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Yama
The No. 1 Bestselling Author Returns With a Serial Killer Mystery Like No Other
You will never be able to guess the ending!
Dhruvi Rajput is a psychotherapist who has lost the two most important people in her life. She is trying to move on, get her life back together. Then she gets a call from a man identifying himself only as Yama. And her life turns upside down.
Basheer Ali, a senior inspector at the CBI, has captured many criminals. But he has seen many more walk free. So, even as he works to track down Yama—a vigilante killer bringing the corrupt and guilty outed on social media to fatal justice—he finds himself grudgingly siding with a killer.
Through the dark and gritty streets of Delhi, Dhruvi and Basheer chase this spectre of the God of Death, each step leading up to a final choice that makes them question their own morality. Can one man decide another's fate? Is rage the real way to justice?
You will never be able to guess the ending!
Dhruvi Rajput is a psychotherapist who has lost the two most important people in her life. She is trying to move on, get her life back together. Then she gets a call from a man identifying himself only as Yama. And her life turns upside down.
Basheer Ali, a senior inspector at the CBI, has captured many criminals. But he has seen many more walk free. So, even as he works to track down Yama—a vigilante killer bringing the corrupt and guilty outed on social media to fatal justice—he finds himself grudgingly siding with a killer.
Through the dark and gritty streets of Delhi, Dhruvi and Basheer chase this spectre of the God of Death, each step leading up to a final choice that makes them question their own morality. Can one man decide another's fate? Is rage the real way to justice?
320 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2020
35 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Missal
45 books513 followersKevin Missal wrote his first book at the age of 14, and at 22, the St Stephens graduate was a bestselling author with the first two books in his Kalki series which were runaway successes. Kevin loves fantasy fiction and has always been a fan of mythology. His books have been featured in publications like the Sunday Guardian, The New Indian Express and Millennium Post. He lives in Gurugram and he can be contacted at Kevin.s.missal@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
March 30, 2016
The plot of Yama is fast paced which is absolutely necessary in these kinds of novels & Kevin Missal delivers it fully. The story telling is really commendable & the cover would surely force anyone to pick it up. Except some minor editing glitches I couldn't find anything to critique about. It will surely make you jump out of your reading place & make your heart beat faster. Surely a must read!
Full Review here,
http://itsgoingtobeobvious.blogspot.i...
Full Review here,
http://itsgoingtobeobvious.blogspot.i...
March 5, 2016
Yama is a reminder to the current society that hell and heaven resides on Earth itself, and your deeds won’t be left unnoticed forever. Sometimes when the darkness exceeds its limit and our judicial system equals its absence, you need someone to don the role to take it over to his hands and create the balance of good and evil. It’s a never ending fight to bring justice, to reward the deserving for the sins, with the face of God Of Justice; the YAMA! It holds the right combination of Indian mythology and logic.
The suspense and thrill is easily wrapped up in the story which will be unfolded slowly and steadily taking you through with it with all the twists and turns.
The mystery of Yama; the man with the horns on killing spree of evil-dirt of society leaving clues and time to a detective to chase him through will give and cant-keep-down effect to the book!
It also explores the secrets of the characters in it; ex-army detective his tech savvy nephew assistant…., their background stories which are dots that connects the plot to a frame. Some characters might alarm you with resemblance to the people you might which is giving it a realistic, close to present life touch!
It is a journey with the detective to find who Yama is and what he wants from him, for the reader to enjoy until the end; and expect the unexpected! It have all the elements to make it your favorite.
It is a must-read Indian thriller.
By Anmol Singh – https://arudhasoul.wordpress.com/
The suspense and thrill is easily wrapped up in the story which will be unfolded slowly and steadily taking you through with it with all the twists and turns.
The mystery of Yama; the man with the horns on killing spree of evil-dirt of society leaving clues and time to a detective to chase him through will give and cant-keep-down effect to the book!
It also explores the secrets of the characters in it; ex-army detective his tech savvy nephew assistant…., their background stories which are dots that connects the plot to a frame. Some characters might alarm you with resemblance to the people you might which is giving it a realistic, close to present life touch!
It is a journey with the detective to find who Yama is and what he wants from him, for the reader to enjoy until the end; and expect the unexpected! It have all the elements to make it your favorite.
It is a must-read Indian thriller.
By Anmol Singh – https://arudhasoul.wordpress.com/
November 3, 2020
Full review on the blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2020/11/ya...
Dhruvi Rajput lost her twelve-year old daughter Pia a few years ago due to online bullying and her husband Rahul an year ago due to a sudden heart attack. As she struggles to handle this grief, she receives call from a random caller who identifies himself as ‘Yama’. The caller catches Dhruvi’s attention by declaring her husband was his mentor in the past and expresses his displeasure at the crimes happening in the country.
Basheer Ali a CBI officer who is notorious in his circles for consistently breaking rules but also known for successfully closing cases, is assigned a murder case by the director himself accompanied by a last warning to change his ways. What seems initially like a standalone case to Basheer soon turns into chase of a serial killer.
As Basheer tries to find the motives behind these killings, he crosses path with Dhruvi who already got a hint from Yama about the next victim. Why would Yama want Dhruvi to be aware and involved in these deaths, how is Rahul connected to Yama and will Basheer be able to crack the mystery forms the rest of the story.
The author Kevin has so far authored books in mythological genre only and this is a first beyond it, however, from the title to the modus operandi of the killer — are all based on Indian Mythology. The author touches multiple contemporary issues starting from animal poaching, pornography, #wetoo moment, dark web, sex-scandals in ashrams, cocaine parties by movie celebrities, media misleading public by siding with political parties.
Though there are a multitude of issues touched upon, the author smartly weaves them into narration, so they do not feel overwhelming. The pace is very slick avoiding unnecessary description of the characters or the places. The cover and title are well designed, are intriguing and summarize the gist of the story. The story mirrors the times we live in and how normal humans might turn vigilantes to avenge the evil and injustice around.
Though the mystery is maintained well till the end, once it is revealed it kind of fell flat for me, as it was too fictitious and futuristic. Also, the first half was gripping and interesting, while the second half of the story gradually loses the charm as the sequences lack logic. The rituals followed by the killer are inspired from Indian mythology scripts but have a stark similarity to a movie that came more than a decade ago.
Overall, the social message and underlying vigilante theme are the strengths of the story; if you are an ardent fan of thriller genre and don’t mind the creative liberties taken by the author, then you will enjoy this.
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2020/11/ya...
Dhruvi Rajput lost her twelve-year old daughter Pia a few years ago due to online bullying and her husband Rahul an year ago due to a sudden heart attack. As she struggles to handle this grief, she receives call from a random caller who identifies himself as ‘Yama’. The caller catches Dhruvi’s attention by declaring her husband was his mentor in the past and expresses his displeasure at the crimes happening in the country.
Basheer Ali a CBI officer who is notorious in his circles for consistently breaking rules but also known for successfully closing cases, is assigned a murder case by the director himself accompanied by a last warning to change his ways. What seems initially like a standalone case to Basheer soon turns into chase of a serial killer.
As Basheer tries to find the motives behind these killings, he crosses path with Dhruvi who already got a hint from Yama about the next victim. Why would Yama want Dhruvi to be aware and involved in these deaths, how is Rahul connected to Yama and will Basheer be able to crack the mystery forms the rest of the story.
The author Kevin has so far authored books in mythological genre only and this is a first beyond it, however, from the title to the modus operandi of the killer — are all based on Indian Mythology. The author touches multiple contemporary issues starting from animal poaching, pornography, #wetoo moment, dark web, sex-scandals in ashrams, cocaine parties by movie celebrities, media misleading public by siding with political parties.
Though there are a multitude of issues touched upon, the author smartly weaves them into narration, so they do not feel overwhelming. The pace is very slick avoiding unnecessary description of the characters or the places. The cover and title are well designed, are intriguing and summarize the gist of the story. The story mirrors the times we live in and how normal humans might turn vigilantes to avenge the evil and injustice around.
Though the mystery is maintained well till the end, once it is revealed it kind of fell flat for me, as it was too fictitious and futuristic. Also, the first half was gripping and interesting, while the second half of the story gradually loses the charm as the sequences lack logic. The rituals followed by the killer are inspired from Indian mythology scripts but have a stark similarity to a movie that came more than a decade ago.
Overall, the social message and underlying vigilante theme are the strengths of the story; if you are an ardent fan of thriller genre and don’t mind the creative liberties taken by the author, then you will enjoy this.
November 10, 2020
Yama by Kevin Missal
It takes a lot of courage to come out of your comfort zone and explore something new. In our bookish world we often get so accustomed to a writer writing a particular genre that if he/she tries something new, we become skeptical. I will not deny that I was in a dilemma whether to pick the book up or not when I found out that Kevin has tried something out of his comfort zone, mythology. Kevin Missal is a big name in Indian literature right now. I have no shame in admitting that my dilemma turned into complete awe when I put down the book ‘YAMA’ after completing it.
The book starts with Dhruvi Rajput, who is trying to move on from the horrible death of her husband and daughter. Baseer Ali, a Senior Inspector at the CBI and son of a convicted criminal, often bends the rules to capture the criminals. These two characters get intertwined when Baseer has to track down Yama, a vigilante killer bringing the corrupt and guilty outed on social media to fatal justice.
I completed the book in two seating only. The fast-paced writing and never-ending suspense worked as a positive catalyst to the novel. The addition of mythological aspects in the way of the killings made me remember the vibe of the famous ‘Asur’ series. Kevin has executed a brilliant job thereby integrating the mythological angle in a thriller. The book becomes more real as it does not limit its perimeter within the thriller only. The book has spoken about some sensitive issues like dark internet, the effect of pornography on children, sexual abuse in the name of the holy place, depression, and whatnot. Also, the climax was described in such a way that I could visualize the scene like a Bollywood movie.
However, the climax was predicted by me beforehand. So, it was not very much surprising for me. Also, some situations were too hard to believe. It was like nothing can go wrong with the opponent's side. That was something that I did not enjoy. But overall Kevin has done a marvelous job with this book. Hope to see more of his works in this genre.
Rating: 4/5
It takes a lot of courage to come out of your comfort zone and explore something new. In our bookish world we often get so accustomed to a writer writing a particular genre that if he/she tries something new, we become skeptical. I will not deny that I was in a dilemma whether to pick the book up or not when I found out that Kevin has tried something out of his comfort zone, mythology. Kevin Missal is a big name in Indian literature right now. I have no shame in admitting that my dilemma turned into complete awe when I put down the book ‘YAMA’ after completing it.
The book starts with Dhruvi Rajput, who is trying to move on from the horrible death of her husband and daughter. Baseer Ali, a Senior Inspector at the CBI and son of a convicted criminal, often bends the rules to capture the criminals. These two characters get intertwined when Baseer has to track down Yama, a vigilante killer bringing the corrupt and guilty outed on social media to fatal justice.
I completed the book in two seating only. The fast-paced writing and never-ending suspense worked as a positive catalyst to the novel. The addition of mythological aspects in the way of the killings made me remember the vibe of the famous ‘Asur’ series. Kevin has executed a brilliant job thereby integrating the mythological angle in a thriller. The book becomes more real as it does not limit its perimeter within the thriller only. The book has spoken about some sensitive issues like dark internet, the effect of pornography on children, sexual abuse in the name of the holy place, depression, and whatnot. Also, the climax was described in such a way that I could visualize the scene like a Bollywood movie.
However, the climax was predicted by me beforehand. So, it was not very much surprising for me. Also, some situations were too hard to believe. It was like nothing can go wrong with the opponent's side. That was something that I did not enjoy. But overall Kevin has done a marvelous job with this book. Hope to see more of his works in this genre.
Rating: 4/5
November 14, 2020
What's ur view on justice serve by our judges? Well i knw , no-one like the way they work.
In this story ,yama is the god of death , he'll kill u if u are involved in illegal works. Better thn our judges judgement right. I really like this thing in the book.
A man is running to save his life and thn shot dead at the moment by yama . Whn basheer ali reached there he soon recognized the face of the man he's involving in animal's skin smuggling .
Basheer ali is a police inspector who has his own way fo solving the case whn he got the case of yama he's more intrigued by yama's work. Whereas dhruvi rajput has no reason to live soon got a call frm yama . She's a psychotherapist , she lost his daughter and husband but how.
Well to knw all the questions read this amazing thriller, mystery read . I really want iur justice system to work like this only. The book talks about all the topics which need our attention most. Whether it is pornography, smuggling and wht not. We need more people like yama.
The only thing which author can work on , somewhere the story become little bored, also i got bit confused as there's a sudden event happen.
In this story ,yama is the god of death , he'll kill u if u are involved in illegal works. Better thn our judges judgement right. I really like this thing in the book.
A man is running to save his life and thn shot dead at the moment by yama . Whn basheer ali reached there he soon recognized the face of the man he's involving in animal's skin smuggling .
Basheer ali is a police inspector who has his own way fo solving the case whn he got the case of yama he's more intrigued by yama's work. Whereas dhruvi rajput has no reason to live soon got a call frm yama . She's a psychotherapist , she lost his daughter and husband but how.
Well to knw all the questions read this amazing thriller, mystery read . I really want iur justice system to work like this only. The book talks about all the topics which need our attention most. Whether it is pornography, smuggling and wht not. We need more people like yama.
The only thing which author can work on , somewhere the story become little bored, also i got bit confused as there's a sudden event happen.
November 17, 2020
Yama by Kevin Missal is definitely a page-turner, although the first was a little slow ( though it is good to read his books) focusing on the backstories and character development. The protagonists have been developed very well. Rather than one simple story, it was a mashup of several stories/ short plots, involving murder/ rape/ internet/ dark web was kind of predictable if you are an avid reader. The language is easy makes it an easily readable book. Initially, reading the title I assumed it would be mythological folklore but it turned out totally different.
February 25, 2016
Story in a nutshell:
Iravan is a private detective. He is very experienced with his work and that is the reason why he is considered as one of the best investigators. His nephew, Vardhan works as an assistant to him. Vardhan is the mastermind. He is a hacker.
A fine day, Iravan receives a call from Mr. Gagan that Mrs. Galgotia would visit him. Mrs. Galgotia's visit is in regards to her missing husband. The same day, Iravan receives a letter, an unusual one. Mr. Galgotia is the person who is mentioned in the letter. What does it mean? The next day, Mr. Galgotia is found murdered. Was the letter a clue to save him? Who killed Mr. Galgotia and why?
Iravan receives another mysterious letter few days later. Is this the second clue? Does Iravan manage to save him? Vardhaan finds some information regarding this mysterious killer. Iravan receives a phone call from the killer himself who calls himself Yama. Yama talks in riddles to Iravam and gives him a hint about his further actions. Iravan's job is to unmask this Yama. He thinks Yama to be Roshan Yadav, a maneater who has fled from the jail. He talks to Swati Kaushik, a journalist. It was she who had discovered the bodies. The strange fact is that the victim's kidneys are missing.
A series of killings occur. Iravan and Vardhaan save some people from Yama. During the last kill, Iravan ends up in helping Yama instead of saving the victim. What made Iravan help him? Who is Yama and what is his story? Does Iravan unmask him at yhe end?
Review:
The plot seems to be well researched and thoughtfully crafted. This story not only focuses on crime that is being committed but also on depression, father-child relationship, realisations of life, love and friendship. I must say Yama is all-in-one package. The progress of the story is moderate and it enhances the reading experience. The narration is lucid. There have been many occurances where i found new words (added to my vocabulary). Since the story is a crime-thriller, many characters are involved. Character sketching has been done well.
Likes:
The suspense aspect has been maintained until the very last page.
Yama wishes to bring a change in the society (reminded me of Gabbar is back movie) and not just be famous. We need more people like Yama.
Dislikes:
The chapters are very short and more in number. It would have been better had they been long and less in number. No issues are caused with this arrangement either.
There have been mentions of organ trading. No closure to it has been given.
The story misses that emotional touch (Iravan and his relationship with his family)
I rate:
Cover: 3/5
Story: 3/5
My overall rating for Yama is 3.5/5 stars.
Iravan is a private detective. He is very experienced with his work and that is the reason why he is considered as one of the best investigators. His nephew, Vardhan works as an assistant to him. Vardhan is the mastermind. He is a hacker.
A fine day, Iravan receives a call from Mr. Gagan that Mrs. Galgotia would visit him. Mrs. Galgotia's visit is in regards to her missing husband. The same day, Iravan receives a letter, an unusual one. Mr. Galgotia is the person who is mentioned in the letter. What does it mean? The next day, Mr. Galgotia is found murdered. Was the letter a clue to save him? Who killed Mr. Galgotia and why?
Iravan receives another mysterious letter few days later. Is this the second clue? Does Iravan manage to save him? Vardhaan finds some information regarding this mysterious killer. Iravan receives a phone call from the killer himself who calls himself Yama. Yama talks in riddles to Iravam and gives him a hint about his further actions. Iravan's job is to unmask this Yama. He thinks Yama to be Roshan Yadav, a maneater who has fled from the jail. He talks to Swati Kaushik, a journalist. It was she who had discovered the bodies. The strange fact is that the victim's kidneys are missing.
A series of killings occur. Iravan and Vardhaan save some people from Yama. During the last kill, Iravan ends up in helping Yama instead of saving the victim. What made Iravan help him? Who is Yama and what is his story? Does Iravan unmask him at yhe end?
Review:
The plot seems to be well researched and thoughtfully crafted. This story not only focuses on crime that is being committed but also on depression, father-child relationship, realisations of life, love and friendship. I must say Yama is all-in-one package. The progress of the story is moderate and it enhances the reading experience. The narration is lucid. There have been many occurances where i found new words (added to my vocabulary). Since the story is a crime-thriller, many characters are involved. Character sketching has been done well.
Likes:
The suspense aspect has been maintained until the very last page.
Yama wishes to bring a change in the society (reminded me of Gabbar is back movie) and not just be famous. We need more people like Yama.
Dislikes:
The chapters are very short and more in number. It would have been better had they been long and less in number. No issues are caused with this arrangement either.
There have been mentions of organ trading. No closure to it has been given.
The story misses that emotional touch (Iravan and his relationship with his family)
I rate:
Cover: 3/5
Story: 3/5
My overall rating for Yama is 3.5/5 stars.
October 21, 2016
Got this book in a Giveaway. Thanks to the author for sending me a copy.
The preface made me think it as a story of a movie i have seen, But it proved me wrong
and it curiosity is held throughout the book. The unexpected twists in every other chapter makes you
read further. And the way story turns at the end is totally nailed by the author.
A short and interesting novel.
The preface made me think it as a story of a movie i have seen, But it proved me wrong
and it curiosity is held throughout the book. The unexpected twists in every other chapter makes you
read further. And the way story turns at the end is totally nailed by the author.
A short and interesting novel.
July 12, 2016
Book Review of Yama by Kevin Missal; A perfect mythological thriller (Rating: 4*/5)
I have finished reading the second book published by 'Half Baked Beans' publishing. The first book was ' A Minute To Death' by Ganga Bharani and today, I am going to analyze another book titled ‘YAMA’ by Kevin Missal. Co-incidence about both the books is both titles belong to a thriller.
BookLysis of YAMA by Kevin Missal
Cover and Title:-
YAMA is a familiar name from Hindu mythology so the title seems devotional as well as mysterious. Book cover of the novel looks attractive and grows curiosity among readers to pick the book. One can notice the huge portrait of a dark man with red eye. Blood spots can be noticed on the body of huge portrait and horns can be seen behind the huge portrait, so the portrait looks like a replica or imagery of Yama (God of Death). On the bottom of front cover; shadow image of a human being is portrayed who represents the protagonist. On the background; moon and shadow image of trees represents the night scene. Picture of buildings having big towers and street-lamps represent any metro city. Assassinated dead body’s blood can be noticed on the road. Overall Yama has a beautiful book cover designed by Manoj Nath, which hints towards the thriller.
Setting:- The story of YAMA runs around several locations like Gurgaon, Noida, Delhi, and Mumbai. The story has a background set in Srinagar. The whole story runs to find the Hell (Narak) for victim’s sins.
Language and Writing Style:- The language of YAMA is lucid. Italic fonts are used to highlight few Hindi words like Narak, suhaagraat, dahej and lafanga etc. But I feel that italic fonts could have been used better. I felt the font size small a bit. Author Kevin Missal uses some uncommon words which confused me as typos but later added to my vocabulary. He scribbles all characters’ proper movements. Few scenes are portrayed gracefully. Kevin uses a narrative technique to scribble the story into past tense. The author uses some phrases like ‘coos of pigeons’ and ‘hoots of the owl’. Another phrase ‘silent crier’ reminds me and accurately suits to my own character (Hehehe!).
Characters:- There are three protagonists, five victims and more than eight minor characters in the novel.
1.Yama:- There are 2 character sketches of the character YAMA. Yama is referred as the God of Death according to Hindu mythology. But here in the novel, Yama plays a character of a violent saint who is a suspected psychopath. He treats himself a messiah entitled to kill sinners, bad persons, and criminals. His character commemorates me the protagonist Shahenshah (Amitabh Bachchan) and Gabbar (Akshay Kumar) from Bollywood movies ‘Shahenshah’ and ‘Gabbar Is Back’ respectively. I don’t claim that it is copied, but I felt Yama’s philosophy of punishment inspired from the protagonist Anniyan (Vikram) in Tamil psychological thriller movie ‘Anniyan’ which was further dubbed and released as ‘Aparichit’ in Hindi.
2.Iravan Rajput: Iravan Rajput is a second protagonist in the novel who plays a character of a delusional hero. He belongs to an Ex-Black Cat Commando (Fauji). He receives a time frame with the name of Yama’s targets to find their sins and save them from Yama’s punishments.
3.Swati Kaushik:- Author portrays Swati’s character as a widow and an ambitious news reporter.
Plot:- The story and plot of YAMA are constructed into 90 (actually 87) short chapters in 167 pages.
Chapter one begins with a familiar portrayal of the God of Death YAMA. Author gracefully describes Iravan’s psychotherapy session by psychiatrist Dr. Tapaswa Gandhi. Iravan also mentions his wife Rutvi Rajpoot’s disease schizophrenia. The author describes the shootout scene in brief which could have more thriller. The author portrays some crime scenes which seems familiar as we watch and experience daily in crime shows on a television set. A serial killer Raghu (Psycho) Yadav’s entry thrills reader in the fourteenth chapter. I like the conversation between Iravan and his nephew Vardhaan Sippy where Vardhaan asks his uncle Iravan to ask him a ‘right’ question. Journalist Swati’s interrogation by ACP Surya seems realistic. Dr. Tapaswa Gandhi tells different psychology disease like schizophrenia, bipolar, depression and the usual sort to Swati Kaushik. Swati’s interaction with a patient of depression named Samar Anand in Dr. Tapaswa Gandhi’s clinic seems interesting.
Social Plot: Author negatively refers ‘letters’ as an outdated service in the current era of an advanced technology. I agree that postal service is being used on rare occasions these days. But I personally think that Indian postal service needs to be promoted by authors in their literature instead of such negative comments to save this oldest telecommunication service in the period of an advanced technology. A character Tapaswa Gandhi comments on the people’s mindset and a reality of bribe in India- “People want to get rid of the bribing thing in this country, but when it comes to their getting favors they always want to hop back”. The author also refers ‘Gulabi Gang’ in the book. Author gives indirect message not to believe in superstitions and explains the scientific reason of one act- “Its science. The killer made invisible ink with the help of lemon and water. You can make your message invisible by just writing it with the cotton bud that was dipped in the mixture of water and lemon. Lemon is an organic substance that oxidizes and turns brown when heated but when it is dipped in water, it changes its rhythm.” Author comments on Indian Army (faujis’) aloofness from their family for a long time. A bit negative picture of a soldier doesn’t feel fair to me. Author comments on corruption in the government system. Swati’s offer to her friend Arjun to spend a night together being a media person seems controversial. I saw some controversial statements in the novel. Thank God! That authors do not need a censor certificate like movies from censor board of India; otherwise, many controversial scenes would have been suggested to cut like Anurag Kashyap’s movie Udta Punjab! LOL! Jokes a part! The author remarks to the fact that how hooligans, criminals, and addicts can be seen behind schools, colleges, factories and other desolate areas. I like a conversation between Tara Rajpoot and her father Iravan Rajpoot where she gets angry for offering dowry to her to be in-laws by her father. I think girls and women need to raise a voice against dowry in practical life. Tara and Iravan’s another conversation says a lot about a negative impact of parents’ (father’s) absence/ignorance in children’s (daughter’s) life.
Author comments on escort’s financial crisis and unwanted need to do such disrespected business. A character Pinky narrates about a physical torture of prostitutes. Though the narration is a hyperbole, reality is not very good. Kabeer’s description of Kotha (bordello’s) scenario seems realistic. I never visited such places, and I am sure that many of you wouldn’t have gone there. So you must read the description. I felt the scenario real because although I haven’t experienced, I have passed through red light areas so many times by bus and sometimes on my foot in Itwari, Nagpur. Hence I have sensed the wretched reality of prostitutes in bordellos.
Author Kevin Missal elegantly refers real two incidents like 2012 brutal Delhi gang rape case; he also remarks an impact of Gujarat riots. Author also scribbles few sarcastic comments through characters in the novel. ACP Surya’s comments on journalists is an ironic reality in India. Author comments on a charlatan like a character Guru Shiv. He also comments on politicians and police for protecting charlatans and hypocrisy. Yama’s quotation from the novel- “I don’t blame the authorities. There will be a day when our authorities will be righteous enough to punish criminals rather than freeing them. But for now, my authority is the supreme authority.” is a satire on the judicial system in India. The author gives an indirect message that a human being does not entitle to kill another human being, it doesn’t matter that how bad circumstance is because a human being can not be a God of Death YAMA. He informs that “knowing about the murders and not reporting them is also a crime.”
Mythological Plot: It seems that author Kevin Missal has researched a lot about different and primarily Hindu mythology. He narrates the philosophy of ‘hell’ according to Christianity mythology- “There are too many mythologies consisting different hells, especially Christianity. In ‘Dante’s Inferno’, it is said there were nine hells and in the end, there’s the devil. Every hell consisted of a certain punishment to a certain sinner.” Chapter Seventeen make bore in the beginning but turns interesting when ‘hell’ is defined from ‘ Percy Jackson’- “Hell is derived from the word helle. Every culture, a mythology has an overload, like for instance the one who holds it tightly. In Greek mythology, the hell is known as Tartarus… and it’s controlled by Hades.” “There’s Nergal in Mesopotamian mythology. In Norse, hel is a being who presides over hel. Osiris in Egyptian mythology.” The author defines sins- “Sins are the bad deeds we perform, and every sin has a punishment.” The author introduces Yama (The God of Death)- “Like every mythology, we (Hindu Mythology) also have one. He’s called Yama. He has a lot of Yamdoots, as well, who are his messengers. His hell is known as Narak.” Author Kevin Missal scribbles about different hells described in various scriptures from Hindu Mythology. “In Agni Purana, it mentions four hells. In Manusmriti, its twenty one hells. And in Bhagvat Gita, it has twenty eight hells.” He defines a hell ‘Tamisra’- “Tamisra. It’s a hell for those who grab another’s wealth, wife and children.” In Chapter twenty-three, author writes- “PRANARODHA- Wanton killing of animals. Yama play plays archery sport with this sinner.” Author clears the confusion between Maharaurava and Sarameyadana- “Maharaurava was for the sinner, who inflicted pain on others. And Sarameyadana was for the sinner, who used his wealth and pride for wrong reasons; you know to plunge other people in fires and destruction. Now, Maharaurava hell with sinners will be eaten by ferocious animals called Rurus and Sarameyadana with seven hundred and twenty ferocious dogs, the sons of Sarama, will eat his flesh.” The author defines ‘Andhakupa’ and ‘Ayahpana’ - “Andhakupa is the hell where such people are attacked by birds and insects and all sorts of reptiles.” And “Ayahpana is a narak where alcoholics go, the ones who give up everything to nasha.” He also tells about one more hell-“Asipatravana is a hell reserved for a person who digresses from the religious teachings of the Vedas and practices heresy.”
Drawbacks in the novel:
1.Missing 3 chapters: There are total 90 chapters in the book. Though the 90 is too much, I don’t mean that a book can not have chapters in such large numbers. But the drawback in those 90 chapters is, 3 chapters (chapter 58, 65 and 77) are missing in the book. When I checked missing pages, I found correct page numbers; which clears that there are only 87 chapters in the book, but editors have mistaken in typing chapters according to their correct order. You may call it a minor print mistake, but it is a major drawback in my opinion because this mistake is repeated 3 times and it is about chapter’s title.
2.Typing Errors: I found minor typos which had to be corrected as mentioned in the bracket- I (It), ram (ran) and Sanjavan (Sanjayvan) on page numbers 21, 22, and 60. I found some punctuation marks missing in the novel.
About the Author
Kevin Solomon Missal is studying History Hon. In St. Stephen’s College. He loves to write plays, books, reviews, watch television shows, classic movies and has a knack for thrillers. He has written two books (Damien Black- The battle of Lost Ages and Unlocked), with the second one(Unlocked), being number one best seller on Amazon Christian Fiction.
Blurb
What will you do if you have 24 hours to save someone?
A VIOLENT SAINT…
A man who claims he is Yama, is punishing sinners by killing them according to the twenty eight hells described in the Bhagavat Gita. Who is he? What does he want? Is he a vigilante or a psychopath?
A DELUSIONAL HERO…
Iravan Rajpoot, an Ex-Black Cat Commando with a dark past is receiving letters with names and time limits. It’s no sooner that he learns about the intended victims than they die within the mentioned time frame
AN AMBITIOUS REPORTER
Swati Kaushik, a widow and a woman who can do anything for success, must team up with Iravan to stop the god of Death and Justice
Reviewer’s Verdict:
“The novel Yama by Kevin Missal keeps readers engaged until the end with a lot of twists and turns which surprise and sometimes shock readers. Short chapters and author’s fast pace of narration maintains the curiosity to flip pages and finish the book in one seating, so a reader doesn’t wish to put the book down. Overall, Yama by Kevin Missal is the well-researched mythological thriller filled with action and a lot of suspense until the climax. I would recommend this book to all history and mythology lovers. I would rate the novel Yama by Kevin Missal 4 out of 5 stars.”
Title: YAMA
Author: Kevin Missal
Publisher: Chetan Soni (Half Baked Beans Literature Publishing)
First published by Half Baked Beans in 2016
Copyright © Kevin Missal 2016
Cover Design: Manoj Nath
Language: English
Typeset in Utopia 9.50 pt at De Unique
Binding: Paperback (in India by De Unique)
Genre: Fiction (Thriller)
ISBN: 978-93-84315-245
ASIN: B01C2YB5SW
Pages: 182 (including cover)
Price: Rs. 175
My rating: 4*/5
Reviewed by: ©Rajesh D. Hajare (RDH)
Read this review on my blog: http://www.rdhsir.com/book-review-of-...
I have finished reading the second book published by 'Half Baked Beans' publishing. The first book was ' A Minute To Death' by Ganga Bharani and today, I am going to analyze another book titled ‘YAMA’ by Kevin Missal. Co-incidence about both the books is both titles belong to a thriller.
BookLysis of YAMA by Kevin Missal
Cover and Title:-
YAMA is a familiar name from Hindu mythology so the title seems devotional as well as mysterious. Book cover of the novel looks attractive and grows curiosity among readers to pick the book. One can notice the huge portrait of a dark man with red eye. Blood spots can be noticed on the body of huge portrait and horns can be seen behind the huge portrait, so the portrait looks like a replica or imagery of Yama (God of Death). On the bottom of front cover; shadow image of a human being is portrayed who represents the protagonist. On the background; moon and shadow image of trees represents the night scene. Picture of buildings having big towers and street-lamps represent any metro city. Assassinated dead body’s blood can be noticed on the road. Overall Yama has a beautiful book cover designed by Manoj Nath, which hints towards the thriller.
Setting:- The story of YAMA runs around several locations like Gurgaon, Noida, Delhi, and Mumbai. The story has a background set in Srinagar. The whole story runs to find the Hell (Narak) for victim’s sins.
Language and Writing Style:- The language of YAMA is lucid. Italic fonts are used to highlight few Hindi words like Narak, suhaagraat, dahej and lafanga etc. But I feel that italic fonts could have been used better. I felt the font size small a bit. Author Kevin Missal uses some uncommon words which confused me as typos but later added to my vocabulary. He scribbles all characters’ proper movements. Few scenes are portrayed gracefully. Kevin uses a narrative technique to scribble the story into past tense. The author uses some phrases like ‘coos of pigeons’ and ‘hoots of the owl’. Another phrase ‘silent crier’ reminds me and accurately suits to my own character (Hehehe!).
Characters:- There are three protagonists, five victims and more than eight minor characters in the novel.
1.Yama:- There are 2 character sketches of the character YAMA. Yama is referred as the God of Death according to Hindu mythology. But here in the novel, Yama plays a character of a violent saint who is a suspected psychopath. He treats himself a messiah entitled to kill sinners, bad persons, and criminals. His character commemorates me the protagonist Shahenshah (Amitabh Bachchan) and Gabbar (Akshay Kumar) from Bollywood movies ‘Shahenshah’ and ‘Gabbar Is Back’ respectively. I don’t claim that it is copied, but I felt Yama’s philosophy of punishment inspired from the protagonist Anniyan (Vikram) in Tamil psychological thriller movie ‘Anniyan’ which was further dubbed and released as ‘Aparichit’ in Hindi.
2.Iravan Rajput: Iravan Rajput is a second protagonist in the novel who plays a character of a delusional hero. He belongs to an Ex-Black Cat Commando (Fauji). He receives a time frame with the name of Yama’s targets to find their sins and save them from Yama’s punishments.
3.Swati Kaushik:- Author portrays Swati’s character as a widow and an ambitious news reporter.
Plot:- The story and plot of YAMA are constructed into 90 (actually 87) short chapters in 167 pages.
Chapter one begins with a familiar portrayal of the God of Death YAMA. Author gracefully describes Iravan’s psychotherapy session by psychiatrist Dr. Tapaswa Gandhi. Iravan also mentions his wife Rutvi Rajpoot’s disease schizophrenia. The author describes the shootout scene in brief which could have more thriller. The author portrays some crime scenes which seems familiar as we watch and experience daily in crime shows on a television set. A serial killer Raghu (Psycho) Yadav’s entry thrills reader in the fourteenth chapter. I like the conversation between Iravan and his nephew Vardhaan Sippy where Vardhaan asks his uncle Iravan to ask him a ‘right’ question. Journalist Swati’s interrogation by ACP Surya seems realistic. Dr. Tapaswa Gandhi tells different psychology disease like schizophrenia, bipolar, depression and the usual sort to Swati Kaushik. Swati’s interaction with a patient of depression named Samar Anand in Dr. Tapaswa Gandhi’s clinic seems interesting.
Social Plot: Author negatively refers ‘letters’ as an outdated service in the current era of an advanced technology. I agree that postal service is being used on rare occasions these days. But I personally think that Indian postal service needs to be promoted by authors in their literature instead of such negative comments to save this oldest telecommunication service in the period of an advanced technology. A character Tapaswa Gandhi comments on the people’s mindset and a reality of bribe in India- “People want to get rid of the bribing thing in this country, but when it comes to their getting favors they always want to hop back”. The author also refers ‘Gulabi Gang’ in the book. Author gives indirect message not to believe in superstitions and explains the scientific reason of one act- “Its science. The killer made invisible ink with the help of lemon and water. You can make your message invisible by just writing it with the cotton bud that was dipped in the mixture of water and lemon. Lemon is an organic substance that oxidizes and turns brown when heated but when it is dipped in water, it changes its rhythm.” Author comments on Indian Army (faujis’) aloofness from their family for a long time. A bit negative picture of a soldier doesn’t feel fair to me. Author comments on corruption in the government system. Swati’s offer to her friend Arjun to spend a night together being a media person seems controversial. I saw some controversial statements in the novel. Thank God! That authors do not need a censor certificate like movies from censor board of India; otherwise, many controversial scenes would have been suggested to cut like Anurag Kashyap’s movie Udta Punjab! LOL! Jokes a part! The author remarks to the fact that how hooligans, criminals, and addicts can be seen behind schools, colleges, factories and other desolate areas. I like a conversation between Tara Rajpoot and her father Iravan Rajpoot where she gets angry for offering dowry to her to be in-laws by her father. I think girls and women need to raise a voice against dowry in practical life. Tara and Iravan’s another conversation says a lot about a negative impact of parents’ (father’s) absence/ignorance in children’s (daughter’s) life.
Author comments on escort’s financial crisis and unwanted need to do such disrespected business. A character Pinky narrates about a physical torture of prostitutes. Though the narration is a hyperbole, reality is not very good. Kabeer’s description of Kotha (bordello’s) scenario seems realistic. I never visited such places, and I am sure that many of you wouldn’t have gone there. So you must read the description. I felt the scenario real because although I haven’t experienced, I have passed through red light areas so many times by bus and sometimes on my foot in Itwari, Nagpur. Hence I have sensed the wretched reality of prostitutes in bordellos.
Author Kevin Missal elegantly refers real two incidents like 2012 brutal Delhi gang rape case; he also remarks an impact of Gujarat riots. Author also scribbles few sarcastic comments through characters in the novel. ACP Surya’s comments on journalists is an ironic reality in India. Author comments on a charlatan like a character Guru Shiv. He also comments on politicians and police for protecting charlatans and hypocrisy. Yama’s quotation from the novel- “I don’t blame the authorities. There will be a day when our authorities will be righteous enough to punish criminals rather than freeing them. But for now, my authority is the supreme authority.” is a satire on the judicial system in India. The author gives an indirect message that a human being does not entitle to kill another human being, it doesn’t matter that how bad circumstance is because a human being can not be a God of Death YAMA. He informs that “knowing about the murders and not reporting them is also a crime.”
Mythological Plot: It seems that author Kevin Missal has researched a lot about different and primarily Hindu mythology. He narrates the philosophy of ‘hell’ according to Christianity mythology- “There are too many mythologies consisting different hells, especially Christianity. In ‘Dante’s Inferno’, it is said there were nine hells and in the end, there’s the devil. Every hell consisted of a certain punishment to a certain sinner.” Chapter Seventeen make bore in the beginning but turns interesting when ‘hell’ is defined from ‘ Percy Jackson’- “Hell is derived from the word helle. Every culture, a mythology has an overload, like for instance the one who holds it tightly. In Greek mythology, the hell is known as Tartarus… and it’s controlled by Hades.” “There’s Nergal in Mesopotamian mythology. In Norse, hel is a being who presides over hel. Osiris in Egyptian mythology.” The author defines sins- “Sins are the bad deeds we perform, and every sin has a punishment.” The author introduces Yama (The God of Death)- “Like every mythology, we (Hindu Mythology) also have one. He’s called Yama. He has a lot of Yamdoots, as well, who are his messengers. His hell is known as Narak.” Author Kevin Missal scribbles about different hells described in various scriptures from Hindu Mythology. “In Agni Purana, it mentions four hells. In Manusmriti, its twenty one hells. And in Bhagvat Gita, it has twenty eight hells.” He defines a hell ‘Tamisra’- “Tamisra. It’s a hell for those who grab another’s wealth, wife and children.” In Chapter twenty-three, author writes- “PRANARODHA- Wanton killing of animals. Yama play plays archery sport with this sinner.” Author clears the confusion between Maharaurava and Sarameyadana- “Maharaurava was for the sinner, who inflicted pain on others. And Sarameyadana was for the sinner, who used his wealth and pride for wrong reasons; you know to plunge other people in fires and destruction. Now, Maharaurava hell with sinners will be eaten by ferocious animals called Rurus and Sarameyadana with seven hundred and twenty ferocious dogs, the sons of Sarama, will eat his flesh.” The author defines ‘Andhakupa’ and ‘Ayahpana’ - “Andhakupa is the hell where such people are attacked by birds and insects and all sorts of reptiles.” And “Ayahpana is a narak where alcoholics go, the ones who give up everything to nasha.” He also tells about one more hell-“Asipatravana is a hell reserved for a person who digresses from the religious teachings of the Vedas and practices heresy.”
Drawbacks in the novel:
1.Missing 3 chapters: There are total 90 chapters in the book. Though the 90 is too much, I don’t mean that a book can not have chapters in such large numbers. But the drawback in those 90 chapters is, 3 chapters (chapter 58, 65 and 77) are missing in the book. When I checked missing pages, I found correct page numbers; which clears that there are only 87 chapters in the book, but editors have mistaken in typing chapters according to their correct order. You may call it a minor print mistake, but it is a major drawback in my opinion because this mistake is repeated 3 times and it is about chapter’s title.
2.Typing Errors: I found minor typos which had to be corrected as mentioned in the bracket- I (It), ram (ran) and Sanjavan (Sanjayvan) on page numbers 21, 22, and 60. I found some punctuation marks missing in the novel.
About the Author
Kevin Solomon Missal is studying History Hon. In St. Stephen’s College. He loves to write plays, books, reviews, watch television shows, classic movies and has a knack for thrillers. He has written two books (Damien Black- The battle of Lost Ages and Unlocked), with the second one(Unlocked), being number one best seller on Amazon Christian Fiction.
Blurb
What will you do if you have 24 hours to save someone?
A VIOLENT SAINT…
A man who claims he is Yama, is punishing sinners by killing them according to the twenty eight hells described in the Bhagavat Gita. Who is he? What does he want? Is he a vigilante or a psychopath?
A DELUSIONAL HERO…
Iravan Rajpoot, an Ex-Black Cat Commando with a dark past is receiving letters with names and time limits. It’s no sooner that he learns about the intended victims than they die within the mentioned time frame
AN AMBITIOUS REPORTER
Swati Kaushik, a widow and a woman who can do anything for success, must team up with Iravan to stop the god of Death and Justice
Reviewer’s Verdict:
“The novel Yama by Kevin Missal keeps readers engaged until the end with a lot of twists and turns which surprise and sometimes shock readers. Short chapters and author’s fast pace of narration maintains the curiosity to flip pages and finish the book in one seating, so a reader doesn’t wish to put the book down. Overall, Yama by Kevin Missal is the well-researched mythological thriller filled with action and a lot of suspense until the climax. I would recommend this book to all history and mythology lovers. I would rate the novel Yama by Kevin Missal 4 out of 5 stars.”
Title: YAMA
Author: Kevin Missal
Publisher: Chetan Soni (Half Baked Beans Literature Publishing)
First published by Half Baked Beans in 2016
Copyright © Kevin Missal 2016
Cover Design: Manoj Nath
Language: English
Typeset in Utopia 9.50 pt at De Unique
Binding: Paperback (in India by De Unique)
Genre: Fiction (Thriller)
ISBN: 978-93-84315-245
ASIN: B01C2YB5SW
Pages: 182 (including cover)
Price: Rs. 175
My rating: 4*/5
Reviewed by: ©Rajesh D. Hajare (RDH)
Read this review on my blog: http://www.rdhsir.com/book-review-of-...
November 9, 2020
For readers who love Mythology, one name they will never forget is "Kevin Missal". From this renowned path, author Kevin has taken a complete "U" turn towards the genre crime thriller. He has nailed it here too! The newly released book "Yama" was my first pick of this month, n ya let's see how it was...
From the title "Yama", This book grabbed my huge attention as it means "God of death". Here, the actual plot revolves around A serial killer Yama and his goal behind this. Yama kills them who haven't the right to live with an evil soul, yes! Yama serves justice.
Dhruvi Rajput, A mother who has lost her daughter a few years back due to server bully. Also, her husband Rahul has died of a sudden heart attack. The lost soul Dhruvi fights her own battle now. One fine day, she received a call from Yama and the story entered into the center of the plot.
Basically from the beginning to the last full stop, I have enjoyed the pace of this book. The story is a very smooth thriller which can never be closed. The plot is very interesting and catchy. The way the complete story was developed with characters, is awesome indeed. I love the layers of the story, how perfectly every mystery has been enclosed one by one.
Kevin's writing style is very familiar, so there is no doubt about the quality. His work, dedication, and effort are truly appreciating. I will recommend this book to every thriller lover. It was like, I am watching a movie in front of my eyes. The cover is mysterious and the title has direct connection with the plot. It was an amazing time with this book.
From the title "Yama", This book grabbed my huge attention as it means "God of death". Here, the actual plot revolves around A serial killer Yama and his goal behind this. Yama kills them who haven't the right to live with an evil soul, yes! Yama serves justice.
Dhruvi Rajput, A mother who has lost her daughter a few years back due to server bully. Also, her husband Rahul has died of a sudden heart attack. The lost soul Dhruvi fights her own battle now. One fine day, she received a call from Yama and the story entered into the center of the plot.
Basically from the beginning to the last full stop, I have enjoyed the pace of this book. The story is a very smooth thriller which can never be closed. The plot is very interesting and catchy. The way the complete story was developed with characters, is awesome indeed. I love the layers of the story, how perfectly every mystery has been enclosed one by one.
Kevin's writing style is very familiar, so there is no doubt about the quality. His work, dedication, and effort are truly appreciating. I will recommend this book to every thriller lover. It was like, I am watching a movie in front of my eyes. The cover is mysterious and the title has direct connection with the plot. It was an amazing time with this book.
June 23, 2018
A serial killer is going about killing people. His trademark - Killing in a gruesome manner, and before the killings, he allows a retired soldier turned detective, Iravan Rajpoot, clues with the man's name and to guess the type of sin and hell, basis Hindu scriptures. If he finds out,the life is spared, else the victim is killed in a manner suiting his crime and corresponding hell.
Story goes well, is fast to read, however feels broken. Could have been put together better. But good time pass read
Story goes well, is fast to read, however feels broken. Could have been put together better. But good time pass read
April 29, 2020
A mash up of various movies we have watched overtime. A predictable read, but we have to give it to the writer for attempting something like this. As usual, the book is fast paced but lacks subject. This book was one of Kevin's earlier work. He has improved a lot since then.
November 15, 2024
Appreciate the writer but it could have been better articulated.
October 28, 2020
The plot of the story is crafted with a lot of detail, and as it progresses, one cannot help but sympthasise with the vigilante as things unfold. The pace of the book is good and there are no moments where the story drops or seems boring. The central premise of the book seems eerily relevant in the times we live in and the way it is presented, one might actually stop and take a break to let the story sink in. As is with Kevin’s other books, the book is well researched and the mythological references in the story are interesting, though this one is a bit light in the mythological aspect. As a vigilante book, this is well told, however I seem to have come across a similar plot some years earlier as well, but the two are different on many aspects as well. An unputdownable book, each chapter is so engaging that a reader will definitely move on to the next one immediately. Filled with contemporary references, the plot is well sketched and well executed. I would have loved to read a bit more about Rahul Rajput and Pia and their backstories which would have given a bit more credence to the story.
The characters are the backbone of this story as it hinges on their moral compass and their beliefs. Dhruvi Rajput as a character is quite interesting and the manner in which she reacts to various situations was quite interesting and there are times when you actually question her role in the story. The character of Basheer Ali is an enigma and his arc throughout the story was the one that propels the story forward. Onto our protagonist, who I felt was the star of the book. With an admirable sense of style in the manner in which he dresses, I became a fan from the first page itself. The manner in which the identity is revealed is something that will surely surprise any reader
The characters are the backbone of this story as it hinges on their moral compass and their beliefs. Dhruvi Rajput as a character is quite interesting and the manner in which she reacts to various situations was quite interesting and there are times when you actually question her role in the story. The character of Basheer Ali is an enigma and his arc throughout the story was the one that propels the story forward. Onto our protagonist, who I felt was the star of the book. With an admirable sense of style in the manner in which he dresses, I became a fan from the first page itself. The manner in which the identity is revealed is something that will surely surprise any reader
January 27, 2019
Gripping read
Started with great expectations after going through the reviews. The first few chapters didnt seem to excite me, but the later ones kept me hooked. A great read in all.
Started with great expectations after going through the reviews. The first few chapters didnt seem to excite me, but the later ones kept me hooked. A great read in all.
April 25, 2016
Note : This review is up in my blog @ Book and Ink
Volatile Saint, Delusional Hero and an ambitious reporter – A time tested recipe for a perfect mystery thriller as far as writing in India is concerned. The west would take time to understand the concept of Yama – the god of justice and death, while we Indians wouldn’t have any trouble at all. In fact, for some people, using that very name sends chills down the spine. This writer has capitalized well on that fact.
A man who claims to be Yama is on a killing spree in the name of serving justice. Of course, his victims are people are actually who have committed some crime or the other. That however, doesn’t give him the leeway to kill then. Iravan Rajpoot, the PI who is Ex-Army, gets entangled in these murders thanks to Yama who sends him periodic clues.Iravan already has his fair share of personal problems to deal with. With an ambitious reporter also in the play, Iravan breaks mountains to track the killer while handling his personal issues.
Logic is a vital element of this genre. The story did have minor logical loopholes, but that didn’t hamper the overall reading pleasure. For instance, in a particular chapter, Iravan, a person from northern part of the country watches a Tamil channel. Might not really sound like a big deal, but is still a loophole. The writing was good enough. The story at one point seemed a bit familiar to me. The torture methods of Yama and the name he gives for each punishment which is from Hindu Mythology was the primary reason behind this similarity. The Tamil movie, Anniyan (Aparichit in Hindi) also had a vigilante killer who served out Yama Styled punishments. However, the similarities stopped there. The story was a bit erratically paced with some parts being totally gripping while others a bit slow. The characterization was done perfectly and with a lot of conviction. The way the characters and the story jointly brought out the hypocrisy of our society was quite impressive.
MY SAY: An interesting read
RATING:
PLOT: 3/5
CHARACTERISATION: 4/5
NARRATION: 3/5
OVERALL RATING: 3/5
Volatile Saint, Delusional Hero and an ambitious reporter – A time tested recipe for a perfect mystery thriller as far as writing in India is concerned. The west would take time to understand the concept of Yama – the god of justice and death, while we Indians wouldn’t have any trouble at all. In fact, for some people, using that very name sends chills down the spine. This writer has capitalized well on that fact.
A man who claims to be Yama is on a killing spree in the name of serving justice. Of course, his victims are people are actually who have committed some crime or the other. That however, doesn’t give him the leeway to kill then. Iravan Rajpoot, the PI who is Ex-Army, gets entangled in these murders thanks to Yama who sends him periodic clues.Iravan already has his fair share of personal problems to deal with. With an ambitious reporter also in the play, Iravan breaks mountains to track the killer while handling his personal issues.
Logic is a vital element of this genre. The story did have minor logical loopholes, but that didn’t hamper the overall reading pleasure. For instance, in a particular chapter, Iravan, a person from northern part of the country watches a Tamil channel. Might not really sound like a big deal, but is still a loophole. The writing was good enough. The story at one point seemed a bit familiar to me. The torture methods of Yama and the name he gives for each punishment which is from Hindu Mythology was the primary reason behind this similarity. The Tamil movie, Anniyan (Aparichit in Hindi) also had a vigilante killer who served out Yama Styled punishments. However, the similarities stopped there. The story was a bit erratically paced with some parts being totally gripping while others a bit slow. The characterization was done perfectly and with a lot of conviction. The way the characters and the story jointly brought out the hypocrisy of our society was quite impressive.
MY SAY: An interesting read
RATING:
PLOT: 3/5
CHARACTERISATION: 4/5
NARRATION: 3/5
OVERALL RATING: 3/5
February 17, 2016
Rating 3.5/5
Yama is a Crime thriller with an interesting connection to Hindu mythology. The mythical part is only that the murderer uses the method's describe in Hindu mythology to punish the person to death whom he thinks a sinner.
Iraavan the protogonist of the story and also an ex-army man now works in a security firm of his army friend and mostly works on private and high profile cases got an unusual letter and later Mrs. Galgotia ask him to find his missing husband. But it's not as simple as it looks as Iraavan finds something written in letter and Mr. Galgotia is found dead before he acts.
The plot is interesting and a bit confusing also their is so much happening parallel in the story like the personal life of Iraavan his work , his mental state and also organ smuggling racket reading which at first I really got confused but the story line has a grasp. The concept of Yama is also something new which I first think as a serial murderer who is mentally unstable but it turns out totally different from what I have thought.
Only one thing I miss is that their is only 2 real murders in the story and that too cover a very less of story also the ending is rather abrupt. Also you can elaborate the scene where Iravaan first meets Yama in the factory and saves him.
Overall it's a nice attempt for a debut writer. Once you read the first 12-16 chapters it's hard yo resist from reading further.
Yama is a Crime thriller with an interesting connection to Hindu mythology. The mythical part is only that the murderer uses the method's describe in Hindu mythology to punish the person to death whom he thinks a sinner.
Iraavan the protogonist of the story and also an ex-army man now works in a security firm of his army friend and mostly works on private and high profile cases got an unusual letter and later Mrs. Galgotia ask him to find his missing husband. But it's not as simple as it looks as Iraavan finds something written in letter and Mr. Galgotia is found dead before he acts.
The plot is interesting and a bit confusing also their is so much happening parallel in the story like the personal life of Iraavan his work , his mental state and also organ smuggling racket reading which at first I really got confused but the story line has a grasp. The concept of Yama is also something new which I first think as a serial murderer who is mentally unstable but it turns out totally different from what I have thought.
Only one thing I miss is that their is only 2 real murders in the story and that too cover a very less of story also the ending is rather abrupt. Also you can elaborate the scene where Iravaan first meets Yama in the factory and saves him.
Overall it's a nice attempt for a debut writer. Once you read the first 12-16 chapters it's hard yo resist from reading further.
February 24, 2016
Today in this fast paced life’s, we are each our own devil and we make this world our hell.
Yama- A brilliant story by a smart and well observed writer, brings you the harsh realities of today’s competitive world were money has become a powerful weapon. This story is the perfect fusion of Indian mythology, criminal minds and corruption .It states that our fight for injustice, discrimination and misdeeds is interminable. It depicts the YAMA- as a body of justice in himself god of justice. Death for sinners. A creature with two horns. The plot smoothly joins every dot till the end defining each character gracefully .An army official who turns the world upside down to accomplish what he seeks with the help of his tech Greek nephew as assistant. Filled with breathless cinamitication and nail biting moments, the mystery slowly unfolds. This story is truly the resemblance of today’s society(The combination of Indian thrillers).
This journey of unexpected turns, Topsy-turvy moments, secrets of Yama and what he wants will give the readers utmost thrill this the very last moment.
The combination of Indian thrillers and mythology is surely exclamation worthy.
Yama- A brilliant story by a smart and well observed writer, brings you the harsh realities of today’s competitive world were money has become a powerful weapon. This story is the perfect fusion of Indian mythology, criminal minds and corruption .It states that our fight for injustice, discrimination and misdeeds is interminable. It depicts the YAMA- as a body of justice in himself god of justice. Death for sinners. A creature with two horns. The plot smoothly joins every dot till the end defining each character gracefully .An army official who turns the world upside down to accomplish what he seeks with the help of his tech Greek nephew as assistant. Filled with breathless cinamitication and nail biting moments, the mystery slowly unfolds. This story is truly the resemblance of today’s society(The combination of Indian thrillers).
This journey of unexpected turns, Topsy-turvy moments, secrets of Yama and what he wants will give the readers utmost thrill this the very last moment.
The combination of Indian thrillers and mythology is surely exclamation worthy.
February 2, 2022
Yama is far more intriguing in form than in content. At every point, something is mysterious, which is precisely what happens at the beginning of the book when a man walks behind a poacher Vir and ends up with his skull smashed to pulp. The series of the events go into flashback mode from there, jumping between past and present, to trace its journey up to that moment.
Yama is experimental, often audacious but unprecedented both in style and story that start off with a great deal of promise and ends up so well. The central conflict is effectively mounted. However, the story often fast-forwards itself to bring a flavor of innocence to melancholia in India. Current affairs come at a very crucial part of the book. The way author penned down everything has added so much depth to the plot and to the psycho of the story. It seems so relatable as if we are watching any Bollywood movie while reading the book.
I have always been fond of Kevin's style of storytelling and this is the first time I had read this hardcore thriller by him.
Language is pretty simple and easy to understand. Narration is also engaging.
Yama is experimental, often audacious but unprecedented both in style and story that start off with a great deal of promise and ends up so well. The central conflict is effectively mounted. However, the story often fast-forwards itself to bring a flavor of innocence to melancholia in India. Current affairs come at a very crucial part of the book. The way author penned down everything has added so much depth to the plot and to the psycho of the story. It seems so relatable as if we are watching any Bollywood movie while reading the book.
I have always been fond of Kevin's style of storytelling and this is the first time I had read this hardcore thriller by him.
Language is pretty simple and easy to understand. Narration is also engaging.
review-copies
June 7, 2021I have read all of Kevin Missal's books and I'd say I am familiar with his writing and his style. This book was a pleasant surprise. When I read the title I expected a fast paced mythology/ fantasy as usual and not a thriller. The cover is mysterious and intriguing. I'm a sucket for mysteries and thrillers and I enjoyed reading this. It was fast paced, quick witted and kept me hooked from beginning to end. The set up that someone has taken up justice in their own hands is interesting for anyone to pick up the book. I think the author should write more books of this kind rather than mythologies. Narasimha series was disappointing and characters were flat but this book proves why Kevin is a bestselling author. I will not give away the plot. Characterisation of Dhruvi and Basheer was well done. Unfortunately, I found some editing errors that could’ve been easily avoided. I also didn't understand some of the Hindi words mentioned. The book is a mirror to the current society and goes to prove that Heaven and Hell are both here on earth. I look forward to read more thrillers from Kevin.
March 3, 2016
Yama' has a very exquisite message for the reader, a message that says that your deeds are judged here only, and you have to pay for it one day or the other.I'm truly delighted with the plot author has carved for readers.With the hues of mystery, suspense, thrill and fear, it spreads the color of moral values, as your deeds are what matters at the end of this journey.This is one such book which entertains you and simultaneously lifts the curtain to show you the reality.
Read Full Review Here :http://madhyapradesh.johntext.de/revi...
Read Full Review Here :http://madhyapradesh.johntext.de/revi...
April 5, 2016
Pros: Great plot, great names, very good storytelling, rivetting and keeps you hooked on, short crisp chapters that give the story a great pace!
Cons: Dialogues and characterisations are decent, better than what most of us Indian writers do, but can be improved, hasty ending, poor editing by Bookbakers.
Overall: a very good read, impressed by the quality of writing and research!
Cons: Dialogues and characterisations are decent, better than what most of us Indian writers do, but can be improved, hasty ending, poor editing by Bookbakers.
Overall: a very good read, impressed by the quality of writing and research!
February 24, 2016
A fresh and genuine read. Characters are impeccably portrayed. Gripping storyline that will keep you coming back for more.
November 17, 2020
Voilence is a curse for Humanity, but often it is being used by every individual either in a slight way or in extreme way.
The deeds maynot be controlled by us but they are surely judged one day at the courts of Justice which is ruled by Yama.
But what if Yama considers Earth as his empire & starts punishing people according to the sins committed?
"Yama" by Kevin Missal is a story combined with thriller & Mythology.
Yama, a person who assumes himself as a King of Death & Justice is on a mission but it is suspected that the mission was regulated by someone else.
Basheer from Police department is devasted by the deaths, What's horrific is not the number of deaths & their identity but the way they were killed. He is on a mission to catch the "Yama"
On the other hand, Dhruvi is a lady who is extremely inclined towards Non-violence is recovering from the tragic incidents but life is throwing tough tests infront of her again & again.
There are other various characters that are mentioned to support the storyline but these three being the Protogonist with extreme importantance according to me.
Well, this was the first book by this Author that I picked up.
The initially story is gripping but it looses interest with strerched narration..
The interest towards the storyline fluctuates a lot while reading which can sometimes make it difficult to continue with the story..
I was impressed with the Character Dhruvi at the beginning, but somehow her thoughts was big turn off for me.
Basheer's character is hard to judge & to some extent Neutral.
Whereas, Yama was highly influencial on the story, which is a good thing & Kudos to the Author.
Until half of the story, especially after a bit hint about Yama's true identity, the story takes a twist but again it fails to keep the readers hooked.
Yama could have been my favorite character but i felt the concept is derived from one of the South movie where the Male protogonist used to Punish the People as mentioned in the Book of Hell.
No doubt The Author has come up with a storyline that creates awareness & there are many people who hide behind a mask & I feel rather than understanding their mentality, a strict law & order is compulsory.
The language was simple.
At the end the story goes beyond the imaginations & Unpredictable too.
The storyline could have been much better..
This might be the gripping book for Book lovers or beginners but my expectations weren't met..
The reason for Rahul's death, his mission, the code names, curse mentioned just adds thrill to the story & these are something that makes the readers to continue with the story.
Overall it was a Good attempt.
The deeds maynot be controlled by us but they are surely judged one day at the courts of Justice which is ruled by Yama.
But what if Yama considers Earth as his empire & starts punishing people according to the sins committed?
"Yama" by Kevin Missal is a story combined with thriller & Mythology.
Yama, a person who assumes himself as a King of Death & Justice is on a mission but it is suspected that the mission was regulated by someone else.
Basheer from Police department is devasted by the deaths, What's horrific is not the number of deaths & their identity but the way they were killed. He is on a mission to catch the "Yama"
On the other hand, Dhruvi is a lady who is extremely inclined towards Non-violence is recovering from the tragic incidents but life is throwing tough tests infront of her again & again.
There are other various characters that are mentioned to support the storyline but these three being the Protogonist with extreme importantance according to me.
Well, this was the first book by this Author that I picked up.
The initially story is gripping but it looses interest with strerched narration..
The interest towards the storyline fluctuates a lot while reading which can sometimes make it difficult to continue with the story..
I was impressed with the Character Dhruvi at the beginning, but somehow her thoughts was big turn off for me.
Basheer's character is hard to judge & to some extent Neutral.
Whereas, Yama was highly influencial on the story, which is a good thing & Kudos to the Author.
Until half of the story, especially after a bit hint about Yama's true identity, the story takes a twist but again it fails to keep the readers hooked.
Yama could have been my favorite character but i felt the concept is derived from one of the South movie where the Male protogonist used to Punish the People as mentioned in the Book of Hell.
No doubt The Author has come up with a storyline that creates awareness & there are many people who hide behind a mask & I feel rather than understanding their mentality, a strict law & order is compulsory.
The language was simple.
At the end the story goes beyond the imaginations & Unpredictable too.
The storyline could have been much better..
This might be the gripping book for Book lovers or beginners but my expectations weren't met..
The reason for Rahul's death, his mission, the code names, curse mentioned just adds thrill to the story & these are something that makes the readers to continue with the story.
Overall it was a Good attempt.
November 6, 2020
Yama by Kevin Missal depicts the journey of a heart-broken psychologist, Dhruvi Rajput and a rule-breaking CBI officer, Basheer Ali as they tread unexpected paths to reveal the actual identity of a killer who has named himself "Yama" (the God of death and justice in Hindu mythology) and is hell-bent on purifying the world, and enacting his idea of a utopia, by ridding it of sinful citizens. The two themes that stood out to me the most from this one was the admirable way in which it breached the grave issue of the competency of the justice system of India, with its biased and corrupt nature. The other theme revolving around the potency of excessive use of technology to wreak devastation and havoc upon our lives, should we permit it to. Although the storyline was fantastically hooking in the latter half of the novel, with all its decoding of the mystery, the first half, in my opinion, harboured numerous plot-holes. It appeared poorly expressed at points as a result of which an unnecessary ambiguity was built at first and the book could have done without it. Due to this flaw I feel that the book failed to establish a proper connection between the readers and characters, and that took way a major part of the appeal for me. I have to say though that they became quite flaunt-worthy(is that a word?) towards the end. It, initially, felt devoid of a moderation in pace which made it mind-numbingly montonous a few chapters in but the last bit was quite fast and fetching. Although it did have abundant mythological references, i expected to be more centred around mythology so that was a disapointment. The ending didn't fall flat on its face for me, which I heartily expected it to, and caught me off guard which was a point in the favour of the novel, although I have to say I don't agree with the ending because I find choosing the other option presented to the protagonists more logical . Additionally, although extremely few, the novel did have some grammatical errors scattered here and there.
Yama was a read that didn't grip immediately and I had to struggle through the first half of the novel, but, I've made it quite obvious, the second half was thrilling and worth the read. I expected a lot from this one and it didn't surpass all expectations. It was a decent yet not a fulfilling read therefore it's not an obvious recommendation on my part, but I'm definitely not discouraging anyone from picking it up!
Yama was a read that didn't grip immediately and I had to struggle through the first half of the novel, but, I've made it quite obvious, the second half was thrilling and worth the read. I expected a lot from this one and it didn't surpass all expectations. It was a decent yet not a fulfilling read therefore it's not an obvious recommendation on my part, but I'm definitely not discouraging anyone from picking it up!
November 9, 2020
Kevin Missal has broken his image as a mythological writer and showing his versatility as a storyteller with the latest release Yama. It is a fast-paced crime thriller.
You must have watched the movie Aparichit where the protagonist of the film, Ramanujam sets out to punish the antisocial elements according to the ancient scripture Garuda Purana. It was an unnerving psychological thriller movie. The author wrote Yama on a similar line, but the setting is more contemporary with the inclusion of social media and technology.
The book starts as a crime thriller. At least the first half was pacy with one murder after another. And the gory murder scenes will make you cringe. Quite similar to what I felt while watching Aparichit.
By the second half, the pace slows down. The protagonist Dhruvi confronts the vigilante Yama over morality in the justification of the manner the latter's meted out the justice. On whose side the pendulum will swing? The story will put you in a serious dilemma. How much is right in this wrong? How much is wrong in the right of the vigilante? The big question hovers in the remaining part of the story.
I must say the book kept me hooked. Be it the crime scenes, suspense, or the dilemma I was reluctant to leave the book even to meet the basic body needs. Kevin Missal has done a fabulous job throughout the story. The tone of the book was completely different from his previous books. So it was something fresh to read from the author's side.
The conflict in the mind of the protagonist and stumbling blocks in her way to unveil the truth of Yama made the book unputdownable. But towards the climax, all the conflict and drama fizzled out. The end was lusterless if compared to the brilliant build-up of the story. Don't get me wrong. The final revelation was most unexpected. But I expected a high time showdown, something similar to the book To Kill The President by Sam Bourne. What I received was a futuristic climax that didn't blend well with the contemporary storyline. It took away the charm of the story.
I would still recommend Yama if you are a crime thriller genre lover. Inspired by a or not, but brilliant execution, well-rounded characters, visualistic scenes, fast pace, mind-numbing conflict, and twists will enthrall you and keep you glued to the book.
You must have watched the movie Aparichit where the protagonist of the film, Ramanujam sets out to punish the antisocial elements according to the ancient scripture Garuda Purana. It was an unnerving psychological thriller movie. The author wrote Yama on a similar line, but the setting is more contemporary with the inclusion of social media and technology.
The book starts as a crime thriller. At least the first half was pacy with one murder after another. And the gory murder scenes will make you cringe. Quite similar to what I felt while watching Aparichit.
By the second half, the pace slows down. The protagonist Dhruvi confronts the vigilante Yama over morality in the justification of the manner the latter's meted out the justice. On whose side the pendulum will swing? The story will put you in a serious dilemma. How much is right in this wrong? How much is wrong in the right of the vigilante? The big question hovers in the remaining part of the story.
I must say the book kept me hooked. Be it the crime scenes, suspense, or the dilemma I was reluctant to leave the book even to meet the basic body needs. Kevin Missal has done a fabulous job throughout the story. The tone of the book was completely different from his previous books. So it was something fresh to read from the author's side.
The conflict in the mind of the protagonist and stumbling blocks in her way to unveil the truth of Yama made the book unputdownable. But towards the climax, all the conflict and drama fizzled out. The end was lusterless if compared to the brilliant build-up of the story. Don't get me wrong. The final revelation was most unexpected. But I expected a high time showdown, something similar to the book To Kill The President by Sam Bourne. What I received was a futuristic climax that didn't blend well with the contemporary storyline. It took away the charm of the story.
I would still recommend Yama if you are a crime thriller genre lover. Inspired by a or not, but brilliant execution, well-rounded characters, visualistic scenes, fast pace, mind-numbing conflict, and twists will enthrall you and keep you glued to the book.
November 10, 2020
Life is life.
You don't realise that you don't need to perfect life.
It's beautiful in its imperfections. Because if you make it perfect, it'll stop being life. --
____
KEVIN MISSAL wrote his 1st book at the age of 14, & at 24, the St. Stephen's graduate is a best selling & a full time author.
This is my 2nd read from the author's work.
____
@kevin_9695 is known for his calibre & expertise in mytho fic. till now, you'll be PLEASANTLY SURPRISED by his latest work.
YAMA.
more riddles, more mysteries.
📌As much as, it looks like of mytho genre, it is not.
For me, personally it belongs to SCIENCE FICTION genre with parts pertaining to crime & thriller fic. & influences of mythology.
____
Each & every character is wonderful sketched & has an important role to play.
Life is all about CHOICES.
There are two main characters, YAMA & DHRUVI RAJPUT. DHRUVI lost her husband an year back. He (RAHUL) was working in Vishwas Industries, owned by SARDAR MITTAL who is titan of telecom business & Wishlife (DigiIndia).
She lost her daughter, PIA, 4years back.
Other important. characters include; BASHEER ALI, COL. KHAN etc.
Geographically, Delhi, Uttrakhand, Kashmir come into picture.
Although names Yama, Chitragupta..take us back to a bygone era..but the context of the story is futuristic.
_____
The story is about a VIGILANTE who judges & punishes. But why❓
Who is behind it all❓
How is Dhruvi related❓
____
#blurb
The No. 1 Bestselling Author Returns With a Serial Killer Mystery Like No Other
You will never be able to guess the ending!
Dhruvi Rajput is a psychotherapist who has lost the two most important people in her life. She is trying to move on, get her life back together. Then she gets a call from a man identifying himself only as Yama. And her life turns upside down.
Basheer Ali, a senior inspector at the CBI, has captured many criminals. But he has seen many more walk free. So, even as he works to track down Yama—a vigilante killer bringing the corrupt and guilty outed on social media to fatal justice—he finds himself grudgingly siding with a killer.
Through the dark and gritty streets of Delhi, Dhruvi and Basheer chase this spectre of the God of Death, each step leading up to a final choice that makes them question their own morality. Can one man decide another's fate? Is rage the real way to justice?
____
It works into SUBJECTS like;
POACHING, SOCIAL MEDIA HATE, POLITICS, CORRUPTION, CRIME, RAPE, PORN, SOCIAL INFLUENCERS, GURUJI NEXUS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, FILM INDUSTRY, CHILD LABOUR, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE..etc.
____
THE KINDEST HARBOUR THE DARKEST SECRETS.
Although a lengthy read, it doesn't feel like one. A perfect thriller, a page turner, it keeps you on your toes till the very end.
Wear your thinking caps and keep on guessing!
Full of surprises & revelations, the ending comes as totally unpredictable.
____
Loved the entire amalgamation of different genres into one.
Well written, in typical Kevin style, this one is sure going to create a ripple effect!
#noorthebookwormreviews
#yama
You don't realise that you don't need to perfect life.
It's beautiful in its imperfections. Because if you make it perfect, it'll stop being life. --
____
KEVIN MISSAL wrote his 1st book at the age of 14, & at 24, the St. Stephen's graduate is a best selling & a full time author.
This is my 2nd read from the author's work.
____
@kevin_9695 is known for his calibre & expertise in mytho fic. till now, you'll be PLEASANTLY SURPRISED by his latest work.
YAMA.
more riddles, more mysteries.
📌As much as, it looks like of mytho genre, it is not.
For me, personally it belongs to SCIENCE FICTION genre with parts pertaining to crime & thriller fic. & influences of mythology.
____
Each & every character is wonderful sketched & has an important role to play.
Life is all about CHOICES.
There are two main characters, YAMA & DHRUVI RAJPUT. DHRUVI lost her husband an year back. He (RAHUL) was working in Vishwas Industries, owned by SARDAR MITTAL who is titan of telecom business & Wishlife (DigiIndia).
She lost her daughter, PIA, 4years back.
Other important. characters include; BASHEER ALI, COL. KHAN etc.
Geographically, Delhi, Uttrakhand, Kashmir come into picture.
Although names Yama, Chitragupta..take us back to a bygone era..but the context of the story is futuristic.
_____
The story is about a VIGILANTE who judges & punishes. But why❓
Who is behind it all❓
How is Dhruvi related❓
____
#blurb
The No. 1 Bestselling Author Returns With a Serial Killer Mystery Like No Other
You will never be able to guess the ending!
Dhruvi Rajput is a psychotherapist who has lost the two most important people in her life. She is trying to move on, get her life back together. Then she gets a call from a man identifying himself only as Yama. And her life turns upside down.
Basheer Ali, a senior inspector at the CBI, has captured many criminals. But he has seen many more walk free. So, even as he works to track down Yama—a vigilante killer bringing the corrupt and guilty outed on social media to fatal justice—he finds himself grudgingly siding with a killer.
Through the dark and gritty streets of Delhi, Dhruvi and Basheer chase this spectre of the God of Death, each step leading up to a final choice that makes them question their own morality. Can one man decide another's fate? Is rage the real way to justice?
____
It works into SUBJECTS like;
POACHING, SOCIAL MEDIA HATE, POLITICS, CORRUPTION, CRIME, RAPE, PORN, SOCIAL INFLUENCERS, GURUJI NEXUS, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, FILM INDUSTRY, CHILD LABOUR, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE..etc.
____
THE KINDEST HARBOUR THE DARKEST SECRETS.
Although a lengthy read, it doesn't feel like one. A perfect thriller, a page turner, it keeps you on your toes till the very end.
Wear your thinking caps and keep on guessing!
Full of surprises & revelations, the ending comes as totally unpredictable.
____
Loved the entire amalgamation of different genres into one.
Well written, in typical Kevin style, this one is sure going to create a ripple effect!
#noorthebookwormreviews
#yama
November 9, 2020
Book: YAMA
Author: Kevin Missal
Format: kindle(e-book)
Rate: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Review: The story started as Vir was being chased by an unknown man. That mysterious man kidnapped him and killed him later. But was it the only murder? The twisted game just started. As the story proceeded, a lot of secrets were unfolded along with each murder cases.The name of that mysterious man was Yama who was killing people and was justifying each murder case in his own way.
🔆The CBI department handed the case to Basheer. He had his own twisted way to solve every case. His strategies often include breaking rules that used to displease his higher authorities. The dark memories of his past was chasing him, and he was doing everything in his power to establish his name and reputation. Despite all the hurdles, he risked his life many times while solving the cases handed to him. Basheer is desperate to locate Yama but failing every time.
Can Basheer solve this case ?
🔆Dhruvi Rajput is a psychologist. She is suffering from mental trauma after losing her daughter Pia and her husband Rahul. She is struggling to get back to her normal pace of life but one phone call changed her life forever. Before killing the victims, Yama used to call Dhruvi and narrate a story related to mythology letting her decide whether the victim deserve to live or die. As the story unfolded,she discovered that Yama is related to her husband’s death and more.
Would she ever discover the truth behind her husband’s death?
Why Yama chose to call her before every killing?
🔆Yama is an interesting character. He thinks of himself as God Yamraj, and he considers this earth as Narak. So he takes the responsibility of serving justice by killing all the evil people and sending them to their next life. He tactfully serves different form of death punishment to every wicked person by analyzing the extent of their sinful act.
🔰The plot line was fascinating. The story will keep you on hook from start to end. The writing was designed in such a way that one can’t really put aside the book until they found the truth of Yama’s existence. To be very honest the murders were conducted in a brutal way and sometimes I was feeling uncomfortable while reading it. All the scenes felt so vivid and real that it would engage every reader till the end. The story also contained a rich content of Indian mythology which was quite interesting. The story also highlights some serious problems that is still conducted in our society. At certain places the characters will make you think deeply, searching through your own morals that which is right and wrong. I was a bit disappointed by the ending of this story. This is the exact reason why I am rating it as a 4 star otherwise this excellent thriller deserves 5 star and nothing less. All through the story the character of Yama was built with suspense and mystery, so I expected the ending would be bang on. But the ending shocked me to my core.
This mythological thriller was penned down in an excellent way.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
Little spoiler : The cover reveals the secret.
Author: Kevin Missal
Format: kindle(e-book)
Rate: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Review: The story started as Vir was being chased by an unknown man. That mysterious man kidnapped him and killed him later. But was it the only murder? The twisted game just started. As the story proceeded, a lot of secrets were unfolded along with each murder cases.The name of that mysterious man was Yama who was killing people and was justifying each murder case in his own way.
🔆The CBI department handed the case to Basheer. He had his own twisted way to solve every case. His strategies often include breaking rules that used to displease his higher authorities. The dark memories of his past was chasing him, and he was doing everything in his power to establish his name and reputation. Despite all the hurdles, he risked his life many times while solving the cases handed to him. Basheer is desperate to locate Yama but failing every time.
Can Basheer solve this case ?
🔆Dhruvi Rajput is a psychologist. She is suffering from mental trauma after losing her daughter Pia and her husband Rahul. She is struggling to get back to her normal pace of life but one phone call changed her life forever. Before killing the victims, Yama used to call Dhruvi and narrate a story related to mythology letting her decide whether the victim deserve to live or die. As the story unfolded,she discovered that Yama is related to her husband’s death and more.
Would she ever discover the truth behind her husband’s death?
Why Yama chose to call her before every killing?
🔆Yama is an interesting character. He thinks of himself as God Yamraj, and he considers this earth as Narak. So he takes the responsibility of serving justice by killing all the evil people and sending them to their next life. He tactfully serves different form of death punishment to every wicked person by analyzing the extent of their sinful act.
🔰The plot line was fascinating. The story will keep you on hook from start to end. The writing was designed in such a way that one can’t really put aside the book until they found the truth of Yama’s existence. To be very honest the murders were conducted in a brutal way and sometimes I was feeling uncomfortable while reading it. All the scenes felt so vivid and real that it would engage every reader till the end. The story also contained a rich content of Indian mythology which was quite interesting. The story also highlights some serious problems that is still conducted in our society. At certain places the characters will make you think deeply, searching through your own morals that which is right and wrong. I was a bit disappointed by the ending of this story. This is the exact reason why I am rating it as a 4 star otherwise this excellent thriller deserves 5 star and nothing less. All through the story the character of Yama was built with suspense and mystery, so I expected the ending would be bang on. But the ending shocked me to my core.
This mythological thriller was penned down in an excellent way.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
Little spoiler : The cover reveals the secret.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2020
The book ' Yama ' by Kevin Missal, is an amazing story in itself. The plot is so thrilling.
The story is about a psychologist, Dhruvi Rajput and a CBI officer, Basheer Ali, who are in the journey to reveal the real identity of the killer, Yama. Dhruvi has lost so much, her father, her husband and her daughter. One fine day when she gets the call from 'Yama' , she gets very desperate to find his true identity. Basheer Ali, being an appreciated investigator, is assigned the case of the murder of Vir Rathod. Both the protagonists are in the search of one man. Yama. A mythological character, the God of death and justice.
The story starts when a poacher, Vir Rathod is being chased by someone and is brutally killed by the man who reveals his identity as Yama, god of death and justice.
The beginning of story is not much gripping. It was tad bit slow paced however moving further you will discover that the book is much better in the second phase. Some parts in the beginning will really send shivers down the spine.
The thing that I really loved about this book was the mythological touch with an essence of science and technology. I was fascinated by the Karma concept by the way. Being a true believer of Karma, this book stood as a must read for me.
It was a slow paced thriller in the beginning but as we read further it got hold and it was really Adventurous.. But what disappointed me was the ending. I read the whole book just to find a non logical ending which doesn't match with the beginning part.
Though the technology and mythology added to the part which I liked the most but still the end, in my opinion, was not justified or logical.
I would not say that I did not like the book. I liked it very much.. It's very gripping and I enjoyed each and every page regardless of it's pace.
✔The plot was nice.
✔Characters were brilliantly described.
✔Selection of words was excellent.
✔Narration was good. The pace did not really affect much.
Get your copies now to know the secrets.
Who was Yama?
Why only Dhruvi Rajput was "chosen"?
What was the reason behind Dhruvi's spouse's suicide?
And many more question that awaits in this book.
The story is about a psychologist, Dhruvi Rajput and a CBI officer, Basheer Ali, who are in the journey to reveal the real identity of the killer, Yama. Dhruvi has lost so much, her father, her husband and her daughter. One fine day when she gets the call from 'Yama' , she gets very desperate to find his true identity. Basheer Ali, being an appreciated investigator, is assigned the case of the murder of Vir Rathod. Both the protagonists are in the search of one man. Yama. A mythological character, the God of death and justice.
The story starts when a poacher, Vir Rathod is being chased by someone and is brutally killed by the man who reveals his identity as Yama, god of death and justice.
The beginning of story is not much gripping. It was tad bit slow paced however moving further you will discover that the book is much better in the second phase. Some parts in the beginning will really send shivers down the spine.
The thing that I really loved about this book was the mythological touch with an essence of science and technology. I was fascinated by the Karma concept by the way. Being a true believer of Karma, this book stood as a must read for me.
It was a slow paced thriller in the beginning but as we read further it got hold and it was really Adventurous.. But what disappointed me was the ending. I read the whole book just to find a non logical ending which doesn't match with the beginning part.
Though the technology and mythology added to the part which I liked the most but still the end, in my opinion, was not justified or logical.
I would not say that I did not like the book. I liked it very much.. It's very gripping and I enjoyed each and every page regardless of it's pace.
✔The plot was nice.
✔Characters were brilliantly described.
✔Selection of words was excellent.
✔Narration was good. The pace did not really affect much.
Get your copies now to know the secrets.
Who was Yama?
Why only Dhruvi Rajput was "chosen"?
What was the reason behind Dhruvi's spouse's suicide?
And many more question that awaits in this book.
November 12, 2020
Title - Yama
Author - Kevin Missal
Publisher - Simon and Schutler
Genre - Crime thriller
Pages - 149
Format - kindle
I have read mythological books from Kevin Missal but this time he has tried his hands on thriller genre which is my most favourite that is why I picked it up. The story revolves around the protagonist Dhruvi Rajput, a psychotherapist who has lost her 12 years old daughter Pia due to online threatening and her husband Rahul due to heart attack. She is now in search of her mind of peace. The story starts with murder of Vir Rathore, an infamous poacher. The case of this terrifying murder goes in the hands of CBI officer Basheer Ali. Simultaneously Dhruvi is too much confused with the unexpected and shocking calls from an unknown person YAMA. She wants to unravel the truth. Dhruvi and Basheer both tried to solve the problem even by breaking the rules.
Who is Yama?
Why Yama chose to call Dhruvi before each murder?
Will she discover the truth?
Read the book to know the answers.
The cover of the book is aptly designed. The title of the book is interesting as the Yama is the God of death and justice. The plot of the story is interesting, engaging and thrilling. The main concept of the story is about the internet, dark web and the justice system of India. The author has amazingly narrated the crime fiction. Along with this he has highlighted on the various social issues of the present situations. The language used is simple and lucid. The characters are well developed and described. The flow of the first half of the book is fast paced and engaging but the second half is somewhat slow paced. But the mystery is maintained very well till the end. But I felt at some places the story is too much fabricated. Overall, an interesting read with a good social message.
Rating - 4.3/5
I recommend this book to all thriller lovers out there.
Author - Kevin Missal
Publisher - Simon and Schutler
Genre - Crime thriller
Pages - 149
Format - kindle
I have read mythological books from Kevin Missal but this time he has tried his hands on thriller genre which is my most favourite that is why I picked it up. The story revolves around the protagonist Dhruvi Rajput, a psychotherapist who has lost her 12 years old daughter Pia due to online threatening and her husband Rahul due to heart attack. She is now in search of her mind of peace. The story starts with murder of Vir Rathore, an infamous poacher. The case of this terrifying murder goes in the hands of CBI officer Basheer Ali. Simultaneously Dhruvi is too much confused with the unexpected and shocking calls from an unknown person YAMA. She wants to unravel the truth. Dhruvi and Basheer both tried to solve the problem even by breaking the rules.
Who is Yama?
Why Yama chose to call Dhruvi before each murder?
Will she discover the truth?
Read the book to know the answers.
The cover of the book is aptly designed. The title of the book is interesting as the Yama is the God of death and justice. The plot of the story is interesting, engaging and thrilling. The main concept of the story is about the internet, dark web and the justice system of India. The author has amazingly narrated the crime fiction. Along with this he has highlighted on the various social issues of the present situations. The language used is simple and lucid. The characters are well developed and described. The flow of the first half of the book is fast paced and engaging but the second half is somewhat slow paced. But the mystery is maintained very well till the end. But I felt at some places the story is too much fabricated. Overall, an interesting read with a good social message.
Rating - 4.3/5
I recommend this book to all thriller lovers out there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews