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Andy Karan #1
Catching the Departed
The dead don't speak. But sometimes they leave a trail. Andy Karan, an investigative journalist, is tasked to probe one such -- the death of a local lawyer.
As he begins to unravel the past, within days, he discovers a shadowy parallel life in the village. Instances don t add up and he is quick to realize that there are many loose ends around the drunkard's death. And connections reach far and wide: to Mumbai, Murud Janjira island and even the high seas off the western seaboard.
But Andy ends up grievously wounded. His new found love Monica's life is in danger too. Catching the Departed is a story of a honest investigative journalist who is caught between state sponsored retribution of two warring nations and politicians who wouldn't stop at anything, not even the end of the world. And he is all of 30 patriotic, vulnerable and expendable. Attributes that can't guarantee his survival.
As he begins to unravel the past, within days, he discovers a shadowy parallel life in the village. Instances don t add up and he is quick to realize that there are many loose ends around the drunkard's death. And connections reach far and wide: to Mumbai, Murud Janjira island and even the high seas off the western seaboard.
But Andy ends up grievously wounded. His new found love Monica's life is in danger too. Catching the Departed is a story of a honest investigative journalist who is caught between state sponsored retribution of two warring nations and politicians who wouldn't stop at anything, not even the end of the world. And he is all of 30 patriotic, vulnerable and expendable. Attributes that can't guarantee his survival.
- GenresMystery
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2014
22 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
Kulpreet Yadav
23 books240 followersOne of the leading fiction writers in India, Kulpreet Yadav retired voluntarily from the armed forces to pursue a career in writing in 2014. Also a motivational speaker now, he has spoken at more than two hundred schools, colleges, and global corporate brands during the last four years. Popular for his Andy Karan series, his new spy novel, Murder in Paharganj, was published by Bloomsbury India in Oct 2017. Kulpreet lives in Delhi with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
February 11, 2015
Check out the complete review at Catching the Departed (Andy Karan, #1) > Review
The summary of the book was very captivating. That prompted me to contact the author for a review copy. However, the story did not live up to expectations.
The author tried very hard to write a gripping mystery. The attempt was very clearly visible throughout the book. The descriptions were a bit too much, but not something which will bother you. The story is passable. It is definitely not bad, but it is also not as great as the summary gives.
Andy Karan is a journalist who has retired from Army. He has a thing for his boss at the magazine he works. He loves adventure and knowingly goes towards danger.
One thing I liked is the comparison of Andy Karan with the Character of Karan from Mahabharata. Andy refuses to be like Karan and strives very hard to not accept defeat in life. That is something which should be taken upon as a life motto for everyone.
Other than that, the story was an average mystery novel. I did not get the thrill which is normally associated with thrillers.
The summary of the book was very captivating. That prompted me to contact the author for a review copy. However, the story did not live up to expectations.
The author tried very hard to write a gripping mystery. The attempt was very clearly visible throughout the book. The descriptions were a bit too much, but not something which will bother you. The story is passable. It is definitely not bad, but it is also not as great as the summary gives.
Andy Karan is a journalist who has retired from Army. He has a thing for his boss at the magazine he works. He loves adventure and knowingly goes towards danger.
One thing I liked is the comparison of Andy Karan with the Character of Karan from Mahabharata. Andy refuses to be like Karan and strives very hard to not accept defeat in life. That is something which should be taken upon as a life motto for everyone.
Other than that, the story was an average mystery novel. I did not get the thrill which is normally associated with thrillers.
Read
August 20, 2017It's a nice, engaging read. Andy Karan is an admirable character. I liked the writing; it creates nice imagery and helps you understand things better, however I felt that the author has made it an easy read (without any cliffhangers even though there was scope for some psychological twists to enhance the unpredictability factor (that would have been more thrilling!).
Nevertheless, this book was a nice, interesting read. If you enjoy crime thrillers, go pick it up!
Full review on my blog: http://tarangsinha.blogspot.in/2017/0...
Nevertheless, this book was a nice, interesting read. If you enjoy crime thrillers, go pick it up!
Full review on my blog: http://tarangsinha.blogspot.in/2017/0...
July 4, 2017
There are some books you wish wouldn't end. And for me they almost always fall in the mystery/suspense category. I can't get enough of the thrills they provide, I guess. Well, The Girl Who Loved A Spy by Kulpreet Yadav is one such book. Let's discuss it further after the summary.
Andy Karan (you'll get to know the story behind the strange name in the book) is a journalist working for the New Delhi Today magazine. He is asked by his attractive boss, Monica, to go to Tilakpur (a small village near Delhi) to enquire about a death that had occurred there. But when attempts at his life are made, both Monica and Andy become alert as they find themselves stuck in this murky business of murders and politics. Andy had been an army officer before being a journalist and has been secretly working for them ever since. But even his army training falls short for what happens subsequently. With little to hold on to, Andy braves the peril but is he successful? Especially when his every movement seems to be followed?
Now for my thoughts. What I loved about the story was how fast paced it was. The speed, the thrill, the chase and the suspense of it all just made this an awesome read! The plot was very intriguing which coerced me to finish the book in no time, something that doesn't happen too often, let me tell you. I couldn't wait to know the who and the why. As mentioned, the fast paced narrative gave room for no slack moment in the story. I also liked the way the author used his descriptive ways to explain little nuances in the story. Definitely liked his writing style. So, thumbs up for that!
What I thought could be a tad better were the technicalities of the plot. I found it not so convincing. For example, I thought the bad guys weren't tough enough. Although they did seem invincible in the beginning, towards the end, they just fizzled out. The title reminded me of a James Bond's movie. The story is mainly about Andy and not much about the 'girl' who loved a spy. :-) The background provided was adequate except for Andy's and Monica's relationship, I thought there could be more details added to it. Having made these points, did these make me want to stop reading? Absolutely not! To be frank, I couldn't put the book down. So there.
Last word. I think The Girl Who Loved A Spy is a great read, a perfect and thrilling accompaniment to the rains and a cup of chai. I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it. Waiting to read the next book in the series.
Andy Karan (you'll get to know the story behind the strange name in the book) is a journalist working for the New Delhi Today magazine. He is asked by his attractive boss, Monica, to go to Tilakpur (a small village near Delhi) to enquire about a death that had occurred there. But when attempts at his life are made, both Monica and Andy become alert as they find themselves stuck in this murky business of murders and politics. Andy had been an army officer before being a journalist and has been secretly working for them ever since. But even his army training falls short for what happens subsequently. With little to hold on to, Andy braves the peril but is he successful? Especially when his every movement seems to be followed?
Now for my thoughts. What I loved about the story was how fast paced it was. The speed, the thrill, the chase and the suspense of it all just made this an awesome read! The plot was very intriguing which coerced me to finish the book in no time, something that doesn't happen too often, let me tell you. I couldn't wait to know the who and the why. As mentioned, the fast paced narrative gave room for no slack moment in the story. I also liked the way the author used his descriptive ways to explain little nuances in the story. Definitely liked his writing style. So, thumbs up for that!
What I thought could be a tad better were the technicalities of the plot. I found it not so convincing. For example, I thought the bad guys weren't tough enough. Although they did seem invincible in the beginning, towards the end, they just fizzled out. The title reminded me of a James Bond's movie. The story is mainly about Andy and not much about the 'girl' who loved a spy. :-) The background provided was adequate except for Andy's and Monica's relationship, I thought there could be more details added to it. Having made these points, did these make me want to stop reading? Absolutely not! To be frank, I couldn't put the book down. So there.
Last word. I think The Girl Who Loved A Spy is a great read, a perfect and thrilling accompaniment to the rains and a cup of chai. I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it. Waiting to read the next book in the series.
November 22, 2014
When you read great reviews of the book all across the web and when the cover of the book says, “Shortlisted for Hachette-DNA – Hunt for the Next Bestseller”, the expectations are bound to be high. So, with high expectations, I started reading Catching the Departed.
Andy Karan aka Anil Karan Singh left army after 5 years to be an investigative journalist with a magazine. He is sent to a village located on the outskirts of Delhi to investigate the death of a local lawyer and unearth a terror plot. Soon enough he is attacked and had to be hospitalized. With a spate of murders around him, and threat to his life, Andy is determined to get to the root of it, despite dissuasion from his lady boss, Monica. Incidentally, Andy is a part of Army Intelligence and he is caught once again in the whirlwind of chases and murders across Delhi, Mumbai and Murud Janjira. He comes to know of a dangerous mission involving a nuclear bomb. What all will be lost on this ‘unstoppable’ path of destruction? Will Andy put a premature end to the somebody’s evil ambitions? Well, you need to read the book to know that!
The first half of the book has some twists and turns that thrills the reader in you and compel you to keep turning the pages. The book lost its steam by the second half, and somehow it sounded too clichéd and too predictable. I liked the eye for detail in the various scenes and the descriptive style of writing made it very vivid for the reader.
While full justice has been done in carving and shaping Andy’s characters, the other characters lacked depth, personality or individuality. For a character to mastermind terror attacks in the country, I think, KB should have been more wise and shrewd. His plans were not solid enough and his actions were slightly bizarre, especially sleeping with the bomb part! The role of the police seems to be a bit disappointing. Their intelligence network and their action in Murud Janjira was not convincing enough. And Monica’s character could have been a promising one, but she was totally wasted in the story!
Catching the Departed, has all the ingredients of action, drama, love, murders, suspense, but still something is missing in it. I mean, I didn’t get that WOW! feeling during and after having read the book, the feeling that you get after reading a good thriller and that too a book which is touted as the bestseller! A case of high expectations?
http://shilpaagarg.com/2014/11/catchi...
Andy Karan aka Anil Karan Singh left army after 5 years to be an investigative journalist with a magazine. He is sent to a village located on the outskirts of Delhi to investigate the death of a local lawyer and unearth a terror plot. Soon enough he is attacked and had to be hospitalized. With a spate of murders around him, and threat to his life, Andy is determined to get to the root of it, despite dissuasion from his lady boss, Monica. Incidentally, Andy is a part of Army Intelligence and he is caught once again in the whirlwind of chases and murders across Delhi, Mumbai and Murud Janjira. He comes to know of a dangerous mission involving a nuclear bomb. What all will be lost on this ‘unstoppable’ path of destruction? Will Andy put a premature end to the somebody’s evil ambitions? Well, you need to read the book to know that!
The first half of the book has some twists and turns that thrills the reader in you and compel you to keep turning the pages. The book lost its steam by the second half, and somehow it sounded too clichéd and too predictable. I liked the eye for detail in the various scenes and the descriptive style of writing made it very vivid for the reader.
While full justice has been done in carving and shaping Andy’s characters, the other characters lacked depth, personality or individuality. For a character to mastermind terror attacks in the country, I think, KB should have been more wise and shrewd. His plans were not solid enough and his actions were slightly bizarre, especially sleeping with the bomb part! The role of the police seems to be a bit disappointing. Their intelligence network and their action in Murud Janjira was not convincing enough. And Monica’s character could have been a promising one, but she was totally wasted in the story!
Catching the Departed, has all the ingredients of action, drama, love, murders, suspense, but still something is missing in it. I mean, I didn’t get that WOW! feeling during and after having read the book, the feeling that you get after reading a good thriller and that too a book which is touted as the bestseller! A case of high expectations?
http://shilpaagarg.com/2014/11/catchi...
March 31, 2015
The author seems to not have paid much attention to the main characters. Monica's character seems to have been forcefully injected and nothing constructive comes out of it. Not fair to her intelligence. The architect behind all the wrong doings too didn't seem to be enough spiteful to be loathed. They fail to impress. At times they shine and other times they fall flat. The same happens with the story.
This review has been sitting on the back burner for months. My sheer incapability in time management is the sole cause of the delay. Apologies to the author.
An investigative journalist is probing the murder of a lawyer...the black hats and the nasty chain of events that are consequences of the miscreants...our hero's love is just not a pretty face; all this and more from a hamlet near New Delhi to Mumbai breathes through the words of a very capable writer. Kulpreet, after a delicious anthology, India Unlimited, comes on with the first installment of his Andy Karan series, "Catching The Departed". He won a fan in me with his first book and ergo my expectations invariably reached the highest rung of the ladder. Expectations, however, slipped a few rungs down as I progressed with the story.
More on the following link...
http://namrota.blogspot.in/2015/03/bo...
This review has been sitting on the back burner for months. My sheer incapability in time management is the sole cause of the delay. Apologies to the author.
An investigative journalist is probing the murder of a lawyer...the black hats and the nasty chain of events that are consequences of the miscreants...our hero's love is just not a pretty face; all this and more from a hamlet near New Delhi to Mumbai breathes through the words of a very capable writer. Kulpreet, after a delicious anthology, India Unlimited, comes on with the first installment of his Andy Karan series, "Catching The Departed". He won a fan in me with his first book and ergo my expectations invariably reached the highest rung of the ladder. Expectations, however, slipped a few rungs down as I progressed with the story.
More on the following link...
http://namrota.blogspot.in/2015/03/bo...
October 24, 2016
Omg!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE and yes!! "LOVE"!! This book. Words cannot express how amazing this book is. Kulpreet Yadav takes the category of romantic suspense to a whole new level! It had me on the edge of my seat and never mind the hotness level is off the charts! This book just drew me in, held me by the collar and never let go! I was second guessing my theories the entire time I was reading and I loved every second of it! This is a must read. I enjoyed it so much, thank you Kulpreet Yadav for giving us a spectacular story!
October 11, 2014
An engaging thriller. What I admired as a writer was when Andy Karan returns home after a week or more of mayhem, bodies falling etc. etc. to the smell of rotting banana peel in his tiny apartment and the reader then remembers that Andy was eating a banana when he had received a phone call that started it all. Well done Kulpreet.
July 25, 2014
Never expected a thriller from an Indian writer to be so engaging. Kept me hooked right till the end. Andy Karan, our next door spy, is so refreshing. I liked the Mumbai and Murud Janjira island part, towards the second half, which felt like a roller coaster ride.
August 1, 2014
Charged and infectious. This is super-good work. Loved Andy Karan, but Monica, she reminded me of someone I knew at college. This book is high on imagery and has an intense plot.
September 8, 2014
I enjoyed this thriller, very authentic high octane stuff. Andy is terrific...I liked his Indian-ness, truthfulness and courage.
October 23, 2017
When the author, Kulpreet Yadav, offered readers a copy of his book to read and review, I raised my hand. I was intrigued by the title, and by the fact that the author is an ex-army man - as is the hero, Andy Karan, of this thriller.
I was an army kid and I will always have a huge soft spot for the men in khakhi. So when the book arrived, I wanted to read it right away, but couldn't because I was swamped with stuff. Once I did pick it up, though, I was glad that it lived up to my expectations.
The blurb promised twists and turns and nefarious plots and plans and these the story provided in good measure. There was intrigue, a love angle, past angst, and future hope - all woven into a simply told tale of treachery and greed. There are lots of dead bodies for those who don't mind the bullets flying or the knives carving up humans good and bad.
Some lines struck me as being particularly meaningful in the context of the prevailing scenario in the country, like when an older, retired, army captain who is now a bureaucrat tells Andy Karan - "I would much rather be addressed as captain than as joint secretary."
The author tells an engaging story; the plot moves fairly steadily - our hero suffers setback after setback, all handled deftly by him until the final denouncement when, of course, truth trumps over evil. Must read if you enjoy a crisp thriller that is based on regional political issues of immediate concern.
I was an army kid and I will always have a huge soft spot for the men in khakhi. So when the book arrived, I wanted to read it right away, but couldn't because I was swamped with stuff. Once I did pick it up, though, I was glad that it lived up to my expectations.
The blurb promised twists and turns and nefarious plots and plans and these the story provided in good measure. There was intrigue, a love angle, past angst, and future hope - all woven into a simply told tale of treachery and greed. There are lots of dead bodies for those who don't mind the bullets flying or the knives carving up humans good and bad.
Some lines struck me as being particularly meaningful in the context of the prevailing scenario in the country, like when an older, retired, army captain who is now a bureaucrat tells Andy Karan - "I would much rather be addressed as captain than as joint secretary."
The author tells an engaging story; the plot moves fairly steadily - our hero suffers setback after setback, all handled deftly by him until the final denouncement when, of course, truth trumps over evil. Must read if you enjoy a crisp thriller that is based on regional political issues of immediate concern.
April 8, 2017
For last three or four years, I have been trying to read all kinds of books, expanding my world beyond the horizon of literary books. And to my surprise, the spy novels and thrillers have surreptitiously but very beautifully made a niche for themselves in my heart. A little credit for this goes to my first failed attempt to write a thriller. Without being a good reader, one cannot be a good writer. Better the book, greater the chances of improvement.
The Girl Who Loved A Spy by Kulpreet Yadav is one such book. This is the third book in the Andy Karan series and I have been waiting eagerly for this after reading the second book in the series, The Girl Who Love a Pirate, in early 2016.
Set in Delhi NCR, Rewari and Mumbai, it is certainly a gem for the lovers of spy novels. The story begins with the murder of a drunkard in a village in Rewari and it immediately sets the pace to the story as the murder raises a question why someone would kill a poor drunkard man.
As Andy sets out on the mission, his boss Monica seems too concerned for him, hinting a brewing love in her heart for the smart and dashing spy and adding another twist to the story. Andy has an insurmountable challenge because his gut feeling is that a sinister plan is being hatched against the country and soon he discovers it.
A more determined Andy continues on the mission despite several warnings, dangers, murders and withdrawal of permission to investigate the matter. Monica doesn’t want to put his life in danger. But Andy is an Army man to the core and he cannot leave the nation in danger.
Kulpreet Yadav moves with his story in a very immaculate manner and his style is so flawless that it keeps readers hooked to the end of the story. He keeps his language simple and his sentences are short and neat not leaving any space for the ambiguity.
The Girl Who Loved a Spy is a treat for those who love thrill and suspense.
The Girl Who Loved A Spy by Kulpreet Yadav is one such book. This is the third book in the Andy Karan series and I have been waiting eagerly for this after reading the second book in the series, The Girl Who Love a Pirate, in early 2016.
Set in Delhi NCR, Rewari and Mumbai, it is certainly a gem for the lovers of spy novels. The story begins with the murder of a drunkard in a village in Rewari and it immediately sets the pace to the story as the murder raises a question why someone would kill a poor drunkard man.
As Andy sets out on the mission, his boss Monica seems too concerned for him, hinting a brewing love in her heart for the smart and dashing spy and adding another twist to the story. Andy has an insurmountable challenge because his gut feeling is that a sinister plan is being hatched against the country and soon he discovers it.
A more determined Andy continues on the mission despite several warnings, dangers, murders and withdrawal of permission to investigate the matter. Monica doesn’t want to put his life in danger. But Andy is an Army man to the core and he cannot leave the nation in danger.
Kulpreet Yadav moves with his story in a very immaculate manner and his style is so flawless that it keeps readers hooked to the end of the story. He keeps his language simple and his sentences are short and neat not leaving any space for the ambiguity.
The Girl Who Loved a Spy is a treat for those who love thrill and suspense.
April 21, 2015
Pink candies in a thriller. Review of ‘Catching the Departed’
*
Arvind Passey
21 April 2015
*
‘She put her hands around him and looked into his eyes. Andy’s instincts took over. He kissed the pink candies gently at first and then passionately as she played on. Her lips had a tremble of submission in them which gave him greater pleasure and he…’
Now that I have your attention, let me just say that ‘Catching the Departed’ is not about pink candies and Kulpreet Yadav isn’t the sort of detective thriller writer stuffing his book with sensually titillating paragraphs.
So what sort of a writer is he? Well, I can tell you what his book is not… the book isn’t anything like one of the thriller movies that Bollywood makes where the tempo is periodically interrupted by some inane song-and-dance or tear-jerker scene or plagues by long terminally ill melodrama. No, I also don’t mean that it is one of those books where you ‘felt trapped in a computer game with virtual enemies, who had no emotions; but they could kill. And if he killed them, they didn’t know the pain because they never existed in reality. Everything around him was virtual.’ Every moment I spent reading this book made me feel as real as real can be… in fact, there were moments of extreme disconcert because I knew that what I was reading was probably happening somewhere in some corner of the country.
Andy Karan is the fictional character who doesn’t come out as a super hero but certainly as someone who readers will remember long after the book is read… only time will tell if Andy too will have some director making him as immortal as Byomkesh Bakshi. We find Andy even wanting to ‘shed a tear, but like always, he couldn’t. Men never cry, his Army trainers had taught him.’ This novel is about how Andy, the investigative journalist, finds himself ‘at the centre of it all – the terrorists, IB, the tricked magazine, and the government’ and resolutely goes from one intrigue to another apparently unsolvable clue to solve a mystery as plausibly as a real reader of thrillers expect it to be solved.
Now if you think he went around page after page doing his job of discovering crime in a very clinical and monotonous way, you need to think again. Andy does have his share of frights, fights, and horrendous nights that include the times when Dewanchand leads a few villagers and some men ‘pushed the door a few times and finally, it gave way. On a charpoy in the courtyard sat a dazed Andy, his hands tied behind, his mouth taped. Next to him, on the ground, was Gulabo, her eyes half open.’ Nothing can be more real than the protagonist of a detective thriller thanking others for saving his life. But then, these are just some of the reasons we start loving Andy.
This is one book where you wouldn’t really hate the villain as well because, after all, ‘detonating the bomb was not in the original plan’ though now ‘he somehow wanted to go ahead and do it.’ The villain knew ‘what a dirty bomb could do if detonated successfully’ but besides death of innocents, he now wanted ‘the nation’s economy affected irreversibly’ and he believed that there ‘was no such jail anywhere in the world that could contain him. He had money and, therefore, unlimited power. Greedy politicians could be bought easily. He had several of them in his pocket already.’ These plans were of course only the pipe dreams of a doomed villain… especially because Andy Karan was ‘too deep in this whole mess to back away now.’
Every incident that happens in the book rings true. This is vital because when I am reading a thriller I am imagining I am Andy Karan… and besides imagining his titillating pink candies scene with Monica, the editor, I actually love to imagine doing things that sound credible. Even in my imagination I never see myself jumping from the tenth floor and surviving or battling against a dozen terrorists with LMGs and managing to kill them all with just pistol with a few 9mm bullets! Andy, thankfully, does things that are plausible and doesn’t ask you to stretch your imagination beyond wild borders. But it isn’t just the meandering truth in the narration that always matters. What matters is the simplicity of expression. Look, I don’t need to use obfuscating words and expressions, and I don’t need to push in massive tomes of research that the net has made so easy, to write a thriller that thrills. And this thriller thrills because it keeps moving without pauses that make your attention waver. This thriller moves without transforming its protagonist into a pompous prig who has an entire battalion of helpers and truckloads of sophisticated gadgetry. This thriller moves without leaping on a trampoline to reach new heights in mind-boggling details about the socio-economic state of the world and without making every politician and bureaucrat sound and look like a grovelling alley cat. This thriller just moves.
Yes sir, this thriller just moves. What more do you want?
*
Read more posts on my blog: http://www.passey.info
*
Read this review on my blog:
http://passey.info/2015/04/pink-candi...
*
*
Arvind Passey
21 April 2015
*
‘She put her hands around him and looked into his eyes. Andy’s instincts took over. He kissed the pink candies gently at first and then passionately as she played on. Her lips had a tremble of submission in them which gave him greater pleasure and he…’
Now that I have your attention, let me just say that ‘Catching the Departed’ is not about pink candies and Kulpreet Yadav isn’t the sort of detective thriller writer stuffing his book with sensually titillating paragraphs.
So what sort of a writer is he? Well, I can tell you what his book is not… the book isn’t anything like one of the thriller movies that Bollywood makes where the tempo is periodically interrupted by some inane song-and-dance or tear-jerker scene or plagues by long terminally ill melodrama. No, I also don’t mean that it is one of those books where you ‘felt trapped in a computer game with virtual enemies, who had no emotions; but they could kill. And if he killed them, they didn’t know the pain because they never existed in reality. Everything around him was virtual.’ Every moment I spent reading this book made me feel as real as real can be… in fact, there were moments of extreme disconcert because I knew that what I was reading was probably happening somewhere in some corner of the country.
Andy Karan is the fictional character who doesn’t come out as a super hero but certainly as someone who readers will remember long after the book is read… only time will tell if Andy too will have some director making him as immortal as Byomkesh Bakshi. We find Andy even wanting to ‘shed a tear, but like always, he couldn’t. Men never cry, his Army trainers had taught him.’ This novel is about how Andy, the investigative journalist, finds himself ‘at the centre of it all – the terrorists, IB, the tricked magazine, and the government’ and resolutely goes from one intrigue to another apparently unsolvable clue to solve a mystery as plausibly as a real reader of thrillers expect it to be solved.
Now if you think he went around page after page doing his job of discovering crime in a very clinical and monotonous way, you need to think again. Andy does have his share of frights, fights, and horrendous nights that include the times when Dewanchand leads a few villagers and some men ‘pushed the door a few times and finally, it gave way. On a charpoy in the courtyard sat a dazed Andy, his hands tied behind, his mouth taped. Next to him, on the ground, was Gulabo, her eyes half open.’ Nothing can be more real than the protagonist of a detective thriller thanking others for saving his life. But then, these are just some of the reasons we start loving Andy.
This is one book where you wouldn’t really hate the villain as well because, after all, ‘detonating the bomb was not in the original plan’ though now ‘he somehow wanted to go ahead and do it.’ The villain knew ‘what a dirty bomb could do if detonated successfully’ but besides death of innocents, he now wanted ‘the nation’s economy affected irreversibly’ and he believed that there ‘was no such jail anywhere in the world that could contain him. He had money and, therefore, unlimited power. Greedy politicians could be bought easily. He had several of them in his pocket already.’ These plans were of course only the pipe dreams of a doomed villain… especially because Andy Karan was ‘too deep in this whole mess to back away now.’
Every incident that happens in the book rings true. This is vital because when I am reading a thriller I am imagining I am Andy Karan… and besides imagining his titillating pink candies scene with Monica, the editor, I actually love to imagine doing things that sound credible. Even in my imagination I never see myself jumping from the tenth floor and surviving or battling against a dozen terrorists with LMGs and managing to kill them all with just pistol with a few 9mm bullets! Andy, thankfully, does things that are plausible and doesn’t ask you to stretch your imagination beyond wild borders. But it isn’t just the meandering truth in the narration that always matters. What matters is the simplicity of expression. Look, I don’t need to use obfuscating words and expressions, and I don’t need to push in massive tomes of research that the net has made so easy, to write a thriller that thrills. And this thriller thrills because it keeps moving without pauses that make your attention waver. This thriller moves without transforming its protagonist into a pompous prig who has an entire battalion of helpers and truckloads of sophisticated gadgetry. This thriller moves without leaping on a trampoline to reach new heights in mind-boggling details about the socio-economic state of the world and without making every politician and bureaucrat sound and look like a grovelling alley cat. This thriller just moves.
Yes sir, this thriller just moves. What more do you want?
*
Read more posts on my blog: http://www.passey.info
*
Read this review on my blog:
http://passey.info/2015/04/pink-candi...
*
August 24, 2014
B-Grade dumb
SUNDAY GUARDIAN REVIEW
Kulpreet Yadav's debut novel, the first "Andy Karan thriller" the world will ever have to endure, is advertised as a four-hour book. It's a special initiative of the publishers, books that you can finish inside four hours; short 250-page thrillers that promise to not occupy more of your life than two days' commute. It took me 25 hours to finish Catching the Departed, a book that is so badly written that turning pages becomes an ordeal after a point.
It's not just the disregard for the rules of grammar — the argument that popular fiction in English should be written in proper English has been dismissed as an elitist one, and all us lowly sub-editor types can do is cringe at the constant attacks on the hallowed institution of the past perfect tense. Yadav's four-hour misadventure is problematic even when considered purely as commercial fiction.
At one ruminative point in the book, the protagonist Andy Karan muses on his preference for Hollywood films, "with their speed, violence and bad people, who invariably get their just desserts, however smart or strong they looked at the beginning of the film" over Bollywood's "tear jerkers with an abundance of loud colour, make-up and songs". It's instructive of Yadav's own tastes; Catching the Departed resembles nothing more than the script for some nondescript low-budget Hollywood thriller, the kind that only comes on HBO at 2 a.m.
The plot is simple enough, with little room for moral relativism. There are bad guys out there planning a terrorist strike against our glorious country, and it is up to our hero to stop them. (That is, of course, once he figures out that it is indeed that simple, that all those people he's mistrusting out of habit are really the good guys.) He's perfectly equipped for the endeavour, a former soldier who's now an investigative journalist moonlighting as an operative for military intelligence. Then again, a trained monkey would be qualified enough, considering Karan's efforts largely consist of repeatedly getting himself captured, only for the terrorists to let him go.
Yadav even follows Hollywood's proud tradition of misogyny; the book fails the Bechdel test about as spectacularly as Suresh Raina did against the short ball in away Tests. The only female character, Karan's editor Monica — a former model, it turns out — spends the entire book doing little other than worrying about her hunky employee and contemplating whether she's falling in love with him. Karan, who spends one of his hospital visits wishing he had a girlfriend who'd visit him and stave off the boredom, begins having amorous thoughts towards her as well. With nothing to go on save their awkward scenes together, the reader is supposed to get behind the two of them turning into star-crossed lovers. Of course, it's all a ploy. Monica exists only to die and raise the personal stakes further (as if impending nuclear holocaust wasn't enough), which happens minutes after she travels 1,500 km for no apparent reason other than to provide the reader with a sex scene. Her death pains Karan but momentarily; by the epilogue, she's been replaced by Angela, Karan's new editor and/or lover for future instalments of the series.
We talk often about the grim future of the written word, the death of the novel from an onslaught of popular culture less challenging to our attention spans. Catching the Departed is proof that the future is bleak.
SUNDAY GUARDIAN REVIEW
Kulpreet Yadav's debut novel, the first "Andy Karan thriller" the world will ever have to endure, is advertised as a four-hour book. It's a special initiative of the publishers, books that you can finish inside four hours; short 250-page thrillers that promise to not occupy more of your life than two days' commute. It took me 25 hours to finish Catching the Departed, a book that is so badly written that turning pages becomes an ordeal after a point.
It's not just the disregard for the rules of grammar — the argument that popular fiction in English should be written in proper English has been dismissed as an elitist one, and all us lowly sub-editor types can do is cringe at the constant attacks on the hallowed institution of the past perfect tense. Yadav's four-hour misadventure is problematic even when considered purely as commercial fiction.
At one ruminative point in the book, the protagonist Andy Karan muses on his preference for Hollywood films, "with their speed, violence and bad people, who invariably get their just desserts, however smart or strong they looked at the beginning of the film" over Bollywood's "tear jerkers with an abundance of loud colour, make-up and songs". It's instructive of Yadav's own tastes; Catching the Departed resembles nothing more than the script for some nondescript low-budget Hollywood thriller, the kind that only comes on HBO at 2 a.m.
The plot is simple enough, with little room for moral relativism. There are bad guys out there planning a terrorist strike against our glorious country, and it is up to our hero to stop them. (That is, of course, once he figures out that it is indeed that simple, that all those people he's mistrusting out of habit are really the good guys.) He's perfectly equipped for the endeavour, a former soldier who's now an investigative journalist moonlighting as an operative for military intelligence. Then again, a trained monkey would be qualified enough, considering Karan's efforts largely consist of repeatedly getting himself captured, only for the terrorists to let him go.
Yadav even follows Hollywood's proud tradition of misogyny; the book fails the Bechdel test about as spectacularly as Suresh Raina did against the short ball in away Tests. The only female character, Karan's editor Monica — a former model, it turns out — spends the entire book doing little other than worrying about her hunky employee and contemplating whether she's falling in love with him. Karan, who spends one of his hospital visits wishing he had a girlfriend who'd visit him and stave off the boredom, begins having amorous thoughts towards her as well. With nothing to go on save their awkward scenes together, the reader is supposed to get behind the two of them turning into star-crossed lovers. Of course, it's all a ploy. Monica exists only to die and raise the personal stakes further (as if impending nuclear holocaust wasn't enough), which happens minutes after she travels 1,500 km for no apparent reason other than to provide the reader with a sex scene. Her death pains Karan but momentarily; by the epilogue, she's been replaced by Angela, Karan's new editor and/or lover for future instalments of the series.
We talk often about the grim future of the written word, the death of the novel from an onslaught of popular culture less challenging to our attention spans. Catching the Departed is proof that the future is bleak.
March 15, 2017
This one is really a masterpiece. Every single chapter kept me at the edge of the seat.
What i liked the most about this novel is that, not even a single page is written just for the sake of filling pages. Every single page had some content, without which this book would have remained incomplete.
Characters were very well defined and every single character had a purpose in the build up of the story. The way this story is presented is highly appreciable and that is what contributes the most to the real essence of a thriller.
When I was reading this one, I had a feeling as if I was watching a movie. I love movies based on army men and terrorists and sincerely feel that a movie should be made out of this novel as it would turn out to be one among the best thrillers ever produced on military background. It would also help in increasing the reach of this work.
What i liked the most about this novel is that, not even a single page is written just for the sake of filling pages. Every single page had some content, without which this book would have remained incomplete.
Characters were very well defined and every single character had a purpose in the build up of the story. The way this story is presented is highly appreciable and that is what contributes the most to the real essence of a thriller.
When I was reading this one, I had a feeling as if I was watching a movie. I love movies based on army men and terrorists and sincerely feel that a movie should be made out of this novel as it would turn out to be one among the best thrillers ever produced on military background. It would also help in increasing the reach of this work.
March 6, 2015
Andy Karan, the intrepid protagonist of ‘Catching the Departed’, published by Tara India Research Press, would probably be a dream detective in Bollywood! As the description goes, “Andy was always hungry for adventure”, informs the reader of why he becomes an investigative journalist, after a stint in the Indian Army. The action begins when Monica, his beautiful boss at the New Delhi Today magazine, sends him to Tilakpur to look into the murder of Ram Avtar, a drunk who knew too much about a terror plot.
There Andy meets Gulabo, Ram Avtar’s wife, who exudes “the pride which comes from living with bare minimum needs and surrounded by nature”. She admits that her husband has been killed.
The action speeds up as Andy is accosted in his hotel room and hit on the head by unknown assailants. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself in Safdarjung Hospital with concussion, along with the realization that he has stirred up a hornet’s nest, in the midst of a mystery that needs to be solved.
When he meets the elusive Mr. Kapoor, he senses that there are bigger elements at play, and a national emergency to boot. Much against Monica’s wishes, he goes back to Tilakpur, where he walks into Gulabo’s house and straight into a trap. Author Kulpreet Yadav keeps the tension alive, as Andy unravels the mystery, strand by strand, aware that his enemies are always one step ahead of him. He carries on relentlessly, for “where life and death become part of a plan, Andy Karan felt most comfortable.”
There are many questions that tantalize the reader. What is happening in the island fort of Marud Janjira? Who is the enemy that Andy has to face? Why is this a matter of life and death? What roles do Monica, and her influential boss, Krishna Bedi, have to play in the entire plot? Will Andy be able to cut through the brambles and act before it is too late?
There are many pawns in the game that play their parts and disappear. The action continues, unabated, as Andy goes through a gamut of feelings, from overweening confidence to the nadir of despair, when he compares himself to his unfortunate namesake from the Mahabharata. These moments make him intensely human, even though they are momentary.
The story hurtles towards a climax that is chilling. The style is racy, the narrative gripping. There is a sense of familiarity as the reader traverses through many landmarks in Delhi. This is a book that sticks to its genre of crime fiction faithfully, and pins its readers to the edge of their seats. Thus, it comes as no surprise that it was shortlisted for the Hachette-DNA ‘Hunt for the Next Bestseller’.
If there is one aspect that would have added on to the appeal of the book, it is the characterization of Monica. Maybe, the author could have fleshed her out a little more, and made her more authentic. One gets the feeling that she was more of a glamorous prop and less of a living and breathing person who made a difference to the narration.
Apart from that one point, ‘Catching the Departed’ comes across as a true blue mystery. Andy Karan reveals enough charisma to charm his readers in the future as well!
Verdict: A fast paced, interesting read!
There Andy meets Gulabo, Ram Avtar’s wife, who exudes “the pride which comes from living with bare minimum needs and surrounded by nature”. She admits that her husband has been killed.
The action speeds up as Andy is accosted in his hotel room and hit on the head by unknown assailants. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself in Safdarjung Hospital with concussion, along with the realization that he has stirred up a hornet’s nest, in the midst of a mystery that needs to be solved.
When he meets the elusive Mr. Kapoor, he senses that there are bigger elements at play, and a national emergency to boot. Much against Monica’s wishes, he goes back to Tilakpur, where he walks into Gulabo’s house and straight into a trap. Author Kulpreet Yadav keeps the tension alive, as Andy unravels the mystery, strand by strand, aware that his enemies are always one step ahead of him. He carries on relentlessly, for “where life and death become part of a plan, Andy Karan felt most comfortable.”
There are many questions that tantalize the reader. What is happening in the island fort of Marud Janjira? Who is the enemy that Andy has to face? Why is this a matter of life and death? What roles do Monica, and her influential boss, Krishna Bedi, have to play in the entire plot? Will Andy be able to cut through the brambles and act before it is too late?
There are many pawns in the game that play their parts and disappear. The action continues, unabated, as Andy goes through a gamut of feelings, from overweening confidence to the nadir of despair, when he compares himself to his unfortunate namesake from the Mahabharata. These moments make him intensely human, even though they are momentary.
The story hurtles towards a climax that is chilling. The style is racy, the narrative gripping. There is a sense of familiarity as the reader traverses through many landmarks in Delhi. This is a book that sticks to its genre of crime fiction faithfully, and pins its readers to the edge of their seats. Thus, it comes as no surprise that it was shortlisted for the Hachette-DNA ‘Hunt for the Next Bestseller’.
If there is one aspect that would have added on to the appeal of the book, it is the characterization of Monica. Maybe, the author could have fleshed her out a little more, and made her more authentic. One gets the feeling that she was more of a glamorous prop and less of a living and breathing person who made a difference to the narration.
Apart from that one point, ‘Catching the Departed’ comes across as a true blue mystery. Andy Karan reveals enough charisma to charm his readers in the future as well!
Verdict: A fast paced, interesting read!
April 13, 2015
The most impressive part about the book is its prologue which is so beautifully written that it begs some serious reading. Our protagonist, the banana-eating, army badass, Andy Karan heads off to a nondescript village in Haryana to investigate for a murder that no one really cares about. The book is essentially more of a spy thriller than detective fiction.
The writing developed some fatigue in the middle. The dialogues almost disappeared and the narration started looking hurried. The protagonist of the novel Andy Karan slowly developed into a vulnerable target who had nothing but brawns to help him survive in this cruel world. He is no Hercule Poirot, not even close. He is just an adventurous, brave guy with an interesting history. The female lead character of the novel- Monica isn't technically a lead character. In general, the novel gave her only two options- you are either a vamp or a sitting duck. The undercurrent of sexism might be something that would enrage feminazis. In a recent review of Khushwant Singh's Maharaja in Denims' I have already talked about the problem of sexism in pulp fiction. Now I am getting the idea that maybe I am trying to see something which is supposed to be a masala entertainer with too keen an eye. So, nevermind.
Anyway, the novel did manage to keep my attention right till the end. I did see a gradual deterioration in the quality of writing and editing as the novel progressed. The colloquialism in narrative phrases (as opposed to dialogues, where it is ok because it makes them sound realistic) was mildly disturbing. Instead of 'terrified or horrified', the author had chosen phrases like 'worried as hell'. The language still is one of the high points of the novel. Those simplified phrases seem intentional to make the novel suit a wider audience.
It was a breezy read and I was able to finish it in a very short amount of time. You should watch out for the beautiful language in the beginning and start expecting less as you move toward the end- that seems to be the way to enjoy this racy read. Also, I am quite aware that powerful woman characters are not the highlight of a masala detective fiction and so must be the case with the reader who is easily offended by portrayal of women as the weaker sex.
The cover design has been beautifully done and adds to the appeal. The pages are crisp and nice. The character- Andy Karan has good potential as he has his peculiar quirks, His vulnerability and too much reliance of brute force are maybe the points the author wants to look at in the subsequent books. The interesting analogy with Mahabharata's character Karn is thought-provoking but slightly overdone. The author needs to be a little innovative in that field. Read the book if you are looking for a light entertainer. No blood and gore to scare the weak-hearted, this book will cure your hangover.
The writing developed some fatigue in the middle. The dialogues almost disappeared and the narration started looking hurried. The protagonist of the novel Andy Karan slowly developed into a vulnerable target who had nothing but brawns to help him survive in this cruel world. He is no Hercule Poirot, not even close. He is just an adventurous, brave guy with an interesting history. The female lead character of the novel- Monica isn't technically a lead character. In general, the novel gave her only two options- you are either a vamp or a sitting duck. The undercurrent of sexism might be something that would enrage feminazis. In a recent review of Khushwant Singh's Maharaja in Denims' I have already talked about the problem of sexism in pulp fiction. Now I am getting the idea that maybe I am trying to see something which is supposed to be a masala entertainer with too keen an eye. So, nevermind.
Anyway, the novel did manage to keep my attention right till the end. I did see a gradual deterioration in the quality of writing and editing as the novel progressed. The colloquialism in narrative phrases (as opposed to dialogues, where it is ok because it makes them sound realistic) was mildly disturbing. Instead of 'terrified or horrified', the author had chosen phrases like 'worried as hell'. The language still is one of the high points of the novel. Those simplified phrases seem intentional to make the novel suit a wider audience.
It was a breezy read and I was able to finish it in a very short amount of time. You should watch out for the beautiful language in the beginning and start expecting less as you move toward the end- that seems to be the way to enjoy this racy read. Also, I am quite aware that powerful woman characters are not the highlight of a masala detective fiction and so must be the case with the reader who is easily offended by portrayal of women as the weaker sex.
The cover design has been beautifully done and adds to the appeal. The pages are crisp and nice. The character- Andy Karan has good potential as he has his peculiar quirks, His vulnerability and too much reliance of brute force are maybe the points the author wants to look at in the subsequent books. The interesting analogy with Mahabharata's character Karn is thought-provoking but slightly overdone. The author needs to be a little innovative in that field. Read the book if you are looking for a light entertainer. No blood and gore to scare the weak-hearted, this book will cure your hangover.
June 14, 2015
They say to grab attention of the readers in a thriller/mystery genre, make the murder happen as quickly as possible. Kulpreet does this within the first 3 pages and that's what intrigues you about the book straight away. As the book proceeds, the plot thickens and even though writing wavers in the middle portions and plot slips, the writing is competent enough to take you through the end.
A ghastly murder in the dead of night at a faraway village in the capital's underbelly sets the motion in 'Catching the Departed' - the first in the Andy Karan trilogy. Andy Karan is an investigative journalist with a mission. Monica, his boss at the New Delhi Today magazine, assigns him to unravel the mystery behind the death of a local lawyer. Slowly, Andy Karan embarks on a life-threatening journey that lands him into the centre of a much bigger conspiracy.
The character of Andy Karan, also ex-Army personnel in the book, is modelled upon one of Mahabharata's legendary warriors and often misunderstood soldiers, Karan. Much like the hero from the epic, Andy refuses to walk the path of corruption and politics. He embodies all qualities of a patriot who is willing to die upholding the virtues of truth, friendship and love; but can never bring himself to live a borrowed life dictated by someone else's terms and conditions.
The author shows an eye for detail in setting up the countryside scenes and there are couple of wonderfully etched out scenes when Andy first starts his interrogation. The story pace is brisk, punctuated with short, saucy sentences and keeps you turning pages to know what lies ahead. As the story progresses, motivations of antagonists and other additional information appear which at times is hazy but do keep the book at a tight leash.
The minor quibbles about the book are what ultimately does not take it to the next level. The female character hardly justify the presence - Monica's presence is mere ornamental and even though at one point she does set off things in motion, it is hardly convincing. The editing with respect to grammatical and punctuation mistakes could have been much better. I also could not get my head around the Vietnam and North Korean connection for Andy. The unnecessary time shifts also creates somewhat confusing experience.
Barring these nitpicking's, Catching the departed is a competent thriller in the first of Andy Karan series. I am going with 3/5 for this one. I hope to read two more books in this series in the future.
A ghastly murder in the dead of night at a faraway village in the capital's underbelly sets the motion in 'Catching the Departed' - the first in the Andy Karan trilogy. Andy Karan is an investigative journalist with a mission. Monica, his boss at the New Delhi Today magazine, assigns him to unravel the mystery behind the death of a local lawyer. Slowly, Andy Karan embarks on a life-threatening journey that lands him into the centre of a much bigger conspiracy.
The character of Andy Karan, also ex-Army personnel in the book, is modelled upon one of Mahabharata's legendary warriors and often misunderstood soldiers, Karan. Much like the hero from the epic, Andy refuses to walk the path of corruption and politics. He embodies all qualities of a patriot who is willing to die upholding the virtues of truth, friendship and love; but can never bring himself to live a borrowed life dictated by someone else's terms and conditions.
The author shows an eye for detail in setting up the countryside scenes and there are couple of wonderfully etched out scenes when Andy first starts his interrogation. The story pace is brisk, punctuated with short, saucy sentences and keeps you turning pages to know what lies ahead. As the story progresses, motivations of antagonists and other additional information appear which at times is hazy but do keep the book at a tight leash.
The minor quibbles about the book are what ultimately does not take it to the next level. The female character hardly justify the presence - Monica's presence is mere ornamental and even though at one point she does set off things in motion, it is hardly convincing. The editing with respect to grammatical and punctuation mistakes could have been much better. I also could not get my head around the Vietnam and North Korean connection for Andy. The unnecessary time shifts also creates somewhat confusing experience.
Barring these nitpicking's, Catching the departed is a competent thriller in the first of Andy Karan series. I am going with 3/5 for this one. I hope to read two more books in this series in the future.
August 17, 2014
I had two books for this long week end. One was the award winning ‘Chronicles of the Corpse Bearer’ and the other one ‘Catching the departed’, third book from Kulpreet Yadav. It seemed he has really departed from his other two books. This was really a winner for me instead of the shortlist of Hatchette. Recently I have read one detective book Lee childs Jack Reacher thriller. It will not be an exaggeration if I say, I could not really feel the difference between the Lee’s and Kulpreet’s writing.
Book starts with a bang with a murder of an unknown drunkard in a sleepy forgotten village outside Delhi. This one incident, develops into a mega conspiracy of fugitives from within the country and outside it. The protagonist Andy Karan is the Indian Jack Reacher in many ways. He is an ex army Captain who picks up the job of a press reporter who happens to be in the middle of a big story, when he goes to report the murder of the villager. He refuses to back out of the investigation, and finds himself in the midst of RAW and NSG team, investigating the murders and the larger conspiracy of a nuclear bomb. His boss and girlfriend angle adds spice to the whole spine chilling thriller.
This book could take me along to finish the 255 pages in a day’s time because, the Andy Karan’s characterisation was so demanding; it was as if he was reminding me of Tom Cruise in the movie Jack Reacher. In India, Salman Khan could be the right person to play the role of Andy Karan. I liked it.
Book starts with a bang with a murder of an unknown drunkard in a sleepy forgotten village outside Delhi. This one incident, develops into a mega conspiracy of fugitives from within the country and outside it. The protagonist Andy Karan is the Indian Jack Reacher in many ways. He is an ex army Captain who picks up the job of a press reporter who happens to be in the middle of a big story, when he goes to report the murder of the villager. He refuses to back out of the investigation, and finds himself in the midst of RAW and NSG team, investigating the murders and the larger conspiracy of a nuclear bomb. His boss and girlfriend angle adds spice to the whole spine chilling thriller.
This book could take me along to finish the 255 pages in a day’s time because, the Andy Karan’s characterisation was so demanding; it was as if he was reminding me of Tom Cruise in the movie Jack Reacher. In India, Salman Khan could be the right person to play the role of Andy Karan. I liked it.
December 26, 2014
Just finished reading book 'Catching the Departed'. I must say I found it Very captivating & thrilling one. The pace was never lost. Some of small witty dialogues about human behavior & situation left me mesmerized about Writer's writing capabilities & I said to my wife "see every writer notice small things, store them in his mind & heart for years and then whenever he gets chance he incorporate them in his writing.
The book had very few dialogues between characters most of the times it was narrated by third person (may be due to thriller genre) so It was a learning experience for a beginner writer like me to express or explain the situation without talking too much.
I felt bad & thought Monica shouldn't have been killed but I know it was required to pump up Andy & the readers to kill the bastard K.D at any cost & then I thought yes we have seen Helan killing in the end in almost all the bollywood movies so here also :)
I will surely recommend this book for all book lover. Go for it....you will not be disappointed.
The book had very few dialogues between characters most of the times it was narrated by third person (may be due to thriller genre) so It was a learning experience for a beginner writer like me to express or explain the situation without talking too much.
I felt bad & thought Monica shouldn't have been killed but I know it was required to pump up Andy & the readers to kill the bastard K.D at any cost & then I thought yes we have seen Helan killing in the end in almost all the bollywood movies so here also :)
I will surely recommend this book for all book lover. Go for it....you will not be disappointed.
April 14, 2015
Kulpreet Yadav Potrays Andy Karan in a very interesting manner. Set in almost 3 locations, the author gives a realistic feel and setting to the storyline, along with precise attention to detail.
The Potrayal of a village setting is infact apt and quite natural the way it is supposed to be found in Most Haryana Villages. This Book infact leaves the reader quite frustated in some scenes, where The "Hero" Would keep repeating his mistakes, but again, its a mere potrayal of how Life can keep giving twists and turns even while in deep shit. even the traits of characters in the book are really live, with the author making sure to maintain that, with respect to the location the character is played in.
One Major flaw i find with the book is the unnecessary Linkup between Andy and Monika including some steamy action between them.
Inspite of this, The book is definitely a one time read, with an open mind and it just keeps getting better for all you Spy thriller Fans out there..
The Potrayal of a village setting is infact apt and quite natural the way it is supposed to be found in Most Haryana Villages. This Book infact leaves the reader quite frustated in some scenes, where The "Hero" Would keep repeating his mistakes, but again, its a mere potrayal of how Life can keep giving twists and turns even while in deep shit. even the traits of characters in the book are really live, with the author making sure to maintain that, with respect to the location the character is played in.
One Major flaw i find with the book is the unnecessary Linkup between Andy and Monika including some steamy action between them.
Inspite of this, The book is definitely a one time read, with an open mind and it just keeps getting better for all you Spy thriller Fans out there..
February 17, 2015
3.25 Stars
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A typical storyline!!
The story bears typical characteristics like thrilling sequence of events, little bit of love, well not much of suspense/mystery but classy protagonist excited to face risky adventures and shady villain playing good-guy upfront society.
Narrations as well as writing is good with no visible flaws. However it felt that there is still scope of improving and refining the overall quality.
One thing I liked in particular is the epilogue, the way writer ends on an inclined note with Andy ready for next installment of adventurous episode.
-------------------------
A typical storyline!!
The story bears typical characteristics like thrilling sequence of events, little bit of love, well not much of suspense/mystery but classy protagonist excited to face risky adventures and shady villain playing good-guy upfront society.
Narrations as well as writing is good with no visible flaws. However it felt that there is still scope of improving and refining the overall quality.
One thing I liked in particular is the epilogue, the way writer ends on an inclined note with Andy ready for next installment of adventurous episode.
January 21, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I have got a problem with Indian writers writing in English. For some reason, they try to use very complicated language and because of that I’m not able to enjoy the story. I bought this from the railway station and I was slightly doubtful in the beginning but when I started to read I was totally absorbed in the story. The language is so simple that anyone can read and understand. The story is good, the Haryana rural scenery with crime and spy work are described beautifully. I liked the Mumbai portions too though I have been to Mumbai only once. The climax is sudden but the epilogue filled my eyes with tears. Very good book.
September 2, 2014
when I get the parcel from goodreads and open it to look at the book the first reaction was impressive! I mean the cover attracts me to just start reading . the book itself was a easy read literally a four hour book.The story have many twist and turns and sadly it is one of those book the chooses sad love story with main love interest's death only to find out the in the end history repeated itself and a new journey began.The story itself was good and kulpreet yadav manage to creat a great "nuclear bomb crises" type of story.The theme itself was not new but the plotting was.
February 12, 2015
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. The plot of the story was good and it was a commendable effort, coming from an Indian author. The unveiling of the plot was gripping halfway through. But in the second half, the progress became predictable with a typical Bollywood-style romance coming in the way of the lead's job. There were not many twists to the story in the latter half, and the ending missed the WOW factor expected in a thriller. But the simplicity of the language and the detailed descriptions in each scene are noteworthy.
September 14, 2014
Full review: http://antorjatikbangali.wordpress.co...
Catching the Departed is the first in a series of suspense thrillers with Andy Karan as the protagonist. Andy is an investigative journalist who works is also an ex-army man. It is said that the dead cannot speak, but they do leave a trail behind. Andy embarks on one such journey to uncover the mystery of the murder of a lawyer in Tilakpur.
Catching the Departed is the first in a series of suspense thrillers with Andy Karan as the protagonist. Andy is an investigative journalist who works is also an ex-army man. It is said that the dead cannot speak, but they do leave a trail behind. Andy embarks on one such journey to uncover the mystery of the murder of a lawyer in Tilakpur.
December 21, 2016
This book has everything that a good mystery novel should have. Once I started reading it, I was not able to stop myself and finished it in one go. I liked the swift action and the urban-ish prose even though the initial portions were in a small village. After Mumbai, the story becomes almost addictive. The suspense and the emotional ending are very powerful too. Strongly recommended for those who love action-packed books.
January 22, 2017
I mainly enjoyed the story because it breaks the stereotype about our society. Monica is ten years older and Andy is in love with her. This message is the backbone and I think that’s one of the main strengths of the book that it takes on tough modern issues. Andy Karan’s Mahabharata angle is important too. Everyone in India is like Andy Karan in numerous ways of patriotism and service before self.
January 25, 2017
Spies and beautiful girls, it seemed like a James Bond movie and the covers also hinted so. But this is nothing like James Bond. It’s an Indian story of a spy who is willing to sacrifice everything that comes in the way of his duty, even his love. Hard-hitting storyline and central theme, I enjoyed reading the novel. Arabian sea, islands, boats, cars, bombs, police and spies etc. There was a lot of stuff that kept me hooked throughout.
March 23, 2015
A novel certainly interesting, the title makes it more justice to the dark plot of the story and in fact is a novel full of dark spots and hidden things, waiting for someone who can shed some light. The pace of the novel is fast and the events follow one another, and the reader at first sight is struck by the mystery.
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