Race Course Road : A Novel

by Seema Goswami

Set largely in the Prime Minister s official residence, the Race Course Road complex, Race Course Road revolves around the aftermath of the assassination of a sitting Prime Minister and the battle for succession that ensues within his family, with the elder son and heir, Karan Pratap Singh, trying to fight off the challenge presented by his charismatic half-sister, Asha Devi. As the search for the murderer continues, sex scandals surface, revelations about dodgy arms deals rock India, and rival TV anchors shout and spar even as the country undertakes one of its most bitterly-contested general elections ever. Who will get to live in Race Course Road once the votes have been counted? Who will get to rule India for the next five years? Who will be the new Prime Minister of India? Read the ultimate insider s political thriller to find out. KEY SELLING POINTS A suspense political thriller set in Race Course Road will intrigue both readers who devour thrillers and anyone interested in politics. Written by Seema Goswami, whose weekly column in The Brunch has a steady and large following. A gripping and fast paced narrative which combines politics, suspense, mystery, intrigue and drama.

Genres: India, Fiction

295 pages, ebook

First published January 20, 2018

About the author

Seema Goswami is a journalist, columnist and author. She began her career with the Anandabazar Patrika Group, working for Sunday magazine before moving on to become editor of The Telegraph’s weekend features. She currently writes a weekly column, Spectator, for the Hindustan Times’ Sunday magazine, Brunch, which has a large and dedicated following. Her book, Woman on Top, written to help women in the workplace, has been translated into several Indian languages. Race Course Road is her first novel.

Reviews

[Nirav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Race Course Road is Seema Goswami’s debut work of fiction where she is no new to media, politics and Lutyens’ Delhi and this book just proves to be that. A story of choosing the next PM of the country after the death of Birendra Pratap Singh and the political tussle between his two sons on who takes the power is quite a breezy read. It has everything grinded into the book, some characters are inspired by politicians that you think you know but then they turn out to be something else altogether.
The book does drag a bit and does have a few grammatical errors wishing it had more plot twists than one would think it would have. Sometimes it does fall flat in certain occasions that it makes the reader uncomfortable in knowing well that arc turned out to be bit boring. The chaos of the family and the media is very well portrayed and it did make me guess who the top two reporters is the author referring to.
Some characters are certainly caught when they try to be two faced about themselves and this turns out to be a bummer considering how manipulative our Indian politicians can certainly be. I wish there was more to them than falling flat within few pages.
Please note, this book is something you should be reading as soon as you can. The book has characters where the author has tried to sympathize with Asha and Karan and it was beautifully done.
If you love politics, especially Indian politics then you should definitely not miss this one. I have personally enjoyed reading something of this sort after a long time. As and when a discussion popped up on the book, I couldn’t think of the book not becoming a movie or a TV show for a longer run and I sincerely hope it gets Netflixed or Amazon Primed sooner than later.

[Saumya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Aruneshwar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly Written. Details in every line. The way the parties work, the games parties play with power, dynasty politics, community votes, national media, and everything is brilliantly explained here.
I guess many of the characters are inspired and some of the characters like Gaurav Agnihotri, Sukanya Sakar, Didi Damayanthi are extremely direct on whom they refer.
Every nuance of the media, like exclusive news, breaking news, debates were wonderfully explained.
The party funds, vote banks politics I mean the Internal politics were explained so wonderfully.
I personally felt that the ending was quite abrupt but satisfying, but many things were not answered, but if this has a second part or is aimed for series, this book is a solid base.
I loved the detailings incorporated throughout the book, and the small backstories of the relationships between many characters were amazing.

[Rashmi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umm...it is a popcorn read at best. The events and families are barely camouflaged. A brisk thriller with not much substance, and with a racy, fast-paced plot, and since barely anything of this kind is written in India, especially one that's based on the political annals of the Indian capital, it is indeed one of a kind but sadly it didn't work well for me.

[Karthik Kailash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birendra Pratap Singh, the prime minister of India is assassinated under mysterious circumstances, throwing the nation in to a tizzy. Karan Pratap Singh,his elder son,is sworn in as PM.In order to capitalize on the sympathy wave, elections are called.

Asha Devi, Karan's half sister gets pulled in to the world of politics from London, where she enjoyed a quite and luxurious lifestyle. Also plotting his ascend is the will defense minister and the man behind the scenes who owns the coffers,Madan Mohan Prajapathi.
Also trying to get a foothold is the opposition leader Jayesh Sharma, an elite politician and a man removed from the masses owing to his privileged background.
Manisha and Gaurav, the media stars of the day, are planning the biggest TRP trip as they cash in on the crisis.

The book is the tale told till the PM is chosen. A book relatable by it's uncanny resemblance to the present day scene,and a fictional account of the next election. Good time pass read, don't expect too much of substance, only a brisk tale that's an engrossing read.

[Aravind · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seema Goswami is one of my favourite columnists and, though it is unfair to her, I was having a lot of expectations from her debut novel. And, I was a bit disappointed with this political drama. It starts with the assassination of the Indian prime minister and the subsequent elevation of his son to the post. Then comes the tale of the general election of the world's largest democracy, peppered by many scandals, shady deals and conspiracies.
Having been a political journalist, the author has a good grasp of the political games being played in the Indian capital which is amply showcased in this novel. Many of the major characters are modelled—partially, at least—on real life figures, just as some events are based on real incidents. But, for an Indian who has witnessed the events of Indian political history, this book has nothing new to offer. It would have been great if the author had focussed more on plot twists and actual storytelling than on the excessive details of the election process and the number games and other minor matters. Also, I could identify many errors in this book that seem to have escaped the editor's notice.
Race Course Road is a timepass read that works due to the writing skills of the author but lacks in substance.

[Sohinee Reads & Reviews (Bookarlo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the full review on my blog: https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.co...

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

When it comes to thrillers, very few books have a plot based on political or social issues. Seema Goswami’s Race Course Road would be second political thriller that I read till now. The backdrop of the book is set in Delhi and the plot revolves around finding the person responsible for the assassination of the sitting Prime Minister. The story begins with the Prime Minister, Birendra Pratap Singh presenting his speech before the crowd at a political rally. Everything went well but then who would have known that he would never return home? His death unfolds several mysteries and behind-the-scenes secrets are exposed. But the question remains : who killed the Prime Minister and why?

Each chapter reveals a new sub-plot with characters wound up in crimes and corruption. There’s no relaxing when it come to reading this book. You would never know what the author throws at you next. The sub-plots give the plot a new direction and often overshadows the actual plot, that is, who killed the Prime Minister. This was definitely a known move on the author’s side because once you get immersed in these crimes and corruption scenes, temporarily you forget about the actual plot and that gives the author a chance to bring in new characters and confuse you.

The narration of the book is really good. The language even though it’s simple, the sentence structuring is professional (I am running out of words these days). Seema Goswami herself is a journalist and she has provided us with an insight on what it truly looks like behind the scene of the political ordeals. So, I noticed an interesting thing. I don’t know if it’s true or I am just being delusional but at times I felt the characters resonated with our real life party leaders and famous media persons. I won’t name any person but yes, I did feel the author hinted towards the actual people through her characters. That was a new thing I experienced while reading this thriller.

Now for the part which I wasn’t really happy with would be paragraph spacing. There’s no space between the paragraphs and also there aren’t many dialogues, at least not at the beginning. So while reading, it started to feel a bit monotonous, as if I was reading an article or an essay. Some of the scenes, I felt were elaborated a bit too much. As for the characters, for me, they lacked expression. There weren’t many facial expressions or gestures which made them look flat. They were delivering the dialogues but they weren’t expressing them.

RATINGS:

Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐.8

Book Title: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Plotline: ⭐⭐⭐.8

Sub-Plots: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Characters: ⭐⭐⭐

Narration: ⭐⭐⭐.8

Language and Vocabulary: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Grammar and Punctuation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Prakarsha Pilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Race Course Road is a riveting political drama centered around central elections in a democracy as huge as India. For context, the Prime Minister Birendra Pratap Singh has been assassinated. The country has to now choose her next PM and the stakes are high. Will it be Karan Pratap Singh, the elder son of the PM? Madan Mohan, the seniormost in the party and the defence minister? Jayesh Sharma, the opposition head? Amidst all this arrives Asha Devi from London - the daughter of Late Birendra Pratap Singh. As times have changed and daughters inherit as much as the sons do, she is also an heir-apparent. Asha Devi is the female character India needs.
But politics isn't easy. The author describes the election campaigning drama in the most engrossing way. It is largely based on real events like financial scams, character defamation, family politics, past secrets, media judgements and appeasement for votes. The author being a journalist herself, helps immensely with delivering a perfect drama around Indian politics. Only someone who has worked inside these dark lanes could write something so powerful. Each character is written so deftly that you will know who it is based on. For example, the most entertaining one is Gaurav Agnihotri, a primetime TV anchor. He, screams twice louder than everyone in the studio, catches and accuses murderers much before CBI and blames Pakistan in every debate.
I would call it a thriller because with each event, the author leaves us in suspense. What is going to be this party's next move? What will be the public reaction to it? And most importantly, how will our media channels that have evidently taken sides, portray it? That happens only when the core story is engaging and full of surprises.
The writing style is absolutely enjoyable to read. The author gives detailed descriptions, which is obvious from the size of the book, but they aren't boring in any bit. Apart from the election campaign, she delves into the lives of these politicians - their families, children and relations. These things seem rather small but the author explains them in a way that we realise their importance. Even if you aren't interested in politics and don't follow them (like me) I am sure this will make for an interesting read.
I won't call a certain character my favourite and say they are the best. Every character in this book is significant and has a story of their own. That is how politics works, doesn't it?
I love this book because I have watched many Indian political drama movies (all the famous ones) but nothing is as exciting as this book.

[Ameya Joshi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The word that stuck with me all through reading this book and at the end was 'vacuous'. I have nothing against airport thrillers as a genre - there is a time and place to sink into a good Sidney Sheldon of course - but for multiple reasons, Race Course Road actually left me feeling annoyed about the time that I spent reading it and how it could have been used so much more productively.

It's also a bit of a disappointment because I perhaps expected more from Seema Goswami given all the pontificating & critiquing she's been doing from the pedestal of her HT Brunch Sunday column through the years and that she's dedicated this to the high prince of high-brow Mr. Creme de la Creme Vir Sanghavi himself (who is also her husband). Of course a good critique does not a good writer/film-maker/musician make but I'd at least expect something more ambitious than a popcorn novel based on evident caricatures of real-life characters and ticking every cliche in the book (pun completely intended). Dynastic battles, corrupt politicians, politicians who have come up through the ranks, corruption scandals around fighter jets, bombastic news anchors, leaked sex-tapes, airhead eye candy wives who are actually smart, principled wives who take a stand, the 'natural' politician in front of the people - all check, check, check. There were times when I actually kept thinking - these are the kind of things I would do if I wrote a book for the first time :P

I also got the feeling Goswami takes herself a little too seriously with all the details of the interior decoration of the Prime Ministers Residence, nuances of election campaigning (which aren't nuances at all if you've ever watched election coverage in India), lifestyles of the rich & famous in London, how online hit-jobs work, a background on every character (however minor) and so on as if she's channeling her inner Fredrick Forsyth. Unfortunately it doesn't quite work for her with her writing style. There is nothing 'bad' per se - yes the characters are broad caricatures and a there are a few unnecessary twists too many - though nothing incredulous. Unfortunately there is a lack of substance (which hits you pretty early in the book)and which gives the reader very little to redeem himself with...

This is Chetan Bhagat + Abbas/Mustan territory (which I don't mean as a negative comment) - an ideal introduction to Indian Politics/Media & medium-sized books for new readers in English with enough masala to not get boring. If you don't fall in that demographic, you could really give this one a pass...

[Chitra Ahanthem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seema Goswami, the author of Race Course Road: A Novel has been a political journalist for a long time running and the ring side view that she would have seen when it came to electoral politics is reflected in the setting and plot twists of this political thriller.
What happens on the political landscape after this assassination is the crux of Race Course Road. The death of the Prime Minister brings his older son Karan Pratap Singh as the stand in Prime Minister a la real life situation when Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as Prime Minister right after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Karan advances the General Elections to ride on the sympathy card but Madan Mohan Prajapati, the Defense Minister has more cards held tight to his chest. His machinations bring Asha Devi, the half sister of Karan Pratap into the picture and she reaps political dividends through her election campaigns for the party but is unaware of what lies ahead as the price for being the face of a political party.
Race Course Road: A Novel also takes you on the electoral landscape of the country: the polling and numbers game, the kingmakers, the necessary evils of keeping one’s political enemy close and the massaging of fragile egos to stitch political alliances. It was particularly interesting to read about the history behind the formation of the SPG (Special Protection Group) that looks after the security of the Prime Minister of the country and to take a peek at what happens behind the security walls at Race Course Road. Anyone who enjoyed Season 1 of the Hindi Television series adaptation of 24 would be happy to read this book. I enjoyed both and how!

[Aishu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading 'Race Course Road' - a gripping, fast-paced political thriller with zero dull moments. What I liked about this novel is how meticulously the author has explained everything regarding the country's (India's) political system while going about the plot. And she has managed to do so without digressing. So even if this is a work of fiction - it is also quite informative, and a great book for those who do not know much about our polity or those who lack interest in it - to gain knowledge about how it exactly works, without feeling as though they were reading a textbook. The story is fluid, the language is easy to understand; however in spite of being well-written, the editing is rather crude (I came across several mistakes.) That's the only catch in the otherwise awesome book.
All the characters have been sketched out well, especially the females such as Malti Sharma, Asha Devi (protagonist), Radhika Pratap, etc. I loved how the story concludes - there were many twists and turns leading up to the climax that kept me on the edge of my seat! Also, given how it ends, one cannot rule out the possibility of the book getting a sequel. Here's hoping!

[Ila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat racy take on Indian politics. Its a story that those familiar with the rough and tumble world of Delhi politics will relish; and they'll recognise bits and bobs from real life in the characters portrayed. Ms. Goswami has rather cleverly crafted the main characters as amalgams of characteristics of real life personages and episodes from history, mixed in with sufficient products of her own creative genius so that there's a newness, and one doesn't feel one is meeting individuals we see and hear about in the news. It is however rather easy to identify the political parties as she hasn't tried to mask whom she's writing about. I do wish however that the editor had taken a heavy red pen to the long sections about the multiphase elections and the phase wise vote predictions-it makes the reading unnecessarily heavy and adds nothing to the narrative. In short, an enjoyable airport read.

[Aditi Varma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Week 50 Book 85
Race Course Road by Seema Goswami
Rating: 2/5

I have always enjoyed reading Goswami's columns. And if there is anyone who is suitable enough to wrote a political thriller, it's her. Unfortunately, her debut novel is a disappointment.

RCR deals with the aftermath of the assassination of the PM of India. How the ruling and opposition party scramble to get the public vote. How different characters in the elaborate political aren aplay against each other, or pander, depending upon what suits their political aspirations.

No doubt the author has excellent command over the language (which in my opinion is too flowery in the book unfortunately). But the characters are shallow, the plotline weak. There is too much description, the pace is snail like. There are twists and turns but unimpactful. It was a laborious read.

Still I give 2 stars because it is a well researched book and I'm as such a fan of Goswami. Her debut novel though is best avoided.

[Sundarraj Kaushik · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is for the race to Race Course Road, in short, race to become the Prime Minister of India. There are 6 prominent ladies who are deciding factor in the denouement of the book. All of them are ideal feminist. None of them hanker for power for themselves and support each other despite the animosity for each other.

One wishes the womenfolk were more supportive of each other, not biased support for each other, but genuine support for one another in the face of the blatant patriarchy that exists in the world. The day the world sees a support for each other between a mothers-in-law and daugthers-in-law the women will automatically get empowered and it will lead to a more equitable world rather than one biased towards the males.

A decent read.

[Nandini Reddy Dayal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Indian Prime Minister is assassinated and the politics is only just beginning. When Birendar Pratap Singh is assassinated, his children find themselves in a precarious and politically tangled world that they need to navigate. While his older son becomes the Prime Minister, his daughter is roped in to campaign for the upcoming election that they desperately need to win.

This is race to the finish kind of tale with all the elements that would make it a good for TV script. Goswami writes a political thriller that never drops momentum. Definitely worth a read if political thrillers intrigue you.

[Suman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book only because I have enjoyed reading Seema's columns for years. Although a "political" thriller is really not my kinda genre, Seema does not disappoint. The writing is great , the plot is tight and you really want to know what next. But any book beyond 200 pages wears my patience out. And I think there was scope to shorten the length a bit. Introductions of new political parties towards the end is a bit jarring. But definitely pick this one up for Seema's brilliant writing and for a story that keeps on the edge.

[Karishma Prasad · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, expected more from the author Seema Goswami perhaps because (unfairly maybe) I can't help comparing it with her HT Brunch columns 'Spectator' which is always so deep and thoughtful.
Anyhow comparisons aside, the inspiration for characters and the story line are very obvious. Which not a bad thing, but I felt the book couldn't go beyond those obvious references. Somehow even the 'mystery' and 'intrigue' of who killed Birendra Pratap is not that mysterious and intriguing.
Overall, the book is okay to read. Good in some places and not that great in most.

[Anil Dhingra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced read about the Indian prime Minister and the political system. The book starts with the murder of the incumbent prime Minister and takes us through the process that follows, the early elections, political parties and their dirty tricks. Simultaneously the investigation into the murder goes on.
The book gives insight into many details like the layout of the PM residence on race course road, the media and polling industry, Indian investigating agencies. Most of the current political heavyweights and media moguls are part of the book albeit with different names.

[Priyaranjan Mohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Race course road is a fun ride with lots of guessing about what is going to happen next. This thriller is a page Turner although it's not perfect but it's certainly entertaining and was totally gripped. The language of the book is simple and easy to read. Title and cover of the book is apt to the story and compel you to pick it up. Characters are well written. I had a very hard time putting it down but find that it read so easily that I was able to sit and read it for hours at a time. Overall a great read. Highly recommend.

[Sudhir Dalal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Race Course Road is a "Potboiler" . Add top political figures, current and few past to the pot, add current political topics and few from not too past, jumble-up the names from Didi Damayanti to Gaurav Agnihotri and you have the whole plot cooked. With an easy style of a veteran journalist and having seen it all at first hand, you have a political novel that reads smoothly and if you have taken a sabbatical in last few months from Indian overbearing news channels, you can perhaps enjoy it.

[Manish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected this to be an engrossing Delhi based political thriller. Unfortunately, apart from being Delhi based, this was none of the rest. Goswami renames the current politicians and media personalities of India and tries to stitch a laborious story. We have a Prime Minister assassinated, his son taking over, snap polls, opposition parties, prime time debates, Swiss banks, French fighter jets, a Dalit party supremo, a Bengali firebrand and what not! .

[Resh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast-paced and interesting, but a bit predictable

Fictious, beyond-the-scenes account of general elections in India, dynasty politics, campaign strategies, powerful political families with their scandals and scams, and the jingoist media. Holds a mirror to the contemporary political situation in India. An engaging political thriller despite the predictable bits.

[Gurdeep Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best fiction comes from reality

Historical facts across political parties seamlessly blended into a page turner. The Ravi Subramanian of political thrillers. Hoping that there is a 2nd part soon.

[Jazz Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A racy read about power and pelf in Delhi. Barely camouflaged incidents and families from Delhi's power structure make up this political thriller.
A peek into Indian politics.

[Aseem Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written, political novel. The pace of the novel keeps you hooked. Good read for people who love politics and watch news channel.

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent fast-paced thriller

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have left the book half way. Its totally crap . There’s no sync at all and it has neither punch nor any substance.

[kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book a few days ago and I've already forgotten most of it. The book falls short because of it's characters and most importantly, it's plot.

[Parikshit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A breezy sunday read

[Varun Bhakay · Rating 2 out of 5]

7, Race Course Road. An address far more significant than Rashtrapati Bhavan but one not everyone is familiar with. The name is a misnomer, in that it doesn't refer to one bungalow but five which form a complex in which resides the Prime Minister of India. Though rechristened the rather ridiculous-sounding Lok Kalyan Marg by the present dispensation (our "leaders" really have nothing better to do than rename shit), Race Course Road is probably the name that'll stick to the PM's residence in the long run (I'll officially have it changed back after I win the General Elections in 2066. Vote for me.). But what goes on inside the damned place? How does one go in? What functions do the numerous bungalows serve? In which bungalow does the PM reside? What purpose do the other four houses serve?
Veteran journalist Seema Goswami’s novel Race Course Road answers these questions, though that is not its aim.
PM Birendra Pratap Singh is assassinated weeks before the General Elections. In the midst of coping with his father’s death and the burden that is premiership, Karan Pratap Singh has to try and figure out who killed him, deal with a step-mother and a half-sister, keep his departed father’s right-hand man in check, and lead the party to a Lok Sabha majority.
Goswami’s plot is not something highly original – power struggles in politics have been seen far too often to be considered new anymore. The fact that she more than makes up for this major shortcoming is a credit to her.
Her experience in the media shows with the meticulously researched nitty-gritties of the national political spectrum. Her depiction of the men and women who inhabit Lutyens is also quite good. She is able to draw the visages off these people when they are in the sanctity of their abodes.
There are characters aplenty – some stereotypical, some clearly “inspired” by reality. The likes of Mayawati, Mamata Bannerjee, Barkha Dutt and Arnab Goswami are featured in a veritable Mahabharata-esque cast of characters. Which is where the second problem with the book crops up: the characters are half-baked. None of them is fully rounded-off. Karan is always pissed off, Prajapati is always up to no good – there is no variation in the behaviour of these people. It feels tedious to read about such one-dimensional characters, especially since politics is supposed to be inhabited by people who change tack and tune at the click of a finger.
What I enjoyed the most about the book was its female characters: in Radhika Pratap Singh, there is the proverbial woman behind the successful man; in Asha Devi Pratap Singh is the young gun, the woman who can take it all with more accomplished players at the table; in Malti Sharma, there is the woman who doesn’t think twice before telling her politician husband when and where he is wrong, a woman who is daring enough to take drastic measures if needed. Other female characters that appear briefly are just as firm and assertive, which makes for a great change since politics is seen – like most other workplaces – a male bastion where the primary toss-up is what Westerners call a dick-measuring contest.
Amidst the assassination, the power struggle between Karan and Asha and the general elections, there are arms deals, media madness, sex scandals and tumbling coffins. Every other person is a crook and nobody is what they seem to be.
Get Race Course Road if you don’t mind the middling political thriller, but I’d recommend giving it a read just to see the women who inhabit its pages. Each of them deserves her own spin-off, but none more than Malti Sharma.