Book Review #53 The Reluctant Doctor

Book Review

The Reluctant Doctor: Stilettos to Stethoscope-True Stories from inside a Clinic

Author - Dr.Balesh Jindal

Publisher - Vitasta publishing private limited

Genre - Biographies and autobiographies

Language - English

About the book -

She was fashionable and rich. She wore stilettos and danced at the latest clubs and had dreams of going to London to become a famous paediatrician. But her destiny was elsewhere — in the dusty little village of Kapashera. This is a compelling and honest memoir of a young doctor who had to give up her dreams to face the challenges of a rural practice. She goes on to change the lives of her patients by treating not only their physical diseases but solving their psychological, marital, and adolescent issues. In four decades of her practice, the author watched as India woke up to globalisation, and the new farmland wealth that exposed the highs and lows of the human behaviour. There are horrific stories of the villagers’ superstitious beliefs and blind faith in the village quacks and voodoo doctors, with disastrous consequences. Yet there is joy, celebration, and hope amidst despair. Each story is part of a thirty-eight-year unhurried journey that holds you spellbound as you turn the pages.

About the Author -

A graduate from Lady Hardinge Medical College, Dr Balesh Jindal has practised medicine for the last thirty-eight years. She has been a pioneer in providing a one-stop health facility at low cost and single-handedly changing the mortality rates for the children in Kapashera. Her work in treating Tuberculosis and HIV is well documented. She has been the recipient of the Award for Compassion by Stanford University’s Centre of Compassion. BBC has also featured her work The Most Compassionate Day in the World. In addition to her outstanding achievements as a Doctor, Jindal is also an accomplished artist, poet and badminton player.

My take -

I generally do not read autobiographies for the simple fact that most of the time, I can't relate to them.

But this one book has changed my perception towards this genre.

A beautifully penned book, this story is a real tale of a young lady, who wanted to be a paediatrician and practice in London. But fate brought her to practice as a family physician in a small nondescript village of Kapashera. Something that she started as a timepass till she could realise her dreams of going abroad and pursuing post-graduation in her favourite subject, became the permanent truth of her life as she spent the next four decades dedicated to treating the economically challenged sections of the society that were her patients in Kapashera.

The author has beautifully depicted the dilemmas that go through one's mind when what they expect and what actually happens in life are complete opposites of each other. Having been brought up in the rich and Elite circles of Delhi, the author never saw herself doing private practice in a small village. Like she has rightfully mentioned, doing post-graduation and going abroad is seen as a glamorous career while doing general practice is looked down upon even now, even though a general practitioner is someone who works at the very basic, grass root level, and has a big hand in changing the dynamics of the health of the society that he or she treats.

The author's father was the most influential and pivotal person to establish her practice, since as a twenty-three year old freshly graduate girl, the author had neither the experience nor the vision that her father had. However, his insistence, his persistence and his support at every step helped her set up her practice.

As she began practicing in the rural area, the author began witnessing the pathetic condition of the health services that existed for the village and the surrounding villages as well. To facilitate the treatment and overcome the shortcomings, she began storing pharmacy of her own, brought an X ray machine and even started doing procedures like hysterosalpingography so as to give a one stop solution to as many poor people as she could.

Through her journey of four decades, the author has seen and witnessed far many things - the impact of Indira Gandhi assassination, the liberalisation of the nineties and the changes it brought, the globalization of the millenials and it's after effects, the change in the pattern and progression of various diseases with introduction of fast food, the side effects of the excessive cash people gained after selling their land possessions, the impact of westernization and springing call centres on the youth!

The author has had a very keen observation even as she performed her duties as a physician. She has beautifully described how the life of villagers revolved around the harvest season. Having treated patients of diseases like gastroenteritis, jaundice and typhoid regularly, she has seen the evolving pattern of these diseases, as well as what worked and what didn't. Having worked at the grass root level, she has her own insights regarding why certain government policies like vasectomies and tubectomies for population control and DOTS therapy for curbing tuberculosis didn't benefit the population the way it should have. She has rightfully pointed out the fallacies in these programs, something which the policy makers must not have predicted, and her inputs are truly thought provoking.

She has also nicely explained the family dynamics she observed in the families in the villages, and how in India, a family unit is far more important and superior than an individual. We realise that while she practiced as a treating physician, unknowingly, she has worked as a psychological counsellor for far many people than even she can state. She has been a keen listener, empathetic towards the patient's problems, non judgemental even when their actions or decisions didn't fit her moral compass and a universal problem solver. She has also witnessed the gender bias that is deep rooted in our society, and how it is accepted equally by women themselves.

Another important thing that the author brings to light is the ill effects of quackery. The poor uneducated people do not understand the difference between a qualified doctor and a quack. And as a result the quacks rampantly do a lot of illegal and unethical things just to mint out money.

While reading the book, I was transported back to my medical College days and with each case, I could remember some or the other similar incidence. I also realised that each one of us lives with some regret or the other, in our lives, and yet, with time, experience and maturity, we come to realise that what happened was meant to be.

I would urge every person, medico or otherwise, to read this book. This book is not just about medical cases and experiences, it is a life story full of learning and philosophies that one can implement in their own lives.

The only downside for me was the way the book ended. It felt a bit abrupt. Or maybe I was just wishing that the book would go on and on!

I rate this book five stars.

Book review #52 Never lie

Never lie 

Author - Freida Mcfadden

Publisher - Hollywood upstairs press

Language - English

Genre- Psychological thriller

About the Book:

Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams.

But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.

In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.

Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.

And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.

The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth.

About the author:

Freida Mcfadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

My take:

As usual, Freida takes her readers on a roller coaster ride of twists and turns with her latest book.

Tricia and Ethan, newly weds, get stuck in a palatial house they wanted to take a tour of for buying, as a blizzard rages around.

The house once belonged to a renowned psychiatrist and a famous published author, Dr. Adrienne Hale  - a woman who disappeared without a trace three years before.

Tricia keeps feeling eerie and weird being around Dr Hale's things. The giant portrait of Dr Hale in the living room with its penetrating green eyes that follow her everywhere add to her apprehension. Tricia also begins to suspect that there is someone else in the house, but Ethan doesn't believe her and brushes off her concerns.

While exploring the house, Tricia discovers a hidden room that houses thousands of tapes recorded by Dr Adrienne Hale during her sessions with her patients over a period of time. Unbeknownst to Ethan, Tricia starts listening to the tapes one by one, and soon realises that the tapes reveal a lot of secrets about many people, something which could have led to Dr Hale's disappearance.

The story is smooth flowing and lucid. The POV shifts between Tricia and Dr Adrianne from three years back, interspersed with the audio transcripts of the patients. This combination makes the story more interesting and keeps the reader hooked to know more.

As usual, Freida doesn't fail to surprise us with a twist we never saw coming.

The cover design is apt and perfectly suitable for the story.

I rate it five stars.

Book Review #51 After he killed me

After he killed me

Author : Natalie Barelli

Publisher: 

Language : English

Genre : Psychological thriller

About the book

Emma’s friends are close. Her enemies are closer.

Emma Fern has won at life: she’s a prize-winning author and she’s blissfully happy with her husband, Jim. It wasn’t an easy rise to the top, but Emma knows you can’t achieve success without sacrifice. The trouble is, Jim knows that too.

As her literary triumph starts to fade into the past, Emma comes under pressure to write a second bestseller. But her big secret is that she didn’t write the first one. She’s a fraud, and the only people who ever knew the truth are…no longer a problem.

What Emma didn’t count on was Jim playing the long game too. He has his own secrets—and a dangerous plan that could derail her beautifully orchestrated life. Faced with the loss of everything that defines her, Emma is forced to take increasingly desperate steps.

She won’t go down without a fight. And as Jim should know, she won’t fight fair.

About the Author

Natalie Barelli can usually be found reading a book, and that book will more likely than not be a psychological thriller. Writing a novel was always on her bucket list, and eventually, with Until I Met Her, it became a reality. After He Killed Me is the second and final book in her Emma Fern Series.

When not absorbed in the latest gripping page-turner, Natalie loves cooking, knits very badly, enjoys riding her Vespa around town, and otherwise spends far too much time at the computer. She lives in Australia, with her husband and extended family.

My take:

'After he killed me' is a beautiful sequence to the author's first novel, 'Until I met her'.

Emma Fern, who is now a Poulton prize winning author, is now under the pressure to write another one, lest she fades into oblivion. But she knows she can't write one. Especially because she hadn't written the first one either.

As luck may have it, she meets a man who works as a ghost writer. Emma gets ready with a plan for her second novel. But the ghost writer seems to be smitten with her.

Her problems don't appear to cease. Someone is sabotaging her life, trying to harm her.

Her husband Jim is not aware of her secrets. But he too has secrets of his own. What happened in the past between the two of them starts resurface.

So what happens next? 

This book is a roller coaster ride filled with doses of adrenaline.The twists keep coming even before we can recover from the first one. The story is so gripping that it keeps us on the edge of the seat to know what more is coming. I enjoyed the twisted story.

The language is easy flowing and fun to read. The cover page is befitting.

I rate it 5 stars.

Book Review #50 Until I met her

Until I met her

Author: Natalie Barelli

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Language: English

Genre: Psychological thriller

About the book:

She should never have said ‘yes’…

When Beatrice said she wanted to publish her next novel under Emma’s name, Emma couldn’t believe it. Why on earth would Beatrice Johnson Greene, the famous crime writer, not want to publish her new book as herself?

This time, Beatrice explained, she wanted to write something different, and publish it as an unknown author. She was too famous—and she needed Emma’s help.

After everything Beatrice had done for her, Emma could hardly refuse. But what was meant to be a favour has turned into a betrayal, and now Emma has done something terrible, something shocking, and the consequences are terrifying…

About the author

Natalie Barelli can usually be found reading a book, and that book will more likely than not be a psychological thriller. Writing a novel was always on her bucket list, and eventually, with Until I Met Her, it became a reality. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

When not absorbed in the latest gripping page-turner, Natalie loves cooking, knits very badly, enjoys riding her Vespa around town, and otherwise spends far too much time at the computer. She lives in Australia, with her husband and extended family.

My take:

This is the first book in the Emma Fern series.

Emma is the owner of a simple store that sells unique items, and is living a happy life with her husband. Her life turns upside down when her most favourite crime writer Beatrice Johnson Greene visits her store and asks her for a small favour. Soon their meetings turn into a kind of friendship and before Emma knows it, Beatrice has taken her under her wings. Emma has been trying to write a novel since a long time, and Beatrice promises to be her mentor. But in return, she asks for a highly unusual favour.

She asks Emma to be the author of her next book. Emma cannot fathom why Beatrice would want to give her the credit for her own hard work

 But Beatrice has her own reasons, and she succeeds in convincing Emma.

Soon the novel releases, and as it hits the market, all equations change. Now Emma is faced with a big predicament that will cost someone their life.

The novel is absolutely gripping right from the beginning, as it begins with the funeral of one of the main characters. As we read on, the twists and turns don't seem to end, and the book keeps us hooked page after page.

The characters of Emma and Beatrice are beautifully developed, so are other supporting characters like Hannah, Emma's husband Jeremy, Emma's publisher and  Beatrice's husband George.

The language is easy and lucid and the flow of the story is seamless. The cover page is attractive and makes us want to take a look. 

I rate this book five star!

Book review #45 The Housemaid

The Housemaid

Author : Freida McFadden

Publisher : Bookouture

Language : English

Genre : psychological thriller

About the book:

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

About the author:

#1 Amazon bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

My take:

What a book! 

This book begins with a simple story of Millie seeking the job of a housemaid at the residence of the filthy rich Winchester family.

Millie has a dark past and secrets of her own, and she hopes she gets a new beginning in her life with this new job.

But as she begins working for the Winchester's, she begins unravelling the secrets of the family. Nina Winchester isn't the perfect woman she portrays to be. Her moods swing like a swing, and one moment she is the caring host, and the other, she is a tormenting master. Her daughter Cece is equally tough to handle. The way they both always wear stark white clothes, especially Cece's unnaturally frilly frocks seem weird.

The landscaper Enzo doesn't seem to speak English, but is he faking it? Because he keeps warning Millie that she is in danger. 

What is the mystery of the Windchester household. Does Millie get away unscathed?

This book had me gripping it through the night as it revealed twists after twists. Some parts of the book are dark and disturbing, but the story, as usual, is terrific and something totally unexpected.

The book is mostly from the POV of Millie, the POV of Nina Winchester appears later in the story, and while we get to know what each protagonist thinks, we are still left wondering what happens next.

I love this author. She is a physician who writes terrific stories with amazing twists. The book never lets you get bored, and you want to finish it in one go. 

The book cover was okay, and could have been made more mysterious.

Overall, I rate it 4.5.

Movie review - Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithal

Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithal

I don't speak Tamil, and yet somehow the name attracted me. I tried to find the meaning of this phrase. It meant 'stolen glances'.

Wondering what kind of movie it might be, I started watching. 

I generally don't like to watch or even read for that matter, pure romance. I need a dash of suspense or thrill along with it.

Well, this movie turned out to be the perfect cocktail of romance, drama and thrill.

The movie begins with Sid and Kaalis (stylized version of his real name Kaaliswarammoorthy) living a life full of parties and fun. 

Sid is smitten with a simple girl, Meera, whom he has been following for the past two months, and one fine day, he gathers the courage to speak to her. Meera is a beautician, and stays with her friend Shreya, a chef. 

Meera accepts Sid's proposal and the four of them soon become good friends. 

That is the point when it is revealed what Sid and Kaalis actually do for enjoying such a lavish lifestyle. Under the guise of online animator and IT professionals, they take on various projects of conducting online scams and looting people of lakhs of rupees. So running out of money, they do what they are best at - executing the online fraud.

Unfortunately, one dedicated police officer, DCP Pratap, is one of the victims of their scams and he starts his pursuit of finding these guys responsible for the same.

In a calculated move, knowing where exactly the police will be looking for them, Sid and Kaalis perform another scam, albeit offline this time.

The DCP is hot on their trail.

However, one incident makes Sid and Kaalis realise what kind of dangerous lives they are living, and that they stand to lose the love of their lives. And they decide to turn over a new leaf, relocate to Goa, start a restaurant with the money they have, and live an honest life with the two girls.

The girls also help them by selling off their bike and they all head to Goa.

The DCP is no less. He reaches Goa soon enough. 

But the most interesting part is, what happens next. There is no way I can reveal what happens without giving spoilers. All I can say is, it is mind-blowing!

So what is the hidden agenda of the DCP? And what do the boys do next?

Do watch this movie to find out. I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

The four actors are well cast and they do justice to their respective characters. The actor performing the role of the DCP has also been perfectly cast and is very convincing in his act. So are the other characters that support the plot.

The cinematography is beautiful. The background score for Sid and Meera's love story is catching, and keeps running in our mind long after the movie is over.

This movie gives you twists and turns when you are least expecting, and keeps you on the edge, wanting to know what happens next till the very end.

I can easily say this was one of the best movies I have watched in recent times!

Movie Review - Kayamai Kadakka

Kayamai Kadakka

I dived into Kollywood once more and ended up watching another Tamil masterpiece, Kayamai Kadakka, which literally means crossing the line, or crossing the depraved/immoral behaviour.

A captivating story and a gripping screenplay make the story compelling to watch. 

The film basically pivots on two protagonists, both named Santosh. They meet online, over their shared notion that rapists should be given a harsh punishment and that they don't deserve to live.

The only difference between the two being, while one Santosh considers himself a common man, and knows he can't do anything more than venting his anguish by posting on social media, the other Santosh takes matters in his own hands.

The movie begins with the milder Santosh giving his statement to the police, as he narrates his encounter with his Facebook friend, the other, vengeful Santosh, and the series of events that pan out. The vengeful Santosh has no faith on the Indian judiciary system, and has made a list of all rape case acquittals, whom he hopes to kill one by one. And since the milder Santosh expresses strong views on Facebook, the other Santosh believes that he would be game to taking strong actions as well.

Things don't always go as planned, and as the movie progresses, with the audience hooked to the movie to find out what happens next, there are a lots of twists.

To complicate matters, the aggressive Santosh has multiple personality disorder, or dissociative identity disorder, and the alterego, Karthik, keeps popping out once in a while, convincing the other Santosh to run away and surrender to the police.

Though a simple story line, the picturization is amazing and the way the plot is woven is commendable. The characterization is good and each character stays true to itself.

There is no romantic subplot, which usually proves as a distraction and dilutes the effect of the movie. The tension once built, stays throughout. The cinematography is also beautiful and adds to the effect of the story.

Overall, I loved watching this one, and I watched it in a single setting. I will definitely recommend it!

Book review # 44 : The new friends

The new friends

Author : Daniel Hurst

Genre : Psychological thriller

Language : English

Publisher : Inkubator books

About the book:

They are fun, wealthy, fabulous. Pray you never meet them.

Becky and Jamie are an ordinary hard-working couple trapped in the daily grind, dreaming of an easier life. On one of their rare vacations, they meet a wealthy couple, Phil and Mel, who seem to have it all – they are fun, well travelled, and very generous with their money.

But they are also very, very dangerous.

Because Phil and Mel are not who they say they are. And this is no random vacation friendship, they have chosen Jamie and Becky carefully, seducing them with the promise of a lifestyle just like theirs.

By the time Jamie and Becky realise what their new friends really want, it’s too late, they’ve lost everything, their hopes and dreams lie shattered.

The only question now is how far will they go to get even?

About the author:

Daniel Hurst is the author of the number 1 bestselling psychological thriller 'The Passenger', as well as several other popular thrillers including 'Til Death Do Us Part' and 'The Wrong Woman'.

He is also the creator of The 20 Minute Series, the series of psychological books which readers have called “original” and “addictive” and 'like a soap opera in book form."

My take:

Daniel Hurst is one author who spins normal characters and simple stories into an intriguing read. This is one of his many books that I have read and appreciated.

"New friends" is the story of a simple everyday couple, Jamie and Becky, who work hard to make ends meet. On one of their vacations in Spain, they meet another couple, Phil and Mel. Assuming them to be just another couple like them, the unsuspecting couple extends its hands at friendship. But Phil and Mel are not what they seem to be. They are not who they portray to be. And their meeting Jamie and Becky wasn't by chance. It was a well planned scheme to loot them of their life savings. 

Will Jamie and Becky fall for the trap? What happens next?

The story is narrated from alternating POVs of the four protagonists. Each character is well developed and makes justice to the storyline. The suspense is held till the very last chapter, and the twists come at unexpected points. The language is simple and flowing. 

The book cover is alluring, just like all other Daniel Hurst novels. I would rate it 5 stars and definitely recommend it!

Book review #43 The Nanny's secret

The nanny's secret (A Locke industries novel)

Author - Kiersten Modglin

Language - English

Genre - Psychological thriller

Publisher - Kiersten Modglin

About the book:

Olivia Mendes has a secret.

With her new position as a nanny for the prestigious Locke family, she’s learning just how powerful secrets can be. 

Orrick and Iris Locke, owners of the billion-dollar security company known as Locke Industries, are beautiful, mysterious, and seemingly perfect. When she enters their home, Olivia quickly discovers everything is not what it seems. The Lockes’ elusive empire is built on dark and terrifying truths and with Olivia now a part of their lives, she has no choice but to play her role.

As she finds herself digging deeper into the Lockes’ web of lies, Olivia begins to question everything she’s learned. When the family’s insidious nature is revealed, her loyalties will be put to the ultimate test. 

About the author :

KIERSTEN MODGLIN is an Amazon Top 30 bestselling author of psychological thrillers, a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. Kiersten is a KDP Select All-Star, a recipient of ThrillerFix's Best Psychological Thriller Award and Suspense Magazine's Best Book of 2021 Award. Kiersten grew up in rural western Kentucky with dreams of someday publishing a book or two. With more than thirty books published to date, Kiersten now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and their two Boston Terriers: Cedric and Georgie. She is best known for her unpredictable psychological suspense. Kiersten's work is currently being translated into multiple languages and readers across the world refer to her as 'The Queen of Twists.' A Netflix addict, Shonda Rhimes superfan, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her nose in a book.

My take :

Olivia Mendes joins the Locke family as the nanny for their eight year old son John. Iris and Orrivk Locke are the super power couple who everyone is in awe of.

But as Olivia begins working for them, she starts realising what the deep dark secrets are that lay the foundation of the Locke's empire. 

Of course she too has secrets of her own, and the question is, how long will all the secrets stay hidden?

A beautifully crafted story, The nanny's secret is an amazing psychological thriller. The story shuttles between the POV's of Iris, Orrick and Olivia, and we get to understand the thought process of each of these characters, what thoughts lie behind their actions and what is it that each one is desperately trying to protect.

Layer by layer, each secret in the Locke family unfolds and the reader stays captivated as new twists and turns keep appearing.

The language is simple and flow of the story is easy. Just like her other books, Kiersten makes this book a comfortable read.

The cover is nice but could have been designed better. I would love to read other books in this series.

I rate it five stars.

Book review #42. Dead to them

Dead to them 

Author - Smita Bhattacharya

Language - English

Genre - Suspense Thriller

Publisher - Treeshade books

About the book

Moira Madhwa is a typical young, beautiful and successful urban woman—until the day she goes missing. Her friends start looking for her but quickly realise nothing is as it seems. Moira has kept devastating secrets that could wreck their lives, if revealed. As days roll by, one by one, skeletons tumble out of closets, and each of Moira's friends appear guilty. But did one among them hate her enough to do the worst?

A nail-biting, psychological suspense-thriller, Dead to Them weaves a web of deception, lies, and paranoia in the city of Mumbai, where every face hides a dark story, and uncovering it can lead to disastrous consequences.

About the author

SMITA BHATTACHARYA writes atmospheric cosy and psychological mystery fiction. She is also a management consultant, coffee lover, and gipsy-in-her-head. She lives in Mumbai but has solo travelled to 40+ countries and thus, her stories are heavily inspired by her travels and by those she meets.

Smita has six published books and counting. She has worked in a vineyard, in a newsroom, in a school, in a library, in a bank, in an audit firm. She has too many stories to tell and not enough time.

Smita thrives on crime and coffee. Though she prefers cafés, she occasionally also hangs as @smitabe on Twitter and Instagram. You can read her colourful travel and life stories at www.smitabhattacharya.com.

My take:

This is a mysterious story that keeps you intrigued right from the first chapter.

Moira, a beautiful, young independant woman goes missing one fine day. Everyone is worried, her colleagues, her boss, her friends. Each begins their search for her in their own ways.

But as the story progresses, we get to know that everything is not as simple as it looks. Each person is hiding a dark secret. And Moira's disappearance threatens to bring all secrets out in the open. 

The cliche is that this is not the first time that Moira is absconding. So people are skeptical whether this is the repeat of the last time, or if it's more serious than it seems.

Neither is Moira what she appears to be. As layers and layers of mysteries are uncovered the story keeps taking new turns.

The language is lucid and easy flowing. All characters are well formed and stay true to their self. We can empathise with each characters POV as we read the story.

The suspense is held on till the very end, and reader is kept guessing and double guessing till the very end.

The cover page is nicely designed and reaches out to the reader to pick it up.

I rate it five stars.

Book review #41 Do you remember?

Do you remember?

Author : Freida Macfadden

Language : English

Genre : Psychological thriller

Publisher : Hollywood Upstairs Press

About the book :

Tess Strebel can’t recognize her own face.

She can’t recognize her home. Her bedroom is unfamiliar. And she can’t remember the handsome stranger lying next to her in bed. A stranger who claims he’s her husband.

Tess reads a letter in her own handwriting, composed during a rare lucid day, explaining her life as it now exists: She was in a terrible car accident one year ago. Every morning, she wakes up unable to remember most of the last decade. Including her own wedding.

Tess has no choice but to accept her new life and hope her memory will return. After all, why should she doubt the letter she wrote to herself? Or the kind man from the wedding photos on her dresser who seems to genuinely care about her well-being?

And then Tess receives a text message on her phone. One that changes everything:

"Don’t trust the man who calls himself your husband."

About the author :

#1 Amazon bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

My take:

Tess wakes up every morning with the past seven years erased from her memory. The last memory she has is of herself at the age of twenty nine and just engaged to the love of her life, Harry. When she finds out every morning that she is now thirty six, married to a handsome man Graham, who runs her own super successful company My Home Spa, she is confused and disoriented. She daily reads the letter she has written to herself that the people around her care for her, and can be trusted. Still Graham, her supposed husband and the cleaning lady who seems more employed for keeping a watch on her than cleaning, feel like strangers. 

Tess tries to embrace whatever life offers everyday, but then she starts finding small clues she is leaving for herself, that tell her that Graham can't be trusted. Soon, she starts getting texts from an unknown person asking her to meet. What does Tess do?

The story is narrated from POV of Tess, and one can empathize with her situation. The once successful entrepreneur is now a prisoner in her own home, dependant on two strangers - a man who calls himself her husband and a cleaner - for every small thing. Her emotions and sense of loss have been beautifully captured. The way she keeps reminiscing about the memories she still has is heart touching.

The story revolves basically around just five characters in total - Tess, Graham, Camilla, Lucy and Tess's father. But the way it is narrated is extremely catching.

Till almost four-fifths of the book is over, the reader is left wondering what exactly happens next. The last chapter brings unexpected twists and leaves us surprised, or even, shocked. Though the ending wasn't what I was expecting, it was good.

As usual, I am in love with the way this author writes. The narration feels as if a movie is going on in front of our eyes. The language is simple and lucidly flowing. All characters are perfectly developed.

The cover page is catching but could have been made more mysterious looking.

Overall I rate it 4.5 stars.

Book Review #40 Anamika Khanna falls in love

Anamika Khanna falls in love

Author: Shraddha Sahi

Publisher : Locksley Hall Publishing

Genre : Romance, comedy

Language : English

About the book:

How far would you go in love? A few missed calls? Liking every post of his on FB? Landing in the hospital when you fall from a tree because you wanted to see into his room? Anamika Khanna is madly in love with Rahul… How can someone be so blind? Why can’t she see how much I love her? Will my confession jeopardise our friendship? Vikram Lobo, the bookworm has developed muscles and lost the soda bottle glasses. But he can’t stop his heart from skipping a beat when he sees Anamika. Rahul, the high society Adonis wants nothing to do with the gauche, middle class weirdo who’s following him around. Until she moves into his league… Laugh out loud at Anamika’s antics and follow her on the roller coaster that is her life!

About the author:

Move the pile of books aside and that's where she'll be! She loves reading and it was inevitable that she began to write. She began with poems and for a long time, that was enough. When her poems began to get longer and longer, it was time to move to stories and novels. She lives in Pune, India and is a typical Indian - deeply traditional & obsessively modern. Her idea of heaven is a cup of coffee and a romance novel on a rainy day!

My take:

'Anamika Khanna falls in love' is a quirky romantic comedy about Anamika, girl who stops at nothing to catch the attention of Rahul, her crush. She mistakes the infatuation for true love, and begins moving heaven and earth to get Rahul to notice her. Rahul on the other hand is out of her league and despises this middle-class girl who seems rather obsessed by her. Vikram, her true friend, who has now developed feelings for her tries to make Anamika see that Rahul is not the one for her. Will Anamika get over her obsession and finally reciprocate Vikram's feelings?

The story, though simple, is beautifully narrated. The quirky style of writing makes the reader laugh as we read the antics of Anamika and the heights she goes to to get Rahul to notice her. The simple feelings of love, friendship and dejection are nicely portrayed. Every character is lovable, especially Vikram. The maturity with which he handles the situation is nicely described.

The language is easy and lucid. The book may not be a suspense thriller but it does keep the reader hooked.

The cover page is beautifully designed and apt for the story.

I rate it five stars.

Book review #39 The Wrong Woman

The wrong woman

Author - Daniel Hurst

Genre - Psychological thriller

Language - English

Pages - 243

About the book

They messed with her. But they picked the wrong woman...

Simone used to be the woman that other women would use if they suspected that their partner was cheating. She would investigate, find out the truth, and if the men were guilty, exact revenge. But after things went wrong with one couple, Simone was forced to go into hiding to evade the law.

Having assumed a new identity, Simone is now Mary, a mild-mannered woman who doesn't raise her voice or get angry, meaning nobody would suspect her of being capable of the things she used to do for a living. But when she finds out that her new boyfriend is having an affair, it awakens in her the person she used to be.

That means Simone is back. It also means that her boyfriend and his mistress are in for the shock of their lives...

About the author

Daniel Hurst is the author of the number 1 bestselling psychological thriller 'The Passenger', as well as several other popular thrillers including 'Till Death Do Us Part' and 'The Wrong Woman'.

He is also the creator of The 20 Minute Series, the series of psychological books which readers have called “original” and “addictive” and 'like a soap opera in book form."

My take:

The wrong woman is the story of Simone, who finds love rats for a living, and helps the wronged spouses get revenge from their cheating partners as her passion. She loves her job and what risks come with it. But one fine day, things go wrong, and Simone is on the run from the police, as the prime suspect in a murder case.

Simone jumps cities, changes her appearance, changes her identity, and even her personality. Now she is the simpleton Mary, who does a boring 9 to 5 job that involves lots of printing and scanning, gets firings from her boss Clarissa without giving her back, is friends with the cute girl Kathy who bakes cakes and stays with her boyfriend James. She is unadventureous and boring. The complete opposite of what Simone used to be.

But that is necessary if she has to maintain a low profile and not get caught. But one fine day, everything changes. Mary finds out that James is cheating on her. And not just with any woman. And when she gets to know this, the Simone inside her awakens again, swearing revenge. What happens next?

The story is told from the POV of Mary alias Simone. It is fast paced and full of twists. The character of Mary is nicely depicted. The various incidents about how Simone helped her clients get revenge are equally interesting. The narrative shuttles between present and past and adds to the charisma of the story.

The language is simple, lucid and the flow of the narration is smooth. I am already a fan of Daniel's writings, and this one doesn't disappoint. As expected, the ending is twisted. I had a hint while reading, but still I was surprised by the way the story concluded.

The cover page is alluring and intriguing, and that is what made me want to read this book.

I rate it four stars.