created will swallow you whole. Although there were instances when I found sentence structures to be unnecessarily convoluted, & had trouble connecting to the characters' voices, it is definitely a book I can see myself re-reading.

🏚STRENGTH: 1. Different from your usual thriller.
2. Pacing was in tune with the author's style.
3. The setting itself becomes a character in this novel, transporting the reader completely to its world.
4. The nuanced exploration of social issues like caste-based discrimination, domestic violence, & mental health.
5. 'That' plot twist.

🏚WEAKNESS: 1. Writing style was good, but at times, seemed to be trying too hard to sound abstract.
2. Personally, I found a disconnect to the characters at times, but maybe, that too was the author's intention.

🏚TARGET READERS : Ages 18+

🏚GENRE: Psychological Suspense

🏚RATING: 4.4/5
36 reviews1 follower
October 10, 2025
The Tubewell House creeps up on you. Starting with Ashank Sinha, a former forex trader who leaves the high-stakes chaos of Mumbai for the quiet mystery of Lawrenceganj, the novel steadily builds an atmosphere of secrets, dread, and illusion. The house in its name isn’t just a setting that it’s almost a character, with its shadows, its silences, and its ghosts.

What struck me was how deeply the human element is woven into the thriller. Ashank’s return to the village, his connections with Dr. Saanvi Sharma, and his curiosity about the mysterious girl at the Tubewell House are not just plot devices that they are the heart of the story. They carry guilt, regret, longing. You feel the weight of his past pulling to the surface as much as the eerie pull of whatever mystery is tied to that house.

The setting of Lawrenceganj is vivid and rural, intimate, sometimes oppressive. Chaudhary doesn’t shy away from tension that arises not just from the supernatural or psychological, but from people: their beliefs, their politics, their small cruelties, and silences. There’s a careful layering of what’s seen and what’s hidden and each layer peels back in unexpected ways.

I appreciated the pacing: the story never drags, even when the dread grows heavy. Just when you feel you have pieced things together, the plot turns, shifting your understanding of what’s “real.” Those moments made me pause, think about how little we know about people and places, and how the past never truly disappears.

By the end, The Tubewell House left me unsettled — in a good way. Not because it shocks you with gore or obvious scares, but because it raises questions about memory, identity, the things we hide from ourselves, and whether some places or people and ever let you go fully.
Profile Image for Prerna  Shambhavee .
759 reviews7 followers
January 23, 2026
What if the quietest places hold the loudest ghosts? "The Tubewell House" pulls you into a village that feels peaceful on the surface but hums with secrets just beneath. It follows Ashank, a former hotshot trader from Mumbai, who arrives in the remote village of Lawrenceganj a man running not toward something, but away from everything.

Ashank’s story is slowly unraveling. Haunted by his past and drawn into the lives of the village especially Dr. Saanvi and a mysterious girl connected to the Tubewell House—he finds that in Lawrenceganj, silence speaks louder than words. This isn’t a fast-paced thriller; it’s a deep, thoughtful crawl into a mind under pressure, where memories feel as real as the present and reality begins to bend.

What makes this book so gripping is how honestly it deals with mental struggle. Ashank’s pain isn't dramatized; it’s shown with quiet empathy, making his journey painfully relatable. Woven into his story are layers of social truth touching on caste, family pressures, and rural lifewithout ever feeling forced or preachy.

The writing is clean and vivid, painting the village so clearly you can almost feel its stillness. And just when you think you understand where the story is headed, a twist arrives—not with a shout, but with a chill that stays with you.

"The Tubewell House" is more than a psychological tale it’s a haunting, human portrait of guilt, healing, and the ghosts we carry. If you enjoy stories that settle in your mind long after you finish, this one is a quiet, powerful journey worth taking.
95 reviews7 followers
October 28, 2025
If you hear random screaming, it’s just me losing my mind over how perfect this book is! The Tubewell House is one of the psychological thrillers that will literally leave you craving for more. The protagonist named Ashank Sinha, who leaves the fast-paced chaos of Mumbai for a quiet village, Lawrenceganj, finds himself entagled in a web of hidden truths and tension. The author introduces us to Saanvi Sharma, a local doctor, and a strange girl living at the Tubewell House, typically making the book more interesting to read.. The characters are well crafted, their emotions felt so real. This book’s pacing is excellent. The usage of rich yet simple language makes it easy for the readers and even beginners to understand and connect. The author did a great job of bringing emotions to life. 

Just when you think you’ve finally pieced together the fragments of the mystery, the plot takes a sharp, surprising turn that forces you to rethink everything you thought you knew. The simple writing style, fast-paced narration, attractive book cover and gripping storytelling creates an amazing reading experience. I loved how skillfully the author has discussed about all the details in brief without making the book extra lengthy. " The Tubewell House" is available on Amazon, do grab your copies now and find out what happens next. This is a deeply engaging, haunting, and thought-provoking read that I couldn't put down, especially for anyone who enjoys thriller. Highly Recommended.
Profile Image for Moni Singla.
58 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2026
The Tubewell House is a slow-burn psychological thriller that quietly pulls you into its unsettling world. Set in a seemingly peaceful Indian village, the story proves that silence can often hide the loudest secrets.

The novel follows Ashank Sinha, a former forex trader who leaves behind his fast-paced city life and relocates to a rural setting. What begins as an attempt at escape soon turns into a psychological maze when he encounters the mysterious Tubewell House and the people connected to it. The atmosphere is tense, eerie, and deeply introspective, keeping the reader alert even in moments of calm.

Abhishek Chaudhary’s writing shines in its ability to build mood rather than rely on constant twists. The village feels alive, almost watchful, and the psychological depth of the characters adds layers to the narrative. Themes of guilt, memory, identity, and buried trauma are explored with subtlety, making the story more thought-provoking than flashy.

This is not a fast-paced thriller meant for instant shocks, instead, it’s a story that creeps under your skin and stays there. The suspense grows steadily, rewarding patient readers with a gripping and meaningful experience.

Final Verdict:
The Tubewell House is perfect for readers who enjoy atmospheric psychological thrillers with strong character exploration and a haunting rural backdrop. A compelling read that reminds us that some pasts refuse to stay buried.

⭐ Rating: 4/5

Profile Image for Ishan Agrawal.
949 reviews49 followers
November 16, 2025
Being a huge fan of thriller , I am often in lookout for something that can satiate my hunger in more than one ways . It should firstly comprise of events that make sense and secondly should be unputdownable . This novel ticks both boxes and hence I decided to review it straightaway.

Ashank Sinha is a former forex trader who lands up in Lawrenceganj , a small quaint village in the suburbs . The place especially the tubewell house seems very ordinary but holds some unordinary secrets and the title isn't just a steady location but works as a character in itself. It makes the protgonist mull over his past and works as a redeeming curve for him

The most striking feature of the tale is how human emotions are woven into the mysterious story . It isn't a fast paced novel where things are changing rapidly or there are plenty of jump scares, it just unfolds itself layer by layer going to and fro with some past events and decisions of protagonist that is shaping his present. If you are someone who is into thrillers with too many twists and turns you will be disappointed but if you need a slow burning sensation questioning your own life choices and be one with the characters, you are in for a treat.

Overall a pretty compelling read

Profile Image for Risha Nautiyal.
30 reviews
November 22, 2025
This read was full of surprises, as the genre was not at all what I expected it to be! &
•The story revolves around two main characters Ashank & Saanvi!
Ashank who lost his job & returned to his hometown Lawrenceganj; a quaint village with it's own set practices & beliefs Ashank's family is one of the superior families of the village and has quite a reputation as his father was an ex-politician.
Things get stirred when Saanvi, the newly appointed doctor in the village's hospital takes charge & faces challenges with people based on their ideologies..
• As destiny would have it; Saanvi & Ashank's paths cross in the hospital & they start to develop a liking for each other, however there is a secret which only Ashank knows of..
The girl by The Tubewell House..
Some parts of the books are heart-wrenching; for the many issues they highlight :
The plight & agony of those who suffer and loose so much due to the societal discrimination & the hopelessness of those who fight hard for justice, the support one needs when they struggle with psychotic disorders - this story probes deep into these matters..
•The revelation towards the end will certainly make you praise the author's storytelling..I did not anticipate it at all!
• Definitely recommend reading it!
Profile Image for Priya Singh.
117 reviews4 followers
January 3, 2026
Some stories are like you keep reading calmly, everything feels normal and chill, and suddenly you reach a point where your mind completely spins. Even after finishing the book, you keep sitting and thinking this shouldn’t have happened… why did it happen? The story turns out to be much deeper and better than what you expected.

This is not a book you can rush through. You need patience while reading it, because what you discover will completely blow your mind. The author has created a very strong environment of quiet village, people, their ideology and thinking, . The book is divided into four parts and every part of the book takes you towards the ending in a very interesting way, giving you goosebumps as you get closer to the final reveal. The way the author has portrayed Ashank, and how he struggles with his past and inner chaos, that part was very emotional for me. The book also highlights issues like casteism and untouchability, which are socially relevant and very powerful .What I liked most is that the author does not give answers to the hidden secrets of Ashank and tubewell house immediately. Instead, a strong thriller mood is built, so when readers reach the ending, they feel shocked.
35 reviews2 followers
December 16, 2025
The Tubewell House feels like sitting alone in a quiet village afternoon where nothing seems to happen, yet something feels wrong. The silence is heavy. The air remembers things. And the mind begins to wander in directions you didn’t plan.
Abhishek Chaudhary doesn’t rush to scare you.
The story blurs the line between what is happening outside and what is unfolding within, making you question whether the real danger lies in the village… or inside the human psyche.
What makes The Tubewell House stand apart is its patience. It trusts the reader to sit with discomfort, to notice details, to feel rather than be told. The fear is not sudden—it lingers. Long after the book ends, a sense of quiet disturbance stays with you.This book is for readers who enjoy:
●Slow-burn psychological tension
●Atmosphere over action
●Stories that feel intimate, unsettling, and reflective

The Tubewell House is like a memory you can’t place properly—vague, haunting, and strangely personal. You finish it, but it doesn’t quite finish with you.
Profile Image for Books With  Aartika.
129 reviews6 followers
October 15, 2025
This story follows Ashank Sinha, a former forex trader who leaves behind his fast-paced Mumbai life for the quiet village of Lawrenceganj.

There, he crosses paths with Dr. Saanvi Sharma and a mysterious girl living at the Tubewell House.

As hidden truths from his past begin to resurface, Ashank must face his mistakes and the secrets that haunt him.
A gripping tale of mystery, redemption, and self-discovery.
8 reviews
January 18, 2026
The Tubewell House is a reflective, mood-driven novel that captures rural life with subtlety and restraint. The setting is vivid and the emotional undertones are thoughtfully drawn, but the pacing is very slow and the plot unfolds gradually.

Overall, a decent read for its atmosphere and themes
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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