A Season for Dying

Vikram Rana Mystery #2

by Sharmishtha Shenoy

A Season for Dying
Note from a killer
“This is Prakash writing. I am the murderer of Padma Manepally. I am attaching photos of her dead body taken in her apartment today to prove that I am indeed the killer. Old ladies make nice soft targets. I think I will wipe off an old lady next. …Catch me if you can.”

1st April, 11:30 am Charminar: A housewife is strangled to death.
15th April 5:30 am Begumpet: A reputed doctor is bludgeoned to death near Begumpet Station while out on her morning walk.
A ruthless killer is on the loose. He has openly challenged the police to catch him. The reputation of the Hyderabad Police is in tatters. The psychopath is roaming freely across Hyderabad killing indiscriminately. Or is there a method in this madness? Who are these victims and why they have been selected by the murderer? ACP Gopi Reddy ropes in good friend Vikram Rana to help him. As Gopi Reddy admits, 'Random killers are the hardest criminals to catch.' But to Vikram Rana something about these brutal incidences does not ring true and these crimes seem to be related…. Will Vikram and ACP Reddy be able to prevent another murder in this race against time before this monster strikes again?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 6, 2017

About the author

Sharmishtha Shenoy is a bestselling Indian author of crime fiction and psychological thrillers, with over 1 million pages read on Kindle Unlimited, making her one of the most widely read independent crime writers on KU in India.

Shenoy is the author of the true crime novels titled The Hyderabad Heist, and Candle in the Wind. Both the novels have been imprinted by Rupa Publications.

She is also the creator of the popular Vikram Rana Mystery Series, which includes A Season for Dying, Silent Witness, A Thousand Scars -Book 1: The Hunter and Book 2: The Hunted, among others.

Her standalone works include the psychological thriller Murder in the Chowdhury Palace (Vishwakarma Publications) and the short story collection Quirky Tales.

In a unique honour, Silent Witness has been selected for a PhD thesis at Dayalbagh Educational Institute, where it is being studied from a psychological perspective.

Prior to her writing career, Shenoy worked in the tech industry with companies like TCS, Satyam, Infosys, and Microsoft. She holds an M.Tech from the University of Reading, UK, and brings analytical rigour to her storytelling.

A native of Calcutta, now based in Hyderabad, Shenoy is currently pursuing a screenwriting course at NFYU to adapt her novels for film and streaming platforms. She describes herself as “happily married to Mr. Shenoy, but fictionally wedded to Vikram Rana.”

Reviews

[Supratim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am giving the book a rating of 3.5

The story is set in the Indian city of Hyderabad. There is a serial killer on the loose and he emails the editor of a newspaper after each murder and reveals his intention for the next murder. He also taunts the Hyderbad Police to catch him.

Ex-cop turned private investigator Vikram Rana, the hero of the series, assists his friend ACP Gopi Reddy in the investigation.

This book is a whodunit where the detectives interview people, analyze data and gore & violence is almost minimal.

The “About the Author” page mentions that the writer’s favourite authors are Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. I could see the influence of Christie on the plot. There are red herrings, misdirections, a few clever clues revealed to the readers and the culprit is unmasked during a meeting of the people involved. So typical of the good old mystery stories. A tactic employed by Vikram reminded me of a very famous Agatha Christie novel. I won’t say more lest I end up giving a spoiler.

The author has also made efforts to include believable and some likeable characters in the story. Vikram is a good man who is coaxed & cajoled by his vegan “health freak” wife, Veena, to adhere to a healthy diet. But, our detective is a big foodie who loves eating out and stuffs his office fridge with cold drinks. ACP Gopi Reddy is a good cop and shares Vikram’s weakness for good food.

The writing is fine and the mystery is good. The novel can be read pretty quickly. I must say the author has done a decent job.

One more thing I liked about the book is the cover art. Many new authors neglect the cover page and more often than not the result is a very bland or cheap cover art.

I would recommend this book to mystery lovers who prefer stories to be a bit towards the cozy side.

I read the paperback edition of the novel which has some minor editing mistakes here and there. The writer has informed me that these errors have been rectified in the ebook version.

[Rakhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The key element in a thriller is suspense. The deepest the secret lies the more interesting the story would be. Sharmishta Shenoy through her Vikram Rana mystery series brings forth some interesting tales of suspense, mystery,thrills and action.
A Season for Dying, comes under the genre , in an irrevocably engaging investigation thriller. Vikram Rana, the private detective is in charge of a series of murders. A woman is murdered in her apartment and the murderer sends an email to press claiming that he had murdered the woman and will kill more people on the coming days for the fun of it. The police is on the run to find the random killer before he mercilessly slaughters more innocent souls. The husband of the woman asks Vikram Rana to investigate his wife's murder since he feels that he has been unduly framed. Once Vikram comes to picture, the investigation takes an interesting turn and along with inspector Reddy, Vikram solve one riddle after the other to find a connecting link between the murders. It does not take much time to find out that the murders are no longer random.

Who is the psychopath after the lives of people? What is his motive? Will Vikram and Reddy succeed in finding the killer and prevent further murders.?

Authoress forces the readers to plunge into the world of violence, suspense , mystery ,love,friendship and revenge . The style of narration is engaging. The right amount of suspense is maintained without overdose of drama. What intrigues me is whether a private detective would be allowed to get sensitive evidence and be a part of discussion in the most controversial crime investigation. A few grammatical errors could not be ignored though it did not mellow down the level of suspense.

Overall the book is a great attempt from the authoress's part.

This review is in return of a free book from the publisher

[Rahul Basu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to read murder mysteries because the logical skills of finding a pattern and deductive reasoning are often skilfully laid out. Ms Shenoy's A Season for Dying does not disappoint and illustrates the above point successfully.

Vikram Rana, Hyderabad's own Byomkesh Bakshi, is at his wit's end trying to trace a serial killer who is brazen enough to send letters to the press after each murder, challenging the Hyderabad police.

The writing style is simple yet elegant and the plot is challenging keeping the readers hooked.

The author has craftily used red herring and yet leaves tantalising clues behind. But the reader is still thrown off the scent.
In summary, this is a five star book that gets an extra star for captivating me from start to finish.

[Manisha G · Rating 5 out of 5]

| BOOK REVIEW | - 🍁 The Book, A season for dying by Sharmishtha Shenoy, is a Fictional Story.
🍂

🍁 The story revolves around the protagonist of the story namely Vikram Rana, who is fighting against crime happening in the city. The serial killer is roaming in the city and people are in danger.
🍂

🍁 People are being murdered ruthlessly by the serial killer in the city. Vikram Rana very diligently and with his intelligence is solving the mystery with the help of clues. Read this interesting story and get to know what happens next in the City.
🍂

🍁 The Author Has Written All the Suspenseful Incidents Wonderfully in the Book. The Language of the Book Is Rich.
🍂

🍁 The Cover of the Book Is Captivating. The Title of the Book Is an Intriguing. The Writing Style of the Book Is Gripping.
🍂

🍁 The Story has many Twists and Turns. The Story is An Engaging and Refreshing to be Read.
🍂

| PERSONAL INSIGHT | - 🌸 I Enjoyed Reading the Story. The Author Has Narrated All the Scenes Wonderfully with a Gripping Pace. The Story Is Written with an Impressive Writing Style. The Mystery just Goes On till the Long Part of the Story. If someone Likes to Read Light Read, then The Book is Not a Good Read for Him/Her.

[Aryan Sarath · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I got this book, I never realised that the author has already penned few novels. I was made aware of this fact due to the presence of abstract of couple of stories in the end of the novel which seemed equally interesting and intriguing.

Coming to the actual novel - A Season for Dying is a perfect title for the novel since the death occurs eliminating one character or the other throughout the novel. It all begins with a murder of a housewife and it continues with the killing of few more including doctors. The killer wantedly leaves behind a note mentioning the date for his next hunt.

The cops get into action and they get more annoyed when the killer challenges their talent and wanted to teach him/her a lesson. ACP Gopi Reddy gets in touch with his ex-colleague and friend Vikas Rana who is now the famous detective. Did they manage to unfold the mystery is the story.

What I liked the most is the way the story went. It would make any reader including me to keep guessing as to who would be the potential killer but in the end, it was a real surprise. A perfect weekend novel which is best enjoyed with a snack and tea/coffee to beat the boredom.

There are lot of characters in the novel which you need to remember. I would suggest to make a note of them so that you will not get confused at any given point in time. These characters are very much required and hence there is no complaints whatsoever.

This is a usual crime novel with an unusual twist.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Season For Dying Sharmishtha Shenoy.
Note from a killer
“This is Prakash writing. I am the murderer of Padma Manepally. I am attaching photos of her dead body taken in her apartment today to prove that I am indeed the killer. Old ladies make nice soft targets. I think I will wipe off an old lady next. …Catch me if you can.”
This was a good read with good characters. A little slow in places but picked up a little. 4*. Tbc on fb.

[Gopesh P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice investigation thriller

A good investigation thriller to read. Explains every character and situation in a beautiful manner. This is a fictional story of a random killer inspired from some real characters. Must read if you love Investigation thriller.

[Shreshtha Rathore · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a reader, mystery novels are a true challenge for me. They simply demand a whole different level of your attention to the story and every little detail in it.

As a writer, I can’t even imagine constructing up that castle of mysteries.

Sharmishtha Shenoy has done an incredible job when it comes to the plot of the story. It is tightly knitted and you’ll find it hard to spot any loopholes. The narration is absorbing, it traps you in the story and forces you to do all the calculations in the frame of your understanding, but try all you wan’t, you can’t predict what is going to happen, and that was the ultimate thrill for me.

What I loved-

As I mentioned, Sharmishtha is a storyteller. She knows perfectly which part of the story fits where. It’s almost like solving a jigsaw puzzle, read through it and see the picture being formed.
Its unpredictable. You think you know the killer and bam! You’re proved wrong. You shift to another suspect and there you go! Wrong again! Try all you want, there are a lot of surprises for you.
Rana and Reddy are foodies! Investigators who love food and never miss a chance to grab a delicious bite? Perfect characters defined.
The peices really fit in together. From the start of the book till the very end, every little fact comes along with the story and sits perfectly with the conclusion.
A Reader’s perspective:

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. At first I expected it to be something like Sherlock Holmes or other cliched investigation series, but it is absolutely not. The characters are very down to earth with no special super human characteristics and that made me fall in love with them. Vikram Rana is a normal person just like you and me, it’s his perspective and way of questioning and looking into things that helps him out. At no point of the story was I bored. I found Sharmishtha’s writing to the point and crisp.

I am surely looking forward to some more exciting Vikram Rana Mysteries!

[Sayan Basak · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW OF- A SEASON FOR DYING




BY SHARMISHTHA SHENOY

• Paperback
• Language: English
• ASIN: B06XY3SY12
• Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 12.8 x 1.2 cm


THE PLOT IN BRIEF-

A note from a killer "This is Prakash writing. I am the murderer of Padma Manepally. I am attaching photos of her dead body taken in her apartment today to prove that I am indeed the killer. Old ladies make nice soft targets. I think I will wipe out an old lady next. ...Catch me if you can." 1st April, 11:30 am Charminar: A housewife is strangled to death. 15th April 5:30 am Begumpet: A reputed doctor is bludgeoned to death near Begumpet Station while out on her morning walk. A ruthless killer is on the loose. He has openly challenged the Hyderabad Police to catch him. The reputation of the Hyderabad Police is in tatters. The psychopath is roaming freely across Hyderabad killing indiscriminately. Or is there a method in this madness? Who are these victims and why they have been selected by the murderer? He ropes in good friend Vikram Rana to help him. As Gopi Reddy admits, 'Random killers are the hardest criminals to catch.' But to Vikram Rana something about these brutal incidences does not ring true and these crimes seem to be related.... Will Vikram and ACP Reddy be able to prevent another murder in this race against time before this monster strikes again?

THE TITLE-

Indeed A season for dying is a very interesting and appropriate title for the book. We all know that Dialogues must appear as natural as if coming from effortless writing. It must not sweat. The beloved readers must not sweat. But here the author is literally sweating, because her characters are literally talking fishy in a steamy sweaty and bloody scene. The combination of the suspense and the chillness are very vividly described throughout the plot. When you read the account of a murder - or, say, a fiction story based on murder - you usually begin with the murder itself. That's all wrong. The murder begins a long time beforehand. A murder is the culmination of a lot of different circumstances, all converging at a given moment at a given point. People are brought into it from different parts of the globe and for unforeseen reasons. The murder itself is the end of the story.
The title itself creates this thrilling environment. For example in a season, the dates gradually get eliminated one by one. Similarly the victim gets eliminated in the plot one by one, just like the dates of a season.

REVIEW OF THE BOOK-

I understood something after completing the book-Known is Nothing, Unknown is Everything; This is Half Hidden World.
We know only a little about ourselves, even ourselves. So blind are we that more often than not we never know what we're going to do next, Love or Hate. Like what we are for ourselves, a part of our soul mates, our boy and girl friends, also remains Unknown to us, quite naturally, despite living together under the same roof, eating together, sleeping together....And that hidden part makes us ex-things to others.
The author very beautifully creates the atmosphere to inculcate the sequential murders in the story. It was like this blackness that crept into the corners of my life until everything was grey and dirty. My insides felt burnt out, like if you cut me open, all you would find would be smoke. No heart. No bones. There was nothing left, just the anger. It followed me everywhere. It sat on my bed and watched me sleep and when I had to eat, it looked at me across the table.
That’s what a thriller plot looks like and the author has proved it correctly through her creation.
Policemen are often confronted with situations which baffle them at first. A certain crime scene may seem meaningless, but they have to derive some meaning out of it. They have to connect the dots, find the links, delve into its history, look for evidence, come up with a zillion theories and arrive at truth. The thing is, truth is always stranger than fiction.
To find out the truth, please order your copies from

http://www.amazon.in/Season-Dying-Sha...


YOU SHOULD READ THIS BECAUSE-

1. THE SPINE CHILLING THRILLING PLOT.

2. THE DEATH FACTOR AT EVERY TURN OF THE PAGE






RATINGS-

Overall I would like to rate the book 42 on a scale of 50.
4 stars out of 5
1. Originality of the plot and sub plots- 9/10
2. Net emotions in the story- 8/10
3. Usage of words and phrases-8/10
4. The title, cover and the illustration-8/10
5. The net impact on the readers- 9/10

Life is truly a matter of choices, reactions, and actions. Each and every choice is governed by our reactions which in turn affect our actions and consequently the future turn of events


Reviewed by-
Sayan Basak
Kolkata

[Caz C Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

When people are randomly murdered and the serial killer openly challenges the Hyderabad Police, only one man is able to stop the murderer: Vikram Rana

| Introduction |

Vikram Rana #2

When a lovely young woman is murdered in her own home and as we read “he mentally struck one name off his list,” you know a killer is on the loose and he will strike again. What we are not yet aware of is the killer’s need for attention which comes to light with every letter he writes, announcing the date of the next murder. Such brutality is quite shocking and Inspector Gopi Reddy of the Hyderabad Police is at a loss where to look for the murderer. He needs help and for that, he turns to his friend and ex Police Officer, Vikram Rana, the man combining Hercule Poirot’s grey cells with a love for chai!

| Storyline |

Mr Kinshuk Jain, the editor of The Telangana Times, believes the email he receives dated April 1st, titled ‘A Season for Dying’ is a hoax. A killer who says his name is Prakash explicitly describes (with photo evidence) how he brutally murdered a housewife. Even more intriguing, he lets his audience know there will be another killing on April 15th. And to top it all the email ends with “Catch me if you can.” Upon investigating and finding the slaughtered body of the housewife, Inspector Gopi Reddy is given the case. And Reddy knows if he ever wants to solve it he needs his friend and former colleague, Vikram Rana. Whilst we anxiously await the next murder, we learn the story of the door-to-door salesman and drug addict Satya, who admits drugs is “the curse” of his life and who is desperate to stay clean but fails at every attempt. Satya is concerned for what he might do when he is high as he has no recollection of his acts afterwards. When the second murder takes place and Gopi Reddy and Vikram are no closer to catching the killer who appears to choose his victims at random, the public pressure is rising as every theory sofar has been proven wrong. Are they able to stop the serial killer?

| My Thoughts |

This is the first book I read by this author and on every page, you feel her love for detective novels and mysteries and for the authors such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Dame Agatha Christie as there are references to them both. Whilst this is lovely, the many characters and the way they are extensively introduced as well as the descriptive narration style of the author detracted from and interceded with the story, so slowing the plotline down. The character of Vikram Rana is that of a man, who has an excellent reputation but has difficulty handling his own wife; most touching was how he took an affront and turned it into a stimulant to truly become “a man of value.” The outset of the detective novel is intriguing and I loved the voice of the alleged killer interspersing the investigation and challenging Inspector Gopi Reddy and Detective Vikram Rana. When you think you know who did it .. you are wrong and you just have to wait for the plotline to slowly unravel …

Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/season...

