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A Useful Death
Aspiring actress Priya is dead. It’s a suicide, and rumour has it that Anil, son of politician and former Telugu-movie superstar Mohan Krishna, drove her to it. Just another film-industry scandal? Or something bigger, much bigger?
Partha, hired by Mohan Krishna’s family to handle the crisis, thinks so. Why won’t such a powerful father defend his son, Partha wonders. Is there an intra-family war? Whose interests are playing out in the media and on social media? Is a political game afoot or is this all connected to Mohan Krishna’s own dubious past? And why are student unions getting involved?
Even as Partha and his associates, Seema and Harish, confront the ethics of being involved in a war with no heroes, they are drawn into a dangerous hunt. They must negotiate a tangled and vicious world to answer one question: a young woman is dead—to whom is her death useful?
Partha, hired by Mohan Krishna’s family to handle the crisis, thinks so. Why won’t such a powerful father defend his son, Partha wonders. Is there an intra-family war? Whose interests are playing out in the media and on social media? Is a political game afoot or is this all connected to Mohan Krishna’s own dubious past? And why are student unions getting involved?
Even as Partha and his associates, Seema and Harish, confront the ethics of being involved in a war with no heroes, they are drawn into a dangerous hunt. They must negotiate a tangled and vicious world to answer one question: a young woman is dead—to whom is her death useful?
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 4, 2019
Lets start by saying that "A Useful Death" is a pretty impressive crime thriller by an Indian author. Sriram Chellapilla opens his book with the scene of crime taking place and it immediately sets you into the tone of the plot.
As suggested by the Blurb, this is a story about Priya, an aspiring actor who has been murdered just in the start of the book. The book touches upon the dark side of politics, the world of showbiz and journalism. The characters are well defined and feel real. They have a set of flaws as well as subtle charm, a little shade of grey takes the characterisation to new heights.
The book is detailed and links every little piece to the story. The backdrops and the sub plots add a lot of flavour to the existing story-line. The story is amazing and the twist in the end is enthralling. The turning points are so subtly placed that they gel into the universe of this book perfectly.
I specially liked the writing of the Author, he has used the right words to make reading a rich experience. The writing style is interesting and gripping. I actually enjoyed all the detail in the book.
This is a good read for those who enjoy crime thrillers and willing to invest some time into the details. The book is a little thicker but it promises a wonderful plot. I must also comment that this book is movie/series material and might get adapted sooner or later.
Book Information:
Pages: 416
Language: English
Genre: Crime Thriller
My Rating: 4/5
As suggested by the Blurb, this is a story about Priya, an aspiring actor who has been murdered just in the start of the book. The book touches upon the dark side of politics, the world of showbiz and journalism. The characters are well defined and feel real. They have a set of flaws as well as subtle charm, a little shade of grey takes the characterisation to new heights.
The book is detailed and links every little piece to the story. The backdrops and the sub plots add a lot of flavour to the existing story-line. The story is amazing and the twist in the end is enthralling. The turning points are so subtly placed that they gel into the universe of this book perfectly.
I specially liked the writing of the Author, he has used the right words to make reading a rich experience. The writing style is interesting and gripping. I actually enjoyed all the detail in the book.
This is a good read for those who enjoy crime thrillers and willing to invest some time into the details. The book is a little thicker but it promises a wonderful plot. I must also comment that this book is movie/series material and might get adapted sooner or later.
Book Information:
Pages: 416
Language: English
Genre: Crime Thriller
My Rating: 4/5
December 30, 2019
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"It reminded them that things tended to build up, they bubble beneath the surface for years, decades even, and then burst onto the surface. There were larger things at play here. Not just politics and media, but the past itself. In that past were people's lives, lives too little to be noticed in history's relentless march forward. But each life, significant in itself, and for itself, remembered the wounds inflicted upon it. "
Written by Sriram Chellapilla, A Useful Death is a political mystery/thriller related to the death of a young aspiring actress, Priya who had been cornered so badly that the only option she saw was to commit suicide. Her mental health had been rocky since a long time now and then suddenly, this happened. Upon her death, when her friend called the police and informed them of what happened at her apartment, they were surprised to find no laptop and phone. In this world of media and technology, how was that even possible? What's worse is that the blame of her suicide fell upon Anil, another aspiring actor, but someone who was the son of Mohan Krishna, a politician and former Telugu movie superstar. The lack of suicide note suggests it could be anyone and because of Anil and Priya's friendship over their upcoming movie, it was assumed to be him. But is it really him who did it? Who sent her to her untimely demise? And what exactly was the purpose of this death? Why did she die? What were the circumstances surrounding it?
These are some of the answers that Partha, Seema and Harish try to find out when they are hired by Mohan Krishna's family to find evidence on Prakash, another member of the family but one who they believe was the one who actually had an affair with her.
It's surprising how engaging the book turned out to be. I started this in the middle of a train journey and I was hooked right from the start! There wasn't a single moment when I wanted to stop reading it because I really, really, really wanted to find out what would happen next. I agree how politics might not appeal to many people. They generally don't appeal to me either and I try to stray clear of such novels. However, in this one, I fairly enjoyed the politics as well.
I guess the best part was how the story was narrated. With Prakash, Seema and Harish as the main protagonists and the people from whose point of views the story was narrated, it made for a pretty clean story-telling. Glimpses from inside Mohan Krishna's place or from Varaprasad's point-of-view were nice additions. They gave more strength to the story and kept the suspense at an all-time high.
What I loved the most, however, was the plot. It had many sub-plots within its midst that made it a lot more complex and realistic. What's more is that throughout the course of the book, I was only constantly bobbing between Prakash and Anil for having been the people who led Priya to her suicide, only to find out it was someone else. Although this "someone else"'s motivations weren't explained (or at least I didn't understand the way he behaved with Priya initially, even if everything later on makes sense), yet, all of it seemed like something that could happen. People sometimes have that mean streak in them towards certain people and that is exactly what happened here. This "someone else" ruined Priya's life, just for the sake of doing it; and then saw it as an opportunity to do something that he had been waiting for a long time.
Pretty horrific, if you ask me. Yet, that is what makes this story unique and understandable and amazing. The only issue I had with it was how sometimes, there were certain issues with the editing of the book. Barely there, but there. That is why I'm taking away the extra star but I hope to read more books by Sriram Chellapilla soon!
"It reminded them that things tended to build up, they bubble beneath the surface for years, decades even, and then burst onto the surface. There were larger things at play here. Not just politics and media, but the past itself. In that past were people's lives, lives too little to be noticed in history's relentless march forward. But each life, significant in itself, and for itself, remembered the wounds inflicted upon it. "
Written by Sriram Chellapilla, A Useful Death is a political mystery/thriller related to the death of a young aspiring actress, Priya who had been cornered so badly that the only option she saw was to commit suicide. Her mental health had been rocky since a long time now and then suddenly, this happened. Upon her death, when her friend called the police and informed them of what happened at her apartment, they were surprised to find no laptop and phone. In this world of media and technology, how was that even possible? What's worse is that the blame of her suicide fell upon Anil, another aspiring actor, but someone who was the son of Mohan Krishna, a politician and former Telugu movie superstar. The lack of suicide note suggests it could be anyone and because of Anil and Priya's friendship over their upcoming movie, it was assumed to be him. But is it really him who did it? Who sent her to her untimely demise? And what exactly was the purpose of this death? Why did she die? What were the circumstances surrounding it?
These are some of the answers that Partha, Seema and Harish try to find out when they are hired by Mohan Krishna's family to find evidence on Prakash, another member of the family but one who they believe was the one who actually had an affair with her.
It's surprising how engaging the book turned out to be. I started this in the middle of a train journey and I was hooked right from the start! There wasn't a single moment when I wanted to stop reading it because I really, really, really wanted to find out what would happen next. I agree how politics might not appeal to many people. They generally don't appeal to me either and I try to stray clear of such novels. However, in this one, I fairly enjoyed the politics as well.
I guess the best part was how the story was narrated. With Prakash, Seema and Harish as the main protagonists and the people from whose point of views the story was narrated, it made for a pretty clean story-telling. Glimpses from inside Mohan Krishna's place or from Varaprasad's point-of-view were nice additions. They gave more strength to the story and kept the suspense at an all-time high.
What I loved the most, however, was the plot. It had many sub-plots within its midst that made it a lot more complex and realistic. What's more is that throughout the course of the book, I was only constantly bobbing between Prakash and Anil for having been the people who led Priya to her suicide, only to find out it was someone else. Although this "someone else"'s motivations weren't explained (or at least I didn't understand the way he behaved with Priya initially, even if everything later on makes sense), yet, all of it seemed like something that could happen. People sometimes have that mean streak in them towards certain people and that is exactly what happened here. This "someone else" ruined Priya's life, just for the sake of doing it; and then saw it as an opportunity to do something that he had been waiting for a long time.
Pretty horrific, if you ask me. Yet, that is what makes this story unique and understandable and amazing. The only issue I had with it was how sometimes, there were certain issues with the editing of the book. Barely there, but there. That is why I'm taking away the extra star but I hope to read more books by Sriram Chellapilla soon!
January 15, 2020
Deceit, deception & debauchery. These are the words that came to my mind after I finished the book. It was indeed an amazing experience to read this book. I can definitely say this has been one of the good thrillers I've read in a long time. It has everything which accounts for a good thriller - murder, suspense, plot, mystery, treachery, deceit, deception, conspiracy & revenge! These factors blend together to incorporate a good weekend read effectively.
People often think that name, fame & money are what life accounts for which are the sole reason for happiness. But what they fail to understand is that sometimes this very name & fame can turn on against them. It also brings the dark side of others or sometimes ours as well. This book very well extrapolates the dark side of fame & discusses it extensively via the story at hand. To make things further interesting, the plot revolves around Reality TV show, murder & kidnapping - which accomplishes the desired task very appropriately.
What I didn't like is that the book has been dragged unnecessarily to make it longer than required. I felt it could have been by 100 pages or so. At times, the unnecessary descriptions make it really obnoxious & thus it becomes really difficult to read or get through it. It was monotonous at various contexts. Nevertheless, overall it was a good read.
This book is a political thriller as the central theme emphasised here revolves around politics. The story starts with Priya, an unsuccessful actress who commits suicide & her friends blame her death on Anil, the son of an upcoming politician who's also a superstar. An investigator Parth is hired to get to the bottom of the incident as to why all such incidents have occurred & who's the exact culprit behind the scenes!
A lot of twists & turns incorporated throughout the book. Writing style is good, narration is good & justified accordingly. Characterisation is balanced. Synchronisation is well achieved.
Also, the book is slightly for the adult readers. So I wouldn't recommend it to the teenagers. Overall, it was a really good read. Worth recommending to all the readers. A murder mystery suspense thriller book which has been written in a very realistic manner.
People often think that name, fame & money are what life accounts for which are the sole reason for happiness. But what they fail to understand is that sometimes this very name & fame can turn on against them. It also brings the dark side of others or sometimes ours as well. This book very well extrapolates the dark side of fame & discusses it extensively via the story at hand. To make things further interesting, the plot revolves around Reality TV show, murder & kidnapping - which accomplishes the desired task very appropriately.
What I didn't like is that the book has been dragged unnecessarily to make it longer than required. I felt it could have been by 100 pages or so. At times, the unnecessary descriptions make it really obnoxious & thus it becomes really difficult to read or get through it. It was monotonous at various contexts. Nevertheless, overall it was a good read.
This book is a political thriller as the central theme emphasised here revolves around politics. The story starts with Priya, an unsuccessful actress who commits suicide & her friends blame her death on Anil, the son of an upcoming politician who's also a superstar. An investigator Parth is hired to get to the bottom of the incident as to why all such incidents have occurred & who's the exact culprit behind the scenes!
A lot of twists & turns incorporated throughout the book. Writing style is good, narration is good & justified accordingly. Characterisation is balanced. Synchronisation is well achieved.
Also, the book is slightly for the adult readers. So I wouldn't recommend it to the teenagers. Overall, it was a really good read. Worth recommending to all the readers. A murder mystery suspense thriller book which has been written in a very realistic manner.
October 18, 2019
Full review here: https://wp.me/pajm6f-s8
I love it when a crime thriller starts with the shot of the crime scene or the murder taking place. That’s exactly how Sriram Chellapilla commences his breathtaking thriller as he moves forward to tell us the story of the victim Priya, an aspiring actor, her friends from Uni and her presumed rival actor family – one of the giants of Telugu cinema, Mohan Krishna. The police investigation begins as they start interviewing friends and family of Priya and the media cannot keep it quiet. They’re shouting names and attacking the actor in question, which shakes the family in question as they are forced to hire a private investigator Partha to help them out of this dire situation.
Now Partha is an intelligent fellow. He’s quick and charming, working with his team of experts Harish and Seema. Harish is the quiet spy and Seema knows how to crack information out of people. Together they make a terrific team, either to solve a murder or publicise cine stars! At first, Partha is hesitant to take the case as he has his doubts on Arun and his father Mohan Krishna, who is known for his drastic arrogant nature. Soon he’s dragged into the case’s mystery as shocking revelations are made and if Partha doesn’t manage to keep it at bay, they’re going to be on the losing side!
I liked the style and vocabulary that Sriram has chosen to display in his Novel. It’s thought-provoking and gives us an insight of how the Cine industries work. The struggles and hurdles experienced by young and ambitious actors to gain a name for themselves is almost always sabotaged, stumped upon by the giants in the food chain, making them weak and vulnerable. It’s clear that the author is a talented scriptwriter as this book could be easily interpreted to base a Netflix Series or a Thriller Movie in India. The language is appropriate and pace is right for the premise. A bit too much descriptions might bore you at places, but it’s binge worthy! Any thriller fan would like the quick thinker Partha whose dialogues could very well reflect your own thoughts while reading the book. Recommended thriller fiction of 2019!
I love it when a crime thriller starts with the shot of the crime scene or the murder taking place. That’s exactly how Sriram Chellapilla commences his breathtaking thriller as he moves forward to tell us the story of the victim Priya, an aspiring actor, her friends from Uni and her presumed rival actor family – one of the giants of Telugu cinema, Mohan Krishna. The police investigation begins as they start interviewing friends and family of Priya and the media cannot keep it quiet. They’re shouting names and attacking the actor in question, which shakes the family in question as they are forced to hire a private investigator Partha to help them out of this dire situation.
Now Partha is an intelligent fellow. He’s quick and charming, working with his team of experts Harish and Seema. Harish is the quiet spy and Seema knows how to crack information out of people. Together they make a terrific team, either to solve a murder or publicise cine stars! At first, Partha is hesitant to take the case as he has his doubts on Arun and his father Mohan Krishna, who is known for his drastic arrogant nature. Soon he’s dragged into the case’s mystery as shocking revelations are made and if Partha doesn’t manage to keep it at bay, they’re going to be on the losing side!
I liked the style and vocabulary that Sriram has chosen to display in his Novel. It’s thought-provoking and gives us an insight of how the Cine industries work. The struggles and hurdles experienced by young and ambitious actors to gain a name for themselves is almost always sabotaged, stumped upon by the giants in the food chain, making them weak and vulnerable. It’s clear that the author is a talented scriptwriter as this book could be easily interpreted to base a Netflix Series or a Thriller Movie in India. The language is appropriate and pace is right for the premise. A bit too much descriptions might bore you at places, but it’s binge worthy! Any thriller fan would like the quick thinker Partha whose dialogues could very well reflect your own thoughts while reading the book. Recommended thriller fiction of 2019!
October 26, 2019
I have been reading suspense thriller genre a lot lately. I have been a huge fan of that genre. So that is the reason I picked this book up and I am glad that this book met my expectations. I will briefly summaries the blurb. The story opens with the investigation scene. An aspiring actor Priya is dead, it seems like suicide. She was about to appear in a movie. Media created a hype on her death. She was about to appear in a movie in Mohan Krishna’s home production. Mohan Krishna is a politician and former Telugu movie star. Anil is his son and the film supposed to be his debut film also, so the it was the hot topic in media. Mohan Krishna’s family hired Partha to handle the situation. And he was surprised and confused to see tense situation within the family like a powerful father won’t defend his son. Read the book to know how the mystery gets solved. Had priya committed suicide or it was murder? Was Mohan Krishna and his family was involved in that? Or there is someone else behind this whole picture?
Read the book to unfold further plot.
If we see generally, I loved the plot. It’s a complete package filled with suspense, drama, politics, crime, etc. The writing style of the author is amazing. Author has done good use of vocabulary and language. Writing style holds the attention till the end. There are lots of twists and turns that make plot interesting. I like the way the picture of film industry and politics has been portrayed. It was intriguing reading. Story took unpredictable turns at certain point and I like the ending. Overall good one. I definitely enjoyed reading it. It’s like watching an amazing movie. Recommended from my side.
Click the link below to read detailed reviews
https://drruchipatel.wordpress.com/20...
Read the book to unfold further plot.
If we see generally, I loved the plot. It’s a complete package filled with suspense, drama, politics, crime, etc. The writing style of the author is amazing. Author has done good use of vocabulary and language. Writing style holds the attention till the end. There are lots of twists and turns that make plot interesting. I like the way the picture of film industry and politics has been portrayed. It was intriguing reading. Story took unpredictable turns at certain point and I like the ending. Overall good one. I definitely enjoyed reading it. It’s like watching an amazing movie. Recommended from my side.
Click the link below to read detailed reviews
https://drruchipatel.wordpress.com/20...
December 23, 2019
I remember reading a fantastic thriller a few months back. It was so good that it became one of my best reads of 2019. Thriller, without a doubt, is one of my loved genres and never fails me. And here's a book which gave a perfect vibe to thrilling 2019.
A Useful Death by Sriram Chellapilla is a sharp narrative on the filth of the movie industry and how it gets murkier as it entangles with power, lust, and politics. The book kickstarts with the death of an aspiring young actress who died under suspicious circumstances. A name is dragged in the case who is the son of one of the most influential and notorious men of the industry. Investigators are seeking to solve the mystery and it would be interesting to uncover the layers.
If I had to describe this book in a word, it would be - gripping. No matter how many adjectives I might use for the book, its pace remains the most important factor which kept the whole narrative balanced. The story deals with a contemptuous aspect od the industry where the people are exploited. It also brings to light the mindset of an opportunistic person and the kind of havoc it could wreak. The character development and narration was amazing. I particularly liked the writing which was fine and interesting. Although there were a few points where I found the length and description a little overwhelming, I did enjoy it thoroughly. The book is a perfect pick for a contemporary thriller lover. The book gives a clear insight into the society in an engaging manner. And this should be a reason good enough to go ahead considering to read.
A Useful Death by Sriram Chellapilla is a sharp narrative on the filth of the movie industry and how it gets murkier as it entangles with power, lust, and politics. The book kickstarts with the death of an aspiring young actress who died under suspicious circumstances. A name is dragged in the case who is the son of one of the most influential and notorious men of the industry. Investigators are seeking to solve the mystery and it would be interesting to uncover the layers.
If I had to describe this book in a word, it would be - gripping. No matter how many adjectives I might use for the book, its pace remains the most important factor which kept the whole narrative balanced. The story deals with a contemptuous aspect od the industry where the people are exploited. It also brings to light the mindset of an opportunistic person and the kind of havoc it could wreak. The character development and narration was amazing. I particularly liked the writing which was fine and interesting. Although there were a few points where I found the length and description a little overwhelming, I did enjoy it thoroughly. The book is a perfect pick for a contemporary thriller lover. The book gives a clear insight into the society in an engaging manner. And this should be a reason good enough to go ahead considering to read.
November 22, 2019
A useful death is such a fantastic thriller which keeps you on the edge of seat.
A murder mystery like no other of an aspiring actress Priya, the story revolves around with some political background people involved in the case of Priya.
There are many questions that comes to mind while reading it, is it suicide, is it a murder or who all may be involved in it.
This is a perfect delight for thriller genre fans.
The narration throughout the book is amazing which helps you to be hooked in such a lengthy book, the back drop used for plot is really common but is used in a great way along with the suspense.
Each and every scene has been given its time, which makes things interesting rather than boring. Author has worked really well on to each and every character, every character has hidden layers which just adds to twist of such thrillers.
The clarity with which the novel is described and plotted is just amazing to see, the language is flawless and dialogues are interesting as well.
A must read book if you love suspense thrillers or murder mystery.
A murder mystery like no other of an aspiring actress Priya, the story revolves around with some political background people involved in the case of Priya.
There are many questions that comes to mind while reading it, is it suicide, is it a murder or who all may be involved in it.
This is a perfect delight for thriller genre fans.
The narration throughout the book is amazing which helps you to be hooked in such a lengthy book, the back drop used for plot is really common but is used in a great way along with the suspense.
Each and every scene has been given its time, which makes things interesting rather than boring. Author has worked really well on to each and every character, every character has hidden layers which just adds to twist of such thrillers.
The clarity with which the novel is described and plotted is just amazing to see, the language is flawless and dialogues are interesting as well.
A must read book if you love suspense thrillers or murder mystery.
October 20, 2019
This was a fabulous read with a great storyline and fantastic characters. I love crime thrillers and this was no exception. I will definitely read more from the author. I really enjoyed the story with lots of action that move right along. Author Sriram Chellapilla tells a good story here with strong sense of place and centrality of landscape and pursuit of dependent on landscape of plot. Characters are well developed (Mohan Krishnan , Partha ). The language of the book is simple . The cover page and title of the book compel you to pick it up. Definitely a good solid read. Highly recommend.
November 16, 2019
A Page-Turning Crime Thriller
A Useful Death – sounds like an intriguing title, isn’t it? The plot is indeed as captivating as the title appears to be. Authored by Sriram Chellapilla, A Useful Death, published by Westland Books, is a murder mystery set in Hyderabad. A young girl commits suicide and there are several people from an influential family who would have driven her into it.
The protagonist, Partha is up to find the truth, but when he and his team figs deeper, they realise there’s a lot more than just what appears on the surface. The journey to deciphering the truth is interesting.
The story is extremely well narrated and characters well-defined. Even the complex scenes and events are recounted in simplistic manner. The book is full of twists and turns and especially when you least expect it. The author has done some good research before bringing the book to the readers. The author has used several tools rather elements such PR (public relations), Media, Film fraternity, politics, campus politics, technology, among others and neither did I find any gap in the story-telling nor tedious to read.
Inspite of being a crime thriller, the narration is not aggressive, neither very passive as well.
It’s an edge read! The way the story is weaved, it pulled me into it and really got me desperate to reach the conclusion.
There are hints in the book, that we might get to read sequel or prequel from Sriram Chellapilla.
My ratings: 4.5 out of 5.
A Useful Death – sounds like an intriguing title, isn’t it? The plot is indeed as captivating as the title appears to be. Authored by Sriram Chellapilla, A Useful Death, published by Westland Books, is a murder mystery set in Hyderabad. A young girl commits suicide and there are several people from an influential family who would have driven her into it.
The protagonist, Partha is up to find the truth, but when he and his team figs deeper, they realise there’s a lot more than just what appears on the surface. The journey to deciphering the truth is interesting.
The story is extremely well narrated and characters well-defined. Even the complex scenes and events are recounted in simplistic manner. The book is full of twists and turns and especially when you least expect it. The author has done some good research before bringing the book to the readers. The author has used several tools rather elements such PR (public relations), Media, Film fraternity, politics, campus politics, technology, among others and neither did I find any gap in the story-telling nor tedious to read.
Inspite of being a crime thriller, the narration is not aggressive, neither very passive as well.
It’s an edge read! The way the story is weaved, it pulled me into it and really got me desperate to reach the conclusion.
There are hints in the book, that we might get to read sequel or prequel from Sriram Chellapilla.
My ratings: 4.5 out of 5.
October 28, 2019
Sometimes trying to solve a single question will eventually lead you to plenty in the due process. One must not succumb in its illusion to have a clear-cut end. Also, when solving a mystery, obsessing with “Series of search and research” is inevitable. A Useful Death is a fast-paced crime based tale makes the heart race possibly in multiple directions.
This Story sets at the note of aspiring actress Priya's suicide scene. Then the plot moves further to uncover the intertwined conspiracy behind this death since it involves Anil, son of a Politico/Star actor. While the police investigation and random interviews trill the popular image Mohan Krishna, he hires Partha - a detective to work on this matter. Was Mohan Krishna family involved or someone else deep-laid plan?
I love how the perfect plot builds in factually and burns you out with some improvement of current Socio-Economic-Political thrills. Especially when yellow journalism parts into making this story as a fitting one. The Writing style of the author made the characterisation bring limelight to the premise of the story. The language and the structure used seems to build the sequence of the event adds both the exquisite and accommodative nature to its readers.
This Story sets at the note of aspiring actress Priya's suicide scene. Then the plot moves further to uncover the intertwined conspiracy behind this death since it involves Anil, son of a Politico/Star actor. While the police investigation and random interviews trill the popular image Mohan Krishna, he hires Partha - a detective to work on this matter. Was Mohan Krishna family involved or someone else deep-laid plan?
I love how the perfect plot builds in factually and burns you out with some improvement of current Socio-Economic-Political thrills. Especially when yellow journalism parts into making this story as a fitting one. The Writing style of the author made the characterisation bring limelight to the premise of the story. The language and the structure used seems to build the sequence of the event adds both the exquisite and accommodative nature to its readers.
October 12, 2019
First and foremost, I thank Writer's Melon and Westland Publications for sending a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A Useful Death is the most awesome crime thriller by an Indian author I have read this year (*adds the word "yet" somewhere in here*). The themes, the structure of the plot, and the way in which the author works out every point — each and every thing in the plot goes synchronises with every other element of the book. I have not read such a nailbiting thriller, that too by a contemporary Indian author, in a while now.
The first reason why I loved reading A Useful Death was the blurb itself. The blurb has been brilliantly drafted, by adding in whatever is necessary for the reader to know about the context of the incident. Along with it, the structure of the plot has been crafted very nicely. Each of the events are linked to one other by a detailed analysis of their backdrop and the subplots which influence those events in their own way. Secondly, the themes which the author explored extensively in A Useful Death are worth noting. Workings in a film industry, the machinery of political parties, the blurring distinction between ideology and illusions, character-assasination by targeting his/her mental health, yellow journalism — the author picks up almost every topic relevant to the current socio-political scenario. Great work on that! Thirdly, the book consists of a set of realistic characters. A handful of them seem to exhibit a duality in their behaviour — efficiency and overconfidence, carefulness and recklessness, and so on. It is quite interesting to note that the author quite successfully creates an atmosphere where the reader is readily gives in to a willful suspension of disbelief. No wonder why you can relate to the ideas of one or two characters during the course of the novel. And, finally, the plot twists.You might wonder that why I didn't talk about it in point #2 instead. Well, this needs special mention. A Useful Death has spellbinding twists in the story, at the right place and at the right moment in the story. Underneath its elaborate filler paragraphs pertaining to the behind-the-scenes of every event, there lies subtle turning points which join all the dots of the narrative. You might be able to predict one or two of these points, but I am pretty sure that they will catch you like a deer in the headlights.
However. However. However.
There remains a glitch whatsoever.
(Copyrights reserved on the verses above)
Yes. Jokes apart, there is only one wrinkle in the book, and that is the title. For a book with such clever plot points and developments, a title as montonous and common as "A Useful Death" sounds incompatible. If only a more suitable title could've been thought of, then it would have definitely been one of the best Indian thriller books of 2019. Yes, and that's my verdict. I convey my best wishes the author for his future endeavours.
A Useful Death is the most awesome crime thriller by an Indian author I have read this year (*adds the word "yet" somewhere in here*). The themes, the structure of the plot, and the way in which the author works out every point — each and every thing in the plot goes synchronises with every other element of the book. I have not read such a nailbiting thriller, that too by a contemporary Indian author, in a while now.
The first reason why I loved reading A Useful Death was the blurb itself. The blurb has been brilliantly drafted, by adding in whatever is necessary for the reader to know about the context of the incident. Along with it, the structure of the plot has been crafted very nicely. Each of the events are linked to one other by a detailed analysis of their backdrop and the subplots which influence those events in their own way. Secondly, the themes which the author explored extensively in A Useful Death are worth noting. Workings in a film industry, the machinery of political parties, the blurring distinction between ideology and illusions, character-assasination by targeting his/her mental health, yellow journalism — the author picks up almost every topic relevant to the current socio-political scenario. Great work on that! Thirdly, the book consists of a set of realistic characters. A handful of them seem to exhibit a duality in their behaviour — efficiency and overconfidence, carefulness and recklessness, and so on. It is quite interesting to note that the author quite successfully creates an atmosphere where the reader is readily gives in to a willful suspension of disbelief. No wonder why you can relate to the ideas of one or two characters during the course of the novel. And, finally, the plot twists.You might wonder that why I didn't talk about it in point #2 instead. Well, this needs special mention. A Useful Death has spellbinding twists in the story, at the right place and at the right moment in the story. Underneath its elaborate filler paragraphs pertaining to the behind-the-scenes of every event, there lies subtle turning points which join all the dots of the narrative. You might be able to predict one or two of these points, but I am pretty sure that they will catch you like a deer in the headlights.
However. However. However.
There remains a glitch whatsoever.
(Copyrights reserved on the verses above)
Yes. Jokes apart, there is only one wrinkle in the book, and that is the title. For a book with such clever plot points and developments, a title as montonous and common as "A Useful Death" sounds incompatible. If only a more suitable title could've been thought of, then it would have definitely been one of the best Indian thriller books of 2019. Yes, and that's my verdict. I convey my best wishes the author for his future endeavours.
October 21, 2019
Full review on my blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2019/10/bo...
Aspiring actress Priya is found dead in her home and the main suspect who is believed to have driven her to commit suicide is Anil, son of Telugu Film Star Mohan Krishna. Priya and Anil were supposed to debut together in a film, and rumor has it that Anil and Priya had a love affair, which ended with Priya being dropped from the movie and may be from Anil’s life that drove her to end it all.
Partha Rao, a known person to Mohan Krishna’s family is hired to handle the situation as media is bent on proving Anil’s involvement and hence end his career before launch and his father’s political aspirations. The ruling party, media, press, and friends of Priya from the university she graduated, all have their own version of the conspiracy.
Priya’s personal belongings — her mobile and laptop are missing from the crime scene, a student from the university is missing at the same time, however, Mohan Krishna’s family suspect someone else from the family other than Anil who developed proximity towards Priya, to be the main suspect. Partha along with his associates Seema and Harish set out to crack this puzzle while unknowingly getting tangled in a web of lies, deceit and conspiracies before finding the truth — how and to whom is this ‘A Useful Death’.
The story opens with Priya found dead and Partha hired by Anil’s team to handle the crisis. At the outset, the story starts like any mystery, a dead body, few clues and known suspects. Instead of police or a detective agency, here, a group of crisis management consultants set about trying to find truth behind the death.
What sets the story apart is the way the story is narrated by the author, the characters chosen and how they are built up slowly, revealing their past, and tying the several threads together while revealing the mystery step by step. The conversations are smart and to the point, the reason behind each character’s behavior is well justified, so are the action sequences which are narrated without going overboard. The sequences in the Green belt, in Kadapa and in the hospital, are engrossing and are the highlights of the story.
The author has smartly woven a story involving multiple facets of the society — film industry, rich and powerful families, political conspiracies, influence of universities on young minds, ideologies, economic inequalities, but never gets into preaching or justifying any side. The story highlights how different sections of the society and people try to exploit a given situation for their own selfish reasons.
If you must pick one book this year let it be this one, as the book is brilliant from start to end.
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2019/10/bo...
Aspiring actress Priya is found dead in her home and the main suspect who is believed to have driven her to commit suicide is Anil, son of Telugu Film Star Mohan Krishna. Priya and Anil were supposed to debut together in a film, and rumor has it that Anil and Priya had a love affair, which ended with Priya being dropped from the movie and may be from Anil’s life that drove her to end it all.
Partha Rao, a known person to Mohan Krishna’s family is hired to handle the situation as media is bent on proving Anil’s involvement and hence end his career before launch and his father’s political aspirations. The ruling party, media, press, and friends of Priya from the university she graduated, all have their own version of the conspiracy.
Priya’s personal belongings — her mobile and laptop are missing from the crime scene, a student from the university is missing at the same time, however, Mohan Krishna’s family suspect someone else from the family other than Anil who developed proximity towards Priya, to be the main suspect. Partha along with his associates Seema and Harish set out to crack this puzzle while unknowingly getting tangled in a web of lies, deceit and conspiracies before finding the truth — how and to whom is this ‘A Useful Death’.
The story opens with Priya found dead and Partha hired by Anil’s team to handle the crisis. At the outset, the story starts like any mystery, a dead body, few clues and known suspects. Instead of police or a detective agency, here, a group of crisis management consultants set about trying to find truth behind the death.
What sets the story apart is the way the story is narrated by the author, the characters chosen and how they are built up slowly, revealing their past, and tying the several threads together while revealing the mystery step by step. The conversations are smart and to the point, the reason behind each character’s behavior is well justified, so are the action sequences which are narrated without going overboard. The sequences in the Green belt, in Kadapa and in the hospital, are engrossing and are the highlights of the story.
The author has smartly woven a story involving multiple facets of the society — film industry, rich and powerful families, political conspiracies, influence of universities on young minds, ideologies, economic inequalities, but never gets into preaching or justifying any side. The story highlights how different sections of the society and people try to exploit a given situation for their own selfish reasons.
If you must pick one book this year let it be this one, as the book is brilliant from start to end.
November 9, 2019
How many times have you heard the news of a suicide on the TV and changed the channel?
Have you ever paid heed to a person who had asked you for help and support?
A Useful Death is a story of a suicide of an upcoming actress in Hyderabad and Anil, the son of a prominent former Telugu Superstar and upcoming politician, Mohan Krishna is accused of driving her to it. To manage the fallout and the crisis, Partha and his firm are hired by the family. Having his own doubts on the superstar, he refuses to help them manage the PR but agrees to get Anil out of the situation if he was innocent. As the story progresses, it moves through the murky lanes of the city of Hyderabad, student politics and the underbelly of the film industry. Partha and his team push their own boundaries in their quest for the truth and what comes out in the end is truly something no one would have imagined. In the end, it boiled down to just one question, to whom her death was useful?
The plot of the book is very well written. The opening scene sets the stage in a wonderful manner. The unfolding of the crime as the plot progresses like peeling of the layers of an onion is something that gives a distinct flavor to the plot. The author has crafted the crime in a detailed manner and that keeps the reader engaged. The role of media in changing the narrative and how grapevine changes the news cycles has been brought up really wonderfully and that how different stakeholders were trying to benefit from the death brings out the dirty side of politics and media. Another angle that the plot covers is that of student politics and how the student community is sometimes used by people with vested interests. The climax of the book is unexpected and does manage to give the reader some chills. The concept that your past always catches up with the present is a good touch to the story as well.
Talking about the characters, Sriram has taken pain to detail each of the characters of the book so that they stand out. Be it the mighty Mohan Krishna, or the clever researcher Partha or for that matter, Malvika, each of them have been given enough time so that the reader gets to identify with each of the characters for a while. The character of Priya could have been given some more time for the backstory which would have helped readers connect with her as well. For the purposes of the current plot, she’s treated as a prop for the story to move forward.
Overall, a decent read. It manages to create a feeling of thrill and mystery for me.
A Useful Death manages to dazzle me a little and take away 3.5 stars.
Have you ever paid heed to a person who had asked you for help and support?
A Useful Death is a story of a suicide of an upcoming actress in Hyderabad and Anil, the son of a prominent former Telugu Superstar and upcoming politician, Mohan Krishna is accused of driving her to it. To manage the fallout and the crisis, Partha and his firm are hired by the family. Having his own doubts on the superstar, he refuses to help them manage the PR but agrees to get Anil out of the situation if he was innocent. As the story progresses, it moves through the murky lanes of the city of Hyderabad, student politics and the underbelly of the film industry. Partha and his team push their own boundaries in their quest for the truth and what comes out in the end is truly something no one would have imagined. In the end, it boiled down to just one question, to whom her death was useful?
The plot of the book is very well written. The opening scene sets the stage in a wonderful manner. The unfolding of the crime as the plot progresses like peeling of the layers of an onion is something that gives a distinct flavor to the plot. The author has crafted the crime in a detailed manner and that keeps the reader engaged. The role of media in changing the narrative and how grapevine changes the news cycles has been brought up really wonderfully and that how different stakeholders were trying to benefit from the death brings out the dirty side of politics and media. Another angle that the plot covers is that of student politics and how the student community is sometimes used by people with vested interests. The climax of the book is unexpected and does manage to give the reader some chills. The concept that your past always catches up with the present is a good touch to the story as well.
Talking about the characters, Sriram has taken pain to detail each of the characters of the book so that they stand out. Be it the mighty Mohan Krishna, or the clever researcher Partha or for that matter, Malvika, each of them have been given enough time so that the reader gets to identify with each of the characters for a while. The character of Priya could have been given some more time for the backstory which would have helped readers connect with her as well. For the purposes of the current plot, she’s treated as a prop for the story to move forward.
Overall, a decent read. It manages to create a feeling of thrill and mystery for me.
A Useful Death manages to dazzle me a little and take away 3.5 stars.
January 14, 2020
Title: A Useful Death
Author: Sriram Chellapilla
Publisher: Westland Ltd.
ISBN:978-9388689694
Blurb
Aspiring actress Priya is dead. It’s a suicide, and rumour has it that Anil, son of politician and former Telugu-movie superstar Mohan Krishna, drove her to it. Just another film-industry scandal? Or something bigger, much bigger?
Partha, hired by Mohan Krishna’s family to handle the crisis, thinks so. Why won’t such a powerful father defend his son, Partha wonders. Is there an intra-family war? Whose interests are playing out in the media and on social media? Is a political game afoot or is this all connected to Mohan Krishna’s own dubious past? And why are student unions getting involved?
Even as Partha and his associates, Seema and Harish, confront the ethics of being involved in a war with no heroes, they are drawn into a dangerous hunt. They must negotiate a tangled and vicious world to answer one question: a young woman is dead—to whom is her death useful?
Cover page
The cover page of the book is simple in dark colours of black which very well depicts the theme of the book.
Review
I love to read thriller and thrillers especially by Indian authors. I have read a lot of thrillers and A Useful death by Sriram Chellapilla was an engaging thriller which kept me at the edge. It is a well crafted and an intense read. It revolves around the death of the aspiring actress, Priya and Anil, son of a politician is rumored to be involved in it. And, in order to manage the mess, Partha and his firm are hired.
A Useful Death is a very fresh and gripping story filled with suspense. The plot line is very intriguing, solid and interesting filled with so much tension. The initial chapters are very well crafted in an interesting way. The events are described very well in a detailed manner. It is filled with lots of twists and turns. The writing style of the author is simple and the narration is fast paced. Throughout the book, I was very well able to visualize all the events and feel the tension which kept on building.
The characterization is done in a very minute way by giving in details of each character. There are a lot of characters such as Mohan Krishna, Partha, Malvika and various others and they are given enough importance and they seem to be very relatable.
Overall, it is an engaging read filled with suspense. It is a dark thriller and I enjoyed reading it a lot. I would recommend it to all the thriller lovers.
*I received a free copy of the book from Writersmelon in exchange of an honest and an unbiased review.
Author: Sriram Chellapilla
Publisher: Westland Ltd.
ISBN:978-9388689694
Blurb
Aspiring actress Priya is dead. It’s a suicide, and rumour has it that Anil, son of politician and former Telugu-movie superstar Mohan Krishna, drove her to it. Just another film-industry scandal? Or something bigger, much bigger?
Partha, hired by Mohan Krishna’s family to handle the crisis, thinks so. Why won’t such a powerful father defend his son, Partha wonders. Is there an intra-family war? Whose interests are playing out in the media and on social media? Is a political game afoot or is this all connected to Mohan Krishna’s own dubious past? And why are student unions getting involved?
Even as Partha and his associates, Seema and Harish, confront the ethics of being involved in a war with no heroes, they are drawn into a dangerous hunt. They must negotiate a tangled and vicious world to answer one question: a young woman is dead—to whom is her death useful?
Cover page
The cover page of the book is simple in dark colours of black which very well depicts the theme of the book.
Review
I love to read thriller and thrillers especially by Indian authors. I have read a lot of thrillers and A Useful death by Sriram Chellapilla was an engaging thriller which kept me at the edge. It is a well crafted and an intense read. It revolves around the death of the aspiring actress, Priya and Anil, son of a politician is rumored to be involved in it. And, in order to manage the mess, Partha and his firm are hired.
A Useful Death is a very fresh and gripping story filled with suspense. The plot line is very intriguing, solid and interesting filled with so much tension. The initial chapters are very well crafted in an interesting way. The events are described very well in a detailed manner. It is filled with lots of twists and turns. The writing style of the author is simple and the narration is fast paced. Throughout the book, I was very well able to visualize all the events and feel the tension which kept on building.
The characterization is done in a very minute way by giving in details of each character. There are a lot of characters such as Mohan Krishna, Partha, Malvika and various others and they are given enough importance and they seem to be very relatable.
Overall, it is an engaging read filled with suspense. It is a dark thriller and I enjoyed reading it a lot. I would recommend it to all the thriller lovers.
*I received a free copy of the book from Writersmelon in exchange of an honest and an unbiased review.
November 8, 2019
One can say this is a murder mystery type of novel, then one might also say it is a political drama novel, and one might even think of it as a novel on struggling actor who are disillusioned by the glamourous avatar of the film industry.
In fact, this is a story or a compilation of all the above three. It has murder, it has mystery, it has romance, it has politics, it has aspirations, it has suspense, it has tragedy, it has got everything which a political thriller should have.
The story revolves around a suicide of a struggling actress Priya who is assumed to be romantically linked with Anil, the son of a superstar turned politician. This superstar has numerous enemies in his own home as well in the outside world. Anils career is in jeopardy since media has publicized that Priyas suicide has a lot to do with their love affair.
Mohan Krishna, the superstar father goes all out to save his son and in turn his own political career.
An agency comprising of Partha, Harish and Seema is appointed to dig out what exactly the truth is. During their undercover operation they unearth some surprising details about a lot of things including Mohan Krishnas past, Priyas friends, her romantic partner, and a couple of professors from Priyas college.
The story revolves around all these characters and how do they manage to solve the mystery behind Priyas death. Is Anil the real culprit or is it someone else? Read the novel to get your answers.
It is extremely commendable that such a story with half a dozen heavy weight characters have been dealt with utmost clarity. One will not get confused anytime as to what is going on. The author has written the novel in a clear consice language, it is fast paced, it is thrilling, one gets to wonder as to what will happen next.
The book is a bit long but then such a story had to be long, it was not possible to cut short to give the impact that it is giving currently.
One can visualize every character, every scene and the author successfully manages to build the adrenaline rush as the story moves on.
Absolutely recommended to all those who love mystery and political novels, this one is a must read.
In fact, this is a story or a compilation of all the above three. It has murder, it has mystery, it has romance, it has politics, it has aspirations, it has suspense, it has tragedy, it has got everything which a political thriller should have.
The story revolves around a suicide of a struggling actress Priya who is assumed to be romantically linked with Anil, the son of a superstar turned politician. This superstar has numerous enemies in his own home as well in the outside world. Anils career is in jeopardy since media has publicized that Priyas suicide has a lot to do with their love affair.
Mohan Krishna, the superstar father goes all out to save his son and in turn his own political career.
An agency comprising of Partha, Harish and Seema is appointed to dig out what exactly the truth is. During their undercover operation they unearth some surprising details about a lot of things including Mohan Krishnas past, Priyas friends, her romantic partner, and a couple of professors from Priyas college.
The story revolves around all these characters and how do they manage to solve the mystery behind Priyas death. Is Anil the real culprit or is it someone else? Read the novel to get your answers.
It is extremely commendable that such a story with half a dozen heavy weight characters have been dealt with utmost clarity. One will not get confused anytime as to what is going on. The author has written the novel in a clear consice language, it is fast paced, it is thrilling, one gets to wonder as to what will happen next.
The book is a bit long but then such a story had to be long, it was not possible to cut short to give the impact that it is giving currently.
One can visualize every character, every scene and the author successfully manages to build the adrenaline rush as the story moves on.
Absolutely recommended to all those who love mystery and political novels, this one is a must read.
October 30, 2019
The story begins with a investigation scene. An aspiring actress Priya is dead; it appears like she has committed suicide. Priya was about to appear in a movie with a former Telugu movie star turned politician’s son Anil. It was a debut movie for Anil and it was a hot topic all over the media. With this big news of Priya suspicious suicide our former Telugu movie star hires Partha to investigate the matter. When he arrives at the movie stars residence he is surprised to see the tense situation and wonders what would have happened? What could have gone wrong when everything seemed good? Why did Priya commit suicide? Was it a suicide in the first place? To know more read A Useful Death
My Thoughts:
The characters are very well-developed. Most of them have their own secrets and ulterior motives. I especially liked the character of Partha. He’s very intelligent but charming at the same time.
The plot is very intriguing and will surely keep the readers on edge throughout the book. One would be surprised with the complex crime scenes, the interviews that take place throughout the plot. The plot is written in such an interesting manner that one could feel that a movie is playing before their eyes.
I liked the writing style of the author. The language is simple and lucid. One would not find it difficult to go throughout the book. The pace of the book is neither too fast nor too slow which makes the book even more interesting. The writer has explained very well the plights of the upcoming and struggling actors very well. And what some of them go through when looking for work.
Overall, A Useful Death is a breath-taking thriller with lots of twists and turns and will surely keep the readers on edge till the last page. I would surely recommend this book to all those who are looking to read a mysterious thriller
My Rating: 5/5
My Thoughts:
The characters are very well-developed. Most of them have their own secrets and ulterior motives. I especially liked the character of Partha. He’s very intelligent but charming at the same time.
The plot is very intriguing and will surely keep the readers on edge throughout the book. One would be surprised with the complex crime scenes, the interviews that take place throughout the plot. The plot is written in such an interesting manner that one could feel that a movie is playing before their eyes.
I liked the writing style of the author. The language is simple and lucid. One would not find it difficult to go throughout the book. The pace of the book is neither too fast nor too slow which makes the book even more interesting. The writer has explained very well the plights of the upcoming and struggling actors very well. And what some of them go through when looking for work.
Overall, A Useful Death is a breath-taking thriller with lots of twists and turns and will surely keep the readers on edge till the last page. I would surely recommend this book to all those who are looking to read a mysterious thriller
My Rating: 5/5
August 9, 2019
Another murder mystery, another suspense and another good read. Author Sriram Chellapilla has penned this book like a pro Bollywood/Tollywood script writer. I believe I will get the chance to watch movie or any web series based on this book soon. Anyway let me tell you the synopsis of the story without being a spoiler.
.
.
So the story starts with the suicide of Priya, who is yet to hit the floor of Telegu film industry you can say a struggling actress. Her dead body was found by her roommate in her dorm. Most of her friends think that she took this step because of Arun, who is the son of Telegu Star Mohan Krishna. So automatically the family came into the highlight. Partha who is a retired PR is now associated with a consultant agency along with Harish and Seema. Now Partha is desperate enough to know who is behind this suicide or is it a suicide at all, or it’s a cold-blooded murder. As per Partha, it’s a false accusation to Arun but someone’s big head has schemed against the whole case. His other partners Seema & Harish did their best to help Partha to investigate the crime scene. It was a trio magic you will get to see in this book.
.
.
First, two chapters of this book will not be helpful to draw your attention as proper crime or murder fiction. However, once you will reach third chapter, and then the story will take its own flow to keep you reading vigorously. You will feel as if you are reading a Bollywood script, and even you can start imagining the characters like a movie. I won’t say the story has got something unique plots, but the plot twists or undercurrent of the mystery has got their own individuality. It really makes sense that being a Telegu author Sriram Chellapilla has created the story based on Telegu Film industry cum political scene. Though I felt author tried to stretch the story unnecessarily, but overall it’s not boring at all. I will give 10 out of 10 while creating the protagonist character Partha, but author could have shown more about the negative character which didn’t get it’s deserving limelight. Thanks Westland Books for this gifted copy.
Ratings : 3.5/5
.
.
So the story starts with the suicide of Priya, who is yet to hit the floor of Telegu film industry you can say a struggling actress. Her dead body was found by her roommate in her dorm. Most of her friends think that she took this step because of Arun, who is the son of Telegu Star Mohan Krishna. So automatically the family came into the highlight. Partha who is a retired PR is now associated with a consultant agency along with Harish and Seema. Now Partha is desperate enough to know who is behind this suicide or is it a suicide at all, or it’s a cold-blooded murder. As per Partha, it’s a false accusation to Arun but someone’s big head has schemed against the whole case. His other partners Seema & Harish did their best to help Partha to investigate the crime scene. It was a trio magic you will get to see in this book.
.
.
First, two chapters of this book will not be helpful to draw your attention as proper crime or murder fiction. However, once you will reach third chapter, and then the story will take its own flow to keep you reading vigorously. You will feel as if you are reading a Bollywood script, and even you can start imagining the characters like a movie. I won’t say the story has got something unique plots, but the plot twists or undercurrent of the mystery has got their own individuality. It really makes sense that being a Telegu author Sriram Chellapilla has created the story based on Telegu Film industry cum political scene. Though I felt author tried to stretch the story unnecessarily, but overall it’s not boring at all. I will give 10 out of 10 while creating the protagonist character Partha, but author could have shown more about the negative character which didn’t get it’s deserving limelight. Thanks Westland Books for this gifted copy.
Ratings : 3.5/5
November 24, 2019
Death in the first chapter is always my kind of book. Described as "A suicide. An attempted cover-up. And then the questions begin... " on the cover, I was very excited to read this book by Mr. Sriram Chellapilla.
As per the title, A useful Death, revolves around the death of an aspiring actress Priya. It's a suicide and it gets complicated when the names of the big shots of the Telugu film industry are involved. It turns out to be a huge scandal. Media goes crazy over the issue. Fixers Partha, Harish and Seema are hired to handle the crisis. Is it just another film industry scandal or something more? Why are the student unions and the ruling party are involved?
To read what actually drove Priya to death, was nerve wracking. It all reminded me of Dumbledore's famous words, " Words are in my not so humble opinion our most inexhaustible source of magic capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it. " You always need a friend / support system when you are absolutely down. Words of encouragement can do wonders. But when that one person whom you trust the most, turns against you, it can be very painful.
A unique, simmering and fast-paced story, A Useful Death was so good to read. It's an absolute page turner. With a lot of background information, intricate knots and detailing, the narrative was brilliant. Unexpected twists and a fitting end made this book all the more interesting to read. I would rate the book 3.5/5 stars.
As per the title, A useful Death, revolves around the death of an aspiring actress Priya. It's a suicide and it gets complicated when the names of the big shots of the Telugu film industry are involved. It turns out to be a huge scandal. Media goes crazy over the issue. Fixers Partha, Harish and Seema are hired to handle the crisis. Is it just another film industry scandal or something more? Why are the student unions and the ruling party are involved?
To read what actually drove Priya to death, was nerve wracking. It all reminded me of Dumbledore's famous words, " Words are in my not so humble opinion our most inexhaustible source of magic capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it. " You always need a friend / support system when you are absolutely down. Words of encouragement can do wonders. But when that one person whom you trust the most, turns against you, it can be very painful.
A unique, simmering and fast-paced story, A Useful Death was so good to read. It's an absolute page turner. With a lot of background information, intricate knots and detailing, the narrative was brilliant. Unexpected twists and a fitting end made this book all the more interesting to read. I would rate the book 3.5/5 stars.
January 6, 2020
A Useful Death by Sriram Chellapilla is as twisted and turned for a mystery as is its title. Like, just imagine a suicide mystery taking twists and turns like out of nowhere whilst still making sense. And by the time you start getting the pace and the mystery (or pretend to do so), you experience a sudden cold and dark chill going down your spine, because as the mystery further unveils, the reader is exposed to the disastrous mindset of an unexpected character, who turns out to be the villain.
With a very interesting and gripping narrative, the author tries to expose the dark side of the film industry, politics and nonetheless, the misuse of power and connections, in the background of a suicide of an aspiring actress. The son of a politician and former Telugu-movie superstar is accused in this case and the story revolves around a detective firm trying super hard to solve the case. Various events are reported related to student unions and political influence. The reader can very well experience how media and politics can go nasty when hand in hand and how is everything portrayed in a different manner via media.
I am in awe with the gripping narrative and the nail biting story line. The best part is the efficient character development, which made the story very intricate and intriguing. Some parts had unnecessary dragging which I think could have been avoided owing to the gut wrenching and mind numbing plot.
Overall, it has been one hell of a read!
With a very interesting and gripping narrative, the author tries to expose the dark side of the film industry, politics and nonetheless, the misuse of power and connections, in the background of a suicide of an aspiring actress. The son of a politician and former Telugu-movie superstar is accused in this case and the story revolves around a detective firm trying super hard to solve the case. Various events are reported related to student unions and political influence. The reader can very well experience how media and politics can go nasty when hand in hand and how is everything portrayed in a different manner via media.
I am in awe with the gripping narrative and the nail biting story line. The best part is the efficient character development, which made the story very intricate and intriguing. Some parts had unnecessary dragging which I think could have been avoided owing to the gut wrenching and mind numbing plot.
Overall, it has been one hell of a read!
January 9, 2020
The book is a good thriller that surprises you at the end. So when i started reading the book, it felt like this is not going to turn out to be a good one as i had already started my predictions and after every chapter it kept on adding up to my predictions. But then boom. The story started making me doubt my predictions and the ending turned out to be something i completely did not see coming. And that is what i call a thriller well done. So the plot is tempting and the narration is perfect. The character development was done well. I loved the way the author developed Mohan Krishna's character and kept the best of it till the end. Partha, the detective who is the extra smart guy, the one who tends to understand everything was the best character in the book and i would love to see him solving more cases with Seema and Harish. The language used in the book is good. Even though there was too much of description in few places and was a bit slow moving, it had absolute no scope of confusion. The way the author had presented the entire cinema industry and the politics behind it is fascinating. This book can be made into a movie which would be no doubt a blockbuster. I rate this book four out of five stars for engrossing me into the intriguing political thriller. It would have been nice to see Anil at the end. But the book is must read and worth your time. I recommend this book to everyone who loves reading slow paced thriller. This book is not going to upset you.
October 22, 2019
Priya, a theatre arts graduate is found dead in her apartment. It appears to be a suicide but the police is not convinced. There is no trace of any suicide letter and moreover many things in the apartment appears to be absurd. When the police questions the girl who informed them about the dead body, many unknown facts come to light. It turns out to be another film industry scandal as Priya was an aspiting actor and was betrayed by some high profile peoplr of the industry. Also the political angle makes it more enthralling. If you have read the blurb you know it all. So what is the real deal? Why is Priya dead? Who id behind all these? If you want to know then pick up the book asap.
The book is beautifully written and keeps you at the edge of your seat. With commendable set of characters and a power packed plot the author leaves you awestruck. The story starts slow but as you keep on reading the pace picks up and makes the book unputdownable. As you keep on turning the pages be prepared to get surprised. And not to mention the final twist will leave you dumbfounded. It can be turned into a perfect bollywood movie with a nailbiting climax. If you are a sucker for murder mystery then you are going to love this book. With so many twists and a gripping plot the book will be a perfect weekend read
The book is beautifully written and keeps you at the edge of your seat. With commendable set of characters and a power packed plot the author leaves you awestruck. The story starts slow but as you keep on reading the pace picks up and makes the book unputdownable. As you keep on turning the pages be prepared to get surprised. And not to mention the final twist will leave you dumbfounded. It can be turned into a perfect bollywood movie with a nailbiting climax. If you are a sucker for murder mystery then you are going to love this book. With so many twists and a gripping plot the book will be a perfect weekend read
October 16, 2019
After a long time, I have read a crime thriller that has been meticulously planned and perfectly executed with the right blend of thrill and suspense. The plot was complex and intricate, interview and fight scenes were vivid, with cinematic effects, characters were grey-shaded and secretive, with ulterior motives. The book is a complete delight for anyone who loves reading crime thrillers.
The story is about opportunistic people who can stoop to any level to serve their objectives. They could manipulate and drive someone to death and use the tragedy as a strategy for their benefit. This is the reality of our society as well. The cause of the victim is lost, as the so-called supporters have their agendas. How people with power and money use them to their advantage, influence outcomes, and easily brushes aside any unlawful acts and activities. The book is a complete delight for anyone who loves reading crime thrillers.
The author is knowledgeable, clear-headed, well informed, and observant. It is apparent from the way he has woven the story of Priya around the Telugu state politics, Naxal movements, and Telugu film industry. He didn't mince his words while describing the Hyderabad city. He has brilliantly penned the murky and manipulative game loaded crime thriller.
The story is about opportunistic people who can stoop to any level to serve their objectives. They could manipulate and drive someone to death and use the tragedy as a strategy for their benefit. This is the reality of our society as well. The cause of the victim is lost, as the so-called supporters have their agendas. How people with power and money use them to their advantage, influence outcomes, and easily brushes aside any unlawful acts and activities. The book is a complete delight for anyone who loves reading crime thrillers.
The author is knowledgeable, clear-headed, well informed, and observant. It is apparent from the way he has woven the story of Priya around the Telugu state politics, Naxal movements, and Telugu film industry. He didn't mince his words while describing the Hyderabad city. He has brilliantly penned the murky and manipulative game loaded crime thriller.
October 30, 2019
Cover: Quite simple and yet efficient enough to attract the reader.
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Story begins with Priya, the aspiring actress who is dead. Is it a sucide or a planned murder? Anil the son of famous superstar and politician Mohan Krishna is being framed guilty. Is he the one who drove priya to sucide?
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Partha hired by Rama Krishna is given the task to find out the culprit and clear Anil's image. Partha and his team try their best to find the culprit. On this mission they come across various past instances which are being resurfaced to spil the image of the Mohan Krishna and the family.
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Partha and his associates deeply induce in the case and find out various instances which may be leading to the present chaos. Is it an intra family war? Will pages from the past ruin the present and future? Who is the real culprit? Planned murder or sucide? Will Partha and his associates accomplish their mission? To know more do read this book!
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Overall loved the book, the storyline is quite amazing and is being drafted with utmost care nd perfection. The story for each character is written well and is not left incomplete. The book is filled with twist and turns and some were quite unexpected. The story is so thrilling and mysterious that it has the power to keep the reader attracted towards it.
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Story begins with Priya, the aspiring actress who is dead. Is it a sucide or a planned murder? Anil the son of famous superstar and politician Mohan Krishna is being framed guilty. Is he the one who drove priya to sucide?
.
Partha hired by Rama Krishna is given the task to find out the culprit and clear Anil's image. Partha and his team try their best to find the culprit. On this mission they come across various past instances which are being resurfaced to spil the image of the Mohan Krishna and the family.
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Partha and his associates deeply induce in the case and find out various instances which may be leading to the present chaos. Is it an intra family war? Will pages from the past ruin the present and future? Who is the real culprit? Planned murder or sucide? Will Partha and his associates accomplish their mission? To know more do read this book!
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Overall loved the book, the storyline is quite amazing and is being drafted with utmost care nd perfection. The story for each character is written well and is not left incomplete. The book is filled with twist and turns and some were quite unexpected. The story is so thrilling and mysterious that it has the power to keep the reader attracted towards it.
October 31, 2019
A Useful Death By Sriram Chellapilla
I found this book title very intriguing, how can be a death was useful so find out that I read this book, story is very fast paced and gripping that i can finish this book in 3 sitting.story is written in such a manner that it makes it an easy read because mystery and suspense through out keep you hooked with the story.
Story starts with a murder of an aspiring actress Priya and there are lot of things missing from crime scene.A rumour that Anil, son of Mohan Krishna a politician and former superstar of Telugu movies is involved in this murder.Mohan hired Partha to clear his son name from this case but during investigation lots of things come forward which shocks Partha. Case is the hot topic on all news channels and social media and pressure is on Partha and his team to solve this theory as soon as possible.
Book focusing on politics, naxalism, student politics and leftism and what happened inside film industry so there are lots of mystery and drama which makes a perfect entertaining read. Language used by author is simple and lucid. Characters are very real and when I'm reading perfect picture comes of each character define so the job done by author is perfect.
This book is a political thriller and a best script for blockbuster movie.
I found this book title very intriguing, how can be a death was useful so find out that I read this book, story is very fast paced and gripping that i can finish this book in 3 sitting.story is written in such a manner that it makes it an easy read because mystery and suspense through out keep you hooked with the story.
Story starts with a murder of an aspiring actress Priya and there are lot of things missing from crime scene.A rumour that Anil, son of Mohan Krishna a politician and former superstar of Telugu movies is involved in this murder.Mohan hired Partha to clear his son name from this case but during investigation lots of things come forward which shocks Partha. Case is the hot topic on all news channels and social media and pressure is on Partha and his team to solve this theory as soon as possible.
Book focusing on politics, naxalism, student politics and leftism and what happened inside film industry so there are lots of mystery and drama which makes a perfect entertaining read. Language used by author is simple and lucid. Characters are very real and when I'm reading perfect picture comes of each character define so the job done by author is perfect.
This book is a political thriller and a best script for blockbuster movie.
January 16, 2020
An intense political thriller that reflects the power games that runs deep in the influencial families, Showbiz and politics even in the face of crisis. The Story starts with the investigation of a suspected homicide case of a young aspiring actress linked to a starkid.An investigation agency is hired to assess the situation and contain the damage.Surprisingly the Megastar Mohan Krishna do little to defend his son.Why is the Superstar not keen on saving his son? Does his past hold any link to the murder?
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An engaging narration from the very inception, the storyline is gripping enough to hold one's attention till the last.The characters are deftly carved and relatable, each one has a deep link with the ongoing proceedings which will be revealed subsequently. As the story unfolds, the dark belly of film industry, politics and media houses is exposed where every exploitation of the innocents is endorsed by the power mongers.
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The author deftly portrays how an individual,an ideology can influence the psychological state of individuals.The climax left me baffled with many critical questions.The tale justified the title beautifully.
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The thriller could have been more exciting with a lesser volume.
I will recommend the book to all the thriller and suspense lovers.
November 3, 2019
The glamorous world of movie stars have always been the center of controversies, not to mention there have been tons of mysterious deaths and scandals that make their way to tabloids. This book deals with the death of an aspiring actor, Priya who is found dead in her apartment. At first glance, it seems like a suicide but what meets the eye isn't always the truth and this is exactly what the police thinks about this particular case.
Investigation leads to revelation of some ugly truth and conspiracies that involve people from the political world and as the story progresses, it unfolds the power play of everyone involved and hints at something much bigger than what was hinted initially.
The story had me hooked from the very beginning. The concept is enthralling and the plot twists keeps you entertained throughout. The title itself is pretty intriguing and even though it doesn't make much sense in the beginning, it becomes totally relevant as you reach the end when all the webs and knots untie. In spite of being over 400 pages, there was not a single place where I got bored and the authors vivid narration is the obvious reason.
The book has many layers and deals with one thing at a time making it a well paced thriller, even if it was slow at first, where you get one question answered just before another one presents itself in front of you.
It's been a long time since I read a thriller and I'm glad I picked this up as I really enjoyed this.
Investigation leads to revelation of some ugly truth and conspiracies that involve people from the political world and as the story progresses, it unfolds the power play of everyone involved and hints at something much bigger than what was hinted initially.
The story had me hooked from the very beginning. The concept is enthralling and the plot twists keeps you entertained throughout. The title itself is pretty intriguing and even though it doesn't make much sense in the beginning, it becomes totally relevant as you reach the end when all the webs and knots untie. In spite of being over 400 pages, there was not a single place where I got bored and the authors vivid narration is the obvious reason.
The book has many layers and deals with one thing at a time making it a well paced thriller, even if it was slow at first, where you get one question answered just before another one presents itself in front of you.
It's been a long time since I read a thriller and I'm glad I picked this up as I really enjoyed this.
![Profile Image for Padmajha [PJ] Me and My Bookshelf.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1716366774i%2F12703387._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 5, 2019
This is the story where Partha and his team work to identify what drove the aspiring actress Priya to commit suicide.
Her laptop and mobile phone goes missing and various people are blamed for its disappearance. Partha works discretely to find out the mystery surrounding Priya's death and tries to locate the missing gadgets.
The story starts in a leisurely pace and then after one third of the book, it becomes a page turner!
Naxalism, Leftists views, students getting involved in politics, an innocent guy and his mentality after being framed for a murder he had no connection to, the struggles of upcoming or aspiring artists in the film industry, politics,media's role in the society are some of the things that are expertly brought out in this book.
The language is simple and easy to follow. In some of the places, I felt the description could have been cut short which in turn would have accelerated the reading speed.
I felt the cover could have been a little better.
Overall a good thriller with a lot of suspense and the ending / reason for Priya's suicide is not something that you would have imagined it to be! I would give this book 4/5 stars.
Her laptop and mobile phone goes missing and various people are blamed for its disappearance. Partha works discretely to find out the mystery surrounding Priya's death and tries to locate the missing gadgets.
The story starts in a leisurely pace and then after one third of the book, it becomes a page turner!
Naxalism, Leftists views, students getting involved in politics, an innocent guy and his mentality after being framed for a murder he had no connection to, the struggles of upcoming or aspiring artists in the film industry, politics,media's role in the society are some of the things that are expertly brought out in this book.
The language is simple and easy to follow. In some of the places, I felt the description could have been cut short which in turn would have accelerated the reading speed.
I felt the cover could have been a little better.
Overall a good thriller with a lot of suspense and the ending / reason for Priya's suicide is not something that you would have imagined it to be! I would give this book 4/5 stars.
November 4, 2019
This is one book which actually kept me guessing for a long time. There were many moments when I felt that I should keep it down, but then something would come up and I would continue with it. Initially, it is very slow, it took me three days to reach page 100, and then it picks up pace and the twists begin. The narration is in the form of a script with detailed descriptions of scenes, characters and action, and sometimes I felt that I was watching a movie, especially the action sequences. Some descriptions could have been lesser. The characters are very well-developed and their back stories have also been mentioned.
The book gives an insight into the film industry and what new actors go through. The story has all the ingredients to make it unputdownable: suspense, murder/ suicide, politics, film industry, suspects, clues, university students, protests, money and power. The language is simple and the twists and turns are unpredictable.
I loved the book and would definitely like to read more from the author.
The book gives an insight into the film industry and what new actors go through. The story has all the ingredients to make it unputdownable: suspense, murder/ suicide, politics, film industry, suspects, clues, university students, protests, money and power. The language is simple and the twists and turns are unpredictable.
I loved the book and would definitely like to read more from the author.
November 16, 2019
Book name: A Useful Death
Author: Sriram Chellapilla
My rating: 4/5
Review:
The book starts with a suicide of a struggling actress Priya. Rumors are that Anil, the son of politician and former movie superstar Mohan Krishna is involved...
So is it a suicide or a murder potrayed as suicide?
What I liked and didn't like about the book:
The book engages you slowly makes you think at few points. Story amazingly potrays the reality of the world we live in with a mixture cinema/political star world.
Writing style is simple and engaging but slows down the speed of read at few points.
The character of partha is awesomely written. The dilemma he goes through in every situation is convincing.
Overall, the book is engaging... simply having politics, drama, thriller, suspense.
Plot: 4/5
Story: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Entertainment: 3.5/5
Final verdict: 4/5
My favorite line:
There is great danger in duelling with a person who thirsts for battle more than victory.
Author: Sriram Chellapilla
My rating: 4/5
Review:
The book starts with a suicide of a struggling actress Priya. Rumors are that Anil, the son of politician and former movie superstar Mohan Krishna is involved...
So is it a suicide or a murder potrayed as suicide?
What I liked and didn't like about the book:
The book engages you slowly makes you think at few points. Story amazingly potrays the reality of the world we live in with a mixture cinema/political star world.
Writing style is simple and engaging but slows down the speed of read at few points.
The character of partha is awesomely written. The dilemma he goes through in every situation is convincing.
Overall, the book is engaging... simply having politics, drama, thriller, suspense.
Plot: 4/5
Story: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Entertainment: 3.5/5
Final verdict: 4/5
My favorite line:
There is great danger in duelling with a person who thirsts for battle more than victory.
December 12, 2019
A young actress Priya commits suicide and the son of a top actor Anil is being accused of leading her into the suicide. Her laptop and phoe goes missing, adding to the mystery of the whole scenario. Partha a c0-founder of a PR aganecy is hired to do damage control for Anil. Once PArtha sets out to find the truth, the situations get entagled and PArtha learns that it is not what is seen peripherally. Priya's death is no longer a young actress in love with a young ator cliche. The more Partha gets involved, the more spiralled, his path to truth gets. With a mix of suspese, action and drama, author has managed to pull off an engaging cliffhanger.
The stylr of narration and overal plots reminds of Jackie Collins. Though with an action packed twist. The narration is the highlight of the book. Towards the second half, the plot gets too long to care but author with the exemplary style of narration has made the job seem smooth and easy going. The characters are complimetary to the plotline. Except Partha and the person who comes to light towards the climax, none of the characters are given much spce to develop but still author has managed to make it look complete.
The stylr of narration and overal plots reminds of Jackie Collins. Though with an action packed twist. The narration is the highlight of the book. Towards the second half, the plot gets too long to care but author with the exemplary style of narration has made the job seem smooth and easy going. The characters are complimetary to the plotline. Except Partha and the person who comes to light towards the climax, none of the characters are given much spce to develop but still author has managed to make it look complete.
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