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Arjun Arora Mystery #1
Dead Meat
A body recovered from a tandoor oven.
A young accountant missing with a suitcase full of cash.
A city in the heady grip of T20 fever.
Private eye Arjun Arora works the streets of Delhi dealing with the shady underbelly of the capital city. Hired to track down a missing person, Arjun stumbles upon a gruesome murder where the suspects seem to be linked to something larger and more sinister.
Part noir thriller and part detective story, Dead Meat introduces us to an unforgettable character — Arjun Arora, a man with a bad marriage, a drinking habit, and a troubled past — who takes us on a dark and dangerous journey through the grime of today’s urban India.
A young accountant missing with a suitcase full of cash.
A city in the heady grip of T20 fever.
Private eye Arjun Arora works the streets of Delhi dealing with the shady underbelly of the capital city. Hired to track down a missing person, Arjun stumbles upon a gruesome murder where the suspects seem to be linked to something larger and more sinister.
Part noir thriller and part detective story, Dead Meat introduces us to an unforgettable character — Arjun Arora, a man with a bad marriage, a drinking habit, and a troubled past — who takes us on a dark and dangerous journey through the grime of today’s urban India.
416 pages, Paperback
Published February 15, 2015
31 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Ankush Saikia
12 books96 followersLatest: "Rough Streets", set in 1980s Shillong, available as an e-book. Author of "Tears of the Dragon" (Speaking Tiger, February 2023), the fourth book in the Detective Arjun Arora series ("Dead Meat", 2015; "Remember Death", 2016; and "More Bodies Will Fall", 2018; all from Penguin Random House India), also the environmental novel "The Forest Beneath The Mountains" (Speaking Tiger, March 2021), the noir thriller "The Girl from Nongrim Hills" (Penguin India, 2013), the crime thriller "Red River, Blue Hills" (Westland Books, 2015), and "A Natural History of Violence", a crime novella set in Delhi (2024). I've worked as an editor in journalism and publishing in New Delhi for over a decade. Currently based in Shillong and Tezpur in North-East India.
twitter & instagram: @ankushsaikia
twitter & instagram: @ankushsaikia
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 24, 2015
"A mother's love for her child is nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path"
----Agatha Christie
Ankush Saikia, a well-known Indian author, pens his new thriller, Dead Meat that revolves around a lonely-and-alcoholic PI going in and around the capital to solve the case of a heinous murder that shakes up the people of the city amidst of the T20 fever.
Synopsis:
A body recovered from a tandoor oven.
A young accountant missing with a suitcase full of cash.
A city in the heady grip of T20 fever.
Private eye Arjun Arora works the streets of Delhi dealing with the shady underbelly of the capital city. Hired to track down a missing person, Arjun stumbles upon a gruesome murder where the suspects seem to be linked to something larger and more sinister.
Part noir thriller and part detective story, Dead Meat introduces us to an unforgettable character — Arjun Arora, a man with a bad marriage, a drinking habit, and a troubled past — who takes us on a dark and dangerous journey through the grime of today’s urban India.
Arjun Arora is solving the case of a missing accountant with 10crores (one hundred million dollar) who used to work for a reputed construction company. But soon all the links redirects him to the tandoor murder of an unidentified man (tandoor- cylindrical metal can where live fire is used to bake the chicken/mutton) in a small restaurant in Delhi. And along with that the dark and shady side of a T20 match comes up, that drags him into the darkest and unheard alleys of both old and new Delhi, which becomes equally life-threatening for him, and in the meantime, Arjun copes with his newly divorced lifestyle, passionate flings and quality time with his grown-up yet sweet daughter. Do read the story to see the end of this enthralling mystery.
(T20- In India, every April, we celebrate yet another festival called IPL T20, it's a cricket match where the cricket teams are purchased by the rich and famous of our country, and the cricket players from all over the world are auctioned in this ceremony, whoever has the highest bids, that rich-and-famous wins that player for his team, thus in this way teams are formed and games are played and cricket-crazy fans of our country religiously follow each and every match of their favorite team, to be honest, I never followed these money-wasting games ever! To conclude, from this T20 fever, rich are getting more richer, players are embracing the dark side of betting more openly and shamelessly, and the poor people are still the same!)
I rarely read any Indian authored books, as you all know me, but this particular author, simply won my heart with this masterfully and skillfully crafted thriller, where he not only spins a murder drama involving same false moves and some correct ones, but he also tells the story of a lonely man with his new found freedom, devoid of any family drama/troubles. The writing is absolutely fantastic, raw and captivating. Yes, from the very first moment, I fell deep into this tangle of mystery, thus making it difficult for me to put down the book and take a break. The author kept on creating so many false moves and false leads, that it was so hard for us to see the real identity of the killer, I mean it was difficult to accept the read identity! The prose is articulate yet not much expressive, since there are some emotional moments in the book which are not very well depicted, moreover, it was not easy for us to contemplate with the primary character- Arjun Arora, maybe that is because of his cold demeanor. But the emotional and mental turmoil that Arjun was going through was quite well portrayed by the author. The characters are all well-built, described in depth to understand them better, even the shady ones too. There are a hell lot of characters, every twist in this book meant another new character to throw us off track. And sometimes, we might get lost in this web of so many suspects with a strong agenda to kill for the cash. So anticipation was not a thing in this book, since the author kept our minds engaged with so many suspects.
Now the location- New Delhi, capital city of India! The author simply wrapped his whole story in a layer of this city, by portraying the capital with vividness and vigor. In fact, each and every minute detail of this city from old Delhi's smell to the visual effects of clingy houses to the posh localities to the cars moving on the streets of the city to the humid climate of the city, everything will simply bring Delhi alive in front of your eyes. The author intricately created the back drop picture of Delhi in his book. I also loved how the author depicted the glitz and glamor of a T20 after-party event and how things unroll in this event.
The book is, in short, one hell of adrenaline-rushing roller coaster ride on all over New Delhi. The darkness in the mystery is so raw that it will scare you out of your skin, and the violence is so vivid that you literally need to close off your eyes.
Verdict: A must-read Indian thriller, and I rarely came across any such Indian author, who spins a thriller just like any other foreign best-selling crime author.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Ankush Saikia, for giving me the opportunity to read and review his book.
----Agatha Christie
Ankush Saikia, a well-known Indian author, pens his new thriller, Dead Meat that revolves around a lonely-and-alcoholic PI going in and around the capital to solve the case of a heinous murder that shakes up the people of the city amidst of the T20 fever.
Synopsis:
A body recovered from a tandoor oven.
A young accountant missing with a suitcase full of cash.
A city in the heady grip of T20 fever.
Private eye Arjun Arora works the streets of Delhi dealing with the shady underbelly of the capital city. Hired to track down a missing person, Arjun stumbles upon a gruesome murder where the suspects seem to be linked to something larger and more sinister.
Part noir thriller and part detective story, Dead Meat introduces us to an unforgettable character — Arjun Arora, a man with a bad marriage, a drinking habit, and a troubled past — who takes us on a dark and dangerous journey through the grime of today’s urban India.
Arjun Arora is solving the case of a missing accountant with 10crores (one hundred million dollar) who used to work for a reputed construction company. But soon all the links redirects him to the tandoor murder of an unidentified man (tandoor- cylindrical metal can where live fire is used to bake the chicken/mutton) in a small restaurant in Delhi. And along with that the dark and shady side of a T20 match comes up, that drags him into the darkest and unheard alleys of both old and new Delhi, which becomes equally life-threatening for him, and in the meantime, Arjun copes with his newly divorced lifestyle, passionate flings and quality time with his grown-up yet sweet daughter. Do read the story to see the end of this enthralling mystery.
(T20- In India, every April, we celebrate yet another festival called IPL T20, it's a cricket match where the cricket teams are purchased by the rich and famous of our country, and the cricket players from all over the world are auctioned in this ceremony, whoever has the highest bids, that rich-and-famous wins that player for his team, thus in this way teams are formed and games are played and cricket-crazy fans of our country religiously follow each and every match of their favorite team, to be honest, I never followed these money-wasting games ever! To conclude, from this T20 fever, rich are getting more richer, players are embracing the dark side of betting more openly and shamelessly, and the poor people are still the same!)
I rarely read any Indian authored books, as you all know me, but this particular author, simply won my heart with this masterfully and skillfully crafted thriller, where he not only spins a murder drama involving same false moves and some correct ones, but he also tells the story of a lonely man with his new found freedom, devoid of any family drama/troubles. The writing is absolutely fantastic, raw and captivating. Yes, from the very first moment, I fell deep into this tangle of mystery, thus making it difficult for me to put down the book and take a break. The author kept on creating so many false moves and false leads, that it was so hard for us to see the real identity of the killer, I mean it was difficult to accept the read identity! The prose is articulate yet not much expressive, since there are some emotional moments in the book which are not very well depicted, moreover, it was not easy for us to contemplate with the primary character- Arjun Arora, maybe that is because of his cold demeanor. But the emotional and mental turmoil that Arjun was going through was quite well portrayed by the author. The characters are all well-built, described in depth to understand them better, even the shady ones too. There are a hell lot of characters, every twist in this book meant another new character to throw us off track. And sometimes, we might get lost in this web of so many suspects with a strong agenda to kill for the cash. So anticipation was not a thing in this book, since the author kept our minds engaged with so many suspects.
Now the location- New Delhi, capital city of India! The author simply wrapped his whole story in a layer of this city, by portraying the capital with vividness and vigor. In fact, each and every minute detail of this city from old Delhi's smell to the visual effects of clingy houses to the posh localities to the cars moving on the streets of the city to the humid climate of the city, everything will simply bring Delhi alive in front of your eyes. The author intricately created the back drop picture of Delhi in his book. I also loved how the author depicted the glitz and glamor of a T20 after-party event and how things unroll in this event.
The book is, in short, one hell of adrenaline-rushing roller coaster ride on all over New Delhi. The darkness in the mystery is so raw that it will scare you out of your skin, and the violence is so vivid that you literally need to close off your eyes.
Verdict: A must-read Indian thriller, and I rarely came across any such Indian author, who spins a thriller just like any other foreign best-selling crime author.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Ankush Saikia, for giving me the opportunity to read and review his book.
January 26, 2024
(Maybe 3.5 at best)
A decade and a half ago when I got into writing fiction seriously, some of my friends sent my writings to a school senior I had a soft corner for because of his Tortured Writer-turned-JEE Prep Boy image. And he indulged me enough to point out that Indians tend to use exclamation points too much in their writing. Over the years I have come to realise this is because of the inherent dramatic flair in our conversation, but it looks completely out of place on paper. And proving my school senior right, there are way too many exclamation points in this book.
The rest of the book suffers from all the usual snags most Indian writing suffers from (on which I could do a whole separate article) - there is a great central idea and multiple premises but somehow it doesn't pan out as well as it could have. At several points the book had promise of becoming better but it just never did, which was frustrating at times.
There is also the almost silly and consistent issue of name-dropping brands - uniquely South Asian problem - that hinders the flow and reading. I could think of multiple reasons why Indian authors do this but I would trust editors to have better capabilities. Which brings me to the shoddy editing the book suffers from, without which it could have been a far better final product.
Despite these obvious flaws, the core of the book is so good to be true that I ended up liking it more than I thought. A noir set in Delhi? I would give an arm and a leg for more of that. I would probably have liked it to be a better book that didn't spell out all plot points multiple times for the reader to be sure of what they are reading, Dead Meat doesn't round off too badly. Considering this was published nearly 9 years ago, I can understand the writing appearing dated and cliched.
I have had the Ankush Saikia books on my TBR for a while and only picked it up when I saw his latest work being praised by authors and readers I respect and follow. I might not be the biggest fan of Dead Meat, but I will still give weight to these reccos and read the rest in the series because I have a feeling it might get better as it catches up to present-day, and I will give any author the pass for that.
A decade and a half ago when I got into writing fiction seriously, some of my friends sent my writings to a school senior I had a soft corner for because of his Tortured Writer-turned-JEE Prep Boy image. And he indulged me enough to point out that Indians tend to use exclamation points too much in their writing. Over the years I have come to realise this is because of the inherent dramatic flair in our conversation, but it looks completely out of place on paper. And proving my school senior right, there are way too many exclamation points in this book.
The rest of the book suffers from all the usual snags most Indian writing suffers from (on which I could do a whole separate article) - there is a great central idea and multiple premises but somehow it doesn't pan out as well as it could have. At several points the book had promise of becoming better but it just never did, which was frustrating at times.
There is also the almost silly and consistent issue of name-dropping brands - uniquely South Asian problem - that hinders the flow and reading. I could think of multiple reasons why Indian authors do this but I would trust editors to have better capabilities. Which brings me to the shoddy editing the book suffers from, without which it could have been a far better final product.
Despite these obvious flaws, the core of the book is so good to be true that I ended up liking it more than I thought. A noir set in Delhi? I would give an arm and a leg for more of that. I would probably have liked it to be a better book that didn't spell out all plot points multiple times for the reader to be sure of what they are reading, Dead Meat doesn't round off too badly. Considering this was published nearly 9 years ago, I can understand the writing appearing dated and cliched.
I have had the Ankush Saikia books on my TBR for a while and only picked it up when I saw his latest work being praised by authors and readers I respect and follow. I might not be the biggest fan of Dead Meat, but I will still give weight to these reccos and read the rest in the series because I have a feeling it might get better as it catches up to present-day, and I will give any author the pass for that.
August 11, 2015
A good thriller but could have been better. The investigation depicted in this book is pacy and keeps u hooked. Then there are many suspects which make you guess who the culprit is. That makes the book more interesting. There are few mistakes but not big ones. Few instances are there where things are repetitive which if avoided the book would have become more slimmer. But overall this one is a good read.
March 3, 2016
Didnt like this. As a murder investigation thriller it wasnt a gripping page turner for me. I rarely found it thrilling. The author kept giving unnecessary descriptions about Delhi & each of its building,roads & bridges that makes me wonder if i'm reading a murder thriller or a Delhi tour brochure.
December 3, 2018
Decent read, but there were several parts that I really struggled to get through - especially the lengthy descriptions of the routes Arjun drove through several times a day. If you're a Delhiite, you probably don't need to know which flyover to skip and which turn to take to get from Point A to Point B. And if you're not a Delhiite, the details really don't matter (unless you like having Google Maps open on your phone as you read).
The second thing that jarred was Arjun's surprise and naivety at the fan following and
The second thing that jarred was Arjun's surprise and naivety at the fan following and
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2015
Murder thriller set in Delhi (… the best of ‘Indian Noir’)
Practising what we preach, I read Dead Meat on a recent trip to India. We spent two days in Delhi, and then went on to tour the brilliant palaces, forts, and temples of Rajasthan. Dead Meat, though, remains firmly anchored in Delhi. The book starts (not for the squeamish) with a body being cut up with a meat cleaver and the parts being burnt in a tandoor oven… Private detective Arjun Arora is hired to investigate the disappearance of a mid-ranking, but trusted, accountant from his company – and soon concludes that the body is, in fact, that of the accountant. But who murdered him and why?
The story moves apace though a panoply of modern India – corruption in high places, great contrasts in lifestyle between rich and poor, the obsession with T20 cricket (and the vast illegal betting business that surrounds it). Without giving too much away, the bookies are not exactly gentle with those who owe them money… and there is no such thing as a certain winning bet… The book moves to a convincing denouement.
Arjun Arora, in the best tradition of such novels, is of course a troubled man. He has split from his wife and is drinking too much. This, as I have said in other reviews, seems almost de rigueur for such characters. I sometimes wonder why ‘normal’ people seem incapable of being effective detectives (either police or private…)! He is also obsessed with keeping in touch with his daughter – and with cooking (there are several great recipes for Indian food in the book…)
I enjoyed Dead Meat enormously, and would recommend it to anyone. In fact I probably enjoyed it more than enormously… My only very slight concern is whether I enjoyed it as much as I did was because I read it on my first trip to India – and the places and sounds that I was experiencing in Delhi were really brought to life by the book. Yes, it was exciting to read about Connaught Place, traffic jams on the Delhi ring road, and the awe inspiring India Gate – but I am pretty sure that the book was a great read in its own right. The bringing together of location experiences – although in many ways the raison d’être of TripFiction – was really just a welcome bonus. It is very well written, and has a crisp and well thought through plot.
This review first appeared on our blog, where we also chat to Ankush about his book, writing and India: http://www.tripfiction.com/murder-thr...
Practising what we preach, I read Dead Meat on a recent trip to India. We spent two days in Delhi, and then went on to tour the brilliant palaces, forts, and temples of Rajasthan. Dead Meat, though, remains firmly anchored in Delhi. The book starts (not for the squeamish) with a body being cut up with a meat cleaver and the parts being burnt in a tandoor oven… Private detective Arjun Arora is hired to investigate the disappearance of a mid-ranking, but trusted, accountant from his company – and soon concludes that the body is, in fact, that of the accountant. But who murdered him and why?
The story moves apace though a panoply of modern India – corruption in high places, great contrasts in lifestyle between rich and poor, the obsession with T20 cricket (and the vast illegal betting business that surrounds it). Without giving too much away, the bookies are not exactly gentle with those who owe them money… and there is no such thing as a certain winning bet… The book moves to a convincing denouement.
Arjun Arora, in the best tradition of such novels, is of course a troubled man. He has split from his wife and is drinking too much. This, as I have said in other reviews, seems almost de rigueur for such characters. I sometimes wonder why ‘normal’ people seem incapable of being effective detectives (either police or private…)! He is also obsessed with keeping in touch with his daughter – and with cooking (there are several great recipes for Indian food in the book…)
I enjoyed Dead Meat enormously, and would recommend it to anyone. In fact I probably enjoyed it more than enormously… My only very slight concern is whether I enjoyed it as much as I did was because I read it on my first trip to India – and the places and sounds that I was experiencing in Delhi were really brought to life by the book. Yes, it was exciting to read about Connaught Place, traffic jams on the Delhi ring road, and the awe inspiring India Gate – but I am pretty sure that the book was a great read in its own right. The bringing together of location experiences – although in many ways the raison d’être of TripFiction – was really just a welcome bonus. It is very well written, and has a crisp and well thought through plot.
This review first appeared on our blog, where we also chat to Ankush about his book, writing and India: http://www.tripfiction.com/murder-thr...
May 28, 2015
Intense, pacifying and thrilling... These words are enough to describe Ankush Saikia's new noir thriller cum detective novel Dead Meat. The author who hails from north eastern part of India is back again, that is with a bang. His latest novel Dead Meat is about money, greed, brutality and human mind. it is a fast pacing novel which grips your mind in no time.
The story began with a body being burnt in a tandoor (Oh God!! How I will have tandoor items now!!! :0) and almost immediately found by police. The murder is brutal and police is left without a clue. Mean while our hero (I will prefer the term anti-hero here) is given a case of finding an young accountant by an top industrialist. While investigating the case, Arjun Arora (who is described as a hard pitched man with a dark past and broken marriage)is caught in a intrigued web. One after another character is revealed with a dark intention. Here is the industrialist's partner, a minister's nephew, the dead accountant's friends, a model and the list goes on. How he freed himself from that web and how he solved the case form the story of the novel.
It is evident from the novel that Mr Saikia has done intensive study on crime scenes and cases before writing the novel. All the crime scenes are perfectly described and you can actually imagine how the crime has happened. Sometimes, the description will send a shiver down your spine. Yes, this book is so well described. In fact, all the scenes are so detailed that in some pages you can even smell the aroma of mutton curry :).
But as the novel is so intense and full of various characters, you can lose the grip momentarily. But fear not fellow readers!! Our author has turned no table unturned to keep you engaged with the book. So, if you can not stop yourself munching on the book on the first go till its half, do not blame yourself.
The cover is enough to attract you and the price is also reasonable. Over all, the book is worthy of reading even if you are not a ardent fan of crime novels.
