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Dirty Women
When four-year-old Tara disappears from her own home in Calcutta one night in 2002, the ensuing media
circus zeroes in on the private life of Drishti Sengupta, a singer of note and a single, unapologetic mother. Far
less attention is paid to the investigation into the incident, which occurred in an upmarket neighbourhood, in
a secure apartment complex. The police seem to have no real clue as to what happened - is it a real crime or
fake? Is it a kidnapping or murder?
Told in two timelines - one in 2002, and one a contemporary ‘true crime’ book-within-the-book written by
Ahana, a young journalist who is thrust into the heart of this case, Dirty Women is also the story of two
tragedies: that of a missing child, and that of a city that joins hands to bring down a woman who wishes to
live life on her own terms. Hope wears thin as everyone obsesses over who Tara’s father is, and police make
no effort to even try to find her, concentrating on a rotating cast of suspects - culminating with Drishti herself.
circus zeroes in on the private life of Drishti Sengupta, a singer of note and a single, unapologetic mother. Far
less attention is paid to the investigation into the incident, which occurred in an upmarket neighbourhood, in
a secure apartment complex. The police seem to have no real clue as to what happened - is it a real crime or
fake? Is it a kidnapping or murder?
Told in two timelines - one in 2002, and one a contemporary ‘true crime’ book-within-the-book written by
Ahana, a young journalist who is thrust into the heart of this case, Dirty Women is also the story of two
tragedies: that of a missing child, and that of a city that joins hands to bring down a woman who wishes to
live life on her own terms. Hope wears thin as everyone obsesses over who Tara’s father is, and police make
no effort to even try to find her, concentrating on a rotating cast of suspects - culminating with Drishti herself.
324 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2021
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Madhumita Bhattacharyya
6 books49 followersAuthor of The Masala Murder and Dead in a Mumbai Minute. Sometimes journalist, occasional wanderer, often lazy lout. Mother to a toddler and a crazy dog. Working on Reema Ray mystery #3.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 24, 2021
// Dirty Women by @bhattacharyya.madhumita
Dirty Women is a feminist novel with a kidnapping mystery at the centre of it. The protagonist is a woman and the person around whom the story is built is also a woman. This fast paced book represents the societal views of independent, bold and single mothers. There's a lot of stigma attached to how divorcees and single mothers are treated even to this date in our country. They are denied accomodation because of the assumption that they are fallen or dirty women. People are quick to label women who do not fold themselves to fit into the standard rules that are laid down by men about how they should ideally behave. These labels are almost never associated when it comes to men. Dirty Women is a cleverly written novel that puts all the above factors into a well shaped story.
The story begins with a fictional kidnapping incident that happens back in 2002. Tara, a four year old child of a famous singer named Drishti goes missing from her own home. The narrator is Ahana, a young journalist who somehow gets roped in to cover the kidnapping case. What begins as a kidnapping case slowly turns into a judgemental one as people condemn Drishti's lifestyle. As a single mother, she is constantly in the limelight for defying the norms of a 'decent woman'. Ahana's connection with the singer only grows stronger as the investigation goes on. There are unexpected twists, a steady pace and good character development. But most importantly I enjoyed reading about women being allies to each other rather than being jealous. Dirty Women paints a real picture of how women are constantly made to fit into certain male built boxes to suit their needs. The two women in this story not only break that illusion into pieces but are also incredibly confident of their decisions.
I definitely recommend this. It's refreshing and also a very enjoyable read.
Thank you for the copy @rolibooks 🌸
Dirty Women is a feminist novel with a kidnapping mystery at the centre of it. The protagonist is a woman and the person around whom the story is built is also a woman. This fast paced book represents the societal views of independent, bold and single mothers. There's a lot of stigma attached to how divorcees and single mothers are treated even to this date in our country. They are denied accomodation because of the assumption that they are fallen or dirty women. People are quick to label women who do not fold themselves to fit into the standard rules that are laid down by men about how they should ideally behave. These labels are almost never associated when it comes to men. Dirty Women is a cleverly written novel that puts all the above factors into a well shaped story.
The story begins with a fictional kidnapping incident that happens back in 2002. Tara, a four year old child of a famous singer named Drishti goes missing from her own home. The narrator is Ahana, a young journalist who somehow gets roped in to cover the kidnapping case. What begins as a kidnapping case slowly turns into a judgemental one as people condemn Drishti's lifestyle. As a single mother, she is constantly in the limelight for defying the norms of a 'decent woman'. Ahana's connection with the singer only grows stronger as the investigation goes on. There are unexpected twists, a steady pace and good character development. But most importantly I enjoyed reading about women being allies to each other rather than being jealous. Dirty Women paints a real picture of how women are constantly made to fit into certain male built boxes to suit their needs. The two women in this story not only break that illusion into pieces but are also incredibly confident of their decisions.
I definitely recommend this. It's refreshing and also a very enjoyable read.
Thank you for the copy @rolibooks 🌸
August 21, 2021
So, just before writing this post, I googled "who is a good woman?" The topmost search result says: "They define a good woman as someone proud of herself. Respects herself and others. She is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from the person she is with nor does she expect them to read her mind." Fair enough!
I scrolled further and the very second one goes on to list 15 qualities that make you a good woman. The very first of the 15 qualities says below:
"More beautiful inside than out. Physical attractiveness is not everything. Instead of focusing on how you can be flawless and sexy, give more time to how you can "control your temper", "help other" people and "be a good citizen" in your community. Be someone who is a "blessing" to others by having a good "character" and a "kind heart" that encourages everyone."
Curiously, I looked through the remaining 14 qualities and wondered how stereotypical and contradictory our societal definition of a good woman is.
On one hand, the university of Google says a good woman is proud of herself, respects herself, is aware of who she is, and does not seek definition from others.
While on the other hand, the same university lists down 15 qualities that she should possess to qualify for being a good woman. Hypocrisy, isn't it?
Well, that sums up the soul and theme of this suspense thriller which has been aptly named Dirty Women. Because that's what women are called when they don't care to possess those 15 qualities which are needed to be called a good woman.
This is the story of Drishti, a singer, a rising celebrity, who is also a single mother by choice. Set in the backdrop of Calcutta, the story starts with Tara, Drishti's 4 years old daughter, disappearing from her room while sleeping. A desperate search leads to nowhere and police who are less than enthusiastic to search for a missing child get nowhere close to finding the culprit. After exploring every angle, the society, the media, and the police zero down to Drishti's fitness to be a responsible mother. A woman who decided to have a child without revealing the identity of the father, who has way too many lovers, who works late at night and doesn't care what others think, how can she be a responsible mother. This is the story of a mother in agony who lost her child and no one has any clue how she disappeared from her own house. But everyone does have their opinion about how responsible the mother is.
Drifting between the time when Tara disappears and the time when Drishti was still in college and an aspiring singer, the story flows between two timelines, revealing the details of Drishti's past and present, layer by layer. The narration is smooth, lucid, and fast-paced. The plot is interesting and has a unique theme with a subtle hint of feminism. However, one thing missing is that we are unable to visualize the majority of the characters. While we know what each of the characters thinks and what they prefer, their sketch is missing. Similarly, a sketch of Kolkata city is missing. While the dialogues do use Bengali words, the description of the city is missing the Kolkata essence. But if we give that a pass, the story has enough thrill that is capable of keeping readers on the hook. The suspense is maintained throughout the book, pushing the reader to silently scream "Please tell me right away how Tara disappeared and who is her father". But save that for the last few pages as that's when the suspense breaks. Overall, this book has a gripping storyline and is worth binge reading.
I scrolled further and the very second one goes on to list 15 qualities that make you a good woman. The very first of the 15 qualities says below:
"More beautiful inside than out. Physical attractiveness is not everything. Instead of focusing on how you can be flawless and sexy, give more time to how you can "control your temper", "help other" people and "be a good citizen" in your community. Be someone who is a "blessing" to others by having a good "character" and a "kind heart" that encourages everyone."
Curiously, I looked through the remaining 14 qualities and wondered how stereotypical and contradictory our societal definition of a good woman is.
On one hand, the university of Google says a good woman is proud of herself, respects herself, is aware of who she is, and does not seek definition from others.
While on the other hand, the same university lists down 15 qualities that she should possess to qualify for being a good woman. Hypocrisy, isn't it?
Well, that sums up the soul and theme of this suspense thriller which has been aptly named Dirty Women. Because that's what women are called when they don't care to possess those 15 qualities which are needed to be called a good woman.
This is the story of Drishti, a singer, a rising celebrity, who is also a single mother by choice. Set in the backdrop of Calcutta, the story starts with Tara, Drishti's 4 years old daughter, disappearing from her room while sleeping. A desperate search leads to nowhere and police who are less than enthusiastic to search for a missing child get nowhere close to finding the culprit. After exploring every angle, the society, the media, and the police zero down to Drishti's fitness to be a responsible mother. A woman who decided to have a child without revealing the identity of the father, who has way too many lovers, who works late at night and doesn't care what others think, how can she be a responsible mother. This is the story of a mother in agony who lost her child and no one has any clue how she disappeared from her own house. But everyone does have their opinion about how responsible the mother is.
Drifting between the time when Tara disappears and the time when Drishti was still in college and an aspiring singer, the story flows between two timelines, revealing the details of Drishti's past and present, layer by layer. The narration is smooth, lucid, and fast-paced. The plot is interesting and has a unique theme with a subtle hint of feminism. However, one thing missing is that we are unable to visualize the majority of the characters. While we know what each of the characters thinks and what they prefer, their sketch is missing. Similarly, a sketch of Kolkata city is missing. While the dialogues do use Bengali words, the description of the city is missing the Kolkata essence. But if we give that a pass, the story has enough thrill that is capable of keeping readers on the hook. The suspense is maintained throughout the book, pushing the reader to silently scream "Please tell me right away how Tara disappeared and who is her father". But save that for the last few pages as that's when the suspense breaks. Overall, this book has a gripping storyline and is worth binge reading.
September 27, 2021
Drishti Sengupta is a famous singer from Calcutta and a single mother who lives life on her own terms. Her 4-year-old daughter Tara goes missing from her own home while Drishti was out performing at a club. No one knows whether it is a kidnap or murder. The police have no clue as to what they are doing. Set in 2002, at a time when news channels and live reporting was just becoming a big thing in India, the media was all set to defame Drishti. How could a woman, who was not married and not willing to reveal the name of the father be a ‘good mother’? Suddenly, Drishti turns to a suspect from being a victim.
The story is narrated by Ahana, a young lifestyle journalist who gets roped in to cover the issue. She tries and follows any lead she gets with respect to the case. The writing is simple with timelines navigating between 2002 to Drishti’s past. I liked the way Drishti’s character was developed. If you consider this book as just a thriller, it crosses the mark just above average, but that does not do justice to the work. This book is much more than a thriller with important themes of gender norms and feminism. How a woman is judged for the choices she makes which doesn’t suit the society’s norms? It’s been so long since I read a thriller and I really enjoyed reading this one with a feminist undertone. I recommend this book if you are looking for a light, fast paced read packed with some important themes.
The story is narrated by Ahana, a young lifestyle journalist who gets roped in to cover the issue. She tries and follows any lead she gets with respect to the case. The writing is simple with timelines navigating between 2002 to Drishti’s past. I liked the way Drishti’s character was developed. If you consider this book as just a thriller, it crosses the mark just above average, but that does not do justice to the work. This book is much more than a thriller with important themes of gender norms and feminism. How a woman is judged for the choices she makes which doesn’t suit the society’s norms? It’s been so long since I read a thriller and I really enjoyed reading this one with a feminist undertone. I recommend this book if you are looking for a light, fast paced read packed with some important themes.
November 17, 2023
"Dirty Women" by Madhumita Bhattacharyya is a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of a gripping mystery and the societal scrutiny that follows a strong, independent woman. This novel takes place in two parallel timelines, intertwining the events of 2002 with a contemporary "true crime" investigation, masterfully crafted by the author.
The disappearance of four-year-old Tara from her home in Calcutta in 2002 sets the stage for a narrative that delves into the complexities of motherhood, societal expectations, and the biases that lurk beneath the surface. Drishti Sengupta, a singer and a single mother, becomes the center of attention, and her life becomes a subject of intense media scrutiny. Author brilliantly captures the relentless media circus and the way it dissects Drishti's life, overshadowing the actual investigation into Tara's disappearance.
The dual timelines add depth to the story, as readers follow Ahana, a young journalist, who is thrust into the heart of the cold case. Ahana's journey to uncover the truth and the impact of her investigation on the characters in the story create a gripping narrative structure. The storytelling is engaging and keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the layers of the mystery are slowly peeled away.
"Dirty Women" not only functions as a compelling thriller but also serves as a sharp commentary on the societal expectations and biases that women face, particularly those who dare to live life on their own terms. The book poignantly portrays the challenges of single motherhood and the relentless focus on Drishti's personal life, leaving the search for Tara on the back burner.
Madhumita Bhattacharyya's writing is evocative, and she skillfully tackles complex themes such as motherhood, autonomy, and the power dynamics in a patriarchal society. The book forces readers to question the way society views and treats women who defy norms and assert their independence.
All-in-all, "Dirty Women" is a compelling and emotionally charged novel that combines a gripping mystery with a sharp critique of societal norms and prejudices. Madhumita Bhattacharyya's storytelling prowess shines as she weaves a narrative that keeps readers hooked while also inviting them to reflect on the profound issues at its core. This book is a powerful exploration of a mother's love, a city's indifference, and the relentless quest for the truth.
The disappearance of four-year-old Tara from her home in Calcutta in 2002 sets the stage for a narrative that delves into the complexities of motherhood, societal expectations, and the biases that lurk beneath the surface. Drishti Sengupta, a singer and a single mother, becomes the center of attention, and her life becomes a subject of intense media scrutiny. Author brilliantly captures the relentless media circus and the way it dissects Drishti's life, overshadowing the actual investigation into Tara's disappearance.
The dual timelines add depth to the story, as readers follow Ahana, a young journalist, who is thrust into the heart of the cold case. Ahana's journey to uncover the truth and the impact of her investigation on the characters in the story create a gripping narrative structure. The storytelling is engaging and keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the layers of the mystery are slowly peeled away.
"Dirty Women" not only functions as a compelling thriller but also serves as a sharp commentary on the societal expectations and biases that women face, particularly those who dare to live life on their own terms. The book poignantly portrays the challenges of single motherhood and the relentless focus on Drishti's personal life, leaving the search for Tara on the back burner.
Madhumita Bhattacharyya's writing is evocative, and she skillfully tackles complex themes such as motherhood, autonomy, and the power dynamics in a patriarchal society. The book forces readers to question the way society views and treats women who defy norms and assert their independence.
All-in-all, "Dirty Women" is a compelling and emotionally charged novel that combines a gripping mystery with a sharp critique of societal norms and prejudices. Madhumita Bhattacharyya's storytelling prowess shines as she weaves a narrative that keeps readers hooked while also inviting them to reflect on the profound issues at its core. This book is a powerful exploration of a mother's love, a city's indifference, and the relentless quest for the truth.
September 13, 2021
4-YO Tara disappears from the house, leaving no clue to trace.
She is the daughter of Drishti Sengupta, an unapologetic singer from Kolkata and a single mother.
Nobody knows if this is an abduction or murder and how even a four-year kid disappeared from her own house?
Drishti being a mystery herself, the case unfolds in many unexpected ways.
A lifestyle journalist Ahana gets involved in the case and goes deep enough to find some hopeful clues. But most of the time, the clues lead to nothing significant. She is the narrator of this book.
There are many people to suspect. Who did this and why?
~
For me, Dirty Women was a slow-paced thriller. It gained speed in the last 150 pages. The book revolves around the disappearance case of Tara. As a story, it is entertaining and hooking. With every new character and clue, you try to reach some conclusion, but it does not end there.
The writing style is brilliant in parts but might not appeal to all. The themes this book touched upon other than being a mystery novel are superb. It talks about how single mothers, independent and bold women, rebellious women are seen as dirty women, the reaction of media, police, politicians to such cases, how incidents like this are more likely to get sidetracked by the personal details of the people involved, especially women. The book is splendid that way.
There are points where readers need to put extra effort to understand where the story is leading. I feel that the plot took a lot of time to build the story. It could be me because I am not a regular reader of this genre. But I felt some stretched information made this book longer and slower. I read the last 150 pages in a go because it finally created that rush.
To me, the book was much more than a thriller since it outdid itself in delivering messages. But I wish I could love it the way I expected to. It thrilled me in parts, but not entirely. I know, these are mixed views, but I would recommend you to read this! For some thrill and food for your thoughts.
I personally would like to see this as a movie soon.
She is the daughter of Drishti Sengupta, an unapologetic singer from Kolkata and a single mother.
Nobody knows if this is an abduction or murder and how even a four-year kid disappeared from her own house?
Drishti being a mystery herself, the case unfolds in many unexpected ways.
A lifestyle journalist Ahana gets involved in the case and goes deep enough to find some hopeful clues. But most of the time, the clues lead to nothing significant. She is the narrator of this book.
There are many people to suspect. Who did this and why?
~
For me, Dirty Women was a slow-paced thriller. It gained speed in the last 150 pages. The book revolves around the disappearance case of Tara. As a story, it is entertaining and hooking. With every new character and clue, you try to reach some conclusion, but it does not end there.
The writing style is brilliant in parts but might not appeal to all. The themes this book touched upon other than being a mystery novel are superb. It talks about how single mothers, independent and bold women, rebellious women are seen as dirty women, the reaction of media, police, politicians to such cases, how incidents like this are more likely to get sidetracked by the personal details of the people involved, especially women. The book is splendid that way.
There are points where readers need to put extra effort to understand where the story is leading. I feel that the plot took a lot of time to build the story. It could be me because I am not a regular reader of this genre. But I felt some stretched information made this book longer and slower. I read the last 150 pages in a go because it finally created that rush.
To me, the book was much more than a thriller since it outdid itself in delivering messages. But I wish I could love it the way I expected to. It thrilled me in parts, but not entirely. I know, these are mixed views, but I would recommend you to read this! For some thrill and food for your thoughts.
I personally would like to see this as a movie soon.
March 23, 2022
It's the year 2002, Calcutta. Drishti Sengupta, a famous singer was performing when a phone call shook her to the core. Her four year old daughter, Tara disappears from her own home. But the police, media and the society seems to care more about Drishti's status as a single mother and her numerous affairs rather than being investigating about the child. Ahana, a young journalist whose parents stay in the same society as that of Drishti, was given the task of digging out more about the singer. What occurs next is everyone obsessing over who the child's father is and the police making no effort to rescue the child.
"Dirty Women" isn't only a thriller revolving around the kidnapping of Tara. It is the story of Drishti, who was being looked down upon with contempt due to her status as a single mother and at the choices she made. It is the story of every independent, bold, strong and hardworking women out there who doesn't shy away from standing up for themselves and getting everything they deserve. It the story of each and every woman who doesn't let herself by the norms of the society nor does she lets the ideals of the society dictate her life. It's the story of every single independent women whom the society tries to suppress under their own ideals."Dirty Women" isn't only Drishti's story, it is the story of every single mother out there who dares to bring up her child alone although being the victim of the society who continues to judge her and her choices. So, Dirty Women isn't only a thrilling read for me rather it was a reflecting read for me. It perceives how the society views a woman who dares to challenge their ideals and never bends to their whims and fancies.
"Dirty Women" isn't only a thriller revolving around the kidnapping of Tara. It is the story of Drishti, who was being looked down upon with contempt due to her status as a single mother and at the choices she made. It is the story of every independent, bold, strong and hardworking women out there who doesn't shy away from standing up for themselves and getting everything they deserve. It the story of each and every woman who doesn't let herself by the norms of the society nor does she lets the ideals of the society dictate her life. It's the story of every single independent women whom the society tries to suppress under their own ideals."Dirty Women" isn't only Drishti's story, it is the story of every single mother out there who dares to bring up her child alone although being the victim of the society who continues to judge her and her choices. So, Dirty Women isn't only a thrilling read for me rather it was a reflecting read for me. It perceives how the society views a woman who dares to challenge their ideals and never bends to their whims and fancies.
September 19, 2021
Dirty woman is a story about Drishti Sengupta, a well-known singer in Calcutta and a single mother of 4-year-old Tara. The story starts with the kidnapping of Tara from her own house when Drishti is out for work late at night. What starts as a thriller kidnapping story from 2002 later narrates through the lifestyle Drishti chooses to have as an independent, unapologetic mother, who is called a dirty woman for the life choices she makes as a single mother in a hypocritical patriarchal society.
Even now, with the generation change and the progressive approach towards the woman in the society, people are quick to judge a single or even a divorced mother. What they fail to understand is the very own fact that not all woman in this society is born to fit the typical male acceptable way of living life as a woman. Dirty woman is a true insight towards how people easily critic any woman who does not come under the normalcy of the society set for a woman. It also beautifully portrays how one woman can become another woman’s lifesaver as well be someone who puts her in danger.
Although the book has a very engaging plot, I really wished the climax was a little more dramatic for the topic the book was trying to convey. I also discovered about the person responsible for Tara’s kidnap before only as I approached the chapters leading to the climax, which made it a dull and dense read at the end to me. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, as it strongly conveys the important message of feminism, and woman’s life choices.
Even now, with the generation change and the progressive approach towards the woman in the society, people are quick to judge a single or even a divorced mother. What they fail to understand is the very own fact that not all woman in this society is born to fit the typical male acceptable way of living life as a woman. Dirty woman is a true insight towards how people easily critic any woman who does not come under the normalcy of the society set for a woman. It also beautifully portrays how one woman can become another woman’s lifesaver as well be someone who puts her in danger.
Although the book has a very engaging plot, I really wished the climax was a little more dramatic for the topic the book was trying to convey. I also discovered about the person responsible for Tara’s kidnap before only as I approached the chapters leading to the climax, which made it a dull and dense read at the end to me. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, as it strongly conveys the important message of feminism, and woman’s life choices.
September 20, 2021
It's not a new thing to say that women in our country, or in most countries in the world, face more judgement than men. Women who don't fit in the understanding of societal mindset are labelled 'dirty'. If men do the same things that make women characterless, they are labelled 'cool'. This is the story of one such woman who refused to adhere to or even acknowledge what people said or thought about her.
In 2002, Calcutta, Drishti Sengupta is a decently famous singer. One night as she is performing at the club in Victoria hotel, she gets a phone call from her maid that her four year-old daughter, Tara has dissapeared all of a sudden from the house. With the help of the club manager, Drishti rushes home and a crowd has already gathered outside her society complex.
Instead of focusing on finding Tara, all the media, the police, Drishti's friends and neighbours care about is digging more dirt about her as she is a single mother and has had many lovers. Ahana works with the Tribune and her parents stay in the same society as Drishti. She is entrusted with the task of seeking out more gossip about the singer and the mysterious father of her child. But Ahana knows quite well what to share and what to hold back.
This book was engaging right from page one and I read most of it in a single day. It was disturbingly honest in narrating how the society perceives women who don't fit into their boundaries. A feminist crime thriller that is a must-read!
In 2002, Calcutta, Drishti Sengupta is a decently famous singer. One night as she is performing at the club in Victoria hotel, she gets a phone call from her maid that her four year-old daughter, Tara has dissapeared all of a sudden from the house. With the help of the club manager, Drishti rushes home and a crowd has already gathered outside her society complex.
Instead of focusing on finding Tara, all the media, the police, Drishti's friends and neighbours care about is digging more dirt about her as she is a single mother and has had many lovers. Ahana works with the Tribune and her parents stay in the same society as Drishti. She is entrusted with the task of seeking out more gossip about the singer and the mysterious father of her child. But Ahana knows quite well what to share and what to hold back.
This book was engaging right from page one and I read most of it in a single day. It was disturbingly honest in narrating how the society perceives women who don't fit into their boundaries. A feminist crime thriller that is a must-read!
September 8, 2021
How active will you be in a crisis situation? Will you be helpful or will you succumb to the inner panic? While watching the news, we wish that the story never happens to us. We wish that the evil passes by our house with no intention to harm us. Yet, what if? What if it does happen to you?
Dirty Women begins with a call to Drishti, a famous singer, that her four year old Tara has gone missing from her house. Soon the missing case turns into supposed kidnapping. Ahana, the features journalist, is assigned the task to cover the kidnapping. After a fruitless search for Tara of finding the culprit, the media then focuses on Drishti and her past. With Drishti being a single mother by choice, what began as a kidnapping story, turned into an exposé on Drishti, her lifestyle and the missing father.
The story is a book within a book kind, where Ahana is writing back about the case. It provides you a better insight into the media part of the story. The character of Drishti is portrayed beautifully, with due importance given to her past. Her college life and the career boost, we see the growth of a woman. The writing flows through, making this a gripping read.
The book is a message to the society where women are brought down for living their lives on their own terms!
Dirty Women begins with a call to Drishti, a famous singer, that her four year old Tara has gone missing from her house. Soon the missing case turns into supposed kidnapping. Ahana, the features journalist, is assigned the task to cover the kidnapping. After a fruitless search for Tara of finding the culprit, the media then focuses on Drishti and her past. With Drishti being a single mother by choice, what began as a kidnapping story, turned into an exposé on Drishti, her lifestyle and the missing father.
The story is a book within a book kind, where Ahana is writing back about the case. It provides you a better insight into the media part of the story. The character of Drishti is portrayed beautifully, with due importance given to her past. Her college life and the career boost, we see the growth of a woman. The writing flows through, making this a gripping read.
The book is a message to the society where women are brought down for living their lives on their own terms!
September 23, 2021
What makes you a good woman?
A question that kept lingering on my mind while I read this whirlwind of a book.
I went into the book with zero expectations as this is my first book by the author and also since it was a thriller I wanted to navigate myself through the book without any predetermined notions.
The story revolves around the events of a particular night where a 4-year old child goes missing. What happens when you are a part of 'family' that society doesn't readily accept?
From the very beginning you can see how the blame game brews up when it's revealed that the missing child belongs to a single mother. As more characters are introduced, it's hard to miss the misogyny and double standards that our so called 'progressive society ' holds onto like a weapon. A weapon to destroy the core of any woman who believes that she can chose a life of her own choice. The narrator of the story is again a woman, who's covering this high profile case. What really stood out to me was how quick were people to pass unsolicited judgements and tie down all the wrongs to the mother whose lifestyle they clearly don't approve of. For me a good mystery needs to have a steady build up, interesting characters and elements of surprise- the book met all these for me and was pretty refreshing read to me. I have always been a sucker for female characters who are can bring out the best in each other. Be each others support system and develop a kinship while navigating through hardships. I feel female friendships generally needs to be celebrated. And that's why this book worked for me. Not only it kept me engaged till the end, it left me with questions. Few dialouges exchanged by the characters were something that I'm sure a lot of us have either faced ourselves or heard as passing snide remarks. The media circus kinda reminded me of the Arushi murder case (for some reason it popped up because it was a pathetic way how a child and her character were butchered on nation television for years by grown men). This book though fictional was a silent message to stand your ground. Never thought I would be left with so many thoughts after reading a thriller, it truly is a feminist thriller/book.
May we read more books that celebrate women in all their glory, the good, the bad, the messy, the bold and everything or anyone that might not fit the molds.
A question that kept lingering on my mind while I read this whirlwind of a book.
I went into the book with zero expectations as this is my first book by the author and also since it was a thriller I wanted to navigate myself through the book without any predetermined notions.
The story revolves around the events of a particular night where a 4-year old child goes missing. What happens when you are a part of 'family' that society doesn't readily accept?
From the very beginning you can see how the blame game brews up when it's revealed that the missing child belongs to a single mother. As more characters are introduced, it's hard to miss the misogyny and double standards that our so called 'progressive society ' holds onto like a weapon. A weapon to destroy the core of any woman who believes that she can chose a life of her own choice. The narrator of the story is again a woman, who's covering this high profile case. What really stood out to me was how quick were people to pass unsolicited judgements and tie down all the wrongs to the mother whose lifestyle they clearly don't approve of. For me a good mystery needs to have a steady build up, interesting characters and elements of surprise- the book met all these for me and was pretty refreshing read to me. I have always been a sucker for female characters who are can bring out the best in each other. Be each others support system and develop a kinship while navigating through hardships. I feel female friendships generally needs to be celebrated. And that's why this book worked for me. Not only it kept me engaged till the end, it left me with questions. Few dialouges exchanged by the characters were something that I'm sure a lot of us have either faced ourselves or heard as passing snide remarks. The media circus kinda reminded me of the Arushi murder case (for some reason it popped up because it was a pathetic way how a child and her character were butchered on nation television for years by grown men). This book though fictional was a silent message to stand your ground. Never thought I would be left with so many thoughts after reading a thriller, it truly is a feminist thriller/book.
May we read more books that celebrate women in all their glory, the good, the bad, the messy, the bold and everything or anyone that might not fit the molds.
April 17, 2022
A look at how society treats women who choose to design their lives according to their own beliefs, this book tells the story of two “dirty women” through the lens of tragedy. It reflects so much of what women go through even in everyday life - the vilification, character assassination, and the constant scrutiny. The book is excellent, except a few grammatical errors. It also puts into perspective the very uncomfortable silence women are forced to live under, especially in India. A must-read.
March 27, 2022
"Obscene behavior will not be tolerated in a respectable community like ours! Dirty things, dirty women!"
If you are a fan of thrillers, there's no way you can miss out on this one. Tara, a four year old child, went missing from her apartment on the night of 13 June 2002. She was the daughter of a famous singer Dhrishti Sengupta, who portrayed herself to be a single mother. She never bothered to answer who the father of the child was.
On that night, Tara was taken care by a Nanny. Drishti was in a concert. The security said that there was no outsider who entered the apartment that evening. Even the nanny admitted that nobody had come to the house that evening, but the main door was left open.
The investigations had begun. No one knew if she was kidnapped or even murdered, as Drishti didn't get any call asking for any ransom.
So, where was Tara??
If you are a fan of thrillers, there's no way you can miss out on this one. Tara, a four year old child, went missing from her apartment on the night of 13 June 2002. She was the daughter of a famous singer Dhrishti Sengupta, who portrayed herself to be a single mother. She never bothered to answer who the father of the child was.
On that night, Tara was taken care by a Nanny. Drishti was in a concert. The security said that there was no outsider who entered the apartment that evening. Even the nanny admitted that nobody had come to the house that evening, but the main door was left open.
The investigations had begun. No one knew if she was kidnapped or even murdered, as Drishti didn't get any call asking for any ransom.
So, where was Tara??
October 13, 2021
Good story and fast-paced as expected, but despite having two female characters as protagonists, the writing is weak. Wish both the lead characters were better fleshed out.
October 4, 2022
Brilliant writing. After I reached midpoint , I just couldn’t put the book down.
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