Murder In Paharganj

by Kulpreet Yadav

BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.

Genres: Adult Fiction, Murder Mystery, Fiction

278 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2017

About the author

One of the leading fiction writers in India, Kulpreet Yadav retired voluntarily from the armed forces to pursue a career in writing in 2014. Also a motivational speaker now, he has spoken at more than two hundred schools, colleges, and global corporate brands during the last four years. Popular for his Andy Karan series, his new spy novel, Murder in Paharganj, was published by Bloomsbury India in Oct 2017. Kulpreet lives in Delhi with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Nikita Mittu · Rating 3 out of 5]

OUT NOW!

Originally posted on The Common Shelf. Check it out for other reviews.

A white woman is murdered in a cheap hotel in Paharganj and Vicks is the first person to arrive at the crime scene. Since he had been recently fired from his job due to his alcohol problem, he decides to prove his worth as a crime reporter by investigating this crime. Little did he know that his investigation will take him places, emotionally and physically!



Writing Style

I absolutely loved the way this book written; the third person writing is absolutely stunning and that every chapter focuses on one character helps in the better understanding of the story. It was clear and lucid. I also liked that there were various insights as to secondary things happening for a clear understanding of the surrounding of the event which was wonderful to read and enhanced the experience of reading a crime fiction.

Characterization and Plot

The plot is very intriguing and the author cleverly gives away various details to engross you right from the beginning. At the same time, it is not predictable up until the end where it is fairly easy to determine what actually happened. However, there seemed to be certain details in the story, a fair lead in the investigation, where the author seemed to have bluntly put it in front of the protagonist in order to move ahead with the story. Those factors lacked creativity in the story line.

The characters were wonderfully developed throughout the book. I liked that the author focused on the development of various other characters along with the protagonist. However, the character of Tonya, the romantic interest of Vicks, lacked detailing. The fact that Tonya was a psychologist and helped in various crime investigations, could’ve been a bigger part of the story.

Final Thoughts

Although this book starts with a bang, the ending is a little disappointing and blunt. It seemed to be a little rushed and various events were left unexplained. However, if you are looking for a crime fiction, especially based in India, you should definitely read this book. I enjoyed reading it and I definitely recommend it to all.



Title : Murder in Paharganj
Author : Kulpreet Yadav
Publisher : Bloomsbury India
Publication: 2017
Language : English
Pages : 274
Rating : 3.5/5

Disclaimer: Thanks to Bloomsbury India for a copy. All opinions are my own.

[Hema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vicks is an investigation journalist he has lost his job and his girlfriend because of his addiction towards alcohol. He wants his girlfriend Tonya Mazumdar and his job back in his life.
The title itself is gripping. The writing style, characterisation were all very well described. The climax was a bit disappointing for me and I dint like the fact that the killer is mentioned at the very beginning. It was overall a decent read for me.3.5 stars

[Shreya Vaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, a mystery novel isn't successful if it doesn't surprise you. That's THE thing I look for when I start with a mystery novel. During the Diwali Long weekend, Murder in Paharganj was my companion. And I was hooked to it! From the characters to the plot, Murder in Paharganj was a mystery novel that I couldn't keep down. And in the process I also discovered a new writer to admire, Kulpreet Yadav. 

Murder in Paharganj revolves around Sherry Bing, a foreigner who is found dead in a dingy hotel of Paharganj. Vicky Menon, an alcoholic reporter and freshly out of job is the first to be on the crime scene. Going with his instinct, he decides to go deeper into this murder mystery and prove his worth as a Journalist. However, he doesn't realize that the murder he is trying to investigate is a high profile one, with the fate of three nations tied with it.

Running parallel to it is the story of Jalaluddin, Aka Jamie, who is running away from Delhi and from Sherry's murder. Though his intention was not to kill her in the first place but to take the necessary information out of her, as soon as he saw Sherry in that hotel room something snapped. Even though he loved her, he had a bigger motive to fulfill, and nobody could stand in its way, not even Sherry. Unfortunately, he isn't able to retrieve the information from her, and because of that one small mistake, he is now running to survive, and to kill Vicky.

Moving in and out of the shadows, Vicky pushes his investigation harder against all odds, which takes him from Udaipur to Bangkok. On his side, he has a nameless Israeli spy who is in this game for a personal reason and an ex-girlfriend who is a criminal psychologist. But will this be enough for Vicks to survive and catch Jamie when he is always 3 steps ahead of him? How far will Vicks go for a story that could change his life forever?

Murder in Paharganj has every element that a good mystery book requires. From shady characters, spooky background setting and the right pace,  the mood is set for a mystery from the very first page itself. I really liked the Paharganj element in the book. Being a Delhite, I've spent my share of days lurking around in Sam's cafe and other joints of Paharganj which may appear dingy from the outside. Therefore, I had a natural liking towards the book.

When it comes to characters, more than the protagonist I liked Ariel's character more. His motive to be involved in the mystery and the efforts he takes to get to the bottom of it is really brilliantly written. I also liked Vicky's character, but then it could've have been much more.

The storyline of Murder in Paharganj is pretty good and has the potential to keep you hooked till the end. The language is easy to understand. However, there are few things that could've been improved a lot.
Firstly, I would have loved to see Tonya's character being used to the full potential. I mean she is a criminal psychologist, so why not use her more? Secondly, the climax was rushed. It was like an abrupt end to a good mystery which didn't go well with me. Thirdly, I felt that the fast pace scenes were unnecessarily added into some parts the story.

All in all, Murder in Paharganj turned out to be a pretty good murder mystery, something that you should definitely pick up.

[Ishan Agrawal · Rating 3 out of 5]

If one is itching to read yet another thriller from someone who has a penchant for mysteries, then this novel ticks most of the boxes.

Plot-
The story begins with the murder of a white woman in one of the hotels of Delhi. The way the crime is committed is quite mysterious in itself. Soon after we are introduced to the protagonist Vicks Menon whose life has been way too troublesome off lately. But he seems to be a perseverant individual who will do all it takes to rekindle the faith of his boss and love interest alike. To my amazement, in a few pages we come to know the real killer and the rest of the story forms how Vicks is able (or unable) to caught up with the murderer, whether his lady love begin to trust him again and whether he is able to earn his respect back.

Pros-
1) The characterisation is not stretched way too much which defeats the purpose of a fast paced thriller
2)The cover, title and blurb have been given due importance and justify what the readers are gonna find inside
3)The beginning of novel was too good and enough to hook up the readers

Cons-
1)Letting the readers know the real culprit at the start itself was a huge turn off. It killed the suspense element.
2)The story lacked the thrill lusture and on creative front too, it was not too great
3) The story was dragged a bit and it become mundane after a promising start
4)The story is not properly divided into chapters. Another chapter basically talks about the same old thing where the previous chapter ended which makes me to think why was it mentioned in a separate light at first place without any alterations in scenes.

Conclusion - All in all, a reasonably well one time read. Though if one is expecting it to be a roller coaster grossing read, one might be a bit disappointed.

[Chitra Ahanthem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder in Paharganj is a page-turner and I would recommend that readers finish it in one sitting for if you stop in between the flow; one tends to look for holes in the turn of the narrative. The action scenes or rather, what comes close to anticipating action scenes in the book are done very well considering the author was formerly in the Armed Forces. The scenes are taut and crisp and pull in the readers right into the events that unfold on the pages.
I quite enjoyed it while I was reading it but once I turned my mind into the story flow, I found quite a few things that do not fit into the scheme of things. For one: an out of work journalist who has been booted out will not be given the huge financial advance for a story that starts out with a murder of an unknown white woman in a seedy hotel. I have been a journalist and an Editor of a newspaper and trust me: no newspaper in India would devote news space to a murder in a seedy hotel, much less agree to advance requisition for money to a former employee who is in love with alcohol: they would send in a current employee who covers the crime beat. The final chapter of the book plays out in Sikkim, which is a state and not a city and its mention as a location every time that makes it look like a city or town is misleading. I would have rated this book at 4 out of 5 if it were not for these points.

But overall, Murder in a Paharganj is definitely a book that I can recommend without guilt to those who love fast paced reads. Vicks Menon is an interesting character with enough drama and suppressed emotions: his back story with his abusive father who rides roughshod over him and his mental fight every time he sees a drink make him stand out for me and makes him believable. I would love to read more of him in the future but in more beleivable story settings for sure.

[Mridula Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review @https://ecstaticyetchaotic.wordpress....

A woman is found murdered in a cheap hotel in Paharganj. Vicks Menon, an Investigative journalist reaches the crime scene first and starts deducing conclusions after a thorough look at the crime scene. An investigation that takes him to Udaipur and finally Bangkok. But it’s not been a cakewalk for Vicks. He faces life-threatening situations and is face-to-face with the killer innumerable times. It’s not just the murder. Greater things are brewing among countries, the things that a threat to the national security. Will Vicks unravel the mystery behind this murder? And most importantly, will he survive this investigation?

Murder in Paharganj is a collection of events. Each event is a part of a bigger scheme connecting three countries and the rivalry they share. The central theme comprises of the usual- Murder, deceit and dirty politics. Topics like nuclear weapons and missiles also form a part of the story.

The writing style is impressive (minus the plot). There are cliffhangers at the end of almost all the chapters and there’s a detailed description of events, thoughts, and characters. A thorough research has been done on the different topics (however minute) the plot covers.

The plot comes as a disappointment. I liked the writing style. But there’s too much information and their timings are horrible. Vicks has an interesting persona and his character is intriguing initially, but takes a dip towards the middle and goes hay where at the end. Vicks is also extremely stubborn and reckless and has no clue what he’s doing whatsoever.

The plot has all the elements of a thriller- life-threatening situations, secrets, betrayals, secret agencies, smart people (a little too smart sometimes) etc. Somewhere in the plot Vicks stops being the protagonist. He is alcohol-centered and he contributes absolutely nothing to the plot. He’s just chasing the killer rather than chasing the motive. He’s delusional and is devoid of any sense of planning.

This book has so much potential and the blurb sounds promising. But it’s like reading a case study (with romance). You can’t do anything because the author has all the cards and he is revealing them himself rather than letting the characters take the lead. There are important themes that have been sidelined just to give Vicks a purpose. The plot of full of show-piece characters. They are just there. No greater good. Murder in Paharganj is a Vicks Menon thriller and the only things scary about it is his personal life and the choices he makes throughout.

A decent thriller, pick this one if you wanna chill and read something that will not take up much of your energy.

[Aritri Chatterjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

For more such reviews visit www.theliquidsunset.com


Murder mystery is a universally loved genre and equally hard to write because there are multiple elements that could go wrong with it. Especially because mystery lovers are ruthless if a crime fiction disappoints. Kulpreet Yadav's latest was almost on the verge of disappointment.

The book has a promising start wherein a foreign national is found murdered in a low-key hotel in Paharganj. Her body when discovered by an investigative journalist, Vicks (strange choice of name), starts the wheels of motion of the story. Naturally, he is the immediate suspect of the heinous crime and Delhi Police tries to track him. To save his job and reclaim his lost reputation, Vicks goes out of his way to track the real murderer and while at it, suffers many a hindrance (dangerous ones too).

What to expect :-

A fresh plot including Israeli Intelligence, international spies and a journalist working hard to find a dangerous murderer. There were a lot of interesting elements adding up to the story line which makes for a gripping thriller.

The book is based on a very important premise, the murder of a lady from a foreign country. Very little attention is given to this common crime in India and I really loved the fact that the author intended to focus his story on it. Hopefully, this book will draw more media attention to such unnamed women suffering or being subjected to torture and death.

However..

I have quite a few complaints with this book and the most disappointing one is the unnecessary backstories of each and every character in the book. It is understandable that the author wanted to show why each character behaves the way he/she does but it turned more into a pity party and quite disconnected to the main plot.

Despite being an investigative journalist, Vicks actions were not calculative enough and sometimes seemed way more naive than it should have been. I wish Tonya's criminology skills were exploited more in terms of the plot.

The book gradually became extremely predictable and the ending was rushed and did not do justice to the entire story.

I would recommend..

this book to readers who are new to crime fiction and are looking for a light read for the weekend.

[Sriti Patra · Rating 3 out of 5]

When they say do not judge a book by it’s cover it stands true. As a reader I have discarded so many books just by seeing its cover, and am guilty of smirking at the book when I read ”India’s Favorite, His Stories will have you gasping for breath”. For those of you who will be reading the author’s work for the first time, I swear all the words on the cover of the book is true!! I was truly left gasping for breath and couldn’t really decide if I should read the climax first and get some air past me or quench a reader’s thirst to know all the subplots first.
This book had me in its grip for 3 days straight around the time I reached chapter 43. Very fewer murder mysteries do the geographical location play because the number of elements they will have to incorporate in addition to the existing elements. The author very patiently has incorporated the new elements with the existing ones and managed to keep all of them interesting without compromising on any of the content.
The language is of medium level for the ease of every level of reader. I wouldn’t recommend this book to very new readers but the readers who are looking to dive into new genera I would ask all of you to break into the book.
My favorite parts would have to be from chapter 33 onwards. Again, I wouldn’t give out the story at all. But really loved the flow of the story and the ease with which it has been narrated. A must read indeed.

[Aparna Preethi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is obviously a crime story but then, this is settled with rather unusual plot. Though the story unfolds with the death of a woman, it is that murder of an Israeli Citizen vacationing in India that acts a kick starter. So, the plot’s weigh falls again on an unusual thing, which is, it is not a policeman or CBI chasing down the crime but a Freelance Journalist who runs behind the killer for a good crime story. But what he discovers is something that gonna shook the Nation’s peace.

With Vicks Menon as the protagonist, the hero, the story goes around Israel, India and Iran including the secret intelligence service communication lines and all the other stuffs which makes the story more gripping.

Apart from these, the protagonist wants to find the root of the crime, only for a selfish motive – to get his investigative journalist’s position back. The way how a journalist risks his life, how much he is tortured, how the media selfishly works only with money as its motive are some undigestible truth given by the author. The love scene in-between gives a sweet touch. The chase, fight, escape all adds the spice to the tale.

[Sohinee Reads & Reviews (Bookarlo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book opens with the murder of a white woman who was staying at a cheap hotel and Vicks Menon who happens to be an out-of-work journalist dives headfirst into the murder scene even before the police are alerted of the case.

Vicks Menon was seeking for an opportunity to prove to his boss that he had made a very big mistake by firing him from his job. This case seems to be a perfect chance to get back in action.

Vicks has problems of his own and as the story progresses, he gets tangled in the murder scene where he discovers more secrets which links to association with dirty politics coupled with revenge, fraudulent activities and treacherous people behind-the-scenes.

His character is shown to be an alcoholic but he is trying hard to give up alcohol and had abstained from getting those spirits in his veins from the day his live-in partner, Tonya walked away from him. Well, it was not just that, in his alcohol-induced state, he had spited some rude words at Tonya which ultimately led her to walk away from him. Both of them are shown to be still in love. Tonya, is shown to be a clinical psychologist who specialises in criminal profiling.

As the plotline advances, many new characters are introduced who makes their own contribution and the investigation reaches an international level. Vicks Menon is on the verge of a life and death situation. If he survives the investigation or not and what new tricks he pulls out of his hat to reach the killer is for you to find.

Overall, the story is good but it didn't have the thrilling impact on me as it promised. Vicks' character seemed to be very unorganized and unprofessional with his dealings of the situations. His character needed more development. The plotline lacked that mysterious suspenseful vibe which I was seeking for. It felt more of a "cat and mouse game" rather than a plot where the author leaves hints for the reader so that he/she gets confused as to who the actual culprit is or acts like puzzle pieces which ultimately​ forms the final piece. But here, the author was already solving the puzzle for the reader.

The introductory chapters were actually really interesting but then gradually, the plotline was losing its focus from the main story and in the end, it felt that the author somehow needed to end it. The ending was rushed and abrupt, at least for me, it was.

If you are okay with spy novels, you'll be good with this too. Just know what you are getting yourself into so that your expectations aren't crushed in the end as it happened with me.

[Vivek Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder in Paharganj by Kulpreet Yadav is an outright pulp fiction action thriller. If you are looking for literary fiction please avoid. But if you are on a flight or on a train trip and want a good, Indian, page turner pick this one up.

The language is simple and even though there are a few loopholes in the plot like why did the killer kill the one person he trusted, for a silly mistake, but not the guy who knew his real identity, can be ignored and the author can be given, if I can call it, Bollywoodic license for this.

The characters however appear to be in two dimension especially the protagonist. If the author wants to make it like a King & Maxwell series by Baldacci then he needs a protagonist with more than simple predictable backstory.

I still recommend this for people who are looking for a quick read on a short flight or a short train journey and want to avoid a boring politics laden conversation with their co-passengers.

Good start though. I give Kulpreet 3 stars just for his sheer attempt at an Indian thriller and hope that he gets better in times to come. Hope we finally get an Indian author who could be our answer to my favourite author Jefferey Archer.

[Deepali Adhikary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vicks Menon, an investigative reporter seems to have his life falling apart. He has lost his job with a leading newspaper and his relationship with his girlfriend Tonya is on the rocks due to his alcoholism. His friend’s call about a murder of a white woman in a hotel in Paharganj seems like one of the many happening in the capital till Vicks notices important people taking interest in this murder. Vicks quickly realises that this case could get him his job back. What he does not realize is that in the pursuit of a good story he will become the target for both the police and the woman’s killer.
For Jalaluddin, who is now Jamie, life is all about the cardinal pleasures and killing people is just another chore. Though he genuinely regretted killing Sherry Bing in that hotel in Delhi whom he had fallen in love with, he knew it was a collateral damage for a larger reason. Having Vicks Menon on his trail hardly bothered him due to his confidence in his skills. However, he soon realised that he had significantly underestimated Vicks as just another reporter.
So how does a murder mystery keep you interested when the murdered in revealed in the first half itself? It does that through a perfectly timed storyline induced with just the right amount of surprises at the right places. . The characterisation is realistic and simple which helps. The plot is not unique but treated very intelligently to create interest and offer intrigue. However, it became extremely predictable towards the end but having invested time and efforts, it made sense to finish it. All in all, a good and a quick read.

[Neha Yadav · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Murder in Paharganj’ (A Vicks Menon Thriller) by Kulpreet Yadav
It is murder mystery crime thriller story. The cover of the book is looking eye catching & the title is apt as per the genre and plot of the story. The blurb of the book is attention seeking and perfectly highlighted the core of the story. The language of the story is lucid & the narration is fast pace descriptive which makes the book a gripping read.
The story is based on a crime, specifically the murder of a white girl (Sherry Bing) in a small cheap hotel in Paharhanj, New Delhi. Basically, when a ‘thrown out’ rejected, investigation journalist Vicks Menon (well…alcohol snatched away everything from him, his job & his live in partner Tonya too) enters the scene and tried to solve the riddles to retain his position and prove his worth, destiny started playing hide and seek with him. He found himself dragged into a deeper mystery while solving the motive of the murderer; because he himself was not out of the ‘suspect’ list at a time.
What will he do to find the ultimate truth? Will he be able to reach the core and bring justice? Or fate will turn out to be more surprising for him? Will he be able to solve & sort everything out till the last? To witness the thrilling adventures of Vicks Menon, grab this book and join him into his twisting journey.
The story is a page turner and the thrilling narrating of the incidents will keep the reader at the edge of the seat. Especially, the twists and turns have been presented at perfect places accordingly. All the gripping elements are there to make this book ‘unputdownable’. If you are thriller lover and crime mystery addict, then this book is surely for you. Give this a shot.
4/5 Stars.

[Mansi Narula Kashyap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amar’s left hand lifted, trying to stop the bleeding, the pistol fell from the other hand as a result of shock and pain, and it reached for the neck too. But the blood continued to flow. The harder he tried, the faster it gushed out, and as the panic of death drew near, the flow increased even more’.

Did you find this gory? Well, there is more to it, in this beautifully written spy thriller novel by the author Kulpreet Yadav. If you are a thriller fan or not, I am sure you will love this book as it will promise to stay with you for a long time.

This is the story of a Rum-drinking journalist who is despised by his abusive father and his ex-boss as a loser and an alcoholic. He lost his girlfriend and his job due to his temperament and alcoholism. To make up for whatever he has lost in life i.e. his girlfriend and his job, he begins working on a murder case of an Israeli woman in Paharganj. But what he didn’t realise was that, there was more to this cold blooded murder than he had thought and even intelligence agencies were involved. He himself gets caught in the crossfire. The protagonist calls this phenomena as THE VORTEX. The vortex is just like the spiral effect. The police investigations usually focus to a single point , a space in which, if someone was unfortunate enough to be caught, he had to survive both the enemy and the police. The protagonist is aware of this vortex effect and doesn’t want to get into it. But who can stop him from getting into it?

And he goes on, until he finds the murderer. It’s a story about a young guy looking for his lost dignity as a result of his certain bad habits. Vicks Menon is determined and gets his girlfriend back, though he still admires Rum over other drinks and drinks occasionally, which I think is very normal. The author tried to show the practical side of a human psyche, that although Vicks is trying to be sober, but his heart still craves for alcohol. He is not as bad as everyone think of him. His childhood experiences and abuse at home made him so. At one instance in the story, he is thinking and creating happy moments in his mind about buying a home and starting a new life with his girlfriend, where neighbours could be invited from the window for tea and the sharing of fun and suffering was everyone’s common agenda.

Though he occasionally stares at the Old Monk bottle with a brotherly affection! Haha !

Other than this, the beautiful details that were captured by the author are amazing. I loved the line where the author describes the journalist looking at the dead woman’s deep blue eyes “He wondered if the eyes knew that the body had died. How could the eyes see after the heart stopped pumping?”

Imagining a place like Paharganj is difficult if you are not aware what kind of place it is.The author has put down some beautiful details for the readers to imagine about the place where the murder took place. In his words..

‘Tarpaulin-covered fruit and vegetable carts…..’

‘dogs, pigs and people on street…’

‘long, low whine of an approaching train..’

‘a betel-nut-chewing priest….who had a big paunch..’

‘powdery Brittania good day biscuits’

These are the sounds and sights we grew up with, so one can definitely relate to these.

There are a lot of places that were covered in this book like Delhi, Udaipur, Bangkok,Tehran. It was wonderful reading about these places and one can imagine them all. It was like a movie set. The readers can imagine the people captive at Mosad tower, the eight by eight b&b’s in Bangkok and crowded streets of Delhi and the watch-tower at India-Pakistan border. It was just like watching a movie!

The author has also highlighted that Religion plays a major role in the moulding a human mind. The murderer in this book is a staunch believer of his religion and despised other religions and calls everybody Infidels and thinks that it’s his duty to teach the infidels in this world a lesson or two. Killing is not a problem! He think he is saving the world by killing these so-called Infidels.

The author says ‘People will throng to the ashrams of oversexed religious babas, queue for hours to listen to spineless politicians, and break every law of he land at the drop of a hat, and yet blame the police for the chaos.’

One can find these kind of people all around.

So, go ahead and read it and know the other side of this world…the dark world of politicians, intelligence agencies and spies and cold-blooded murders!

[Anupama C K(b0rn_2_read) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Twitter giveaway, thanks to the author for the review copy. 

A white woman is murdered in a hotel in Paharganj. Vicks Menon, an investigative journalist gets informed of this by his friend Raju who works at the hotel. Vicks who was fired from his job as he is an alcoholic delivers the scoop to his ex boss in hopes of getting his job back. His girlfriend, Tonya is a clinical psychologist also left him because he was getting lost in alcohol after he lost his job. Tonya also does criminal profiling for the Delhi police. The only lead Vicks has of the murder is a one way ticket from Udaipur to Delhi which he found at the crime scene. Vicks seeks Tonya's help to catch the killer. Meanwhile the police are after Vicks, as they came to know he was at the crime scene. 

Who is the white woman?
Why was she killed?

Will this story get Vicks his job back?

Read to find out

It is a fast paced novel. I am a big fan of suspense thrillers since I love playing detective. I don't like the ones much where we know who the killer is, hence the 3 stars. In this story we are aware of the killer, and the thrill is to connect the dots. We get to see things from the killer's perspective too. I found the name Vicks Menon, hilarious, reminded me of Vicks of course. The starting was very promising, felt that the ending was too rushed.
Recommended for people who love fast paced reads 

[Tarang Sinha]

The plot of Murder in Paharganj is good. The new hero, Vicks Menon is smart. And, I particularly liked the writing style of the author. Chapters are short, so it makes it an easy read, however, I felt the multiple points of view made it a little predictable as some of the developments have been told beforehand (that I certainly didn't want to know at that point of time).

[Abhinav Lal · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the mind capturing and fast paced book, nicely written by indian aurthor. The later part of the half of the story is a bit slow, but nevertheless its a good book. Waiting for more by kulpreet yadav.

[Taanya Ahuja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Murder in Paharganj
Author : Kulpreet Yadav
Published on: 10th October 2017
Published by: Bloomsbury India
Binding: Paperback
ISBN:978-9386826619


BLURB

On a cold December morning, a white woman is found murdered in a cheap hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi.
Vicks Menon, an out-of-work journalist, is tipped off by the hotel’s receptionist and is the first to arrive at the crime scene, where he discovers a lead. It’s the bus ticket used by the dead woman two days earlier. But Vicks is battling personal trouble. He has no money, an alcohol problem, and a nearly broken relationship with Tonya, his estranged live-in partner, a clinical psychologist who specializes in profiling hardened criminals.
Moving in and out of the shadows, Vicks pushes his investigation harder as it takes him from Udaipur to Bangkok. On his side, for resources, he has a nameless intelligence operative, and to read minds, a lover who is beginning to trust him again. But above all, his instinct to stay inches ahead of death will be the key to his survival.
If Vicks lives, this is one story that will change his life forever.



COVER PAGE

The cover page of Murder in Paharganj is very attractive. It is in green and black colours having an image of man which is black and just half face of a girl behind. The cover page is really nice and I liked it a lot.




REVIEW

I really like to read crime thrillers because they make me stick to my reading corner and Murder in Paharganj by Kulpreet Yadav is one such book. It is a fast paced crime thriller about murder of Sherry Bing, who was found in a cheap hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi and Vicks Menon, a journalist arrives first at the crime scene. It is such a gripping crime thriller that I wasn't able to put it down. This is a very action packed thriller .

The novel is written in a simple language in a very fluent manner, having small chapters and the events are described very well in a detailed manner, with a very fast and pacy narration.It kept me hooked till the end. The plot is very intriguing and full of suspense and is very well planned that in the every dot comes in place. It is very tight and at various points at kept guessing a lot. It is full of twists and turns making it a page turner. It was a rollercoaster ride for me with so many twists and turns and I enjoyed this ride a lot. At various instances I was able to visualise the events which made it all the more interesting.

The characterization of the book is very powerful. All the characters are very well developed especially Vicks Menon and I really enjoyed reading about him, the way he was connecting dots to investigate to his emotional turmoil and the way the author has penned down his internal conflicts is amazing. Apart from him other characters were Jamie, Tonya, ACP Rao etc. The book is set in India as well as in abroad.

Overall, a very interesting and an engaging read filled with twists, having a strong plot and has elements of love, drama, crime and suspense. I enjoyed reading it a lot. It kept me at the edge and is a page turner. I would highly recommend this book to all the crime thriller lovers. Now, I can't wait to read another book by the author.

[Ankita Arora · Rating 3 out of 5]

A foreigner is murdered in a cheap hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi. Vicks Menon, an out-of-work journalist gets the wind of it through the hotel's receptionist and senses his ultimate comeback to the world of investigative reporting. Soon, the police and the foreign embassy show up at the hotel and it becomes the next big case in the country, all thanks to Vicks and his ex-boss.

Vicks is the first to see the dead body of the female foreigner and he conducts his own little investigation of the crime scene. He is an alcoholic but is off the edge since his live-in partner, Tonya, left him. She is a criminal psychologist and has often helped him with his many cases.

Who is the victim? Where is she from? And, why was she strangled to death?

Murder in Paharganj is a crime thriller with every element of the thrill well placed and well written.
The story takes you from Delhi to Udaipur to Bangkok and lastly to Sikkim. With so many distinct backdrops to even more characters to indulge in, this murder mystery is unlike any other you would have read.
- I say unlike any other because this one reveals the killer quite early in the narrative. The story is about the motive and what her identity holds.
- Consists elements of love, anger, hate, rivalry, national security, political drama, nuclear weapons, the history of 3 countries and a potential war!
- The umpteen number of characters are very well connected & all have a role in the mystery.
- The pace of the book doesn't let you keep it down. Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger which keeps the thrill on!
- A potential Bollywood movie, if the order of events is changed to maximize the thrill.

Cons:
- Since the murderer is revealed in the beginning, many who read for the suspense of that aspect might not like it.
- Towards the second half, Vicks didn't seem like the protagonist and felt a bit sidelined. Also, his storyline shifted from being the hands-on reporter to the one who falls back in the pothole of alcohol.
- Like most of the crime/ mystery thrillers, this one won't surprise you in the end. You would think that all that is happening with every event unfolded something big will happen in the end. But sadly, that high never comes. You might feel it somewhere in the 3rd quarter of the book.
~~~~~~
Murder in Paharganj is a very well written, well paced and a very intelligent work of fiction. You are sure to love it for the writing, the characters and the plot.

I'd recommend it to someone who has never tried this genre and to those who love this genre and, are looking for a light read.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book. You can buy the book from the below link :)

Buy from Amazon

[Bhargavi Chandrashekar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kulpreet Yadav, retired voluntarily from the armed forces to pursue a career in writing in 2014. Also a motivational speaker now, he has spoken at more than one hundred schools, colleges, and global corporate brands during the last three years. I’ve admired his writing , I really liked his Andy Karan Series. And now it’s a spy thriller again. Thriller is the genre I would love to read without any second thought. So I didn’t bothered to read the blurb as well. Murder Mystery always makes the reader enamored. And So Murder is Paharganj. A Vicks Menon Thriller. Vicks an investigation journalist who lost his job and his girlfriend for his Alcohol addiction. And now he want his possession back as the journalist at India Now. And also he wants his girlfriend Tonya Mazumdar back in his life.

On a cold December morning, a white woman is found murdered in a cheap hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi. Vicks Menon is the first man to arrive at the crime scene. Where he discovers a lead. It’s the bus ticket used by the dead woman two days earlier. A white women, Sherry Bing, was found dead in a small hotel room in Paharganj. Probably cause of death was strangulation. There was no sign of a break in, no sign of a struggle, and all her belongings seemed to be intact. What was the killer’s motivation ?

Tonya is a clinical psychologist, who specializes in profiling hardened criminals. With the help of her Vicks finds out who killed Shery. But now he wants to know what made him to kill the women who he was in love with her. The story takes us to the international level now. The policeman and a spy from Israeli intelligence are behind Vicks. Will Vicks ever able to solve the mystery ? Will he get his girlfriend back in his life ? Does he proves his boss, that he’s is the best journalist ? And also proves his dad wrong for calling him Sissy ?

No doubt the way Kulpreet Yadav handled the story proves that he’s one of the leading fiction writes in India. The story at beginning was perplexing but once you learn too many things about the characters you start loving the way it has been written. Apart from the Vicks the only character I liked in this book was ACP Sachin Rap. His character is so calm and focused. Overall the perfect mystery with few negligible flaws.

[Kunal Gwalani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review first posted on - https://kunalgwalani.blogspot.in/2017...
Rating - 2.5*s

Except below:

A murder thriller has to leave you gasping to know more.

The anticipation of the progress of the story has to be so riveting that you don't want to put the book down. It has to tease and cajole you into waiting for a twist, the next turn of events.

Instead what Kulpreet Yadav has penned in his novel, Murder in Paharganj is an attempt to turn this around an share details upfront of almost every crucial moment, thereby killing the suspense.
Admittedly this is not a suspense mystery that requires detective style investigation and clearly Vicks Menon is not a detective.

Murder in Paharganj is fast paced in its story line and has some serious potential in the sub plots and credit is due for not sermonizing certain aspects of the book.
It has a variety of characters that have interesting facets of emotions to deal with and yet one wonders if the characters were flushed out further, their could literally be spin off novels on each of them, especially Jalaluddin and ACP Rao.

All in all, its not a book or series I would include in my must read list.

Totally skip able.

[Literary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publishers for sending me the book in exchange of an honest and unbiased review.

“THE DEAD WOMAN lay face-up on the bed, her hands at her side.” The very first line of the book is enough to grab the attention of a reader. I, like so many other bibliophiles, have read a large number of story books because of which I have come to notice there are three types of thrillers :

The one which creates an atmosphere of thrill and excitement from the very beginning of the book and continues the same till the very end.
The one which though seems exciting in the beginning, loses its spark somewhere in the middle without a certainty of bringing it back while nearing the end.
The one which although doesn’t seem much of a deal or thrill suddenly punches excitement right into the reader leaving one wanting more.
This book falls in the first category. The very beginning pumps up curiosity over the questions – Who is the dead woman? Why was she killed? And we all know this very well, Curiosity is a boon. It feeds the hunger to know more and more. Murder in Paharganj never gave me a chance to put it down except the times when I really needed to do the necessary daily life things, you know and attending college. The most important characteristic feature of the book is how it highlights present Indian conditions where people are afraid to have faith and belief in the police. It shows how politicians take advantage of the lack of information of common people to insert false ideals and fear in the name of betterment. The book fearlessly points out how due to the ill behaviour of some policemen both in the outside world and also in their own homes, the policemen who try their best to restore justice face mistrust and anger from the common mass.

Everytime I read a good book I am left fascinated by the fact how an author has the power to influence readers through words. We, the commoners, are kept in dark of the clever and dangerous happenings of the ruling powers. We can barely understand the up and down occuping deep inside the country while the only unresting effects brushing our senses are given the name of necessities in the path of development. This book goes into the depth of these curious, unimaginable, dangerous happening through the eyes and mind of a crime journalist, fired by his boss because of his overpowering habit of drinking. The urge of getting back both the job and his love who left him tired of his alcoholism, as soon as he gets the wind of a crime taking he runs to the location before the police. He moves fast and hungrily towards the truth but he ends up inside the Vortex thus he runs for both his life and story. Will he finally be able to locate the killer? What is this Vortex? Will he be able to finally get out of it?
I am very satisfied with Tonya’s character. Being the girlfriend of the main man of the book, her identity is not stuck to that alone. She was a clinical psychologist working part time at the government run all India Institute of medical science. She has been described as an independent, intelligent, witty and extraordinary woman. She is tough and soft at the very same time. Though talented she is not a flawless human and this fact probably makes the reader understand the realistic character of a human, irrespective of man or woman.

Jamie, on the other hand represents a very important role I believe. It is not unknown to any corner of rhe world how Islam is on several occasions referred to as a violent region and that they promote terrorism and mass killing. What I personally believer and the book also suggests is that it’s not essentially Islam which spreads terror but the powers working underneath it in the name of justice and faith. Young muslims are often misguided by power hungry, wrathful leaders and corrupted believers of region who instead of truly unearthing the fertile riches of a region, it’s wisdom and knowledge, concentrate on destruction and filthy ideals. Jamie i.e, Jalaluddin was one of those young people with passion and patriotism boiling in his veins, blindly believe that whatever his boss would make him believe. He took up different identities in different places just to fulfil his missions. He had become a blind worshipper of preached Islamic faith. He was from Iran has, hiding in India, working on a mission which required him to make Siri Bing fall in love with him only to realise soon the team self was falling in love to. I find it difficult to express the numerical number of emotions that arise with me when I try to understand the gym. This is the author’s extraordinary skill to have painted over canvas of words, a story so bold, so strong, so painful, so aggressive and so realistic.

There is still some more to the story some more to say but I fear the more I speak, the more I might reveal that the contents of the book. This book is something that should be read throughly, thoroughly and one I would not want to give spoilers of.

The storyline is realistic, extraordinary, thrilling, impacting and powerful. The book was very fast pacing. The power of storytelling of the author had that were mesmerising visionary effect. It was as if the fictional characters have been transformed into real life characters. While reading the book I could feel myself going deeper and deeper into it and I could clearly see myself living and experiencing it all, I could see Vicks running here and there for his life, his report, dodging the stalkers, fighting his fear and alcoholism . I could see the dead woman’s body lying still on the bed staring at the ceiling as if she would wake up just the next moment. I could see Tonya’s stress, tension, love for Vicks. The book was a nerve wrecking, mind-boggling, heart pumping experience for me. The suspense the book created with every stepping stone was exciting. It made my heart skip a bit everytime I learned a new fact about the story.

Would I recommend you to read it? Absolutely! Obviously! Like just go and read it now!! I am looking forward to reads more of Vicks Menon’s thrilling adventures in the risky and exciting profession of being a crime journalist.

[Jaideep Khanduja · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://pebbleinthestillwaters.com/mur...

Murder in Paharganj An International Engrossing Plot by @Kulpreetyadav and @BloomsburyIndia

Murder In Paharganj by Kulpreet Yadav has all material you can expect from a good and engaging thriller. This is a Vicks Menon Thriller series. Obviously, there are a lot more stories in store to come in near future. The publishers are Bloomsbury and they have a versatile range of genres they publish for a wide range of readers. The story has enough number of powerful and dynamic characters to engage you thoroughly and at the same time entertain with engrossing sequences. In a way, you become a part of the thrilling sequences involving international secret agencies from various countries. The story revolves around a murder that takes place in a cheap hotel in Paharganj. But the lady who is murdered is a Jew from Israel. Rest everything is convincing in this smartly crafted plot except the reason for murder.

Logically any high-level spy or intelligence office bearer from any country is well trained in terms of Professionalism, patience, and perfection. This doesn't gel well with the murderer in the story of Murder in Paharganj by Kulpreet Yadav who kills the lady without a solid reason or purpose. That particular sequence lacks depth material. Otherwise, rest of the story gels well with the plot and theme. Everybody will love our hero of the story, Vicks Menon who manages to prove his worth with the help of his intelligence against all odds. The story has all the material for a Bollywood thriller on the big screen. In fact, all credits go to the author for curating the story in a very interesting manner.

In my opinion, Murder In Paharganj is a perfect entertainer for anyone who loves fast engaging thrillers. Especially it is quite a handy stuff during travel, while waiting for your flight at an airport, while stuck in traffic, while waiting for someone in a lounge or lobby, on a beach, on a lazy Sunday, or when you want to kick away boredom. In fact, this is a fresh series by Kulpreet Yadav. Thus you can taste the new fragrance. Moreover, it is an international plot with three countries' intelligence agencies working on a murder of a young beautiful Jew lady. That ensures enough of turmoils in the storyline.

Overall, an interesting fiction thriller. The cover fits well with the story. The best part is there is no scope for finding a logical flaw in the story. That is another strong point to keep this book under best plot stories. You can read author's interview here.

[Anuya Patil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Murder In Paharganj
Author: Kulpreet Yadav
Format: Paperback/ Kindle Edition available too.
Length:278 pages
Synopsis:
On a cold December morning, a white woman is found murdered in a cheap hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi.
Vicks Menon, an out-of-work journalist, is tipped off by the hotel’s receptionist and is the first to arrive at the crime scene, where he discovers a lead. It’s the bus ticket used by the dead woman two days earlier. But Vicks is battling personal trouble. He has no money, an alcohol problem, and a nearly broken relationship with Tonya, his estranged live-in partner, a clinical psychologist who specializes in profiling hardened criminals.
Moving in and out of the shadows, Vicks pushes his investigation harder as it takes him from Udaipur to Bangkok. On his side, for resources, he has a nameless intelligence operative, and to read minds, a lover who is beginning to trust him again. But above all, his instinct to stay inches ahead of death will be the key to his survival.
If Vicks lives, this is one story that will change his life forever.
Review:
The book just as reviewed by The Times of India is a fast paced and suspense filled book. The book starts with the murder of a young foreigner in India and from there a beautifully woven story. The protagonist Vicks Menon, his on toes thinking and his adventured are sure to keep the readers hooked with the book right till the end. The book right from the start attracts the readers curiosity about what will happen next and that readers hunger of “just one more chapter” ends only at the last chapter of the book. Not just the protagonist but the other characters who help to take the story ahead, be it a major character like ACP Sachin Rao, Tonya, Ariel or the fugitive Jamie, or minor characters like Raju, Amar, Sherry, her father and others who help Vicks with information all are beautifully sculpted and written in the book. each character has an importance of their own. The language of the book is equally catchy. However as an involved reader I had been expecting a better end with respect to Jamie. As with the end presented the reader are sure to be happy with the one presented. I really loved the characters and the way they were portrayed in the story. The idea behind the whole story is really nice and that’s what makes the book are great read. The book might be a bit more than a short read but it is totally worth the readers time and resources. I would really love this book being made into a movie. It is a great treat for thriller genre lovers.
Rating:
3.5 /5

[Vidhya Thakkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's one of the interesting read in crime fiction. The plot that author has built is really amazing and the third person writing develops the interest in reading. Every character had a unique personality with some their specialties. The story had everything, from romance to crime, from friendship to mystery and Drama. Simple writing style with switching chapters linking the story is wonderful.
The story focus on Vicks who lost his job and this Murder happened in a cheap hotel of Paharganj was his freelancing report with which he can get his job back. With his job, he lost Tonya also, Love of his life. He was the first one to reach when this murder happened. Soon he started investigating on this story. The troubles that he faces while investigating is written really well, how he links each and every clue. Then the story focus on ACP Rao who was also investigating on this case, where he wanteVicksks as he was first to reach there and police thought he was the murderer. When Vicks told him, his part of the story he was convinced with Vicks. In the process Vicks was attacked by someone and was hospitalized, There's where Vicks dad came in the picture, he told him he is weak, he is a sissy and told him he fixed a job for him. Vicks was never going to take help of his dad. With help of ACP Vicks still continued his investigation.
The author has beautifully narrated the circumstances that a crime reporter face, How Vicks lost everything and with his one story he got everything back, his love, respect and a good job.
Though the end is very fact, details are missing. it should have been more lengthy. There are some places where the plot is shifted to some different character which leads to confusion. It felt like everything is going fast without precise details. There are so many characters which confuse reader because of sudden switching of plots.

Though it's one of the crime fiction read that I liked most as it still manages to hold the interest of a reader. It's like a puzzle, every piece adding and completing a story. Till the end secret is not revealed which makes reader curious. well, simple language adds a cherry on the cake. The reader enjoys it. I also loved the cover of the book, it's full of mystery and very attractive.
I would recommend this book to everyone who is looking for in crime fiction.

[Anamitra Debnath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paperback: 278 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury India; First edition (10 October 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9386826615
ISBN-13: 978-9386826619

Blurb
On a cold December morning, a white woman is found murdered in a cheap hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi.

Vicks Menon, an out-of-work journalist, is tipped off by the hotel’s receptionist and is the first to arrive at the crime scene, where he discovers a lead. It’s the bus ticket used by the dead woman two days earlier. But Vicks is battling personal trouble. He has no money, an alcohol problem, and a nearly broken relationship with Tonya, his estranged live-in partner, a clinical psychologist who specializes in profiling hardened criminals.

Moving in and out of the shadows, Vicks pushes his investigation harder as it takes him from Udaipur to Bangkok. On his side, for resources, he has a nameless intelligence operative, and to read minds, a lover who is beginning to trust him again. But above all, his instinct to stay inches ahead of death will be the key to his survival.

If Vicks lives, this is one story that will change his life forever.

What is this book all about?

Murder in Paharganj is the story of Vicks Menon who is an out-of-work journalist where he arrives at the crime scene where the white woman Sherry Bing has been murdered and he finds a lead at the crime scene. However he faces challenges and also experiences death very closely. Will he able to solve this mystery with the help of ACP Rao and Ariel?

Review

The title of the book fascinated me and the cover of the book is simple which I liked the most. The book kept me hooked till the end and I was not bored at all and I was curious to read how the mystery unfolded further. The characterization was done well. The language was simple and lucid. The choice of the words which was used in between the book was good.

What I did not like?

The main killer Jamie was killed by a unknown person and the killer who killed the main killer was not mentioned which I felt was left incomplete. The first three words are capital in every chapter and there was incorrect sentence formation done which was a major turn off for me.

My Verdict

It is a good book to read if you are a crime/thriller lover with minor flaws.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Mhonchumi Kikon · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the book:
The story recounts the story of Sherry Bing, a white woman who was found murdered in a cheap hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi. The first to arrive at the crime scene is an alcoholic out-of-work journalist named, Vicky Menon, he was tipped off by the hotel receptionist and he discovers a lead. Vicky decided to go deeper into the murder mystery as he wanted to prove his worth as a journalist. Amidst the investigation, Vicky does not realize that the murder he is trying to investigate is a high profile one with the fate of three-nation tied to it. Wish to know what happens next? Grab a copy today at Amazon.com. In the meantime, you can read my review of the book.

My take on the book:
The author's narration was gripping with clear and lucid inputs which were indeed obliging in making you understand the crime scene, the characters were interesting, but it could have been developed even better. The transition of some of the scenes were brilliant, but, the plot line didn't quite make this book up to the mark I was expecting. Not saying it was a bad read, but I was disappointed to discover that the story failed to impress me unlike the amount of hype it garnered on social media. Since I am a thriller buff and I have had read lots of mystery books by International writers, So this could be one probable reason why I did't enjoy it much.
On a good note, the story seemed engrossing in the beginning, but somehow along the middle, it did not quite hold my attention span and I had to keep it aside for some refreshing read (thus the delay of this review). The author’s attempt to create a crime scene and a suspicious/mysterious aura was missing, Vicks, the main protagonist could have been portrayed a little interesting. he elements of thriller I was looking for seems to have got lost along the narrative construction. It started off with a promising account but soon lost its enigmatic vibe. I also felt that the ending came as sudden and abrupt. it was an ‘okay-ish’ read for me, although not a page-turner after the first 100 pages.

Read the full book review on my blog post.. https://bit.ly/2KnzWhJ

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Title: Murder in Pahargunj
Author: Kulpreet Yadav
Format: Paperback

Book Title:
The title of the book ' Murder in Pahargunj ' clearly states that the story is about a murder and mystery around it.

Book Cover:
The book cover is a face of a man in the dark in silhouette with a greenish blue background color creating an eerie feeling.
 
Plot:
The story is about an Indian journalist unveiling a murder of a non-Indian woman's mysterious murder in the area of Pahargunj. Vicks Menon, the journalist takes the lead of chasing out the murderer thinking the case to be a simple one. As the story progresses, along with him, even the readers also will be surprised how the story takes twists and turns. Vicks Menon though having a rough and tough time with his lady love Tonya, he travels around places to trace out the mystery. He travels to places like Rajasthan, North East India, and other places to conclude the murder.

The book is a good murder mystery\thriller with ample amounts of surprise and definitely a page turner but with not so eye-boggling sequences.  At some places, the story becomes very predictable but the narration makes up the interest.

What I like:
1. The narration of the story
2. The protagonist's mind presence while solving the mystery
3. A good number of twists and turns making the story an interesting read.

What I didn't like:
1. The protagonist's lady love's character was left shallow.
2. At times, the story was slow and predictable. The unwanted drama could have been avoided.
3. Few grammatical errors

Characters:
All the characters in the story are quite interestingly plotted. Few characters could have been chopped as they sounded over-explained.

Narration:
A gripping and thrilling narration is found in the story. But at times, the story looks dragging.

Language & Grammar:
A good language is observed but few grammatical mistakes acted as hindrances during reading.

My Final Verdict:
A nice lazy afternoon's read!

Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5

[Prashant Kaul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of mystery/thriller novels as a reader. Though as a writer I love writing romantic novels.

Peter Swanson and Agatha Christie are the two writers whom I have read the most when it comes to this genre. Page-turners excite me the most.

Recently I read Murder in Paharganj by Kulpreet Yadav. Honestly the cover lured me in buying this book. It's an impressive and a well designed cover.

Book blurb:

On a cold December morning, a white woman is found murdered in a cheap hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi. Vicks Menon, an out-of-work journalist, is tipped off by the hotel's receptionist and is the first to arrive at the crime scene, where he discovers a lead. It's the bus ticket used by the dead woman two days earlier. But Vicks is battling personal trouble. He has no money, an alcohol problem, and a nearly broken relationship with Tonya, his estranged live-in partner, a clinical psychologist who specializes in profiling hardened criminals. Moving in and out of the shadows, Vicks pushes his investigation harder as it takes him from Udaipur to Bangkok. On his side, for resources, he has a nameless intelligence operative, and to read minds, a lover who is beginning to trust him again. But above all, his instinct to stay inches ahead of death will be the key to his survival. If Vicks lives, this is one story that will change his life forever.

Below is what have to say about the book.
My review:
Author has definitely done a great job in weaving a great story with a fast paced narrative. The characters are nicely built and all come out really well.
. Although the suspense element is weak and the story gets predictable in the second half. As a mystery fan it was a little let down for me due to the predictablity and weak sub plots.
After a while it was more like some Bollywood masala script than a suspenseful riddle. Climax too was a little disappointing and didn't gave me any goosebumps.
None the less the book is full of action and writing is quite impressive. If someone wants to read a crime thriller from an Indian author then they should definitely go for it. The story is quite entertaining with something or the other happening all the time. It has lots of action as well to keep the readers hooked and detailing is also good.

[Roma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name of the book - Murder in Paharganj

Author - Kulpreet Yadav

Number of pages - 231

Publisher - Bloomsbury

Summary:

Vicks Menon, a fired journalist, in desperate look out for story comes across a murder in a hotel located at Paharganj. He being the first person to reach the crime location, becomes a prime suspect in the murder. How Vicks unfolds the many layers of the big plot, how he manages to erase his name from the suspected murderer and how he manages to get what he wanted to achieve forms the crux of the story.

My Take:

To start with the book starts with the murder and there were many 'oh God' moments in the book. The book is a fast paced book with many twists and turns throughout. Best part is that at none of the places does the book feel like it's being dragged. The narrative is brilliant and keeps you glued to the book throughout.

All the characters are beautifully developed. You actually empathize with the protagonist on many occasions where he gets in a mess. The novel can easily be adopted into a web series or a movie adaptation. Would love to see the characters and story come to life.

The ending I felt was a bit abrupt. I would have loved to read how the final actual information was passed to the attackers and Ultimately the attack was stopped. At least a description would have been sufficient. Secondly, with the sequences it felt like some big terrorist organisation is behind all this but happens to be just one antagonist who manages to do all this.

The epilogue gives you the complete picture of where the characters are at the moment. It completes the book. Overall I loved the book and would recommend it to all thriller fans.

My rating of this great book is 4.5/5.

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