The story began with a body being burnt in a tandoor (Oh God!! How I will have tandoor items now!!! :0) and almost immediately found by police. The murder is brutal and police is left without a clue. Mean while our hero (I will prefer the term anti-hero here) is given a case of finding an young accountant by an top industrialist. While investigating the case, Arjun Arora (who is described as a hard pitched man with a dark past and broken marriage)is caught in a intrigued web. One after another character is revealed with a dark intention. Here is the industrialist's partner, a minister's nephew, the dead accountant's friends, a model and the list goes on. How he freed himself from that web and how he solved the case form the story of the novel.
It is evident from the novel that Mr Saikia has done intensive study on crime scenes and cases before writing the novel. All the crime scenes are perfectly described and you can actually imagine how the crime has happened. Sometimes, the description will send a shiver down your spine. Yes, this book is so well described. In fact, all the scenes are so detailed that in some pages you can even smell the aroma of mutton curry :).
But as the novel is so intense and full of various characters, you can lose the grip momentarily. But fear not fellow readers!! Our author has turned no table unturned to keep you engaged with the book. So, if you can not stop yourself munching on the book on the first go till its half, do not blame yourself.
The cover is enough to attract you and the price is also reasonable. Over all, the book is worthy of reading even if you are not a ardent fan of crime novels.
June 14, 2015
A body has been recovered from a tandoor oven, A young accountant is missing with a suitcase full of cash and a city in the heady grip of T20 fever with the annual championship playing on. This provides a eye catching background for private detective Arjun Arora who works the streets of Delhi dealing with the shady underbelly of the capital city. Hired to track down a missing person, Arjun stumbles upon a gruesome murder where the suspects seem to be linked to something larger and more sinister.
Dead Meat : There's a butcher on the loose is a part noir and part detective story. Saikia takes time to set in the story in with numerous characters and it does ramble on a snail pace while introducing each of them. The sweat and smell of Delhi is interspersed, first at a superficial level and then almost forced into the narrative, just like how Delhi is with its residents. The author does not shy away in dealing with real people across various strata of society - there is an almost underlining of creating a class distinction between the haves and havenots of the society during the investigation.
There are portions of ultimate patience which you need to display as a reader because nothing really happens. The back story of Arjun's divorce and current fling provides nothing but cheap redemption to his personality. Arjun has a drinking problem and frankly, too much word space is given to this constant habit even while he is solving riddles to get to the killer. The plot points by the end are hazy and not all add up to the narrative. At over 400 pages, the narrative is way too long and leaves you exhausted as a reader feeling helpless just like Arjun being constantly stuck in traffic.
I am going with 3/5 for Dead Meat by Ankush Saikia. Much shorter in length and a bit fast paced, this could have been a great thriller set in Delhi. An opportunity not fully utilized.
Dead Meat : There's a butcher on the loose is a part noir and part detective story. Saikia takes time to set in the story in with numerous characters and it does ramble on a snail pace while introducing each of them. The sweat and smell of Delhi is interspersed, first at a superficial level and then almost forced into the narrative, just like how Delhi is with its residents. The author does not shy away in dealing with real people across various strata of society - there is an almost underlining of creating a class distinction between the haves and havenots of the society during the investigation.
There are portions of ultimate patience which you need to display as a reader because nothing really happens. The back story of Arjun's divorce and current fling provides nothing but cheap redemption to his personality. Arjun has a drinking problem and frankly, too much word space is given to this constant habit even while he is solving riddles to get to the killer. The plot points by the end are hazy and not all add up to the narrative. At over 400 pages, the narrative is way too long and leaves you exhausted as a reader feeling helpless just like Arjun being constantly stuck in traffic.
I am going with 3/5 for Dead Meat by Ankush Saikia. Much shorter in length and a bit fast paced, this could have been a great thriller set in Delhi. An opportunity not fully utilized.
January 12, 2020
Ankush Saikia’s Dead Meat is a bit of muddle, but scores on the fronts of almost everything else. With the first of his Arjun Arora mysteries, Saikia gives us a run-of-the-mill protagonist who pretty much checks all the boxes of a damaged character in the genre (ex-military, divorced/separated, habitual drinker and smoker) but still manages to cobble together a story that is stylistic in the way it presents the setting and the atmosphere and engaging when it gets going, though I did at times feel like Saikia had spent far too much time than was healthy exploring the various roads and flyovers of Delhi, most of which are inconsequential to the story.
More at Varun Oak-Bhakay's Writer's Block
More at Varun Oak-Bhakay's Writer's Block
August 31, 2015
Dead Meat is a page turner, a cleverly executed murder mystery that will keep you guessing. Enjoyed the plot especially because it exposed the scandals of the overrated T20 ;-)
A great book to read over the weekend coz I can guarantee you this, once you start you will not want to keep it down till you finish.
This is the 2nd book of Ankush Saikia I have read so far and the one thing that I like about his writing is the details that he manages puts in. Reading the Dead Meat left me feeling like I was driving around Delhi chasing the butcher along with Arjun Arora.
I hope Arjun Arora makes it to a series and we get to read more about him.
Recommended to all the lovers of this genres
A great book to read over the weekend coz I can guarantee you this, once you start you will not want to keep it down till you finish.
This is the 2nd book of Ankush Saikia I have read so far and the one thing that I like about his writing is the details that he manages puts in. Reading the Dead Meat left me feeling like I was driving around Delhi chasing the butcher along with Arjun Arora.
I hope Arjun Arora makes it to a series and we get to read more about him.
Recommended to all the lovers of this genres
June 18, 2015
@ankushsaikia This is your 1st book i read & i can promise you that i am reading other books written by you aswell. One thing i like about indian writers is that we can relate to many things described in the book. That just makes you smile & want to read more.
The book flows in a very good mood from the start.
The flashbacks i felt quite bummer.
The main character Arjun Arora was strong & well described. Being an indian i could relate to many feelings of Arjun.
Towards the end the book is quite fun. I just hope Arjun Arora becomes a series of books.
His character was very pleasing.
Must read if you like crime thrillers.
The book flows in a very good mood from the start.
The flashbacks i felt quite bummer.
The main character Arjun Arora was strong & well described. Being an indian i could relate to many feelings of Arjun.
Towards the end the book is quite fun. I just hope Arjun Arora becomes a series of books.
His character was very pleasing.
Must read if you like crime thrillers.
February 20, 2016
Dead Meat is a delicious read for all crime thriller lovers. The very first chapter will give you goosebumps. As you travel through the next chapters, you will be so much engrossed in it that you will actually think of the suspects and try to solve the mystery. I would advise you not to do it because this case is completely different from what you think it will be. You cannot state/ declare anybody as guilty. The story will keep you hooked on to the end. It will give you goosebumps many times. I am sure you will automatically start biting your nails.
Read my full review : http://musingsofavivaciousheart.blogs...
Read my full review : http://musingsofavivaciousheart.blogs...
September 2, 2022
Ankush Saikia has a wonderful flair for recreating the atmosphere and location. This time its New Delhi with its bustling malls, crowded streets and seedy underbelly. A brutal murder starts things off. The detective, Arjun Arora, is hired to track an apparently responsible employee of a construction firm who has gone missing with a huge amount of his employer's money. Gripping narrative and a reasonably satisfying mystery make this a thriller a good read indeed.
March 29, 2015
An apt depiction of the Delhi underbelly- The author manages to hold his reader's attention till the last page and leaves one expecting for more to come.
August 3, 2019
Decent read.
June 19, 2021
Very accurately written detective story. The story was nice and it will take you to the writer's world. Very nice book,enjoyed reading it.
April 9, 2023
Ankush Saikia has created a credible and relatable detective in Arjun Arora. I have read all the Arora books and look forward to reading more. Its really exciting to read such a mature noire based in India. All the places described here by the author, show his observational and writing skills as they come alive between the covers of the book. For instance, in this novel he reveals the many facets of the Capital from its gritty underbelly to the equally dark glittering spaces like hotels and elite colonies, where all kinds of deals are struck at all times. It is a kind of novel that one can read again and again and again and.....
May 3, 2022
Tried for the first time an Indian author for a thriller. Like the narration it was gripping with lots of twist and turns to keep one hooked up and thinking "who it would be and why". Part wherein the author went into details of left and right of Delhi roads was boring, why would anyone be interested to know if you take a right under a flyover you would reach where. All the best to Ankush for his future books would definitely read the further adventures of the Detective Arora.
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