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Seduced by Murder
When detective Vishal Bajaj receives a call from his old flame Aditi, he is seduced into a vortex of family lies and a murder. Vishal sets out to catch the murderer, while dealing with the resurgence of an irresistible desire for Aditi that he had buried years ago.Vishal is a witty, hard drinking, tough private detective who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty as he races against time to catch a meticulous killer. Seduced by Murder weaves a web of noir and suspense that keeps the reader riveted and guessing till the end.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
22 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Saurbh Katyal
5 books16 followersSaurbh Katyal is the author of 4 books including the popular hard-boiled thriller series featuring the private detective Vishal Bajaj. His second novel from the detective series titled The Invisible Woman was made into a web series by Saregama titled 'Hunter' starring Suniel Shetty & Esha Deol.
Besides writing crime fiction, Saurbh has also authored a parody novel and a non-fiction book on esoteric tales from Hindu scriptures.
Besides writing crime fiction, Saurbh has also authored a parody novel and a non-fiction book on esoteric tales from Hindu scriptures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 21, 2016
‘Seduced by Murder’ by Saurbh Katyal, is the writer’s first book. For a first time writer, one is always lenient. You don’t expect much. And to add that mystery is not that well explored a genre in India. So, I began the book with little or no expectations. But hold on, it seems the writer is a fine hand. He did his homework well and learnt his craft before putting pen to paper.
The story is set in Mumbai. In just another day, the protagonist of the story Vishal, who is a detective, gets a call from his ex-lover. That was the beginning of a bloody trail of lies, murders, adultery and a lot of money.
Anil Kapoor the son of a very rich man is found dead in a farmhouse, with family around. The first person who is doubted is his wife, a disgruntled woman, and her sick father. Vishal meets her and opens a can of worm. A can that takes him to deep mud that he himself was not expecting.
The writer gently holds the reader’s hand and takes him/her into the world of the Kapoors. First, he takes you for a tour and then the whirlpool appears. It’s amazing how skillfully the writer hides the murderer identity till the end. As you walk with the protagonist, you doubt every character you meet. Every character has a shade of grey and skeletons in the cupboard. Lies and adultery embody almost each one.
As the search for the murderer continues, in the background the love story that once made Vishal heart pound with his ex-lover makes its foray. His pain, anger, and agony as a failed lover are often used as a character in the book. You can feel his helplessness each time he wants to let go his lover. But he fails. The writer makes no attempt to hide the human failings of his protagonist, which makes the character one of us.
It’s a fast paced book. You can pick it up on a weekend or may be on a journey. It will keep you hooked. Just like the Kapoors in the book, you would want to find out the murderer. And not to forget Vishal, will leave your hearts wanting for a little more.
I say, pick up this book. Set into this adventure. I promise you won’t regret. As a first-time writer, Saurbh Katyal has done a very good job. And we can now wait for a few more murder mysteries from him in the future and join Vishal in his tryst with blood and mud!
Book: Seduced by Murder
Author : Saurbh Katyal
Publisher : Blue Jay
Genre : Fiction
Ratings : 3.5/5
ISBN : 978-93-82891-19-2
Price : Rs. 195
The story is set in Mumbai. In just another day, the protagonist of the story Vishal, who is a detective, gets a call from his ex-lover. That was the beginning of a bloody trail of lies, murders, adultery and a lot of money.
Anil Kapoor the son of a very rich man is found dead in a farmhouse, with family around. The first person who is doubted is his wife, a disgruntled woman, and her sick father. Vishal meets her and opens a can of worm. A can that takes him to deep mud that he himself was not expecting.
The writer gently holds the reader’s hand and takes him/her into the world of the Kapoors. First, he takes you for a tour and then the whirlpool appears. It’s amazing how skillfully the writer hides the murderer identity till the end. As you walk with the protagonist, you doubt every character you meet. Every character has a shade of grey and skeletons in the cupboard. Lies and adultery embody almost each one.
As the search for the murderer continues, in the background the love story that once made Vishal heart pound with his ex-lover makes its foray. His pain, anger, and agony as a failed lover are often used as a character in the book. You can feel his helplessness each time he wants to let go his lover. But he fails. The writer makes no attempt to hide the human failings of his protagonist, which makes the character one of us.
It’s a fast paced book. You can pick it up on a weekend or may be on a journey. It will keep you hooked. Just like the Kapoors in the book, you would want to find out the murderer. And not to forget Vishal, will leave your hearts wanting for a little more.
I say, pick up this book. Set into this adventure. I promise you won’t regret. As a first-time writer, Saurbh Katyal has done a very good job. And we can now wait for a few more murder mysteries from him in the future and join Vishal in his tryst with blood and mud!
Book: Seduced by Murder
Author : Saurbh Katyal
Publisher : Blue Jay
Genre : Fiction
Ratings : 3.5/5
ISBN : 978-93-82891-19-2
Price : Rs. 195
July 27, 2015
Frankly i was not expecting much from this book as i had not read any previous book from this author , but once i started reading this book , i completed it in 2 days.. One of the best suspense thrillers from an Indian Writer...
September 19, 2014
2.5 Actually!
When detective Vishal Bajaj receives a call from his old flame Aditi, he is seduced into a vortex of family lies and a murder. Vishal sets out to catch the murderer, while dealing with the resurgence of an irresistible desire for Aditi that he had buried years ago. Vishal is a witty, hard drinking, tough private detective who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty as he races against time to catch a meticulous killer. Seduced by Murder weaves a web of noir and suspense that keeps the reader riveted and guessing till the end.
Vishal was a corporate henchman before he quit it all to be inspired by his maternal uncle and become a private investigator. He is perpetually drunk throughout the book and surprisingly survives only on alcohol and occasionally black coffee, without any food. He is not super intelligent but is believable. Along with his sidekick and assistant Pranay, he has only solved "cheating partners" cases until now. Once fine day his ex Aditi, who is now married to someone else calls him and asks him to investigate the murder of her brother-in-law, Anil Kapoor. Yes, the victim here is called Anil Kapoor. I can so see a Sonam Kapoor cringing somewhere. Anyway, the Kapoors are high profile businessmen and the money offered to Vishal to investigate this case as as luring to him as to be around Aditi again. He takes up the case and with the help of Babu, the local policeman in charge who reminded me constantly of the policeman in the movie 'Barfi!', ends up finding clues after clues to finally solve the mystery.
Vishal is clear from first that it is a member of the family who has killed Anil. Anil's brother Sunil who also happens to be Aditi's husband was seen chasing Anil around with a knife, before he was actually killed. Anil's wife is a suspect too, since she knew that her husband was gay (spoiler alert?) and wanted to spend her life with her lover instead. Leo, Anil's lover is also a suspect as he is trying to leave the country at the earliest since the news of Anil's murder broke out. Mr. Kapoor, Anil's father is also a suspect as he was tired of his loser son and his failed business deals, and also with the fact that he was gay. So almost every character in this book is either a suspect or a detective or a cop. Nothing else in between.
The first thing that I noticed in this book is the Indianess. Vishal's character almost reminded of the desi Karamchand or Byomkesh Bakshi. If that was the intent, then the author has achieved this beautifully. The mystery is intriguing in itself and tense moments are alternated with some witty one liners and some silly ones too. The language used is very layman and Vishal is a person you can clearly imagine in your head, to be wearing a long black coat, black hat and carrying a cigar! His relationship with Pranay starts of well, but is later drowned once the mystery picks pace. The presence of his pet dog Bruno bothered me. In one scene, Pranay is pouring beer into the water bowl of the dog and this is treated pretty naturally by the author and by Vishal. Vishal is clearly the best character in this book. He is a local detective, with no gizmos or hot assistants. He relies purely on evidence and logic and his instincts, that always seem to work for him. He is drunk in almost every scene, even while driving and even when he has a police officer next to him.
The mystery is decent and executed well. I for once, could not predict who the killer was and I was shocked when the truth was revealed. But what bothered me was that the killer and the turn of events was included only in the last few chapters. The killer was not given any importance throughout the book and hardly was seen in the story. The build up on the killer's character could have been better. I could visualize the scene in which Vishal locks his eyes with the killer, and the killer squirms. An exciting tense moment that was, because the author still chose not to reveal the killer at that point of time. The flow of the story and the level of mystery is good. Not great, but good. The biggest disappointment was Aditi. She was Vishal's ex, and the start promised to show her in a different light later on. But sadly, it does not. She just remains a mute spectator throughout the book, with hardly anything to do.
The cover of the book does no justice to the potential story inside. There is no way on earth that I would have picked this book by looking at it. The cover looks like the cover of a bad movie DVD that is sold on the streets. Also, the title has no relevance to the story at all. There sure is murder in the book, but no seduction. At all. The book was originally titled 'No Flying From Fate', but that does not connect to the story either. If the author wanted to show how Vishal's and Aditi's lives gets mixed up while solving this mysery, he sure has not succeeded. Aditi could have been anyone here. Why, there was no need for her at all in the book. The last chapter after the mystery is revealed, is completely out of place.
The book has more pros than cons, but at times I felt that I was watching an episode of CID while reading this. Some of the dialogues are out right stupid. Can you ever imagine a police officer say "I got carried away...." while he missed some important evidence? Some people have found the dialogues and quotes hilarious. Few, very few of them are. And "We are born to die anyway" is not a quote for me.
Verdict: If 'CID', 'Bobby Jasoos' and desi detectives are your type, go for it.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
When detective Vishal Bajaj receives a call from his old flame Aditi, he is seduced into a vortex of family lies and a murder. Vishal sets out to catch the murderer, while dealing with the resurgence of an irresistible desire for Aditi that he had buried years ago. Vishal is a witty, hard drinking, tough private detective who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty as he races against time to catch a meticulous killer. Seduced by Murder weaves a web of noir and suspense that keeps the reader riveted and guessing till the end.
Vishal was a corporate henchman before he quit it all to be inspired by his maternal uncle and become a private investigator. He is perpetually drunk throughout the book and surprisingly survives only on alcohol and occasionally black coffee, without any food. He is not super intelligent but is believable. Along with his sidekick and assistant Pranay, he has only solved "cheating partners" cases until now. Once fine day his ex Aditi, who is now married to someone else calls him and asks him to investigate the murder of her brother-in-law, Anil Kapoor. Yes, the victim here is called Anil Kapoor. I can so see a Sonam Kapoor cringing somewhere. Anyway, the Kapoors are high profile businessmen and the money offered to Vishal to investigate this case as as luring to him as to be around Aditi again. He takes up the case and with the help of Babu, the local policeman in charge who reminded me constantly of the policeman in the movie 'Barfi!', ends up finding clues after clues to finally solve the mystery.
Vishal is clear from first that it is a member of the family who has killed Anil. Anil's brother Sunil who also happens to be Aditi's husband was seen chasing Anil around with a knife, before he was actually killed. Anil's wife is a suspect too, since she knew that her husband was gay (spoiler alert?) and wanted to spend her life with her lover instead. Leo, Anil's lover is also a suspect as he is trying to leave the country at the earliest since the news of Anil's murder broke out. Mr. Kapoor, Anil's father is also a suspect as he was tired of his loser son and his failed business deals, and also with the fact that he was gay. So almost every character in this book is either a suspect or a detective or a cop. Nothing else in between.
The first thing that I noticed in this book is the Indianess. Vishal's character almost reminded of the desi Karamchand or Byomkesh Bakshi. If that was the intent, then the author has achieved this beautifully. The mystery is intriguing in itself and tense moments are alternated with some witty one liners and some silly ones too. The language used is very layman and Vishal is a person you can clearly imagine in your head, to be wearing a long black coat, black hat and carrying a cigar! His relationship with Pranay starts of well, but is later drowned once the mystery picks pace. The presence of his pet dog Bruno bothered me. In one scene, Pranay is pouring beer into the water bowl of the dog and this is treated pretty naturally by the author and by Vishal. Vishal is clearly the best character in this book. He is a local detective, with no gizmos or hot assistants. He relies purely on evidence and logic and his instincts, that always seem to work for him. He is drunk in almost every scene, even while driving and even when he has a police officer next to him.
The mystery is decent and executed well. I for once, could not predict who the killer was and I was shocked when the truth was revealed. But what bothered me was that the killer and the turn of events was included only in the last few chapters. The killer was not given any importance throughout the book and hardly was seen in the story. The build up on the killer's character could have been better. I could visualize the scene in which Vishal locks his eyes with the killer, and the killer squirms. An exciting tense moment that was, because the author still chose not to reveal the killer at that point of time. The flow of the story and the level of mystery is good. Not great, but good. The biggest disappointment was Aditi. She was Vishal's ex, and the start promised to show her in a different light later on. But sadly, it does not. She just remains a mute spectator throughout the book, with hardly anything to do.
The cover of the book does no justice to the potential story inside. There is no way on earth that I would have picked this book by looking at it. The cover looks like the cover of a bad movie DVD that is sold on the streets. Also, the title has no relevance to the story at all. There sure is murder in the book, but no seduction. At all. The book was originally titled 'No Flying From Fate', but that does not connect to the story either. If the author wanted to show how Vishal's and Aditi's lives gets mixed up while solving this mysery, he sure has not succeeded. Aditi could have been anyone here. Why, there was no need for her at all in the book. The last chapter after the mystery is revealed, is completely out of place.
The book has more pros than cons, but at times I felt that I was watching an episode of CID while reading this. Some of the dialogues are out right stupid. Can you ever imagine a police officer say "I got carried away...." while he missed some important evidence? Some people have found the dialogues and quotes hilarious. Few, very few of them are. And "We are born to die anyway" is not a quote for me.
Verdict: If 'CID', 'Bobby Jasoos' and desi detectives are your type, go for it.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
July 15, 2018
Private Detectives have reportedly gone out of fashion.
Says who?
In this breezy, witty, and liberally ribald murder mystery, the hardboiled, hard-drinking, self-pitying, refershingly pragmatic detective Vishal Bajaj rules!
After being summoned by his old flame right into a crime scene, Vishal follows a murky trail of deception, lie, falsehood, sex, and violence. Amidst all that, he keeps on making wry observations about himself and the world in general, making me burst into laughter at most unlikely places.
And he is hopelessly, incurably romantic.
The mystery had a few additional knots, but I had identified the murderer correctly, long back. But that hadn't made the ride, I mean read, uncomfortable. Instead, I enjoyed all those cracking scenes where Vishal gets beaten physically or emotionally, but then gets back with humour and determination.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and heartily recommend it to lovers of mystery.
And I would be searching for the next mystery involving Detective Vishal Bajaj. ASAP.
Says who?
In this breezy, witty, and liberally ribald murder mystery, the hardboiled, hard-drinking, self-pitying, refershingly pragmatic detective Vishal Bajaj rules!
After being summoned by his old flame right into a crime scene, Vishal follows a murky trail of deception, lie, falsehood, sex, and violence. Amidst all that, he keeps on making wry observations about himself and the world in general, making me burst into laughter at most unlikely places.
And he is hopelessly, incurably romantic.
The mystery had a few additional knots, but I had identified the murderer correctly, long back. But that hadn't made the ride, I mean read, uncomfortable. Instead, I enjoyed all those cracking scenes where Vishal gets beaten physically or emotionally, but then gets back with humour and determination.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and heartily recommend it to lovers of mystery.
And I would be searching for the next mystery involving Detective Vishal Bajaj. ASAP.
April 19, 2019
good indian murder mystery.
September 23, 2014
Crime thrillers are always interesting to read. Enthralling and intriguing are the stories of crimes, steps picked up to trace and arrest the criminal. It keeps you hooked up to the proceedings, plots and characters. Crime Thrillers have always been my favourite, and this week I read an amazing crime thriller by Saurabh Katyal – Seduced by Murder.
The morning after a party, Anil; son of Industrialist Paras Kapooris found murdered in the lawns of their house. Albeit police forces are called, Aditi, wife of Sunil (Anil’s brother) calls a private detective.
Vishal Bajajis an intelligent, bright and a smart detective who, from his preliminary investigations itself, comprehends that someone from the family has hand in this murder. Suspicion revolves around every family member but Vishal tries to procure evidence against the actual criminal. It comes to picture that Anil was a homosexual and had a lover named Leo who tries to leave the country with a heavy amount.
Anil’s brother and father, both come under the scanner too, as Sunil is seen hurtling behind Anil, before his death and Paras knew about the homosexuality of his slacker son. Anil was married. His wife very well knew that he was a homo and possibilities are designated that she could have done this as a part of revenge.
Bearing the interference of cops, Vishal pursues his investigation. He tries to acquire information from as many people as possible. He puts in all his effort to crack this case. As the story progressed, my fascination towards it went on multiplying.
This story that Saurabh Katyal brings, is an intriguing one with fascinating twist of events. Saurabh should be credited for the way he has written the story. First of all it is based on a fresh, new concept and secondly, the suspense unfolds amazingly in the end. The story has twists and turns which will glue readers to the story. Also, dialogues have been dealt-off wittily and they are going to collectively entertain readers.
The author systematically brings facts in limelight and finally cracks the murder mystery. He has described each character with mighty care and details, thus readers won’t find it difficult to relate to them. The author builds up the story in such a manner that reader’s find it difficult to presume about the murderer and go ahead to find more. Hence, the author has intelligently avoided the story from turning into a predictable one.
Although the cover is okay but the title is little confusing as this book does not deal with erotica at all, no matter how much the title is indicating. Seduced by Murder is an all-in-all awesome mysterious suspense thriller. I just wish the author could have come up with a better & suitable title. And also, I found the last chapter bit unnecessary. Nevertheless, I am sure that the author will consider my suggestions for his future projects.
Concluding the review, I would call ‘Seduced by Murder’ – a stimulating and exciting piece of work. I am sure that readers will enjoy the story and so, I am recommending it to each one of them!
Keeping everything into account, I would rate Seduced by Murder review with 4.25/5. Congratulating the author, I would also like to wish him good lucks! I am looking forward to read more books from Saurabh Katyal!
The morning after a party, Anil; son of Industrialist Paras Kapooris found murdered in the lawns of their house. Albeit police forces are called, Aditi, wife of Sunil (Anil’s brother) calls a private detective.
Vishal Bajajis an intelligent, bright and a smart detective who, from his preliminary investigations itself, comprehends that someone from the family has hand in this murder. Suspicion revolves around every family member but Vishal tries to procure evidence against the actual criminal. It comes to picture that Anil was a homosexual and had a lover named Leo who tries to leave the country with a heavy amount.
Anil’s brother and father, both come under the scanner too, as Sunil is seen hurtling behind Anil, before his death and Paras knew about the homosexuality of his slacker son. Anil was married. His wife very well knew that he was a homo and possibilities are designated that she could have done this as a part of revenge.
Bearing the interference of cops, Vishal pursues his investigation. He tries to acquire information from as many people as possible. He puts in all his effort to crack this case. As the story progressed, my fascination towards it went on multiplying.
This story that Saurabh Katyal brings, is an intriguing one with fascinating twist of events. Saurabh should be credited for the way he has written the story. First of all it is based on a fresh, new concept and secondly, the suspense unfolds amazingly in the end. The story has twists and turns which will glue readers to the story. Also, dialogues have been dealt-off wittily and they are going to collectively entertain readers.
The author systematically brings facts in limelight and finally cracks the murder mystery. He has described each character with mighty care and details, thus readers won’t find it difficult to relate to them. The author builds up the story in such a manner that reader’s find it difficult to presume about the murderer and go ahead to find more. Hence, the author has intelligently avoided the story from turning into a predictable one.
Although the cover is okay but the title is little confusing as this book does not deal with erotica at all, no matter how much the title is indicating. Seduced by Murder is an all-in-all awesome mysterious suspense thriller. I just wish the author could have come up with a better & suitable title. And also, I found the last chapter bit unnecessary. Nevertheless, I am sure that the author will consider my suggestions for his future projects.
Concluding the review, I would call ‘Seduced by Murder’ – a stimulating and exciting piece of work. I am sure that readers will enjoy the story and so, I am recommending it to each one of them!
Keeping everything into account, I would rate Seduced by Murder review with 4.25/5. Congratulating the author, I would also like to wish him good lucks! I am looking forward to read more books from Saurabh Katyal!
November 25, 2014
First of all,
I would like to give my message to the author.
Dear Saurbh Katyal,
You have proved your talent as a man of words with this book of yours.
And I will be reading all of your next works without a miss.
Okay, now about the book,
The Story
Seduced by Murder is a murder mystery of one of the family member Anil from Kapoor family. The protagonist and detective Vishal takes charge of investigation and the rest of the story follows with unexpected twists and turns and the surprises that reveals one after the other.
Author successfully holds the suspense till the end of the story. The story is plotted in such a way that it holds the breath of a reader till the last chapter. I was practically glued to the book at all possible times. This was one of the finest and flawlessly written crime thrillers I have come across till now. I must mention that Author has a great talent of weaving the story in simplest yet most effective and gripping manner.
Characters
I loved the character of the detective Vishal for his talents as a detective, he is witty and humorous and his punchlines will give you good laugh at times.
Then it is Anjali, who is a journalist of a glossy magazine, she has a short character to play but it was full of life and fun. I sincerely wished she would have make a match with the detective for life
Book Quality
Paper and print quality of book is good. Binding quality of the book needs improvement; some of the pages came out loose before I finished which I carefully glued in place as I will be reading this book again after few months.
Synopsis
Overall an amazing , thrilling and quite an entertaining read. No room for boredom till the last page. A nice mix of humour and thrill and a must read for every fiction reader.
Finally, I thank the Author for sending me the review copy. I was lucky to win it in GoodReads Giveaway. My review contains my own views about the book and it is completely unbiased.
I would like to give my message to the author.
Dear Saurbh Katyal,
You have proved your talent as a man of words with this book of yours.
And I will be reading all of your next works without a miss.
Okay, now about the book,
The Story
Seduced by Murder is a murder mystery of one of the family member Anil from Kapoor family. The protagonist and detective Vishal takes charge of investigation and the rest of the story follows with unexpected twists and turns and the surprises that reveals one after the other.
Author successfully holds the suspense till the end of the story. The story is plotted in such a way that it holds the breath of a reader till the last chapter. I was practically glued to the book at all possible times. This was one of the finest and flawlessly written crime thrillers I have come across till now. I must mention that Author has a great talent of weaving the story in simplest yet most effective and gripping manner.
Characters
I loved the character of the detective Vishal for his talents as a detective, he is witty and humorous and his punchlines will give you good laugh at times.
Then it is Anjali, who is a journalist of a glossy magazine, she has a short character to play but it was full of life and fun. I sincerely wished she would have make a match with the detective for life
Book Quality
Paper and print quality of book is good. Binding quality of the book needs improvement; some of the pages came out loose before I finished which I carefully glued in place as I will be reading this book again after few months.
Synopsis
Overall an amazing , thrilling and quite an entertaining read. No room for boredom till the last page. A nice mix of humour and thrill and a must read for every fiction reader.
Finally, I thank the Author for sending me the review copy. I was lucky to win it in GoodReads Giveaway. My review contains my own views about the book and it is completely unbiased.
February 19, 2015
loved the mystery!!!!!!
written in a fascinating style by the author and keeps u thinking till the end......I could not guess even till the end...who is the murderer actually.
The author has kept the storyline tight. loved the way he has actually explained all the points at the end....connected them.....he has made the hero a common man and not a superhero who can fight twenty goons and still look as chocolaty to charm the next lady he finds
....
although the use of heavy vocabulary and jargons could not be controlled......and this is totally expected when we go to a new author......
could have controlled some proofreading mistakes as well
these mistakes catch my eye a bit too much and bother me as well....
a well written book should be well printed and proofread...
"Mr. asrani" actually gave me a headache with the changing spelling of his name.....
a final editing would have earned this 5 stars from me......for sure!!!!
all in all....a great book and a recommendation to all who love murder mysteries......:)
written in a fascinating style by the author and keeps u thinking till the end......I could not guess even till the end...who is the murderer actually.
The author has kept the storyline tight. loved the way he has actually explained all the points at the end....connected them.....he has made the hero a common man and not a superhero who can fight twenty goons and still look as chocolaty to charm the next lady he finds
....
although the use of heavy vocabulary and jargons could not be controlled......and this is totally expected when we go to a new author......
could have controlled some proofreading mistakes as well
these mistakes catch my eye a bit too much and bother me as well....
a well written book should be well printed and proofread...
"Mr. asrani" actually gave me a headache with the changing spelling of his name.....
a final editing would have earned this 5 stars from me......for sure!!!!
all in all....a great book and a recommendation to all who love murder mysteries......:)
September 18, 2014
‘Seduced by Murder’ is a brave risk at writing a murder mystery, not just because it is old-fashioned in its execution but also because it is so sparsely populated by characters that it runs the risk of getting predictable. I could not predict the end because the continuous stream of the narration left no time for me to think, which speaks for how well the sequencing of events is done. What makes me happy to see is how Saurbh has lent a proper Indian flavour to this murder mystery – the characters, the habits of the police, the real estate trade, the socio-economic ramifications of murder in a high-class family and even the way the press hungers for scoops. The book is simple (not simplistic), interesting and unpretentious. For those of us who enjoyed detectives with magnifying glasses in their hands will enjoy this book. At this point all I can say is 'I have a hunch … let’s see’, as Vishal would say.
(To read a detailed review please click here - http://www.sakshinanda.com/2014/09/bo...)
(To read a detailed review please click here - http://www.sakshinanda.com/2014/09/bo...)
December 30, 2014
A good murder mystery with a distinctive Indian character. The writing is crisp and the plot is superb.
The author does well to maintain the interest of the reader till the end. The identity and the motives of the murderer are not revealed till the end and the plot too takes an unexpected twist at the end. None of the theories which are circulated throughout the book prove to be correct in the end.
Another good point of the book is the dialogue construction. The dialogues of the lead detective Vishal are laced with a heavy dose of humor which is spontaneous and does not seem to be forced upon just for the sake of it.
I do regret the death of one of the characters as the she could easily have been a part of an awesome trio if this book starts a series of murder mysteries.
As many reviewers have pointed out, the one thing that could have better is the cover. The cover gives this book the appearance of a cheap thriller, which it definitely isn't.
All in all a great read.
The author does well to maintain the interest of the reader till the end. The identity and the motives of the murderer are not revealed till the end and the plot too takes an unexpected twist at the end. None of the theories which are circulated throughout the book prove to be correct in the end.
Another good point of the book is the dialogue construction. The dialogues of the lead detective Vishal are laced with a heavy dose of humor which is spontaneous and does not seem to be forced upon just for the sake of it.
I do regret the death of one of the characters as the she could easily have been a part of an awesome trio if this book starts a series of murder mysteries.
As many reviewers have pointed out, the one thing that could have better is the cover. The cover gives this book the appearance of a cheap thriller, which it definitely isn't.
All in all a great read.
September 27, 2014
Saurabh Katyal's Seduced by Murder is a great read. You find the characters well sketched out, well described and above all realistic. It does not just come out as an Indian version of an international bestseller. The story is Indian to its core and reminds you of the great Hindi literature that used to exist in the 1970's and 80's.
So we have Vishal Bajaj a former corporate executive now an aspiring private detective who has been called up on a scene of crime by his ex girlfriend Aditi. What he uncovers shocks and awes his audience.
Amazing read. The mystery is well woven and keeps you hooked til the end.
_______________________
Got a complimentary copy from the author via the goodreads first reads programs.
So we have Vishal Bajaj a former corporate executive now an aspiring private detective who has been called up on a scene of crime by his ex girlfriend Aditi. What he uncovers shocks and awes his audience.
Amazing read. The mystery is well woven and keeps you hooked til the end.
_______________________
Got a complimentary copy from the author via the goodreads first reads programs.
Read
October 27, 2014Seems to be the revamped edition of this author's "No Flying from Fate" with a few changes or so. The mystery is more or less first rate, and so are the dramatis personae but our detective tries to be a typical hard-boiled one a la Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe with his one-liners and devil-may-care attitude but sometimes comes across as trying too hard to be a tough man - and the sidekick of his is frankly wasted, and needs a drastic over haul... I do hope this is the start of something, not just a one-off....
October 14, 2014
3.5 stars
I was just hooked from page 1. Recommended to everyone who loves mystery and suspense. Saurbh has taken the efforts to maintain that curiosity and suspense. Good job! Looking forward to read more books from the author.
I was just hooked from page 1. Recommended to everyone who loves mystery and suspense. Saurbh has taken the efforts to maintain that curiosity and suspense. Good job! Looking forward to read more books from the author.
September 29, 2014
A Captivating read. Kept me intrigued till the last page.
Read
May 18, 2018Easily one of the best murder mystery I have read so far. Could not put the book down once I started reading. Amazing plotting and characterization by the author. Also, the humor is awesome.
June 5, 2019
To read the full review, head on to http://wp.me/p8b3bR-dU
Plot :
Vishal Bajaj, a private detective, indulges himself in investigating the murder of eldest son Anil, at the wealthy real estate Paras Kapoor household, after the call from his ex, who is now the daughter in law of Kapoors. Everyone in the family and the inspector Babu abhored Vishal when he came up with a validating theory and evidence that the murderer is one from the household. Further, the detective Vishal tries to assemble the evidences which point only in two directions and two persons. But when has life been that easy ? As we read further, the unexpected awaits and our guess takes a back seat. Join Vishal to trap the murderer, meanwhile unveiling the dirty secrets behind every masks of the household.
Likes :
The plot is enticing and the author has brilliantly pulled off maintaining the mystery throughout.
The usage of simple words and lucid language helps to maintain coherence throughout the book.
The narration is enticing and it kept me hooked up to the story till the very end ( I recalled the plot before I drifted off to sleep to figure if I could find the murderer)
The characterisations are so deep and it helps to visualise the whole plot thereby rendering the readers with the pleasure of watching a fast paced thriller movie.
The cover, title and the blurb are engaging and has enough potential to grab anyone to pick the book.
As the book neared the end, the plots grew complex that I had to sit back and think a while to get myself back on the investigation track. The author has handled sensitive emotions with enough clarity and succeeds in delivering a crisp thriller novel which will stay with me forever.
The author leaves no doubts unsolved and no confusions uncleared and never lets the readers loose their grip on the book, which marks the success of this book.
Verdict :
I loved the book throughout (except Bruno drinking beer) and I assure this is a must buy for every mystery and crime thriller lovers.
Plot :
Vishal Bajaj, a private detective, indulges himself in investigating the murder of eldest son Anil, at the wealthy real estate Paras Kapoor household, after the call from his ex, who is now the daughter in law of Kapoors. Everyone in the family and the inspector Babu abhored Vishal when he came up with a validating theory and evidence that the murderer is one from the household. Further, the detective Vishal tries to assemble the evidences which point only in two directions and two persons. But when has life been that easy ? As we read further, the unexpected awaits and our guess takes a back seat. Join Vishal to trap the murderer, meanwhile unveiling the dirty secrets behind every masks of the household.
Likes :
The plot is enticing and the author has brilliantly pulled off maintaining the mystery throughout.
The usage of simple words and lucid language helps to maintain coherence throughout the book.
The narration is enticing and it kept me hooked up to the story till the very end ( I recalled the plot before I drifted off to sleep to figure if I could find the murderer)
The characterisations are so deep and it helps to visualise the whole plot thereby rendering the readers with the pleasure of watching a fast paced thriller movie.
The cover, title and the blurb are engaging and has enough potential to grab anyone to pick the book.
As the book neared the end, the plots grew complex that I had to sit back and think a while to get myself back on the investigation track. The author has handled sensitive emotions with enough clarity and succeeds in delivering a crisp thriller novel which will stay with me forever.
The author leaves no doubts unsolved and no confusions uncleared and never lets the readers loose their grip on the book, which marks the success of this book.
Verdict :
I loved the book throughout (except Bruno drinking beer) and I assure this is a must buy for every mystery and crime thriller lovers.
November 20, 2020
3.75
A good whodunnit. Taut narration throughout. Author done well to withheld the killer’s identity till the very end. A good casual read.
A good whodunnit. Taut narration throughout. Author done well to withheld the killer’s identity till the very end. A good casual read.
December 28, 2019
The book is all about a detective Vishal Bajaj getting a call from his ex-girlfriend about a murder taking place in a villa. The person who got murdered is from an affluent family. The story is about how he investigates and solves the murder.
The Positives in the book are its fast-moving and won’t bore you out. Every Chapter you keep guessing who the killers is. I hated Paras as a character because of the way he was blaming Shalini. I was sad when Anjali died as I hoped it could be more than some character. Still, till the end, I couldn’t make out who was actually the murderer.
The negatives in the book are it has too much sex stuff happening which was too much for me. Like god is someone normal in the family.
The Positives in the book are its fast-moving and won’t bore you out. Every Chapter you keep guessing who the killers is. I hated Paras as a character because of the way he was blaming Shalini. I was sad when Anjali died as I hoped it could be more than some character. Still, till the end, I couldn’t make out who was actually the murderer.
The negatives in the book are it has too much sex stuff happening which was too much for me. Like god is someone normal in the family.
October 1, 2014
My Favorite Quote: ‘I felt content with being rather than becoming.’
Vishal Bajaj, a private detective is called in to investigate the murder of Anil Kapoor the first born to one wealthy Paras kapoor. ‘Vishals’ core competency however has been cheating husbands,’ thus far. Adding to his weaknesses of drinking and being a hopeless romantic at heart, his ex-flame, one of the daughters-in-law of Mr. Kapoor barges back into his life. A plethora of suspects emerge as the events unfold. How our dear Sherlock zeros in on the murderer is the story.
What worked for me: I had a whoohoo moment right in the first page as I am a sucker for good mysteries. The writing is fresh, crisp, lucid, seamless and gripping. I kept turning pages until I reached the climax. I thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected drizzle of humor. I loved the lines – “…time being a great healer is bullshit. Time heals nothing. Well, acne maybe.” And second best humor moment for me was – “Just like the eyewash they show in the movies – detectives leading a life of action and adventure. The only action we ever get is killing mosquitoes during an all-night watch. There were many others that would definitely draw a chuckle out the readers.
The characters were interesting and I liked how they were revealed layer by layer, which helped root the plot. Beautiful use of anaphora – ‘I wanted to break some bones. I wanted to drown someone. I wanted to stab someone.’
What didn't work for me: The plot line felt familiar, and done umpteen number of times. The two sons and three wives are suspects and the murder revolves around money, sexuality and power. No surprise there. There were too many stereotypes for my liking. The protagonist is smart, funny and is alert at all times (even when he has been drinking all day, his grey cells team well with him in solving the puzzle). I may have overlooked that but making Pranay his roommate and assistant a dumb guy was frustrating. However, I must admit, it was presented in an intelligent manner. For example – ‘He went to the fridge, and got out some ice cubes. I loved it when he displayed efficiency at work’ was brilliant. However, my disappointment escalated with making Babu, the inspector, another stereotype. He is dumb and arrogant who talks down of the detective-clan. Our wise-man Vishal cracks corny jokes to ridicule. (Too Bollywood for me). If Vishal Bajaj is the Sherlock of the novel, I’d expect his assistant to fit the role of Dr. Watson, to say the least.
It made me wonder what’s with Vishal and breasts. On the one hand he yearns for Aditi and on the other he is aroused easily by the slightest provocation by women and their breasts!
One sentence stood out like a sore thumb for me “…a bit too vain, a bit too good-looking; and too fashionable to have any intellectual ambitions.”
And lastly, this is more an observation – Vishal’s chin is bleeding from the time he is attached by Abhijit Banerjee to the time he reaches his office to the time he reaches the zoo. It takes not less than say 45 minutes (at least that is what I derived) and I was stumped when Babu remarks Vishal’s chin to be bleeding. Either Vishal has Vitamin K deficiency and his blood doesn't clot or he did rake the wound after he entered the zoo, to which there was no reference.
Edits:
Page 18 – ’Santa Claus’.
Page 63 – ’French effect’.
Page 263 – ‘identity’ shouldn't it be identify?
Conclusion: It was an enjoyable read right from the get go. I could guess who the murderer was somewhere half way along the story. From then on the incidents unfolded as expected until the last plot twist. It was indeed a stroke of genius. As Vishal himself puts it – ‘In spite of the circumstances, I admired the murderer’s master stroke.’ That did it for me.
Rating: 3.00
Vishal Bajaj, a private detective is called in to investigate the murder of Anil Kapoor the first born to one wealthy Paras kapoor. ‘Vishals’ core competency however has been cheating husbands,’ thus far. Adding to his weaknesses of drinking and being a hopeless romantic at heart, his ex-flame, one of the daughters-in-law of Mr. Kapoor barges back into his life. A plethora of suspects emerge as the events unfold. How our dear Sherlock zeros in on the murderer is the story.
What worked for me: I had a whoohoo moment right in the first page as I am a sucker for good mysteries. The writing is fresh, crisp, lucid, seamless and gripping. I kept turning pages until I reached the climax. I thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected drizzle of humor. I loved the lines – “…time being a great healer is bullshit. Time heals nothing. Well, acne maybe.” And second best humor moment for me was – “Just like the eyewash they show in the movies – detectives leading a life of action and adventure. The only action we ever get is killing mosquitoes during an all-night watch. There were many others that would definitely draw a chuckle out the readers.
The characters were interesting and I liked how they were revealed layer by layer, which helped root the plot. Beautiful use of anaphora – ‘I wanted to break some bones. I wanted to drown someone. I wanted to stab someone.’
What didn't work for me: The plot line felt familiar, and done umpteen number of times. The two sons and three wives are suspects and the murder revolves around money, sexuality and power. No surprise there. There were too many stereotypes for my liking. The protagonist is smart, funny and is alert at all times (even when he has been drinking all day, his grey cells team well with him in solving the puzzle). I may have overlooked that but making Pranay his roommate and assistant a dumb guy was frustrating. However, I must admit, it was presented in an intelligent manner. For example – ‘He went to the fridge, and got out some ice cubes. I loved it when he displayed efficiency at work’ was brilliant. However, my disappointment escalated with making Babu, the inspector, another stereotype. He is dumb and arrogant who talks down of the detective-clan. Our wise-man Vishal cracks corny jokes to ridicule. (Too Bollywood for me). If Vishal Bajaj is the Sherlock of the novel, I’d expect his assistant to fit the role of Dr. Watson, to say the least.
It made me wonder what’s with Vishal and breasts. On the one hand he yearns for Aditi and on the other he is aroused easily by the slightest provocation by women and their breasts!
One sentence stood out like a sore thumb for me “…a bit too vain, a bit too good-looking; and too fashionable to have any intellectual ambitions.”
And lastly, this is more an observation – Vishal’s chin is bleeding from the time he is attached by Abhijit Banerjee to the time he reaches his office to the time he reaches the zoo. It takes not less than say 45 minutes (at least that is what I derived) and I was stumped when Babu remarks Vishal’s chin to be bleeding. Either Vishal has Vitamin K deficiency and his blood doesn't clot or he did rake the wound after he entered the zoo, to which there was no reference.
Edits:
Page 18 – ’Santa Claus’.
Page 63 – ’French effect’.
Page 263 – ‘identity’ shouldn't it be identify?
Conclusion: It was an enjoyable read right from the get go. I could guess who the murderer was somewhere half way along the story. From then on the incidents unfolded as expected until the last plot twist. It was indeed a stroke of genius. As Vishal himself puts it – ‘In spite of the circumstances, I admired the murderer’s master stroke.’ That did it for me.
Rating: 3.00
February 28, 2018
'Seduced by Murder' is Saurabh Katyal's first book and he is already my favorite Indian author.
The writer has managed to standout in the crowded murder mystery genre and is a light enjoyable read.
Vishal Bajaj, a former corporate executive now a private detective gets a call from his ex girlfriend Aditi because his brother-in-law has been murdered. Circumstantial evidences make this murder an open-and-shut murder case but Vishal realized that there is more than what meets the eye. He gears up to solve this case with the help of Pranay, his sidekick and Babu, a police officer.
Now, as soon as he starts with his investigative procedures, he gets entangled into a family issues and dynamics, only to find later that he himself is being convicted to one of the murders. It is interesting to read, how he himself gets trapped into the cobweb created by smart murderer.
The writing is smooth, clues are cleverly thrown and events are intelligently blended. I appreciate the 'Indian-ness' in this book. Vishal's character almost reminded of the desi Karamchand. The mystery is decent, executed well and I could not predict the killer.
I had little to moderate expectations from this book and going by the tacky cover, I wouldnt have picked this book as it seemed like a B grade movie poster. Also, I am still not sure why this book is titled so; I dont feel that title is relevant to the plot.
If you are a fan of crime thrillers and murder mysteries, then Seduced by murder is a decently written book in this genre.
The writer has managed to standout in the crowded murder mystery genre and is a light enjoyable read.
Vishal Bajaj, a former corporate executive now a private detective gets a call from his ex girlfriend Aditi because his brother-in-law has been murdered. Circumstantial evidences make this murder an open-and-shut murder case but Vishal realized that there is more than what meets the eye. He gears up to solve this case with the help of Pranay, his sidekick and Babu, a police officer.
Now, as soon as he starts with his investigative procedures, he gets entangled into a family issues and dynamics, only to find later that he himself is being convicted to one of the murders. It is interesting to read, how he himself gets trapped into the cobweb created by smart murderer.
The writing is smooth, clues are cleverly thrown and events are intelligently blended. I appreciate the 'Indian-ness' in this book. Vishal's character almost reminded of the desi Karamchand. The mystery is decent, executed well and I could not predict the killer.
I had little to moderate expectations from this book and going by the tacky cover, I wouldnt have picked this book as it seemed like a B grade movie poster. Also, I am still not sure why this book is titled so; I dont feel that title is relevant to the plot.
If you are a fan of crime thrillers and murder mysteries, then Seduced by murder is a decently written book in this genre.
September 16, 2014
‘Seduced by Murder’ is the debut novel of Saurbh Katyal. When we read a detective story we often see the whole scene with the eyes of a detective and try to solve the case before the original detective does, but in this book the author has proper command over the plot and very effortlessly have kept the suspense till the end.
The name is so intriguing that the readers are bound to take a look at the blurb. ‘Seduce’ and ‘Murder’ are two different words and are a pure mismatch together but why the word seduce is so important in this murder mystery, one can find the answer only while reading it. The cover looks dull comparing to other books in the market of this genre and I would say this is not the best from the designer.
Debut author Saurbh Katyal has chosen a very simple yet gripping narrating style which will increase the reader’s reading speed. I appreciate the author for the witty one-liners he has added in those scenes which make them more entertaining. Each and every scene was described with such details that any reader can easily find the clue with the detective. There are few authors who gain respect by their writing style but this author will make readers his friend by his narrating style.
The characters are perfect for a story like this. Each and every time you start to believe that this guy/girl has nothing to do with the crime and in the next chapter the author somehow manages to shift the attention towards him/her. From our earlier experience of reading detective novels we always watch the detective with envy in our eyes but the main protagonist, the detective is different and unique in his own way.
The story line is quite good but not excellent. The author has very efficiently framed his plot and maintained the guessing game till the end but the speed of the story was a bit slow comparing to be a murder mystery or a thriller. But as the story heads towards the end, it becomes unputdownable. The end will definitely shock the readers because like almost all other detective novels, here also the main culprit is the one least expected. Kudos to the author; for etching the end in such a wonderful way.
Talking about flaws, I do witness a few editing errors and few printing errors like punctuation errors or missing letters. These errors can easily be ignored if the speed was bit faster but that was not and a few times where the main protagonist was travelling through his past memories, the speed dropped to an average. Keeping in mind these flaws and the wonderful and witty narrating style of the author I would recommend this book to all the thriller lovers.
Final Words: A nice attempt by Saurbh Katyal of framing a detective novel and the humor of the author makes this book a must read. A fresh read in the genre of thrillers and murder mysteries.
For more reviews click on: www.timidfingers.blogspot.in
The name is so intriguing that the readers are bound to take a look at the blurb. ‘Seduce’ and ‘Murder’ are two different words and are a pure mismatch together but why the word seduce is so important in this murder mystery, one can find the answer only while reading it. The cover looks dull comparing to other books in the market of this genre and I would say this is not the best from the designer.
Debut author Saurbh Katyal has chosen a very simple yet gripping narrating style which will increase the reader’s reading speed. I appreciate the author for the witty one-liners he has added in those scenes which make them more entertaining. Each and every scene was described with such details that any reader can easily find the clue with the detective. There are few authors who gain respect by their writing style but this author will make readers his friend by his narrating style.
The characters are perfect for a story like this. Each and every time you start to believe that this guy/girl has nothing to do with the crime and in the next chapter the author somehow manages to shift the attention towards him/her. From our earlier experience of reading detective novels we always watch the detective with envy in our eyes but the main protagonist, the detective is different and unique in his own way.
The story line is quite good but not excellent. The author has very efficiently framed his plot and maintained the guessing game till the end but the speed of the story was a bit slow comparing to be a murder mystery or a thriller. But as the story heads towards the end, it becomes unputdownable. The end will definitely shock the readers because like almost all other detective novels, here also the main culprit is the one least expected. Kudos to the author; for etching the end in such a wonderful way.
Talking about flaws, I do witness a few editing errors and few printing errors like punctuation errors or missing letters. These errors can easily be ignored if the speed was bit faster but that was not and a few times where the main protagonist was travelling through his past memories, the speed dropped to an average. Keeping in mind these flaws and the wonderful and witty narrating style of the author I would recommend this book to all the thriller lovers.
Final Words: A nice attempt by Saurbh Katyal of framing a detective novel and the humor of the author makes this book a must read. A fresh read in the genre of thrillers and murder mysteries.
