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Soft Kill: A Dark Psychological Crime Thriller Set in India | A Perfect Murder, Cold Case and the Truth That Comes Back to Kill
DELHI.
Circa 1990.
Inspector Vijay has never seen a sight so chilling.
A big man lies dead in his bed, stripped of all dignity.
Someone has punished Andy Asthana for his dark deeds.
But who?
His young wife Madhvi, trapped in a marriage of fear?
Her dangerous lover, Rajbir?
His old friend turned secretary, Brij Mishra?
The killer has left no clue. If a perfect murder exists, this is it.
The trail grows cold. The case is closed.
And then, one day…
Circa 1990.
Inspector Vijay has never seen a sight so chilling.
A big man lies dead in his bed, stripped of all dignity.
Someone has punished Andy Asthana for his dark deeds.
But who?
His young wife Madhvi, trapped in a marriage of fear?
Her dangerous lover, Rajbir?
His old friend turned secretary, Brij Mishra?
The killer has left no clue. If a perfect murder exists, this is it.
The trail grows cold. The case is closed.
And then, one day…
- GenresFiction
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 23, 2026
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 10, 2026
”The irresistible combination of looks, brain and money that was Andy drew women to him like hairpins to a magnet.”
- Shubhra Krishan, Soft Kill
Andaleeb Asthana (Andy) was one of the biggest names in advertising. But on the personal front, he was no less than a tyrant. He didn't flinch before raising his hand on his wife, Madhvi.
”Do you even realize how lucky you are, you parasite? You are married to the biggest name in advertising.”
Tara Rana's relentless pursuit of being an entertainment journalist forced her to change jobs. Soon, her fate intertwined with that of the Asthana couple. She was sympathetic towards Madhvi and viewed Andy in contempt.
Far away, yet nearby a devious plan was being formed to kill Andy Asthana.
Andy's characterisation was one of the highlights of this book. Whenever I came across him, between the pages, I squirmed at his ruthlessness. Krishan has meticulously sketched the characters and given them shape and form, through flashbacks that added a layer of depth in the story. The 90s backdrop brought a rush of emotions that was steeped in nostalgia. It also ushered in the era where advertising was at its prime in India. Krishan has crafted multiple narratives that seamlessly tie loose ends towards the end of the story. The agony and ecstasy of being in advertising are portrayed with sharp insight, capturing both the creative highs and the relentless pressures of the industry. The high voltage drama transpiring between the glitzy and glamorous industry had me hooked from the first page.
The actual murder takes its careful time to unfold. Till then, the readers are in for a ride through high-rise bungalows, sprawling fields, posh restaurants and office buildings.
’Soft Kill’ briefly reminded me of the book - ’Death on the Nile’ by Agatha Christie where every nook and corner of Egypt narrated a distinct stories of their characters.
'Nothing about this case-and this world is pretty, sir.'
- Shubhra Krishan, Soft Kill
Andaleeb Asthana (Andy) was one of the biggest names in advertising. But on the personal front, he was no less than a tyrant. He didn't flinch before raising his hand on his wife, Madhvi.
”Do you even realize how lucky you are, you parasite? You are married to the biggest name in advertising.”
Tara Rana's relentless pursuit of being an entertainment journalist forced her to change jobs. Soon, her fate intertwined with that of the Asthana couple. She was sympathetic towards Madhvi and viewed Andy in contempt.
Far away, yet nearby a devious plan was being formed to kill Andy Asthana.
Andy's characterisation was one of the highlights of this book. Whenever I came across him, between the pages, I squirmed at his ruthlessness. Krishan has meticulously sketched the characters and given them shape and form, through flashbacks that added a layer of depth in the story. The 90s backdrop brought a rush of emotions that was steeped in nostalgia. It also ushered in the era where advertising was at its prime in India. Krishan has crafted multiple narratives that seamlessly tie loose ends towards the end of the story. The agony and ecstasy of being in advertising are portrayed with sharp insight, capturing both the creative highs and the relentless pressures of the industry. The high voltage drama transpiring between the glitzy and glamorous industry had me hooked from the first page.
The actual murder takes its careful time to unfold. Till then, the readers are in for a ride through high-rise bungalows, sprawling fields, posh restaurants and office buildings.
’Soft Kill’ briefly reminded me of the book - ’Death on the Nile’ by Agatha Christie where every nook and corner of Egypt narrated a distinct stories of their characters.
'Nothing about this case-and this world is pretty, sir.'
March 13, 2026
“Soft kill” by author Shubhra Krishan is a murder mystery that keeps you hooked and thrills you throughout the plot up until the last chapter. Divided in 85 small chapters — narrated under 300 pages this book revolves around murder of Andy Asthana. Almost every character in the story has a motive and opportunity to kill the rich and famous Andy due to his vile temper and arrogant behaviour. He is a friend to none, a character so bad that everyone wants to kill him. His wife, his secretary, his driver, his rivals all of them have a motive to destroy his life. Then someone does it without leaving a trace behind. A perfect crime without a clue. The manner in which the deed is done will keep you guessing for the perpetrator till the end. 🕵️♂️
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Written in short and simple chapters the story keeps you on toes till the end, every character is written very well without exposing much about the soul of the mystery, their motives are pretty clear to take revenge on Andy Asthana. The story starts with the crime, and then goes back in time setting the plot up until the murder. Everything is narrated in a manner that keeps the thrill, suspense and excitement of the readers alive page after page. It’s never easy to keep the plot intact when so much is happening in a story, yet everything is told in a very simple not making too much complicated manner. The ending is so good that you can never guess it until you reach there, a perfect suspense treat for murder mystery enthusiasts.
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I’ve not read many murder mysteries but I have a thing about them in cinema - I love detective shows and movies and I’ve watched many of them. I’ve been thinking about reading a murder mystery for a long time and if you are also looking for something similar with Indian story then this is definitely the book for you. The plot, hooks, suspense and ending will entertain, surprise and keeps you guessing till the end.
-
Written in short and simple chapters the story keeps you on toes till the end, every character is written very well without exposing much about the soul of the mystery, their motives are pretty clear to take revenge on Andy Asthana. The story starts with the crime, and then goes back in time setting the plot up until the murder. Everything is narrated in a manner that keeps the thrill, suspense and excitement of the readers alive page after page. It’s never easy to keep the plot intact when so much is happening in a story, yet everything is told in a very simple not making too much complicated manner. The ending is so good that you can never guess it until you reach there, a perfect suspense treat for murder mystery enthusiasts.
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I’ve not read many murder mysteries but I have a thing about them in cinema - I love detective shows and movies and I’ve watched many of them. I’ve been thinking about reading a murder mystery for a long time and if you are also looking for something similar with Indian story then this is definitely the book for you. The plot, hooks, suspense and ending will entertain, surprise and keeps you guessing till the end.
March 17, 2026
I picked up Soft Kill mainly because the cover caught my attention, and once I started reading, it turned out to be a very engaging thriller. The chapters are short and easy to read, which makes the story move quickly and keeps the suspense alive.
The story revolves around Andy Asthana, an ad maker who is far from a good person. His behavior towards his wife, Madhvi, shows a darker side of his character. When Andy is found dead in his bedroom in a brutal and mysterious way, the story turns into a gripping investigation with several possible suspects.
What I liked most about the book was its pace. It’s fast-moving and easy to get into, and I ended up finishing it in a single day because I just wanted to know who did it.. The mystery keeps you guessing, and the plot towards the end is quite satisfying.
Overall, Soft Kill is an interesting and enjoyable thriller. If you enjoy crime stories with mystery and twists, this book can be a good pick.
The story revolves around Andy Asthana, an ad maker who is far from a good person. His behavior towards his wife, Madhvi, shows a darker side of his character. When Andy is found dead in his bedroom in a brutal and mysterious way, the story turns into a gripping investigation with several possible suspects.
What I liked most about the book was its pace. It’s fast-moving and easy to get into, and I ended up finishing it in a single day because I just wanted to know who did it.. The mystery keeps you guessing, and the plot towards the end is quite satisfying.
Overall, Soft Kill is an interesting and enjoyable thriller. If you enjoy crime stories with mystery and twists, this book can be a good pick.
April 9, 2026
SOFT KILL - SHUBHRA KRISHAN
Ad man Andy Asthana is found dead on his bed stripped of all dignity only signifying that he has been punished for his dark sins. But who could it be his young wife Madhvi who is trapped in the marriage, her dangerous lover Rajbir or his old friend turned secretary Brij Mishra the killer has left no clues and it's a perfect murder with the case being closed until one day...
.
.
This is a classic witty whodunnit suspense murder mystery. With very short multiple chapters the story flows quickly and keeps you guessing throughout and the plot twist in the end surprised me and was very cleverly done. I dnt want to get more in the story to avoid any spoilers but each and every character will feel like a culprit.
If you are looking for a smart sharp whodunnit murder mystery which is easy to read and follow then check out Soft Kill as your next weekend binge read!
Ad man Andy Asthana is found dead on his bed stripped of all dignity only signifying that he has been punished for his dark sins. But who could it be his young wife Madhvi who is trapped in the marriage, her dangerous lover Rajbir or his old friend turned secretary Brij Mishra the killer has left no clues and it's a perfect murder with the case being closed until one day...
.
.
This is a classic witty whodunnit suspense murder mystery. With very short multiple chapters the story flows quickly and keeps you guessing throughout and the plot twist in the end surprised me and was very cleverly done. I dnt want to get more in the story to avoid any spoilers but each and every character will feel like a culprit.
If you are looking for a smart sharp whodunnit murder mystery which is easy to read and follow then check out Soft Kill as your next weekend binge read!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews