Blood in the Paradise - A tale of an impossible murder

"Blood in the Paradise - A tale of an impossible murder" is a suspense murder case mystery by Madhav Mahidhar. A sure shot eye catcher in book-shelf, which will make you at lease check blurb of book. (Though blurb of the book could be more interesting)

Blurb of the book -

This is a tale of Madhumitha Nandan. Her courage, her determination, her mission and her pursuit.
This is a tale of DCP Vishwaroop. His honesty, his intelligence, his shrewdness and his focus.
This is a tale of Anupriya Gautam. Her theories, her influence, her credibility and her dependability.
This is a tale of an impossible murder. The puzzle begins.
Goal - Freedom from the fear of death
Weapon - Deceiving the minds
The Bait - Law—breakers
Evidence - Nullified because of the weapon
Crime designers - Unknown to the executor

Story started with a suiside attempt of Madhumita. Her husband, Vikash came home a few minutes after Madhu consumed cynide. Vikas saw the scenario and in panic he called neighbours and ambulence. Police entered in to the scene and started investigation. But when they came to know that Vikas died due to high dose of poison and chances of Madhu's survival still there, they got confused.

Vishwaroop, an honest & intelligent DCP, take the case in hand. He started investigation. He along with his collegue understood the truth and started taking actions. (I don't want to spoil the suspense so leaving remaining summary)

I like the way Madhav narrated the story. Though there were some lose ends but it is still better than plain rom-com novels of debut author. Author has taken enough efforts to study criminal psychology & police intterogation style, which is visible in questionair prepared for Madhumitha. Talking about ratings:

1. Cover - 4 / 5 
2. Language - 3.5 / 5
3. Story Line - 4.5 / 5 (Smooth. I finished it in 2 sittings)
4. Characters - 4 / 5 (Very strong character base, specially Madhu, Vishwa, Anu, Mallika
5. Overall - 4 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon  & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

I won a review copy from The Tales Pensieve as part of Reviewers Programme. Register on #TTP for lots of #book fun and activities.

The Rude Tenderness of Our Hearts - Short Stories

The Rude Tenderness of Our Hearts by Saket Suryesh is a unique title with two completely opposite words. As title suggested it is indeed collection of short stories with sad ending (except one or two stories)

Book Blurb - 

Smith studying art at Yale, with a bright future ahead of him. He is not a man of half-measures. What happens when he falls in love? And who does he fall in love with? How much love is too much love? Shiva is a man in mourning, an asocial man, even if great. What will a father do whose daughter falls in love with an ascetic and a warrior? How would she win in love if not by losing herself? Sarthak is a modern man, with a modern family, trapped in the modern world. This day has seen him coming out as an undisputed winner in corporate warfare. He is rushing to meet those he loves- his wife, his daughter. What happens then? Will time bring solace or will he be Betrayed by Time? These and four other stories are placed in different time, different worlds, with nothing but one common thread that runs across them, connecting them is a human heart beating across the book.

The Rude Tenderness of Our Hearts a collection of heart touching short stories narrated by author in unique style. Theme of those stories

1. Artist fell in love with his master piece
2. A man decided to get his life back to track
3. Shailputri's devotion and love towards Shiva
4. A person living roadside with his wife & daughter
5. A soldier life at border
6. A couple who dare to go against caste and get married

As mentioned correctly in blurb, each story has something in common which would be the ending from my point of view. Except 1-2 stories each story has sad ending. I cannot tell stories in brief like other book review as in this case stories are already short one ;). But I liked the way story was brought in front of readers. Well, I found most of the endings predictable. Still it was good book which can be finished in 1-2 sittings.

Talking about ratings:

1. Cover - 4 / 5 (I like cover and binding)
2. Language - 3.5 / 5
3. Content - 3 / 5
4. Characters - 4 / 5
5. Overall - 4 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon  & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Memoirs of Vadodara - Travel Experience

An attractive cover page, which will surely get your attention if you are going through bookshelf. 'Memoirs of Vadodara' by Gaurav Prabhu was won by my wife from Goodreads. Book takes you through Gaurav's long weekend journey.

Blurb of the book goes like this -

The book starts off with the author’s compelling need to break-free from the monotonous routine in Mumbai. As a pleasant surprise, the family schedules a trip to Vadodara which turns out to be a eye-opener. Ajit Kaka is the one-of-a kind person who takes the responsibility of ensuring the author’s family is left with the best of memories. From witnessing the city’s largest festival of Navratri to getting hands on local Gujarati food, the author narrates each of the episodes, giving you an easy ride to the place! The chronicles serve as a souvenir of happiness guided by the smallest yet profound experiences of the author. In the middle of these narrations, there are notes about life, penned while the author is in a self-discovery mode, sharing his thought process! Highlights being – Simplicity has its own charm and works wonders if you realize the worth. As the trip nears to an end, destiny springs a surprise.

Author, Gaurava, is working in IT firm; living in fast pace Mumbai city. Photography is passion; and he has taken it seriously. But still he was bored with life wanted a vacation from hassle-bustle of his retinue. Much to his surprise his family had arranged a trip to Vadodara in long weekend. His family stayed with Ajit Kaka one of the locals instead of hotel. In just three days of their visit, they made deep bonding with Ajit Kaka and their family. They enjoyed Gujarati food, Navaratri - Garba, Sight-seen. 

Book was too casual to look like a serious work. It finished before I can get grip on it. I have read other travel experience so I had more expectation from book. Anyways good try Gaurav.

Talking about ratings:

1. Cover - 3 / 5 
2. Language - 2.5 / 5 
3. Content - 1.5 / 5 
4. Concept - 2 / 5
5. Overall - 2 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon  & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

The BNO - Sex, Life and Hookah

The Boys' Night Out by Manoj Jain was one of my serious erotica read ( ;) ). I started review-read a year back which has given me chance to read different genre.

Blurb of the book goes like this -

Eight men,

Two girls,

One boys' night out

He could be the man you say hello to in the lift everyday, he could be your boss, he could be your husband.

She could be your girlfriend, your sister, or the girl-next door.

In this fast-paced novel that reveals a slice of urban life, The BNO opens the doors to the locked world of people's minds, and explores the lives of eight Mumbaikars, examining them through their sexualities and what makes them behave the way they do.

The BNO looks at how the lives of eight relationships get affected by a casual night out. From the lonely housewife to the travelling business man, the book delves into the very private lives of married couples and how a single night can alter all existing equations.

Eight men (of age 40+) went to Pune for boys-nightout. They usually met in Mumbai for drinks and hookah-smoking. But this time they brought two girls to party for extra fun. Story started after a boys' night out in Pune. Author has narrated story from either these guys or their wives' point of view. Each story talked about three things

1. Past of each character and their spouse. 
2. Couple's current personal life (mostly sex life). 
3. How the character was related to BNO? or what he did in BNO?

Though it was strict adult book, to big relife book didn't turn out as plain erotica. It is a easy read in 1-2 sittings. Talking about ratings:

1. Cover - 3.5 / 5 (Suits with theme of the story)
2. Language - 3 / 5 
3. Story Line - 3 / 5 (Smooth)
4. Characters - 3 / 5
5. Overall - 3 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon  & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

I won a review copy from The Tales Pensieve as part of Reviewers Programme. Register on #TTP for lots of #book fun and activities.

The Speaking Ghost of Rajpur - BookReview

The Speaking Ghost of Rajpur by Priyonkar Dasgupta is a tale of five teenagers' adventures. Story was set in small town Rajpur in West Bengal in 1990s, where people spent more time with each other than gadgets. Story can easily bring childhood memories to readers.

Blurb of book goes like this:

It is India of early 1990s - the ‘picturesque’ small-town of Rajpur is in ‘full summer bloom’ and there is a definite sense of mystery in the air. Amidst its scenic setting each year a group of boys band together to spend their summer vacations - going cycling to far-off forests, sharing books, discussing everything under the sky and ogling at girls…

But as youth would have it, their curious minds are more inclined to seek adventure and (hopefully!) uncover some mysterious affair. However, unlike their previous vain attempts, this time certain unusual events and the sudden appearance of a curious case of a ghost in their midst seem to hold the promise of some real adventure.

In the pages of The Speaking Ghost of Rajpur rest assured you will soon be whisked off and plunged into a headlong journey of adventure and romance of your own - on a path of discovery of friendship and brotherhood, of life and love – and, who knows, you might even get to encounter the Speaking Ghost itself!

Story started with siblings' (Soumo and Shoumik) visit to their aunt's place. Shoumik had already visited place many times. Shoumik and Joy (their cousin) were already very close. They always consider Soumo kid and kept him out of their business. It was the first visit for Soumo to Rajpur, though he had heard numerous stories of Shoumik's earlier visits to the place and visualised places and people from his brother's descriptions. Soumo had decided to prove himself to his brothers that he was now capable to considered in their group.

Main story was related to a haunted place few km away from Rajpur. To prove himself worthy Soumo took challenge to enter haunted place alone. His friends joined him in his adventure where they uncovered multiple unsolved mysteries that they heard in last one week. 

Things I liked about book:

1. Last 80 pages of story where main crux was present
2. Freedom, roaming, night outs of teenage that mentioned in story
3. Sketch of guys cycling 

Thing I didn't like:

1. Apart from few related incidents scattered in initial pages, main story started at page number 220

Talking about ratings:

1. Cover - 4 / 5 (Felt nostalgic looking at cover)
2. Language - 3.5 / 5 (At times too much description made me skip few paras)
3. Story Line - 3 / 5 (Apart from 2-3 incident scattered here and there, main story started after 65% of pages)
4. Characters - 3.5 / 5
5. Overall - 3.5 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon  & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

I won a review copy from The Tales Pensieve as part of Reviewers Programme. Register on #TTP for lots of #book fun and activities.

Action Thriller - 03:02 by Mainak Dhar

I am very glad that I came across thetalespensieve and I applied for giveaway for 03:02 by Mainak Dhar. Otherwise I would have missed an awesome action thriller. During flood in our hometown we had experienced complete black out for a week, well law and order were still intact in most of the parts, but I can still relate many things in story with real incidents that we experienced.

Blurb of the book goes like this:

At 03:02 on a Sunday morning, the world as we knew it came to an end. 

Mumbai suddenly went black — no electricity, no phones, no internet and no working cars. It was as if someone had turned off the master switch of our civilization, turning us back hundreds of years overnight. We learned that it was not just Mumbai, but much of the world that had been impacted. 

We also learned that it was no accident. A deadly enemy was behind it. An enemy that was now in our midst, seeking to conquer us and destroy our way of life. This is how our war for freedom began. A war that was to be waged not on the borders or by the Army, but in our homes and streets, with us as the soldiers. 

This is our story. 

The story of 03:02 starts with a blackout in Mumbai city at 03:02. People took it lightly and went back to their bed. When they woke up in morning finding no electronics or electrical device is working, their life became miserable. A strong heart guy Aditya took things in hand and started directing people to constructive work. Living in a same society for years and not knowing people personally was a common thing in today's world. But blackout brought people together. People who usually seen in lifts and parking lots became partner in daily activities like food, water and other scavenging. 

Well story doesn't end with just one society but same things happened to 70% of world. Which brought anarchy along with blackout. Police, militia and government had their own struggle to keep things in order. Without law and order in Mumbai and many other cities things go beyond imagination. Story was focused on Mumbai specially Patch between International Airport to Powai region. In initial days Aditya faced lot of resistance from society people who were considering power outage was just a temporary phenomena, but as time progressed they understood it was not gonna end soon. 

Using his common tactics and other's help Aditya kept securing his and neighborhood societies from looters and thugs. But they got big shock when they learned the most feared and brutal terrorist group is just 4-5 km away from there location. Instead of giving up to terrorist, Aditya and his Azad Hind Fauj fought till end. (Well I don't want give every twist and turn in my review)

Story was written in first person as Aditya main protagonist. Its fast paced narration which made me finish book in 4 sittings, in spite of its length. Talking about ratings:

• Cover - 3.5 / 5 
• Concept - 3.5 / 5 (Not completely new seen similar in Die Hard Movie)
• Language - 3.5 / 5 
• Story Line - 4 / 5 (Smooth and Fast Paced)
• Characters - 4 / 5
• Overall - 4 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon  & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

I won a review copy from The Tales Pensieve as part of Reviewers Programme. Register on #TTP for lots of #book fun and activities.

Those Immigrants by Scott Haas

Success-stories and mytho-historical-stories are my first choice while picking up a book. I decided to explore other genre and started participating in review-reads. But its a plus when you get your favourite genre for review-read. 'Those Immigrants' by Scott Haas was a compilation of success-stories of 30 Indian in America.

The blurb of the book goes like this:

30 individuals. 1 country. And a zeal to make it to the top. This is the resounding tale of immigrants who journeyed to America and settled for nothing but the best. Stories of hope, belief, dreams, and an indefatigable spirit.

As blurb suggested book indeed shows stories of 30 individual in different domain. Indian have proved their excellency not just in IT but various other domains like Accounting, Law, Economics, Arts, Journalism, Physics, Healthcare, Politics in last 50 years. Author wanted to study how Indians were able to reach the milestone in such short span compared to other immigrant communities.
Instead of focusing too much on IT excellence or Motel-Hotel business, author has explored other domains and found out gems from respective areas.
Few common questions that were asked to each individual during their conversation with Author are:

• Any particular reason why you came to states.
• How did you reach to this point? 
• How did you manage cultural difference?
• How are you raising your kids with two vastly different culture?
• What is your advice to new Indians coming to states?

Following these questions, few stories became deep psychological-one while few became to-the point struggle stories. But each story has its own voice. Story tells us how overall positiveness and acceptance of USA has changed their life and way these individuals are supporting both USA and India for better future.

I am great fan of business stories or success stories and that's why I disappointed when I found stories are limited to few psychological questions which author wanted to explore from Indian communities. But overall its an inspiring compilation.

Talking about ratings:

• Cover - 4 / 5 
• Concept - 4 / 5 
• Content - 3 / 5 (Though concept was good but 30 is big number to cover in one book)
• Language - 4 / 5
• Overall - 4 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon  & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads