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MURDER AT DAISY APARTMENTS
Colaba, May 2020; Lockdown, Day 46: Baman Marker, the Chairperson of Daisy and Lily Apartments, is found poisoned in his home. He dies soon after. The twin apartments are sealed, so the murderer could have only been one of the residents.
The news shakes fifteen-year-old Nandini Venkat, a devourer of murder mysteries, out of her stupor. After all, didn’t she spot a pair of legs climbing up and down the stairs that deadly night…With her not-so-alert twin, Ved, and BFF Shanaya, she begins an investigation.
But the Chairperson knew every little dirty detail about every single resident, so the list of suspects is long. Was it Mr Carvalho—Nandini’s crush Daniel’s father—with his shady past? Or Shanaya’s mother, Amrita Aunty, who had a running feud with Baman? Or mean old retired principal Lina Almeida who now makes lethal detox smoothies? Or the old and immobile Mr Alimchandani with a long-buried secret?
The seemingly listless days of the lockdown, when secrets and tensions bubbled below the surface, come back to life in this gripping and entertaining whodunit. With Murder at Daisy Apartments, bestselling author Shabnam Minwalla brings her phenomenal gift for dramatic storytelling to a new genre.
The news shakes fifteen-year-old Nandini Venkat, a devourer of murder mysteries, out of her stupor. After all, didn’t she spot a pair of legs climbing up and down the stairs that deadly night…With her not-so-alert twin, Ved, and BFF Shanaya, she begins an investigation.
But the Chairperson knew every little dirty detail about every single resident, so the list of suspects is long. Was it Mr Carvalho—Nandini’s crush Daniel’s father—with his shady past? Or Shanaya’s mother, Amrita Aunty, who had a running feud with Baman? Or mean old retired principal Lina Almeida who now makes lethal detox smoothies? Or the old and immobile Mr Alimchandani with a long-buried secret?
The seemingly listless days of the lockdown, when secrets and tensions bubbled below the surface, come back to life in this gripping and entertaining whodunit. With Murder at Daisy Apartments, bestselling author Shabnam Minwalla brings her phenomenal gift for dramatic storytelling to a new genre.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2021
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Shabnam Minwalla
23 books34 followersShabnam Minwalla writes books for children.
These include:
`The Six Spellmakers of Dorabji Street'
`The Strange Haunting of Model High School'
`The Shy Supergirl'
`Lucky Girl'
`What Maya Saw'
`Nimmi's Spectabulous Schooldays'
and
`When Jiya Met Urmila'
Her short stories are included in numerous anthologies. She is also a journalist and columnist with a number of Indian newspapers and magazines. She is a former Senior Assistant Editor with the Times of India in Mumbai.
Shabnam did her Masters in Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
She did her Bachelors in Economics, Statistics and Mathematics at St Xavier's College in Mumbai.
These include:
`The Six Spellmakers of Dorabji Street'
`The Strange Haunting of Model High School'
`The Shy Supergirl'
`Lucky Girl'
`What Maya Saw'
`Nimmi's Spectabulous Schooldays'
and
`When Jiya Met Urmila'
Her short stories are included in numerous anthologies. She is also a journalist and columnist with a number of Indian newspapers and magazines. She is a former Senior Assistant Editor with the Times of India in Mumbai.
Shabnam did her Masters in Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
She did her Bachelors in Economics, Statistics and Mathematics at St Xavier's College in Mumbai.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 8, 2021
Really enjoyed reading this YA mystery set in the lockdown 2020. The book was fun and I was engrossed in it completely. Good fun!
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November 23, 2021my god i hope there is a sequel
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July 11, 2021Dear Nandini Venkat (from Murder at Daisy Apartments by @shabnamminwalla ).
You're a literal, 15-year-old mix of modern Sherlock and Miss Marple from the classic detective stories I have read till now. What began on 46th of Lockdown at Lily Daisy Apartments and ended almost two weeks from it was an intriguing story you narrated.
The whodunit Murder mystery of Baman Marker, Hon' Chairman of Lily Daisy apartments, couldn't be more interesting than the way you solved it just by observing things out of your window room and Whatsapp chats. The former being your magnifying glass and the latter, tip-off.
What led to Baman Marker's murder was his habit of knowing too much. Enough to disturb someone's privacy. And you observed it.
Yes, the observation. That's what made you solved this case.
You didn't make lockdown sound too grim and listless to me. You pulled out exciting things about it as well, from your crush, Daniel, across to your window to cooking dinners and connecting dots of this young adult mystery.
Each character, Mr Carvalho(Daniel's father), Amrita Aunty, Linda Almeida, Kysha, the way you talked about them, is one of a kind, their past secrets dark enough like their evening shadows.
But one thing I am sure about is not trying Green Glow Detox Smoothie ever in my life. This name was enough to make me go bonkers 🤣.
I only feel bad solving this case almost brought your relationship with your best friend, Shanaya, at stake. But we have to do good for our friends when something nasty is happening in their lives.
And what you did was fair enough to forgive as well.
Best,
S.
P.S.- Why I am writing this letter because it being a true story, a murder happened for real in a lockdown, someone died of unnatural causes, and someone so young, rock-ribbed, trusting her grey cells, solved it.
You're a literal, 15-year-old mix of modern Sherlock and Miss Marple from the classic detective stories I have read till now. What began on 46th of Lockdown at Lily Daisy Apartments and ended almost two weeks from it was an intriguing story you narrated.
The whodunit Murder mystery of Baman Marker, Hon' Chairman of Lily Daisy apartments, couldn't be more interesting than the way you solved it just by observing things out of your window room and Whatsapp chats. The former being your magnifying glass and the latter, tip-off.
What led to Baman Marker's murder was his habit of knowing too much. Enough to disturb someone's privacy. And you observed it.
Yes, the observation. That's what made you solved this case.
You didn't make lockdown sound too grim and listless to me. You pulled out exciting things about it as well, from your crush, Daniel, across to your window to cooking dinners and connecting dots of this young adult mystery.
Each character, Mr Carvalho(Daniel's father), Amrita Aunty, Linda Almeida, Kysha, the way you talked about them, is one of a kind, their past secrets dark enough like their evening shadows.
But one thing I am sure about is not trying Green Glow Detox Smoothie ever in my life. This name was enough to make me go bonkers 🤣.
I only feel bad solving this case almost brought your relationship with your best friend, Shanaya, at stake. But we have to do good for our friends when something nasty is happening in their lives.
And what you did was fair enough to forgive as well.
Best,
S.
P.S.- Why I am writing this letter because it being a true story, a murder happened for real in a lockdown, someone died of unnatural causes, and someone so young, rock-ribbed, trusting her grey cells, solved it.
December 13, 2021
// Murder at Daisy Apartments by Shabnam Minwalla
I don't often read YA novels but this one had quite an interesting premise. A murder mystery solved by a teenager, something that reminded me of all the Nancy Drew books I read as a teen myself. I breezed through this book, finishing it in a single day. Shabnam's writing was simple yet captivating, like a bag of chips you just can't resist. If you enjoy laid-back murder mysteries without having to worry about all the nitty-gritty, this one's for you.
Daisy and Lily apartments in Mumbai are sealed due to an unfortunate Covid positive case. Our protagonist, a fifteen year old Nandini Venkat from Daisy is bored out of her mind what with her best friend being sealed in Lily. The strict Hon' Chairperson of the apartments, Baman Marker makes the residents' lives further more difficult with his rules and regulations. Several rows break out amongst the neighbours, all of them furious at Marker. Soon after, Marker is found dead due to poisoning and the apartments buzz with gossip and speculation about the murderer. Nandini, who loves crime novels quickly begins to put the pieces together and even successfully solves the case.
The characters are built like the family next door, where neighbours are inquisitive, always keeping an eye on what others are upto. There's drama, suspense and shock; the three main ingredients for a successful whodunnit novel. Although the story isn't too fancy, it delivers what it promises. I do hope there are more stories that star our Nandini. All in all, this was a satisfactory read.
I don't often read YA novels but this one had quite an interesting premise. A murder mystery solved by a teenager, something that reminded me of all the Nancy Drew books I read as a teen myself. I breezed through this book, finishing it in a single day. Shabnam's writing was simple yet captivating, like a bag of chips you just can't resist. If you enjoy laid-back murder mysteries without having to worry about all the nitty-gritty, this one's for you.
Daisy and Lily apartments in Mumbai are sealed due to an unfortunate Covid positive case. Our protagonist, a fifteen year old Nandini Venkat from Daisy is bored out of her mind what with her best friend being sealed in Lily. The strict Hon' Chairperson of the apartments, Baman Marker makes the residents' lives further more difficult with his rules and regulations. Several rows break out amongst the neighbours, all of them furious at Marker. Soon after, Marker is found dead due to poisoning and the apartments buzz with gossip and speculation about the murderer. Nandini, who loves crime novels quickly begins to put the pieces together and even successfully solves the case.
The characters are built like the family next door, where neighbours are inquisitive, always keeping an eye on what others are upto. There's drama, suspense and shock; the three main ingredients for a successful whodunnit novel. Although the story isn't too fancy, it delivers what it promises. I do hope there are more stories that star our Nandini. All in all, this was a satisfactory read.
July 25, 2021
4.5/5
Murder At Daisy Appartments by Shabnam Minwalla is a crime thriller set in Mumbai during the lockdown.
Nandini Venkat, a fifteen year old resident of the Daisy Appartments has witnessed a pair of legs climbing up and down the stairs of her appartment the night the chairperson is found poisoned in his own home. Baman Marker who is the chairperson of the Daisy and Lily Appartments dies soon after the poisoning. Owing to Covid and the lockdown, nobody has entered the appartments, meaning, the killer is one of the residents. Our little sleuth, Nandini has taken it upon herself to figure out who the killer is and its not easy to do so, after all, Baman Marker knew the dirty laundry of almost everybody in the appartments, leaving a lot of people open for motive. Would our Nandini be able to figure out who the killer is?
Hint : She does and to know who it is, pick up this book!
The writing and story stand true to the cover of the book for they are as gorgeous as apt to the cover. Beautiful, bold and dark colours not only represent the cover but the story as well! Immersive writing style and simple yet interesting language make the book a very indulging read. The sequencing of the chapters has been done well and the plethora of characters have been built well. The pace of the story for the first 100 pages was slow which I didnt find too appealing but post that it goes in sixth gear. It's quite an interesting story that's made more so all thanks to our protagonist, Nandini. I love how she solves the mystery step by step using her sound judgements and observation skills. I wasn't able to guess the killer till the very end and that made it one of my best crime fiction novel by and Indian author.
An absolutely indulging read!
Murder At Daisy Appartments by Shabnam Minwalla is a crime thriller set in Mumbai during the lockdown.
Nandini Venkat, a fifteen year old resident of the Daisy Appartments has witnessed a pair of legs climbing up and down the stairs of her appartment the night the chairperson is found poisoned in his own home. Baman Marker who is the chairperson of the Daisy and Lily Appartments dies soon after the poisoning. Owing to Covid and the lockdown, nobody has entered the appartments, meaning, the killer is one of the residents. Our little sleuth, Nandini has taken it upon herself to figure out who the killer is and its not easy to do so, after all, Baman Marker knew the dirty laundry of almost everybody in the appartments, leaving a lot of people open for motive. Would our Nandini be able to figure out who the killer is?
Hint : She does and to know who it is, pick up this book!
The writing and story stand true to the cover of the book for they are as gorgeous as apt to the cover. Beautiful, bold and dark colours not only represent the cover but the story as well! Immersive writing style and simple yet interesting language make the book a very indulging read. The sequencing of the chapters has been done well and the plethora of characters have been built well. The pace of the story for the first 100 pages was slow which I didnt find too appealing but post that it goes in sixth gear. It's quite an interesting story that's made more so all thanks to our protagonist, Nandini. I love how she solves the mystery step by step using her sound judgements and observation skills. I wasn't able to guess the killer till the very end and that made it one of my best crime fiction novel by and Indian author.
An absolutely indulging read!
July 12, 2021
The setting of a murder mystery in the middle of a pandemic-induced national lockdown is an interesting one as it limits the scope of the story, and the characters are confined to a space. This gave the plot a very authentic look as I could relate to the feelings of the residents as the buildings were sealed and the general emotion running through the residents of Daisy and Lily Apartments. Being a Young-Adult novel, the protagonist is a fifteen-year-old girl and looking at the world through her eyes was a wonderful perspective. I loved how Shabnam took her time establishing Baman’s identity and his relationship with the other residents. The plot moves with a comfortable pace with it being fast enough to keep the reader engaged and slow enough to connect the dots. The storytelling is very intricate, with subtle details being mentioned in the plot that come to bind the story in the climax. The language is good, and Shabnam has put some local words here and there to keep the flavor alive. The climax of the story is worthy of a mention, and I can say it was one of the best revelations in a murder mystery and Shabnam does a wonderful job of keeping the identity of the murderer a secret.
Coming to the characters, I would commend Shabnam on creating a very Christie-like motley of characters. It was as if a move was playing out when the characters were introduced. Making people across professions, religions, and age groups a part of the story, it is a wonderful whodunnit that succeeds because of the strong character base. The descriptions are vivid and at a certain point of time, almost all people look guilty of the murder. Personally, the character of Nandini was a wonderful one, along with her mother.
Overall, the book is a recommendation if you like reading a well-cooked murder mystery for this one has all the ingredients and also has a dash of tadka in the climax.
Coming to the characters, I would commend Shabnam on creating a very Christie-like motley of characters. It was as if a move was playing out when the characters were introduced. Making people across professions, religions, and age groups a part of the story, it is a wonderful whodunnit that succeeds because of the strong character base. The descriptions are vivid and at a certain point of time, almost all people look guilty of the murder. Personally, the character of Nandini was a wonderful one, along with her mother.
Overall, the book is a recommendation if you like reading a well-cooked murder mystery for this one has all the ingredients and also has a dash of tadka in the climax.
August 23, 2021
This is the second murder mystery based in Colaba that has found its way to my book stack, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Murder at Daisy Apartments will tickle your funny bones while shedding light on the fact that the pandemic we are living through might be an ever-present element in our lives.
It was the forty sixth day of lockdown in May 2020, and Baman Marker, the chairperson of Daisy and Lily Apartments had died, under odd circumstances, he had been poisoned and before help could reach him he passed away. Owing to Covid-19 virus and lockdown guidelines the twin apartments were already sealed, the obvious suspects of murder were the residents of Daisy Apartments. Our protagonist, fifteen-year-old Nandini Venkat, an expert at devouring murder mystery novels, found herself looking at a pair of legs climbing up and down the stairs the night of Mr Baman's murder. With her twin, Ved and her bestfriend, Shanaya in tow she gets to untangling the ties that separated the murderer from other residents, because Mr Baman had been a specially nosy man while alive and meddled in everyone's life.
The lockdown inhibited Nandini's search to WhatsApp chats and keeping a look out from her window. But from cooking dinners, to sometimes sighting Daniel from across the window, to Green Glow Detox Smoothie, Minwalla has expertly incorporated all the elements into Nandini's narrative that make it a stunning read with lots of contemporary Indian masala!
It was the forty sixth day of lockdown in May 2020, and Baman Marker, the chairperson of Daisy and Lily Apartments had died, under odd circumstances, he had been poisoned and before help could reach him he passed away. Owing to Covid-19 virus and lockdown guidelines the twin apartments were already sealed, the obvious suspects of murder were the residents of Daisy Apartments. Our protagonist, fifteen-year-old Nandini Venkat, an expert at devouring murder mystery novels, found herself looking at a pair of legs climbing up and down the stairs the night of Mr Baman's murder. With her twin, Ved and her bestfriend, Shanaya in tow she gets to untangling the ties that separated the murderer from other residents, because Mr Baman had been a specially nosy man while alive and meddled in everyone's life.
The lockdown inhibited Nandini's search to WhatsApp chats and keeping a look out from her window. But from cooking dinners, to sometimes sighting Daniel from across the window, to Green Glow Detox Smoothie, Minwalla has expertly incorporated all the elements into Nandini's narrative that make it a stunning read with lots of contemporary Indian masala!
June 6, 2023
Slow at first , but picks up pace in the second half. The sad part is that the references to the big reveal are hinted at in the second half , so it becomes kind of obvious and the first part feels a bit monotonous.
November 1, 2022
After a long time, I picked up a YA novel to read. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed and bored at the start. It was slow and seemed a lot like a lockdown saga. The murder happens after 45% of the book is done.
The only part I liked in the initial half was the buildup of Baman's character, who knew the dirty secrets of all the residents.
Later on, the story catches speed. Nandini, the 15-year-old protagonist who is also a great observer, has noted some threads to the Baman Marker murder case. Her sound thinking helps her solve it, and you would be shocked to find out who the murderer is.
The writing style is simple and engaging. Quickly go through the first half. The second half is where the real drama is; trust me, you won't be disappointed.
For more such reviews, visit - https://penitratherkeyit.com/
The only part I liked in the initial half was the buildup of Baman's character, who knew the dirty secrets of all the residents.
Later on, the story catches speed. Nandini, the 15-year-old protagonist who is also a great observer, has noted some threads to the Baman Marker murder case. Her sound thinking helps her solve it, and you would be shocked to find out who the murderer is.
The writing style is simple and engaging. Quickly go through the first half. The second half is where the real drama is; trust me, you won't be disappointed.
For more such reviews, visit - https://penitratherkeyit.com/
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews