What do you think?
Rate this book
Truth Lake
Set in contemporary India, this gripping literary suspense novel explores the mindsets and paranoia of individuals caught up in the search for a savage killer, but finding along the way seduction, self doubt, and redemption. Truth Lake was shortlisted for the Debut Dagger, and will appeal to readers with an interest in exciting locations, detective fiction and those who enjoy top notch prose.
In the sweltering heat of a Delhi summer, Sara and Adam, two British backpackers, arrive in Delhi in a state of fear and exhaustion. Their story is deceptively trekking near an isolated lake in the high Himalayas, they have encountered a forest village full of hostile women, and stumbled on a grotesque corpse, almost certainly a White male.
Their host in Delhi is Antonio Sinbari, an expat Italian tycoon with an interest in acquiring Himalayan land for his latest development project. He insists that acting police chief Hàrélal should investigate, and do it discreetly. Hàrélal who is beset by personal demons – his fiesty daughter Tanya, a desire to be promoted – agrees. A suspicious foreign death in India does not look good for anyone.
Propelled by police chief Hàrélal’s ambition, and a sense that the young tourists have lied about their misadventure in the mountains, maverick detective Kailash Karmel finds himself en route to the Himalayas, to a village called Saahitaal. Truth Lake.
It is there in the pouring monsoon rain, surrounded by lonely women, and maddened by a growing infatuation for one of his suspects, that Karmel’s morbid investigation will trigger violence, paranoia, and another murder.
In the sweltering heat of a Delhi summer, Sara and Adam, two British backpackers, arrive in Delhi in a state of fear and exhaustion. Their story is deceptively trekking near an isolated lake in the high Himalayas, they have encountered a forest village full of hostile women, and stumbled on a grotesque corpse, almost certainly a White male.
Their host in Delhi is Antonio Sinbari, an expat Italian tycoon with an interest in acquiring Himalayan land for his latest development project. He insists that acting police chief Hàrélal should investigate, and do it discreetly. Hàrélal who is beset by personal demons – his fiesty daughter Tanya, a desire to be promoted – agrees. A suspicious foreign death in India does not look good for anyone.
Propelled by police chief Hàrélal’s ambition, and a sense that the young tourists have lied about their misadventure in the mountains, maverick detective Kailash Karmel finds himself en route to the Himalayas, to a village called Saahitaal. Truth Lake.
It is there in the pouring monsoon rain, surrounded by lonely women, and maddened by a growing infatuation for one of his suspects, that Karmel’s morbid investigation will trigger violence, paranoia, and another murder.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2015
4 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 31, 2023
Professor Shaku the mind that you have
July 14, 2015
Wonderfully written, every nuance of each place that is visited throughout the book is depicted beautifully by this authors skilled mind. She grabs hold of us and takes us on a sometimes scary, sometimes happy, sometimes just downright twisted journey that leaves us wanting more. Her ability to take a character and bring it to life on her pages is amazing! I have never been to India but I kinda feel like I have now. Sorry, I don't do those big spoiler reviews where I highlight all the major events in the book, I just tell it like it is, and this author has some phenomenal skills.
Get It, Read It, you will understand what I am saying.
Kudos Ms. Banaji !! Can’t wait for the next one.
Get It, Read It, you will understand what I am saying.
Kudos Ms. Banaji !! Can’t wait for the next one.
July 17, 2015
I downloaded Truth Lake since I'm a big fan of crime novels and I have to say I'm really happy that I did. The story is extremely well written with just the right amount of mystery, suspense, crime, and a bit of romance that had me absolutely glued to it from beginning to end. It's rare that you find an author that can create a unique mystery like this which is what impressed me the most. All of the characters, my favorite probably being Sara, are all vividly described and well developed as you go through the story. If you are a fan of books by Stephen Booth or Patricia Highsmith you will love this. Really glad I found this.
September 28, 2015
Truth Lake reads a little like literature and a little like crime fiction. It is good as far as first novels go, although toward the end it started to feel to me as if it could have ended 50 to 60 pagers sooner than it did.
October 12, 2015
As far as the genre goes Truth Lake is of the best books I have read in quite some time. The plot is cleverly conceived with multiple strands which come together without losing momentum. The big thing for me was the location which was refreshingly different and added an interesting cultural aspect.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews