Prisoner's Dilemma

by Vish Dhamija

Bipin Desai and Anuj Shastri are two best friends who lead equally pointless lives. But that doesnt stop them from dreaming big and getting rich fast. Together, they concoct a plan to rob a van full of cash and manage to get away with loot of over one crore rupees. But the van belongs to one of the wealthiest families in Delhi, which means there is pressure on the police to solve the case quickly. The two are arrested within days, but the cash is still nowhere to be found. The officer-in-charge, Senior Inspector Arfy Khan, has forty-eight hours to make Bipin and Anuj confess to their crime by convincing one of them to go against the other. The two friends only have to keep their calm and their stories straight in front of the police officer. But there is one major SI Khan isnt allowing Bipin and Anuj or their lawyers to see or talk to each other. Will the two survive the test of their friendship? Or will they choose personal freedom in the face of a twisted dilemma?

268 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2021

About the author

Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vish_Dh...
FB: https://www.facebook.com/VishDhamija/...
Twitter: @vishdhamija
Amazon India: http://tiny.cc/vishdhamija

Books:
Nothing Lasts Forever
Bhendi Bazaar
Deja Karma
Doosra
Nothing Else Matters

Reviews

[Sonali Dabade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review soon!

[Abu Shadab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Read

I have read Vish Dhamija every book...I like his writing style. Simple and intriguing. I look forward to read morr of his books.

[Sandeep Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been ten days since I finished reading ‘Prisoner’s Dilemma,’ and the story continues to linger in my mind. As I sit down to write this review, I find myself still grappling with conflicting thoughts about the book. The reason behind my ‘dilemma’ lies in the disparity between the book’s cover and its actual content. Firstly, I want to clarify that I have a bad habit of not reading the blurb of the book before I start reading it. I dive in with my pre-notions based on the cover of the book. That is why, initially, I expected a dark, suspenseful, and psychologically thrilling tale, but what unfolded within its pages was something entirely different.

While ‘Prisoner’s Dilemma’ certainly presents a suspenseful narrative, it is not the focal point of the book. Moreover, the dark theme portrayed on the cover fails to align with the characters we encounter throughout the story. Take, for instance, the character of police officer Arfy Khan. He defies the stereotypical image of a law enforcement officer, exuding a playful nature, sharp wit, and a penchant for bad jokes. He simultaneously entertains and sometimes, irritates, leaving a lasting impression. Arfy Khan’s unpredictability was a pleasant surprise, and I found myself eagerly rushing through the pages to discover what he would do next.

The two friends, Bipin Desai and Anuj Shastri, who make the audacious decision to rob a van full of cash, were also very strange characters. Although their backstory unfolds slowly and occasionally lacks conviction, the author’s skillful character development keeps readers engrossed. It was the magic of these characters, particularly Arfy Khan, that compelled me to persist despite the book’s deviations from my initial expectations. Arfy Khan’s unexpected charm breathed life into the narrative, and I found myself eagerly anticipating his next appearance.

‘Prisoner’s Dilemma’ is not a fast-paced thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, nor does it offer the intricate psychological suspense one might expect. Instead, it presents a unique experience that leaves readers in a state of indecision. The book challenges preconceived notions and showcases the power of well-crafted characters. While it may not fit neatly into any one genre, it possesses a distinct quality that sets it apart. Whether you ultimately enjoy it or not, it is an experience that won’t easily fade from memory.

[Siddhant Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is based on the idea of the titular concept prevalent in Game theory, and the basic idea of two people recounting incidents, specially when they are lying. The storyline is excellently done, and the magic lies in its simplicity. The story moves in two parallel tracks, one that explores the stories of Bipin and Anuj as they faced live, and another inside an interrogation room in a police station in Gurgaon. As you read the story, you realise that the in the particular story the devil lies in the details and the way the entire heist is planned and executed is commendable. Another thing I really loved about the book is that the cards are kept very close till the very end and as a reader you are compelled to keep the pages turning to find out how the characters come out of the pit they have dug themselves in. There are minute and fine details that Vish has used to make sure that the reader is convinced about the plot. Right from the car models to the planning of the heist, I could visualize the events and that is what made the ride enjoyable for me. The buildup to the climax is impressive and as you realise that the book has ended, you realise the mastery of the craft and deception that Vish has.

This story is based on a concept that relies on the trust the reader places on the characters and the story they are narrating, and the way in which the characters in this book are sketched, you start connecting and empathizing with the situation they are in. In the case of Bipin and Anuj, their journey to make their life worthwhile is something all of us have felt at some point or the other. I liked how Vish creates this trio of friends who stick through thick and thin, and they their lives turn out, it is a story of friendship that usually anyone would love to have. Another interesting character is that of SI Arfy, and the mannerisms that Vish builds in his character from being forgetful to the stumbling, I liked how his story is told, specially towards the end.

[Harsh Agrawal]

PRISONER'S DILEMMA
Author: Vish Dhamija
Fiction (Not giving away the genre as it may spoil your experience reading the book)
Thank you @panmacmillianindia for the media copy.

Before we start, here is a brief definition of Prisoner's Dilemma. A prisoner's dilemma is a situation where individual decision-makers always have an incentive to choose in a way that creates a less than optimal outcome for the individuals as a group. Prisoner's dilemmas occur in many aspects of the economy. In this book, the context is that whether you will rat out your friend to get yourself a better deal or not.

1997. Gurgaon, Haryana.
Bipin, Anuj and Manasi are three best friends who dream big but are unable to fulfil their dreams due to financial constraints. Their financial condition is very poor, Anuj and Manasi, who are lovers are entirely dependent on Bipin, who himself barely earns the minimum wage. Frustrated, Bipin and Anuj (Drunkedly) decide to rob a van with a loot of One crore rupees. And I have to give it to Bipin for planning such an impressive heist. They (almost) get away with it. The investigators find some certain person's identification. Senior Inspector Arfy Khan, who is the investigator for this case is ruthless. He has nothing to charge them with except that they found Anuj's identification on the crime scene. So he separates the two and puts them up in two different interrogation rooms. And waits until one person rats out the other.

Brilliantly written and extremely engaging. This would be the quote I would give if asked to describe the book in one sentence. The twist, trust me, YOU WILL NOT SEE COMING. Highly recommended to fans of the heist genre.

[Books Wale Bhaiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique, different thriller!

Vish needs no introduction as he has established himself one of the most successful crime fiction writers in India. Master of courtroom drama and supsense, Vish, with Prisoner's dilemma has moved to psychological thrillers. This is not a murder mystery or whodunnit, this is about extracting information about a crime committed. Through prisoner's dilemma (a mathematical concept, used in economics and business) senior inspector Arfy Khan tries extracting information about the crime from one of the suspects, Bipin. The story revolves around Bipin and his friend, Anuj's past life and what motivated them to take the path of crime. In parallel, Arfy Khan tries getting information from Bipin by asking him to spill the beans as his friend Anuj is also being interrogated in the other cell. Whosoever help the police in getting the money back to police will have leniency in punishment.

So does the police success in getting the information? If yes, how? Who spills the beans? Is it Bipin, or Anuj? Well, read the book to find out.

If you think it has no suspense, well please note that Vish has an uncanny ability to surprise the reader at the end :)

Read this for the great story writing and if you are looking for a different kind of thriller. It has enough ammunition to keep you hooked!

[Balbir Bajaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read most of the books written by Vish Dhamija and have liked most of them. The plot of "Prisoner’s Dilemma" is gripping, though there is not much punch and humor in the narrative as is the norm in most of his other books. The episode of Bipin, Anuj and Mansi living together after being abandoned by their respective families, looks so much unconscionable. Though entirely within the realm of the possible — but there’s a very low probability of it happening. Though in the same breath, I must admit that except for this episode, the plot depicted in the book appears to be so much real that you get a feeling that this incident could have happened in actual life. This is a suspenseful drama which gives you no clue whatsoever until the last page. The only faint clue given is, when the senior police inspector Arfy Khan narrates a story of tortoise and the scorpion. The tortoise is accustomed to act as per his nature alone. A sense of gratitude or a fair play is hardly a consideration for a tortoise to bely his own nature.

Whilst I was reading this book, I thought of giving this book a three star since having read his other books, I had a sense how the suspense will unfold. But it was altogether different end. By the time I reached the last page, I gave it a four-star rating.

[Anil Dhingra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced thriller where two friends plan and loot a crore plus rupees from a van of a retail store chain. A mistake of dropping the driver's license in a stolen vehicle leads to the arrest of one of them.
The book is a battle of wits between the investigating cop, the accused and his lawyer.
As is his forte, the author writes a simple but absorbing story. The social dilemma of children from the lower middle class is well brought out leading to the crime.
Can be read and finished in a day.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story around a heist and the how police solve the mystery. Easy and quick read and fast paced.

[Abitha Ganesan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good twist in the story … quick & simple reading ..

[Manali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique take on the thriller genre

My rating: 4.4/5
A story that's not a murder mystery or whodunnit, but rather about extracting information about a crime committed; and yet it keeps you hooked just as much, sometimes even more. Through the mathematical concept of prisoner's dilemma used in economics and business, we get to read a tale that leaves us in a dilemma itself.