Club You To Death

ACP Bhavani Singh #1

by Anuja Chauhan

When a hunky personal trainer is found asphyxiated to death under an overloaded barbell at the posh Delhi Turf Club, on the eve of the club elections, it is first thought to be a freak accident. But soon, it becomes clear that one of the members of the DTC – all pickled-in-privilege Dilliwallahs – is a cold-blooded killer.

As the capital bristles with speculation and conspiracy theories, Crime Branch veteran ACP Bhavani Singh is appointed to investigate the case. Together with his able deputies – ex-lovers Akash ‘Kashi’ Dogra, hottie crusader for human rights, and Bambi Todi, wealthy girl-about-town – ACP Bhavani sets out to solve a crime that seems simple enough at the surface, but turns out to have roots as deep and spreading as those of New Delhi’s famous Neem trees…

Anuja Chauhan returns with a bloody good romance set in the pulsating heart of Lutyen’s Delhi.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, India, Mystery Thriller, Indian Literature, Thriller

432 pages, Paperback

Published February 26, 2021

About the author

Anuja Chauhan is an Indian author and advertiser. She worked in the advertising agency, JWT India, for over 17 years. She has written 3 novels, The Zoya Factor (2008), Battle For Bittora (October 2010) and Those Pricey Thakur Girls (January 2013). All three books are romances.

Reviews

[Nikita Madan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you go into an Anuja Chauhan novel you expect some witty dialoguebaazi, eccentric side characters, perky heroines and ...hawt heroes. Her grasp on romance, the description of small intimate moments without compromising on the pace has been my biggest attraction towards the novels.

So when I heard this novel was a murder mystery and not a romance novel, I was skeptical. Will the mystery be actually worth solving? and will the romance still prevail?

Well after finishing the book in almost a single Sunday binge I have my answers.

The mystery part is surprisingly good and cleverly handled. The characters are typical Chauhan and she gives them each neat motivation and enough skeletons-in-the-closets to make for an engaging read. I was surprised to be drawn toward ACP Bhavani, the mild-mannered cop who embodies kindness and empathy against the macho/violent imagery of Delhi cops that is prevalent in the current discourse.

But when it comes to romance...... Is it my fault that she has spoilt us with Khoda, Dylan, Samar Zain and Baaz? Don't get me wrong, Kashi Dogra is good and his shenanigans with Bambi Todi is fun. But, I am addicted to the mushy romance she produces. Obviously, when you arrive at the ending you realize why the romance was such a sad sizzle (no spoilers here) but I still felt the book needed a little bit of those 'smiling like a chutiya' moments.

So does the book work?
- Dialogues as always are top class
- Mystery part is actually difficult to solve
- Plotting is fast and the fun doesn't stop
- She makes a lot of side commentary on hyper-nationalism and the current political climate. Very deftly handled. It never overpowers the story yet gets the point across.

My recommendation - don't go in looking for romance and you will be satisfied with the book.

On a side note - why are her books so terribly adapted for the big screens? her novels are basically like screenplays for perfect masala potboilers. Romance, action, comedy - sab milega.
I genuinely feel none of the makers are able to grasp her energy..or her rhythm of the storyline. I so wish to see one of her books being done justice in any A/V format.

[Avani ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Club You To Death by Anuja Chauhan is a murder mystery com romance novel set in the posh area and club of Delhi. When a personal trainer named Leo or Lambodar is dead, the story started and alot of things around the club starts to unfold.

The president of the club is to held elections on one side and on another side we see a romance booming between childhood friends and at the same time alot of club members lives starts to unwind and their pretty little secrets unfold.

I have heard so much about this author and her previous books, that I could not wait to read her work. So I decided to pick up her new book and I must say I am kind off disappointed. I expected this book to be better in terms of presentation and plot.

No doubt her writing style is what I enjoyed and I am definitely going to pick up her blacklisted books at some point in life, but this one was filled with unnecessary information and directionless narration. Many things were just beating around the bush and I did not find the need for this book to be a 400+ pages.

[Smriti · Rating 3 out of 5]

edit #1 hmmmm, I have thoughts but I have to gather them first.

edit #2 thoughts have been gathered and I've vomited them in this video here: https://youtu.be/B90kT6_JTCA. A written review shall follow.

[Aqsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anuja Chauhan can do thrillers too, let nobody tell you otherwise!

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Speaking in Anuja Chauhan's language "what a whole lot of bakwaas this was!"

[Sadaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE:

I am not a mystery reader. The genre is in general unappealing to me. There are three reasons for this. The first that many crime stories once finished leave me with a sense of unease and paranoia. Every creak outside at night becomes a murderer scaling my trellis. Secondly, I don't do well with suspense. I need to know who the killer is at the beginning and then enjoy the details coming together after that. I'm that person who reads the plot for every movie before I actually watch it. And finally, an old wound festers from when I attended Sanawar School's Mystery Lit Fest and read nothing but Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie and managed to nab every prize except for first. But this is Anuja Chauhan. And an ARC no less! I'll be honest, she could write a note to her local doodhwaala and I'd pay good money to read it. So I did. And I absolutely adored it. This review will be spoiler-free till 5th March when I plan on updating my thoughts more fully.

Club You To Death is set in a very posh old club based in Delhi from the Brit days in India and follows handsome Akash Dogra, hip and happening lawyer, socialite Bambi Todi and surprisingly an ACP Bhavani Singh from Dilli's own police force. When a gym instructor is murdered using a mysterious drug on club premises, old rivalries within Delhi's elite come to the forefront of the investigation, an investigation filled with sexy, threatening songs and lots of chaos.

Whenever I read Agatha Christie I'd usually guess the murderer (and end up with the correct answer). I was sure by the halfway mark I'd know who it was. I had promised myself that this was a book I wouldn't ruin for myself. And so when I reached the fifty per cent mark I was ashamed to admit that I had no idea who the killer was. At any rate, I threw a wild guess to the wind and stuck with it till the end and realised not only was I wrong but I was so wrong I hadn't even pieced together the details of what happened. The entire plot had me engrossed from 6 pm when I started reading to 1 am, lurching up from my bed towards the tail end to try and grasp the enormity of the plot that had been spun. The thought process behind the entire crime that the book surrounds is magnificent. Complex and brilliant. It's a testament to Anuja Chauhan's range that she writes every single genre well. Romance, politics, historical fiction, legal dispute and now crime fiction. And she does it so well.

I'd say that while the romance aspect is a bit light in this book as compared to her others, the book is still enjoyable because of how amazing the mystery is. Kashi and Bambi play a far smaller role than the real hero ACP Bhavani who takes over the entire novel with his quiet interrogations and clever way of niggling information out of everyone involved to get to the bottom of the grisly murder. He's a brilliant character and I really liked reading him as the protagonist. I was a bit apprehensive about reading about a police officer but Anuja Chauhan continues to use her blend of humour and blatant forwardness to bring forth the reality that haunts India's every corner without taking away from the plot. But you can tell that her writing portrays a genuine picture of how the country fares today, it's being political using fiction and humour and it's done well. That's something I love about her books, she makes a statement, it's always subtle, barely noticeable and yet if you pick up on it, you'll realize how genuine and real and funny her writing is. The book itself is hilarious. With her traditional blend of using Hindi gaalis that are peppered through the book and hiding jokes within the sarcasm of her characters, the novel had me laughing out loud a number of times. The characters themselves were an accurate representations of Delhi's social elites who hang out in their old high school groups and women in their fifties who make money off their friends using strange business ventures. Club Tambola and Zumba class in fancy tights and hiding away children who are less than satisfactory because log kya kehenge. Backstabbing and the occasional throw out of 'Do you know who my father is?' by characters. And the realism perhaps makes it funnier. Parts of the mystery were chilling, but not so horrifying that I felt uneasy by the time I was done.

‘Mukki’s voice rises to a thin nasal scream “You will sue me...? You will sue me? You will sue me?”

“It’s not a talaaq you know” Kashi drawls, turning to face him. “You don’t have to repeat it three tim-"'


I can't really give away too much, lest I spoil the plot for anyone reading, but all I'll say is that while I may never read another mystery book again, I wouldn't mind revisiting 'Club You To Death' because it was in all senses of the genre a perfect whodunnit.


23/02/2021:

I am not a mystery fan. Nor a crime fan. And yet I loved this book - review to follow on 24th February 2021! Thank you Harper Collins and Anuja Chauhan for sending me an ARC!

[Ashima Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your favourite writer announces a new book, a timer starts ticking at the back of your brain. That this book was not a romance novel but a 'bloody good' one, was the excitement I simply couldn't handle.

The posh, 180-year-old Delhi Turf Club lies in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi with members who are all privileged Dilliwallahs. When a hunky personal trainer is found asphyxiated to death under an overloaded barbell on the eve of the club elections, it is first thought to be a freak accident but soon becomes clear that one of the members is a cold-blooded killer.

As the capital bristles with speculation, Crime Branch veteran ACP Bhavani Singh is appointed to investigate. Together with his able deputies - ex-lovers Akash 'Kashi' Dogra, hottie crusader for human rights, and Bambi Todi, wealthy girl-about-town - ACP Bhavani sets out to solve a crime that seems to be an open-and-shut case, but turns out to have roots as deep and spreading as those of New Delhi's famous Neem trees.

My favourite part of reading Chauhan's books is her writing that hooks you from the first sentence. The crime thriller element is a first for her which she executes brilliantly with multiple suspects and hidden motives.

I won’t deny I have a huge crush on Kashi Dogra but even he seems to be overshadowed by ACP Bhavani Singh who is clearly the star of this book, so much so that he deserves a series in his honour.

Side-splitting witty, inherently sharp and pulsating, with a dash of political satire, the only thing saving you from biting your nails down to nothing will be the priceless entertainment that will have you ROFLing shamelessly.

This ARC courtesy of HarperCollins India.

For complete review, visit https://aquamarineflavours.wordpress.com
Find me on other platforms through here: https://linktr.ee/AshieJayn

[Isha Pawar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! After a long while, I came across a book that I couldn't get myself to put away. Even though in the beginning, I found a few dialogue exchanges between the characters strange and awkward, not aligning with how people normally communicate in real life. But it gets better as the book progresses. Once the book picks up its pace, it completely draws you into the story. I love the dark humor, all the twists, and the final suspense—I didn't see it coming. So all in all, it is definitely a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read.

[Balachander · Rating 2 out of 5]

My honeymoon period with Anuja Chauhan's books ended a couple of books ago. I no longer found her writing light, breezy fun but instead things were getting repetitive. This may be why the author has chosen to go down a different genre path this time around - a murder mystery ala Agatha Christie. The only character interesting enough is Bhavani, the elderly ACP. And unfortunately there are so many characters that none of them get too much of time on the page to make any impact. (a few years ago I may have found Bambi Todi a fun enough character but Anuja has written enough of these in the past and better versions as well). Read if you have nothing better to do.

[Gunnu · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a really hard book to get into and the first half drags on and on! The second half of the book is interesting and very Agatha Christie-ish. The confrontation is a reminder of every Poirot book ever written.

[Iona Sharma]

A delight. Chauhan usually does romcoms and this is a murder mystery with a sort-of romcom feel to it: at any rate it's buoyant and fun and full of sly satire, and the resolution is extremely satisfying in a soap-operatic kind of way.

[Selva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all Anuja Chauhan books. I was a huge fan till she got repetitive with her fourth book though I liked it in parts and her fifth, Baaz, didn't work for me at all. Clearly, I expected her to be funny more than serve more of the same romance. Saying this coz Baaz was quite well received if I go by GR ratings. But I guess the author knew that she has to do something new with her new book. So we get a murder mystery + romance in this book.

So a Zumba instructor cum gym trainer is found dead at the posh Delhi Turf Club and it is a club for the elite or high society whichever way you want to put it and a lot of high profile ppl come under the scanner and needless to say the murderer is found at the end.

The author has mentioned in one of her interviews that this book is a homage to Agatha Christie and that is true, a lot of ideas in terms of structure n other things make you think of AC novels. The romance part somehow didn't work for me though I liked it here n there. But it was a relief that it didn't occupy too much of the book. I thought the murder mystery part was alright. Though the detective ACP Bhavani Singh was alright, I didn't particularly detect any great intelligence in his line of questioning and particularly getting somebody to reveal something they didn't want to reveal. But of course, like Poirot, he knows everything in the end. Of course, for spice you get to know the lives of high society n their concerns. But if you have seen movies especially the ones like Page 3, Fashion etc nothing comes as a big shock or anything. Her writing was a bit on n off. N initially the Anuja Chauhan humour element was there n then it was it was missing. So, it is not bad but nothing great either. She has pulled off writing a decent murder mystery but I would have liked more sophistication.

[Ameya Joshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely think Anuja Chauhan does not get the credit she should as a writer seemingly pigeon-holed to chicklit-ish genres. She combines Bollywood masala movie-worthy plots with characters who have earthy desi sensibilities, with a large serving of humour and socio-political observations, in a most entertaining way.

This is Chetan Bhagat with a little more depth and sass and less pretentiousness. This is a Karan Johar movie about rich people and elite circles if only the narrative of his movies had an iota of self-awareness of their privilege and how vacuous their escapades actually are. This could actually be the basis of the screenplay for a successful Hollywood drama or sitcom adapted to a very Indian context.

In Club You To Death - we enter the world of the tony Delhi clubs' of the Lutyens' elite - a world which Chauhan seems very familiar with but does not hesitate to poke an incredible amount of fun at and show up for all its blemishes and warts. As usual the key characters are all good looking and intelligent and conscientious and hot, but this time we also have a key protagonist (our detective) who is a middle aged genial Delhi uncle which such a welcome change and contrast to all the other characters. As a whodunit, it is surprisingly good and even if the ending is slightly contrived (not even Hercule Poirot ever pulled together this many threads in his third act!) it is a tight enough plot that I couldn't figure out who the murderer is or how the romance ends until the very end.

5 out of 5 stars yaar - you absolutely get what you went in expecting which is a rollickingly good time. This is not heavy 'literature' by any stretch (but then again every book does not need to be to be 'good') so if you are looking for a cozy, weekend page-turner - you can't go wrong with this.

[Chhavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a larger than life cast of characters, Anuja Chauhan has created a fun and enjoyable read. More than the mystery, it was the apt portrayal of the richy-rich Delhites which kept me hooked throughout the 400 pages!

A perfect blend of Draama, spices and mystery, 'Club you to Death' is the perfect representation of Delhi and an amazing choice for a feel-good book.

[Nadha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the gossipy fun writing style that Anuja Chauhan has. Perfect book to get me out of my reading rut.
She's great at writing about rich people and their drama in Delhi. While the mystery aspect was fresh and fun, but the resolution was lacklustre and lacking imo.

[Aarohi · Rating 5 out of 5]

anuja chauhan always makes me snort out loud when i am reading and this was gripping and entertaining till the very end

[Richa Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the life of the elites of Delhi and their gossipy, uber greedy world, Club You to Death brings you a murder mystery that's intriguing as well as entertaining. The quintessential writing of style of Anuja Chauhan does it again, the book will make you laugh one moment and steal your breath the very next. I was truly amused by the hilarious Hinglish dialogues and the eclectic bunch of characters.

The story is set around a fancy club, The Delhi Turf club. The club stands for luxury and comfort. So it's nothing short of a shock when the handsome gym trainer is found dead one morning. Fingers are pointed, whispers are spread and as club elections are around the corner, the whole thing is a recipe for chaos. With its Zumba classes, Tambola tournaments and charity auctions, the club also holds secrets much deeper than presumed.

The writing is intricate, though I do admit, many parts were draggy and unnecessary, it never felt boring to me. I was given an insight into the fun yet depressing life of the rich. The book sheds light on addiction, mental illness, physical disability and even feminism. The characters are quite lovable and the ending will surprise you! It did to me at least!

[Afreen Khalil Inscribed Inklings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Club you to death by Anuja Chauhan 📚



Firstly, the cover of this book is just fabulous, that is what attracted me towards the book. This is my first book of this author and it was a pleasant experience. Club you to death is a slow burn whodunit mystery book filled with drama and intrigue. The writing style is witty and articulate. The tone of the book is gossipy and humorous.

I've never been to Delhi and I'm not well versed in Hindi. So, I felt lost in certain places as the author had not provided any translation sometimes. I felt it was targeted for the Hindi audience rather than Indian audience which was a let down for me as a South Indian. However, I still enjoyed the book thoroughly.

Leo, a gym trainer is found dead in the gym of Delhi Turf Club (DTC). At first glance, it appears to be an accident but upon investigation it reveals to be a murder. Among the elite members of the club belongs the murderer. Inspector Bhavani starts investigation with the help of insiders Kashi and Bambi. There is also a love triangle in there.

The ending was a bit predictable. Overall, it was an engaging read, I would recommend it to mystery lovers.

-Afreen

[Sumant Salunke · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine. Great premise, lacklustre and unremarkable execution. I hated the ending, but even apart from that, there was very little work put in building up the mystery, and even more so the romance(s). I truly did not care about any of the characters enough, but didn't particularly dislike anyone either (that's quite telling of how blah I found it). It was a great twist on country house mysteries (one of my favourite genres) and I think Anuja Chauhan still has one of the best ears for tone and cadence and local flavours of language, but her trademark tongue-in-cheek wit wasn't as biting or effortless as in her other works. Worst of all, the Christie-style meeting-where-everything-comes-out at the end was weak and frankly lazy, it's my least favourite trope of mystery novels because it's just put in so the author doesn't have to work as hard to reveal things organically and intelligently, and should have been discarded 50 years ago. I felt no attachment to any of the central characters, the twist at the end seemed really shoehorned in, the letter following that even more out-of-character and obvious. I really did think the premise to be fantastic though, I just wish it hadn't tapered off so, so badly in the latter half.

[scl.ashx · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars

Alright, here’s the lowdown on Club You to Death by Anuja Chauhan.

First off, it’s a fun whodunnit set in a posh Delhi gymkhana, with ACP Bhavani Singh—an old-school charmer with a sharp brain—leading the charge. The plot is juicy enough with murder, secrets, and plenty of Delhi high-society drama.

What I loved? The Delhi vibe is on point. Chauhan’s wit makes the dialogue sparkle. Bhavani Singh is oddly lovable, and the side characters? Quirky AF. But it drags at times, losing that zippy thrill a murder mystery needs.

The ending leaves you thinking: how far would you go to keep up appearances?

It has been adapted into a film titled Murder Mubarak, which is enjoyable as well.

[MollieVX · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd at the 40% mark. Have to say that the characters in this were very unengaging and the language was downright jarring and unreadable. Definitely disappointed. I enjoy Anuja Chauhan's books because they are good entertainment, but this was not it.

[Dakshata · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you get when you cross the zaniness of The Zoya Factor with the mystery of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - A brand new whodunnit by Anuja Chauhan

Like Anuja Chauhan’s other novels, Club You to Deatg too deals with the lives of society’s crème-e-la-crème. This one, however, adopts a darker tone right from the beginning, showcasing how dirty politics has taken over the lives of the members of Delhi Turf Club with the upcoming club elections, the chasm between the haves and have nots, and the series of scandals surrounding all of this.

However, the dirty tricks the candidates are resorting to for the election are not the most sordid activities happening in this century-old landmark for the morning after the club’s Annual Bumper Tambola game, the club’s hottest young gym trainer, Leo is found dead on the premises, a barbell having crushed his windpipe.

And thus, we are introduced to a motley crew that comprises the club’s members. Each, a high-ranking member of Delhi society but with a secret that could possibly lead to him/ her being the killer. There’s General Mehra AKA Behra Mehra, the war veteran and contender for the President’s position, who is known for his battle-hardened vicious ways and selective hearing; Urvashi Khurana, successful businesswoman, grace personified and the prime DTC Presidential candidate who is also rumored to be Leo’s paramour; Bambi Todi, a young, gorgeous socialite and Kashi Dogra, Bambi’s pehla pehla pyaar and a lawyer who represents Leo.

But what is a mystery novel without an equally intriguing detective? Quite like Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, who often reminds the readers and people around him to use their ‘little grey cells’, we have ACP Bhavani Singh who is ‘cute as a cheekoo and keen as a cheel’ with his genial demeanor and Four Golden Rules to prevent stress-induced brain hemorrhoids at the centre of this grisly tale. As much as the book tries to make us fall for Kashi Dogra, and believe me he is worthy of the adulation, it is ACP Bhavani who takes the cake. His ability to pierce the defenses of each of the suspects without breaking a sweat and his gentle nudges to PK, his subordinate during the case, or in matters of the heart endear him to the reader. Not to mention his pronunciation of the word ‘not’ as ‘naat’, which reminds you of a Hindi film inspector or even villain from the 80s.

Anuja Chauhan’s apt description of the club life and Hinglish witticisms will leave you in splits and the element of mystery will keep you hooked. When it comes to Indian romance novels, there is no doubt hers are perhaps, the most rip-roaring. Thus, it was interesting to see the romance angle in this novel pushed out of the limelight and the seedy backstories of the suspects taking the stage. Most of them have been crafted pretty strongly and keep you guessing as to why the person would have committed murder (or double murder). The plot doesn’t sag but it also doesn’t soar to height as it did in the case of Those Pricey Thakur Girls, which one can always pick up for a re-read every now and then.

Filled with suspenseful hidden motives, aunty-humor, and even a tinge of romance, Club You to Death surely pleases. I’m sure nobody would mind Anuja Chauhan advancing her foray in the crime & mystery genre with a series of novels a la Christie with Bhavani Singh in the lead.

To read more book reviews, check out: https://ambidakshtrous.com/category/b...

[Devika Rajeev · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Club You to Death, Anuja Chauhan goes back to what seems to be her home turf - upper class Delhi society. The setting for her latest book is a pretentious upper class club in central Delhi, the Delhi Turb Club. A high-profile trainer is found murdered in the club's gym early one morning, throwing the barely-civil internal politics of the DTC into turmoil. ACP Bhavani, a calm, square-faced police officer with a rather progressive approach to policing, is called in to investigate. The trouble is that there are very many suspects and barely anything to go on.

Club You To Death has exactly what I've come to expect from Anuja Chauhan - intelligent writing, fun characters who stay just on the right side of being caricatures of themselves, a dash of romance and glamour. She uses the conventional murder-mystery plotline to explore class divisions in society - whether it's the past-his-prime colonel who is possessive about the exclusivity of his precious DTC, or the orphan who has managed to claw his way up the society ladder thanks to his looks.

Interestingly, Chauhan has turned all the accepted mores of detective fiction on its head in this book; it's the plodding and not-very-glamorous ACP Bhavani -- who refers to himself as 'we', translating, I assume, 'hum' into English -- who solves the case. I hope we see more of ACP Bhavani and his sidekick Inspector Padam Kumar (PK).

P.S. - I was surprised to see a number of typos and other errors strewn throughout the text (I noticed at least half a dozen, but given that I finished the book in a few hours I'm sure I missed many more).

[SRUTHI VIGNESHIKA · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story starts with the murder of a handsome Gym trainer at the Delhi Turf Club gym - in which one can get into only if they are the member of the club. This murder disturbs the election which is to be held on the next day. ACP Bhavani Singh is assigned to investigate this case and was instructed to find the killer soon without disturbing the election. He asks for help from Kashi - who happens to be a lawyer of the dead gym trainer and also a member of the club.

The story starts very slowly. The second half was better than the first half. There were too many characters to concentrate because of which I was not able to connect any of them. Bhavani Singh was good - the only character who concentrates on solving the case. This was my first Anuja Chauhan book, because of which my expectations were higher. The details could have been reduced and concentrated more on the plot twist. The main put down for me in this book inspite of having a fast paced second half is more usage of native language. I was googling for the translation for every second paragraph. However, if you love her writing style especially for this jovial easy language use, then you may enjoy this book more.

[Vidya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another easy breezy read by Anuja Chauhan. This had a very Agatha Christie meets Indian cop Bhavani feel to it. The character of the cop was such an endearing one. There are ample twists and turns and as a reader you are wondering what is going to happen.

Pick it up for a quick read.

[Manvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Combine Anuja Chauhan's realistic and commercial writing style with a murder set right in Delhi, you get a perfect story!
I've been in awe with Anuja Chauhan's writing for a long time and this was the last book I read of hers and I just cannot wait for the next one!!!!!!

[Sonali Dabade · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Went in with high hopes but they were dampened a little. I mean, it's not bad. The writing is witty and sarcastic in places and laugh-out-loud as well. But it just didn't come together for me the way the author intended it to.

[Rubal · Rating 2 out of 5]

writing for mystery books needs a sleight of hand to place vital details out in the open for all to see but not reveal their importance till the last moment. and anuja chauhan, one of my favourite romance authors, just doesn't have it. this was one of the worst mystery books I have ever read. you can tell who the murderer is the second they appear on the page. every little info that's supposed to become a twist or a reveal is obvious from far away.
the only saving grace is acp bhavani. the author's compelling ability to write fascinating characters and witty social commentary is accounted for even in this mess.
personally, i'm disappointed that the author seems to be sticking to this genre for a while. maybe i'll pick up the next installment to see if she'd gotten better at weaving a narrative of suspense and i believe in her talent but im also sad that i'm not going to get any rom-coms written by her for a long time. a girl needs to laugh and swoon, anuja. and you need to help.

[Bharati Challa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4

We love cosy mysteries!
We love Indian authors!
We love romances that don’t take themselves too seriously!
We love the same but Indian!
We love crisp but cutesy narrations of adolescent love!
We love Anuja Chauhan!
Aaaaand we love Club You To Death!

Review, done.

[Rahool Gadkari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, fun read. The mystery is enjoyable