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Backlash
AN UNPUTDOWNABLE SLOW BURN ABOUT THE LIFE OF A RETIRED COP IN SMALL-TOWN KERALA. Having retired from the Kerala State Police, Shreedharan Nair seeks a quiet life in a small village. But the peace he has just begun to savour is shattered one night when stones clatter against his tiled roof. As the stone-pelting becomes routine, Nair—once feared as the ruthless 'Kaalan Shreedharan', Kaalan being Yama, the god of death—suspects that retribution may finally be at his door. While some well-wishers see in it the handiwork of supernatural forces, others point to ghosts from his mercenary past. Driven by fear and curiosity, Nair begins retracing his career, compiling a grim list of those he once brutalised, stitched up, turned into scapegoats and nailed to the post.
Devadas V.M.'s Backlash unfolds through Kaalan's encounters with figures entangled in India's darkest chapters—the Emergency, the rise of religious fanaticism, fake encounters and mob violence—events that changed the nation's social fabric. A haunting meditation on the toxicity of power and the terror of powerlessness in a hyper-masculine society, this gritty novel will hold you taut with suspense until the final page.
Devadas V.M.'s Backlash unfolds through Kaalan's encounters with figures entangled in India's darkest chapters—the Emergency, the rise of religious fanaticism, fake encounters and mob violence—events that changed the nation's social fabric. A haunting meditation on the toxicity of power and the terror of powerlessness in a hyper-masculine society, this gritty novel will hold you taut with suspense until the final page.
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
V.M. Devadas
15 books23 followersV.M. Devadas was born in 1981 in Wadakkancherry, Kerala. A prominent voice in contemporary Malayalam literature, he has authored five novels and seven short story collections in Malayalam, three of which have already been translated into English. His writing is characterized by a unique stylistic flair, and he often delves into the political and philosophical dimensions of modern life. Devadas's works are known for their unconventional themes, which focus on the hybrid politics of people in our society. He is constantly experimenting with the structure, theme and narration of his works, which has earned him many accolades. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Malayala Manorama Novel Carnival Award, Swami Vivekananda Yuva Prathibha Award, O.V. Vijayan Memorial Literary Award and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Malayala Padana Kendram Award, among others. Currently he is living in Chennai and working as an IT professional.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 8, 2026
Backlash is a suspenseful novel that is incredibly difficult to put down. It takes readers back to a time when power could decide everything, when religion influenced every aspect of society, and when those in authority could manipulate people and the system to their advantage. Through a gripping investigation, the story explores corruption, abuse of power, and the consequences of one’s past actions.
The story begins with Sreedharan, a retired Kerala police officer who was once feared by everyone. Known as “Kaalan Sreedharan” or Yama, he commanded respect and fear throughout his career. But retirement has stripped him of the authority that once defined him.Sreedharan slowly realizes how different life becomes when power is no longer in your hands. The man who once made others tremble now finds himself living in fear.
Everything changes when someone begins throwing stones at his house every night. What first appears to be a harmless act soon becomes a disturbing pattern. Despite trying to catch the culprit, Sreedharan fails every time. He installs CCTV cameras and starts searching for answers, convinced that someone from his past is seeking revenge.
As he retraces his career, he begins tracking down and confronting the people he had once arrested, interrogated, or brutally treated during his years in the police force. Each encounter slowly uncovers forgotten cases, buried secrets, and uncomfortable truths. The novel also sheds light on how evidence was manipulated, confessions were forced, and power was often used to silence justice.
Although this is a suspense novel, it doesn’t rely on shocking plot twists to keep the reader engaged. Instead, its greatest strength lies in portraying uncomfortable realities with honesty. The book never shies away from exposing the darker side of authority and the lasting impact it leaves on people’s lives.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel is how beautifully Devadas V.M. captures Kerala. From the local food and traditions to the language and everyday lifestyle, the setting feels authentic and immersive. It genuinely feels like you’re experiencing Kerala alongside the characters, making the story even more engaging.
By the time you reach the ending, you realize that Backlash is much more than a simple thriller. Beneath the suspense lies an emotionally layered story about guilt, accountability, fear, and the consequences of power. The balance between emotional depth and mystery is what makes this novel stand out.
If you’re looking for a thriller that goes beyond solving a mystery and instead explores society, justice, and human nature, I would definitely recommend Backlash. It’s a compelling, thought-provoking read that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
The story begins with Sreedharan, a retired Kerala police officer who was once feared by everyone. Known as “Kaalan Sreedharan” or Yama, he commanded respect and fear throughout his career. But retirement has stripped him of the authority that once defined him.Sreedharan slowly realizes how different life becomes when power is no longer in your hands. The man who once made others tremble now finds himself living in fear.
Everything changes when someone begins throwing stones at his house every night. What first appears to be a harmless act soon becomes a disturbing pattern. Despite trying to catch the culprit, Sreedharan fails every time. He installs CCTV cameras and starts searching for answers, convinced that someone from his past is seeking revenge.
As he retraces his career, he begins tracking down and confronting the people he had once arrested, interrogated, or brutally treated during his years in the police force. Each encounter slowly uncovers forgotten cases, buried secrets, and uncomfortable truths. The novel also sheds light on how evidence was manipulated, confessions were forced, and power was often used to silence justice.
Although this is a suspense novel, it doesn’t rely on shocking plot twists to keep the reader engaged. Instead, its greatest strength lies in portraying uncomfortable realities with honesty. The book never shies away from exposing the darker side of authority and the lasting impact it leaves on people’s lives.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel is how beautifully Devadas V.M. captures Kerala. From the local food and traditions to the language and everyday lifestyle, the setting feels authentic and immersive. It genuinely feels like you’re experiencing Kerala alongside the characters, making the story even more engaging.
By the time you reach the ending, you realize that Backlash is much more than a simple thriller. Beneath the suspense lies an emotionally layered story about guilt, accountability, fear, and the consequences of power. The balance between emotional depth and mystery is what makes this novel stand out.
If you’re looking for a thriller that goes beyond solving a mystery and instead explores society, justice, and human nature, I would definitely recommend Backlash. It’s a compelling, thought-provoking read that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
August 8, 2026
"Backlash" by author Devadas V.M. (translated from Malayalam by Nandakumar K.) is a tense and gripping psychological thriller about power, guilt and facing the consequences of past actions.
The story follows Shreedharan Nair, a retired police officer from Kerala. During his years on the force, he was so ruthless that people called him Kaalan Shreedharan - the God of Death.
Now living a quiet life after retirement, he hopes to leave his past behind. However, his peace is shattered when mysterious stones begin striking his roof every night. What starts as a strange activity soon turns into a chilling psychological nightmare, forcing Shreedharan to confront the dark and brutal actions of his past.
The novel explores what happens when power becomes toxic and the past finally catches up with you. The story revisits some dark moments from Shreedharan's past and also examines the consequences of violence and the misuse of authority.
I especially appreciated Nandakumar K.'s translation which preserves the novel's raw, gritty atmosphere while keeping the dialogues sharp and engaging. The notes section at the end is a thoughtful addition that helps readers understand local and regional terms. My only minor issue was that the novel introduces quite a few characters from Shreedharan's past, which was a bit confusing for me to keep track of.
The suspense kept me hooked until the very end. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with layered characters and an unsettling atmosphere, it would be worth reading.
The story follows Shreedharan Nair, a retired police officer from Kerala. During his years on the force, he was so ruthless that people called him Kaalan Shreedharan - the God of Death.
Now living a quiet life after retirement, he hopes to leave his past behind. However, his peace is shattered when mysterious stones begin striking his roof every night. What starts as a strange activity soon turns into a chilling psychological nightmare, forcing Shreedharan to confront the dark and brutal actions of his past.
The novel explores what happens when power becomes toxic and the past finally catches up with you. The story revisits some dark moments from Shreedharan's past and also examines the consequences of violence and the misuse of authority.
I especially appreciated Nandakumar K.'s translation which preserves the novel's raw, gritty atmosphere while keeping the dialogues sharp and engaging. The notes section at the end is a thoughtful addition that helps readers understand local and regional terms. My only minor issue was that the novel introduces quite a few characters from Shreedharan's past, which was a bit confusing for me to keep track of.
The suspense kept me hooked until the very end. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with layered characters and an unsettling atmosphere, it would be worth reading.
August 9, 2026
Backlash by Devadas V.M. I just finished Backlash and it stayed with me.
It’s about Shreedharan Nair, a retired Kerala cop who only wants a quiet village life. But then stones start hitting his roof every night. People used to fear him as 'Kaalan Shreedharan' Kaalan means Yama. Now he’s the one who’s scared.
I kept wondering with him: is it a ghost, or is it someone from his past? As he goes through his old cases Emergency, fake encounters, mob violence you see how much damage power can do.
It’s slow, dark, and heavy. But I couldn’t stop reading. It’s less about "who threw the stones" and more about guilt, fear, and what happens when a strong man has no power left.
The scariest ghosts are the ones we make ourselves.
Rating 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
#Backlash #DevadasVM #JustFinished #BookLover #KeralaFiction SlowBurn CrimeThriller IndianAuthors CurrentlyReading BookTokIndia
It’s about Shreedharan Nair, a retired Kerala cop who only wants a quiet village life. But then stones start hitting his roof every night. People used to fear him as 'Kaalan Shreedharan' Kaalan means Yama. Now he’s the one who’s scared.
I kept wondering with him: is it a ghost, or is it someone from his past? As he goes through his old cases Emergency, fake encounters, mob violence you see how much damage power can do.
It’s slow, dark, and heavy. But I couldn’t stop reading. It’s less about "who threw the stones" and more about guilt, fear, and what happens when a strong man has no power left.
The scariest ghosts are the ones we make ourselves.
Rating 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
#Backlash #DevadasVM #JustFinished #BookLover #KeralaFiction SlowBurn CrimeThriller IndianAuthors CurrentlyReading BookTokIndia
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews