A gripping story of how multiple lives become entangled, when a kidnapped girl escapes and sets the alarms ringing on at least 15 unsolved murder cases, mostly involving female victims. Kruthi Shah, who has just killed one of her abductors and escaped from the wooden cabin, where she had been kept a captive. She makes it her personal goal to mete out what she sees as the punishment to the main captor. Will she succeed in locking him in his own mental cage? Or will she fall into the trap herself? Madhuri Mahiwal, who’s the Officer In-Charge, wants nothing but justice for Kruthi. How does she balance the explosive truths of the case with her own personal life that no longer seems to be what she had always believed it to be? Dhananjay Bhide’s only dream was to live the life of an honest police officer, in memory of his late father’s wishes. He is deeply affected when he sees a battered Kruthi and vows to bring her justice. How far is he willing to go for her sake? So here we are, looking at the opus of a magnificent work, replete with insight, detailed peeps into the detective world. I feel it has cinematic potential too, and hope it is given the recognition due. Welcome, India's Lady Earle Stanley Gardner, I must say… Crime does pay dividends in literature, all kudos to you! --- Col. (Retd.) Kanchan Bhattacharya The Captive is one of finest attempts by Lavanya Nukavarapu at writing a brilliantly engaging and teeth clattering crime/suspense thriller. From the plot of the book, to the setting and the characters- everything in this book keeps you engaged and hooked for more. Lavanya has made sure that she gives each of the characters in her novel not only a distinctive personality reader can relate to, but also a very distinctive voice, something that sticks with you for a long time. --- Kavya Sharma, Author of – To Naddiyaa and The Carmine Memories.
The Captive by Lavanya Nukavarapu is a crime thriller that will leave you shocked and surprised at the same time. This gripping story will keep you so engrossed in its pages that you will keep wanting for more. You will not be able to put this book down until you finish reading it.
The story begins with a girl being found in an extremely pathetic state. The girl has been subjected to a lot of torture and pain. An elderly couple finds her in this bad state and immediately, calls the police. And then begins the investigation to find out the culprits. The police discover that it is a case of multiple serial murders. Every time the police meets a clue and feels that they are cracking the case, it takes a drastic turn. Either the clue leads to nothing or is being eliminated. The mystery grows stronger and uncrackable. Does the young girl get justice? Are the culprits being caught? Does the captivator himself become a captive? The Captive is story of Kruthi, the girl of iron will and determination. The girl who is ready to do anything to get justice.
I would like to begin my review with appreciating the author for the efforts she has put in to carve this chilling thriller. The Captive, being the author's debut book, is simply amazing. The plot, the characters as well as the narration is done really well. You will instantly feel connected to the characters especially Kruthi. You will discover and know the characters better as you dive deeper into this book. The story does not bore you even for a single moment. It always has something exciting to offer on every page.
The author has written this story in third person narrative. The narration is clear, concise and very fluent. Though the story is narrated in third person narrative, it feels as if the characters are speaking to you. The story touches the right chords of your heart. You will feel moved by this story.
I loved this story because of many reasons. Firstly, the plot is very interesting. This is coupled by the amazing narration. Secondly, the characters are sketched very well. Each character is unique and exhibits immense will power and determination. Thirdly, the pace of the story is rightly maintained. And, lastly the story keeps you engaged throughout your reading session.
I always look out for some lessons in every story I read. The Captive by Lavanya Nukavarapu also taught me a few things. 1. No matter how evil things get or people are, truth always win. There is nothing more powerful and more strong than the truth. 2. Strong determination and will power can bring around any villian. 3. There is always a bright light waiting for you at the end of the tunnel. All that you need to do is keep marching towards it. And, face the obstructions and problems with optimisim.
The Captive by Lavanya Nukavarapu is an engaging read that will keep you thrilled until the end. It is a must read for all crime thriller lovers out there!
Ratings: Cover: 3.5/5 Characters: 4/5 Story: 4/5
My overall rating for The Captive by Lavanya Nukavarapu is 4.5/5 stars.
“So be who you really are. Embrace who you are. Literally. Hug yourself. Accept who you are. Unless you're a serial killer.” ― Ellen DeGeneres, Seriously... I'm Kidding
Serial killers are normal looking people with abnormal brains. They derive pleasure in sadism. This is like a drug for them. “The Captive: Psychological Thriller (1)” by Lavanya Nukavarapu is one such book.
The story starts with a captive girl who is being raped and tortured continuously by sick persons. Kruthi Shah somehow finds courage and kills one of the captors. She runs away and police takes her to hospital. The hunt begins and many skeletons start to appear.
The premise is simple but the execution by Lavanya is novel. The story moves at a brisk pace and we don’t get time to stop and think. The police investigation is relentless. The backstory of all the killers and rapists is given in detail so that we can see what goes into creation of these monsters. It is highly recommended book for the lovers of this genre.
Book Title: The Captive Author: Lavanya Nukavarapu Format: Paperback
Book Title: The title of the book ' The Captive ' is intriguing and holds interest. The subtitle of the book - A psychological thriller creates more interest in readers' minds.
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is a close-up image of a person's precisely a young woman's arms with a rope used to build up the noose.
Plot: The story is about a young woman named Kruthi who is found in a very pathetic state after being physically abused. She is found by the nearby couple from where the police investigation starts and the story turns into a mystery.
The author has taken the utmost care in retaining the mystery and suspense element in the story from the start till the end of the story.
What I like: 1. The plot that takes the readers on a roller coaster ride of many twists and turns 2. The setting of the story creates a sense of fear in the reader's mind 3. The importance of transparency and communication between parents and children is illustrated well 4. The virtues that children develop from the house of upbringing with a sense of social responsibility is explained well 5. The duty and determination of the police in duty is very well explained 6. The backstories of every character especially antagonists is very interesting to read. 7. The font, look and feel of the book is so perfect.
What I didn't like: The book is so engrossing that there are no flaws or errors observed.
Characters: All the characters in the story right from the victim, the police officer and his team with the protagonist and antagonist are plotted extremely well. There are many layers in each character that are interlaced and as the story progresses one can feel the strength in the characters.
Narration: A very gripping and intelligently written narration is observed in the story. The narration happens in a smooth way where the story starts with a young woman found with wounds and the story ends up with an unexpected twist.
Language & Grammar: Easy and clear language with normal vocabulary is found in the story.
My Final Verdict: Interesting, honest and mind-captivating story.
Book Title: 4/5 Book Cover: 3/5 Plot: 4/5 Characters: 4/5 Narration: 4/5 Language & Grammar:3/5 Final Rating: 4/5
The Captive is a gripping story about a girl Kruthi. The title is really intriguing, but I was thrilled as I read the Prologue. The girl is kept in captive, and as I read, i could feel the pain that the girl must have gone through. It really gave me goosebumps.
As Kruthi killed her captor, I was amazed at her willpower to live on. She ran away for her life. Each chapter has kept me on my toes.
Dhananjay being a good cop and a friend as well, while Madhuri is really adamant to catch the culprits. The way she handled everything has amazed me. She didn't even spared her own husband when she found him connected to Kruthi's case.
What I really liked about this book is that the first section is about the present times when Kruthi escaped her abductors, second section is all about the past of the men, Anthony and Birju. I was really thrilled to know their dark past. While, the third section is all about catching the Boss.
The arrest of Aryaveer broke my heart as I found him really sweet. Though the ending is as expected..
Truly, the title of the story is justified. The mind is the real captor of a human soul..
The Captive by Lavanya Nukavarapu ..what can I say! Though crime is the primal plot of the story , I was flabbergasted, stunned by the physiological part, i.e. section 2 of the novel. It was so gripping and I was awestruck by the author's power to write the psyche of a criminal's mind. The author in the section 2 of her novel has penned in the most smashing way the reason why normal human beings become criminal. Loved the characterisation of Anthony Pastor. Section 2 of the novel is singular and makes the novel different from other crime thrillers. Her tagline on the book cover and the story's name 'The Captive' is the essence of the novel. I loved the read and I finished the book in one go..😃
Starting from the title of the book, it is indeed apt. Its tagline is equally interesting- 'Everyone is a captive but only a few manage to break free.' It appropriately describes the story and is relatable. Gradually as you progress, you would understand that the captive is not only physical captivity but also refers to the mental captivity by our fears, traumas, troubles, past experiences, too.
Reading this novel will evoke a plethora of emotions. The plot is interesting. There are various twists and turns just what a psychological thriller is supposed to be. I must say that the author has a great command over her language and her vocab is amazing. The Characters have been well thought of. The story shows the author has done her research pretty well when it comes to the functioning of the police and solving of crimes.
The setting and the plot are relatable. While you might have a Déjà vu feeling while reading but this novella has a lot more to offer.
The story begins with the kidnapping of an innocent, young gal. The police have one aim to catch the kidnapper and as the story unfolds, your mind will turn through the various possibilities of how the kidnapper is.
I am impressed with the writing style of the author. The way she has described the emotions, I could feel every bit happening in the story. I was crying at the sad bits and smiling at the happy moments. I liked the third person narrative as it helps in easy grasp of the sort. One of the best thriller novels I have read. It is a must-read. It will keep you hooked.
Even though the ending is unexpected, I liked that there is complete closure. You would have had a satiated feeling once you would have wrapped the novel.
I am not bragging when I say this nor am I biased that it is worthy of converting into a show. The Grammar Nazi in me kept on noticing the typo and the proofreading errors but the novel is grasping enough to overpower those little mistakes.
It might seem a long read at first but once you grab your copy, you wouldn’t want to leave it. :)
Hold your breath — because once you start The Captive by Lavanya Nukavarapu, you won’t be able to put it down!
This intense crime thriller had me hooked from the first page. Kruthi Shah’s escape from her captors kicks off a wild ride full of twists, secrets, and a deep dive into the dark world of unsolved murders. ⚡
The characters are so well-written — Kruthi’s strength, Madhuri’s determination for justice, and Dhananjay’s loyalty make you root for them with your whole heart.
Lavanya Nukavarapu doesn’t just tell a story — she builds a world where every moment feels cinematic. You can literally see it playing out like a suspenseful movie in your head! 🎥
And oh, the suspense?? Teeth-clenching! Jaw-dropping! This book grabs you and doesn’t let go until the very last word.
If you love thrillers that are character-driven and packed with action, The Captive is definitely your next read.
Honestly, it feels like we’ve got our very own Lady Earle Stanley Gardner right here in India — and I’m here for it! Massive kudos to Lavanya Nukavarapu for creating such an electrifying, unforgettable story!
Psychological thriller has always been my preferred genre. There are stories that I read belonging to this particular genre which are great in terms of entertaining quotient and the suspense factor but very few which shakes one from the inside. This is one such book.
'The Captive' goes deep into the minds of those monsters who leave people in a vegetative state just to divert their frustrating mind. It is a seriously good tale of varied emotions and angles. How a girl shows immense courage by killing and then escaping from the clutches of sadist criminal and then takes a vow to bring victims justice is quite commendable to watch and experience .
The cover is simple and could have been better for a book of such high quality and outstanding narration. The best thing about it is its pace. The events happen so quickly that it augurs well for a chilling read and don't let the readers keep the book down for a minute. All the characters be it Kruthi, Madhuri, Dhananjay are sketched well and their own struggles are beautifully described. Undoubtedly, a highly recommended read
The Captive is an articulately penned Crime Thriller. The story revolves around the kidnapping of numerous people, mostly girls, around a particular area. When one of the girls was able to escape from the clutches of her kidnapper, it opened up the investigation of a string of murders. Something which ends up becoming way more sinister than anyone could’ve ever imagined.
In this book, the author takes the readers on a roller coaster of a ride where the reader is thrown off the groove numerous times and is constantly left wondering, ‘what’s next?’ This book has the perfect amount of drama and emotions and it kept me engrossed throughout. Every Time I thought I had figured out the plot, the author proved me wrong by concocting a new twist.
The author has a wonderful way with words. She uses lucid language to captivate the readers and suck them into the world that he has created. Further, the story had a very strong narration and the characters kept building and developing throughout the course of the book. They weren't stagnant and that is the best part about the book. I exceptionally loved the headstrong character of Madhuri and the wit of Dhananjay.
The psychological aspects of the book were phenomenal. There were a couple of times I found goosebumps on my arms due to the situations in the book being so creepy and full of gore. However, there are a couple of sensitive themes addressed in the book like suicide, rape and violence. So, if you are uncomfortable, this book, unfortunately, is not for you.
This is the kind of book that will play with your brain and will leave you speechless yet satiated.
I picked up The Captive thinking I’d just read a few chapters a day since my exams are coming up but I couldn’t resist finishing it in one go! The story was so gripping that I couldn’t put it down once I started.
Every twist kept me guessing, and the psychological depth of the characters added so much meaning to the suspense. The writing is sharp, the pacing perfect, and the ideas woven through the story are incredibly clever.
It’s hard to believe this was written by someone who’s an accountant by profession and the psychological insight and storytelling feel so natural and vivid.
I genuinely loved The Captive and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fast-paced thrillers with intelligence and heart.
The Captive is an entertaining and engrossing read in the psychological thriller genre. The story kept me hooked till the end. Lavanya really has a knack for creative writing.
"I am a star. I retained my life. I kept my flame burning." . Since I love reading thrillers, I opted for reading the book "The Captive" by Lavanya Nukavarappu. It is so intriguing that from the start only it has gripped me towards reading it further. This is a story of a girl kept captive for twenty days until when she finally escaped. Well it has done a great job by letting it's readers ponder upon who the kidnapper is. From the start only I started suspecting some people as the culprit but I was proved wrong by the splendid story construction of the author. The character presentation is quite apt doing justice with each of their roles. Since it is a psychological thriller, I would say that the author has done the splendid research work along with the presentation of the mental state of each character. Being the debut book of the author, the story is amazingly gripped with suspense and thriller till the end. . The story starts with the being in captivity seeing a whole in the wooden ceiling of her room. Even after being in a severe injured condition she tried her best to take a wooden piece and sharpen it to the fullest. As soon as the kidnapper came in she attacked him directly in the neck and ran for her life. She then fell unconscious in front of the house where a woman was sweeping the floor and cried for "Help." SThen the woman and her husband called the ambulance and the police. Where she took care and was interrogated after gaining consciousness. Will Kruthi, the captive girl, be able to find her abductor after the trauma she has perceived? What will be the state of others involved in this case? Is being kidnapped the only definition of being captive? Or is there anything deep explained about it? Is someone in the captivity of something evil going on in their mind? . It is indeed parting a message of not losing hope even if one is at the end of atrocities in life. One should always move forward and fight for what is right and truth always wins. It is a page turner that one should definitely opt for.
Book : The Captive Author : Lavanya Nukavarapu The cover , title and the blurb catched my attention and I was eager to give it a read. I was like what's the story? This book is about Kruthi who is kept captive by some people and a young couple finds her in a pathetic stage and informs the police. The girl is being captive, tortured and in pain but she doesn't give up, gathers her courage somehow and manages to rescue herself. What's next coming will blow your mind when you will come to know that the killer is psychopath and has killed around 15 girls. When the police are about to clear a case, there is another piece of newness which directs thier attention to different direction. I was getting a feeling of Crime Patrol case as if author got the idea of writing this story from there but jokes apart, The cover , title, characters, blurb and the story narration are weaved together brilliantly. The line "Everyone is a captive, but only few manages to break free" It holds a message that we all are captive / bounded by worries, anxiety, depression etc but how do we manage to let ourselves free by overcoming and bouncing back to the normal life. Though it's a bit lengthy one, but its a great read and once you find it interesting you are going to complete it soon because you won't be able to leave it without ending the suspense.
The starts with an elderly couple who finds out a girl in extremely pathetic condition. Finding her in this situation they calls out police immediately to know who did this with her. One after another suspense are being revealed which will leave you in a state of shock. Where you will be like oh god now this case is solved, there will be getting a clue that will take you to another suspense. Who is she? What happened to her? Who are the ones who did this with her? The story is about the girl named Kruthi and justice for her. The way author has narrated the story keeps the reader in a dilemma what will happen next? The keeps the reader to stick to the story till the end. The way characters are potraited makes the story more interesting and amazing read. Must say that the author did a lot of homework before reading about what wrong things happens with a female in the society. Only a few raise voice against it but reading this I must say the author did a marvelous job. The language used is simple and easy to understand.
The story is really indulging from start to end. The story maintained an horror state till end with logical conclusion. Author has paced the story in past and present easily. It is a dark mystery of psycho serial killer and his team. The story also represents that how smart, intelligent the Captor is , at the end the Captor is the real captive. A person is captive of his emotions,thoughts and feelings, one must show courage when needed to break free it. Story contains the dangerous ideas of an psycho's thinking. Recommended except for light heart people.
The Captive is a story of Kruthi who was held captive by serial killers but fortunately she escapes from their clutches and the story revolves around how the killers were caught and the reason behind them becoming criminals.
The title and the cover are apt for the story. The language is simple and the story flows in a good pace with the twists turning in at the right time keeping the readers hooked up till the end. It is one story where you would rush while reading and in the end feel bad as you feel like wanting more.
The end and the boss were unexpected and the way the author narrated the pasts of the culprits and explained their psychology very well. Overall, I would recommend this story to all those who love reading thrillers and mysteries.
Totally a gripping tale. The amount of horror that life throws your way- when you least expect is, can turn your built normalcy out of the window. The suspense was extremely overwhelming and I tried hard not to guess and while doing so, the graphic description of events threw light on many other aspects. There is no justification to that kind of evil. Your actions define who you are. It does not matter if one hails from a poor family or owns a terrible childhood history. Someone capable of ill deeds needs to be locked away. The pace was good and the storyline was equally good. But the plot could have been much better.
Put together a very strong plot, tightly packed narration and characters that actually add to the plot rather than just being there for the sake of it, you get a great book.
Lavanya has done a great job writing on a topic that unfortunately become a sad reality of our day to day life and yet giving us a ray of hope with the way she has worked with the plot.
Kruthi, the protagonist, has just escaped from her abductors and is found in a battered state. From here, starts the journey that redeems Kruthi and also empowers her to bring those perpetrators to justice.
What pleased me the most was the way she has narrated the story. Never once is there a low point in the plot, except for the disgust, and also helplessness you feel about the whole topic of treating women as a commodity to be used at their own will.
The Captive is an exciting page-turner of a read by Lavanya Nukavarapu, focusing on a horrific murder-mystery. This police thriller revolves around a captive, Kruthi, who manages to escape imprisonment and runs to freedom, sparking interest in a kidnapping and murder case that resulted in the deaths of over 15 women.
The story moves quickly, but the suspense is built well. We're not exposed to the killer until the last moment, with the epilogue providing a satisfying, yet heart-breaking ending. The author does a bang-up job of eliciting sympathy for the victim, interest in the police case, and intrigue. Each layer is carefully pulled back from the antagonists, from the killers themselves. Each new layer answers new questions while encouraging the reader to keep probing.
What I enjoyed most about this novel was the surprise twist at the end - the author foreshadows the ending well, and left me feeling breathless by the end of it. It was a twist I did and did not see coming, and the author manages to tie up loose ends and close all plot holes.
I would rate this a 9/10 - the writing is really good. The build-up is well-done, the characters are fleshed out well, and it doesn't feel like there's anything really missing. There are a few grammatical errors here and there, but it's negligible - the author's writing manages to sweep you away.
*Warning: SPOILERS BELOW* The novel opens with Kruthi's harrowing escape from being imprisoned, raped, and tortured for almost 20 days by the hands of three mysterious kidnappers. Rather than Kruthi being a special victim chosen for the heinous act, she is one of the many random kidnappings that have taken place over a broad area, and further investigations reveal over 15 bodies buried in the surrounding fields. This sparks a high-priority investigation. The team consists of Mathuri, an intelligent, driven woman with an uncanny gut instinct to lead her in the right path, Aryaveer and Dhananjay, two competent, focused young men and Dr. Lavleen, a forensic scientist who works on autopsies to provide more information.
The antagonists, too, are equally fleshed out - Anthony Pastor and Birju are led by the mysterious 'Boss', a shadowy figure who saves them, grooms them, and trains them to do his bidding. By selectively choosing violent, broken men, he's able to train them well - picking them up at their lowest points and presenting himself as their saviour. Their stories, too, are harrowing and vicious, eliciting mixed feelings of horror and sympathy as you understand the lengths they are pushed to, to become who they are. I enjoyed this aspect because the author showed us how monsters are made, rather than simply delineating someone as 'bad person'.
The ending is definitely very satisfying - we finally find out who the Boss is. Dhananjay and Madhuri crack the code, and after a lot of wrong turns, it feels very satisfying to find the right one. Throughout the novel, the story is focused on this tight group of police officers, and the two antagonists. When the Boss is finally revealed, it makes sense as to why focus was restricted to these five or six people. I was afraid of a random introduction of an outside character, but the author doesn't do that - the Boss is a surprise twist, while still managing to make sense with the rest of the novel.
The Captive is one of the most teeth clattering murder mystery I have ever read so far. The book revolves around a girl kruthi escaping from her captive resulting in unveiling at least 15 different murder cases. It takes us on a ride of the whole mind gripping hunt for the "BOSS" the mastermind behind all the accurately planned murders, with every clue found resulting into dead end. The book explores social crimes like kidnapping, murder, rape, torture etc along with psychological issues of associated with deep rooted upbringing issues and their outcomes on personality of a human.
what I Loved most about this book is how author has portrayed all the lead women character, Intelligent, Strong, Independent, and courageous, all the women in the book understands each others pain and supports each other in fulfilling each others goals, beautiful depiction of a progressive India I think the book is more than a story about murder mystery Investigation, it talks about a one can be captive of their ow thoughts and deep rooted parental issues. The book mentions how the culprits turned out how they are due to the circumstances in their initial life and one of the character chose to be different path to improve his life.
The plot is very well written and scripted, where everything falls into places at the end, however the end left me wondering why "The Boss" turned out to evil, his emotional and scares have not been explored.
I would definitely recommend this book to all suspense lovers out there. 😊
I loved the way the author described the surroundings as well as the situations most importantly the character descriptions were amazing. I was imagining everything as I read through the pages and few scenes gave me goosebumps. the cover would be better. the title is apt to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The captive as the title and the cover suggests is a story that revolves around the protagonist- a girl who was held captive and tortured by a ruthless group of people. The story begins with her escaping them and what follows next is an absolutely thrilling rollercoaster ride which would take one through the depths of darkness. The most captivating element of the book was the style in which the plot was constructed with right details and twists layered to perfection. The author has done a commendable job in getting into the zone of each character and depicting their emotions perfectly such that the mood of the story is maintained throughout, carrying an aura of mystery and complimenting the happenings. The third point narration complimented the story construction. The characterisation was done really well and at some times it tries to throw a reader off by making them suspect someone to be the culprit while the end will definitely blow one away. The amount of research that has gone into shaping the characters according to the psychological impact was clearly evident. The only thing which I felt was that the back story of a few characters could have been transitioned better and gelled along with the story. Other than this, the book was a complete page turner which would keep the readers glued right from the beginning till the very end and would definitely give the satisfaction of reading a proper psychological thriller. I would give this a 4/5. Highly recommended to everyone.
And at the end,the captors truly became the Captive....!
We are the captors in your love Lavanya Nukavarapu ji.
After many twists and turns the Secret was revealed who's behind all this serial murders....
I was quite surprised by the twist (Boss)...And his son.
And
I was quite surprised with Anthony's past....his birth,his mother's betrayal..and church father's lust,....his journey with Boss and bijru aka Rabbit..... Think he deserves vengeance on Manju Naidu aka Mary.
Have to appreciate your guts and dare to write some naked words in Section 2...
It's all looking like RGV ,Some Hollywood Psychos flash back......now it's more interesting.....✍️👌
And I really appreciate your care on the back stories of Antagonists #Manjula #Anthony #Manish #William #The Boss
It gives a feel like we're in Hollywood thriller movies (Zodiac, Psycho, No Country for Old Man, Seven )
She started with beautiful line's
About her "Maa'
"Whenever the sun set,she gave her light to the world I lived in."
And ended with, Who taught me to love again.
It's simple but good see the prologue.
The story begins with... peotic way
Which writer wanted to define her situation in that manner.
"There we're no tears today.but there was a pain.loads of it.so much had already been felt."
She used these kind of line's oftenly.... think she hesitate to continue the same way.
"An unexpected burst of moon light hit her face". Some how she managed to reduce the poetic line's.
And
"The sound of the key turning in the lock, broke the chain of her Thoughts".
Here she portrayed her current situation with stars (By watching through the small gap of wooden roof)
"what are the stars?? They are Just balloons of gas.they are hallow and dying.Is it the Fear of dying or yhe the desire to live "??
This line I liked very much
Few more yards. A few more step's.She reminded her self.
(When see came out from that dark room by breaking the captivity)
If you wanted to know more ??
How the devil servant was killed by krithi ??
What the bar code decodes???
Go through the captive....!!!
A good choice for thriller genre lover's go ahead.... happy reading !!!
You'll see captors turn into captives and vice-versa.
The Captive by Lavanya Nukavarapu is a mind blowing psychological thriller.
The story starts with a rush. Kruthi's rush to save herself from her abductors. She was beaten, sexually assaulted, starved and her confidence and soul was violated by sadistic barbarians. She had to gather whatever strength was left in her, use her presence of mind and run, run for her life !
I loved this book for many reasons. And one of the most important reason was how intricately the Author had explained Kruthi's abductors' mentality. Crime is a complex thing - very difficult to fathom what'll hit that sadistic nerve in a person to drive him into harm his fellow humans.
The Author has introduced very new and less-spoken-of concepts like voyeurism. She has discussed in depth the lives of three abductors, their journey in becoming criminal masterminds. Chapter after chapter, the Author has added new details, twists and sub-plots, all the while keeping in loop the main plot. This story was very neatly arranged and definitely plays with the mind. I really appreciate the way this thriller was plotted and penned.
The characters were great ! Awfully raw and scary. They were disturbingly intelligent and strong. You'll see captors turn into captives and vice-versa !
I finished this book in one sitting and I didn't feel bored even for a second. I was literally floored by the ending. It left me wondering the extremes to which humans can go for vengeance or just to prove their points or for absolutely worthless reasons just to satisfy their needs. Trust me, nobody is cent percent pure. Nobody.
BOOK: The Captive Psychological thriller Author: Lavanya Nukavarapu
A crime thriller novel which takes you to the roller coaster ride of emotions with perfect blend of relation of every character following female lead. This start with story of girl who found in extremely pathetic state to couple, and with lots of spices of her life and leads to confusion that, will girl get justice? and will the culprit get punished?
Girl's courageous towards gaining justice is very smooth, Suspense thriller brings lots of interest to read and feels little lengthy too.
Hey, Lavanya your book was simply amazing and at the same time thrilling..I was glued to it untill unless I completed reading the entire book.Plot was cryptic and enthralling and I empathetised kruthi shah,only in her 20s how life would be challenging for her and yet excruciating can be witnessed through Kruti's spring statement made in chapter 1 ::"I am a star.I retained my light.I kept my flame burning.But I am hollow a ballon of gas.Am I floating?I did it.I am alive .I am safe.Am I?? I believe the fearless step kruti lay hold of was intrepid moreover kudos to Tara Devi who effortlessly showcased her empathy towards her and managed to look after kruti like her mother specially when she was in a distress state weaking both physically and mentally..The senior police officer who overtook her case to serve justice truely shows how unity actually moulds a complete unique perception altogether.The lady Madhuri Mahiwal was also one such character who fought for Kruti's justice as well..these are some of the chains that glued to my eyes throughout.... On one hand where a girl get abducted and raped hardly served justice or any medical care but here in this book its a turnover how kruti been admired by each and every person she came across..
Ending is a bit different full of twist and turns overall I must say the book can be shifted into movie...Lavanya you did really great and I wish you all the best for your future endeavours...good luck and best wishes...✨✨✨ .....Highly recommended for ones who love reading psychological books..❤️
The Captive is a tale of a girl who showed immense courage and broke free from the captivity of her abductors. The story begins with the tale of Kruthi’s abduction and gives you glimpses of the criminal world. It demonstrates a tale of supreme courage by Kruthi and utmost dedication by police officer Madhuri and her team members. The story is spun around in a way that it will leave you at the edge of your seat throughout the read. The author has successfully given every character an individual personality and life. There are parts of the story when you feel that you have decoded the pattern and know who the criminal is, but you are wrong all the time and the mask lifts only at the end. The plot of this psychological thriller is interestingly set that the reader gets a good ride throughout the read. The narration is simple and lucid yet draws you into the book so much that you feel like you are living those moments. You will feel pain, fear, thrill, impatient all throughout your read. The author with her amazing narration captivates the reader’s attention from the start to the end. The book is a captivating page turner and you will not wish to pause midway. Just like the author says, “Everyone is a captive, only a few manage to break free”. The book will tell you that patience and courage is all that freedom demands.
The Captive is a shocking revelation about the realities of life. Our fast-paced life has a tendency to ignore things; we read about murder, rape, extortion, accidents and so many transgression on a daily basis that it has now become a part of life. We are no more shocked to hear about another rape or murder incident. It's not that we are not left with any more emotion, we do! We feel sorry, angry, and... simply move on! The Captive talks about what you can't move past...
Kruthi is a victim who ran away and undergoes the PTSD which also gives her the strength to find and fight her captors. The pressure on the investigating officers of higher authorities on such high-profile cases, the stress, depression, anxiety, and anger even the officers undergo, and how it impacts the everyday life of every individual associated with the victim is vastly narrated in this book.
The author, Lavanya has an impeccable style of narration and plot presentation. Her Novel, 'The Captive' is a cocktail of emotions and I personally could not put the book down until the captors in this book were punished. But was that enough?
Should we wait to hear the decision of our Judicial system or such culprits should be shot on-site? What do you think? Don't forget to share your thoughts and read the book.
The plot of the story seemed captivating in the beginning and had a solid start in the beginning as we saw how Kruthi was kept as a captive, but the plot unraveled too fast. I loved the manner in which the search operation was shown and the subsequent unravelling the mastermind of the story. Frankly, the search for the boss was one of the best parts of the book and how the author actually told the backstory, telling it one piece at a time. the title of the book holds many meanings in the book and as they show themselves, it is almost as if a sweater is unravelling, one thread at a time. The thing that could have been improved was the that the suspense could have been held on for a longer period. I would have loved to see a bit more of the wild goose chases in the story. The climax was fresh and interesting.
Coming to the characters, Kruthi as a character did fascinate me with her mental strength and personality as she faced all adversities, yet does not flinch. The way her arc has been established is noteworthy and I loved the surprise in the end. Avinash is another interesting part of the story that does make you think twice before coming to any assumptions as to his role in the story. The character of Madhuri as a police officer and her quest for justice seemed genuine and there was an earnestness in his character that appealed to me.