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India Shining
Shantanu has always let down everyone in his life. He does not think so. For Nishi who had to suffer every single day after Shantanu suddenly left her, he is now the person she hates the most. Unknown to them Nishi's father has left behind a huge secret with her. A trident tattoo on her hand and much more that he never revealed. After years of separation and hatred Nishi is forced to work with Shantanu. Shantanu also has a secret of his own. Powerful men are receiving strange messages from a man called Solomon. He believes there is something very valuable that a geologist has discovered and never revealed to the world. What does the trident mean? Why did Nishi's father disappear with the secret? What is that Solomon wants? Most importantly what is India Shining?
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2017
9 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Alcatraz Dey
11 books202 followersAlcatraz Dey is a writer, novelist, blogger, editor and poet from INDIA. His works include the Colossal Series in which the first book SERPENTINE SCROLLS was released in 2015 and amazed readers all over. India Shining, his second release, is already a favorite with thriller readers. He writes thrillers with an element of mystery, thrill and real facts.
In March 2017, he released a short collection of stories he wrote from 2014-2016, titled The Woebegone Writer.
His latest release, 'The Devil Never Loves' is also a thriller and is slated to break all records.
He is one of the most popular writers on Quora and writes extensively on philosophy of life, aviation & History.
His poems have a dark side usually symbolizing his character. He blogs as well and has written for various companies as a brand consultant.
He is an avid gamer and his pen name ALCATRAZ is inspired by the protagonist in his favorite game series CRYSIS.
In March 2017, he released a short collection of stories he wrote from 2014-2016, titled The Woebegone Writer.
His latest release, 'The Devil Never Loves' is also a thriller and is slated to break all records.
He is one of the most popular writers on Quora and writes extensively on philosophy of life, aviation & History.
His poems have a dark side usually symbolizing his character. He blogs as well and has written for various companies as a brand consultant.
He is an avid gamer and his pen name ALCATRAZ is inspired by the protagonist in his favorite game series CRYSIS.
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February 11, 2017
Title : India Shining
Author : Alcatraz Dey
Genre : Crime thriller
Previous works : Serpentine Scrolls
No. Of Pages : 316
Cost : Rs 275
Publishers : Author Paradise
Cover design : Ajithabha Bose
Blurb :
Shantanu has always let down everyone in his life. He does not think so. For Nishi who had to suffer every single day after Shantanu suddenly left her, he is now the person she hates the most. Unknown to them Nishi’s father has left behind a huge secret with her. A trident tattoo on her hand and much more that he never revealed. After years of separation and hatred Nishi is forced to work with Shantanu. Shantanu also has a secret of his own. Powerful men are receiving strange messages from a man called Solomon. He believes there is something very valuable that a geologist has discovered and never revealed to the world. What does the trident mean? Why did Nishi’s father disappear with the secret? What is that Solomon wants? Most importantly what is India Shining?
Cover page :
Ajithabha Bose deserves a huge applause as the cover page almost says what’s the story is about. The colour difference between the letters Shini and ng in the word Shining has a different story hidden in them. With India Gate, the Rastrapathi Bhavan and Qutub Minar in the background, the blood stained India Shining gives a clue to the readers about the mystery hidden underneath.
Review :
“India shining “, one of the best crime thriller books which I have ever come across. The book opens up with a romantic plot on a winter morning with the introduction of the protagonists, Shanthanu and Nishi. But the turn over starts in the very first chapter and the consequent chapters are stained and soaked in blood. The book has loads of characters and yet the author has tried his best to give a clear view about every characters. The author’s success lies in hooking up his readers with his book till the end. And Mr. Dey has exactly done this in this book. It’s a fast paced crime thriller book and ths author has made us live along with the characters. With lots of mysteries and twists, the author has served a great feast for thriller lovers. Though at times, we might be confused about the happenings and discussion going on among the characters, the story never fails in coherence. The story also deals with feelings and emotions like love, parenthood, betrayal and love for nation. The repeated verses like She was a strong woman. She was the rock of Gibraltar proves at the end. And the climax is nothing less than an action movie which hooks us with the fast pacing story and nail biting twists. And this book is absolutely an immediate page turner.
At first, the story revolves around the organisations of F.U.C.K and MISERYTOOL and also the mystery behind Nishi’s tatoo which serves as the only tool to know about the major disaster to be happened in the city. The next half, travels with some action sequences and the theory Shanthanu uses to unravel the hidden truth is impressing. Though Nishi never loves him, his love story travels along with the mysteries. And the final part, every knots are unveiled one by one with more surprises and astonishment and goosebumps. For sure, our hearts starts ticking with the passing time in the final few pages.
Every characters are portrayed with much importance and every chapters are small with twists at the end. Hence the book can be read in a single go. The words are lucid and hence gives a clear view about what the author feels to say.
My view on the book :
The chapter which is still close to my heart is where Shanthanu uses his intellectual ideas to stop the elevetor in the mid way in Williams apartment just to escape from Maneater ( Chapter 56 ). This book is an awesome read for all the thriller lovers. I was confused a little after reading the chapters about the ultra violet rays, but that was coped up in the subsequent chapters and that’s where Mr. Alcatraz Dey succeeds as a successful writer.
What if the whole nation was in danger just because of a crazy man who wants to prove the world that he is genius?
What if your mind has been controlled for ages by your foe?
What if the parental care showered on you was just fake?
What if you have given up the love of your life to just work as an assasin in a fraud organisation?
What if you have been fooled by everyone whom you trusted the most?
Find the answers for all these questions in this book.
Ratings :
Cover page : 4.5 / 5
Storyline : 4.5 / 5
Editing : 5 / 5
Overall ratings : 4.5 / 5
Author : Alcatraz Dey
Genre : Crime thriller
Previous works : Serpentine Scrolls
No. Of Pages : 316
Cost : Rs 275
Publishers : Author Paradise
Cover design : Ajithabha Bose
Blurb :
Shantanu has always let down everyone in his life. He does not think so. For Nishi who had to suffer every single day after Shantanu suddenly left her, he is now the person she hates the most. Unknown to them Nishi’s father has left behind a huge secret with her. A trident tattoo on her hand and much more that he never revealed. After years of separation and hatred Nishi is forced to work with Shantanu. Shantanu also has a secret of his own. Powerful men are receiving strange messages from a man called Solomon. He believes there is something very valuable that a geologist has discovered and never revealed to the world. What does the trident mean? Why did Nishi’s father disappear with the secret? What is that Solomon wants? Most importantly what is India Shining?
Cover page :
Ajithabha Bose deserves a huge applause as the cover page almost says what’s the story is about. The colour difference between the letters Shini and ng in the word Shining has a different story hidden in them. With India Gate, the Rastrapathi Bhavan and Qutub Minar in the background, the blood stained India Shining gives a clue to the readers about the mystery hidden underneath.
Review :
“India shining “, one of the best crime thriller books which I have ever come across. The book opens up with a romantic plot on a winter morning with the introduction of the protagonists, Shanthanu and Nishi. But the turn over starts in the very first chapter and the consequent chapters are stained and soaked in blood. The book has loads of characters and yet the author has tried his best to give a clear view about every characters. The author’s success lies in hooking up his readers with his book till the end. And Mr. Dey has exactly done this in this book. It’s a fast paced crime thriller book and ths author has made us live along with the characters. With lots of mysteries and twists, the author has served a great feast for thriller lovers. Though at times, we might be confused about the happenings and discussion going on among the characters, the story never fails in coherence. The story also deals with feelings and emotions like love, parenthood, betrayal and love for nation. The repeated verses like She was a strong woman. She was the rock of Gibraltar proves at the end. And the climax is nothing less than an action movie which hooks us with the fast pacing story and nail biting twists. And this book is absolutely an immediate page turner.
At first, the story revolves around the organisations of F.U.C.K and MISERYTOOL and also the mystery behind Nishi’s tatoo which serves as the only tool to know about the major disaster to be happened in the city. The next half, travels with some action sequences and the theory Shanthanu uses to unravel the hidden truth is impressing. Though Nishi never loves him, his love story travels along with the mysteries. And the final part, every knots are unveiled one by one with more surprises and astonishment and goosebumps. For sure, our hearts starts ticking with the passing time in the final few pages.
Every characters are portrayed with much importance and every chapters are small with twists at the end. Hence the book can be read in a single go. The words are lucid and hence gives a clear view about what the author feels to say.
My view on the book :
The chapter which is still close to my heart is where Shanthanu uses his intellectual ideas to stop the elevetor in the mid way in Williams apartment just to escape from Maneater ( Chapter 56 ). This book is an awesome read for all the thriller lovers. I was confused a little after reading the chapters about the ultra violet rays, but that was coped up in the subsequent chapters and that’s where Mr. Alcatraz Dey succeeds as a successful writer.
What if the whole nation was in danger just because of a crazy man who wants to prove the world that he is genius?
What if your mind has been controlled for ages by your foe?
What if the parental care showered on you was just fake?
What if you have given up the love of your life to just work as an assasin in a fraud organisation?
What if you have been fooled by everyone whom you trusted the most?
Find the answers for all these questions in this book.
Ratings :
Cover page : 4.5 / 5
Storyline : 4.5 / 5
Editing : 5 / 5
Overall ratings : 4.5 / 5
April 5, 2019
Read the full review at Elgee Writes
My thoughts
The pace of the story and writing is racy enough to hold the attention of the reader, despite the length of the novel and complex twists in the story. The plot never sags at any point and keeps the grip on the reader until the very last moment. The beginning of the novel intrigued, especially the Kolkatta stadium débâcle and Shantanu trying to kill himself too soon into the story.
The novel as such is event based and all the characters are as equally treated as the main protagonists. In fact I ended up falling in love with a non protagonist, John. For example, John’s support to different players at different times was much more likeable because his plight and decisions were understandable even though there were not too many explicit dialogues about them. That is what is missing with the protagonists.
The story alternates between several time-lines and causes confusion at many places, especially at the beginning. A mention of the time period at the beginning of the chapters might have helped. There are too many characters and too many story lines that ran parallel but without a time-line it is difficult to be sure if they were indeed running parallel.
There are places where the novel might seem to be single dimensional in terms of character building. There are a few emotions and traits of the characters being repeated too often (she was strong, she was the rock of Gibraltar, Shantanu is staring at Nishi’s eyes) but their other attributes are ignored (relevant ones).
It is quite hard to believe that the guy who kills for a profession could or would kill himself for a girl whose existence he is not sure about. His reason to die is not very strong, for lack of show of his remorse towards his profession or despair on losing his girl or mixture of both. He is portrayed to be a veteran at his job but he behaves like a headless chicken when William is killed.
Despite there being so many characters, and a twist at every chapter end (sometimes, too many for my taste) to lead on the reader, the fact that the whole story stayed put together in one piece speaks loud about the clarity of the theme in the author’s mind.
He knows to keep the suspense till the end, despite a very filmy finish and epilogue, which might work for the target audience. There are very few loopholes in the story, and those maybe only due to the aforementioned time line confusion.
Bottom line
It is not an easy read but surely will reach the targeted YA and movie lovers alike. You must catch it if you are into racy action packed thrillers.
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My thoughts
The pace of the story and writing is racy enough to hold the attention of the reader, despite the length of the novel and complex twists in the story. The plot never sags at any point and keeps the grip on the reader until the very last moment. The beginning of the novel intrigued, especially the Kolkatta stadium débâcle and Shantanu trying to kill himself too soon into the story.
The novel as such is event based and all the characters are as equally treated as the main protagonists. In fact I ended up falling in love with a non protagonist, John. For example, John’s support to different players at different times was much more likeable because his plight and decisions were understandable even though there were not too many explicit dialogues about them. That is what is missing with the protagonists.
The story alternates between several time-lines and causes confusion at many places, especially at the beginning. A mention of the time period at the beginning of the chapters might have helped. There are too many characters and too many story lines that ran parallel but without a time-line it is difficult to be sure if they were indeed running parallel.
There are places where the novel might seem to be single dimensional in terms of character building. There are a few emotions and traits of the characters being repeated too often (she was strong, she was the rock of Gibraltar, Shantanu is staring at Nishi’s eyes) but their other attributes are ignored (relevant ones).
It is quite hard to believe that the guy who kills for a profession could or would kill himself for a girl whose existence he is not sure about. His reason to die is not very strong, for lack of show of his remorse towards his profession or despair on losing his girl or mixture of both. He is portrayed to be a veteran at his job but he behaves like a headless chicken when William is killed.
Despite there being so many characters, and a twist at every chapter end (sometimes, too many for my taste) to lead on the reader, the fact that the whole story stayed put together in one piece speaks loud about the clarity of the theme in the author’s mind.
He knows to keep the suspense till the end, despite a very filmy finish and epilogue, which might work for the target audience. There are very few loopholes in the story, and those maybe only due to the aforementioned time line confusion.
Bottom line
It is not an easy read but surely will reach the targeted YA and movie lovers alike. You must catch it if you are into racy action packed thrillers.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon |
January 29, 2017
Phenomenal is the word for this work. Talking about the story we have Shantanu and Nishi whom you can refer to as main leads in this book. Although I would like to highlight a point that author has not discriminated in characterization, despite of including a helluva characters in the story. The story is written under a tight nib and is a page turner! This book can actually make you restless, as the book is of 300+ pages and I devoured it in one sitting.
The story as I said above, is revolving around Shantanu and Nishi. The story begins with a note to end. Yeah, story starts with a sucide note of Shantanu who has been a sore loser in love of game. The circumstances were such that Nishi ended up locked behind the bars and the hustle brought her past back. There's another important thing about Nishi, a tattoo. Which needs to be decoded. Is any of it is related to her past? Taking nation on stake, what will all this lead to? There is too much in this book that I am actually picking up what to list. Overall after reading India Shining, one thing I can say for sure that this is a hollywood flick bounded in pages. It will be a fantabulous read if you love to read thrillers!
Points to ponder:
• The story is lengthy, but it never bores you. This actually take you to places as set up in different cities and time zones.
• Although I received an e-book but I surfed upon for the book cover and it actually goes well with the theme of story! Blurb, as you can read above; can lure you to pick this one immediately!
• I just felt that it could be bit confusing as comprises of too many characters and it fluctuates between different timezones!
At last! I would like to rate it 4/5(You would just love this one!)
The story as I said above, is revolving around Shantanu and Nishi. The story begins with a note to end. Yeah, story starts with a sucide note of Shantanu who has been a sore loser in love of game. The circumstances were such that Nishi ended up locked behind the bars and the hustle brought her past back. There's another important thing about Nishi, a tattoo. Which needs to be decoded. Is any of it is related to her past? Taking nation on stake, what will all this lead to? There is too much in this book that I am actually picking up what to list. Overall after reading India Shining, one thing I can say for sure that this is a hollywood flick bounded in pages. It will be a fantabulous read if you love to read thrillers!
Points to ponder:
• The story is lengthy, but it never bores you. This actually take you to places as set up in different cities and time zones.
• Although I received an e-book but I surfed upon for the book cover and it actually goes well with the theme of story! Blurb, as you can read above; can lure you to pick this one immediately!
• I just felt that it could be bit confusing as comprises of too many characters and it fluctuates between different timezones!
At last! I would like to rate it 4/5(You would just love this one!)
February 27, 2017
India Shining is my best read so far in 2017. This is a very well-researched thriller about the age old monuments of New Delhi, which has fascinated men across generations. Alcatraz Dey is one author to watch out for. He has huge potential, a brilliant imagination and unparalleled prowess towards story-telling. His story is so intriguing and engaging, that on a few occasions, I ditched sleep and read on till 3 AM in the morning.
He never lets go off the tension and pace prevalent in the story and as you turn pages you will keep thinking what to expect next. In fact, the experience was similar to watching an episode of the 24 series on television.
I won't throw spoilers here, but let me tell you, Alcatraz is always one step ahead of his readers in keeping the mystery alive in his book and when truth is revealed at last, it hits you hard and makes your mind numb. Also, at the heart of this fast paced thriller is a love story, which will fill your heart with a tinge of sadness.
I would be looking forward to read more from Alcatraz. While thriller is his forte, I would also like him to explore other genres going forward. Keep going, writer!
He never lets go off the tension and pace prevalent in the story and as you turn pages you will keep thinking what to expect next. In fact, the experience was similar to watching an episode of the 24 series on television.
I won't throw spoilers here, but let me tell you, Alcatraz is always one step ahead of his readers in keeping the mystery alive in his book and when truth is revealed at last, it hits you hard and makes your mind numb. Also, at the heart of this fast paced thriller is a love story, which will fill your heart with a tinge of sadness.
I would be looking forward to read more from Alcatraz. While thriller is his forte, I would also like him to explore other genres going forward. Keep going, writer!
April 29, 2017
India shining is a fast-paced thriller with plot twists upon plot twists. The writing keeps you hooked till the end and the characters are as real as you and me, just more intense but that's because the story demands it. Let's just break it down:
Characters: My favorite character in the book was John. Now don't be surprised because he is shown as an unlikeable character but screw it, I'm weird. He's my favorite. With every role he played, he seemed like the most well-written and real character, from the beginning to the end. And while Shantanu was also strong, and well-developed character, I couldn't find myself caring the same about him like I did for John ( and he's a side character). Nishi, now I really liked her. She was a strong female character and Indian literature needs more of those. Her struggles and betrayal made her stronger. But sometimes, I just wished, I'd get to see her kick Shantanu's ass. Just once. But their catchphrases, the repetitive use made me cringe. It was for emphasis but felt like it was being overused in the first half of the book. Yet, John's catchphrase made me smirk.
Writing: The writing flows with ease. the dialogues are well done. The author has definitely done his research but did not info dump us but presented it all in an organized way. Though, there was one point where the dialogues screwed up and confused me.
Plot: Now this is the thing that makes or breaks a book. This book's plot was well thought-out. The twists and turns at appropriate times led to the shock and awe that author demanded of his readers. Reading this book felt like I was watching a Jason Bourne movie. And I really like those movies. Secret organizations, a courageous main character, bit of drama, the country on the stake, same old fun thriller story. But the concept.. and how it was presented. That made all the difference. the mystery was maintained till the end and it was in no way predictable. It did get a bit unrealistic towards the end but creative freedom. it's a thriller after all.
(p.s- A note for the editor: Pay attention to the punctuation. It wasn't so bad that i couldn't enjoy the book but it irked me.)
Characters: My favorite character in the book was John. Now don't be surprised because he is shown as an unlikeable character but screw it, I'm weird. He's my favorite. With every role he played, he seemed like the most well-written and real character, from the beginning to the end. And while Shantanu was also strong, and well-developed character, I couldn't find myself caring the same about him like I did for John ( and he's a side character). Nishi, now I really liked her. She was a strong female character and Indian literature needs more of those. Her struggles and betrayal made her stronger. But sometimes, I just wished, I'd get to see her kick Shantanu's ass. Just once. But their catchphrases, the repetitive use made me cringe. It was for emphasis but felt like it was being overused in the first half of the book. Yet, John's catchphrase made me smirk.
Writing: The writing flows with ease. the dialogues are well done. The author has definitely done his research but did not info dump us but presented it all in an organized way. Though, there was one point where the dialogues screwed up and confused me.
Plot: Now this is the thing that makes or breaks a book. This book's plot was well thought-out. The twists and turns at appropriate times led to the shock and awe that author demanded of his readers. Reading this book felt like I was watching a Jason Bourne movie. And I really like those movies. Secret organizations, a courageous main character, bit of drama, the country on the stake, same old fun thriller story. But the concept.. and how it was presented. That made all the difference. the mystery was maintained till the end and it was in no way predictable. It did get a bit unrealistic towards the end but creative freedom. it's a thriller after all.
(p.s- A note for the editor: Pay attention to the punctuation. It wasn't so bad that i couldn't enjoy the book but it irked me.)
April 12, 2017
Shinning India is a story which revolves around a deep seeded mystery which is hidden under the grounds of capital, New Delhi. The book which on the other side tells us about a hidden scientific yet undiscovered facts about the city and various variations consisting of murders, betray and suspense while on the other side a parallel story blossoms between Nishi and Shantanu. Both the story connects so well that I could not express it into few words. Being a lengthy book, it is really captivating and will rose level of curiosity among it's readers.
Book cover and Title - Ajitbha Bose and his work needs no introduction, he has once gifted us a very beautiful cover which reflects various shades of the book but I felt the fonts colour could have been worked because I couldn't read it at ease. Coming to the title of the book was really catchy and difficult to decide upon. Author has really invested hard efforts to bring this title, and yes, it goes with the storyline. One could easily make mental notes why this title is so apt once the book is finished.
Language - It's really hard to find a book which fullfil both purpose of buying book that is, the story and the language. We often come across about books whose story is fabulous but language hinders the path of the flow please do not add the bestsellers in this point I'm actually mentioning the newbie authors but I really appreciate the efforts of the author, he has actually proved that a story can really be delivered in a simple yet attractive manner.
Characters I enjoyed the most - According to me I found Shantanu, Nishi and Salmon we intriguing characters. Character building of these people stood like pillars to the book. A beautiful relationship shown between Nishi and Shantanu acts like a soothing Carol because lots of thriller and suspense were running parallel in the story. Another character I enjoyed was Salmon, the way he guides the readers to the main story I loved it really.
Portions I enjoyed the most- The opening prologue was very tempting and would insists readers to finish the book in single sitting(I actually took two sittings to finish it). The book also talk about to agencies MISRYTOOL and F.U.C.K. who were after gaining the lost treasure which the book talk about. Reading those portions were like recalling some spy based movies. Another portion I loved the most was historical facts and tidous research author did to make book come alive. Hats off! For the efforts made.
Potholes of the story - The story was bit hazy in the initial chapters, it created some confusion but afterwards the issue resolved and I was actually into book.
Another portion which I did not enjoy much was so many characters author added, keeping pace with all characters and remembering their roles was quiet difficult task though author had not shifted his attention from the main protagonists of the book which turn out to be a positive point.
Book Recommendation - Crime thriller novel lover must read this page turner besides author has beautifully fragmented historical facts so brilliantly that it targets a vast section of readers.
Overall rating - I would rate this perfect blend of thriller and historical fiction 3/5 stars. Trust me, book will not disappoint you.
Reviewed by Aditi Srivastava
Book cover and Title - Ajitbha Bose and his work needs no introduction, he has once gifted us a very beautiful cover which reflects various shades of the book but I felt the fonts colour could have been worked because I couldn't read it at ease. Coming to the title of the book was really catchy and difficult to decide upon. Author has really invested hard efforts to bring this title, and yes, it goes with the storyline. One could easily make mental notes why this title is so apt once the book is finished.
Language - It's really hard to find a book which fullfil both purpose of buying book that is, the story and the language. We often come across about books whose story is fabulous but language hinders the path of the flow please do not add the bestsellers in this point I'm actually mentioning the newbie authors but I really appreciate the efforts of the author, he has actually proved that a story can really be delivered in a simple yet attractive manner.
Characters I enjoyed the most - According to me I found Shantanu, Nishi and Salmon we intriguing characters. Character building of these people stood like pillars to the book. A beautiful relationship shown between Nishi and Shantanu acts like a soothing Carol because lots of thriller and suspense were running parallel in the story. Another character I enjoyed was Salmon, the way he guides the readers to the main story I loved it really.
Portions I enjoyed the most- The opening prologue was very tempting and would insists readers to finish the book in single sitting(I actually took two sittings to finish it). The book also talk about to agencies MISRYTOOL and F.U.C.K. who were after gaining the lost treasure which the book talk about. Reading those portions were like recalling some spy based movies. Another portion I loved the most was historical facts and tidous research author did to make book come alive. Hats off! For the efforts made.
Potholes of the story - The story was bit hazy in the initial chapters, it created some confusion but afterwards the issue resolved and I was actually into book.
Another portion which I did not enjoy much was so many characters author added, keeping pace with all characters and remembering their roles was quiet difficult task though author had not shifted his attention from the main protagonists of the book which turn out to be a positive point.
Book Recommendation - Crime thriller novel lover must read this page turner besides author has beautifully fragmented historical facts so brilliantly that it targets a vast section of readers.
Overall rating - I would rate this perfect blend of thriller and historical fiction 3/5 stars. Trust me, book will not disappoint you.
Reviewed by Aditi Srivastava
April 4, 2017
“She was a strong woman. She was the rock of Gibraltar.”
India Shining by Alcatraz Dey is a mystery thriller with little strokes of history. It also contains the elements of romance, suspense, friendship, betrayal, pain, anguish, hatred and revenge. This book has been dedicated by the author to Janhavi. The book portrays that how misunderstandings can lead to lifetime guilt and errors. True love reins forever even if hatred tries to cross its way. In the war of truth and deception its always “truth” that triumphs.
Blurb:
Shantanu has always let down everyone in his life. He does not think so. For Nishi who had to suffer every single day after Shantanu suddenly left her, he is now the person she hates the most. Unknown to them Nishi’s father has left behind a huge secret with her. A trident tattoo on her hand and much more that he never revealed. After years of separation and hatred Nishi is forced to work with Shantanu. Shantanu also has a secret of his own. Powerful men are receiving strange messages from a man called Solomon. He believes there is something very valuable that a geologist has discovered and never revealed to the world. What does the trident mean? Why did Nishi’s father disappear with the secret? What is that Solomon wants? Most importantly what is India Shining?
Review:
The opening chapter of the book beautifully narrates the love story of Shantanu and Nishi. The starting lines of the first chapter grabbed my attention. After reading a few more chapters I just got a bit confused with the plot as there were too many characters described at the beginning but as I continued further I found the plot very interesting and got familiar with all the characters of the book. The narrative style was so perfect that I could very well connect with the characters as well as the story. The style of writing was simple with a good use of vocabulary. The poetry that was included in between added refreshing essence to it. The character of Nisha inspired me a lot. The blurb and the title of the book are apt. The images of the historical monuments of India make the cover page more fascinating. I would recommend this book to all readers.
Details:
Publisher: Author Paradise Publishers
Price: Rs. 105
Length: 238 pages
Amazon Link of Purchase: http://www.amazon.in/India-Shining-Al...
India Shining by Alcatraz Dey is a mystery thriller with little strokes of history. It also contains the elements of romance, suspense, friendship, betrayal, pain, anguish, hatred and revenge. This book has been dedicated by the author to Janhavi. The book portrays that how misunderstandings can lead to lifetime guilt and errors. True love reins forever even if hatred tries to cross its way. In the war of truth and deception its always “truth” that triumphs.
Blurb:
Shantanu has always let down everyone in his life. He does not think so. For Nishi who had to suffer every single day after Shantanu suddenly left her, he is now the person she hates the most. Unknown to them Nishi’s father has left behind a huge secret with her. A trident tattoo on her hand and much more that he never revealed. After years of separation and hatred Nishi is forced to work with Shantanu. Shantanu also has a secret of his own. Powerful men are receiving strange messages from a man called Solomon. He believes there is something very valuable that a geologist has discovered and never revealed to the world. What does the trident mean? Why did Nishi’s father disappear with the secret? What is that Solomon wants? Most importantly what is India Shining?
Review:
The opening chapter of the book beautifully narrates the love story of Shantanu and Nishi. The starting lines of the first chapter grabbed my attention. After reading a few more chapters I just got a bit confused with the plot as there were too many characters described at the beginning but as I continued further I found the plot very interesting and got familiar with all the characters of the book. The narrative style was so perfect that I could very well connect with the characters as well as the story. The style of writing was simple with a good use of vocabulary. The poetry that was included in between added refreshing essence to it. The character of Nisha inspired me a lot. The blurb and the title of the book are apt. The images of the historical monuments of India make the cover page more fascinating. I would recommend this book to all readers.
Details:
Publisher: Author Paradise Publishers
Price: Rs. 105
Length: 238 pages
Amazon Link of Purchase: http://www.amazon.in/India-Shining-Al...
April 14, 2017
“As long as greed is stronger than compassion, there will always be suffering”. “India Shining” is a page-turner, with an engaging plot and well-crafted characters. The author has beautifully portrayed the characters of Shantanu, Nishi, and Solomon. The blurb is so apt and catchy that it forces the reader to browse through the pages and get to know what is happening.
The cover of the book is mesmerizing (Kudos to Ajitabha Bose). The narration is lucid and the language is expressive. Time and now there are long monologues that deviate the attention of the reader. The book explores the dark side of greed, love, and hatred. Amidst a lot of secrets and shady characters, the plot has its own share of twists and turns. There are many characters in the story and their introduction at regular intervals could have been better. Nevertheless, the interest was bound by the narration. There are some grammatical errors and hence, the proofreading should have been better.
The entwining of events has been done in such a way that the author has been able to target multiple audiences at one time. Where Nishi would definitely touch the heart of young readers, Shantanu has a spark and mind that only an adult can relate with. But his positivity is compensated by the dark side of his nature- his motive to destroy the nation to achieve his own interests. Not forgetting to mention the appreciation and success of Serpentine Scrolls, this time again the author has aced the test.
Overall, a fresh and captivating plot served directly from the author’s mind!
Best wishes to the author!
The cover of the book is mesmerizing (Kudos to Ajitabha Bose). The narration is lucid and the language is expressive. Time and now there are long monologues that deviate the attention of the reader. The book explores the dark side of greed, love, and hatred. Amidst a lot of secrets and shady characters, the plot has its own share of twists and turns. There are many characters in the story and their introduction at regular intervals could have been better. Nevertheless, the interest was bound by the narration. There are some grammatical errors and hence, the proofreading should have been better.
The entwining of events has been done in such a way that the author has been able to target multiple audiences at one time. Where Nishi would definitely touch the heart of young readers, Shantanu has a spark and mind that only an adult can relate with. But his positivity is compensated by the dark side of his nature- his motive to destroy the nation to achieve his own interests. Not forgetting to mention the appreciation and success of Serpentine Scrolls, this time again the author has aced the test.
Overall, a fresh and captivating plot served directly from the author’s mind!
Best wishes to the author!
April 4, 2017
Fantabulous work by author, Language is very crisp. Loved the way author narrated historical facts which are true. Thrilling story with lots of twists and turns. Nice blend of emotional values as well.
#StayThrilled :)
#StayThrilled :)
April 20, 2017
India Shining
Author - Alcatraz Dey
A crime thriller which makes adrenaline rush a common thing throughout all the 300 pages of the book. A journey which travels through a love story but is a mystery for all.
Shantanu has always let down everyone in his life. He does not think so. For Nishi who had to suffer every single day after Shantanu left her, he is the person she now hates the most. Unknown to them Nishi's father left behind a huge secret with her and the story follows on in an attempt to unrevealing the secret, under the shadow of which Shantanu's own secret gets sidelined.
Rating - 3.5/5
This novel is a love story built in the backdrop of a thriller in which the girl(Nishi) had to suffer the very moment the guy (Shantanu) whom she loved left her. Therefore, we sense the hatred Nishi holds for him throughout the novel. On the contrary, she is carrier of a huge secret her father left her with and a trident tattoo. Both the most important people of her life, leaving her amidst without any prior knowledge of it, the brimming hatred and the gust of emotions she felt made her the person she is. To unravel the same secret, Nishi and Shantanu had to come together and work, in order to solve the mystery. With the bigger secret, Shantanu's very own secret gets lost somewhere and they start the hunt for Nishi's father secret and finding Solomon, the supreme man.
The novel is a crime thriller with a semi- romantic hint in the plot. Shantanu throughout tries finding a single hope of Nishi's hidden love for him and keeps on expressing his love, directly and indirectly both. The love they had gets stained with blood in every chapter that follows.
Though, the start to this novel gives us a hint of a young adult novel but soon readers are glued to the suspense this book holds and also to the sequence of happenings. This story surely takes a dip in between but nonetheless the author is capable enough of bringing back the mysterious atmosphere. No doubt, a sure shot treat for thriller lovers. A chaotic combination of emotions such as betrayal, love, mystery that ends with a very dramatic climax.
This mystery moving around the grounds of Delhi, can be seen as relatable looking back to what history holds. The complexities of the story may make you feel bored if you are picking up thriller as a genre for the first time. No matter, if the story reflects a suppressed love story but no one can be called a whole sole protagonist. As the author beautifully lays emphasis on all the characters equally. With numerous characters and a distorted timeline, the story becomes a tough read for few. With quite a few loopholes in the story, the novel is kept totally intact by the author and ultimately delivers the suspense shot. It is fit for the targeted audience of young adult novels and also for the lovers of a dramatic lead, with fully structured Bollywood style.
Author - Alcatraz Dey
A crime thriller which makes adrenaline rush a common thing throughout all the 300 pages of the book. A journey which travels through a love story but is a mystery for all.
Shantanu has always let down everyone in his life. He does not think so. For Nishi who had to suffer every single day after Shantanu left her, he is the person she now hates the most. Unknown to them Nishi's father left behind a huge secret with her and the story follows on in an attempt to unrevealing the secret, under the shadow of which Shantanu's own secret gets sidelined.
Rating - 3.5/5
This novel is a love story built in the backdrop of a thriller in which the girl(Nishi) had to suffer the very moment the guy (Shantanu) whom she loved left her. Therefore, we sense the hatred Nishi holds for him throughout the novel. On the contrary, she is carrier of a huge secret her father left her with and a trident tattoo. Both the most important people of her life, leaving her amidst without any prior knowledge of it, the brimming hatred and the gust of emotions she felt made her the person she is. To unravel the same secret, Nishi and Shantanu had to come together and work, in order to solve the mystery. With the bigger secret, Shantanu's very own secret gets lost somewhere and they start the hunt for Nishi's father secret and finding Solomon, the supreme man.
The novel is a crime thriller with a semi- romantic hint in the plot. Shantanu throughout tries finding a single hope of Nishi's hidden love for him and keeps on expressing his love, directly and indirectly both. The love they had gets stained with blood in every chapter that follows.
Though, the start to this novel gives us a hint of a young adult novel but soon readers are glued to the suspense this book holds and also to the sequence of happenings. This story surely takes a dip in between but nonetheless the author is capable enough of bringing back the mysterious atmosphere. No doubt, a sure shot treat for thriller lovers. A chaotic combination of emotions such as betrayal, love, mystery that ends with a very dramatic climax.
This mystery moving around the grounds of Delhi, can be seen as relatable looking back to what history holds. The complexities of the story may make you feel bored if you are picking up thriller as a genre for the first time. No matter, if the story reflects a suppressed love story but no one can be called a whole sole protagonist. As the author beautifully lays emphasis on all the characters equally. With numerous characters and a distorted timeline, the story becomes a tough read for few. With quite a few loopholes in the story, the novel is kept totally intact by the author and ultimately delivers the suspense shot. It is fit for the targeted audience of young adult novels and also for the lovers of a dramatic lead, with fully structured Bollywood style.
February 21, 2017
A heart pounding racy thriller with correct amounts of every emotion. Felt realistic and too good to be true. Slowly, Alcatraz has proved again his thrillers are really catchy and pacy!
May 4, 2017
A master storyteller, a brilliant plot filled with twists, twists which you never see coming. Kept me hooked till the end!
Hungry for more of Alcatraz's work!
Hungry for more of Alcatraz's work!
April 6, 2017
If you want to get to know an author at a personal level without even meeting him, then read his book. There is no better way of finding out the author’s deep desires, thoughts and personality. Alcratraz comes off as someone with a high level of thinking and a low tolerance for anything below par.
Before I start – Though I didn’t have the paperback version of the book with me, I felt my review would be incomplete if I didn’t include my thoughts about the book cover and title. So, I got the cover from Amazon and inspected it.
BOOK COVER:
There are multiple aspects to the book cover that managed to both impress, as well as trouble me. For starters, the various elements such as the droplets of blood and the monuments are all amazing once the book is read and the depth is understood. However, upon first look, it was overwhelming. Too many elements, too much going on and the daunting dark colours made it slightly…terrifying.
Cover Rating – 3.5 / 5
TITLE JUSTIFICATION:
When I first read the title, my mind was running with possibilities. Patriotism, glory and rising from the ashes were all the possibilities that I had swarming. But when a title is able to not only satisfy your expectation from it but also go beyond, that is when you know that the author has put tremendous thought into it.
It is very clear that Alcatraz did just that. What seals the deal is the color change in the last two alphabets of the word ‘Shining’ which is something you may miss upon first glance but will surely not be able to take your eyes off of once you are done with the book.
My only comment is that I wish the font would have been more legible. I found it difficult to read at ease.
Title Rating – 4.5 / 5
PLOT
Now, the main part of the novel. The story. Firstly, the prologue caught my attention. As a reader, that is the first thing I look for. A bang in the beginning. India Shining had that bang and a very impressive one too.
But surprisingly, it didn’t stop there. With a moderately paced beginning, the pages quickly turned to fire and the concept became a whirlwind journey across 300 sheets of paper. The part I liked the most was the interception of romance amidst the thriller. That was a bold, yet risky move to make and it succeeded because it didn’t affect the pace or the plot anywhere, but in fact, added to it. The conversational style was perfect for the genre and the language was impressive. Another intriguing aspect of the book was the importance given to historical settings, monumental heritage and the portrayal of India in a forthright manner. What I find even more intriguing is the research that went behind being factually correct.
Coming to the characters, of them all, the one that stood out the most for me was ‘Solomon’. Not only was this character pivotal in driving the story to its conclusion, but it was portrayed in a mysterious and enthralling way that just begged for a reveal. When a book is able to make the negative character shine brighter than the protagonist, surely it has something great in store.
Finally, the drawbacks. For a plot of such a heavy subject, complicated narration and deep thrills, there are bound to be loopholes. The first one is the scene and timeline switches. I like to believe that the author intentionally didn’t add timelines to the chapters, because he wanted his writing to speak for itself. And it did. But I wish there was more clarity there. The second one is the number of characters. The drawback isn’t that there are so many, but that not every single character could create an impact as strong as the top four or five did. While that necessarily isn’t important, I felt that if I could connect to those characters as well, then the reading experience for me would have been magnified.
Plot Rating - 4.5 / 5
Overall, it is evident that the author does not take his work lightly. We need more authors like Alcatraz today in the writing world that is slowly diminishing into romantic over-hype.
Commendable and recommended.
Overall Rating - 4 / 5
Before I start – Though I didn’t have the paperback version of the book with me, I felt my review would be incomplete if I didn’t include my thoughts about the book cover and title. So, I got the cover from Amazon and inspected it.
BOOK COVER:
There are multiple aspects to the book cover that managed to both impress, as well as trouble me. For starters, the various elements such as the droplets of blood and the monuments are all amazing once the book is read and the depth is understood. However, upon first look, it was overwhelming. Too many elements, too much going on and the daunting dark colours made it slightly…terrifying.
Cover Rating – 3.5 / 5
TITLE JUSTIFICATION:
When I first read the title, my mind was running with possibilities. Patriotism, glory and rising from the ashes were all the possibilities that I had swarming. But when a title is able to not only satisfy your expectation from it but also go beyond, that is when you know that the author has put tremendous thought into it.
It is very clear that Alcatraz did just that. What seals the deal is the color change in the last two alphabets of the word ‘Shining’ which is something you may miss upon first glance but will surely not be able to take your eyes off of once you are done with the book.
My only comment is that I wish the font would have been more legible. I found it difficult to read at ease.
Title Rating – 4.5 / 5
PLOT
Now, the main part of the novel. The story. Firstly, the prologue caught my attention. As a reader, that is the first thing I look for. A bang in the beginning. India Shining had that bang and a very impressive one too.
But surprisingly, it didn’t stop there. With a moderately paced beginning, the pages quickly turned to fire and the concept became a whirlwind journey across 300 sheets of paper. The part I liked the most was the interception of romance amidst the thriller. That was a bold, yet risky move to make and it succeeded because it didn’t affect the pace or the plot anywhere, but in fact, added to it. The conversational style was perfect for the genre and the language was impressive. Another intriguing aspect of the book was the importance given to historical settings, monumental heritage and the portrayal of India in a forthright manner. What I find even more intriguing is the research that went behind being factually correct.
Coming to the characters, of them all, the one that stood out the most for me was ‘Solomon’. Not only was this character pivotal in driving the story to its conclusion, but it was portrayed in a mysterious and enthralling way that just begged for a reveal. When a book is able to make the negative character shine brighter than the protagonist, surely it has something great in store.
Finally, the drawbacks. For a plot of such a heavy subject, complicated narration and deep thrills, there are bound to be loopholes. The first one is the scene and timeline switches. I like to believe that the author intentionally didn’t add timelines to the chapters, because he wanted his writing to speak for itself. And it did. But I wish there was more clarity there. The second one is the number of characters. The drawback isn’t that there are so many, but that not every single character could create an impact as strong as the top four or five did. While that necessarily isn’t important, I felt that if I could connect to those characters as well, then the reading experience for me would have been magnified.
Plot Rating - 4.5 / 5
Overall, it is evident that the author does not take his work lightly. We need more authors like Alcatraz today in the writing world that is slowly diminishing into romantic over-hype.
Commendable and recommended.
Overall Rating - 4 / 5
June 29, 2017
Mind boggling novel - full of thrillers and surprises. A must for people who love suspenses.
Title : India Shining
Author : Alcatraz Dey
Genre : Suspense\Crime thriller
Pages : 332
Theme :
The book is about the struggle of a person as he works for a secret organisation whom he devotes his entire life for. He sacrifices his love, his parental love just for the dedication which he has towards the organisation and for the country. It revolves around many aspects of life like trust, love, relationships and much more. Though the question arises is, whether he gets all those all not? The story takes you into a journey of questions which you as a reader will experience while reading it while walking into the shoes of the character.
Title :
As the title suggests, 'India Shining' is the story of India taken into a different approach via the thriller aspect. The author has done justice to the story with great portrayal of characters and the different elements of surprise with many twists and turns. A great deal of hard-work has been done by the author to name this title.
Review :
A great book for the readers who love suspense and thrillers. Its a very well researched thriller book. Its best for all generations. The story starts with a concern towards the nature and relates to pollution and global warming. The characters of the story are Shanthanu and Nishi. But later as the pages unfold it takes into a journey of love, romance, trust, betrayal and many other factors which play a crucial role in any story. The story is satisfying up to the very end. The only drawback I felt was the book has many characters yet they weren't depicted up to the very extent. The author could have made use of each and every character and aspect, though he has tried to. Perhaps its a difficult task to achieve. The timelines of events could have been better as well. The story becomes too long and increases the expectations of the readers.
Sometimes the reader get confused whats going on, that's what happened with me until I reached the 98th page of the book, then the chapters seemed really interesting and the other mysteries were comprehensible accordingly.
The most interesting thing about the book is its really addictive which is the most vital element for any book. Read at a stretch 100 pages, yes that's what happened folks. Shanthanu gives up his love, his parents for the sake of his work and dedication towards it. Though things don't happen as how it seems. The people whom we trust the most don't often seem out to be trustworthy.
Yes, that's what happens exactly. Well, to know more kindly buy this book and read and find out what happens.
Ratings :
Title : 4.5/5
Cover : 3.5/5
Story : 3.5/5
Writing : 4.5
Overall : 4/5
Title : India Shining
Author : Alcatraz Dey
Genre : Suspense\Crime thriller
Pages : 332
Theme :
The book is about the struggle of a person as he works for a secret organisation whom he devotes his entire life for. He sacrifices his love, his parental love just for the dedication which he has towards the organisation and for the country. It revolves around many aspects of life like trust, love, relationships and much more. Though the question arises is, whether he gets all those all not? The story takes you into a journey of questions which you as a reader will experience while reading it while walking into the shoes of the character.
Title :
As the title suggests, 'India Shining' is the story of India taken into a different approach via the thriller aspect. The author has done justice to the story with great portrayal of characters and the different elements of surprise with many twists and turns. A great deal of hard-work has been done by the author to name this title.
Review :
A great book for the readers who love suspense and thrillers. Its a very well researched thriller book. Its best for all generations. The story starts with a concern towards the nature and relates to pollution and global warming. The characters of the story are Shanthanu and Nishi. But later as the pages unfold it takes into a journey of love, romance, trust, betrayal and many other factors which play a crucial role in any story. The story is satisfying up to the very end. The only drawback I felt was the book has many characters yet they weren't depicted up to the very extent. The author could have made use of each and every character and aspect, though he has tried to. Perhaps its a difficult task to achieve. The timelines of events could have been better as well. The story becomes too long and increases the expectations of the readers.
Sometimes the reader get confused whats going on, that's what happened with me until I reached the 98th page of the book, then the chapters seemed really interesting and the other mysteries were comprehensible accordingly.
The most interesting thing about the book is its really addictive which is the most vital element for any book. Read at a stretch 100 pages, yes that's what happened folks. Shanthanu gives up his love, his parents for the sake of his work and dedication towards it. Though things don't happen as how it seems. The people whom we trust the most don't often seem out to be trustworthy.
