Baby, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the Diwan family's household help, has been raped and brutalized. Vansh Diwan, a criminal lawyer, finds himself torn between a shot at justice for the girl and a very powerful client. He cannot bring himself to proceed at the risk of all that he has secured for his family. His wife Priti, distraught and devastated at her husband's decision, turns to an old friend for help. Akash Hingorani, top criminal lawyer and best friend to Priti and Vansh, must step up. He is Baby's last chance. But things quickly unravel as Akash's probe into the rape suddenly turns into a murder investigation. A powerful legal thriller that moves breathlessly from crime scene to courtroom to homes to lay bare the difference between law and justice.
Unlawful Justice is an enthralling and captivating crime and mystery story. A powerful legal thriller that moves from crime scene to courtroom, evidence to witness, justice to rightful justice. The story is an emotional and legal battle both. It is not about what is right or wrong. It laid bare the difference between the law and justice, what is rightful Justice for a crime even though unlawful in the eye of law.
It is a definite page turner that won’t let you drop the book till you reached the last page. It is more a crime story than a courtroom drama. The story revolves around the crime and mystery surrounds it. Everything is perfect – the plot, story, mystery, hooked you till the end. A perfect entertainer with a perfect ending.
good to read a legal thriller by a Indian writer as there are very less Indian writers in this genre, legal thrillers have there own charm , play of words, wit, wisdom , questioning cross questioning. It is a very well researched book , which presents interesting points, like why jury system was abolished India, the courts description is very realistic and not over the top. Court room sequences are engaging and interesting to read . the court room scenes which are heart of such books is comparatively less , it starts when 70 % of the book is finished, generally its underdog vs seasoned opposition , here akash hingorani is shown as very quirky , highly successful and a man with unlimited resources at his disposal while the opposition is too weak from beginning too match his wits . would love to see akash hingorani having duel in further books with a worthy opponent . spoilers :
Mystery was weak , it was easy to guess the killer , as there were no more suspects, i found it strange that maninder singh is not concerned that who killed is son , rather than just being so concerned with killing gayatri and baby. The end was not satisfying , maninder seems all talk and no action till end . but overall a good book to read and kudos to the writer for attempting to write in this genre
Loved this book so much. Written in such a beautiful manner. The plot is so nice and the Indian touch - Indian justice system, and laws makes it so enjoyable. The plot is strong and captivating. The writing is smooth, artistic and enchanting. The characters do their job so well, you just can't stop admiring everything. The book is a complete package with no shortcomings for anybody who wants a good legal thriller by an Indian author for weekend reading. Go for it!
Vansh Divan is a hot-shot criminal advocate. He has his own law firm which is doing quite well. He also has a wife- Priti Divan, a corporate lawyer, and Vamini- their 18-year-old daughter. All is well in paradise until the maidservant's daughter Baby is raped at the Divan's. The police get's involved and all evidence point towards Maheep- Vamini's classmate and the son of the Vansh's important client.
Maheep is a rich spoilt brat. At the age of eighteen, he has been through all the 'fun' - Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs and Sex. And as usual, he has his dad protecting him from all evil. Maninder is into all kinds of illegal business, which gives him a certain power over the lives of the ordinary people, thereby making him influential and dangerous.
But the rape case takes a toll and turns into a murder investigation when Maheep is found dead at his farmhouse.
A courtroom drama that has described with precision-from courtrooms to defense strategies everything has been explained in detail. This makes it easy for anyone who has never read a legal thriller to understand the plot and get answers to a lot of questions. The plot is great too-keeps you on the edge of the seat throughout. Fact-paces and intriguing, the book is also about power, influence and most importantly tactics (both in court and outside).
I particularly liked Akash's character- he is an amazing lawyer and an amazing human. His out of the box thinking helps the plot a lot. However, I was a little disappointed with the courtroom scenes. A little more twist could have been easily brought to the plot (I wanted Akash to be thrown off his game at least, it would've been interesting to see him get right back at the opposing counsel).
There also a long wait before we actually get to see the face of a courtroom. There should have been more courtroom arguments (my thoughts purely!).
We all know how our judiciary system works. Those who have power and money manipulate everything and get away doing any crime. And those who are poor and gullible wait for justice in their entire life, unfortunately, which never comes (in most of the cases). The author has weaved the story about this bitter truth. The author of this book has already written 5 excellent mystery and thriller books ‘Nothing lasts forever’, ‘Bhendi Bazaar’, ‘Deja Karma’, ‘Doosra’ and ‘Nothing else matters’. This is the sixth book of the author.
The book opens up with the line ‘He shouldn’t have been there.’ This line itself starts building curiosity in the mind of readers. Maheep Singh is a spoilt, arrogant, alcoholic son of businessman Maninder Singh. He is an 18-year-old young boy who thinks everyone should be under his feet.
Maninder Singh is a businessman who does everything which is tagged as illegal and through this, he has accumulated a vast wealth. There are many people who help him to cover his illegal business and one of them is a Criminal lawyer, Vansh Diwan.
One day, Maheep Singh under the influence of alcohol and high testosterone decides to meet Vamini Diwan, daughter of Vansh Diwan at her house. They both are the classmate and their families know each other.
But fate writes a different story as Vamini is not at the home. What happens next is totally devastating as Maheep brutally rapes Baby, a 16-year-old petite daughter of Diwan’s domestic help Gayatri. He left her dying in a pool of blood.
The investigation indicates that Maheep is the rapist. Vansh Diwan also got to know this, and he found himself in the turmoil that what he should do as Maninder is his old client and baby is just like her daughter.
Maninder offers a good sum of money to compensate Baby. In this, Vansh’s wife Priti stands stronger and demand justice for baby and Gayatri whereas Vansh didn’t stand by her side. Priti asks her batchmate Akash Hingorani, biggest criminal lawyer of Delhi to handle Baby’s case.
During all this, the police find dead body of Maheep which complicates everything.
After this, the book follows court room drama, which is very captivating to read.
Read this book to know who is the murderer? How will Baby get justice, lawfully or unlawfully?
This book is very good to read. It shows various dark sides of our society and how our judiciary system is maligned by the people like Maninder.
A page turner.. you cannot put it down! Vish Dhamija's writing now that I have read all of his books. The location, characters, scenes have a richness of description that draws you in. A definite recommendation. Unlawful justice - a gripping, compelling, astonishing legal thriller.
“Maheep Singh shouldn’t have been there. Split second, wrong turn. Disastrous consequence.”
Baby, daughter of a household help of the Diwan family, is attacked and raped. But the rapist is the son of Maninder Singh, a powerful criminal and Vansh Diwan’s biggest client. Akash, Diwan’s family friend and the best lawyer in town has taken up the case but it becomes a murder investigation from a rape investigation. The story unfolds through crime scenes, investigations and court room drama.
Great Start
This book starts with a bang! The author comes straight to the plot right from the first chapter. The story intrigued me from the beginning and the creative analysis of the events by the author was excellent and engaging. It is fast paced and I could not keep the book down.
Realistic Plot-line
The plot is intriguing and realistic. It is not a far-fetched thriller; in fact it deals with various circumstances, crimes and people who very well exist in real life. You’ll not like it but you can’t ignore it.
“Money; Vansh knew he could extract as much as he wanted for making this case go away from Maheep’s life.”
The power of money, resourcefulness, illicit connections- every incidence to avoid justice has been put together in this story.
The investigations done throughout the book are engaging. The author has written them magnificently; there was not a dull moment. I looked forward to every clue disclosed and enjoyed the thrill which came along with it.
The court room drama which happens in the third part of the book, was absolutely fantastic. Every procedure, every detail was sharp and to the point. The legal provisions were explained at various instances and they were crisp and well described.
Final Thoughts
The author surprised me on various occasions when I absolutely did not expect certain incidents. There were moments in this book where I was just left astounded. However, I had anticipated the ending. I realized who did what (not spilling the beans here!) way ahead of the story. The author has given prominent hints throughout the book and that worked a little against him since I deciphered the whole plot and hence did not enjoy the ending.
However, there were no unnecessary explanations and backgrounds and I loved the writing style of the book. The ending is morally reprehensible but all in all, it was an enjoyable read.
This book is so nicely put up that I just couldn't put it down. Despite not having enough time to read, I eventually ended up reading and finishing it in very less time.
The book is fast paced and there is nothing nonsensical in this book. Everything written is of meaning and ability to contributing to the story. There is nothing here such as a 'slow' or boring.
The characters are quite interesting. Every character has a certainty to them, which makes them all the more real and lively. I could almost picture each one of them in my mind. This liveliness in the characters makes reading experience real too. I was always on edge about what will be their next action.
The writing style is very important for any book. And, Vish Dhamija did a great job with that of this book. The structure is very fine, which makes reading this book really simple and fast. One may grasp a thing they read in this book quite quickly and this may make the want to read without any break at all.
For me, this was a total feast of courtroom and drama. I'll recommend anyone with a bit of taste for thrillers to read it, and do that soon!!
A minor girl is brutally raped. A spoilt teenage son of a big businessman is the perpetrator. City's best lawyer is hired to prosecute the case. An innocent family finds itself in the middle of a mess. A perfect plot for a perfect story.
"He shouldn't have been there".
The opening line of the book is alarming enough to build the excitement. It manages to send chills down your spine thinking what may come next. The story says that he, Maheep Singh, shouldn't have been there at Diwan house on that fateful afternoon. Maheep Singh is a rich spoilt heir of Maninder Singh, a well know businessman. Maninder Singh has a reputation as dirty as his deeds. Those who know him or are associated with him also know that all this success and money has come more from his illegal connections and activities than anything else. And unfortunately, Vansh Diwan is one of those people.
Vansh Diwan is a criminal advocate whose firm handles all Maninder Singh's legal activities. Apart from being cordial professionally, they are also connected socially since their kids Maheep Singh and Vamini Diwan are classmates.
Maheep, who has a secret liking for Vamini , under heavy influence of alcohol decides to go to Diwan house that day to convey his feelings to Vamini and enjoy some private time with her if he gets lucky. Finding petite Baby, a 16 year old daughter of their domestic help Gayatri, alone at home and giving in to his rampaging testosterones, Maheep brutally rapes her and walks out without any guilt.
Along with Gayatri, the whole Diwan family is emotionally tormented. Horror sinks in when Vansh Diwan finds out who the culprit is. He finds himself sandwiched between his biggest client and a girl who is no less than his daughter. Another blow strikes when suddenly the rape crime turns into a murder mystery. What is Vansh gonna do now? Is he going to support Baby or will he be forced to defend his client's son? Is this emotional roller coaster going to break the backbone of Diwan family? Has Priti Diwan already won the battle by hiring the best criminal lawyer, Akash Hingorani to prosecute Baby's case? Who is going to win in this fight of justice and power?
Talking about Akash Hingorani, girls are going to fancy this clever, flirtatious, humorous, smartass and I-fucking-know-what-I-am-doing criminal lawyer for a long long time. The character has been very well written. Exactly how the lawyers are expected to be. In fact more than how they are expected to be.
Priti Diwan, Vansh Diwan's wife and Vamini's mother is in my opinion the main protagonist in the book. A strong woman, who fights for the right of her daughter like Baby, also who knows how to keep balance in relationships during these hard times. Being a lawyer herself, she is smart throughout and thinks things both from head and heart.
Author has done justice by giving equal importance to each and every character. Each one has a good amount of dialogues and scenes to deliver. Dialogues written for Akash's character are fun and interesting to read.
Though there are hardly any nail biting twists, it is clear from page one who the rapist is and how the story is going to unfold but still it has a strength to keep you glued. Being a crime novel, little bit of shocking discoveries would have been great. So the suspense factor is almost zero.
Being a courtroom drama, it gives you some interesting scenes to relish. But it was more like an open and shut case with handful of court scenes and no strong evidences by defence to fight their case. I wish there was some more courtroom arguments or at least the case was not solved so easily. Maybe in reality, courtrooms are not as much fun and cases are not unnecessarily dragged as they show in films.
Vish Dhamija is a smart writer. He knows how to build interest with his words. Every sequence in the book is very well researched. The language of the book is not too difficult to understand but also not very childish. I am surprised how come I never came across any of his earlier books. 'Master of crime and courtroom drama', as everyone calls him, Vish Dhamija has done a fairly good job.
Unlawful Justice is a legal thriller by the bestselling author and popularly known as 'India's John Grisham' -Vish Dhamija. The book was published on 29th May 2017 by Harper Collins India. The cover page of the book is the foremost attraction. The cover page is having a picture of a Gavel which is very apt with the story. The colours used in the cover are very catchy to the eyes. The way the title has been displayed is excellent.The cover page was designed by PinakiDe.
Unlawful Justice is a book about court room drama revolving around Baby, a sixteen year old daughter of the Diwan family's household help who has been raped and brutalized by Maheep Singh. Vansh Diwan, a criminal lawyer has been torn between justice for the girl and a powerful client and his wife, Priti Diwan devastated by her husband's decision turns to Akash Hingorani, top criminal lawyer for help who is the last hope for Baby. But things unravel as Akash's probe into the rape suddenly turns into a murder investigation.
Unlawful Justice is a very gripping and an engaging legal thriller. The plot line is very tight and full of suspense keeping the reader stick to the book till the end. The narration of the book is smart and fast pacy which is appreciated and the language is simple and swift. The writing of the the author is so much filled with thrill that keeps the reader engrossed in the book till the end. The characters of the story are very well developed and all the events are described in detail giving the reader a visual impact and can easily have a feel as if watching a Bollywood movie. The book is full of twists and turns making it so engrossing and sending chills down your spine making one curious about the further events. The story justifies the title very well. Overall, a very high voltage drama with an unexpected ending and a strong message.
I would recommend this book to all the lovers of legal thrillers as well as others who really want to read a pacy and an engaging book.
* I received a free copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and an unbiased review.
This book is Un-put-down-able, excellent thriller I have read this month, I really loved this novel, especially the court scene, the writing style of author is too good that it sims you are right there at courtroom watching the entire scene. After reading this book I must say that I became fan of Vish Dhamija’s writing (would like to read his other novels) and also comment that he is Indian John Grisham.
A well researched novel on how court works are done, their procedure and what system is being followed in India is very well described by the author. The author has perfectly portrayed the dark side of upper class and the behavior of their children. The writing style of author is good; language is easy to understand no difficult jargons being used. The author has a technique to build suspense, and also the plot is excellent with equal importance to each and every character. From the beginning you will know who the rapist is but the murder mystery and the court drama with good dialogues makes the novel “page turner”.
As usual I don’t want to reveal the plot, but the blurb is enough to read this novel. I highly recommend this wonderful novel to those who loves to read thriller, courtroom drama and suspense. One line which is very true in today’s world from this book “Even if you had the best possible evidence in the bag, a million other last minute things could take the case away from you in a moment”. Page no 99.
**I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review**
This is the first book that I have read of Vish Dhamija. After reading this book, I am now tempted to go back and read all his earlier books. Vish has beautifully described the plot and moves from one scenario to another with fluid grace. His language is simple, yet it carries the weight of the story, the emotion and tension between the characters with ease.
He doesn't attempt to overdo things, be it explaining the characters, or a particular scene and keeps the suspense well-hidden within the story. The book has the potential to become a Bollywood potboiler. As you read the book, the pre-murder, murder scenarios and the court-room saga becomes a visual scene inside your head and you do not want to put the book down. Not even for a moment.
Vish provides us a peek into the high-handedness of the society, the rich, the poor and the victimized and how can rules pertaining to crime, court-room can be twisted easily with the influence of money. He ensures the courtroom scenes aren't boring with too many technical details. He just touches the surface enough to make the reader understand the entire scenario.
Vish knows how to entice his readers with his story and make them ask for more. If you haven't read this book, I suggest you pick it up now and relish it on your cozy sofa.
My rating: 4 out of 5
I received a review copy of the book from Writers Melon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
From the start of a few pages, I loved this novel, remarkably the sea scene, the copied shape of dramatist is moreover expert that it seems you are properly near at courtroom study the intact skin. After recitation this manuscript I requisite tell that I became blow of Vish Dhamija’s prose (would like to address his other novels) and moreover expansion that he is Indian John Grisham. A healthy researched novel on how incite plant is done, their modus operandi and could you duplicate that? The system is organism followed in India is exceptionally in detail described by the source. The source flawlessly portrayed the gloomy future of high style and the actions of their youngsters. The marks method of the person responsible is good; language is effortless to empathize no demanding jargons personality used. The dramatist has a pattern to put together suspense, and the plot is brilliant with keeping pace with value to all and every character. From the activation you will be familiar with who the rapist is but the murder mystery and the go out with drama with agreeable dialogues makes the novel “page turner”. As routine I don’t choose to show the plot, but the blurb is an adequate amount to interpret this novel. I abundantly commend this amazing novel to people who loves to translate thriller, courtroom drama and suspense.
Being a big fan of John Grisham's legal thrillers, I have wished many times for similar books set in India, and Vish Dhamija looks to be the answer. This is the first book by him I've read and I hope to read more. Unlawful Justice is a crime thriller with a theme relevant to the prevailing status of crimes against women. Starting strongly with an assault by a spoiled rich boy on an underage girl, the plot escalates into a murderer mystery of sorts before ending with a courtroom drama. The plot is fast paced with a few interesting twists and I finished it in one day. The presentation of the courtroom scenes and legal points feels authentic. The lead characters are well turned out and realistic; only the hero, Akash, seems too good to be true. On the downside, I feel that there is not enough of a fight in this novel; apart from the initial tragedy, the good side seems to be sailing through with only minor hurdles in its way. I would have liked the powerful, dangerous Maninder to exercise his power and make his opponents work hard for victory. Still, I'm happy to have made the acquaintance of this author's work and look forward to reading more Indian legal thrillers.
Crime thrillers are many, but I haven’t enjoyed one like Unlawful Justice in recent times. The plot seems simple. At one point you can definitely deduct who could have committed the murder. That is the point of reading a murder mystery, isn’t it? We try to make the puzzle pieces fit.
Though initially, it was a bit dragging in the family drama between Mr. and Mrs. Diwan, once Unlawful Justice picked up the pace, it was a fast ride. Unlawful Justice is a page turner and you will not regret it. I managed to finish the book in a few hours.
The way the Diwans and Akash Hingorani try to make a case to prosecute (in Baby’s case) or to defend (in her mother’s) shows us the dedication that Vish Dhamija has put into the book. The arguments and the courtroom drama, the research and almost everything that was descriptive in Unlawful Justice were meticulous and written with precision. I may have learned a few things from Unlawful Justice as well and I am glad for it.
After reading this book, I feel that Vish Dhamija is rightfully hailed as 'India's John Grisham'. The book promises to keep the suspense tight and shocking. It portrays the power of the rich over the poor, their supremacy over the world. People say that Lady Justice is blindfolded so that impartial justice is delivered but in reality it is not so. Law favours the people with fat wads in their pockets and it is precisely reflected in Vish Dhamija's book.
Unlawful Justice is a smart read that keeps you awake at night and makes you think 'just one more chapter.' I can assure you this because this is what happened to me. I stayed up late at night because I HAD TO know what happens to the Diwan family! And you would want to know too!
I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
A quick , super engaging book that highlights a lot that goes unpunished and unnoticed in the society till some one stands up and say , enough. This is a book that start predictable but by the middle it just takes a turn that makes you sit straight and pay more attention. Typical Vish Dhamija book ! Enjoyed this one a lot as I raced to reach the climax.
Vinsh Dhamija's Unlawful justice is half court room drama & a half family drama. charters written very well. Its crime thriller but if you are good reader of thriller novels you can easily predict & found yourself correct at last of novel that who did the second crime. Writing style of author is impressive. akash hinguramani's character binds you to till the end. Priti's & Vansh also treat to read.
The author shares my maiden name and it was one of the reason I picked up this book. Other being the summary of the story. And I am really glad I picked this book. In one word the book is just "WOW".
This book is one of the few which is true to its title. The book actually starts with a brutal rape and progresses onto the murder of the rapist. The book is all about how the justice is served. The name of the murderer will blow your mind coz you can never anticipate it.
Characters are beautifully developed and very close to reality. You will feel you know the characters. One would love to hate the antagonist. Book is a very fast paced which makes the reading enjoyable and it continuously builds the curiosity on the next revelation. I enjoyed the book since I didn't find it predictable.
If you are a seasoned reader, it won’t take more than a day to complete 296 pages of the book. Unlawful Justice is a good book to start with, if you have interests in reading proper law enforcements. The trials were perfectly logical and explainable in terms of evidence, it explored the extent to which one may investigate for a simple conclusion.
The convicted’s attorney made clever calculations and produced evidence that supported the laws of physics and along with it, made the point of his client’s innocence.
The why with which he acted was really impressive.
The character, Akash Hingorani, is the perfect kind to be taken for a book boyfriend.
Every single aspect of the book does justice to the plot.
The cover is a well designed, perfect for the story kind of choice. The blurb is apt in terms of being expressive and yet secretive. The title is clever and perfect for the plot.
Ratings-
Cover- 4 stars
Title- 4 stars
Blurb- 4 stars
Plot- 3 stars
Writing and Presentation- 4 stars
Overall- 3.8 out of 5 stars
The plot could have been a lot better owing to the author’s previous books that had heightened the expectations in the reader. The end was somewhat predictable if you read a good number of books and know your way around a thriller.
Baby is the daughter of the Diwan’s household servant. Maheep Singh is the spoiled son of Maninder Singh. Vamini Diwan is the daughter of lawyers Vansh and Priti Dhawan. The book starts when Baby is raped and brutalized by Maheep. When Baby’s attacker is discovered, Vansh is torn between getting justice for the girl and protecting his family from the dangerous Maninder Singh. Priti is upset by her husband’s uncertainty and turns to Akash Hingorani, an old friend and the city’s top criminal lawyer for help. Their lives get even more complicated when an unexpected murder happens.
Unlawful Justice is the first book I’ve read by Vish Dhamija and also the first legal thriller I have read. It was a different experience to read a crime novel where I already knew who the criminal was. The book is basically about what happens after the occurrence of the crime. A good part of the plot is the dilemma that Vansh Dhawan is faced with but the majority of the book is the aftermath of a murder.
The book moves at a very good pace. There is not a single dull moment and I was always eager to know what would happen next. The author’s writing is excellent. He has a way of occasionally using unique words that we don’t usually come across. I really liked that but was also glad that it wasn’t overdone.
In the beginning of the book, I despised Vansh Dhawan for even thinking of helping Maninder Singh. It was understandable that he was worried for his family but he was coming off as a coward. I wasn’t sure whether to feel sorry for him or hate him.
I liked Preeti Dhawan. She didn’t waver for even a second on the fact that Maheep should be punished. She was a very strong woman and always stood up to Vansh when he was wrong.
Akash Hingorani was the best character in the book. He was a clever and charming man and also an excellent lawyer.
The main characters of the book are lawyers so through them, the author tells us a lot about how the judicial system works, the inner scoop of cases and tricks that lawyers use.
The book becomes very captivating when it comes to the courtroom scenes and I was on the edge of my seat to know what would happen. They were a new experience for me since I hadn’t read any courtroom thrillers. They were a little bland and lacked drama but I still liked them in a way.
I had my eyes stuck on the book for the last fifty pages because I wanted to know so badly what would happen next. The ending was very surprising and was brilliantly done. I did guess a part of the twist but I was still very surprised. The pieces in the story that I hadn’t even realized were missing came together wonderfully in the end. It was one of the best endings to a book I had ever read.
This book was completely up-to my expectations. I’m looking forward to reading many more legal thrillers. I’m very impressed by the author’s work and can’t wait to read the rest of his books.
If you’re looking for an exciting crime thriller, I highly recommend this book.
“I received a copy of this book from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.”
One fateful afternoon Maheep Singh, the son of a proclaimed businessman, Maninder Singh, committed the most heinous crime of raping and brutalizing a minor girl named Baby. Baby is the daughter of Gayatri, the household help of the Diwan family. Vansh and Priti Diwan’s daughter Vamini is a classmate of Meheep. Vamini treats Gayatri as her surrogate mother and Baby as her sibling she never had.
Vansh is one of the biggest criminal lawyers of the city. Maninder is the biggest client of his law firm. The crime took place at the Diwan’s residence which made the entire situation into a bigger mess. Baby was still in a coma when after some investigation the police department was able to make some sketches of Maheep and asked Vansh to identify the culprit. Now Vansh is torn between family and business; ethics and money. Maninder approaches Vansh to help him settle the matter with Gayatri and offer her money. Priti, a lawyer herself, stands up against Vansh and threatens that their marriage will be over if Vansh even considers helping the criminal.
Priti seeks the help of their best friend Akash Hingorani who is considered as the best criminal lawyer in the city. Amid all the chaos they need to solve a murder case too.
What happens to Baby? How do they punish Maheep? Is Vansh a rotten businessman beyond repair or his better sense prevails? Will he be able to save his marriage and regain the respect he lost? Did Baby get justice or did money and power win? Just don’t wait. Buy here and read. I can assure that you won’t regret.
My Evaluation
This is the first ever book I have read of Vish Dhamija and I must admit that I wasn’t expecting much from it. But when I decided to finally read it I couldn’t put it back till I finished it. The narration style, the detailing and the right amount of everything i.e. emotion, dialogues, suspense etc. made this book so good. From the first sentence, the story grabbed my full attention.
Maninder’s reaction to his son’s crime is so typical. And my blood boiled reading his dialogues. Priti and Vansh Diwan’s verbal clash made me dislike Vansh instantly. How can people consider money over a human’s life? But Vansh actually represents a large part of us in this society. Indifference is the word. Most of us don’t feel the pain and plight of the people until we are hit with the same fate.
The story gives us the insight into the thought process of people who are not directly harmed but somehow connected by love and to what extent they can go to help those loved ones who are not blood-related or relatives.
There are some criticisms I have read regarding the court procedure narrated in this story. For that, the author himself wrote a note at the back of this book. I agree with that. If he needed to stay true to the court procedure he would have needed to stretch the storyline for many many years.
The best part is, I couldn’t find any flaw in this book.
‘I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’
There are a handful of prominent characters in this book, who have been portrayed well by the author. Maheep Singh is the perfect sum up of a spoilt brat of a rich family-unabashed, carefree, unheeding, superiority complexed-you name it! The same goes for his scoundrel of a father, Maninder Singh, a highly influential man of power that pulls all the strings.
In Stark contrast is the Diwans, a family of advocates- Vansh Diwan a criminal lawyer and Priti Diwan, a corporate lawyer. Add to it their doting daughter Vamini, a scholar and an embodiment of humbleness and love; Diwans showcase a perfect family. The household also constitutes their maid Gayatri and her daughter Baby.
Akash Hingorani, top criminal lawyer and best friend to the Diwans, is the next prominent character. Handsome, cunning, a devoting friend and a fearsome presence in the courtroom, he is Delhi's most eligible bachelor.
I immensely loved how each character was portrayed by the author. With sufficient insight into the past of each character and efficient characterization, I could easily identify with all the characters.
Story
When Diwan family's household help's sixteen-year-old daughter, Baby, is brutally raped, Vansh Diwan is caught between a chance for seeking Justice for the girl and losing his biggest and most powerful client, Maninder Singh. Heartbroken at her husband's decision and unable to accept his reasoning, Priti brings Akash Hingorani into the picture.
As the top criminal lawyer and best friend of the Diwans' investigation into the rape unexpectedly change into a murder investigation, things take a devastating new turn. Will Akash succeed in bringing justice to the victim? Will the culprits be punished by the law? These are some of the questions that constantly nag at the readers of this book.
Through Unlawful Justice, Vish Dhamija highlights the thin line between law and justice and the many loopholes in laws of the country.
Writing
The author has done a spectacular job in keeping the reader on the very edge with his ability to weave suspense through each and every one of his words. Many of the facts that the author added along the way further add to his ability to hook the readers to the story.
Conclusion
With a very powerful start, I was immediately engrossed in the book. The author's remarkable writing combined with the suspense that loomed in every corner made it hard to put down.
But, the second half of the book was a bit of a drag, particularly due to the repetitive conversations. The courtroom scenes were bereft of the kind of suspense that the beginning of the book promised. However, the book had an excellent ending.
I'd recommend the book to fans of legal thrillers as well as those who are trying to explore remarkable works of Indian authors.
Rating
Story – 3/5
Characters-4/5
Writing-4/5
Overall-3/5
PS: I received a copy of the book from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
From the author of Deja Karma, expectations would be sky high. Termed as Indian John Grisham, Vish Dhamija has opened a whole new genre for Indian readers. Has his new book succeded in keeping up with the expectations? I leave the decision to the readers. As for now, I will share what I felt.
Without much lagging and nagging intro, the plot takes us to the real scenario of the book- rape of a minor girl, which is not much of a suspense since it is stated in the blurb and since it itself is the theme of the book. Baby the daughter of a household help named Gayatri is brutally raped by the prince like son Maheep of the uncrowned king Mandeep Singh. It's is not an irony that Gayatri works for Vansh Diwan who in turn works for Mandeep since the whole incident took place because Baby recognized Maheep as a family friend and hence opened the door.
Under the influence of alcohol, as it is stated again and again, Maheep rapes Baby brutally, which ends up in lethal injuries and flees the spot. It doesn't take much work for ASP Kapoor to come up with the skethces of the culprit, whom Vansh recognizes and decides to support in order to avoid losing an important client. Heartbroken by her husband's unethical decision, Priti Diwan, approaches Akash Hingorani, a close friend of both Priti and Vansh. As Akash indulges himself into the case, his role of assisting the public prosecutor for the rape victim switches to be a defending lawyer of Gayatri who is accused of murdering Maheep.
Has justice been done? Will Akash and Vansh be on the opposite side of the legal battle for the first time? Will the case be a revenge story or is there more into it?
Suspense is the highlight of the book, so is the pace. The events happen one after the other so rapidly that the readers forget when they reached the second half of the book. The character build up did not take much space, yet each character has its own characteristics and personality. The plot is definitely not a unique one. I was reminded of the book The time to kill by John Grisham after whom the author is named but that can be brushed of as a mere inspiration. The courtroom sequences are as realistic as possible and without much histrionics, author dwelved into the legal battle. But there has been a deliberate attempt to reinforce how spoiled rotten Maheep Singh is, which at some point became over the top and hence a cliche. The scenario could have been a different one, or it might be because of the high level of expectations that the readers have from the author, as he mentioned in the author's note. Well, the twist in the climax was predictable, atleast for me.
This review is in return of a free book from Writers Melon
Justice is sometimes an illusion. Law sometimes looks like a spoilt pet of those with money and power. Law is supposed to serve justice based on evidences and logical inferences. But then evidences can be created, manipulated, bought or even eliminated. So how does one expect justice from law which solely relies of such evidences? And even if justice is served, does it remain lawful? Many such questions or doubts will come to your mind while reading Vish Dhamija’s Unlawful Justice. Actually, after finishing the book. Because, while reading this one, you will be completely absorbed as you turn page after page.The book starts with a story which sounds like an episode of Savdhaan India. The lawyer couple, Diwans, live in a posh colony in Delhi with their maid Gayatri and her daughter Baby who is almost the same age as Diwan’s daughter Vamini. In an unfortunate turn of events, Baby is molested in Diwan residence by a spoilt son of a notorious businessman. With the right set of connections with the high and mighty, he is almost invincible. He uses all his power to make sure that his son remains unharmed in the whole case. Just when you think the plot is about the rape of a minor, there happens a murder. The maid, Gayatri is accused of this murder. And this is when the story becomes interesting. Prosecutors face Akash Hingorani in the court who is known for his meticulous defence and a reputation of not having lost a single case. The climax is equally gripping and complements the plot every bit. I particularly liked the simple writing style. No superfluous descriptions, no heavy vocabulary or unnecessary twists to complicate the story which made it sound very real and plausible. The end is not completely unpredictable but the author has very aptly maintained the suspense through the fast-paced storyline. The plot evokes anger, sympathy, fear and frustration-all at the same time. It does flash memories of some movies made on a similar subject. Nevertheless, you are compelled to read it in one go. Vish Dhamija is a master of thrillers. With books like Bhendi Bazaar, Nothing Lasts Forever and Doosra to his credit, expectations from Unlawful Justice were high. But Dhamija keeps his promise and offers a thrilling story once again. Certainly a winner for me.
Unlawful Justice is a courtroom drama, similar to John Grisham’s novels, but shorter and to the point. It has all the qualities which a good modern day thriller should have. It has his thrilling moments, suspense, action, drama, revenge, fear and a subtle bit of romance. The story is about a rape of a girl in Modern Delhi, who stays with her mom and her employers, Vansh and Priti who are criminal lawyers by profession. The culprit who rapes the girl is the son of a very influential person in the city and coincidentally he is the biggest client of her employer Vansh Vansh gets into a dilemma, one side, he has the girl who stays in their home and he knows she is innocent and on the other hand is his biggest client, who is responsible for half of his annual income. The story revolves around Vansh, his wife Priti, their maid Gayatri, her daughter who is raped, Baby, the big client of Vansh, Maninder Singh whose son has raped Baby and the city’s best lawyer who is Vansh and Priti’s college batch mate and friend, Akash. The narration is fast paced, to the point and interesting. Though at times, you might feel that the end would be predictable, the climax is indeed surprising and full of suspense. On the offside, as you may say, there could have been some spice to the story by introducing some kind of romance between Priti and Akash and that could have made the story twist a bit more. But, I guess, Vish Dhamija does not want the reader to sway away from the narration and give unnecessary twists to the tale. It is one book which you might end up reading at one go, it is hard to keep down kind of book. Easy vocabulary, smooth writing and simple to read makes this book a winner. The characters are not too complicated; each one has his own definite character and purpose in the story. This is Vish Dhamija’s sixth novel and he seems to be have his plot very clear, concise and to the point in his head. After reading this book, you will start browsing for his other books which he has written previously. Absolutely recommended and 5 stars from me to Vish Dhamija, he is surely an author whose work will be looked forward to. 'I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.'
“Unlawful Justice” by Vish Dhamija is a work of crime fiction with suspense driving the readers till the end. It has 32 chapters divided into three parts. The first part deals with the crime-rape, the second part adds more twist to the plot, it's only in the third part where the court room legal drama is to be expected. It's interesting to know that the happenings in the trial is already investigated, rehearsed, and predicted proving that majority of the court room's work is done beforehand, and it's more like a stage to perform with smartness. Dhamija's language is simple and his vocabulary elevated. In this book, the author has devoted a considerable amount of attention for the character development which inturn adds to the essence of the novel. Author has elegantly knit the plot with brimming enthusiasm. The setting is laid in the posh areas of Delhi. All the major characters appear so dramatic proving the creative element of the fiction per se. Author Dhamija cleverly illustrates through his narrative the difference between ‘law’ and ‘justice’; the two words which I initially misapprehended to be the same. The story revolves around the reputed Adv. Vansh Diwan and his wife Adv. Preeti Diwan who's domestic helper's daughter, baby is allegedly ravished by a classmate of their daughter Ms. Vamini Diwan. The novel reaches it's climax when Preeti Diwan decides to approach their batchmate, the best of Advocates in Delhi– The smart, the charming, the gifted, the heroic Adv. Akash Hingorani when her husband himself refused to represent the minor girl's case. This books talks about how people remain unaffected unless some heinous act happens to one's near and dear ones. There is crime, politics, unfairness, law, money, posh lifestyle and then there is compassion, smartness, influence, support, trustworthy friendship, and competency in one's Profession. This book is for any fiction lovers. I shall recommend it to anybody ranging from novice readers, young adults, to avid readers. Happy Reading ❣️
Novels involving courtroom sequences need to be taut and gripping to create an impact. That is precisely why very few authors have succeeded in writing tense thrillers involving the court. That is precisely why John Grisham is so popular and that is also precisely why Vish Dhamija’s author note calls him the John Grisham of India. After reading his latest novel “Unlawful Justice”, I can only say that calling him that isn’t a mistake.
I loved the plot of the book. It is gripping and makes this book a page turner. The way Dhamija writes is the best thing about the book. I loved the way he started his novel with the rapist’s remorse and whatever was going on in his mind. It is an aspect seldom portrayed in detail. Whatever be the outcome, the rapist should feel guilty – only then will things change.
Also, the writing is flawless, in fluent English and keeps you guessing what is in store for us next.
The characters were well done. I loved the camaraderie between Vansh and Akash, and between Priti and Akash. Also, the courtroom sequences are brilliant. They are so much better that all the shit we are served in bollywood films when it comes to courtroom drama.
I couldn’t find any flaws as such. However I felt a slight tinge of disappointment during the ending. There are always 2 ways to reveal suspense in the plot – either do it dramatically or do it tactfully and smoothly. Dhamija choses the latter. Not that I disliked his way, but I wish he had added a little bit of theatrics to make a slightly more impact. In the end, it is the age old formula of “As you sow, so shall you reap” that wins. And you don’t mind!
OVERALL, “Unlawful Justice” is one of those books which is un-put-downable. I finished it in 1 night. I just couldn’t wait for the next day. Also, I came to know that this is Vish Dhamija’s 6th novel. Being an avid reader, I can only curse myself for not having read any of his previous 5 books till now. Go for it if you love suspense thrillers. And definitely go for it if you are a Grisham fan!