Obsessed

by Ruchi Kokcha

Investigative journalist Avik has finally found the one case that could bring him glory. Or death. As the mystery behind millionaire Kalki Rajput's murder grows thicker, Avik is forced to risk it all to bring out the truth that has eluded many before him. If only he could uncover what the victim's daughter had witnessed. Of course, that would mean diving into the depths of her madness. He had thought he could resurface with the truth. Now he will count himself lucky if he makes it out alive. And sane.

Genres: Fiction

244 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2018

About the author

Ruchi Kokcha is a poet and passionate reader with a Masters in English literature from Delhi University. She has taught creative writing in Hong Kong. Obsessed is her debut novel.

Reviews

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

a cliche story full of shitty dialogues and horrendous narration complied together into a below average bollywood style fiction.🙄

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 1 out of 5]

*No, I read bad books too.


My thoughts:
Instantly killed my interest on the introduction of the female character as 'sexy colleague'.
There are various other ways to introduce a female character, you know. This one seems a bit too annoyingly old and stale. And no longer works. Yes, even among the young, hot blood readers.
Can the authors write something new?

Avik works for a well known magazine waiting for his 'big break'.
Sonia is the 'attention seeking' female of the workplace who is his potential competition.

The actual sentences used to describe the female character are the reasons why I am going to hate this book so much.
'Why does she have to dress so sexily on important days like this?'
Like seriously, like we women dress like that only when we need our bosses to appreciate our efforts and hard work.
Like seriously, girl, write something that showcases the real deal when it comes to working women in the real Indian scenario.

What the heck?!
The so called boss is likely to sexually harass this woman and the woman is so happily accepting it. Baam....

And yes, this woman is too careless to close any kind of door when she is naked.

I mean what's the point of writing this book?!

To say women show their bodies to anyone related to her workplace so that she gains favours?!

I really cannot continue reading after being into 7percent of this book.

Write an erotica instead.

The first chapter was this bad. Really bad.
No direction of the plot.
No character development.
No characterization.
Every guy was compared to a dog or made to seem like a dog.
The only female character in the book was described to be so desperate for attention and no respect for her body.
Many more female characters got introduced in the subsequent chapters but none had much anything to do much except to showcase the selfish side of the main character.
Mental health/depression has not been dealt with sensitivity.
And NGO female docs are like that?! Whoa.
..I DNFED this one.


*top 2 worst read of 2019*
Not recommended!

[Saumya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite its unconventional plot line, the story is pretty dull. The characters have thin personality. Their actions and logics don't make sense.

The author tries to evoke a lot of intense emotions through the provoking subject chosen but everything seems forced and unnatural.

Also, there are a lot of plotholes. Some characters and events don't fit or have any point. There are many things that remain unanswered in the ending and make the climax absurd.

I won't ever be reading this again.

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Completely unexpected book. Something out of my regular reading sphere.

But somehow I was not able to connect with the story.

3 out 5 to the book.

[Sneha Sinha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dont particularly like the book. I feel like so much more could have been done with the plot. It was a nice story line to explore. Would not recommend it.

[Divya Nambiar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Publisher: Harper Black
Price: Rs. 199
Pages: 232
Genre: Fiction
Also available as an e-book
ISBN: 9789352779178

The review has also appeared in The Free Press Journal: http://epaper.freepressjournal.in/c/2...

Imagine a seed planted with love. With proper water and sunlight, it slowly pops its head out and looks at the huge and seemingly vast world that greets it. There starts its growth story. Now imagine the sprout from the seed going back and joining the seed again. It’s a kind of suicide. Isn’t it? Why? Why not?

Obsessed by Ruchi Kokcha, a new author on the block, is both impressive and lacking. Impressive because she has delved into an area that Indians would rather not tread into. Parental love is considered to be supreme and the purest of emotions. There is nothing that can compete with it. However, who decides what love is? Also, who decides love’s kinds? Is love not love, after all? Or, is it? When does love turn into obsession? Isn’t it strange how the parameters change as per the person whom you profess your love for?

In a deviation from a typical ‘love story’, as summarized by author Ravinder Singh on the cover page itself—it is ‘unlike the love you would be expecting.’ The reader cannot even be sure if it can be called a love story.

The title of the book is apt for it does justice to the story as every character in the book is obsessed about something or someone at different levels, fairly common for humans. Ruchi’s rendering of the psychological underplay for Avik and Ananki is praiseworthy. While the interplay between the real and surreal, sanity and insanity by the characters has been worked hard upon by the author, it somewhere fails to make the necessary impact.

For the reader, the overall effect was nullified probably because of some expected twists. What started off as a run-of-the-mill story did give hope sometime in the second quarter of the book. However the moment Avik laid his hand on the pulse of the Kalki Rajput murder mystery, kaboom! Something snapped right there.

The story did move ahead with a twist here and a turn there but enter ‘da’ and the reader’s head was quick to conjure up the possibility of where the story was headed. Where the reader wanted to be proved wrong, there not only was the reader proven right but also given an added ‘really?’ moment.
Avik, the average journalist seemed confident and seemed promising as a character. But as the story progressed, Avik simply collapsed for the reader. The build up and the ultimate fall of that is the biggest blow to this book.
The reader also felt that mind health was not portrayed in a satisfactory manner. While childhood trauma affecting adulthood and its explanation has been excellent, was Ananki a schizophrenic? Ananki’s version of her childhood and the experiences through her looking glass can have the power to move the reader to tears – her habit of wetting the bed, in particular. It is a sharp wake up call to parents who decide early on that making their child sleep alone will make him/her ‘independent’ and ‘confident’. It agonizingly puts forth a child’s perspective, which is amazingly factual and hard-hitting. While the reason for her being the way she was has been explained very well, her ‘possible’ illness and its portrayal lacked depth.

The reader found the portrayal of love in its various shades over dramatic at times. Probably the attempt at offering a poetic touch backfired. But where it did manage to work, it did beautifully.
The complicated nature of the story could be a reason for the pitfalls. Despite that, it remains a quick read. At a time when corruption thrives in the most unexpected of situations, the author has effectively used it as a tool for creating suspense and mystery.

Overall, the book can be read by those who can patiently tread over the fairly common story line to unearth some hidden treasure here and there throughout. Despite all of it, if the book fails to leave a great aftertaste, remember that you were warned.

[Vanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Things I liked:
1. The initial suspense building was good
2. It addressed mental health and also took up a very bold subject.

Things I didn't like (please don't read if you don't want spoilers):
1. What was that weird connection - dreaming the same dream on the same night?
2. Women were being objectified everywhere
3. Avik was an awful human being.
4. The description of the incest made me feel nauseated.
5. The letter writing at the end. I mean who does that anymore?
6. If Dr. Neerja and Dr. Tarun were so keen on keeping Ananki in the NGO, why did they even entertain Avik at all?

And the main reason question:

7. Where was Priyanka during all of this? Seemed liked her only role was to deliver Ananki's belongings to Avik. How did she know which things were relevant? Had she been in Ananki's room? If so, then knowing her feelings towards her father, why was she even willing to help her? Also, why was Mr. Rajput keeping her home at all times?

Aah.. so many questions..

[Debarati · Rating 1 out of 5]

An obvious, awful, badly written book!

[NoRa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay...I sped through the second part.

[Shene · Rating 1 out of 5]

One dimensional characters ✔

Cliched situations ✔

Sexist dialogue ✔

Plot ✖

Any reason to read ✖

[Khadija Zahra · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was realistic yet had amateur writing

[Ritika Chhabra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow Just A Girl High On Books for more reviews.

"I received a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review."

"It is after the most furious winds have passed that one can see life as it really is: total chaos."
-Ruchi Kokcha, Obsessed

The Oxford Dictionary defines obsession as "the state in which a person's mind is completely filled with thoughts of one particular thing or person in a way that is not normal." Obviously, one also knows how obsessed is the past form of verb for obsession. 

And when I finished reading this book, I realized that I have never found a book with a more apt title for itself. Because well, all through the while, this is what the book was about—obsession with a mad girl. 

Obsessed is the story of Avik and his journey as he tries to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of Kalki Rajput—the only witness for that death being Kalki's daughter, Ananki Rajput, who now resides in an asylum (sort of)!

What is special about Obsessed is its unique writing style and out-of-the-box story-line. The book deals with issues such as mental illnesses and social taboos. Social taboos are an important part of every one's life. Many of these taboos (commonly known as norms) also dictate who to fall in love with and who not to. Perhaps, that is the reason why so many people end up not being satisfied with their life and people like Ananki end up in mental asylums. 

But what Ananki's love just a taboo or was it really something insane? Well, that's for you to find out. In my opinion, it was more insane because I can never imagine a girl to do a thing like that, but well.. Who know? Maybe that was perfectly normal for her. 

However, if one looks at things carefully, then one can understand that her actions weren't clearly because she was insane. Her thoughts weren't because of that either. Instead, everything started with loneliness and jealousy and well, that's where the devil's mind set itself to work. In other words, the book indulges into what loneliness can do to a fragile mind, when not treated right. 

However, what I like the most about the book is the author's decision to talk about something as bold as this. It takes courage to talk of such things and Kokcha has spoken them in a beautiful manner. 

Other than that, the ending was rather surprising and I never expected things to turn out the way they did. Throughout the novel, sometimes, it bothered me that perhaps Avik is going crazy himself thinking of such weird dreams (of Ananki as some sort of goddess - or was that a devil? and then later dreaming of her at the same time that she dreams of him). But yeah, I can look past that because I enjoyed the brutality of the story.

All in all hence, this was a good book that I may recommend to you but only if you're okay with reading a social taboo that you perhaps have never ever heard of.

[Neha Garg (thereadingowl_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

As published on The Reading Owl

The dictionary defines the term ‘Obsessed’ as ‘preoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually and to a troubling extent.’ When one becomes obsessed with a person or a situation or a material thing, it is impossible to make them see sense or to separate them from the thing they desire. Both Avik and Ananki have their own obsessions. Avik’s might end at the success of this case but Ananki’s is deeper and darker.

‘Obsessed’ is a bold, dark, and jumbled read. It evoked in me a mixed range of feelings. I do not know whether to like it or hate it. I’ll try to solve this puzzle of love and hate here and hope to give you a picture clearer than that in my head.

Let’s about the things I liked first.

Ruchi has picked up a topic we all need to talk more about. Mental Health. The book outlines what depression and loneliness can do to a fragile mind if not treated properly and timely. In this time and age, parents ignore their kids and their needs, delegating their care to nannies. They are unaware of what their child goes through in his/her head and this is a dangerous prospect.

Madness is not something that opposes rationality but a kind of superior reason, an insanity close to reason.

The idea presented in this book is very bold. Albeit uncomfortable, it is an issue which may not be as uncommon as we want to believe it to be. Talking about taboos is never easy and I respect the author for choosing something so outrageously different.

Lack of love from someone close to you can play havoc in one’s mind.

There are many quotable paragraphs in the book that I loved. I breezed through the entire chapter where Ananki describes her childhood and her miseries. It is written very poignantly.

I liked Khyati’s character who is love-stricken but clear-headed and self-respecting.

Men are as much a victim of abuse and harassment as women and I liked that Ruchi has presented that point of view in her narrative.

Things I did not like.

Avik. Yes, I did not like the protagonist. I found him a selfish pervert and a typical example of someone who can never respect women. His idea of a perfect wife is the one who is beautiful, can cook, has great taste in music, and can make the house look beautiful. I hated a particular sentence in his context from the narrative after he breaks up with his girlfriend.

“He expected her to ask him to come up to her beautiful apartment so they could make it a night to remember. But she did not. She would not do him any such favour, now that he had chosen the assignment over her.”

I can quote many such paragraphs to corroborate my point.

Like I said, I found women have been objectified. To read a woman write about women in such manner is heartbreaking.

There are parts where Ruchi has tried to present the idea of natural beauty which transcends the general norms accepted by the society. I like that part but it does not make up for her describing every female character in terms of her looks and her sexiness. They are presented as females first and individuals later.

The plot. I found the story jumping stages in the beginning. A background of the incident would have been nice to know what case Avik was following.

Recommendations:

I found this to be a different read, one I’ll recommend you only for the concept of Mental Health and the bold choice of subject.

[Helly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gone are the days when "perfection" was the term you associated with protagonists of a novel. Ruchi Kokcha's Obsessed thrives on the madness that inhabits the human mind, that we try to suppress everyday in order to lead a socially acceptable lifestyle. However, not everyone can possibly control what goes inside one's mind and nor do the characters of our novel.


"What one sees in the world outside is often a reflection of the internal landscape of one's mind," writes Kokcha, on which she elaborates across the story. Investigating the case of the murder of millionaire Kalki Rajput, we have our far from perfect, somewhat despicable protagonist Avik. However, he loses his gravity the moment you have Ananki Rajput, the victim's daughter enter the scene. She is reportedly mentally unwell, however, sometimes I ironically felt that she made more sense than most others in the novel.


We go through her diary, which are my favourite parts of the book. I was sort of getting disappointed with the monotonous narration but the diary excerpts came as a fresh air - to drive me more crazy about the novel.


Dark and gripping and disturbingly satisfying, the only fact I didn't like was the lack of a major twist in the end. The twist came out to be a bit too obvious for a psychotic triller digger. However it was a delightful read and I rate it 4 stars. Grab it

Here .

Thanks to Writers Melon for the lovely review copy :)

[Sarmistha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes the need to achieve something or being somebody's center of affection drives a normal human to extreme limits where line between sanity and insanity becomes almost invisible.We all are attracted towards something or other but its best left to our judgement till what degree we feel the pull of attraction.

Avik is a struggling journalist dreams of earning an important position in his field one day.The opportunity presents itself in the form of Kalki Rajput's murder case which he grabs with both hands.He sets out to investigate the case contacting the sole witness victim's daughter who lies in realms of madness.It makes a quite interesting read to find out whether Avik gain success in his pursuit while maintaining his sanity or he losses everything.

I like the way the story progressed slowly building up the whole suspense where you are hooked on every line.The story is quite absorbing and intense,the author with her lucid writing and engaging plot-line has done a good job in her debut novel. The psychological content of the story kept me glued to the book. She has beautifully developed the two central characters.The side characters were tapped to their potential.The POV's of Avik and Ananki,forced me to explore the depths of a human mind which test the thin line between an attraction and obsession.

'If only you really knew what being insane is like.It is a double layered mirrored box that isolates the one locked from the rest of the world.The outer world can only see its own reflection while the person locked inside can see his or her self, a self behind another self till infinity,each different from its predecessor, making it impossible for the one caught inside to choose one self over another.'

The author has addressed very important issues like childcare and depression. Parents often neglect their most important part - their children in the pursuit of acquiring worldly pleasure and high position in their fields.It takes a toil on the child's mind which leads to various discrepancies of mind.

Few things that bothered me in the story is the interaction of Avik and Ananki, their easy communication and his confidence on her.I didn't liked the way he treated the women in his life may be its his mother,girlfriend, friend or Ananki. He always wants to have his own way,any refusal hurts his ego .Many a times he has manipulated the person irrespective of their feeling.

The climax was quite shocking I could not see it coming. The cover and the title connects strongly to the story.The intense color and blurring image aptly define the turmoil of the inner mind.
I want to thank the publisher and #Writersmelon for the review copy in exchange of honest review. I would recommend the book to anyone who want to read something different.

[Surbhi Mahay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The obsessed revolves around a story of a guy Avik who was in his late thirties and left everything including his relationship with Trisha for the sake of finding about Kalki Rajput's Death. For him, his work was priority and love held no places unless he met this lost lady and fell for her flawed self.
My interpretation-
For a person like me who is more in romantic genre, picking thriller was a big experiment but this book came out with surprises and my curious self couldn't stop waiting for what's going to happen next. The start went quite off but then things took some smooth turns.The author has played with her imagery to a sovereign extent.
The middle part took my breath away for the story it weaved, never have I ever read such plot anywhere.
The cover was absolutely paradisiac for the story.
While reading the whole plot wist, I felt I was the part of the whole of it, Ruchi Kokcha has done justice to the title of the novel.

I suggest you to read this book in order to develop a good taste for thrillers.

[Aparna Prabhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avik, an investigative journalist is awaiting a breakthrough by covering the story behind Kalki Rajput's mysterious death. Leaving behind the love of his life in the city of dreams, he sets off to Delhi in the hope of revamping his career. The only witness in Mrs. Rajput's death is her daughter, Ananki who is being treated in a NGO for mentally challenged people. Avik seeks the help of Khyati, a psychology student who also happens to be his college friend. Avik gets hold of Ananki's possessions - a mouth organ, a chequered scarf, a photo album, and a book of sonnets. The case gets murkier and Avik finds himself lost in a maze.

The cover is bright and lively, yet,the purple hue gives dark vibes.The narrative being third person, shifts between the POV's of Avik, Ananki and at times, Khyati.The story was off to a slow start, but as some things fell into place, the pace picked up. The author shows her literary prowess in the narration. It was sprinkled with profound philosophical lines that will make you ponder over their truth. The characterisation of the male protagonist was done well. His character arc was well sketched. The reader is taken through a journey about his pursuit of dreams to the time where his obsession overpowers it. The book stands true to its name. Almost all the characters in the book were controlled by their obsession.

The sequence of hallucinations as experienced by Ananki was overdone and stretched to a great extent. Some of the events that unfolded didn't make sense to me. There were minor loop holes that couldn't be overlooked.

Rating: 3.5/5

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

2.5 stars
The first thing that attracted me to this book was its cover and title. I love that the author uses unique names instead of the usual run of the mill ones. I wasn't much interested in the book even after first three chapters. Ananki is the only thing that made me read, I wanted to know her story. I didn't like Avik at all, I felt he was creepy. The story talks about relevant issues like mental illness and depression. Parents don't understand that children don't need expensive toys, the want their parents to play with them. Nothing can replace the time parents spend with their children. I did guess who Ananki's object of attraction was, once Avik got her personal belongings. The story had few twists but most of them were predictable. I had great expectations but this book didn't meet them.

[Karthik Kailash · Rating 3 out of 5]

A journalist is sent to Delhi to report on the death of a wealthy lady,Kalki Rajput. A man battling demons of his own, he figures the only lead he has is her daughter Ananki Rajput who is confined in an asylum. As the story progresses, you shall understand the word "OBSESSED"

The subject is taboo, and personally revulsive to me, and I felt the disgust. Hats off to the author on presenting the picture well.However, as most amateur authors, the ending is abrupt and fails to create an inpact. That's the downside,on what could have been a brilliant Freudian take.

[Gayatri Saikia | per_fictionist · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enticing cover and an equally engrossing blurb. I went into the book with very high expectations.

The beginning of the book is very promising and keeps you on the edge of what follows next. The writing style of the author although not exemplary, is sure to keep you guessing.

The main character is my main problem with the book. Avik, is our protagonist who pounces on every chance to kiss his colleagues/friends and never really gives a thought about their feelings.

He is blinded by the OBSESSION of fame and money and doesn't even genuine care about his mother. Coming to his mother, I felt her character was certainly underdeveloped as was the character of Khyati, his longtime friend.

The twists and turns in the story were unexpected and that is what makes the book worth a read. The character of Avni was very well round and impressive in every sense.

If I turn a blind eye to what happens in the middle of the book, where the author seems to completely go off plot with the inclusion of some horrific and cringe worthy scenes, this book worked out completely well for me.

The ending was simple and sufficed me. And to be blatantly honest I was not expecting it after the over the top dream scenes of Avik that the author included in the prime of the book.

Being her debut novel and a good psychological thriller, I am surely looking forward to her next works.

My rating : 🌠🌠🌠. 9/5

[Taanya Ahuja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Obsessed
Author: Ruchi Kokcha
Publisher: Harper Collins India
Published on: 15th May 2018
Pages: 244
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 978-9352779178


"Lack of love from someone close to you can play havoc in one's mind"



BLURB

Investigative journalist Avik has finally found the one case that could bring him glory. Or death. As the mystery behind millionaire Kalki Rajput's murder grows thicker, Avik is forced to risk it all to bring out the truth that has eluded many before him. If only he could uncover what the victim's daughter had witnessed. Of course, that would mean diving into the depths of her madness. He had thought he could resurface with the truth. Now he will count himself lucky if he makes it out alive. And sane.



COVER PAGE

The cover page of the book is very beautiful and attractive in intense shades of blue and dark pink. It has a blurry image of a girl with beautiful, long curly black hair which is apt and connectable with the story. I really liked it a lot.



REVIEW

Obsesed by Ruchi Kokcha is a dark, unusual and a bold psychological thriller which revolves around journalist Avik who is forced to find out the truth behind millionaire Kalki Rajput's death. And the other character is Ananki Rajput who is very mysterious. Both Avik and Ananki have their own obsessions.

Obsessed is a very interesting and engaging read which is a kind of a puzzle having different elements of love, hate, madness and suspense. The book deals with mental illness like depression and also highlights on loneliness in a child and what goes through a child's mind if he is neglected by the parents and just taken care by the nannies.

Obsessed is written in simple language in a lucid manner, having the various events in the story written in a detailed manner with the point of views of both the protagonists, Ananki and Avik. At some points there is a mention of Shakespeare and even poems which I really liked a lot.
Both the characters Ananki and Avik are very well developed and are powerful and I loved Ananki's character because in the whole story her different shades can be seen and a lot can be explored. And I found Avik's character very greedy and selfish. The supporting characters are also very well developed.

The story line is very engaging which made me hook to the book till the end and the plot is very strong and tightly bound. A lot of different feelings evoked while I was reading it. It has some uncommon issue which is not so much discussed and I really liked how the author has raised it. The story is full of twists and turns and the climax is shocking and unexpected. The story moves a bit slow in the initial chapters just to build it up and then it is fast paced and I really liked the connectivity in various scenes.

Lastly, the emotions are very beautifully expressed in the book and I was very much able to empathise with the characters especially Ananki. It made me cry at various points and even think a lot, and the title "Obsessed' is very well justified.

Overall, Obsessed is a book full of suspense which sends chills in your spine. A very well written and an insightful book. I really enjoyed reading it a lot and awaiting more to read by the author. I would highly recommend this book to all the psychological thriller lovers.

*I received a free copy of the book from Writersmelon in exchange of an honest and an unbiased review.

[Ananya thefoodandbooklife · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obsessed deals with mental health and unhealthy relationships that are no joking matter. I wish that the author had concentrated on developing these issues rather than introducing characters that did not play much role in the story. The character development could have been better. I felt that the protagonist was unstable and disrespectful in his interactions with the various women that he comes across as the story develops.
I did like the author's style of writing but I wish that the core issues had been dealt with a little better.

[Hema · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Obsessed" title of the book is very appropriate to the story written by the author. I would like to appreciate the author for writing a story about mental health and one more thing on which the story runs and that one thing is considered as taboo. In today's lifestyle it is very necessary for everyone to talk about mental health and not just to run away from it as it can prove fatal.

I liked the overall plot and pace of the story. The writing style is lucid. The character of the main protagonist Aninka stands in between for me. I liked that she was strong but I disliked the obsession that she had and what all she did for it. Our childhood plays an important role in making us feel wanted or left out. When a child is left out that is when there mental health starts playing with them.

The other protagonist Avik is trying to a achieve heights in his career. His character is very mean and selfish. He has been in and out of love few times. For him money is everything. But later on love becomes his priority.

The cover of the book could have been better. But the overall plot is very well written. 3.5 stars

Thanks to @writersmelon and @harpercollinsin for the review copy

[Sameer Gudhate · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Book Review: "Obsessed" by Ruchi Kokcha**
"Obsessed" by Ruchi Kokcha is a gripping thriller that thrusts readers into a world of mystery, danger, and psychological intrigue. With promises of glory and peril entwined, this novel presents a high-stakes journey that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Avik, the investigative journalist protagonist, stumbles upon a case that could make or break him - the murder of millionaire Kalki Rajput. As Avik delves deeper into the enigmatic layers of the case, he uncovers a web of secrets that threatens his very existence. Amidst the escalating tension, Avik's pursuit of the truth forces him to confront the unsettling depths of the victim's daughter's madness, a venture that could either unearth the truth or lead him to a deadly abyss.

Ruchi Kokcha's writing style is immersive, deftly weaving a narrative that skillfully balances suspense, emotions, and psychological tension. Her vivid descriptions and evocative language paint a vivid picture of the story's intricate layers.

Avik emerges as a multidimensional character, driven by ambition yet vulnerable to the harrowing events he's entangled in. The interplay of his determination and personal demons adds complexity to his portrayal. The novel explores the boundaries of sanity and obsession, delving into the psychological nuances of characters caught in the throes of a dark mystery.

The novel's plot is intricately woven, revealing layers of the mystery at a pace that maintains the suspense. The narrative structure, with its twists and turns, mirrors the mind-bending journey of unraveling the truth behind Kalki Rajput's murder.

"Obsessed" masterfully delves into themes of obsession, truth, and the human psyche's fragility. It examines the blurry line between rationality and madness, and how the pursuit of truth can lead to uncharted territories of the mind.

The novel's emotionally charged narrative keeps readers invested, invoking a sense of empathy and curiosity. Avik's internal struggles and the chilling exploration of madness resonate deeply, evoking a visceral emotional response.

The strength of "Obsessed" lies in its gripping plot, atmospheric writing, and psychological depth. However, some readers might find the pacing occasionally uneven, with moments of intense suspense followed by slower segments.

"Obsessed" is an enthralling thriller that deftly combines psychological suspense with a layered mystery. Kokcha's exploration of the human mind's complexities adds depth to the narrative, making it a compelling read.

In "Obsessed," Ruchi Kokcha delivers a taut thriller that takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of suspense and psychological tension. With its skillful exploration of obsession, madness, and the quest for truth, this novel keeps you captivated until its heart-pounding conclusion.

[Siri S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the cover of the book, which is supposed to be the main protagonist picture and gives an idea of how mysterious her mind is. This book speaks about the mental illness and how people don’t usually speak about it or ignore it. It gave me chills in the first half I was curious to know more about Ananki but it is not like I was disappointed but I wanted more of the mystery to continue in the second half. Plus the ending was not what one expects it to be.
But this book made me think of many things that we do on day to day basis and how careful one should be and try to understand what someone might be going through. It somewhere talks about the importance of parenting in life, What loneliness can do to a person’s mind. How mind has its own mind and makes person think and do what only it wants.
Great writing for a debutant author and she speaks about many things which people don’t even want to show they can think in that way. Very bold writing, I am looking forward for more of her works
What I loved in this book?
Theme: There is a mystery in this book and it speaks about mental illness. Special like to The poem written by Ananki given to Avik.
Quotes:-
“It is not easy to solve the maze of her self”
“When the maker of this infinite universe, Lord Bhrama himself, could not understand the workings of a women’s heart, how can we expect lesser men to understand them?”
“Unconsciously, everyone starts believing in the great mask they wear while playing their part, forgetting their inner self, which contradicts the external one.”
“You can take the story with you, but within your mind only, and you must promise me that you will keep it buried deep in your mind.”
Story: This story is purely a mind game with an angle of romance in it. It speaks how heart can’t follow any rules, whom you fall in love with, it is a very bold book. It has a mysterious aura to it.
Characters: Avik the one whose point of view we see in this book, I like how is character develops and How he get involved yet he is careful ( because the game he was playing was very dangerous)
What I did not like?
I would have loved it if there were more details about the mental illness and how the actual patients dealt with it.
Verdict: I liked it, as I like mystery. But let me tell you when you pick this book please have an open mind. If you are thriller lover then it’s definitely a pick for you.
My Rating:
Title: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Blurb: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Presentation: 5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5

[Harshita Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.5 stars
One’s obsessions could be dominating or tormenting as well depending on its phase or extent. Do you have any such Obsession from which you couldn’t back out? Well! the girl on the cover has the most unnatural obsession.
The main protagonist, Avik, a journalist, at last got the most hyped case of his career and he is determined to unfold the reasons of millionaire Mrs. Kalki Rajput’s murder.
The murder of Kalki Rajput has been witnessed by her daughter, Ananki and since then she has been admitted in the mental asylum. To untangle the murder mystery, Avik has to face off with Ananki and delve into her mind to obtain the real reason of her murder.
I was hooked into the book till the very point to know, what’s the obsession of Ananki which had been the talk of the town in the book. But later getting it know, I was uncomfortable and did feel awkward. It was very unpleasant to read that part where she narrates to Avik how far she had gone for fulfilling her obsession.
And I would say that the Ananki’s obsession is not shocking but derogatory.

What was Good
• The narration is convincing and impressive and the author has a persuasive writing style.
• The title and cover of the book are fetching and the plus points in favour of the book.

What wasn’t Good
• I was intrigued in the book but somehow later in the second part, I was disappointed, the grip that had been built up in the story slows down after knowing the weird obsession of Ananki.
• There were no detailed descriptions of her mental condition and how she feels and deals in such state except only elaboration of her extent of obsession.
• Her conversations with Avik were quite normal and her revelation of the true story of murder to Avik without showing any tantrums didn’t go well with me.

Why to read this book
If you want to know the story of Ananki’s weirdest obsession, then you need to pick this book. Though the book is dark and bold with unpleasant obsession of the girl, yet it holds the reader in its grip.

[Aeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping read. Never before had I read any Indian author's book as I read this 0ne. I generally do not prefer reading books by Indian author because of my bad experiences with some of the books I did read. But this one, Oh my god. I literally have no complaints (apart from the fact that I didn't like the main characters personality at all but I am pretty sure that was how it was supposed to be). The author did a great work bringing up a subject that is a taboo in our culture (and probably everywhere). I didn't feel the need to skimp through the paragraphs and the characters were really entertaining and specially Ananki, so mysterious. The author also ends the book with a twist or sorta reveal that made everything you felt before in a haywire.

I loved the book. Would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind reading about sensitive topics.

[Nikita Ranga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful plot along with well-tied subplots, an insightful theme, and well-developed characters makes it a moving story to read. Descriptive writing style with audacious tone, realistic narration with terse writing style made the story more gripping. There are places in the book where story gives you goosebumps and you are more compelled to read till the last. Everything is perfect in the book. The connection between the scenes is something which took my attention. Generally, a story loses its direction in midway in suspense stories but this book didn’t lose its direction. On the other side, the character of Ananki Rajput was well plotted. Twists and turns are very well taken care of

[Nivedita Dhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you really want something that has the power to disturb the dark and full of shocking surprises, then this book Obsessed will be put in a path along the razor’s edge of a love that has so many twists... The way Author Ruchi Kokcha has presented in this book towards the reader is very valiant. And simultaneously not so easy to read, it is an noticeable issue which may not be as rare as we tried to believe it would be. Inner matter is actually a Forbidden matter for society which is not an easy to talk and here my respect for Author has increased more for choosing something like this which is actually so scandalously not so indifferent ... Thanks to Harpercollins for sending me this review copy. I would love to recommend this book to them who really loved to read Mystery fiction....

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark theme, a unique story, with unique characters. I received this book as a prize after winning the giveaway and on a whim, I picked up to read one fine day and when I started reading it, I just got hooked. I must say, such a unique theme by a debutant author is definitely one bold step.

I liked the story and also the writing style. The characters are well etched, the pace was good but I felt in some places the story was a little bit slow. Error-free writing also made the reading enjoyable.

With full of suspense and mystery, Obsessed is definitely a must read.