Yes, that's what happens exactly. Well, to know more kindly buy this book and read and find out what happens.
Ratings :
Title : 4.5/5
Cover : 3.5/5
Story : 3.5/5
Writing : 4.5
Overall : 4/5
April 15, 2017
India Shining by Alcatraz Dey is an novel of love, hate, betrayal, thriller, Crime Mystery, Science fiction and patriotism. It is way behind what I expected while reading the blurb. Story is full of twists and turns and makes the story un-judge able. The narration is also makes read so easy.
The story is generally about Shantanu and Nishi, How they rescue the capital of nation from an evil genius who is trying to blow up the city completely using his scientific mind. How that mad genius used technology to destroy an city? Who were Nishi and Shantanu and how they stops his plans? And there is still many unrevealed parts which is equally so exciting to read.
The character of Nishi which is so strong contains deep emotions like betrayal from all her relations in life. Shantanu character which portrays an smart detective and deep lover. The character of kishan Sagar, the mad genius which reflects an psychopath who despite in being a genius of world. For me these are the three mighty characters which is so important in this lengthy novel of 314 pages.
The love between Shantanu and Nishi which is so realistic composes of gripping emotions. Author managed well to give good love story in sci-fi thriller. I liked the narration most by which author made me engaged till last page. As far as language concern it is simple and lucid.
The scientific facts stated which resembles author's research works and gain genuine applauses.
India Shining - Science and its transformations, Theories and executions, Human and their desires, Intuition and luck, Feelings and emotions - all together a great read.
My rating - 4/5.
The story is generally about Shantanu and Nishi, How they rescue the capital of nation from an evil genius who is trying to blow up the city completely using his scientific mind. How that mad genius used technology to destroy an city? Who were Nishi and Shantanu and how they stops his plans? And there is still many unrevealed parts which is equally so exciting to read.
The character of Nishi which is so strong contains deep emotions like betrayal from all her relations in life. Shantanu character which portrays an smart detective and deep lover. The character of kishan Sagar, the mad genius which reflects an psychopath who despite in being a genius of world. For me these are the three mighty characters which is so important in this lengthy novel of 314 pages.
The love between Shantanu and Nishi which is so realistic composes of gripping emotions. Author managed well to give good love story in sci-fi thriller. I liked the narration most by which author made me engaged till last page. As far as language concern it is simple and lucid.
The scientific facts stated which resembles author's research works and gain genuine applauses.
India Shining - Science and its transformations, Theories and executions, Human and their desires, Intuition and luck, Feelings and emotions - all together a great read.
My rating - 4/5.
May 30, 2017
Ratings : 4.5 Stars
Firstly I was amazed to see the Cover with the images of Qutub Minar, Red Fort and India Gate, but I was confused because there is no connection between the three as such. But the Blood Stains was something even more intruding. It gave out a hint that this is a Mystery Thriller novel with the story revolving around these historical Buildings. That's really some design by Ajithabha Bose.
This is a Mystery thriller novel with a lot number of twists and turns at frequent intervals. The story has many historically correct facts which tells about the research done by the Author. The story in the beginning was bit confusing..But soon it all started to make sense. The Story started with the Shantanu and Nishi love story..but soon He runs around with a Broken Heart, breaking her Heart. The Fate reunites them after many years and not only they meet But Nishi is forced to work with Shantanu keeping her Hatred aside. The story is an unique blend of almost every element, Be it Friendship, Love, Emotions or Suspense. The Story was written in an easy to read, small chapters format and such a medium paced that a reader can read the whole Novel in a go.
The main characters of the Novel are Shantanu and Nishi. Solomon, Kishan Sagar and Willliam are also important part of the Story.
I somewhat liked the character of Solomon, who gave direction to the whole story, brought in almost all the Twists and Turns.
Overall It was an amazing Novel, and I loved it through the whole novel. And I look forward to his novels in future.
Firstly I was amazed to see the Cover with the images of Qutub Minar, Red Fort and India Gate, but I was confused because there is no connection between the three as such. But the Blood Stains was something even more intruding. It gave out a hint that this is a Mystery Thriller novel with the story revolving around these historical Buildings. That's really some design by Ajithabha Bose.
This is a Mystery thriller novel with a lot number of twists and turns at frequent intervals. The story has many historically correct facts which tells about the research done by the Author. The story in the beginning was bit confusing..But soon it all started to make sense. The Story started with the Shantanu and Nishi love story..but soon He runs around with a Broken Heart, breaking her Heart. The Fate reunites them after many years and not only they meet But Nishi is forced to work with Shantanu keeping her Hatred aside. The story is an unique blend of almost every element, Be it Friendship, Love, Emotions or Suspense. The Story was written in an easy to read, small chapters format and such a medium paced that a reader can read the whole Novel in a go.
The main characters of the Novel are Shantanu and Nishi. Solomon, Kishan Sagar and Willliam are also important part of the Story.
I somewhat liked the character of Solomon, who gave direction to the whole story, brought in almost all the Twists and Turns.
Overall It was an amazing Novel, and I loved it through the whole novel. And I look forward to his novels in future.
May 24, 2017
India shining by Alcatraz Dey is a mysterious thriller that leaves you in awe with the narration and the gripping plot.
The story is about Shantanu and Nishi. The story starts with the love saga of Shantanu and Nishi soon as turns out to be mysterious plot to get a treasure that has been hidden in the capital city.
All the characters of the story have been well written and each character stands out with unique way they have been explained. The amount of research that has gone into the novel is clearly visible through the way the story takes shape.
The secret behind how Shantanu turns out to be a mercenary and how Nishi ends up in jail, how they save the capital from the attack of the mysterious organization Miserytool is full of twists and turns.
The cover of the book is what makes you turn your eyes towards it which has Redford, kutub Minar in the background and blood stains on the title.
The story is about Shantanu and Nishi. The story starts with the love saga of Shantanu and Nishi soon as turns out to be mysterious plot to get a treasure that has been hidden in the capital city.
All the characters of the story have been well written and each character stands out with unique way they have been explained. The amount of research that has gone into the novel is clearly visible through the way the story takes shape.
The secret behind how Shantanu turns out to be a mercenary and how Nishi ends up in jail, how they save the capital from the attack of the mysterious organization Miserytool is full of twists and turns.
The cover of the book is what makes you turn your eyes towards it which has Redford, kutub Minar in the background and blood stains on the title.
April 18, 2017
Bang ON!
Alcatraz Dey writes this initially slow paced, and then fast paced thriller with the current mood setting! He builds up slowly and then it just starts going on and on and never lets you keep the book down.
One hell of a book with amazing characters, and an amazing plot.
Solomon is going to haunt me for a few days to come!
Alcatraz Dey writes this initially slow paced, and then fast paced thriller with the current mood setting! He builds up slowly and then it just starts going on and on and never lets you keep the book down.
One hell of a book with amazing characters, and an amazing plot.
Solomon is going to haunt me for a few days to come!
March 29, 2017
What really makes India Shining one of the best reads for me, is the fact that I never even for a single moment got bored of it. It was a consistent journey of oohs and aahs in my mind. What deception, what lies, what twists, I am sure Alcatraz in reality must be a very clever liar. Most of the things, you just do not see them coming. I mean, a twist has at least three to four layers of lies attached to it. you are made to believe it is right, then it is wrong and then again that it is right. It really is some serious mind fuck that goes on.
Read India Shining and find out how a gripping book with an amazing plot, characters and hint of romance is supposed to be written.
P.S: And I am in love with Nishi, THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR!
Thanks for the giveaway on Goodreads which got me the book.
Read India Shining and find out how a gripping book with an amazing plot, characters and hint of romance is supposed to be written.
P.S: And I am in love with Nishi, THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR!
Thanks for the giveaway on Goodreads which got me the book.
May 10, 2017
"To write a damn good thriller,you need a killer attitude".It is perfectly quoted."India shining" by Alcatraz Dey is a crime thriller which revolves around Shanta u and Nishi.The story covers many emotions like love,parenthood,betrayal etc.
It would be the best book for all those who loves thriller stories as it would be feast for them.It is truly one of the best crime thriller book I have ever read "Outstanding ".
Though the book is bit lengthy but the language and the story line will bind the readers till the end whether it is story of Nishu and Shantanu or the tattoo's decoding everything is perfectly encrafted.With the unique title and unique cover it makes it more attractive for the readers to read this book.
It would be the best book for all those who loves thriller stories as it would be feast for them.It is truly one of the best crime thriller book I have ever read "Outstanding ".
Though the book is bit lengthy but the language and the story line will bind the readers till the end whether it is story of Nishu and Shantanu or the tattoo's decoding everything is perfectly encrafted.With the unique title and unique cover it makes it more attractive for the readers to read this book.
February 25, 2017
Shantanu, Nishi, John and William, the four characters which keep deceiving and thrilling you along with a madman named Solomon. India Shining is a tale of grits, sacrifice and what I really loved, you could not trust a single character from start to finish, they were all insane and trying to prove themselves.
It all starts when Shantanu disappears and leaves Nishi stranded. Where did he go? Why did he go? And why all of a sudden he starts killing people? I love how Alcatraz Dey is obsessed with concept of tattoos. Even Serpentine Scrolls had a similar element.
Loved the cover and if you see, there so many hidden clues in it as well.
A total blockbuster!
It all starts when Shantanu disappears and leaves Nishi stranded. Where did he go? Why did he go? And why all of a sudden he starts killing people? I love how Alcatraz Dey is obsessed with concept of tattoos. Even Serpentine Scrolls had a similar element.
Loved the cover and if you see, there so many hidden clues in it as well.
A total blockbuster!
February 27, 2017
The only thriller I read before this was Inferno by Dan Brown, and hell, yes, this is way better in every aspect compared to Inferno. I am not a thriller fan but because of this book I am gonna start reading thrillers.
Exceptional and indescribable read!
Exceptional and indescribable read!
February 23, 2017
I think it is a testament to the intelligence and the genius mind that wrote Serpentine Scrolls, that I had lots of expectations from India Shining. It did not let me down at all. One word: unputdownable once you pick it up.
Hardcore thriller, totally loved it, looking forward to more.
Hardcore thriller, totally loved it, looking forward to more.
April 23, 2017
People often undermine the power of being dark, mysterious and atrociously ignorant of worldly ideals. Alcatraz Dey proves the same by writing this gem of a thriller. It is not your mundane average Indian Thriller that you can digest drinking coffee on a Sunday evening. It requires you to devote yourself to his words. Yes, if you imagine and picture it, it will feel like a Hollywood flick. But look at the sarcasm and deeper meaning in each chapter and sentence, you will realize the brilliance this man has poured into this.
Absolute marvel, the storyline, the build up, the slow momentum in the beginning and a clear finish in the end.
Unpredictable and unparalleled!
Absolute marvel, the storyline, the build up, the slow momentum in the beginning and a clear finish in the end.
Unpredictable and unparalleled!
April 23, 2017
1. Absolutely Gripping and engaging.
2. Brilliant wordplay and narration.
3. Unforgettable characters.
4. Twists and turns that you never see coming!
5. A soft endearing romance in the backdrop.
A total Blockbuster of a read!
2. Brilliant wordplay and narration.
3. Unforgettable characters.
4. Twists and turns that you never see coming!
5. A soft endearing romance in the backdrop.
A total Blockbuster of a read!
March 8, 2017
After Serpentine Scrolls, India Shining is another thriller from Alcatraz that will keep you hooked till the end.
Read it to believe it!
Read it to believe it!
May 24, 2018
Writer seemed to write the book in GTA mode. Books had 100s of loop holes, silly plot twists and what not.
Only thing I appreciated was writer's writing style in the start of the book. I even highlighted a number of phrases but during the course of book good writing seemed to fade away.
I could not see any logic behind most of the book's plot. Book had numerous plot twists but almost everyone was poorly shown.
People praised love story too. I wonder why.
In whole book, Nishi was saying the exact same thing. I hate you Shantanu and I want to kill you. Other than that both the characters were only reliving a fine winter morning. Author could introduce a few other memories to be relived.
Characters were doing crazy activities in middle of Delhi's roads which absolutely did not make any sense. Beheading 10s of guards, 10s of other killings, roadside shootings, high tech organizations crumbling because of a single man etc. Book had everything poorly portrayed.
One of the most powerful people of India and world were dying like flies.
Highly disappointed with author. I wonder what did people like?
His Quora fame could be an answer
Only thing I appreciated was writer's writing style in the start of the book. I even highlighted a number of phrases but during the course of book good writing seemed to fade away.
I could not see any logic behind most of the book's plot. Book had numerous plot twists but almost everyone was poorly shown.
People praised love story too. I wonder why.
In whole book, Nishi was saying the exact same thing. I hate you Shantanu and I want to kill you. Other than that both the characters were only reliving a fine winter morning. Author could introduce a few other memories to be relived.
Characters were doing crazy activities in middle of Delhi's roads which absolutely did not make any sense. Beheading 10s of guards, 10s of other killings, roadside shootings, high tech organizations crumbling because of a single man etc. Book had everything poorly portrayed.
One of the most powerful people of India and world were dying like flies.
Highly disappointed with author. I wonder what did people like?
His Quora fame could be an answer
November 26, 2017
Shantanu stabs himself to death and Nishi blames Shantanu for spoiling her life and reason for her jail time, William Who is the master for F.U.C.K believes that Nishi has secret to reveal her father’s unfinished project. John,a traitor in F.U.C.K and works for Solomon who runs a team MISERYTOOL and plans to wipe out Delhi completely. Who is going to save Delhi? Could we trust them?
The book is completely full of twists and turns. Till hundred pages i had no idea what and how the author is going to end the book with these many shocking turns. But the book somehow got my interest back with the further pages. As I expected the end was little disappointing. Just that it was over without any twists.
The unexpected scenes really worked out well in the story. It’s that which made me to finish the book. Every character had their bombshell to shed. But the each twists were tightly chained to each other.
Overall, this book is a decent thriller and mystery with all surprise elements. Couldn’t complain much but felt it could have been better with the end part.
The book is completely full of twists and turns. Till hundred pages i had no idea what and how the author is going to end the book with these many shocking turns. But the book somehow got my interest back with the further pages. As I expected the end was little disappointing. Just that it was over without any twists.
The unexpected scenes really worked out well in the story. It’s that which made me to finish the book. Every character had their bombshell to shed. But the each twists were tightly chained to each other.
Overall, this book is a decent thriller and mystery with all surprise elements. Couldn’t complain much but felt it could have been better with the end part.
March 4, 2017
A heart racing thriller that keeps you on the edge till the end with a emotional touch!
March 15, 2017
After a failed attempt at unifying religion with Serpentine Scrolls, India Shining really took me by surprise. reading the e-book, it played with my mind. It is very very gripping in nature and Alcatraz's narrative keeps you hooked till the end. The ending was a it emotional, did not expect it but Alcatraz displays again why he is unique, and we can expect the unexpected from him all the time.
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