For more reviews click on: www.timidfingers.blogspot.in
March 4, 2017
When Vishal leaves the corporate world and takes up his seat in a one room office, that formerly belonged to an uncle, he aspires to become a good detective. Dealing with small time cases, mostly that of cheating spouses, he gets a real break when Aditi, an old flame, gives him a call to help her with the murder in her family. As Vishal gears up to solve the case with the help of Pranay, his side-kick, and Babu, a police officer, the clues and hints take him up close and personal with the whole family…
The backbone of any mystery or thriller is its protagonist and the core of the plot. Vishal is a character we can believe in. He is smart and intelligent. His corporate background gives him an edge to work against the tide of time, the ability to handle large amount of information and the building pressure of solving the case. At the same time we also see a vulnerable side of him in the story. I, personally, liked Pranay more though and wished the author had included him more often and given him a bigger role to play.
He plot is neither very dramatic nor ingenious. However, it contains all the elements of a thriller – from questionable motives to dark secrets to multiple viable suspects, the book has it all. The author has dealt us a reasonable amount of twists and action to keep the storyline moving forward. This book is also just perfect to play a game of whodunnit as the author leaves around considerable amount of hints for the readers to pick up. With his beautiful narration and simplistic language complimenting the story, this book was practically unputdownable from the beginning.
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/11/Sed...
The backbone of any mystery or thriller is its protagonist and the core of the plot. Vishal is a character we can believe in. He is smart and intelligent. His corporate background gives him an edge to work against the tide of time, the ability to handle large amount of information and the building pressure of solving the case. At the same time we also see a vulnerable side of him in the story. I, personally, liked Pranay more though and wished the author had included him more often and given him a bigger role to play.
He plot is neither very dramatic nor ingenious. However, it contains all the elements of a thriller – from questionable motives to dark secrets to multiple viable suspects, the book has it all. The author has dealt us a reasonable amount of twists and action to keep the storyline moving forward. This book is also just perfect to play a game of whodunnit as the author leaves around considerable amount of hints for the readers to pick up. With his beautiful narration and simplistic language complimenting the story, this book was practically unputdownable from the beginning.
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/11/Sed...
September 3, 2015
‘Seduction’ and ‘murder’ both the terms are equally obnoxious and intoxicating but both are alluring enough to weave stories around. I am sure that you may have read or come across numerous instances wherein seduction has been itself used as a weapon of murder. So, how does this story stand apart from the similar in this genre? It does.
It does, because the author has not unnecessarily bloated the topic to create a hormonal rush or create heat to burn fire and leave the readers to ashes to play with rather, he provides the readers with a fire to burn within and leaves the murderer to ashes. Remember, it is the ‘fire’ under ‘ashes’ that burns and not cook something to relish!
You can definitely relish the sweet –bitter relationship within the characters, who belong to one family. Yes, you got it correct. It’s is family saga but not the melodramatic types. It is thrilling because it has suspense that the author has very tightly caught hold of. The protagonist is invited to the crime scene by his ex-beloved who is married to someone else. Her husband is the brother of the deceased!
Nice concept of a detective next door with uncanny detection skills, numerous mysteries to create a maze, and a hunt to drive down – you have all to keep yourself engrossed and the author has played his part well.
Source: https://booksnewsindia.wordpress.com/...
It does, because the author has not unnecessarily bloated the topic to create a hormonal rush or create heat to burn fire and leave the readers to ashes to play with rather, he provides the readers with a fire to burn within and leaves the murderer to ashes. Remember, it is the ‘fire’ under ‘ashes’ that burns and not cook something to relish!
You can definitely relish the sweet –bitter relationship within the characters, who belong to one family. Yes, you got it correct. It’s is family saga but not the melodramatic types. It is thrilling because it has suspense that the author has very tightly caught hold of. The protagonist is invited to the crime scene by his ex-beloved who is married to someone else. Her husband is the brother of the deceased!
Nice concept of a detective next door with uncanny detection skills, numerous mysteries to create a maze, and a hunt to drive down – you have all to keep yourself engrossed and the author has played his part well.
Source: https://booksnewsindia.wordpress.com/...
September 18, 2014
Meet Vishal Bajaj, the latest addition to a growing list of private investigators walking the streets of urban India. Although he is quite content making ends meet by investigating spouses cheating on each other, he gets embroiled in a murder mystery when his ex-girlfriend calls him.
While circumstantial evidence seems to suggest an open and shut case, Vishal's instincts and his sleuthing abilities take him down a path where there's more than meets the eye. Does Vishal manage to nab the murderer, does he manage to uncover the web of deceit laid by him, is that forms the crux of the book.
A worthy addition to the growing list of books in the Indian crime writing genre.
While circumstantial evidence seems to suggest an open and shut case, Vishal's instincts and his sleuthing abilities take him down a path where there's more than meets the eye. Does Vishal manage to nab the murderer, does he manage to uncover the web of deceit laid by him, is that forms the crux of the book.
A worthy addition to the growing list of books in the Indian crime writing genre.
February 4, 2015
If the sole criterion of how a good book is if you enjoyed it at the end of it, then I have no hesitation in giving this book all the stars. Like a true mystery, the plot unfolds in layers which keeps the reader in rapt attention. Another aspect the author imbibes is to keep the plot simple and yet elusive - not always easy. There is also just the right dose of humor bordering on sarcasm.
Saurabh Katyal is reportedly a part time author, his main career spanning the world of business. I do hope Mr Katyal finds more time for his writing and perhaps one day devotes full time to this passion.
Saurabh Katyal is reportedly a part time author, his main career spanning the world of business. I do hope Mr Katyal finds more time for his writing and perhaps one day devotes full time to this passion.
February 6, 2018
A gripping thriller..
A gripping thriller filled with right amounts of humour. The plot is amazing and definitely a page Turner. Would highly recommend to all who loves murder mysteries.
A gripping thriller filled with right amounts of humour. The plot is amazing and definitely a page Turner. Would highly recommend to all who loves murder mysteries.
September 7, 2014
Enjoyed reading an intelligent mystery by an indian author. Was hooked from page 1; the author has a way with storytelling. Look forward to reading more books by Saurabh Katyal. Mystery lovers should pick this one up. This is one of the best indian mystery novels written.
January 27, 2018
This is excellent mystery novel. I read it one sitting. I am glad that one can read Indian authors with Indian setting. I was bored reading books set up in western world which beyond a point you can't connect.
August 26, 2014
Easily one of the best murder mystery I have read so far. Could not put the book down once I started reading. Amazing plotting and characterization by the author. 5 stars.
January 27, 2016
A fast paced and gripping thriller. We now have the likes of Agatha Christie in our midst. The book keeps you riveted right through and the story-line is a credible one.
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