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Half A Shadow
Three deaths - a beautiful bride, a young businessman, and a famous doctor.
Crime arises from its protracted slumber in Udaipur, and the City of Lakes finally sheds its veil of tranquillity.
Trapped in the heart of the mayhem, is Dr. Aditya Deshmukh, a quintessential loser.
In order to redeem himself and wrench his soul free of the guilt of a
‘murder most foul,’ he has to find the missing links between Abraham and Sarasvati, Abhimanyu and Sumitra, Yasser Arafat and Vladimir Putin.
The body count continues to rise as Aditya gropes in the darkness.
Hunted by an enemy he can’t see, devoured by a love he can’t consummate, and guided by a friend he can’t trust, he is caught up in a race against time where he can’t afford to be the runner-up……………………..
Crime arises from its protracted slumber in Udaipur, and the City of Lakes finally sheds its veil of tranquillity.
Trapped in the heart of the mayhem, is Dr. Aditya Deshmukh, a quintessential loser.
In order to redeem himself and wrench his soul free of the guilt of a
‘murder most foul,’ he has to find the missing links between Abraham and Sarasvati, Abhimanyu and Sumitra, Yasser Arafat and Vladimir Putin.
The body count continues to rise as Aditya gropes in the darkness.
Hunted by an enemy he can’t see, devoured by a love he can’t consummate, and guided by a friend he can’t trust, he is caught up in a race against time where he can’t afford to be the runner-up……………………..
232 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2016
23 people want to read
About the author
Anurag Shourie
8 books8 followersA poet at heart, a writer by choice and an anesthesiologist by default. He has degrees in medicine and hospital administration in his kit, but love for the written word in his soul. An ardent Ruskin Bond fan, his hobbies include music and sports which he pursues with equal fervour. He is presently employed with a multinational Clinical Research Organization. He can be reached at sdranurag9@gmail.com. His poetic wares are on display at his blog-dranuragshourie.blogspot.in
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 1, 2019
Book Title: Half a Shadow
Author: Anurag Shourie
Format: Paperback
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Half a Shadow ' is mystic, mysterious and so different. I found it hard to guess the storyline with the title.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is a glass of whiskey with a syringe in it hinting the story might be a doctor's or something related to the field of medicine. Or another line of the story that struck my mind is someone who is an addicted drinker and often punishes himself\herself with abusive ways of life.
Plot:
The story starts with the witnessing of three murders of three different people under three different circumstances in the same city, Udaipur. There are two main protagonists. One is Dr. Aditya, a successful anesthesiologist in one of the leading hospitals who is also a person facing many challenges in his personal life and an addictive alcoholic. The other is Police Officer Vijay Raj who also happens to Aditya's uncle. When carrying out the study of the murders taking place in the city, both sense quite a resemblance and thus a thorough study leads them to a great mystery that they unfold.
Read this story to know how the duo has chased the mysterious murder mystery in the city of lakes, Udaipur.
What I like:
1. First and foremost thing that I want to highlight is the rich language used in the book.
2. The second point that I wanted to highlight is the book's quality. The cover, the font, the print, and the beautiful presentation made me read the book without keeping it down. Yes, sometimes the physical look of a book does win hearts.
3. In the story, themes like mystery, murder, suspense, disappointment, vengeance, greed, and inhuman thinking are intertwined into one thread making it an interesting read.
4. The language used in the book keeps up the spirit of reading, though at places the story may fall flat due to many reasons. The same is what I have experienced when reading this.
5. Though the character Aditya in the story looks like inspired by some movies where doctors though are successful in their profession but face various personal issues, yet, when the duty comes forth often chase it elegantly.
6. It is quite wondering how the author thought about adding an interesting thread of mythology in between a murder mystery with a medical background.
7. Though the book at one point looks like a platter of different subjects, the author has very successfully interlaced everything.
8. The combination of a doctor and a cop who also is the detective in chasing the mystery is interesting.
What I didn't like:
1. I understand that the author has complete liberty in defining the characters but what I have observed in Indian Authors is that when it comes to the portrayal of a female character, very few describe her as a stout or obese or short or brown skinned. This point in the book of mentioning a female character based on physical look is a thumbs down.
2. At some places, I felt many characters and events described one after the other in a fast pace created a little confusion.
Characters:
Strong and commendable characters with a meaning of every deed are found in the story.
Narration:
This is where the author has won my heart and mind. Well, when the author himself who is also a Doctor by profession, his prowess in using a great language is icing on the cake. A wonderful narration with many subplots and twists in the story is handled with great efforts.
Language & Grammar:
Great language and rich vocabulary are used in the book.
My Final Verdict:
Read the book for some very great narration and interesting story.
Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 4/5
Language & Grammar: 5/5
Final Rating: 4/5
Author: Anurag Shourie
Format: Paperback
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Half a Shadow ' is mystic, mysterious and so different. I found it hard to guess the storyline with the title.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is a glass of whiskey with a syringe in it hinting the story might be a doctor's or something related to the field of medicine. Or another line of the story that struck my mind is someone who is an addicted drinker and often punishes himself\herself with abusive ways of life.
Plot:
The story starts with the witnessing of three murders of three different people under three different circumstances in the same city, Udaipur. There are two main protagonists. One is Dr. Aditya, a successful anesthesiologist in one of the leading hospitals who is also a person facing many challenges in his personal life and an addictive alcoholic. The other is Police Officer Vijay Raj who also happens to Aditya's uncle. When carrying out the study of the murders taking place in the city, both sense quite a resemblance and thus a thorough study leads them to a great mystery that they unfold.
Read this story to know how the duo has chased the mysterious murder mystery in the city of lakes, Udaipur.
What I like:
1. First and foremost thing that I want to highlight is the rich language used in the book.
2. The second point that I wanted to highlight is the book's quality. The cover, the font, the print, and the beautiful presentation made me read the book without keeping it down. Yes, sometimes the physical look of a book does win hearts.
3. In the story, themes like mystery, murder, suspense, disappointment, vengeance, greed, and inhuman thinking are intertwined into one thread making it an interesting read.
4. The language used in the book keeps up the spirit of reading, though at places the story may fall flat due to many reasons. The same is what I have experienced when reading this.
5. Though the character Aditya in the story looks like inspired by some movies where doctors though are successful in their profession but face various personal issues, yet, when the duty comes forth often chase it elegantly.
6. It is quite wondering how the author thought about adding an interesting thread of mythology in between a murder mystery with a medical background.
7. Though the book at one point looks like a platter of different subjects, the author has very successfully interlaced everything.
8. The combination of a doctor and a cop who also is the detective in chasing the mystery is interesting.
What I didn't like:
1. I understand that the author has complete liberty in defining the characters but what I have observed in Indian Authors is that when it comes to the portrayal of a female character, very few describe her as a stout or obese or short or brown skinned. This point in the book of mentioning a female character based on physical look is a thumbs down.
2. At some places, I felt many characters and events described one after the other in a fast pace created a little confusion.
Characters:
Strong and commendable characters with a meaning of every deed are found in the story.
Narration:
This is where the author has won my heart and mind. Well, when the author himself who is also a Doctor by profession, his prowess in using a great language is icing on the cake. A wonderful narration with many subplots and twists in the story is handled with great efforts.
Language & Grammar:
Great language and rich vocabulary are used in the book.
My Final Verdict:
Read the book for some very great narration and interesting story.
Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 4/5
Language & Grammar: 5/5
Final Rating: 4/5
May 24, 2016
'I received a free copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'
In Half A Shadow, Anurag Shourie investigates the power and perils of the medical world in a consistently absorbing narrative.
In the city of lakes, Udaipur, when three dead bodies turn up at different locales but within a very short period of time, it leaves the investigators wondering: were these instances of accident or murder. The unrelated victims – a young businessman, a beautiful bride and a famous doctor – share a common connection. They had gone to the same nursing home before they died abruptly. Vijay Raj, the chief investigator helped by his nephew Aditya Deshmukh, covers most of the investigatory components, which ultimately bring to light the gloriously elaborate connections to the death. A week is all it takes for the otherwise tranquil city to get caught up in a mayhem that is a result of greed and power play.
The setting of the story feels vertiginous and shiny, but this lushness is described in matter-of-fact observance. Medical procedures and facts are described in details. A lot of hard work and research has gone into the making of this novel and it is evident in the way the story unfolds. Anurag Shourie has indeed penned a medical saga that packs a sizable number of plot twists and characters without getting tangled. - See more at: http://ministryofmagik.blogspot.in
In Half A Shadow, Anurag Shourie investigates the power and perils of the medical world in a consistently absorbing narrative.
In the city of lakes, Udaipur, when three dead bodies turn up at different locales but within a very short period of time, it leaves the investigators wondering: were these instances of accident or murder. The unrelated victims – a young businessman, a beautiful bride and a famous doctor – share a common connection. They had gone to the same nursing home before they died abruptly. Vijay Raj, the chief investigator helped by his nephew Aditya Deshmukh, covers most of the investigatory components, which ultimately bring to light the gloriously elaborate connections to the death. A week is all it takes for the otherwise tranquil city to get caught up in a mayhem that is a result of greed and power play.
The setting of the story feels vertiginous and shiny, but this lushness is described in matter-of-fact observance. Medical procedures and facts are described in details. A lot of hard work and research has gone into the making of this novel and it is evident in the way the story unfolds. Anurag Shourie has indeed penned a medical saga that packs a sizable number of plot twists and characters without getting tangled. - See more at: http://ministryofmagik.blogspot.in
March 3, 2018
Half a shadow by Anurag Shourie, is a mytho-medical thriller. The story begins with three deaths – a beautiful bride, a young businessman, and a famous doctor. Crime arises from its stretched slumber in Udaipur finally showing up true colours. Trapped in the heart of the mayhem, is Dr. Aditya Deshmukh, who works at J.J Memorial Hospital as an anesthesiologist. He is an alcoholic with a troublesome personal life and his Uncle Vijay Raj who is a cop is his guardian. The duo play essential roles during the climax. That was all about the medical part of the book, after which the mythology story took over. In order to redeem himself and wrench his soul free of the guilt of murder, Aditya had to find the missing links between Abraham and Sarasvati, Abimanyu and Sumitra, Yasser Arafat and Vladimir Putin. Dead body count keeps rising as Aditya gropes in the darkness. Hunted by an enemy he can’t see, devoured by a love he can’t consummate, and guided by a friend that he can’t trust, he is caught up in a race against time where there’s no choice but to win.
The author seems to have a pretty good command over the English language but perhaps some words could be simplified for better flow of the text. Though too many characters were introduced right at the beginning of the novel (in the first few chapters especially) it is commendable that the author built the characters with such intricacy that the readers wouldn’t be confused. The book gives you exactly as much as you need to know about them, neither more nor less. The writer should be applauded for having exposed current medical malpractices. This book in the first part makes one ponder over the ‘loss of humanity’ in today’s world!
The book crosses genres, namely medical thriller and mythological fiction, but the 2 could gel better for this book. The plot was great and had the developmental edits been paid attention to, this book could’ve been one of the very firsts of its kind. Never mind, because as a debut, this is truly much better than what most authors produce. Also, the refraction of light through the glass on the cover image could’ve been better portrayed; the position of the injection needle could’ve been better portrayed by the designer. But the concept was indeed innovative. It looked beautiful with the black and white background. Anurag has a long way to go. Waiting for the day when he’ll become a full time author.
The author seems to have a pretty good command over the English language but perhaps some words could be simplified for better flow of the text. Though too many characters were introduced right at the beginning of the novel (in the first few chapters especially) it is commendable that the author built the characters with such intricacy that the readers wouldn’t be confused. The book gives you exactly as much as you need to know about them, neither more nor less. The writer should be applauded for having exposed current medical malpractices. This book in the first part makes one ponder over the ‘loss of humanity’ in today’s world!
The book crosses genres, namely medical thriller and mythological fiction, but the 2 could gel better for this book. The plot was great and had the developmental edits been paid attention to, this book could’ve been one of the very firsts of its kind. Never mind, because as a debut, this is truly much better than what most authors produce. Also, the refraction of light through the glass on the cover image could’ve been better portrayed; the position of the injection needle could’ve been better portrayed by the designer. But the concept was indeed innovative. It looked beautiful with the black and white background. Anurag has a long way to go. Waiting for the day when he’ll become a full time author.
August 4, 2020
Half A Shadow by Anurag Shourie is a fast-paced medical thriller that will keep you hooked onto its pages until the very end.
As soon as I read the title and the genre of this book, I remembered the movie, Ankur Arora Murder Case. The book gave me similar kind of vibes. I grew more interested in reading the book. And, it indeed surprised me. The story caught my attention right from the first page. The author begins the book with a bang.
Half A Shadow is an amazing thriller woven around the medical industry. This story is about a young doctor who gets trapped in the vicious cycle of money and greed. This story is his quest at unveiling the truth and flashing the misdeeds of the wrongdoers.
The story has been narrated amazingly well. The author has the gift of gab. He manages to catch the reader’s attention and keep him engaged through out the reading session. Furthermore, the rich vocabulary of the author is like a cherry on the cake. There are a few dull moments in this story but the eagerness to know what lies ahead keeps you going.
The author has put in tremendous efforts in medical research for this story. And, I really appreciate it. In addition to this, the story contains some mythological elements. I believe the author has researched about that as well. Enveloping mythology with real-life incidents is something that not every author can pull off well. But, Anurag Shourie has done that incredibly well.
I found the character sketch kind of similar to other thrillers. Just like other thrillers, the protagonist is a lonely person who is addicted to alcohol. Secondly, there is a female character who is madly in love with the protagonist. Similarly, there is another female character who knows her way of getting the things done, by hook or by crook. These were the two things that kind of put me off.
Apart from this, the story gives you movie-like vibes. It plays infront of you like some scenes of the movie. Half A Shadow is like a roller-coaster ride that offers you ups and downs, while keeping you on the edge. At one moment, you would feel like you have cracked the mystery. At the very next, the story will surprise you.
Half A Shadow is well-researched medical thriller. It is a must read for all thriller lovers out there!
Ratings:
My ratings go as follows –
Cover: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Story: 4.5/5
My overall rating for Half A Shadow by Anurag Shourie is 4/5 stars.
As soon as I read the title and the genre of this book, I remembered the movie, Ankur Arora Murder Case. The book gave me similar kind of vibes. I grew more interested in reading the book. And, it indeed surprised me. The story caught my attention right from the first page. The author begins the book with a bang.
Half A Shadow is an amazing thriller woven around the medical industry. This story is about a young doctor who gets trapped in the vicious cycle of money and greed. This story is his quest at unveiling the truth and flashing the misdeeds of the wrongdoers.
The story has been narrated amazingly well. The author has the gift of gab. He manages to catch the reader’s attention and keep him engaged through out the reading session. Furthermore, the rich vocabulary of the author is like a cherry on the cake. There are a few dull moments in this story but the eagerness to know what lies ahead keeps you going.
The author has put in tremendous efforts in medical research for this story. And, I really appreciate it. In addition to this, the story contains some mythological elements. I believe the author has researched about that as well. Enveloping mythology with real-life incidents is something that not every author can pull off well. But, Anurag Shourie has done that incredibly well.
I found the character sketch kind of similar to other thrillers. Just like other thrillers, the protagonist is a lonely person who is addicted to alcohol. Secondly, there is a female character who is madly in love with the protagonist. Similarly, there is another female character who knows her way of getting the things done, by hook or by crook. These were the two things that kind of put me off.
Apart from this, the story gives you movie-like vibes. It plays infront of you like some scenes of the movie. Half A Shadow is like a roller-coaster ride that offers you ups and downs, while keeping you on the edge. At one moment, you would feel like you have cracked the mystery. At the very next, the story will surprise you.
Half A Shadow is well-researched medical thriller. It is a must read for all thriller lovers out there!
Ratings:
My ratings go as follows –
Cover: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Story: 4.5/5
My overall rating for Half A Shadow by Anurag Shourie is 4/5 stars.
March 5, 2019
A versatile powerful read that sits in darkness, not an all-consuming menacing murk, but one with pinpricks of light that can be found and felt if you open yourself to the discovery. Half a shadow is a psychological conclusional thriller, it certainly does thrill, it also made me feel a whole host of other emotions too. Anurag shourie excels in writing about people, at their very best, very worst, and everything in between, so I’d rather not pop this book into a pigeon hole but let it fly. Each chapter is proclaim a new charm of mystery. I quickly settled into the story while getting to know the characters, they became entirely real to me as I explored the how and why of who they were. While suspicion cut through my thoughts, unexpected slices of deep, aching surprise were served, and there is one particular moment that will stay with me for a very long time. Half a shadow explored my feelings, touched my heart, and is one of my picks of the month, it is a truly glorious read.
August 25, 2017
Easily the best medical thrilling novel I have ever read. I was inspired by the teaser of this book and I couldn't resist myself from ordering the book the following day. I have always admired cognitive novels and this book did justice with my expectations. It is filled with plots within the plots and mysteries. A highly recommended book for anyone who loves mysteries.
June 1, 2016
Have you heard of a literary genre termed ‘Mytho-medico thriller’? Well, I too had never come across this genre till I started reading ‘Half a Shadow’ by Anurag Shourie.I received a free copy of this book from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The blurb promises a thriller to be unravelled , across the pages :
“Three deaths – a beautiful bride, a young businessman, and a famous doctor. Crime arises from its protracted slumber in Udaipur, and the City of Lakes finally sheds its veil of tranquility. Trapped in the heart of the mayhem, is Dr. Aditya Deshmukh, a quintessential loser. In order to redeem himself and wrench his soul free of the guilt of a ‘murder most foul,’ he has to find the missing links between Abraham and Sarasvati, Abimanyu and Sumitra, Yasser Arafat and Vladimir Putin. The body count continues to rise as Aditya gropes in the darkness. Hunted by an enemy he can’t see, devoured by a love he can’t consummate, and guided by a friend he can’t trust, he is caught up in a race against time where he can’t afford to be the runner-up”
The story starts with a series of deaths across Udaipur and subsequently shifts to Aditya- the protagonist of this book. Aditya works at J.J Memorial Hospital as an anesthesiologist. He is an alcoholic with a troublesome personal life and his Uncle Vijay Raj who is a cop is his guardian. How the duo unearths the murk surrounding them forms the crux of the story.
The language used is Simple English though at times I felt that some of the synonyms have been forcefully included.My take away line from this book would be “Nostalgia can be more painful than a surgeon’s knife”
The writer himself being from the Medical profession,has dwelt at large with medical practices and gives an insight into the life in a hospital through this book. I have known quite many friends of mine who do narrate about doctors and paramedics being subjected to drugs, discrepancies in medical practises and misuse of patients for R&D purposes. So, I could very well relate to what was being discussed in this book and this makes the narration for me plausible.
The fact remains that this book is a Mytho-Medical Thriller and it remains so in two distinct genres as two parallel stories ! The two aspects do not gel in this narration.The interweaving never takes place and the story looked as if I were reading two different books.Somehow,I felt the writer could have just stuck with a medical thriller sans the mythological part.I was engrossed and on the edge with the suspense mounting across the pages, till the mythological conversations took over.Also aspects of cognition and perception spread its jaws to chew on the story line.From then, it was an easy downfall with a patchy narration !
However, the writer should be applauded for the audacity to expose the medical malpractices, corruption in Medical and Research institutions and the deteriorating scenario in the field of medicine especially in developing countries like India. Though this book is a fiction, we all know how rampantly Cancer is spreading its fangs and this makes the medical and scientific discussions in the story vey much rational.This book at some point will make one ponder over the ‘loss of humanity’ in today’s world!
I give this book a rating of 3 / 5 !
The blurb promises a thriller to be unravelled , across the pages :
“Three deaths – a beautiful bride, a young businessman, and a famous doctor. Crime arises from its protracted slumber in Udaipur, and the City of Lakes finally sheds its veil of tranquility. Trapped in the heart of the mayhem, is Dr. Aditya Deshmukh, a quintessential loser. In order to redeem himself and wrench his soul free of the guilt of a ‘murder most foul,’ he has to find the missing links between Abraham and Sarasvati, Abimanyu and Sumitra, Yasser Arafat and Vladimir Putin. The body count continues to rise as Aditya gropes in the darkness. Hunted by an enemy he can’t see, devoured by a love he can’t consummate, and guided by a friend he can’t trust, he is caught up in a race against time where he can’t afford to be the runner-up”
The story starts with a series of deaths across Udaipur and subsequently shifts to Aditya- the protagonist of this book. Aditya works at J.J Memorial Hospital as an anesthesiologist. He is an alcoholic with a troublesome personal life and his Uncle Vijay Raj who is a cop is his guardian. How the duo unearths the murk surrounding them forms the crux of the story.
The language used is Simple English though at times I felt that some of the synonyms have been forcefully included.My take away line from this book would be “Nostalgia can be more painful than a surgeon’s knife”
The writer himself being from the Medical profession,has dwelt at large with medical practices and gives an insight into the life in a hospital through this book. I have known quite many friends of mine who do narrate about doctors and paramedics being subjected to drugs, discrepancies in medical practises and misuse of patients for R&D purposes. So, I could very well relate to what was being discussed in this book and this makes the narration for me plausible.
The fact remains that this book is a Mytho-Medical Thriller and it remains so in two distinct genres as two parallel stories ! The two aspects do not gel in this narration.The interweaving never takes place and the story looked as if I were reading two different books.Somehow,I felt the writer could have just stuck with a medical thriller sans the mythological part.I was engrossed and on the edge with the suspense mounting across the pages, till the mythological conversations took over.Also aspects of cognition and perception spread its jaws to chew on the story line.From then, it was an easy downfall with a patchy narration !
However, the writer should be applauded for the audacity to expose the medical malpractices, corruption in Medical and Research institutions and the deteriorating scenario in the field of medicine especially in developing countries like India. Though this book is a fiction, we all know how rampantly Cancer is spreading its fangs and this makes the medical and scientific discussions in the story vey much rational.This book at some point will make one ponder over the ‘loss of humanity’ in today’s world!
I give this book a rating of 3 / 5 !
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August 11, 2016Review of "Half a Shadow" - Anurag Shourie
My first thought after reading about this book was, how can Science and Spirituality find common ground; but, hats-off to Anurag for this "Mytho-Medical Thriller" which in his words is a Medical Thriller with a Mythological bend to it. As interesting as it may sound, you truly have to delve into the pages to get the drift of it. I've read my share of medical thrillers, but this mytho-medic angle is just brilliant. Kudos to the author for delving into the uncharted waters.
The story revolves around (no prizes for guessing) a doctor, Aditya, who is working as anesthetist in a cancer hospital. He thinks that at the age of 35 has lived his life. He has serious drinking issues and in one of his inebriated stupors, he reads a wrong file for young patient which causes her demise. In his bid to find out more about it, he chances upon some clues which point towards the recent series of deaths (read murders) in which the hospital staff might be involved. He is violently attacked while saving Dr. Ketaki, his lover, but somehow survives. In his PTSD state he is haunted by Sumitra (The Charioteer of Abhimanyu, son of the Pandava Arjun) who says that he is in purgatory to atone for his own sins of letting Abhimanyu die in the Chakravyuha.
Sumitra guides Aditya, who is still trying to find out about the killings and sends the ghost of Sapna, the girl who he inadvertently killed, as motivation. Our hero here falls for the ghost, is unable to express and waiting for Sumitra finally puts life back into her when all of this to get over. Meanwhile, his uncle Vijay, a hard but caring police officer, assists his progress. His attempts bear fruit and hidden secrets fall out from locked closets involving unethical practices, carcinogens, radioactive elements, bio-hazards etc.
My take: The story keeps you riveted between the pages. This is one of those books where every piece falls into place and you get full closure. It was very satisfying to read till the end. Apart from tiny errors here and there, the book is very well written and the plots are framed superbly. The characters are described such that you can actually visualize everything in your mind. The medical jargon won’t be hurdle for non-medics since most of it is explained alongside. For medics, this might prove to be tiresome and a bit like textbook reading though.
I am generally not a fan of bilingual books, but this one was an exception. The Sanskrit Shlokas are found in perfect harmony with the workings of a doctor’s mind. The mythical elements are not parallel to the story-line but are entwined with it. The research put into letting this happen needs a resounding applause as well.
Verdict: If you miss it…. Oh no, you dare not do that, you just cannot.
Book Courtesy: Writersmelon
My first thought after reading about this book was, how can Science and Spirituality find common ground; but, hats-off to Anurag for this "Mytho-Medical Thriller" which in his words is a Medical Thriller with a Mythological bend to it. As interesting as it may sound, you truly have to delve into the pages to get the drift of it. I've read my share of medical thrillers, but this mytho-medic angle is just brilliant. Kudos to the author for delving into the uncharted waters.
The story revolves around (no prizes for guessing) a doctor, Aditya, who is working as anesthetist in a cancer hospital. He thinks that at the age of 35 has lived his life. He has serious drinking issues and in one of his inebriated stupors, he reads a wrong file for young patient which causes her demise. In his bid to find out more about it, he chances upon some clues which point towards the recent series of deaths (read murders) in which the hospital staff might be involved. He is violently attacked while saving Dr. Ketaki, his lover, but somehow survives. In his PTSD state he is haunted by Sumitra (The Charioteer of Abhimanyu, son of the Pandava Arjun) who says that he is in purgatory to atone for his own sins of letting Abhimanyu die in the Chakravyuha.
Sumitra guides Aditya, who is still trying to find out about the killings and sends the ghost of Sapna, the girl who he inadvertently killed, as motivation. Our hero here falls for the ghost, is unable to express and waiting for Sumitra finally puts life back into her when all of this to get over. Meanwhile, his uncle Vijay, a hard but caring police officer, assists his progress. His attempts bear fruit and hidden secrets fall out from locked closets involving unethical practices, carcinogens, radioactive elements, bio-hazards etc.
My take: The story keeps you riveted between the pages. This is one of those books where every piece falls into place and you get full closure. It was very satisfying to read till the end. Apart from tiny errors here and there, the book is very well written and the plots are framed superbly. The characters are described such that you can actually visualize everything in your mind. The medical jargon won’t be hurdle for non-medics since most of it is explained alongside. For medics, this might prove to be tiresome and a bit like textbook reading though.
I am generally not a fan of bilingual books, but this one was an exception. The Sanskrit Shlokas are found in perfect harmony with the workings of a doctor’s mind. The mythical elements are not parallel to the story-line but are entwined with it. The research put into letting this happen needs a resounding applause as well.
Verdict: If you miss it…. Oh no, you dare not do that, you just cannot.
Book Courtesy: Writersmelon
October 20, 2016
The day I read about its teaser, it had caught my attention. And I am thankful to the author for gifting me this wonderful piece of literary creation for an honest review. And it's a 5/5* book of my shelf. In one word, I have become a FAN of the mastermind after completing the book. Oh what a buildup, suspense creation, climax and anticlimax. Awesome in every aspect. Here are some of my points of appreciation:-
1. The novel introduces a refreshingly new genre – mythology punched with medical thriller. If not for anything else, a reader must read the book to get introduced this genre. I bet it would take at least a decade for any author to even think in the line of medico-fiction combo to that perfection! More novels from Mr. Anurag Shourie will be eagerly awaited.
2. The medical detailing shows how keenly the observations were made and only a doctor with a literary flair can do such tremendous justice to the plot.
3. The characters in the novel are well established. Enough care has been taken to ensure the characters do not look out of place.
4.The connect between Abraham & Bramha will be a key takeaway for many readers like me.
I do not have anything to say about the author's skills, but there are a few observations from editing side. Going forward, Mr. Anurag Shourie must look into fixing these small things which would enhance the reading experience to greater heights.
1. The editing could have been better. There are ‘his’ and ‘her’ mix up in some of the chapters.
2. The phrase ‘Penalty corner’ has been used in connection with football. Whereas the phrase connects us more to field hockey than football. Other relevant terms from football could have been chosen.
3. The novel begins with 3 deaths. These could have been related more explicitly to the induced cancer conspiracy. The connect has been established implicitly but making it more direct could have been better for generic readers like us. :)
Overall a mind-blowing read...Wish Mr. Anurag Shourie a grand success with the book !!
1. The novel introduces a refreshingly new genre – mythology punched with medical thriller. If not for anything else, a reader must read the book to get introduced this genre. I bet it would take at least a decade for any author to even think in the line of medico-fiction combo to that perfection! More novels from Mr. Anurag Shourie will be eagerly awaited.
2. The medical detailing shows how keenly the observations were made and only a doctor with a literary flair can do such tremendous justice to the plot.
3. The characters in the novel are well established. Enough care has been taken to ensure the characters do not look out of place.
4.The connect between Abraham & Bramha will be a key takeaway for many readers like me.
I do not have anything to say about the author's skills, but there are a few observations from editing side. Going forward, Mr. Anurag Shourie must look into fixing these small things which would enhance the reading experience to greater heights.
1. The editing could have been better. There are ‘his’ and ‘her’ mix up in some of the chapters.
2. The phrase ‘Penalty corner’ has been used in connection with football. Whereas the phrase connects us more to field hockey than football. Other relevant terms from football could have been chosen.
3. The novel begins with 3 deaths. These could have been related more explicitly to the induced cancer conspiracy. The connect has been established implicitly but making it more direct could have been better for generic readers like us. :)
Overall a mind-blowing read...Wish Mr. Anurag Shourie a grand success with the book !!
May 25, 2016
This is a medical thriller along with mythological elements in it. The story revolves around Dr. Aditya who is an alcoholic and a loser in life, how he tries to find the connection between three deaths and unravel the mystery along with his uncle Dective Vijay.
The main aspect of the story that I personally liked was the character building Aditya throughout the story.
Mythological elements were also very interesting.
However, I sometimes felt that there was too much than needed in the story. The book was good and grabbed my attention throught but it was only after 80ish pages that I wanted to read the book and know what happens next.
Overall I would say the book is pretty good and interesting. I will recommend to anyone who is into medical thrillers. Sometimes the book caught me quiet off guard but I still feel the wow factor was missing
I recieved a review copy by writer's melon to give an honest and unbiased review.
The main aspect of the story that I personally liked was the character building Aditya throughout the story.
Mythological elements were also very interesting.
However, I sometimes felt that there was too much than needed in the story. The book was good and grabbed my attention throught but it was only after 80ish pages that I wanted to read the book and know what happens next.
Overall I would say the book is pretty good and interesting. I will recommend to anyone who is into medical thrillers. Sometimes the book caught me quiet off guard but I still feel the wow factor was missing
I recieved a review copy by writer's melon to give an honest and unbiased review.
August 30, 2016
A quintessential page-turner. A new author and a new genre- 'Mythomedical thriller'. As a reader, you don’t know what to expect as the story takes you on a roller coaster ride. From the battlefield of Mahabharata to the espionage ring of erstwhile Soviet Union, from the assassination of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to the myths surrounding Sarasvati and Abraham, this book leaves no stone unturned in churning out a humdinger of a novel. The ingredients of a pot boiler are all here-a 7-course meal. Go for it. It will whet your appetite… and leave you craving for more.
October 18, 2016
‘Half A Shadow’ is one of those rare books that stay with you long after you have read it. The story is haunting with a capital ‘H’. The 232 pages are loaded with action and suspense. The protagonist is an ordinary person who is a victim of sinister plots and his struggles and tribulations were something I enjoyed reading about. The climax, though not earth-shattering, was stirring. I am still suffering from the story’s hangover. Kudos to the author. Looking forward to the author's next ‘work’- Yeh dil maange more…..
June 2, 2016
Stri's Take On It:
The story is a complete thriller package. Mystery, suspense, and crime thriller are three of my favorite genres, and this book has it all. It is an amazingly thought off plot. With a good command over the language, the author wields a magic with the story. However, the characterizations of each character heavily overlap, leading to a huge negative impact on the readers.
Read more: https://iamstri.wordpress.com/2016/06...
The story is a complete thriller package. Mystery, suspense, and crime thriller are three of my favorite genres, and this book has it all. It is an amazingly thought off plot. With a good command over the language, the author wields a magic with the story. However, the characterizations of each character heavily overlap, leading to a huge negative impact on the readers.
Read more: https://iamstri.wordpress.com/2016/06...
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