"Book looks at money laundering post demonetisation" - The Week
"CA-turned-author Murali Raghavan whips up a financial thriller in the backdrop of demonetisation and rides high on the success of his book." - Deccan Chronicle
"A brilliant tale of big money and crime." - The Literature Today
A presumably innocent banker A religious leader accused of murder A journalist who is after more than just the next big story A plan to use demonetization to topple a government
Young, smart, once with a promising career before him, Vikram is in jail in Chennai. He stands accused of defrauding over ten crore rupees from Bharat Bank, where he worked in the IT department. Though he insists on his innocence, the evidence is stacked against him, and Vikram appears doomed to spend the best years of his life in prison – unless he agrees to a strange request from a lawyer representing an anonymous client.
Trapped in jail with no possibility of release, Vikram agrees, only to fall back into the world of corporate espionage and government corruption and intrigues, a run on a bank, and murder.
Ashwini, an investigative financial reporter, tumbles upon methods used to circumvent the rules imposed by the Reserve Bank of India during India’s demonetization.
Vikram crosses paths with Ashwini in his quest to expose the web of corruption between people with mountains of money to hide and the unethical ways they invent to hide it. But Ashwini’s true investigation is into the man known as “Guruji” – a fellow inmate and possibly Vikram’s only friend from his time in jail – whom she believes to be the cause of her sister’s death.
Can Vikram swim against these murky tides to secure his freedom – from jail and from his benevolent blackmailer’s clutches? Will Ashwini ever discover what really happened to her sister? And what is Guruji’s dark secret, that seems to hold the key to many mysteries?
Murali Raghavan's Riding the De(mon) tells the story of a systemic corruption so pervasive and so well disguised that it continues for years and includes many crooks who have escaped law enforcement, killers, and heaps of filthy cash. It all began with corruption charges against Vickram. As an employee of the information technology department of Bharat Bank, Vickram has a bright future ahead of him professionally. However, not long after that, he was arrested on suspicion of stealing more than 10 crore rupees from the bank, and he is now being held in custody in Chennai.
As his trial approaches, he has little to no chance since the evidence is so strongly against him. Vikram maintains his sanity despite the mountain of evidence pointing in the other direction, and it looks like he will spend the most productive times of his life behind bars. However, things may turn out differently if he complies with a peculiar demand from a lawyer representing an unknown client. During the course of Vikram's investigation into the nexus of corruption that exists among those who have large amounts of cash to conceal and the unscrupulous methods they develop to achieve it, he comes into contact with Ashwini.
As an investigative journalist for a financial publication, Ashwini discovers ways that people are getting around the restrictions set by the Reserve Bank of India following the country's demonetization. However, the real focus of Ashwini's research is on a fellow prisoner who goes by the name "Guruji" and whom she considers to be the person most responsible for her sister's death. Vikram's only companion during his time spent behind bars is perhaps Guruji. The deeper Vickram digs, the more dangerous the situation gets and it becomes clear that someone wants to silence his investigation.
The first few pages were difficult for me to read, but I believe this is due to the complexity of the subject matter being examined rather than writing. Murali Raghavan uses a wonderful cast of characters from many walks of life to flavour his story effectively. The story flowed well, and the narrative did not drag. Mr. Raghavan's entertaining and informative overview of the inner workings of a variety of subjects, such as the corrupt government and financial system, the powers of political authority, and judicial wrongdoing, is likely to keep readers engaged and intrigued and motivate them to explore more about these fascinating matters. Moreover, the readers are sure to be glued to the edge of their seats as they try to piece together the clues and will be fascinated by the enormity of the grandiose corruption and conspiracy scheme they are exposed to.
The plot is cleverly constructed with judicial corruption and organised crime at its center; the characters are complicated and very well developed. The story evokes every feeling that one would come to anticipate in a judicial crime thriller, and more besides. Corruption, with a few other twists thrown in, makes for a rollercoaster ride as you unpeel all the layers so intricately fashioned. Murali Raghavan delivered a solid and intriguing story in Riding the De(mon) with plenty of excitement to keep you buried deep in the pages.
As an employee in the IT department of Bharat bank, Vikram had a great future ahead of him. But sometimes things don't go according to our plans.
During demonetisation, Vikram allegedly got arrested for looting 10 crore rupees from a bank. All the evidences are against him.
Behind the bars in Chennai jail, how would Vikram prove himself innocent?
This book will give you a realistic picture of the failure of demonetisation.
You will get to know various methods which were used by the fraudsters during demonetisation to save their corrupted money.
This book progresses like any Bollywood movie & ofcourse author's effort to make this book realistic, interesting and knowledgeable is indeed praiseworthy.
Looking forward to read more such books from the same author.
"He was tired of being the prey. He was going to show the predators what it felt like when jaws clamped down on them."
A person can be the most innocent and honest man alive on earth but when their back hits against the wall, they aren't left with much option other than to rise, resist and fight back if they want to win the game. And Vikram sure wants to win!
Welcome to "Riding The Demon", the greatest and the finest financial thriller of the era where different characters come together to ride against the most dangerous money laundering mission with an ambitious plan to use demonetization to topple a government.
"Crime happens where you least expect it to."
Young and smart banker Vikram is accussed of defrauding money from Bharat Bank and is held in jail even when he pleads innocence. But he can escape his prison sentence if he agrees to a strange request from an anonymous blackmailer. With all other paths to freedom blocked from his vision, Vikram agrees to the proposal, only to find himself trapped within the world of corporate espionage and government corruption.
In his quest to unveil the web of corruption and unethical practices invented by those with mountains of black money, Vikram meets with a daring journalist, Ashwini. But behind the covers of her investigation, the financial reporter is more interested into the religious leader whom she suspects to be the cause her sister's death.
However, Guruji isn't a simple puzzle to solve. With his calm demeanor, sensible advice and mysterious ways, he seems to preserve some dark secrets that hold the key to many mysteries. And even though Aswini suspects him, Vikram couldn't shake off his soft feelings towards his only friend from his time in jail.
But the novel penned by author Murali Raghavan isn't just about an innocent banker, an accused religious leader, a determined journalist or a race against corruption. Rather, it's more about the human psychology, courage, love, belief, determination, faith, hatred and the shrewd mind games. It's about how money can bring out the best and worst in people. It's about how the society can make criminals out of innocent beings.
"I am being forced to play a game. I am a pawn, but I don't have a choice. I have to play to win."
Imbued with picture perfect description, gripping narrative technique, engaging tone and innovative style, "Riding the Demon" by Murali Raghavan is a spine-chilling, mind-numbing, unputdownable financial thriller taking the readers into the dark world of criminals, corruption and immoral beings. With dangerous twists and turns along the way that ends in a breathtaking revelation at the end of the book, the tale ensures that the readers remember its effect long after finishing it.
"You can only be moral in a moral world. Otherwise, your morals only serve to drag you down."
DEMONITIZATION is something we are well aware of then. Every one of us Indians must know how we traveled through this in 2018.
✒️Even careful implementation would have affected the black economy temporarily. Cash is not the actual problem, it’s just one of the means. “Intent doesn’t yield results!”
✒️The main character of this book is Vikram who is an ordinary man. Vikram was working in the IT department of Bharat Bank. It was at this time that this one thing called DEMONITIZATION was widely started in our country.
✒️Do you know Why Vikram was jailed? when he was working in Bharat bank, there was an allegation against him that he took more than 10 crore rupees from the bank during the DEMONITIZATION.This crime is voluntarily placed on Vikram's head and no matter how hard Vikram tries to prove his innocence, he fails in it.
✒️It was during this time that an investigative financial reporter named Ashwini met him. It is only after this that there is so much presumption in this story that if I do it here youwill lose its interest.
✒️This story is a good story and I definitely don't want to diminish the interest of this story, you should buy this.
✒️Many called it 'masterstroke'. Some attacked it as, 'the single most brutal assault to property rights in Indian history'. Most agreed that it had been poorly executed. All, except a few, economists termed it as an unnecessary act which caused much pain with very little to no gain. Opposition parties went to the street for it. Ruling party cherished the move as a surgical strike on black money, terrorism and corruption.
✒️Many people lost business, jobs, livelihoods for this move. Some lost lives. Many suffered physical and mental hardships. Our resilient middle class accepted the suffering for the greater good - a satisfaction from the mental perspective that the corrupt suffered more than them. Whatever your opinion could be, Demonitization was one of the most interesting, both funny and painful at the same time, events in our lifetime.
✒️Overall the book was an informative one. The way in which the author dissected the whole affair of demonetization is admirable.
We have both the yin & yang within us, question is what do we feed, ❤️ Noor. ___ RIDING THE DE(MON): How demonetization was exploited by corrupt individuals by Murali Raghavan @leadstartcorp
📖 A presumably innocent banker A religious leader accused of murder A journalist who is after more than just the next big story A plan to use demonetization to topple a government. ___ 📍"Politicians & businessmen will do anything to get what they want. The rest of us should stay out of their way."
This was an interesting book, a bit realistic w.r.t. the corruption, money laundering part, rich getting richer, rogues making innocents work for them & a bit like the script of a Bollywood movie or even better a web series.
My favourite part was that it was well written & edited. A well edited book makes the reading experience amazing. The book is divided into two parts, one in which Vikram is caught in a trap & has no choice but to do as told. The other where he stops being the victim & takes the control in his hands. I obviously liked this one more.
I also liked his connection with Guruji who kept on listening & guiding him in his worse times. Ashwini reminded me how media has become a puppet in the hands of these mafia people be it politicians (our so called representatives), businessmen or the underworld. But still hope is alive with honest journalist risking everything to bring the truth to the fore.
Truth has many layers. Yes & our interpretation of "our version" depends upon our perception. It's a very grey area to decide what's right & what's wrong. Was what Vikram did to save himself & later to make his mistakes better, alright? Is Abhinav totally wrong, what if he's right from his perspective? Those are subjective things & can't have a consensus.
But the basics remain the same. Politicians doing it for power, businessmen doing it for profit etc etc It's wrong if it's unethical & illegal.
Loved these ending lines; "Everyone makes mistakes, but the better amongst us don't let those mistakes go to waste." . #ridingthedemon #Demonetization #moneylaundering #blackmoney #financialthriller
This is my first time reading a book about financial crime. We all saw, heard and probably experienced the corruption and hardships all around. From the police finding abandoned bags full of defunct currency to temples realizing the sheer amount of "old note" donations - it was a wild ride and hopefully a time like that never comes to pass again. Riding the De(mon) is a fictional tale of the corruption and abuse of power that is based on and around the demonetization.
~
Vikram is in prison for alleged fraud at the bank he works at. He is adamant that he never did it, but he is still looking at years in prison until his case gets to hearing. He has, but one person he can call a friend in prison - Guruji.
Guruji's fame of being a pious and saintly godman follows him to prison - but why is he in prison? The secrets of his past may contain the key to a lot of things.
Ashwini's sister was a follower of Guruji before her death. Ashwini - a financial reporter- is deadset on unveiling the mystery behind her sister's murder but she is also on the cusp of uncovering a huge scheme that involves Vikram.
~
With Vikram's future looking bleak, he accepts a deal from a lawyer who is representing an unknown ,albeit powerful, person. He hacks into the bank he worked at and shares the account details of a few select accounts. He hopes this is the end, but he is asked for more and he cannot say no.
~
My ratings: 4/5. Loved the book. The book maintains a steady pace throughout, and is a very easy read. I usually don't like multiple povs, it gets confusing - especially when there is supposed to be an overlap between characters. But in this book, the multiple povs add to the story and make it more interesting.
Riding the De(mon) by Murali Raghavan is a really unique take on the demonization and how various people took different shady steps to meander their way through.
The story revolves around our main protagonist Vikram, who works in the IT department of Bharat Bank. He is accused of defrauding the bank of Tk 10 crore. During demonetisation as we heard several cases of black money transactions, laundering etc Vikram's case seems to be similar and he is arrested and sent to jail where he meets Guruji who is accused of murder.The perfect presentation of the genre through title and cover image is also astounding. Meeting with the Guruji while in custody due to false accusations, later on with Ashwini after release with the support of an anonymous client with unusual request and releasing oneself from the spider web-head keeps the reader absolutely hooked.He tries to prove his innocence but in vain , no one is ready to believe him because there are many stacked evidences against him. He crosses path with Ashwini who is an investigative financial reporter after gets bailed out. Ashwini believes that the cause of her sister's death is because of 'Guruji' who is a fellow inmate of Vikram. He was the only possible friend in the cell for Vikram.It paints an intriguing picture about the far reaching consequences of a corruption and corporate espionage.I wasn't expecting to get so immersed in the political intricacies that was woven between the pages.
The book is so cleverly written, to keep you guessing till the last page.
I am quite satisfied with the way this book ended. The narration is smooth in a lucid language. Though the plot is paced slowly in the beginning it improves as the story progresses. The characters are placed well. Overall a good thrilling
Overall - 4/5(⭐)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Riding the De(mon) by Murali Raghavan follows Vikram's story and all those who are involved in his life pre and post his arrest. The plot opens up with Vikram in a jail in Chennai where he is talking to a Guru ji, a murder convict and further proceeds from there. The plot is divided into different parts which works nicely and in a very clean manner. Coming to what I liked about the book, let me start with how clever the title is. I was impressed by that really very impressed. I have read very few stories relating to corporate thrillers, but this probably was one of the best, and that is saying something given that this is the writer' debut novel. The plot flows easily, and reads like a Bollywood movie or some series really, and that too a good one. I loved how the journalist' character was penned, perfect mixture of personal and professional giving her a very very nice character arc, and I love a good character arc. The facts are precise, given that it is set in after the time when demonetization happened in India in 2016, which is recent, the author does a great job of weaving a story around the national event in a fine manner, which really makes me wonder if it is all fiction or not. Coming to what I did not like about it is that there are a bit too many corporate terms used, and for someone who is not of that background, it gets a bit uneasy to read, as in going back and forth looking for what this and that is supposed to mean. Otherwise, it is safe to say I am thoroughly impressed with the writing, with the plot idea and with everything really. Will recommend it to those who enjoy a god thriller which peels its layers like an onion. Definitely looking forward to read from the author.
Demonetisation this is an unforgettable moment for all of us, I've read many articles about this situation, but in here the author narrates a crime thriller in and around demonetisation.
The story begins at Chennai City person with Vikram a talented software engineer from IIT working in Bharat Bank has been attracted in the charges of financial fraud. Vikram is wrongly framed for a heist of 20 cores, at his distressful time he finds a mentor (emotional healer) Guruji. Guruji is Pragyananda the head of Kamakshi Ashram arrested on the charges of murder. Just before his bail hearing Vikram gets a visit by a person calling himself Madhav (identity can or cannot be real) who promises to get him out on bail but I return he has to help him out in some data mining from Bharat Bank. There is a third character Ashwini, a leading journalist of MoneyTV. Ashwini is working on the financial situations after demonetisation and the crimes around it.
Vikram is in a situation where he does not know whom to trust and whom to doubt. At his trusts are questioned - friends are doubts about him, suddenly he finds some financial frauds in Kamakshi Ashram and he cannot the one's who got him out. Vikram finds himself in a maze of crime but can he will over it? What is the mystery around Kamakshi Ashram and Guruji? Will Ashwini find the hidden truth about her sister's death?
This story is a brilliant page turner around financial crimes (which I have never read) and Indian businessmen and business secrets. Demonetisation was a shock which disturbed all Indians but I never thought that situation would have turned into a jackpot for wrong doers. The pace and juggle of characters was maintained skillfully till the very last page. All in all it's a story not to be missed.
We've all seen the piles of cash lying on the street, the huge queue outside banks, the chaos and debates on the local news but we never realised the extent of political turmoil that took place during that stage. This book talks about the aftermath of demonetization and gives us a glimpse of how much money laundering happened at that point. I haven't read many crime thrillers but I'm certain that this one tops my list of expectations. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. Our Protagonist Vickram is accused of defrauding over ten crore from Bharat Bank where he worked in the IT department. He is awaiting trial and has no hopes left as most of the evidence is against him. He befriends a Guruji who is a murder convict there and gets his daily dose of motivation until his path crosses with a investigative financial reporter, Ashwini. Ashwini digs up the evidences of financial fraud and corruption among political and religious institutions while investigating her sister's murder. This book has so many characters and so much going on that it was a little hard to grasp but honestly I enjoyed the plot quite a lot. It's exciting! It makes you think about the crimes that took place and the crimes that were actually reported, the gap in whether justice was truly rendered or whether most evidences were fabricated to save those in power. Riding De(mon) was a thrilling ride indeed and I am looking forward to more books by the author. If you're interested in crime thrillers and want to be more politically aware then this is the book for you.
I remember standing in a queue, outside a bank for 4 hours in the scorching sun to validate my own hard earned money. It was the time when demonetization had hit India and suddenly had rendered all the 500 rupee notes useless. This book with the same backdrop along with a few ounces of crime and spiritualism makes for an interesting read.
All is well for Vikram, a talented banker with a beaming future until he is arrested for defrauding the very bank he works for. Once in jail, he meets a fellow inmate 'Guruji' who is convicted for murder and they form a spiritual bond. Meanwhile an investigative financial reporter, Ashwini is slowly burrowing her down this dreadful trench of financial fraud involving political and religious institutions. The chaos slowly begins to unravel when all their paths merge at the crossroads.
Well, there is too much happening at the same time. Numerous subplots are running parallely which honestly, sometimes feels a bit tiring. While the well-intended motive of the author is clearly to provide the readers with as much background as quickly as possible, it would have been great if the pace would have been a tad bit slow. But apart from that, I've no other complaints regarding the piece. The plotline invokes a very thought provoking underlying tone regarding the corruption prevalent in our judicial system and all the heinous crimes that are brushed under the carpet for just a few wads of cash. If you're into political crime thrillers, then this book has just the vibe.
""A presumably innocent banker A religious leader accused of murder A journalist who is after more than just the next big story A plan to use demonetization to topple a government""
• Well according to me THE RIDING DEMON is a extremely captivating financial thriller. The story begins with the protagonist Vikram in jail after being charged with laundering 10 crores from the Bharat Bank. (*The author vividly defines the life of a prisoner and their thoughts about freedom & life.)
• The other two main side characters are "Guruji" (* a murder suspect, in prison) and Ashwini (* a journalist reporting demonetization stories and attempting to solve the murder of her sister).The book is incredibly thrilling because all the characters are connected to one another.
• The story show how demonetisation just moved the entire nation and how high profile striving to hide their money. So they needed the bankers to help, in this way Vikram got into this trap. (*The book also exposes the dishonest and improper aspects of Indian politics. It demonstrates how money buys power.)
• The questions that arises while reading are...Can Vikram swim against these murky tides to secure his freedom - from jail and from his benevolent blackmailer's clutches? Will Ashwini ever discover what really happened to her sister? And what is Guruji's dark secret, that seems to hold the key to many mysteries?
Riding the De(mon) is the most interesting boo I have read so far. Thr author has done a incredible job in bringing the topic of corruption in such way. •••• Vikram is a IIT graduate 30 year old man who is leading a happy life and getting a handsome salary . Vikram was being loved by his neighbour and colleagues because of his simple attitude he even left his job in US as his mother got sick in India , to take care of her he joined Bharat Bank and where his life turned somewhere he never thought of. He was accused of stealing amount of 10 crores and was behind the bars. But , he got out from bail but the person who got him out of the bail was planning out something big with his help. There is another character named as Ashwini , she is a chief journalist famous for putting up her points against the wrong by the big personalities as well. •••• Vikram is seen in a great confusion when the person who got him out asked him to hijack four other big banks to get the bank statements of people investing in. There is a element of corruption done by big politicians and businessmen. ••••• At the start , i felt there is a complexity in the book because the things sree not talking in a right direction for me but as I read ahead i simply got the basic idea of the novel and enjoyed every bit of it. I loved how author has written this book with such a great intelligence and precision.
💵The politics, the accusations, the lies, the innocent, the power, the money….all have been portrayed aptly in this book. ⠀ 💵The story starts with Vikram, our protagonist who was locked up in Jail for stealing more than 10 crore rupees from Bharat Bank, where he used to work as an employee. 💵Just before his hearing which was due next week, he met Madhav, whose client wanted him to get some information from Bharat Bank. Vikram had no choice but to accept the offer and get out on bail. 💵The author has very well defined the life of a prisoner and how they feel locked inside and what exactly freedom means for them. 💵In the prison Vikram meets Guruji an inmate who was accused of murder. 💵Then enters Ashwini chief journalist of MoneyTV’s operation in Chennai, who was working on the story of demonetization. She is on her journey to find evidence against financial fraud and corruption among political and religious institutions while investigating her sister Aishwarya’s murder. 💵The stories of these characters are related. But how? Well, you need to read this book to know their journey. Was Guruji really a murderer? What actually happened to Ashwini’s sister? Will Vikram ever be proved innocent and will all this vicious circle of power and money come to an end? Read this exciting thriller to know more…..
Everybody has heard of the frauds that take place daily in our nation. There is a large amount of black money held by numerous crooked individuals.
Vikram's narrative, Riding De(Mon), will transport you to the era of demonetisation. Since many of us already know or many of us have already experienced demonetisation, it might even pique our interest more. Because he worked in the Bharat Bank IT department, it was simple for Vikram to illegally withdraw 10 crores from the bank during demonetisation. But did he really withdraw those funds? Or was there something much more to be revealed than this? Reading this book will help you find the answers to these questions.
In addition to Vikram, there are other characters in the book who are significant to the plot. Two of these characters are Ashiwini, the chief journalist for MoneyTv, and Guruji, who is accused of murder. In this chapter, each character has a unique backstory and set of challenges to overcome. However, at some point, they all came together.
The book is written in such a way that everyone can easily grasp the plot, and I really enjoyed the story and how it was so wonderfully told. I couldn't put it down till I finished it because I was so intrigued until the very last page. Amazing encounter I'd like to read more writing by the author.
#This book gives us an intense look of suspense and thriller genre. The cover papears to be intriguing grabbing the attention of the readers. . #This book is divided into different parts. In first part, the protagonist has been bailed out from jail two weeks ago from Chennai. He was told to go with Dev. He was accused of defrauding over ten crores from a Bank, where he worked in IT department. Vikram was looking forward to spend his best years of life in jail unless he agrees to a strange request from a lawyer representing an anonymous client. . #Another protagonist in the story is Ashwini, an investigative financial reporter. Both Ashwini and Vikram crossed their path in the quest of exposing the web of corruption. But here the twists and turns plays its own part. There is a Guruji. Both Vikram and Ashwini have some shared interest in this man. To know more bout this story, grab your copies from your nearest stores. . #The storyline is gripping, thrilling, captivating and intriguing. The twists and turns with which the story is laid down is splendid. The narration style of the author is crisp. The language used is good and reader-friendly so that everyone can read it. The character build is good and appreciable. I would defined recommend people to give this amazing one a try. . #For me, it's a ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 read.
The Riding De(mon) by Murali Raghava is a financial thriller set in the backdrop of demonetization hence the brackets in the title. The story revolves around Vikram an Ex employee in the IT department of Bharat Bank and stands accused of defrauding crores of rupees, from the the bank. He crosses path with Ashwini an investigative financial reporter after he us bailed out. Guruji a murder convict , is the common man who is known to both. They are trapped in a web of Lies and corruption which seems impossible to come out. Hence begins a struggle to unfold a series of mysteries that they are surrounded in. What happens next forms the story.
The book is based on themes like money laundering, politics etc.Set in the aftermath of demonetization one gets to know how the bigwigs of the society misuse their power for their personal monetary gains. The author has used his personal experience in the field which gives one a clear picture of what actually happens in the financial world. The twists gives a thrilling experience.
The narration is smooth in a lucid language. Though the plot is paced slowly in the beginning it improves as the story progresses. The characters are placed well. Overall a good thrilling read
Book Name : The Riding De(Mon) Author's Name : Murali Raghavan Number Of Pages : 243 Target Audience : - Genre : Thriiller/Finance A.R.T : 4 hours
Rating : 3.9/5
To begin with, the title, cover and blurb were so intriguing that I bought this book. I've always fallen for thrillers mixed with something, and it expected the same from this book. Thriller and finance are a lethal combination, (positive way) and I loved how the book turned out. The way of writing the book made it a page - turner. The book is divided into two parts, thus making it easier to get into. The length of the book was good. Based on my reading, I think this book isn't very beginner friendly and most of you will be very subjective about thrillers, so I won't say much about the story, but I personally found it intriguing.
The story focuses on the protagonists Vikram and Ashwini, and both of them were really strong and confident characters. I loved how they were portrayed by the author. I would've loved to hear the story from the first person narrative of the Guruji too, as it could make the story more interesting.
If you want to dive into some thrill in the finance industry, go for this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Packed with mystery, crime, thriller, corruption, murder and conspiracy placed extremely deftly, this book justifies the interesting title. This is Vikram's tale, a young banker who is imprisioned for ten crore money fraud and his life story, both before and after his incarceration. He is falsely framed and is trying to find a way to prove his innocence. On the other hand, Ashwini, a reporter, is searching her sister's killer while investigating the fraud banks practised by manipulating the rules during demonetization. And the mysterious Guruji, a prisoner in the same Chennai jail where Vikram is awaiting to free himself. Who is Guruji? Will Vikram be able to free himself? Will Ashwini find her sister's killer? This will be fun reading. This book can become the best movie. All the characters are well written, and the language is easy to understand. The best plotline weaved around demonetization. What I did not like about it is that there is too much business jargon used with which I am not familiar. Otherwise, the writing and the plot concept are perfect. The author has ensured that the reader is hooked and it keeps getting fascinating in every chapter till the end. If you like mystery and thriller then I hope my review helps you pick this one.
What piqued my interest more into this book was, demonetisation, monetary scams and that this book is written by a Chartered and cost accountant. Being a CA student myself I was attracted towards this book more.
This is a story of Vikram who has been held responsible for taking out 10 crores from the Bharat Bank illegally. He worked in the IT sector of Bharat Bank. He tried a lot to prove his innocence but he couldn't, will he be able to prove it anyway? Or he'll spend his entire life in prison? Along with Vikram, this story also introduces Ashiwini, who's a journalist and had been investigating about her sister's death. Guruji, who shared a cell with Vikram and is accused of murder, In this scenario, these three characters will eventually cross paths.
Benami accounts will also be covered in the book. This book has a lot to teach us. You should read this book without a doubt. The narration of the story is really straightforward so that even someone without a background in commerce can understand it.
Title is extremely appealing. Demonetization is referred to as de(mon) in the title. The story's plot was excellent, and it was written nicely. I was hooked. I would suggest reading this book just once. You'll adore this, I assure you.
Riding the De(mon) is a wonderful thriller novel by Murali Raghavan. It has a well layered story set in the times of demonetization. In the story, we follow three main characters whose lives intersect in an interesting way in this suspense novel.
Vikram used to work in IT department of a bank but currently he's in jail as he is accused of defrauding crores from the bank. Ashwini is a financial reporter who is investigating the fraud methods used by people during demonetization to keep their black money safe. Eventually Vikram and Ashwini cross paths to expose the web of corruption but Ashwini's real search will end only when she finds "Guruji", who is possibly the murderer of her sister.
I really liked the story and its setting, the book is a thriller but a financial thriller and I enjoyed reading it. The story has multiple layers to it and many unexpected twists and turns. It moves forward with perfect pace and many unanswered questions keep you reading the book until the end. The book is an interesting and engaging read. I liked the narration and author's writing style besides the story of the book. The title is apt and witty. Overall, the book was enjoyable and I recommend it.
👉The Crux:- 🔸 Riding the demon is a unique story which revolves around a smart young and dynamic Vikram, who was once a promising banker. but things turned drastically and Vikram end up in jail in Chennai.
🔹 Trapped in jail with no possibility of release, an offer came to him in exchange for bail which he had to accept as he doesn't have an option to reject it as he is been blackmailed for that.
🔸On the other hand, Ashwini, an investigative reporter tends to know more rules about the imposed demonetization back in 2016. Will both Vikram and Ashwini cross the path? Can Vikram pass through the struggle and hurdles to get his freedom? Is the remaining story for you to catch up on.
👉My two cents:- 🔹 Writing style of the book is very impressive. The language and the narration used in the book are simple and lucid. The story is captivating so I couldn't put it down. This is the debut novel of the author Murali Raghavan a great debut I should say. The ending is unexpected with some twists. 🔸The author has explained everything clearly. overall, a very good read with a sensational topic Which everyone should read at least once I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Riding Demon by Murali is a wonderful thriller . The protagonist of the story is Vikram who is an ex employee working in the IT Department of Bharat Bank . He is accused of fraud for crores of rupees from the bank. He is stuck in a jail at Chennai. He tries to prove his innocence but in vain , no one is ready to believe him because there are many stacked evidences against him. He crosses path with Ashwini who is an investigative financial reporter after gets bailed out. Ashwini believes that the cause of her sister's death is because of 'Guruji' who is a fellow inmate of Vikram. He was the only possible friend in the cell for Vikram. I loved the book and especially the title, how creative it is . It tells us or explains how the big or rich people in the society misuse their power for their personal issues and monetary gains. The plot is clearly explained and the author has gone straight to the point with every twists in the book. Its a really great thriller book. Read it to know if Vikram proves his innocence and what is the actual truth on Ashwini's sister ? Is Guruji a killer and what is his darkest secret?
Riding the De(mon) by Murali Raghavan is a crime Fiction with many layers underneath. The Author has addressed a lot of issues with ease.
The elements of Bank Fraud, Conspiracy,Power Games, Politics, Journalism and Murder were very tactfully placed.
Vikram the protagonist struggles to overcome conspiracy and secure his release from both prison and his benevolent blackmailer's grips. Other characters like Ashwini,she is trying to find the Murderer of her Sister.Guruji has dark secrets which may have a solution to the puzzle.
I think Demonatisation as a plot was narrated very well.It brought back my memories of standing in ATM Queues. Alot of research and homework is evident throughout the Book. With simple and easy language the author has narrated a very riveting and compelling story.
The author with his storytelling skills has made sure the reader is hooked.With every twist and turn the mystery unfolds.It becomes more and more interesting.The locations, clothing, characters, and their personalities are all described in great detail.
If you are some one who likes all of the above then this should be your next read Hope you find my review helpful 👍
Riding Demon by Murali is a suspense thriller. A story of an employee named Vikram who used to work in Bharat Bank is accused of robbing a lot of money. He has no idea how to prove his innocence and his mother is worried about him. While he was in the prison, someone comes to meet him and offers him bail provided he does the work given by them. Vikram with fewer choices accepts this offer and gets out.
On the other hand, Ashwini's sister is dead her cause of death is still a mystery. Ashwini remembers her sister mentioning meeting a person who claimed to know all about life.
So, Ashwini wanted to know who it was. Ashwini was engrossed in writing an article About the hidden truths of demonization. How will Vikram and Ashwini cross each other's paths?? Is Guruji connected to the case of her sister's death?
Read the book to know what happened further. Who was innocent? How's Vikram innocent? The author has developed all the characters realistically. The way the author connects the dots will make this book worth reading. The title is captive and the cover too. Overall, a good read.
What a book!! I mean I haven’t read something this marvellous in a long time!
There’s so much going on in this book you as a reader won’t be able to put it down. A real page turned this one is.
Kudos to the author for writing this entertainer, which will keep you at the edge of your seat throughout! This coupled with the fact that the writing was flawless makes this book a must read. It’s easy to understand and people whose native language isn’t English can easily follow the story.
I don’t even know how to tell what’s my favourite part of the book because I liked it as a whole.
Vikram is in jail accused of defrauding over ten crores from Bharat Bank. In prison where everything seems terrible he befriends guruji. On the other side, in the world outside, there’s a journalist desperately looking for ways to solve her sister’s murder, and nabbing the person who did it. All this while the country is going through the big change that is demonetisation.
How the author has interwoven all these storylines is truly a pleasure to read. It goes so smoothly!!
Do give this a read!! It will be a thrilling experience undoubtedly!
I'm reading this kind of book for the first time and it turned out to be such a page turner. Vikram, a banker was falsely accused of fraud and got jailed. He is granted bail by a mysterious person indirectly but he had to make deal of doing some shady work for them. Slowly their demands increased and Vikram realised this was another kind of prison unless he finds a way out. The other characters Ashwini, a journalist was working on an article about laundering of money that took place after demonetization was announced. Then we have Guruji, leader of an ashram who is a spiritual guide to many yet he was in jail for murder.
The character of Vikram is very impressive, he starts out as a victim but soon turns the tables. This is a financial thriller and takes us through the time period of demonetization and how it was used by the upper class to turn black money into white and also how it affected the common people. There's a larger hand at play and everyone was just pawns in the game. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Also there was a subplot of a murder investigation which was quite intriguing.
"Riding the demon" by Murali Raghavan is a thriller novel consisting of 245 pages and trust me these 245 pages will keep you hooked and will capture your mind. The book deals with important topics like corruption, muscle power and so on. The writing style is easy to read and the character development is commendable. The story begins with Vikram who was an employee in IT department of Bharat Bank, and was jailed for stealing money from the bank. During his tenure in jail he not only gained patience but also met a mentor Guru Ji who was jailed for a murder case. Since many months, Vikram's bail was pending. One day a visitor named Mahesh came to meet him in the jail where he gave Vikram an offer to extract information of all the transactions above 50 lakhs made between 8 November and December 30 of 2016 and work for his client. Who was Mahesh and the client? Why were they interested in Vikram? To know the answers to these questions you need to read this book. I assure you it will not disappoint you
🧐 Sometimes life has other plans to take over. How innocent you are but at some point, you lose the game of life until you are forced to pay for your integrity.
🧐 This book has multiple characters namely, Vickram, Guruji, Ashwani and Aishwarya who is the sibling of Ashwani.
🧐 Vickram - most promising personality, he works for a bank as an IT profile.
🧐 Ashwani- Intelligent journalists who were seeking evidence of her sister's murder.
🧐 GuruJi- is the most important character because he is the one who is connected to every path of Vikram and Ashwani.
🧐 The story about how demonetisation just moved the entire nation and how high profile striving to hide their money. So they needed the bankers to help, in this way Vikram got into this trap.
🧐 To know how Vikram's guru came in contact and how Ashwani and Vikram crossed paths.
🧐 It's a bit lengthy but easy to understand, somewhere you visualise the story. Because it is an interesting one.
Each one of us are fighting our own battles . Trying to keep up the angels while surrounded by demons. But what happens when our ownself are ruled by all the demons that lay within us and overpowering us. Read for yourself this amazing read showing the different phases of thrill,mystery,lies,accusations and many more that covers in this book. The protagonist of the story is Vikram who is behind the bars for a theft done of an enormous amount that ended him up here. But the twists comes when before the hearing Vikram is getting a second chance but not to come out of the pit but to end up falling into a deeper one. A tint of business,a lot of politics and abundance of rule of power, all these shades will be experienced in this spine-chilling read . Will there be a sunshine again for Vikram or all his life would end up in turmoil without any ray of hope. Amazingly written characters , interesting story line and awesome explanation which will make you experience the story your ownself.