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Murder in a Minute
“People are essentially good, until they are caught.”
When a young woman is found lifeless in a pool of her own blood, everyone is convinced that it is her college sweetheart who murdered her.
The victim’s step-brothers, Rishabh and Arya aren’t so convinced. They embark on a journey to unearth the truth, a journey riddled with fallacies and conspiracies, planted intentionally to trap them.
Is there a connection between a missing blue envelope, a misplaced sweater and stray footprints in a room? Could those people they thought they knew so well be hiding dark secrets about their past? Or did their dead sister have more to hide than anyone involved?
With pressures mounting and suspicions looming, love will lose to ambition, greed will trump responsibility and deception would be common. Will the duo succeed in muddling through the convoluted clues on time, or will their first wrong step be their last?
Find out in the pulse-pounding suspense thriller …
When a young woman is found lifeless in a pool of her own blood, everyone is convinced that it is her college sweetheart who murdered her.
The victim’s step-brothers, Rishabh and Arya aren’t so convinced. They embark on a journey to unearth the truth, a journey riddled with fallacies and conspiracies, planted intentionally to trap them.
Is there a connection between a missing blue envelope, a misplaced sweater and stray footprints in a room? Could those people they thought they knew so well be hiding dark secrets about their past? Or did their dead sister have more to hide than anyone involved?
With pressures mounting and suspicions looming, love will lose to ambition, greed will trump responsibility and deception would be common. Will the duo succeed in muddling through the convoluted clues on time, or will their first wrong step be their last?
Find out in the pulse-pounding suspense thriller …
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2017
130 people are currently reading
1430 people want to read
About the author
Shouvik Bhattacharya
2 books53 followersShouvik is a management graduate from S.P Jain, Mumbai and is currently working for General Electric in its leadership program. During the day, he designs analytical software which makes aircrafts fly, and during the night he plots devious murder mysteries. He is a die-hard fan of Manchester United and you might easily find him reading, in a café or a bookstore in Bangalore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
February 7, 2018
“You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself.”
----Margaret Atwood
Shouvik Bhattacharya, an Indian author, has penned his debut thriller called, Murder in a Minute that revolves around the murder of a young and ambitious woman, who is the chairperson of her father's company, inside her own room and in the presence of her step brothers and sisters, along with her colleagues and her college boyfriend. And surprisingly each one in that mountainside cottage has an alibi, even though the initial investigations point at the killer being present in that house. Now the question is who or why, is it out of jealousy, ambition, greed or out of love, that the poor lady had to give up her life in such a tragic way?
Synopsis:
“People are essentially good, until they are caught.”
When a young woman is found lifeless in a pool of her own blood, everyone is convinced that it is her college sweetheart who murdered her.
The victim’s step-brothers, Rishabh and Arya aren’t so convinced. They embark on a journey to unearth the truth, a journey riddled with fallacies and conspiracies, planted intentionally to trap them.
Is there a connection between a missing blue envelope, a misplaced sweater and stray footprints in a room? Could those people they thought they knew so well be hiding dark secrets about their past? Or did their dead sister have more to hide than anyone involved?
With pressures mounting and suspicions looming, love will lose to ambition, greed will trump responsibility and deception would be common. Will the duo succeed in muddling through the convoluted clues on time, or will their first wrong step be their last?
Find out in the pulse-pounding suspense thriller.
Esha Arora, the young and ambitious scion of a reputable and rich family now heading the family business of Arora Cements, is found brutally murdered in her bedroom at her mountain side cottage that she shared with her step brothers and sisters, office colleagues, a client and her college boyfriend. The initial reports and investigation leads to someone being present in that cottage, but surprisingly, each one of them, from the housemaid to the CEO of another cement company, have an alibi. Adding to the grief and anger and their determination to give justice to their dear elder sister, Esha, two brothers, Rishabh and Arya decides to play Sherlock besides the local investigative cop, but can the brothers find out the real identity of the killer who is present amongst them? And the most important question is, why would someone murder a powerful, intelligent and beautiful woman like Esha, is it love troubles, greed, jealousy, or ambition?
Boy, oh boy! The author took me by surprise with his debut novel, for being a thrilling, mind-blowing and arresting story that rarely any first time author can ever spin with such finesse. And I'm glad that I picked up a copy of this book, which undoubtedly hit the bestseller's list, since the story took me on a wild whirlwind journey on putting an identity on the faceless killer constantly lurking in the background of the story line. Yes, indeed it is a chilly feeling for its readers, but the anticipation of whodunit is bound to keep the readers glued to the book like a moth looking for a thin ray of light in mind-numbing darkness.
The author's writing style is fantastic and I felt like reading the book penned by some seasoned author, instead of a debut author. The prose is suspenseful, edgy and is definitely going to give the readers a heart pounding feel while swaying swiftly with the story's fast pace. The tension and the tightness builds and seeps into the story line gradually through the development of the plot. And the readers won't be able to get away from this addictive tale at no cost.
The dialogues are engaging enough to keep the readers intrigued pretty much the entire length of the story, yet I felt like near the climax, things got bit careless, instead of that tightly wrapped story unfolding right till the climax. The ending could have been much better, as I felt it to be pretentious and dramatic enough to make it look like some sappy Bollywood thriller. Other than that, the first and second half of the story is compelling and riveting enough to keep the readers turning the pages of this book frantically to find out about the whodunit and whydunit.
The clues and twists comes out of nowhere like a tight hard slap upon the faces of the readers, and thankfully, those slaps give a feel-good sensation to the readers. As those sudden plot twisters upped the suspense level of this story line. The characters aren't that well sketched out, as I felt all of them to be very lazily described also they lacked depth thoroughly. There is no characters growth in the story, although it is very obvious that this one is a plot-driven thriller and that is enough to keep the readers interested into its very core.
In a nutshell, this is a must read and a highly recommended thriller that you cannot afford to miss it this chilly season.
Verdict: An engrossing and spicy thriller with drama and enough suspense to last you a year!
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Bloomsbury India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Margaret Atwood
Shouvik Bhattacharya, an Indian author, has penned his debut thriller called, Murder in a Minute that revolves around the murder of a young and ambitious woman, who is the chairperson of her father's company, inside her own room and in the presence of her step brothers and sisters, along with her colleagues and her college boyfriend. And surprisingly each one in that mountainside cottage has an alibi, even though the initial investigations point at the killer being present in that house. Now the question is who or why, is it out of jealousy, ambition, greed or out of love, that the poor lady had to give up her life in such a tragic way?
Synopsis:
“People are essentially good, until they are caught.”
When a young woman is found lifeless in a pool of her own blood, everyone is convinced that it is her college sweetheart who murdered her.
The victim’s step-brothers, Rishabh and Arya aren’t so convinced. They embark on a journey to unearth the truth, a journey riddled with fallacies and conspiracies, planted intentionally to trap them.
Is there a connection between a missing blue envelope, a misplaced sweater and stray footprints in a room? Could those people they thought they knew so well be hiding dark secrets about their past? Or did their dead sister have more to hide than anyone involved?
With pressures mounting and suspicions looming, love will lose to ambition, greed will trump responsibility and deception would be common. Will the duo succeed in muddling through the convoluted clues on time, or will their first wrong step be their last?
Find out in the pulse-pounding suspense thriller.
Esha Arora, the young and ambitious scion of a reputable and rich family now heading the family business of Arora Cements, is found brutally murdered in her bedroom at her mountain side cottage that she shared with her step brothers and sisters, office colleagues, a client and her college boyfriend. The initial reports and investigation leads to someone being present in that cottage, but surprisingly, each one of them, from the housemaid to the CEO of another cement company, have an alibi. Adding to the grief and anger and their determination to give justice to their dear elder sister, Esha, two brothers, Rishabh and Arya decides to play Sherlock besides the local investigative cop, but can the brothers find out the real identity of the killer who is present amongst them? And the most important question is, why would someone murder a powerful, intelligent and beautiful woman like Esha, is it love troubles, greed, jealousy, or ambition?
Boy, oh boy! The author took me by surprise with his debut novel, for being a thrilling, mind-blowing and arresting story that rarely any first time author can ever spin with such finesse. And I'm glad that I picked up a copy of this book, which undoubtedly hit the bestseller's list, since the story took me on a wild whirlwind journey on putting an identity on the faceless killer constantly lurking in the background of the story line. Yes, indeed it is a chilly feeling for its readers, but the anticipation of whodunit is bound to keep the readers glued to the book like a moth looking for a thin ray of light in mind-numbing darkness.
The author's writing style is fantastic and I felt like reading the book penned by some seasoned author, instead of a debut author. The prose is suspenseful, edgy and is definitely going to give the readers a heart pounding feel while swaying swiftly with the story's fast pace. The tension and the tightness builds and seeps into the story line gradually through the development of the plot. And the readers won't be able to get away from this addictive tale at no cost.
The dialogues are engaging enough to keep the readers intrigued pretty much the entire length of the story, yet I felt like near the climax, things got bit careless, instead of that tightly wrapped story unfolding right till the climax. The ending could have been much better, as I felt it to be pretentious and dramatic enough to make it look like some sappy Bollywood thriller. Other than that, the first and second half of the story is compelling and riveting enough to keep the readers turning the pages of this book frantically to find out about the whodunit and whydunit.
The clues and twists comes out of nowhere like a tight hard slap upon the faces of the readers, and thankfully, those slaps give a feel-good sensation to the readers. As those sudden plot twisters upped the suspense level of this story line. The characters aren't that well sketched out, as I felt all of them to be very lazily described also they lacked depth thoroughly. There is no characters growth in the story, although it is very obvious that this one is a plot-driven thriller and that is enough to keep the readers interested into its very core.
In a nutshell, this is a must read and a highly recommended thriller that you cannot afford to miss it this chilly season.
Verdict: An engrossing and spicy thriller with drama and enough suspense to last you a year!
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Bloomsbury India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
July 19, 2017
Now I understand why it is a bestseller.
This blood-drenched thriller about a murder of a rich girl under mysterious circumstances is enough to keep you occupied for weeks.
As the author slowly reveals Esha Arora's story, we get to know that she was about to sell her company the same day.She was about to run away with the love of her life, unless somebody who knew her plans had motives to silence her.
The mind games began when the investigators couldn't locate the exact timings of the murder. Everyone's alibi confirmed that the murder would have happened within a minute.
Even for the professionals, it is impossible to kill in a minute. So the murder must have been a cold-blooded one, planned and practiced beforehand or was it committed in the heat of the moment?
Wait, till you find out and yes, be ready to be shocked.
The big twist in this psychological thriller is genuinely shocking and kept me alert throughout the novel. I didn't want to miss out on any word, any theory because since the beginning it was clear that once you start reading it, you will want to finish it right then and there.
You suspect every single character. Be it a milkman, a maid or even the lover of the victim. The author makes certain that nobody is left untouched. It could have been anyone. Even if I had the criminal's name on the tip of my tongue, I couldn't believe on my eyes when I read who was behind the murder. It was too late to realize that the author had trapped me with his creative and suspenseful writing.
The charge shifted from one person to another and it made the all the differences from other mystery books. The readers would have easily put the innocent behind the bars if they went on with the flow of circumstances the author had created.
Some points of the book made me scream that it is a masterpiece because I was completely dazzled with where the story was progressing. This book truly reminded me of Agatha Christie books.
I found myself getting absorbed in the book. I haven't read such an amazing book for months.
Without giving any spoilers, I would say that if you are planning to read Murder in A Minute, then there is no better decision than this.
I plan to wait for the sequel in a planet where time passes quickly so that I don't have to wait for long.
This blood-drenched thriller about a murder of a rich girl under mysterious circumstances is enough to keep you occupied for weeks.
As the author slowly reveals Esha Arora's story, we get to know that she was about to sell her company the same day.She was about to run away with the love of her life, unless somebody who knew her plans had motives to silence her.
The mind games began when the investigators couldn't locate the exact timings of the murder. Everyone's alibi confirmed that the murder would have happened within a minute.
Even for the professionals, it is impossible to kill in a minute. So the murder must have been a cold-blooded one, planned and practiced beforehand or was it committed in the heat of the moment?
Wait, till you find out and yes, be ready to be shocked.
The big twist in this psychological thriller is genuinely shocking and kept me alert throughout the novel. I didn't want to miss out on any word, any theory because since the beginning it was clear that once you start reading it, you will want to finish it right then and there.
You suspect every single character. Be it a milkman, a maid or even the lover of the victim. The author makes certain that nobody is left untouched. It could have been anyone. Even if I had the criminal's name on the tip of my tongue, I couldn't believe on my eyes when I read who was behind the murder. It was too late to realize that the author had trapped me with his creative and suspenseful writing.
The charge shifted from one person to another and it made the all the differences from other mystery books. The readers would have easily put the innocent behind the bars if they went on with the flow of circumstances the author had created.
Some points of the book made me scream that it is a masterpiece because I was completely dazzled with where the story was progressing. This book truly reminded me of Agatha Christie books.
I found myself getting absorbed in the book. I haven't read such an amazing book for months.
Without giving any spoilers, I would say that if you are planning to read Murder in A Minute, then there is no better decision than this.
I plan to wait for the sequel in a planet where time passes quickly so that I don't have to wait for long.
April 6, 2017
Totally loved it. Skipped a few morning meetings to finish this long awaited book. The characters , the dramatization , the sudden twists , the end - unbelievably well planned given Shouvik is a first time author. Great to see his efforts trying to carve a niche in the murder mystery area when most Indian writers are stuck to cheesy romantic teenage drama. Great way to go Murder in a Minute and Shouvik!
April 9, 2017
This one is probably the first crime fiction I’ve read by an Indian writer. As an ardent crime fiction fan I am, this book had a lot of expectation to meet.
And it did.
Even though it is a debut book, the writer doesn’t come across as a novice. The plot is well weaved, through the intriguing characters, doing justice to each of the suspect’s motives. The writer keeps you guessing as he opens up a labyrinth of clues and hidden emotions. The more you go deeper in the maze, the more you realize you are lost. In fact, I was quite taken aback when I found out who the murderer even was! It is fast paced with hardly any dull moments and if you’re wondering, yes, romance plays second fiddle to the story (to my great relief!). What kept me really hooked was the construction of the dead character through the survivor’s thought and emotions, which was very skilfully done.
So if you are looking for some thrilling ‘who dunnit’—go ahead, pick this book!
And it did.
Even though it is a debut book, the writer doesn’t come across as a novice. The plot is well weaved, through the intriguing characters, doing justice to each of the suspect’s motives. The writer keeps you guessing as he opens up a labyrinth of clues and hidden emotions. The more you go deeper in the maze, the more you realize you are lost. In fact, I was quite taken aback when I found out who the murderer even was! It is fast paced with hardly any dull moments and if you’re wondering, yes, romance plays second fiddle to the story (to my great relief!). What kept me really hooked was the construction of the dead character through the survivor’s thought and emotions, which was very skilfully done.
So if you are looking for some thrilling ‘who dunnit’—go ahead, pick this book!
April 22, 2017
Eesha Arora lies dead in a pool of her own blood. Who would want to kill her? Eesha, was well, perfect. Caring and accomplished, all wrapped in a pretty package.
Murder in Minute follows the investigation into the murder and is told from several points of view. This is a very good way to tell this particular story since it allows the author to introduce characters and let us get into their heads. The story is structured as a mix between flashbacks, the present day and reflections all of which help you to understand the dead girl. It also lets the author play with his audience (since what is learnt from one character is contradicted by what is found out from another), and believe me, does this author love to play.
As he takes you through his well-paced story, you begin to get comfortable. You think you know what this book is going to be – a lovely, simple murder mystery, a decent to good read. You might even feel a little smug, thinking you’ve figured out who the murderer is. Then comes the end with several delicious twists and you are shaken out of your smug comfort by the realisation that you’ve been in the hands of a rather devious storyteller. What I particularly liked (apart from the twists), were the snatches of dialogue and nuggets of information hidden in plain sight throughout the story that made the motivation behind the murder believable. This could not have been pulled off without good characterisation – almost everyone is a three dimensional, real and therefore flawed, human being. What is also commendable is that most exposition blended easily into the narrative.
What did not work for me were the dialogues and the language. With respect to the former, I think the problem mainly lies in something I have noticed before – our way of speaking English here in India is extremely difficult to put in writing without it coming across as awkward and clunky. It is a tough act, balancing the quirks of Indian English, grammatical accuracy and narrative flow. The author has a descriptive style and likes to insert bits of philosophy here and there, however I believe his choice of words and sentence structure need to be worked on if they are to complement his writing. I also came across certain grammatical errors and typos in my Kindle edition. While the story does not lag at any point, the first section of Anubhav’s introductory chapter is a bit too long and can be edited.
Would I recommend this story? Oh yes! Definitely! None of the downsides took away from the reading experience. In fact, oddly, they allowed the author’s potential to shine through, probably by way of contrast.
And he really does have it – potential. In spades.
Murder in Minute follows the investigation into the murder and is told from several points of view. This is a very good way to tell this particular story since it allows the author to introduce characters and let us get into their heads. The story is structured as a mix between flashbacks, the present day and reflections all of which help you to understand the dead girl. It also lets the author play with his audience (since what is learnt from one character is contradicted by what is found out from another), and believe me, does this author love to play.
As he takes you through his well-paced story, you begin to get comfortable. You think you know what this book is going to be – a lovely, simple murder mystery, a decent to good read. You might even feel a little smug, thinking you’ve figured out who the murderer is. Then comes the end with several delicious twists and you are shaken out of your smug comfort by the realisation that you’ve been in the hands of a rather devious storyteller. What I particularly liked (apart from the twists), were the snatches of dialogue and nuggets of information hidden in plain sight throughout the story that made the motivation behind the murder believable. This could not have been pulled off without good characterisation – almost everyone is a three dimensional, real and therefore flawed, human being. What is also commendable is that most exposition blended easily into the narrative.
What did not work for me were the dialogues and the language. With respect to the former, I think the problem mainly lies in something I have noticed before – our way of speaking English here in India is extremely difficult to put in writing without it coming across as awkward and clunky. It is a tough act, balancing the quirks of Indian English, grammatical accuracy and narrative flow. The author has a descriptive style and likes to insert bits of philosophy here and there, however I believe his choice of words and sentence structure need to be worked on if they are to complement his writing. I also came across certain grammatical errors and typos in my Kindle edition. While the story does not lag at any point, the first section of Anubhav’s introductory chapter is a bit too long and can be edited.
Would I recommend this story? Oh yes! Definitely! None of the downsides took away from the reading experience. In fact, oddly, they allowed the author’s potential to shine through, probably by way of contrast.
And he really does have it – potential. In spades.
January 11, 2018
I could hardly put it down.
Literally explosive beginning that will unsettle, surprise and delight you in equally.
The thriller is my favourite genre of novel, and Murder in a minute is as gripping as it is gritty.
Your senses will be tantalised, your fancy will be tickled, and I guarantee that ending will get you talking…
Literally explosive beginning that will unsettle, surprise and delight you in equally.
The thriller is my favourite genre of novel, and Murder in a minute is as gripping as it is gritty.
Your senses will be tantalised, your fancy will be tickled, and I guarantee that ending will get you talking…
September 5, 2018
This is what happens when the author suffers from God complex.
Instead of telling a decent story in a compact manner, he sermonises, eulogises, inserts cringe-worthy expressions like "if only he knew, the murderer was sitting opposite to him", and ruins the narrative with loads of backstory.
Plus, the dialogues were rubbish. The setting, despite resembling the Golden Age mysteries, had none of their wit, elegance, dry humour, and suspense. Most importantly, there have been some truly ludicrous action and melodrama in this story which would have made wordhackers of pulp era laugh gleefully.
Only thing that elevates this rubbish above one star level is the motive and another angle, which Indian crime fiction still tries to avoid.
But, basically, not recommended.
Instead of telling a decent story in a compact manner, he sermonises, eulogises, inserts cringe-worthy expressions like "if only he knew, the murderer was sitting opposite to him", and ruins the narrative with loads of backstory.
Plus, the dialogues were rubbish. The setting, despite resembling the Golden Age mysteries, had none of their wit, elegance, dry humour, and suspense. Most importantly, there have been some truly ludicrous action and melodrama in this story which would have made wordhackers of pulp era laugh gleefully.
Only thing that elevates this rubbish above one star level is the motive and another angle, which Indian crime fiction still tries to avoid.
But, basically, not recommended.
June 26, 2017
The fact that he has written a novel, while I even struggle to finish a short story – is a humbling achievement indeed. And while whodunits are fun to read, they are extremely difficult to write. You must keep the readers guessing all the time – the very unexpectedness of the plot is its USP. And Shouvik has done that job quite well – though I had a hunch while reading, that ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ might have some influence on it.
So, what are the ingredients of a classic detective novel? A sharp sleuth, an evil mastermind and clueless sidekicks to bolster the ego of the detective as he goes about solving the case with his incisive deductive techniques. In ‘Murder in a Minute’, Shouvik has upended that structure. Everyone is an amateur, grappling for clues, fitting them in their own contrived hypotheses regarding the identity of the murderer. It’s like somebody has switched off the light, and everyone is trying to find a way around in the dark. Not one of them has night vision! This feels real, more Cormoron Strike and less Sherlock Holmes.
There are a few loose-ends which could have used a little tightening, it could also use a bit of professional editing, but I am quite sure that in future outings – Shouvik would grow as a writer and make a mark for himself!
Cheers to a great literary future, Shouvik!
So, what are the ingredients of a classic detective novel? A sharp sleuth, an evil mastermind and clueless sidekicks to bolster the ego of the detective as he goes about solving the case with his incisive deductive techniques. In ‘Murder in a Minute’, Shouvik has upended that structure. Everyone is an amateur, grappling for clues, fitting them in their own contrived hypotheses regarding the identity of the murderer. It’s like somebody has switched off the light, and everyone is trying to find a way around in the dark. Not one of them has night vision! This feels real, more Cormoron Strike and less Sherlock Holmes.
There are a few loose-ends which could have used a little tightening, it could also use a bit of professional editing, but I am quite sure that in future outings – Shouvik would grow as a writer and make a mark for himself!
Cheers to a great literary future, Shouvik!
December 17, 2017
The Aroras are an esteemed family in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. When the eldest daughter and head of the company, Esha Arora is found murdered in their house, the very foundation of trust in one another starts crumbling as many of them had an ax to grind with the deceased. Shouvik Bhattacharya's debut novel, Murder in a Minute reflects the extremely sensitive nature of the human psyche and how even the smallest of actions can have unfortunate consequences.
I haven't come across any murder-mystery or thriller written by an Indian author that has bowled me over with the sheer brilliance of its plot like this one did. For almost two-thirds of this novel, the pace, albeit fast, is very placid; like the calm before the storm. The last handful of chapters are going to make you INSANE with anticipation. I was anxious and excited all at the same time. I must commend the author for crafting the suspense in such a way that nothing is predictable, which is an essential determinant of whether a suspense novel is going to keep its readers on edge or not. That said, I channeled the psychology student within me and from the very beginning, had stinking suspicion as to who the culprit might be. AND I WAS RIGHT! Taking apart the thought process and actions of all the characters made the reading experience so much more fun. It was an absolute delight!
The writing style of the author is punchy, interspersed with analogies and philosophical musings. The plot, much like other murder-mysteries, is the usual as someone of great power is killed off and also, the blame falls on immediate relations. What I found to be interesting is that the so many people in Esha's surroundings are portrayed sketchily, thereby heightening your doubt as to the identity of the murderer. Moreover, the chapters give you a glimpse of the past. In doing so, it adds more dimension to the story, because you come to glean the equation that Esha had with different people. As far as the characters are concerned, there are some very disagreeable people in the novel. I didn't really like them or care for them. But being a suspense novel, this book isn't about character arcs and that's totally understandable. I'm not sure exactly why, but I found some of the mannerisms of the main inspector to be funny. Few of the themes mirrored by this book are true to the Indian society, like the pressure of following a specific educational field or being intolerant of deviance. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book a great deal and would definitely recommend it to everyone who is into this genre of writing. READ IT, PEOPLE! It's a rather quick read and I finished most of it in one sitting.
What do you get out of it? A thriller with tons of suspects and a maddeningly good unraveling of the mystery
Thank you Bloomsbury India for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I haven't come across any murder-mystery or thriller written by an Indian author that has bowled me over with the sheer brilliance of its plot like this one did. For almost two-thirds of this novel, the pace, albeit fast, is very placid; like the calm before the storm. The last handful of chapters are going to make you INSANE with anticipation. I was anxious and excited all at the same time. I must commend the author for crafting the suspense in such a way that nothing is predictable, which is an essential determinant of whether a suspense novel is going to keep its readers on edge or not. That said, I channeled the psychology student within me and from the very beginning, had stinking suspicion as to who the culprit might be. AND I WAS RIGHT! Taking apart the thought process and actions of all the characters made the reading experience so much more fun. It was an absolute delight!
The writing style of the author is punchy, interspersed with analogies and philosophical musings. The plot, much like other murder-mysteries, is the usual as someone of great power is killed off and also, the blame falls on immediate relations. What I found to be interesting is that the so many people in Esha's surroundings are portrayed sketchily, thereby heightening your doubt as to the identity of the murderer. Moreover, the chapters give you a glimpse of the past. In doing so, it adds more dimension to the story, because you come to glean the equation that Esha had with different people. As far as the characters are concerned, there are some very disagreeable people in the novel. I didn't really like them or care for them. But being a suspense novel, this book isn't about character arcs and that's totally understandable. I'm not sure exactly why, but I found some of the mannerisms of the main inspector to be funny. Few of the themes mirrored by this book are true to the Indian society, like the pressure of following a specific educational field or being intolerant of deviance. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book a great deal and would definitely recommend it to everyone who is into this genre of writing. READ IT, PEOPLE! It's a rather quick read and I finished most of it in one sitting.
What do you get out of it? A thriller with tons of suspects and a maddeningly good unraveling of the mystery
Thank you Bloomsbury India for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
February 12, 2018
"EVERY TALE IS A CONSEQUENCE OF A PAST AND IT RESULTS INTO A CERTAIN FUTURE"
This is fantastic piece of writing! A very good engaging thriller. I liked his writing style.
Except 1 or 2 chapters (some romance portion which drags the rapidity a bit), its a great work by author and cant believe its his debut novel.
Kudos to Shouvik :)
Don't believe them, no matter how good they are...
This is fantastic piece of writing! A very good engaging thriller. I liked his writing style.
Except 1 or 2 chapters (some romance portion which drags the rapidity a bit), its a great work by author and cant believe its his debut novel.
Kudos to Shouvik :)
Don't believe them, no matter how good they are...
December 28, 2017
If I say I am still gathering my thoughts about this novel then I wouldn't be lying. Shouvik Bhattacharya's Murder In A Minute, published by Bloomsbury India is gripping tale. No wonder it became a bestseller in less span of time.
The novel revolves around the murder of a famous industrialist, Esha Arora in her house, Arora Mansion. There hasn't been any burglary or involvement of an outsider. The murderer walks freely among the family members. Rishab, Arya, Pranav, Rashmi are half siblings whereas Esha was an orphan adopted because Vishal Arora didn't father a child for long. But after adopting Esha, the twin, Pranav and Rashmi came along. Not long after that their mother eloped with her lover. Vishal Arora remarried and fathered Rishab and Arya. If Esha was a mother to Arya and Rishab, she was an arch enemy to Pranav and Rashmi who are the legal heir of the Arora empire. Dhruv Bansal, Jyoti, Naina, Meera are some other characters introduced in the novel and found present on the crime scene and amongst the suspects. Who then could have murdered Esha? Inspector Rashid will help us solve this mystery.
Whew! I think I did a pretty neat job of explaining this complicated and engaging plot here. It is a much straight forward novel and in no time gets us involved in the murder mystery. It begins with certain premises/the taglines of the book - 'Unreciprocated love breeds unthinkable acts,' and 'Lust. Greed. Deception,' - which makes you think harder as to who could have done it. I kept turning pages but the taglines stayed with me. Those were my cues that helped me reach the murderer. The author has dexterously based his novel on one clicked fact which is - the most innocent and the less likely is most likely the criminal. However, the dark tower that he built on this foundation is breathtaking.
If the plot was gripping then the usage of the language was ingenious. "The water in the stream gurgled past the boulders impatiently, as if in a hurry to reach the plains." - This particular sentence, for instance, signifies the urgency of Rishab to find the murderer of his sister.
This work of fiction is lot more than meets the eyes and needs to be read with utmost attention. Every suspect has a story to tell and there are one too many twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. Especially towards the climax when the confessions start pouring out the prime suspect keeps switching making it all the more exciting. And the revelation blow your mind.
The novel can be completed in a single sitting. The chapters are short and titled. The font size, though I have never considered this aspect in a novel, was a tad too small.
There were a few things that ran in my mind while reading the novel. The prominent ones were -1. Why didn't the house have a CCTV in it's premises? Neither the house nor the street had one. 2. Why weren't forensic reports discussed? - And lastly - 3. Why wasn't the entire house searched for clues, including every room and belongings of residents?
Nonetheless, this novel is a treat. If you ask me, a movie buff, this will make a blockbuster Bollywood movie!
Waiting for the book two in the series.
Rating: 3 stars
On the scale of readability it is 10 on 10 for me.
The novel revolves around the murder of a famous industrialist, Esha Arora in her house, Arora Mansion. There hasn't been any burglary or involvement of an outsider. The murderer walks freely among the family members. Rishab, Arya, Pranav, Rashmi are half siblings whereas Esha was an orphan adopted because Vishal Arora didn't father a child for long. But after adopting Esha, the twin, Pranav and Rashmi came along. Not long after that their mother eloped with her lover. Vishal Arora remarried and fathered Rishab and Arya. If Esha was a mother to Arya and Rishab, she was an arch enemy to Pranav and Rashmi who are the legal heir of the Arora empire. Dhruv Bansal, Jyoti, Naina, Meera are some other characters introduced in the novel and found present on the crime scene and amongst the suspects. Who then could have murdered Esha? Inspector Rashid will help us solve this mystery.
Whew! I think I did a pretty neat job of explaining this complicated and engaging plot here. It is a much straight forward novel and in no time gets us involved in the murder mystery. It begins with certain premises/the taglines of the book - 'Unreciprocated love breeds unthinkable acts,' and 'Lust. Greed. Deception,' - which makes you think harder as to who could have done it. I kept turning pages but the taglines stayed with me. Those were my cues that helped me reach the murderer. The author has dexterously based his novel on one clicked fact which is - the most innocent and the less likely is most likely the criminal. However, the dark tower that he built on this foundation is breathtaking.
If the plot was gripping then the usage of the language was ingenious. "The water in the stream gurgled past the boulders impatiently, as if in a hurry to reach the plains." - This particular sentence, for instance, signifies the urgency of Rishab to find the murderer of his sister.
This work of fiction is lot more than meets the eyes and needs to be read with utmost attention. Every suspect has a story to tell and there are one too many twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. Especially towards the climax when the confessions start pouring out the prime suspect keeps switching making it all the more exciting. And the revelation blow your mind.
The novel can be completed in a single sitting. The chapters are short and titled. The font size, though I have never considered this aspect in a novel, was a tad too small.
There were a few things that ran in my mind while reading the novel. The prominent ones were -1. Why didn't the house have a CCTV in it's premises? Neither the house nor the street had one. 2. Why weren't forensic reports discussed? - And lastly - 3. Why wasn't the entire house searched for clues, including every room and belongings of residents?
Nonetheless, this novel is a treat. If you ask me, a movie buff, this will make a blockbuster Bollywood movie!
Waiting for the book two in the series.
Rating: 3 stars
On the scale of readability it is 10 on 10 for me.
February 14, 2018
Okay! let me gather my thoughts. I don't even know where to begin. I ain't sure if I can express even half of what I experienced throughout the book in my attempt to write the review. Do I sound extremely dramatic? Well, can't really help it. Am being really honest here. Before I go further into blabbering about my take on the book let me describe the story-line a bit.
The story revolves around the death of a young, hard working woman, adopted, unwelcomed child of the family, who through her extreme dedication to work had won her father's confidence in taking over their company, Arora Cements instead of his ambitious son, Pranav. Esha was the eldest of 5 children, adopted after four years of Vishal Arora's childless marriage with first wife, the renowned actress Archana Gulati. Within a year of adoption, they were blessed with twins - Pranav and Rashmi. But the marriage didn't work well and after three years of their birthday, the lady eloped with a retired Major. He had then married Sunanda Rai and within a year Rishabh was born; four years later she died at childbirth, Arya arrived. Keeping this characters aside, we come to the character Anubhav deeply and unrequitedly in love with Esha who gave up his well off job to work in and support her company. With every character present in the house and no sign of outsider during the time of Esha's murder, the inspector and sub inspector are stressed out to find out the truth. No sooner had they come to a conclusion that Rishabh informed them of a missing blue envelope from Esha's room and the housemate believes to have heard her talking to someone before the day of murder in her room about eloping!
Who killed Esha? Was there really no outsider but was someone inside the family? What was the motive? What was in the blue envelope? Who took it? Who was she planning to elope with and why?
If only these questions weren't enough to deal with, the author interestingly brings in the topic of lesbians and I very much appreciate this initiative. In the times when we readers must even through stories, under the condition of current society, this very book is a genuine example. It points out how India is yet to come to an understanding with homosexuality and how all the people, though have the right to love anyone and everyone, has to hid this. The fear of shame and disgust they suffer then they believe that what they feel is unacceptable in the society because it is unnatural and sin. They crush their on feeling in the name of disease and insanity.
Murder in a Minute is a fast paced, gripping and intelligent story which I enjoyed thoroughly. The choice of words and concepts are well thought out. What absolutely intrigued me was the rawness of the reality. How till date orphan and homosexuality is unacceptable, both by families and society. Every human deserves a family and the right to love anyone they choose to. Also I must praise the author's talent of storytelling - cleanly detailed and quite informative. If I hadn't already known I wouldn't have believed if anyone said this book is a debut novel. I am utterly impressed and look forward to reading more works of him in coming future.
Anyone who loves crime thrillers, I recommend you to give this book a try at once.
January 1, 2018
Murder in a minute is the most engaging story I have ever read. I stretched my timings to finish it. It was indeed a nail-biting read figuring who would be a Murderer.
The story is about Esha Arora, the CEO of Arora cement, There is no involvement of outsider in the case and the suspects were the one present for board meeting inside the home. Esha was like a mother to her brothers Rishabh and Arya, and enemy to Rashmi and Pranav. Anubhav- love of her life, was also under suspicion, along with Jyoti, Meera, and Naina. Not to forget Mr. Dhruv, Competitor of Arora Cements. Well, an equation of Pranav and Rashmi with Esha was not good, because Esha was adopted child. While Rishabh and Arya lost their mother and Esha held their hand. For ancestral business ownership? or love? why this Murder Happen was a Mystery worth solving.
'Unreciprocated love breeds unthinkable acts' this line made me think about various people who might have murdered. we get engaged instantly in the solving the mystery. The plot is too engaging with lots of suspense, clues, and thriller. We come across very such amazing crime fiction in India and this book is one of the best.
The pace of the story is also good unfolding the mystery. The tempo is too awesome, I loved how Rashid's wife took interest in solving the mystery, Rishab's and Arya's involvement in solving case, Naina's behavior, Jyoti's acts and much more. The book had one message 'Never underestimate anyone'
How Arya was underestimated every time as he took literature and not engineering. The language is too simple and connecting. we feel like a detective solving a mystery. The characters that the author made were amazing, how each one had their own importance in the story, each one added sparkle to it. Every suspect has a story to tell and everyone adds more to the unfinished puzzle. The book needs to be read with utmost attention. I loved the climax. I loved when it was time for confessions to be made. It's a gripping plot with some amazing lines and phrases. It's like a master mystery, just like a movie blockbuster.
-Good Characters
-Amazing plot
-Simple Language
made this story worth a read. It's an engaging read.
I loved the title and cover of the book, It's too engaging and impressive.
If you like reading Crime fiction, this one is worth a read.
The story is about Esha Arora, the CEO of Arora cement, There is no involvement of outsider in the case and the suspects were the one present for board meeting inside the home. Esha was like a mother to her brothers Rishabh and Arya, and enemy to Rashmi and Pranav. Anubhav- love of her life, was also under suspicion, along with Jyoti, Meera, and Naina. Not to forget Mr. Dhruv, Competitor of Arora Cements. Well, an equation of Pranav and Rashmi with Esha was not good, because Esha was adopted child. While Rishabh and Arya lost their mother and Esha held their hand. For ancestral business ownership? or love? why this Murder Happen was a Mystery worth solving.
'Unreciprocated love breeds unthinkable acts' this line made me think about various people who might have murdered. we get engaged instantly in the solving the mystery. The plot is too engaging with lots of suspense, clues, and thriller. We come across very such amazing crime fiction in India and this book is one of the best.
The pace of the story is also good unfolding the mystery. The tempo is too awesome, I loved how Rashid's wife took interest in solving the mystery, Rishab's and Arya's involvement in solving case, Naina's behavior, Jyoti's acts and much more. The book had one message 'Never underestimate anyone'
How Arya was underestimated every time as he took literature and not engineering. The language is too simple and connecting. we feel like a detective solving a mystery. The characters that the author made were amazing, how each one had their own importance in the story, each one added sparkle to it. Every suspect has a story to tell and everyone adds more to the unfinished puzzle. The book needs to be read with utmost attention. I loved the climax. I loved when it was time for confessions to be made. It's a gripping plot with some amazing lines and phrases. It's like a master mystery, just like a movie blockbuster.
-Good Characters
-Amazing plot
-Simple Language
made this story worth a read. It's an engaging read.
I loved the title and cover of the book, It's too engaging and impressive.
If you like reading Crime fiction, this one is worth a read.
December 29, 2017
https://wp.me/p8IuG5-aS
⭐⭐⭐.5
Esha Arora, the CEO of Arora Cements has been found murdered in her own house and the nine people who were in the house at that time are the suspects.
The thing is that, when you watch all those murder mystery shows, they just make you feel as if you are a detective and that often makes you cocky. You come across a mystery and you start deriving all the possible outcomes even without knowing all the details. That’s what happened with me too. I’d made some of my own pre-notions about who the killer could be but, boy was I wrong!
The story is set in a small town in India which made it so much easier for me to correlate and just get immersed into it. The setting is described beautifully and everything is so well detailed. This book is sorta written through multiple perspectives as peoples backstory unfolds and we get to know more in depth about all the characters and they get more and more fleshed out for us. There is subtle humor in places which took me by surprise and made me snort ( not very lady like, I know)!
I loved how the plot unfolded and what impressed (rather surprised) me the most was the scientific research done for this book and there were no inane small talk facts regarding the details of the murder. It kept fluctuating between edge-of-the-seat-nail-biting thriller and sometimes became too slow!
Now, I would like to discuss some details which troubled me a bit. The style of writing was good but oh so dramatic! It also reminded me of the way Sidney Sheldon wrote (which the author has also mentioned) and I’d never gotten into his novels! Sometimes the details were way too stretched out and I felt that there this was this suspense which was built up but by the end it was just made too movie-ish and dramatic for no reason. Sometimes, the writing was too repetitive too.
If you are looking for a light hearted thriller with lots of drama and twists and turns, love, betrayal and that movie element, go for this! It is fast paced and you will be able to finish it really fast.
There is even a second book coming out and there is a huge reveal in this book only!
⭐⭐⭐.5
Esha Arora, the CEO of Arora Cements has been found murdered in her own house and the nine people who were in the house at that time are the suspects.
The thing is that, when you watch all those murder mystery shows, they just make you feel as if you are a detective and that often makes you cocky. You come across a mystery and you start deriving all the possible outcomes even without knowing all the details. That’s what happened with me too. I’d made some of my own pre-notions about who the killer could be but, boy was I wrong!
The story is set in a small town in India which made it so much easier for me to correlate and just get immersed into it. The setting is described beautifully and everything is so well detailed. This book is sorta written through multiple perspectives as peoples backstory unfolds and we get to know more in depth about all the characters and they get more and more fleshed out for us. There is subtle humor in places which took me by surprise and made me snort ( not very lady like, I know)!
I loved how the plot unfolded and what impressed (rather surprised) me the most was the scientific research done for this book and there were no inane small talk facts regarding the details of the murder. It kept fluctuating between edge-of-the-seat-nail-biting thriller and sometimes became too slow!
Now, I would like to discuss some details which troubled me a bit. The style of writing was good but oh so dramatic! It also reminded me of the way Sidney Sheldon wrote (which the author has also mentioned) and I’d never gotten into his novels! Sometimes the details were way too stretched out and I felt that there this was this suspense which was built up but by the end it was just made too movie-ish and dramatic for no reason. Sometimes, the writing was too repetitive too.
If you are looking for a light hearted thriller with lots of drama and twists and turns, love, betrayal and that movie element, go for this! It is fast paced and you will be able to finish it really fast.
There is even a second book coming out and there is a huge reveal in this book only!
December 21, 2017
Wow! I loved this book. Filled with mysteries and clues, this book is the perfect thriller to take any reader by surprise. I admire the fact that the author creates a clean picture of the scene for the readers without focussing too much on descriptions. I personally am not a fan of too many in depth descriptions, for I think they drift me away from the plot and give me this 'drag effect.' But this narration was perfect for me, not too much, not too less. I was hooked to the plot from the beginning, and in my quest to find the murderer, all my predictions were wrong. But trust me I am happy that I was misled, 'coz if I am right whats the thrill?! The author has done a great job in creating a foggy layer between the answer and the reader, and in the end when the fog is clear, there awaits the shocking unexpected revelations and motive. Turned out to be a satisfying read for me. I recommend it to all.
September 10, 2017
3.5 stars
The story is interesting and the pace of they book good enough to keep you glued to your seat but as you reach the end, everything crashes into each other and you're like 'wait a minute. what!' Too many things happened at the end with a very dramatic twist of events but the climax did not give a sense of satisfaction. The motive behind the murder is juvenile and the character almost reminds me of Professor Quirrel and how even in HP no one suspected the scared, stuttering professor to be capable of things much greater.
I was very impressed with the style of writing, the pace of the story but the climax blew it off for me and hence 3 stars.
Nothing against the author, he's done a brilliant job of narration, the story progresses at a no-nonsense rate. I'm just not happy with the climax. Maybe the next book will shed some more light on the character and his twisted mind.
The story is interesting and the pace of they book good enough to keep you glued to your seat but as you reach the end, everything crashes into each other and you're like 'wait a minute. what!' Too many things happened at the end with a very dramatic twist of events but the climax did not give a sense of satisfaction. The motive behind the murder is juvenile and the character almost reminds me of Professor Quirrel and how even in HP no one suspected the scared, stuttering professor to be capable of things much greater.
I was very impressed with the style of writing, the pace of the story but the climax blew it off for me and hence 3 stars.
Nothing against the author, he's done a brilliant job of narration, the story progresses at a no-nonsense rate. I'm just not happy with the climax. Maybe the next book will shed some more light on the character and his twisted mind.
October 30, 2017
What a magnificent story! Very Agatha Christie.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the wide arc of emotions the characters are taken through.
Sometimes Indian terminology is used, however, the author does a great job of translating efficiently for non-Indians.
Agatha Christie is quoted as saying: "If one sticks too rigidly to one's principles, one would hardly see anybody."
I would re-interpret AG's quote in this context as meaning that if I stick too rigidly to my principles of how I think a book should be written, I would hardly read another author's work...but I'm glad I bought this book and I'm glad I read it.
So, if you have an open mind and would enjoy the experience of being carried through the eyes and minds of an Indian family, their business associates and the law, on an excellent 'whodunnit' mystery, then I can recommend this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the wide arc of emotions the characters are taken through.
Sometimes Indian terminology is used, however, the author does a great job of translating efficiently for non-Indians.
Agatha Christie is quoted as saying: "If one sticks too rigidly to one's principles, one would hardly see anybody."
I would re-interpret AG's quote in this context as meaning that if I stick too rigidly to my principles of how I think a book should be written, I would hardly read another author's work...but I'm glad I bought this book and I'm glad I read it.
So, if you have an open mind and would enjoy the experience of being carried through the eyes and minds of an Indian family, their business associates and the law, on an excellent 'whodunnit' mystery, then I can recommend this book.
October 30, 2017
One of the most courageous things anyone can do, is to write the story which is in their mind as depicted through their lens.
When an author allows us permission to become aware of his/her story, regardless of the label ‘Fiction/Non-Fiction’…. it’s a privilege.
This author has the Art of Mystery nailed. All the clues within this story trickled perfectly. Characters were deep and heavily burdened by their ego, some more than others.
As we all know when reading a mystery, it is imperative to allow the author to guide you on the journey as each piece of information, nuance is relevant to solving the actual mystery.
Shouvik Bhattacharya does not disappoint… that’s a promise!
Many thanks for your great story and I look forward to reading the next one.
When an author allows us permission to become aware of his/her story, regardless of the label ‘Fiction/Non-Fiction’…. it’s a privilege.
This author has the Art of Mystery nailed. All the clues within this story trickled perfectly. Characters were deep and heavily burdened by their ego, some more than others.
As we all know when reading a mystery, it is imperative to allow the author to guide you on the journey as each piece of information, nuance is relevant to solving the actual mystery.
Shouvik Bhattacharya does not disappoint… that’s a promise!
Many thanks for your great story and I look forward to reading the next one.
April 9, 2017
Amazing book.
Kept me on the edge till the end with back to back twist. I thought the suspense is revealed and there were 10 more twist waiting ahead. Couldn't keep it down till the last page. Beautiful simple poems which very well captures a state of mind and the thoughts in the consiousness in situations. Open ended situations left loose for readers to delve upon. In a word I would say 'Amazing'. Waiting for your next book
Kept me on the edge till the end with back to back twist. I thought the suspense is revealed and there were 10 more twist waiting ahead. Couldn't keep it down till the last page. Beautiful simple poems which very well captures a state of mind and the thoughts in the consiousness in situations. Open ended situations left loose for readers to delve upon. In a word I would say 'Amazing'. Waiting for your next book
August 20, 2017
I never felt the urge to give a review for any of the books I have read so far. But this one certainly made me do it. Every book hooks up the reader at some point in the story, maybe after a couple of chapters. But Shouvik kindled my curiosity with the very 1st 5 lines. Murder in a minute, definitely was a nail-biting experience for me. An impressive suspense thriller by a débutant.
August 8, 2021
It was going good until the climax.
January 29, 2018
You can read the full review on my blog.
Rich and young Esha Arora, director of Arora Cements is brutally murdered in her family home which she shares with her step-brothers and sister. All the family members and servants were inside the home at the time of her murder. Her ex-boyfriend, CEO of a rival company and few of her employees were also present there to attend a board meeting. After the initial investigation, police suspects that it’s an inside job which means one of them is the killer. But all of them have alibis. Driven by rage & sorrow, two of her step-brothers decide to find out the real murderer who killed their beloved sister.
To be honest, I was a little bit skeptical when I received this book for review from Bloomsbury India. I know it’s annoyingly stereotypical of me but I don’t like Indian murder mysteries much. I prefer to read Bengali detective stories rather than English ones. If you read Bengali books, try out books written by Bangladeshi authors. Most of the Indian English authors try to ape the western novels and in the process forget to add essential Indian flavor to their story.
But this book was a positive surprise. I was completely hooked from the first page itself and never lost my interest until the last page. From the servants to the actual murderer, all of the characters in this book are extremely believable. The brilliance of the characters lie in their simplicity which makes it easy to accept them.
It is a narrative driven fiction. It’s almost impossible to read this story in a laid-back manner. While reading the book I was rushing through the chapters in an alarming rate. I read throughout the night and finished the novel in one sitting. Author feeds you little information all through the book, so that you keep jumping from one character to another, fully certain that, this person is the killer. But just when you are about to be completely sure, he twists the story completely and leaves you befuddled. So until the final dramatic unmasking of the killer you won’t be able to confirm your suspicions. You can almost feel author extending a challenge readers to try and solve his inextricable murder mystery.
To be honest, I had my suspicions. As God of Detectives, Sherlock Holmes once said, ‘Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.’ Though all the characters had little bit of background story, certain character’s back story was overly emphasized which added nothing to the story and it kind of gave the game away. But I am not ashamed (and happy) to accept that I was little baffled during the climax because of sudden twist in the story.
However, I was really contented when my suspicions were finally confirmed. The most important clue was always before our very eyes, intelligently hidden behind the veil of alibis. Mr. Bhattacharya’s writing is simple and clever which makes the story irresistible. Background story makes it easy to understand and analyse the psyche of the characters. The Masala Bollywood movie ending is little bit clichéd. But other than that, the story is very interesting. I am glad that I read this book. Trust me, I am not exaggerating when I say that India’s current brigade of ‘famous’ detective authors can learn a thing or two from this debut author. I will definitely recommend this book to all the whodunit murder mystery lovers.
Rich and young Esha Arora, director of Arora Cements is brutally murdered in her family home which she shares with her step-brothers and sister. All the family members and servants were inside the home at the time of her murder. Her ex-boyfriend, CEO of a rival company and few of her employees were also present there to attend a board meeting. After the initial investigation, police suspects that it’s an inside job which means one of them is the killer. But all of them have alibis. Driven by rage & sorrow, two of her step-brothers decide to find out the real murderer who killed their beloved sister.
To be honest, I was a little bit skeptical when I received this book for review from Bloomsbury India. I know it’s annoyingly stereotypical of me but I don’t like Indian murder mysteries much. I prefer to read Bengali detective stories rather than English ones. If you read Bengali books, try out books written by Bangladeshi authors. Most of the Indian English authors try to ape the western novels and in the process forget to add essential Indian flavor to their story.
But this book was a positive surprise. I was completely hooked from the first page itself and never lost my interest until the last page. From the servants to the actual murderer, all of the characters in this book are extremely believable. The brilliance of the characters lie in their simplicity which makes it easy to accept them.
It is a narrative driven fiction. It’s almost impossible to read this story in a laid-back manner. While reading the book I was rushing through the chapters in an alarming rate. I read throughout the night and finished the novel in one sitting. Author feeds you little information all through the book, so that you keep jumping from one character to another, fully certain that, this person is the killer. But just when you are about to be completely sure, he twists the story completely and leaves you befuddled. So until the final dramatic unmasking of the killer you won’t be able to confirm your suspicions. You can almost feel author extending a challenge readers to try and solve his inextricable murder mystery.
To be honest, I had my suspicions. As God of Detectives, Sherlock Holmes once said, ‘Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.’ Though all the characters had little bit of background story, certain character’s back story was overly emphasized which added nothing to the story and it kind of gave the game away. But I am not ashamed (and happy) to accept that I was little baffled during the climax because of sudden twist in the story.
However, I was really contented when my suspicions were finally confirmed. The most important clue was always before our very eyes, intelligently hidden behind the veil of alibis. Mr. Bhattacharya’s writing is simple and clever which makes the story irresistible. Background story makes it easy to understand and analyse the psyche of the characters. The Masala Bollywood movie ending is little bit clichéd. But other than that, the story is very interesting. I am glad that I read this book. Trust me, I am not exaggerating when I say that India’s current brigade of ‘famous’ detective authors can learn a thing or two from this debut author. I will definitely recommend this book to all the whodunit murder mystery lovers.
January 24, 2018
Esha Arora, a dynamic, driven and ambitious girl is found dead in her cottage side apartment, lying in a pool of her own blood. Present at the time of the murder are people she calls family including her boyfriend and a few colleagues. Each of them have an alibi. Yet the killer is mysteriously lurking around the house in broad daylight, deceiving everyone. It’s clear that this murder is an inside job. The question then arises; who killed Esha? And more importantly, WHY?
Murder in a Minute is Shouvik’s debut novel, and it hits all the right spots. Right from the start, you get an eerie sense of foul play, the tension starts building up, and when the story unfolds itself, you realize there is way more to the story than what meets the eye. After Esha is found dead, her step-brothers, Rishabh and Arya, are shattered. Having a fond relationship with their elder sister, this loss almost breaks them. With the help of the investigating officer, they set up on a journey to find out the truth and find the murderer. Slowly, the real characters of the family members is brought to light, and it’s understood that the holier than thou persona of the people present in the house is just a means to cover their doings. All evidence points towards Esha’s boyfriend. He is the lead suspect. But there are other family members who are equally guilty. Power, jealousy and greed are monsters that have the potential to wipe out relationships. Was Esha the victim of a family dispute?
We find out gradually that Esha was distressed, and unhappy. But again, we’re left with the haunting question; WHY? What was the cause of misery for her? She had taken Arora Cements to new heights, overtaking other companies, and at the same time giving her workers the wage they deserved. She was far ahead of her competitors, and yet somehow, her heart wasn’t in the right place.
There are several plot twists. The author has crafted the story rather creatively. Each chapter has a unique title, almost playing hide and seek with the readers. All throughout the reading of the novel, I kept placing bets on who the murderer could be, and every time I was proved wrong. And that’s exactly what I loved about the story. The unpredictability of what could happen next. The writing style of the author is simple and easy to read. You can flip through the pages and devour the book in one sitting.
I wish there was more backstory about the characters since it’s all about the psychological and mental attitude of the characters that were of main importance in the story. I wanted to read more about them, individually. I really enjoyed the ending, but it was a little far-fetched. Up to a certain point, everything was moving perfectly but then it took a different turn which didn’t appeal to me as a reader.
To be honest, I am quite impressed considering this is the author’s debut novel, and on top of that, he has managed to pull of a thriller so effortlessly and with the ability of an expert storyteller.
Murder In A Minute is engaging, fast-paced, and is sure to give you a satisfying reading experience.
January 26, 2018
‘Murder in a Minute’ is a thriller set in the picturesque town of Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. Needless to say, the action kick starts with a murder. The victim is Esha Arora, a beautiful young woman who is also the director of the Arora Cements. She is found dead in her own room in her house.
To be honest, I was not much aroused by the blurb. It is only after reading a review of this book that I got excited enough to finally pick it up. And it turned out to be a very engrossing thriller. It kept me literally hooked up from the first to the last page. There is so much to be discovered even in the last pages.
The plot is full of unexpected twists and turns. There is a long list of suspects and not even a single name is struck out from the list till the last part. A long list of suspects means a lot of characters. And every single character has something or the other to do with the murder and the circumstances that led to the murder. The author takes us into confidence and makes us believe that our guess is right and then dumps us in the last moment.
Although the main plot follows the murder investigation by the two brothers, there are a lot of flashback sequences. These past stories provide an insight into some of the characters’ mind. While some readers might not like this information about the characters, I feel the author has done the groundwork by putting in these stories.
But somehow these stories hamper the ultimate effect that a thriller has on the readers. I missed the nail-baiting suspense and intense action. Another factor contributing to this lack is the author’s tendency of putting in too many scene description. No doubt, the author has a beautiful writing style. These descriptions made me admire the prose at several points. But as the investigation goes on, we expect more of action and less of descriptions.
I haven’t read many thrillers by Indian authors so I cannot say if this one stands out or not. But the author is worth commending for writing a debut thriller full of so many elements. The last chapter clearly hints at a sequel. And now that we are well acquainted with the murderer’s motives and psychology, it would be interesting to see how the author frames everything. I also feel that the author has a lot of potential to explore the genre of Romance also.
My Rating: **** (3.75/5)
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Views expressed are entirely personal & unbiased.*
To be honest, I was not much aroused by the blurb. It is only after reading a review of this book that I got excited enough to finally pick it up. And it turned out to be a very engrossing thriller. It kept me literally hooked up from the first to the last page. There is so much to be discovered even in the last pages.
The plot is full of unexpected twists and turns. There is a long list of suspects and not even a single name is struck out from the list till the last part. A long list of suspects means a lot of characters. And every single character has something or the other to do with the murder and the circumstances that led to the murder. The author takes us into confidence and makes us believe that our guess is right and then dumps us in the last moment.
Although the main plot follows the murder investigation by the two brothers, there are a lot of flashback sequences. These past stories provide an insight into some of the characters’ mind. While some readers might not like this information about the characters, I feel the author has done the groundwork by putting in these stories.
But somehow these stories hamper the ultimate effect that a thriller has on the readers. I missed the nail-baiting suspense and intense action. Another factor contributing to this lack is the author’s tendency of putting in too many scene description. No doubt, the author has a beautiful writing style. These descriptions made me admire the prose at several points. But as the investigation goes on, we expect more of action and less of descriptions.
I haven’t read many thrillers by Indian authors so I cannot say if this one stands out or not. But the author is worth commending for writing a debut thriller full of so many elements. The last chapter clearly hints at a sequel. And now that we are well acquainted with the murderer’s motives and psychology, it would be interesting to see how the author frames everything. I also feel that the author has a lot of potential to explore the genre of Romance also.
My Rating: **** (3.75/5)
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Views expressed are entirely personal & unbiased.*
January 27, 2018
Okay, to be honest, I was deceived by all these good reviews. Earlier, before picking up this book, I was glad and thought I had found a serious mystery novel from an Indian author, which is really a rear thing. The first mistake I did is I expected a lot. The second one is I started reading this book right after I had finished Dark places. Anyway, I am still glad I could atleast read a non-romantic, non-mythological Indian book. Now, to the review..
1. Plot: A woman is murdered inside a multi-room house (God! There are a lot of rooms and backdoors) and an inspector and some of the characters inside the house attempt to find out the murderer who is believed to be still inside the house.
The plot is okay and not so innovative. Some of the the things, which take place during the specific window of time, when the murder happens, are choreographed too much deliberately by the author to make things complicated and they are not natural as well. The pace is good, but not a page turner all the time and the climax is seriously a mess. Period.
2. Characters: One of the the biggest letdowns in this book is the character development. I couldn't connect to any of the characters and some of the them are even dumb. The dumbest of all is the inspector, who doesn't really contribute much, especially at the climate and keeps saying "Paah" for whatever reasons which not only annoyed the characters in the book but also me to the core.
3. Writing: Another same clichéd Indian writing style. The author has tried some similes and metaphors which did not work out at all. The dialogues are okay and I could see a lot and lot and lot and tons and tons and tons of ellipsis. Why?
4. Miscellaneous stuffs: Besides all the aforementioned things, I could see a lot of editing related stuffs. For instance, I remember I found a quotation mark used in the wrong place, the inspector using the specific pronoun like he/him for the murderer without even knowing who the murderer is and some stuffs like that.
Altogether, Murder in a minute is a good attempt, but really fails to deliver the quality product.
1. Plot: A woman is murdered inside a multi-room house (God! There are a lot of rooms and backdoors) and an inspector and some of the characters inside the house attempt to find out the murderer who is believed to be still inside the house.
The plot is okay and not so innovative. Some of the the things, which take place during the specific window of time, when the murder happens, are choreographed too much deliberately by the author to make things complicated and they are not natural as well. The pace is good, but not a page turner all the time and the climax is seriously a mess. Period.
2. Characters: One of the the biggest letdowns in this book is the character development. I couldn't connect to any of the characters and some of the them are even dumb. The dumbest of all is the inspector, who doesn't really contribute much, especially at the climate and keeps saying "Paah" for whatever reasons which not only annoyed the characters in the book but also me to the core.
3. Writing: Another same clichéd Indian writing style. The author has tried some similes and metaphors which did not work out at all. The dialogues are okay and I could see a lot and lot and lot and tons and tons and tons of ellipsis. Why?
4. Miscellaneous stuffs: Besides all the aforementioned things, I could see a lot of editing related stuffs. For instance, I remember I found a quotation mark used in the wrong place, the inspector using the specific pronoun like he/him for the murderer without even knowing who the murderer is and some stuffs like that.
Altogether, Murder in a minute is a good attempt, but really fails to deliver the quality product.
December 21, 2017
Life is like a short sentence.you never know when you would reach the full stop.
Very rarely do I come across some crime thrillers that have an excellent plot line with a perfectly timed ending. Murder In A Minute was once such read and hands down it is the best mystery read of 2017 for me.
The story begins in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh , where Esha Arora , the CEO of Arora Cements is found dead in her own farmhouse. The word is out that her lover , Anubhav , who was staying in the house is behind the murder.
The Arora family is a complicated affair. Mr. Vishal Arora had first married a renowned actress Archana Gulati. In the first four years of marriage they didn't have a kid so they adopted Esha from an orphanage. Within a year , the family was blessed with twins - Pranav and Rashmi. Three years later , Archana eloped and Mr Arora married Sunanda Rai , who gave birth to Rishabh and Arya.
The day Esha was murdered , there were nine people present in the house - Rishabh , Arya , Pranav , Rashmi , Abhinav (whom Esha met during her graduation in Barcelona) , Naina ( pranav's secretary ) , Mr. Dhruv ( a businessman ) , Jyoti and Meera ( the housemaids ). As every page turns , a new suspect is under the radar. What looked like a family rivalry turns out to be something you can't imagine.
The story is bang on! No less than a movie. It has a mix of love , family bonding and issues and a murder. The writing style is gripping and you wouldn't dare to keep the book down. It compels you to believe who the accused is and as the story unfolds you doubt your own thinking. A perfect roller coaster ride with some amazing quotes.
Highly Recommended.
Quoting my utmost favorite lines from the book below :
No parting words,
No whispers made;
A wave of questions,
On a restless stretch;
A lot of tears,
In the falling rains;
With empty cups,
Our winters came.
January 10, 2018
My Rating: 5/5!
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime Thriller.
It deserves all the stars in the world! Murder in a minute is undoubtedly a golden sparkling mystery! It is a spectacular read which hooks you till the very end. It is a Who-has-done-it? novel. GO READ IT NOW!
A pulsating novel set in the small town of Palampur, when everybody’s favorite, beauty with brains – Esha Arora,director of Arora cements, is gruesomely murdered. Killer is lurking among the 9 suspects in the same house. Searching for motives, Inspector Rashid is here to connect all the missing dots & jot down the puzzle. The victim’s brothers, driven by emotions join the inspectors in finding the killer for their sister’s justice. Once you start reading it, it’s hard to put down, a nail-biting-thriller. ❤
What kept me interested, page after page, was the narration! The writing is commendable. I personally loved & savored the wonderful analogies to life and nature to one’s feelings added a color to the narration. The story is full of twists and turns throughout. You would feel here comes the close but then again the story throws a new twist, a new plot. There is mystery, lust, deception & greed. All the suspect’s stories are laid out beautifully, and braided together in the end.
Anyone who has a penchant for mystery and suspense thrillers should definitely go for it. Prepare to be awed by the brilliance of an Indian writer.
“Murder in a minute” is truly a masterpiece! One of the best thrillers I’ve read so far.
Awaiting for the MURDER ON THE ROCKS (Murder in a Minute #2). Can’t wait for more marvels from Mr. Shouvik.
Here’s a lovely interview attached with the author: http://themagzone.com/interview-autho...
What are you guys waiting for? Go get a copy of his novel and lose yourself into the world of suspense, mystery, nd thrill. 🙂
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime Thriller.
It deserves all the stars in the world! Murder in a minute is undoubtedly a golden sparkling mystery! It is a spectacular read which hooks you till the very end. It is a Who-has-done-it? novel. GO READ IT NOW!
A pulsating novel set in the small town of Palampur, when everybody’s favorite, beauty with brains – Esha Arora,director of Arora cements, is gruesomely murdered. Killer is lurking among the 9 suspects in the same house. Searching for motives, Inspector Rashid is here to connect all the missing dots & jot down the puzzle. The victim’s brothers, driven by emotions join the inspectors in finding the killer for their sister’s justice. Once you start reading it, it’s hard to put down, a nail-biting-thriller. ❤
What kept me interested, page after page, was the narration! The writing is commendable. I personally loved & savored the wonderful analogies to life and nature to one’s feelings added a color to the narration. The story is full of twists and turns throughout. You would feel here comes the close but then again the story throws a new twist, a new plot. There is mystery, lust, deception & greed. All the suspect’s stories are laid out beautifully, and braided together in the end.
Anyone who has a penchant for mystery and suspense thrillers should definitely go for it. Prepare to be awed by the brilliance of an Indian writer.
“Murder in a minute” is truly a masterpiece! One of the best thrillers I’ve read so far.
Awaiting for the MURDER ON THE ROCKS (Murder in a Minute #2). Can’t wait for more marvels from Mr. Shouvik.
Here’s a lovely interview attached with the author: http://themagzone.com/interview-autho...
What are you guys waiting for? Go get a copy of his novel and lose yourself into the world of suspense, mystery, nd thrill. 🙂
June 29, 2017
A work that can keep the readers hooked on from the very beginning(prologue)...till the end
The character descriptions and the quotes placed at various instances are a delight..
A murder plot well planned!!
MIAM definitely justifies the title!
The author has plotted the murder plot in such a way that the clues are places strategically in plain sight...the place where usually none tends to look...!!!
Even a deeply engrossed reader may have troubles deciphering the clues...
Every character has his/her own version of the happenings...every single point of view leads to new deductions..
Taken aback by the unexpected twists in the story from Chapter 20
A piece of work which once you start to read, will make you crave to read on and on until you finish..
Without any hesitation, I will suggest anyone to read this amazing piece of work which inspite of being a debut by the author, looks much like that by an expert...
Looking forward for the next work by the author.....
Waiting for another murder to take place!!!
The character descriptions and the quotes placed at various instances are a delight..
A murder plot well planned!!
MIAM definitely justifies the title!
The author has plotted the murder plot in such a way that the clues are places strategically in plain sight...the place where usually none tends to look...!!!
Even a deeply engrossed reader may have troubles deciphering the clues...
Every character has his/her own version of the happenings...every single point of view leads to new deductions..
Taken aback by the unexpected twists in the story from Chapter 20
A piece of work which once you start to read, will make you crave to read on and on until you finish..
Without any hesitation, I will suggest anyone to read this amazing piece of work which inspite of being a debut by the author, looks much like that by an expert...
Looking forward for the next work by the author.....
Waiting for another murder to take place!!!
June 16, 2017
I can rightly call the author a master mind for the mysterious plot he has woven in the novel. He has an incredible grip throughout the novel. The novel is full of twists and turns. After reading every single chapter, your suspicion shifts from one person to the other, but I'm pretty much sure that no one can guess the real murderer. You can thin you know who it is, but that is exactly what the author wants. I have not regretted even a single second for reading this novel and now a days its hard to find such novels which keeps you engrossed throughout the novel. Well defined characters, fully described picturesque hill station, and to top it all Lust, plenty of deception and mystery.
To conclude it in few words: " YOU ARE VERY SMART IF YOU FIGURE OUT THE CULPRIT EARLY, the clues are there."
To conclude it in few words: " YOU ARE VERY SMART IF YOU FIGURE OUT THE CULPRIT EARLY, the clues are there."
April 26, 2019
I still can't understand why people gave so much high rating for this book. Actually they are misguiding people how they misguided me to bought this boring book. Do I sounds hard? Believe me if you read handful good thriller by now then you will hate it. First half of this book is boring like hell. You will not cares about the suspects characters. Only midway the past story of Pranab is actually good to read. I have understood most of thing before hand. In this story we can see a inspector who gave the responsibility to investigate the case on them who are one of the prime suspect. So many illogical and absurd thing we can see here. This is a five star book for them who never read a thriller novel before.
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