[Anjali Anil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently wrapped up A Season for Dying and safe to say it hooked me from the very first line. The killer’s note is so bold and disturbing that it immediately sets the tone for the entire book. A murderer who sends photos of his victim and openly challenges the police to catch him is already terrifying, but the way the crimes unfold makes it even more chilling.The murders feel random at first, scattered across Hyderabad, different victims, different timings, and absolutely no pattern. That confusion actually becomes the best part of the book because you start guessing nonstop. Every time I thought I understood the killer’s motive, the story shifted again. It kept me alert through every chapter.

Vikram Rana enters the investigation with that same calm sharpness he always has in this series. I love how he observes the smallest details without making it dramatic. His dynamic with ACP Gopi Reddy feels so natural because they are both good at what they do but in completely different ways.Their conversations add a grounded, real touch to the tension.

What stood out to me the most in this book is how the book balances fast pace with emotional depth and it turns out that the victims are not just random names and that made me more curious . The author actually makes you feel the fear spreading across the city and how the pressure grows on the police. Hyderabad itself becomes part of the story, like those crowded areas to quiet corners where danger is hiding in plain sight. Since I’ve been to Hyderabad once I was literally visualising the entire plot on my head while I was reading this book.

The suspense stays intact till the final reveal and honestly I did not expect the motive at all. Even the brutality of the murders has a purpose once everything comes together. Sharmishtha Shenoy really knows how to build tension without dragging anything. Her writing stays clear, quick and very addictive.

A Season for Dying is a gripping crime thriller that keeps you guessing from page one to the last line. If you enjoy tight investigations, psychological twists and a good rush of suspense, this one is definitely worth reading.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young housewife is killed brutally and the grotesque pictures and the date of next murder are mailed to the editor of The Telangana Times. Initially he thinks it's an April fool prank but when the news of the murder is confirmed he forwards the mail to the Police Commissioner for detailed investigation.

What follows later is the investigation, enquiry etc. But is it a serial killer or a psychopath or is someone making it look like one?

Inspector Gopi Reddy and Vikram Rana get involved in this investigation and the manner in which they solve the case is commendable; or rather say the manner in which the author has written the case conclusion is commendable.

I had read Vikram Rana investigates first book of the series last year, when I had received it for reviewing through The Book Club.

Plus points: well etched plot, filled with suspense, fast paced and addictive story which makes the book un-put-down-able. Characters from previous series like Veena, Kamala, Murali, and Radha makes the reader connect (if you have read the first book). Even if you haven’t proper and short description doesn’t make you left out.Both main characters love for food and to excel in their field and also their comradeship is worth a mention.

Usually i am able to guess the culprit but this time I was unable to predict till I read the end. (My hubby who has nicknamed me CID).


Negative points: Well, a couple of editing errors which can be ignored considering the brilliant storyline.

In other words, Sharmishta Shenoy’s A Season For Dying is worth a read, if you love to read detective novels and even otherwise.

[Ranjini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vikram Rana is an ex-cop who was transferred (from Hyderabad to Vizag) by the commissioner of police, when he was about to bust a corrupt politician.
Frustrated and homesick, he quits the force and comes back to Hyderabad, and opens his own detective agency.

This book is the second in the series.

A murder of a young woman, Padma, not only shakes the city - but gives the Hyderabad police and locals a lot to worry about.
The killer sends an email to the editor of a popular newspaper - acknowledging his crime, and giving him 15 days to stop the next one.

In steps ACP Reddy, and his friend Vikram, who has been asked to investigate the murder of Padma, by her husband Ashok.
Murders continue happening - and they all seem so random, and doesn’t always follow the same pattern.
After a regular young woman, the killer has suddenly taken a disliking to doctors - and the following two murders are of doctors.
How will ACP Reddy and Vikram find that one clue which links all the murders?

The plot is quite twisted and complicated - which makes the read interesting.
Like the previous book, there were quite a few typos and basic errors - which leaves a gap in the editing and proof-reading.
This too was a quick and easy read - but, definitely not a literary masterpiece.

Pick it up for something light.

[Manjri Gopalan · Rating 3 out of 5]

'A Season for Dying' is a murder mystery and quick page-turner book. The plot is interesting but the writing style could be improved. The story starts with the murder of a young woman in the old city of Hyderabad and a journalist gets an email from the killer informing about the crime. The journalist passes on the information to the Hyderabad Police Commissioner and that's how the Police gets on to solving the case.

The plot keeps you glued to the book but there are some open-ended items like the author fails to explain why the murderer reaches out to the Journalist when he (oops, sorry for disclosing the detail) could have easily kept mum and delayed the case from getting resolved. It is also quite hard to digest that the Hyderabad police without even trying to solve the case of their own, completely relies on a private detective - Vikram Rana (the hero of the book and an ex-Policeman) to solve the case.

However, as I mentioned before the plot is quite good with interesting turns and twists. The book keeps you engaged throughout.

[Chandini · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my goodness!! had to give it 5 stars because I couldn't find a single flaw! Author is way too underrated.
Checklist:
1. Good writing? check! (No extensive use of Thesaurus just to sound fancy, simple and smooth writing with impeccable editing)
2. Plot and Story? check! (well researched, not a hollow story with insensible plot. Might not be Sherlock Holmes standards where the twist is at the end you can see it coming but it's totally worth the read too!)
3. Creativity? a 100% check (amidst conventional romantic crap written by the popular but idiotic indian writers this book is actually amazing. Makes one wanna say, "who said Indians can't write crime stories?"
keep up the good work sharmishtha and yes please invest in some marketing.

[Anupama Dalmia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A taut and pacy thriller. It's not easy to keep the readers completely captivated in a whodunit but the author succeeds in doing so without leaving a scope for any plot loopholes. Everything in the end ties together. Also, I almost could not guess the culprit till the end which is the strength of books of this genre. I love the characterization of Vikram Rana and he reminds me of the iconic Karamchand. Looking forward to read more in this series. The editing was a letdown and I really wish the editing would have been upto the mark as that would have taken the novel a notch above. Overall, definitely worth a read.

[Boundless Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The one must have for a murder mystery is suspense and A Season for Dying is loaded with it! I loved the story and its many twists. It’s definitely worthy of the mystery genre! I love the process of solving the murders as much as the game the killer is playing. I strongly recommend A Season for Dying, by Sharmishtha Shenoy.

This is the second Vikram Rana book I’ve read and I was not disappointed. This mystery demonstrates an excellent writing style with obvious talent. Another huge 4 Boundless Star Book.

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[Sona · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to mysteries, murder, whodunit, Sharmishtha Shenoy is excellent. I am not sure how she is able to pull it always together. It is the second book on my shelf from Shenoy. I am sure there will be more in near future too. This is a rather brilliant story. It has intriguing clues, plenty of suspects all with strong motives, lots of red herrings and misdirection, and, of course, the hugely entertaining interplay between Vikram Rana and his wife Veena. There are possible suspects for each of the crimes – relatives, lovers and so on – but Vikram Rana must find the link that connects them all.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This intriguing murder mystery turned out to be an ideal read for a dark and windy night. It began with a murder. Very soon it became a complex and rather labyrinthine case where apparently random people are being murdered.
Serial Killing is a tough business, as we all know. In this novel those aspects are considered at length. But clues are also revealed before Vikram (and us) that suggest something different.
Then we have a proper, Christyesque climax!
This book, despite several typographical errors and shoddy editing, was a lot more enjoyable, in a dark sense.
Recommended.

[Soumyodeep Bhattacharjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great supense

Very addictive read.. Kudos to Sharmishtha for keeping it very interesting till the absolute end of it using simple narratives. Loved reading and will look for more to come

[Aritra Chakraborty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of these series has interesting plot. Now this time it is more improved.
Thriller lovers will definitely enjoy the story.
And for language – simple is good.

[Priya Patade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most amazing part of this book was it has created the curiosity as we turn on the pages... which is what I njoyed the most in this book.
Thank You for such a lovely book Shenoy Ma'am!!

[Madhuban · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this novel by Sharmishtha Shenoy di in return of an honest review. I swell with pride to have witnessed the journey of an author from better to best.

Vikram Rana is our detective-next-door. Very relatable, very humble, unlike all the larger-than-life detective heroes we have read about so far.

Apart from the complex murder plot, I really like the way the author defines every character in the story, however negligible. There are some references to movie characters and real life people, which makes the reader imagine better and the reading more enjoyable!

This novel is a must read for all mystery lovers.

Sharmishtha di, eagerly waiting for your next book!

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love nothing more than a good whodunnit, and Sharmishtha Shenoy’s books qualify. I saw it coming, but didn’t quite see it coming. And then the clues all came together just before the official reveal. And that’s exactly how I like it.
The descriptions of my adopted home leave me waiting for more.

[Sitharaam Jayakumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This being the author's debut book, one has to say she has done a good job. She has created the detective Vikram Rana and he is quite a charming personality. The book has a good plot and is very entertaining. The book is fast paced and the suspense is maintained right till the end. I see shades of Agatha Christie in the author's writing style. This is a very good thriller and can definitely be picked up for reading on a lazy weekend.

[Soumalya · Rating 4 out of 5]

So after an extremely promising start with Vikram Rana Investigates, Mrs. Shramistha Shenoy is back with a sequel . Was eagerly anticipating this followup and must say it didn't disappoint. The dynamic duo of Gopi Reddy and Vikram Rana, Vikram's controlling and caring wife, the hilarious tiffs between the couple are all there and instantly draw us into the comfort zone of a familiar character we are gradually becoming fond of. However, the mystery is new and so is the menacing villain. Vikram is up for the challenge of his life as the thriller keeps us guessing who could be the merciless killer who has made the entire city of Hyderabad his hunting ground.

The depiction of the city, nuances of the characters, insights into situations from which the detective derives his clues. Piecing the puzzle together and finally, the grand revelation is quite a gripping read. The story gradually picks up pace and by the time you are more than halfway through, it quickly accelerates to the climax making it difficult to put down before you've finished it. Apart from the mystery itself, the suave, yet humble detective with his streaks of genius and his flaws, is essentially human and this makes us relate to him and root for his success.

It's a sign of much better things to come and a good time for lovers of crime thrillers. I wish the author all the best in her endeavor and hope we see Vikram Rana in a new mystery very soon.

[Ritika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great sequel to the Vikram Rana Series. The case was so intriguing that will keep you guessing whodunnit!

[Amrita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a part of her series, now these series are interesting cause like Sherlock Holmes there is a particular character in the being and the related thrill and plot comes in handy. Always been a fan of such book and similar sort of thing is the case here. Loved the book's cover (not sorry about the cute floral background) the title is apt and really thoughtful. Love the plot though. Good thing is was not totally thrown off guard since I haven't yet read the books before this so pretty much can be read as a stand alone.

In the town of Hyderabad in India, life is peaceful and orderly - until a brutal murder shocks the community. The police department is challenged to catch the killer before another murder happens, and the residents of the town band together to help the police. The investigation leads to unexpected and alarming discoveries, and the townspeople must face the realities of life in a dangerous and volatile world.

The police department responded quickly to the situation and assigned an inspector to the case. Together, they worked to solve the mystery. Vikram Rana, a friend and former police officer, helped them.

Good characterization and holding the suspense till the end
Must try

[Soumya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Season of Dying by Sharmishtha Shenoy is a murder mystery and second book in the Vikram Rana series.

This was my first ever book by the author and also of the series. One can read this book as a standalone.

I am someone who loves mystery genre books and have read all of the Feluda books, Agatha Christie books, the Nancy Drew series, all of Enid Blyton's mystery series and how can I forget to name Sherlock Holmes.

Plot and all aside, I would first like to note that I couldn't help but notice a lot of Agatha Christie influence on the plot and the familiarity made this all the more interesting.

The plot follows a psycho killer who upon getting to his victims and after murdering them taunts the media and the police on their inability to catch him and also taunting them with his next hit.

Among all this, Vikram Rana is a private investigator who comes into the case after a victim's husband contacts him to solve the mystery behind his wife's death.

Without revealing much of the plot, I would say the plot is very serious and yet my favourite moments are the parts where we get to see Vikram Rana's homely and humane side i.e. his relationship with his wife and his love for food.

I enjoyed this. Looking forward to reading more of Vikram Rana.