Review of 'I, Me & Her Forever' by 'Pritam Banerjee'

Blurb: It’s all about Abhishek and Meghna, two teenagers in a fast paced world and highly advanced technologies, Facebook, that they knew each other and in due course of time they fell in love unexpectedly.

Abhishek, a student of St Orient High School, never believed in relationships as to him real love never happened in this world. He was a career-oriented boy who always remained busy with his own life.

Meghna, a student of Ashu Memorial School for Girls, was a charming young girl who never trusted boys as she had lost faith in then due to a betrayal.

Two worlds in two persons, where relationship gets stronger, they were devoted and were truly in love. It’s about their story who were firm, pure and filled with immense love yet they were engulfed with their personal conflicts.

The next part deals with psychological setback of Abhishek and how he overcomes it.

The story deals with love, relationships and break ups.

Verdict: ‘I, Me & Her Forever’ is the debut book of Pritam Banerjee. This book is a full-on love story which deals with the ups and downs a relationship faces and how the couples handles the sequences.

The name itself indicates that this book is going to be a full fledge love story. The blurb and the cover will definitely drag those readers who are searching for a romantic novel. But I believe the book can be design in a better way though I love the quality of the book.

The author has chosen a difficult narrating style in his debut book. I will not say that he had done proper justice to the style because he couldn’t dodge the flaws of this style. Throughout the whole story the author has concentrated only on the two protagonists and haven’t gave any significant role to any other character which seems a bit boring after few chapters. The author lacks maturity in his writing style. I believe the quality of the English could be improved if the book was written in a more patient way.

The characterizations are also quite common and can be found in any regular romantic novels. A guy who doesn’t believes in true love and a girl who has lost his faith in boys, nothing irregular. Even the description styles are clichéd too.

The story line is good and any reader can easily say that this story is based on a real life. I loved the beginning when the author was introducing the characters but got confuse with numerous useless characters. As the story moves on and Abhishek (the male protagonist) and Meghna (the female protagonist) gets into the relationship the books starts to become a bit boring. All the chapters almost tells the same story where sometime they fought and patch up with same enthusiasm and sometime they spent a memorable time together. Though the book ends in a good note and I think reader will love the ending part. The readers can see how a relationship forms in this time of Facebook and Orkut, what they have to face because of theirs personal and academic complications and how they overcome all difficulties and come out smiling.

The narrating style and the quality of the language is the main flaw of the book. Grammatical errors and editing errors were also disturbing the flow of the book. The story line is not so impressive that will force the readers to ignore this flaws. Overall this book is a light read and can’t move out from the tag of Chic-lit.

Final Words: Author Pritam Banerjee has given an impressive effort to pen down a romantic novel. The end will definitely make the readers close the book in a good note. A light read.

Title: I, Me & Her Forever
Author: Pritam Banerjee
Publisher: Smriti Publishers
Page Count: 271
My Rating: 2.25/5

Available at –

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Me-Her-Forever-Pritam-Banerjee-ebook/dp/B00JLDQZG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412097693&sr=8-1&keywords=Pritam+banerjee

Review of 'S.T.A.L.K.E.D' by 'Girvani Dhyani'

Blurb: Tara Bakshi, a young lawyer with a difficult boss. No matter how hard she works, how many all-nighters she pulls, he is never satisfied. When she starts work on the top-secret assignment, project Emerald, Tara discovers that someone has been tampering with the files and her boss asks her to find the culprit. As time ticks and Tara uncovers one evidence after another, someone starts stalking her every move. He shadows her on the street, in the parking lot, in her own bedroom; nowhere is she safe from his prying gaze. The only clue she has to his identity is a Zippo lighter with a serpent carved on it.

As events turn darker with back-to-back murders, Tara teeters on the verge of a collapse. What does the killer want from her? Is he hiding behind a familiar face? Even as her life turns into a whirling nightmare that pulls her into its web, Tara must discover the truth before he strikes again…

A riveting thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.

Verdict: The cover design by Riti Jain Dhar and the title by the authoress gave the book its much needed feel. A cover like this would surely stand out from the crowd of the love stories that the bookshelves are full out. The blurb also gives a very mysterious feel which would make the readers grab the book at one go and read it at once.

The first scene of the story give the book its much needed feel and increases the readers’ urge to read and know what the book has in store for them. Greeted with a very familiar setting of regular life of strict boss over meek and working employees gives the readers a very real to life feel making them love the book all the more.

Apart from that, the storyline was also fresh giving the readers a very unputdownable feeling while reading it. The narrating style used in the book was really interesting with different chapters in a different voice and of a different perspective resulted in the readers loving the book at every angle.

The way the story has progressed from the clues left behind, Tara’s doubt and finally the end to it leaves the readers mesmerized throughout the book. The author has done a very nice job in writing this whole book. I really loved the whole part ‘snakes’ has played in the book which gives the book a very eerie feeling.

And I am sure to say that the eerie feeling stays with you for a very long time even after reading the book. After finishing the book also, the hang of the book stays and if you want to go and walk on the road at that moment, you are sure to get ‘spooked’. Such, is the charm of the book and the narrating of the authoress.

But, to an extent, I felt that a few parts of the book were very ‘tough’ to be a part of reality and that’s when the readers might not connect to the book. Even though the authoress has done a good job with the book still I felt that if written in a better way with more mystery and thrill would’ve taken this book to an all new level.

Apart from those few flaws of the book, for me it has been a very nice one-time read and I would surely recommend the same to my readers and urge them to go and pick up the book.

Final Words: A very nicely written book, a very new age thriller. Girvani Dhyani does her best with the thrill down the spine read for the readers!

Title: S.T.A.L.K.E.D
Author: Girvani Dhyani
Publisher: HarperCollins
Page Count: 250
My Rating: 4.5/5

Available at –

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Saurbh Katyal brings the most entertaining detective through his novel ‘Seduced by Murder’

When every second author is debuting with a love story with the thought in mind that love stories never loses its charm, here Saurbh Katyal has chosen a less traveled path for his debut novel. There is always a risk of debuting with something different but this author has come out with flying colors. Being in a corporate world to fulfill his professional need Saurbh Katyal manages to steal time to write while traveling for work. And I find this really cool that these guy’s mind works best in cramped liquor joints or in long boring flights.

Saurbh Katyal’s book ‘Seduced by Murder’ is a full fledged detective novel. We are habituated with the scene that the detectives living a luxurious lives and are very much happy with their work. But in this particular novel the author has shown what exactly happens in the life of a private detective. As the author says, ‘Most detectives die young, not from gunshots, but because of pickled liver or malaria.’ This line says it all that most of the private detectives are either jobless or spying on some over doubting wives’ husbands.  This line indicates one more very exciting fact that the author has a brilliant sense of humor, which is very much visible in the book. Every now and then I threw my head back laughing after reading his witty one liners.

The main protagonist or the detective Vishal Bajaj was just the same when he received a call from his long lost love regarding murder in hers husband’s house. The author has very interesting talent of making the readers believe his words. The smooth investigation of the scenes or the way the detective is placing the clues together, one will blindly believe that Vishal Bajaj is the only detective to solve this case. The familiar language is only the cherry on the cake for a book like this.

In a thriller the formula of solving the case is very easy. Being a reader I always try to suspect the character the author ignores the most. But this book ‘Seduced by Murder’ is one of those sums which we can’t solve even after knowing the formula. If you don’t believe my words, try it. Buy a copy and try solving the case before the author does and let me know if you are successful. 

Buy the books at -

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Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/Seduced-Murder-Saurbh-Katyal/dp/9382891196/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411666666&sr=1-1&keywords=seduced+by+murder

Review of 'An Affair to Remember' by 'Harkeerat Anand'

Blurb: Filled with cheesy motivational posters, computer workstations crammed side by side, dumb bosses / blonde's and bored employees looking for a career change - ABCDEF Corp., a software giant, rankles with a sameness of a suffocating software giants existence. Until one man and his best friend take things into their hands.

What follows is a series of misadventures, flushing both men down a pink-caked urinal of self-destruction. Set in a city that once was, in an IT giant that once was, the two men journey through a cobweb of friendship, ambition, embezzlement, crime and most importantly, love. Will they survive ABCDEF Corp.? More so, will ABCDEF Corp. survive them?

Peppy, wild and bitterly sarcastic, An Affair to Remember! is a modern-day retelling of a decades-old classic.

Verdict: ‘An affair to remember’ is the first work by Harkeerat Anand. This book is a piece of art which will definitely entertain the readers. The story line was good and the narrating style was better.

The name of the book is quite good and sounds familiar. May be it is similar to the name of 'A walk to remember' but suits the content of the book pretty good. Though I feel the author could work a bit more on the name.  The cover looks good but can be lost among the numerous number of available fiction novels. Not the best from the deisgner Wasim Helal.

The narrating style of the book is something commendable and fresh. The author has a born story teller inside and could easily take an average story to success. This author has a skill of injecting humor in any possible scenes that can keep the readers hooked. The author has chosen a direct narrative style and wasn’t able to dodge the flaws which comes with this style. In maximum chapters the author had concentrated more on describing what the main protagonist feels and rest of the characters have to take a back seat.

The story line is kind of a super commercial flick which you can enjoy only one time. This book starts on a usual note, a guy in a corporate world surrounded by dumb bosses, stupid and talkative female colleagues and boring male colleagues. This IT giant ABCDEF Corp. has been thrashed by the main protagonist who forms his group with his male colleagues and became self-proclaimed leader of them. I don’t know why those colleagues are following his orders but it looks like they owe him something or he is like a king or something like that. There is also a love story which will make the readers gasp for more in few occasion. The author had tried to create an entertainer by mixing corporate struggle and indian love story and somehow succeed in it but couldn't avoid the boring details.

A good book always contains a rich story line but unfortunately the story line of this book is not so impressive and can be called a bit boring too. The characterization was simple and could have done in a better way. A better crafted character will help the readers to visualize scenes. Judging the book with all its pros and cons, I would say this is a light read and I am sure the author will come with a better book next time and would definitely bag a positive review.

Final Words: This book is an experiment by the author and turned out to be a light read. The humor injected by the author is something any reader will look forward to.

Title: An Affair to Remember!
Author: HarkeeratAnand
Publisher: Srishti Publisher & Distributors
Page Count: 155
My Rating: 2.5/5

Available at –

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Giveaway of Seduced by Murder by Saurbh Katyal

Timid Fingers with The Word Bite presents #2 Giveaway l A copy of Seduced by Murder by Saurbh Katyal

                                                          • Summary of the Book 

When detective Vishal Bajaj receives a call from his old flame Aditi,  he is seduced into a vortex of family lies and a murder. Vishal sets  out to catch the murderer, while dealing with the resurgence of an i  rresistible desire for Aditi that he had buried years ago.
 Vishal is a witty, hard drinking, tough private detective who doesn't  mind getting his hands dirty as he races against time to catch a  meticulous killer. Seduced by Murder weaves a web of noir and  suspense that keeps the reader riveted and guessing till the end.


                                                            • About the author
 Saurbh Katyal works in the frenzied corporate world and manages to  steal time to write while travelling for work. His most prolific writing  happens in dingy cabs lit by street lamp-posts, cramped liquor joints  inside terminals, and long, monotonous flights. He has published s  hort stories and also won an international short-story writing  competition some years back. This is his first novel and has already  won critical acclaim.


Participate in this competition. 
Follow the link embedded in the beginning of the post.
A lucky winner will be chosen and will be gifted a copy of the book 'Seduced by Murder' by Saurbh Katyal

Review of 'Lost In Pattaya' by 'Kishore Modak'

Blurb: It is every dad’s nightmare – his little girl goes missing.

For Palash, the sorrow compounds from the incessant replaying of the critical minutes when his ‘Daddy-eye’ faltered, distracted by his own weakness, substance abuse. The loss and the ensuing search sends him spiraling into a divorce and the loss of a steady corporate job. Scouring for his little girl in the brothels of Pattaya he is ensnared in the web of mafia that runs the sex trade of Thailand. When he eventually finds her, will he be able to build back a wasted lifetime, or, is it too late for rescue, for him and his child?

Verdict: ‘Lost In Pattaya’ is the second book by Kishore Modak. After reading the blurb, the readers will definitely guess that this plot has a very different story to offer. This book came as a bolt of fresh air.

The cover of the book looks very much artistic and classy. The color combination is so good that it will automatically turn the readers head towards it. I can’t complain on the name because the name is perfect and sounds good too.

Kishore Modak has a very strong narrating style which the readers can notice from the very first page of the book. The narrating style is not trendy and one can’t see this kind of narrating style so often. As I always say direct narrative style binds the author to describe the mental state of the protagonist and unintentionally the other characters lacks the limelight. That is why the first few pages of the book was slow and a bit boring. But as the story moves on it became more and more interesting.

The characterization is the best thing for me in this book. I loved the way the author created his characters. Each time when the story was dropping a bit or I was feeling the author is exaggerating things, the author introduced a brilliant and effective character who takes the story to a new level. The beauty lies in the imperfection of Palash’s character and the readers are going to love his transformation at the end.

The story line is wonderful, new and fresh. The story starts with Palash, losing his daughter Li Ya, on the street of Pattaya. After that, the misery started for the drunkard and drug addict Palash, when his wife filed a divorce and he loses his job. As the story moves towards the end and Palash continues his journey to find his daughter in the brothels of Pattaya, one can’t put the book down. I won’t disclose the end, but one thing I must say, that the readers are going to find a delightful smile at their face after completing the book. The author has very efficiently described each scenes and one can easily roam in the streets of Pattaya and Bangkok along with Palash.

The author has very carefully framed the story line but I felt the beginning was slow and the readers can lose interest while repeatedly reading about Palash’s mental condition. Though the second half of the book was different and can manage to cover up for all its flaws. Overall this is a different read and will definitely recommend this book to all those who need a fresh plot with a strong narrative.

Final Words: The strong narrative style and the mysterious storyline will make readers turn the page till the end. I appreciate the author for trying something different from the regular and succeeding to connect with the readers.

Title: Lost In Pattaya
Author: Kishore Modak
Publisher: Grapevine India
Page Count: 215
My Rating: 4/5

Available at –

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/lost-pattaya-english/p/itmdx5e6xaykxecz?pid=9789381841228&ref=794e38e5-6dc5-4cbd-96b7-42e038cdf237&srno=p_1&otracker=from-search&query=lost+in+pattaya

Amazon – http://www.amazon.in/Lost-Pattaya-Kishore-Modak/dp/9381841225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411316748&sr=8-1&keywords=Lost+In+Pattaya

Interview of 'Saurbh Katyal' author of 'Seduced By Murder'

" I am not the kind to write standard love stories, if I write one I may title it,' I too had many love stories" says the debut author of the wonderful detective thriller Seduced By Murder. In a candid chat with Timid Fingers, the author discloses why he decides to write in this particular genre, the secret behind his witty one liners and about his upcoming novel. Here yet again we present one emerging talent. Lets start...

Timid Fingers: Congratulations on your book! How does it feel to hold your very first book physically in your hand?

Saurbh Katyal: It feels good to see months of creativity finally manifest as a book.

TF: When every second author is penning down a love story why have you chosen such a less traveled path of a detective novel?

Saurbh: Haha…no, I am not the kind to write standard love stories.  On a lighter note, if I write one, I may title it, “I too had many loves stories”.

On a serious note, I believe that at the end of the novel both the reader and writer should gain in perspective. And this can only be done through the protagonist.  So with this guiding principle, there is in fact a love story in the background of the plot- the resurgence of buried emotions of Vishal for his ex-flame Aditi who is married now, and how he deals with those emotions while he races against time to catch the murderer.

TF: Any inspiration behind writing a detective novel because you have mentioned the name of Sherlock Holmes quite a few times in your book?

Saurbh: The inspiration to write a detective novel comes from a challenge I made to myself. One of my friends stated that there are no good murder mysteries by Indian authors, and that got me thinking how would I write a taut murder mystery in which I could lay clues leading to the identity of the murderer and still keep his identity camouflaged till the last few pages. I am happy to see that by the response so far, I may have been successful in it.

TF: What kind of reaction are you getting from the readers, are they liking private detective Vishal Bajaj?

Saurbh: Yes they are. In fact, Padma Shri Keki N Daruwalla called it an unputdownable thriller and the book has got some good reviews in a couple of national newspapers. The most enjoyable interaction has been with readers who have connected with me on social platforms or have mailed me saying that they enjoyed reading the book. Most of the readers have found the detective incisive and endearing, and a lot of people have advised me to write a series on him.

TF: I really liked the humor in the conversing style of the Vishal, your main protagonist. So are you a witty author or it’s just that Vishal needed to be a witty detective?

Saurbh: I wanted to write a noir, crime novel where the protagonist is a fatalist; so while the detective Vishal has superb detection skills and is not afraid of getting his hands dirty to get the work done, he is also emotional enough to get affected by buried emotions when his ex-flame is near. However as every fatalist, he has a witty, slightly sarcastic sense of humor and that also becomes evident in his dialog.

In fact, most of the readers who were kind enough to connect with me after reading the book were unanimous in liking the sense of humor that Vishal displays in addressing situations. I am glad that you like his sense of humor as well.

TF: So, is it possible for this detective of yours returns with another case in form of another book or you will try your hand at some different genre next time?

Saurbh: I have got some encouraging reviews, so I have already started working on the next book with Vishal as the protagonist. This will be a locked room, murder mystery.

TF: How was your experience working with Blue Jay?

Saurbh: I had a great time working with Bluejay. They have thorough professionals in their team and carry rich experience in distribution, so that helps a lot.

TF: So now, when you are a published author any tips for the unpublished or aspiring authors?

Saurbh: Although it sounds clichéd, from personal experience, I would say just persevere. 

For aspiring authors, COMPLETE THE NOVEL FIRST. I have interacted with some aspiring authors and I have realized that the biggest thing that is impeding them from completing the novel is this obsession with finding a publisher. Understand that even if the book is good, you may still struggle to find a publisher.  That is how publishing works now-a-days.  Do not get affected by it, but just focus on writing.

Once the novel is completed, the next step is to approach all traditional publishers and send them the script as per their submission guidelines. If that doesn’t work, instead of losing confidence in your writing ability or belittling your own work, take advantage of the technological advances and go for self-publishing.

TF: One clichéd question, what is writing for you?

Saurbh: Writing is a form of meditation- you can take refuge in your imagination, express yourself and come back refreshed to the real world. I think everyone should write- it can be a blog, a diary or even just doodling on Microsoft word.

TF: I am done with boring you, no more questions. All the best for your book. Just few words for your readers and Timid Fingers blog.

Saurbh: On the contrary, I found the interaction quite scintillating. Thanks for your wishes.
For the readers, Keep calm and stay positive while you follow your dreams. In the immortal words of Johnny Walker, “Keep Walking.”

The book is available at - 

Flipkart - http://www.flipkart.com/seduced-murder-english/p/itmdyzdfqggr8auq?pid=9789382891192&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=seduced+by+murder&ref=c9ac19dc-b14a-4a54-ac9f-b25396ba8e84

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Review of 'Seduced By Murder' by 'Saurbh Katyal'

Blurb: When detective Vishal Bajaj receives a call from his old flame Aditi, he is seduced into a vortex of family lies and a murder. Vishal sets out to catch the murderer, while dealing with the resurgence of an irresistible desire for Aditi that he had buried years ago.

Vishal is a witty, hard drinking, tough private detective who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty as he races against time to catch a meticulous killer. Seduced by Murder weaves a web of noir and suspense that keeps the reader riveted and guessing till the end.

Verdict: ‘Seduced by Murder’ is the debut novel of Saurbh Katyal. When we read a detective story we often see the whole scene with the eyes of a detective and try to solve the case before the original detective does, but in this book the author has proper command over the plot and very effortlessly have kept the suspense till the end.

The name is so intriguing that the readers are bound to take a look at the blurb. ‘Seduce’ and ‘Murder’ are two different words and are a pure mismatch together but why the word seduce is so important in this murder mystery, one can find the answer only while reading it. The cover looks dull comparing to other books in the market of this genre and I would say this is not the best from the designer.

Debut author Saurbh Katyal has chosen a very simple yet gripping narrating style which will increase the reader’s reading speed. I appreciate the author for the witty one-liners he has added in those scenes which make them more entertaining. Each and every scene was described with such details that any reader can easily find the clue with the detective. There are few authors who gain respect by their writing style but this author will make readers his friend by his narrating style.

The characters are perfect for a story like this. Each and every time you start to believe that this guy/girl has nothing to do with the crime and in the next chapter the author somehow manages to shift the attention towards him/her. From our earlier experience of reading detective novels we always watch the detective with envy in our eyes but the main protagonist, the detective is different and unique in his own way. 

The story line is quite good but not excellent. The author has very efficiently framed his plot and maintained the guessing game till the end but the speed of the story was a bit slow comparing to be a murder mystery or a thriller. But as the story heads towards the end, it becomes unputdownable. The end will definitely shock the readers because like almost all other detective novels, here also the main culprit is the one least expected. Kudos to the author; for etching the end in such a wonderful way.

Talking about flaws, I do witness a few editing errors and few printing errors like punctuation errors or missing letters. These errors can easily be ignored if the speed was bit faster but that was not and a few times where the main protagonist was travelling through his past memories, the speed dropped to an average. Keeping in mind these flaws and the wonderful and witty narrating style of the author I would recommend this book to all the thriller lovers.

Final Words: A nice attempt by Saurbh Katyal of framing a detective novel and the humor of the author makes this book a must read. A fresh read in the genre of thrillers and murder mysteries.

Title: Seduce By Murder
Author: Saurbh Katyal
Publisher: Blue Jay
Page Count: 268
My Rating: 4/5

Available at –

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Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/Seduced-Murder-Saurbh-Katyal/dp/9382891196/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410067993&sr=1-1&keywords=saurbh+katyal

Review of 'Private India' by 'Ashwin Sanghi & James Patterson'

Blurb: In Mumbai, seemingly unconnected people are dying, strangled in a chilling ritual and with strange objects carefully arranged with the corpses.

For Santosh Wagh, head of Private India, the Mumbai branch of the world’s finest investigation agency, it’s a race against time to stop the killer striking again.

In a city of over thirteen million, he’d have his work cut out at the best times, but this case has him battling Mumbai’s biggest gang lord and a godman who isn’t all he seems.

And then he discovers there may be an even greater danger facing Private India. Hidden in the shadows is someone who could destroy the whole organization – along with thousands of innocent Mumbai citizens…

Verdict: ‘Private India’ is yet another installment in the Private series by one of the finest thriller writer in the world, James Patterson, who this time teamed up with the most famous mystery writer of India, Ashwin Sanghi. Private series is a hit worldwide and this book is able to match their glory. This is what happen when thriller meets mystery.

The cover have the same kind of Private series feeling, the same font style the same running man, same kind of color combination, all gives rebirth to the Private atmosphere. Though the Indian touch is also visible which makes this a perfect contrast. This book will generate a strange feeling among the readers which will force them to read it. I loved the first impression.

James Patterson is famous for numerous things but his skill in putting right thing at right place in thrillers is remarkable and readers would get a same feeling while reading this. The narrating style is so good and engrossing that one can’t put down the book at any cost. The usage of words are simple and suits the atmosphere of the book and the readers will be automatically dragged into the streets of Mumbai where the story unfolds.

The characterization was something very precise. There is numerous characters but one can never feel that they are confusing or the writer is exaggerating things. Each and every character are so different that one can easily remember each one by their characteristics. In a thriller like this we, the readers always looks the detective with envy in our eyes and the main detective in this story Santosh Wagh suits perfectly in the frame, what we often visualize as a detective in our mind. Though I was expecting a bit more from Jack Morgan, the boss of Private.

The storyline is the most important part of a book and in this particular book one can have only one problem that this story is too much thrilling. The book starts with a murder just like other Ashwin Sanghi books, and moves on to disclose that this a serial killing case attaching a huge number of people with it. From Mafia to fraud baba, from doctor to singer, from attorney general to stuff of Private India. By reading this book one can easily have an idea of how the crime base of Mumbai grew. The authors has shown everything, human trafficking, prostitution, forced begging etc. The books gets more interesting when the main hero, head of Private India, Santosh Wagh started to make sense of the puzzle. One can never put the book down until he knows who the main culprit is and when that reveals the readers will mentally kick themselves for not recognizing the clue left by the authors.

I could easily say that this book is the best crime thriller ever written if the first part of the book was a bit for fast just like the second half. When the authors are creating the base for the blast at the second half, the readers may feel a bit slow and can also lost interest from the plot. But I am fortunate that I haven’t lost the interest and completed the book in one go. Another hitch in the book is, it’s a bit lengthy. If the first half was bit speedier and the book a bit more short and crisp, I would call it a perfect. But the authors nailed it at the end.

Final Words: This book have the capability to fasten reader’s heart beat while reading this. This book takes the famous Private series to a new level. A unique crime thriller.

Title: Private India
Author: Ashwin Sanghi | James Patterson
Publisher: Arrow Books
Page Count: 470
My Rating: 4.75/5

Available at –

Flipkart - http://www.flipkart.com/private-india-english/p/itmdzqe8sqjeqkdg?pid=9780099586395&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=private+india&ref=3520a4cb-afaf-48f1-a93a-ef53631a4a78

Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/Private-India-Ashwin-Sanghi/dp/0099586398/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410426506&sr=8-1&keywords=Private+India

Note: This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books! 

Review of 'The Princess in Black' by 'Upendra Dharmadhikari & Changali Anand'

Blurb: The Taj Mahal is going to be blown off and with it the visiting ex - President of USA. Or so has been impeccably planned by Major Salim Khan, an undercover ISI operative.

The only clue that the intelligence agencies have is the enigmatic Object No. 27, a rare Mughal relic that they don't have much information about. History Professor Narayan Shastri, along with the best men from Indian Intelligence, try to unlock the code.

And then there is Saima, the mysterious beauty who found Object No 27 in the first place. She and Professor Shastri travel through the annals of a history rich with deceit-bloody battles of conquests, the satin veil of treachery and even the elegant, imperious walls built of red sandstone and white marble-to know more of the impending attack and each other more deeply.

Can they stop Major Khan from unleashing his act of terror on the marble monument of love? Precious hands of time are ticking away - Tick. Tick. Tick.

Verdict: “The Princess in Black! – An unheard story of Mughals” is the first book by Upendra Dharmadhikari and Changali Anand. There are very few books in the market which tell about the Mughal dynasty and that is why this book is different. A book which will give a vast idea of few unheard chapter of Mughals.

The cover looks good with the swords and the guns in the front perfectly indicating that this book has story about the sword era and about the gun era. The great Taj Mahal in the back supports the story line, which says it is in danger. The name seems catchy too but I wish authors have spent few more hours on choosing the name which suits the plot more. Though the tag line is perfect.

The narrating style is trendy and will able to grab the reader’s attention. Telling history in simple and interesting way is in the new trend and youth will also enjoy the language of the book. But the authors very well managed the level of simplicity in narrating by putting wonderful words which grab the historical atmosphere of the book. There are few editing and type setting errors.

I loved the characters of the story. Each and every character are created keeping in mind the storyline and taken the mediocre story to a great level. Every character described in a good way and have very precise role to play which will definitely make readers like them.

The story line is good but not fresh. The author have framed it with nice research on Mughal dynasty and able to keep the mystery alive till the end but the way the whole plot summoned up, it can easily compared to other historical thrillers in the market. I appreciate the author for the effort they have put in this book which will make it a hit among the readers. From the very beginning the authors very efficiently started the mystery to keep readers hooked. I being a history lover, loved the way the authors has decorated the plot with the historical information and their imaginations. The readers will love the message which is hidden under the story.

Talking about the flaws of the book, I would say that the plot of the book is a bit common comparing to recent market, not the Mughal part but the way the mystery reveals but the way the story unfolded. In the middle of the book, it drops the speed a bit and few editing errors are spotted which will also grab the reader’s attention. Overall I would say a nice attempt by two debutant authors and appreciate them for the research they have done for this book.

Final Words: The authors are able to create such an atmosphere by their brilliant characters and narrating style that the readers can’t putdown the book until the mystery revels. A perfect one time read.

Title: The Princess in Black! – An unheard story of Mughals
Author: Upendra Dharmadhikari | Changali Anand
Publisher: Srishti Publishers & Distributers
Page Count: 204
My Rating: 3.5/5

Available at –

Flipkart – http://www.flipkart.com/princess-black-unheard-story-mughals-english/p/itmdyft2fdfpggug?q=The+Princess+in+Black%21+%3A+An+Unheard+Story+of+Mughals+%28English%29&as=on&as-show=on&otracker=start&as-pos=p_1&pid=9789382665212

Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/Princess-Black-Unheard-story-Mughals/dp/9382665218/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410705414&sr=1-1&keywords=the+princess+in+black

Review of 'The Mahabharata Secret' by 'Christopher C.Doyle'

Blurb: 244 BC
Asoka the Great discovers an ancient and terrible secret—a secret buried deep in the Mahabharata; a secret that could destroy the world; a secret hidden away for over 2300 years...

Present Day
A retired nuclear scientist is murdered. He leaves only e-mails with clues for his nephew. He and his friends follow a trail through ciphers and 2000-year-old ruins. Pursued by powerful dark forces, caught between the secrets of the past and the intrigues of the present, can they unravel the mystery before an unspeakable horror is unleashed on the world...

Verdict: ‘The Mahabharat Secret’ is the first work of Christopher C. Doyle. This book is a wonderful combination of fantasy-fiction, thriller and mythology and mastered with the imagination and observation of the author.

Most of us have grown up listening to the story of Mahabharat and as we are unaware of the fact that there is any secret behind the Mahabharat, makes the name more interesting. The readers will grab the book just to find out what secret can the Mahabharat hide. I liked the cover and the key on the cover is very much significant to the story. Overall the first impression of the book was good.

The author’s narrating style has a smooth flow which will force the readers to complete the whole book is one go. The words chosen by the author is a treat to the reader’s eyes and matches the atmosphere quite perfectly. I prefer chapters with names rather than only numbers and the author has somehow managed to do the both. He has named a few scenes and numbered all chapters and the name of the place in the top right corner of the book, where the incident is unfolding is very helpful to the readers. 

The characterization is good and each and every character has their own role to play which is one of the good points of the story. The readers can never ignore any of the character because each and every one was needed to unlock the secret. The author was able to surprise the readers with his sudden introduction of important characters. I loved those parts.

The story line was good, gripping and interesting. But compared to the other books in the market in this genre, I can say that the plot is not fresh. The journey of finding the secret while solving the riddles is not so uncommon but the presentation was different and the speed of the story will make it a hit among the readers. I loved the ending and appreciate the author’s imagination power of jotting down such an intriguing scene.

The name, the cover and the blurb everything indicated that this book will have a deep connection with mythology or will have a heavy mythological touch but after the first half there was none. In the beginning there were few chapters, talking about Ashoka, The Nine and Suryasen but as the story moves on the author has focused more on the journey and shifted the limelight from the mythology part. I would have called this book perfect if there were some more mythological touches to justify the name and the blurb. 

Final Words: This book is full with surprise elements and will keep the readers hooked till the end and will make them gasp for the secret to reveal. The readers will witness this journey at the edge of their seat.

Title: The Mahabharta Secret
Author: Christopher C. Doyle
Publisher: Om Books International
Page Count: 382
My Rating: 4.5/5

Available at – 

Flipkart - http://www.flipkart.com/mahabharata-secret-english/p/itmdzhpny8kgf9nz?pid=9789383202317&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=the+mahabharata+secret&ref=4c413e9d-7318-4ac6-bb1b-fa5919de9c59

Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/Mahabharata-Secret-Christopher-C-Doyle/dp/9383202319/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410070174&sr=1-1&keywords=the+mahabharata+secret

Review of '12 Strokes of Life' by 'Durgesh Shastri'

Blurb: 12 strokes of life is a collection of 12 short stories. From the hilly terrains of Matheran to the IT hub of the country, from the historically rich city of Bihar to one of the fastest growing cities of India, Coimbatore, these stories are set in varied locations. From an overconfident youth longing for success to a determined old man termed insane by neighbors, from a married lady in search of true love to a young girl fighting against all odds to overcome her worst fears, the characters are very much alive and can be related to people around us.

The stories belong to different genres and try to send across a message to the reader which is though everyone paints a unique picture of life based on their experiences; it never stops to amaze us. After all, life has infinite strokes. Read the 12 strokes of life to know the hues and shades of the journey of a few.


Verdict: ’12 Strokes of Life’ is a collection of twelve short stories written by author Durgesh Shastri. Each every story has a different message to deliver and a different tale to tell which I think is the most interesting fact about the book.

The name sounds very impressive and will definitely drag the reader’s attention. Twelve stories which tell different tales of life can easily be termed as the strokes of life. I appreciate the designer for such a wonderful cover which makes the first impression quiet striking.

This is not regular that an author choosing to write an anthology collection because I think conveying a message through a short story is much tougher that conveying through a full fledged novel but this author has shown the guts and came up with a short story collection which is commendable. Needless to say; the author has a story teller within and also has a fluent narrating style. The easy going words will help the readers to maintain the flow. 

Each and every story has a very good message to convey. Not every story ends with a good note but will definitely have something to learn from the story and I believe that is where the author has focused more, on giving a moral. Stories have different scenes, different background and have unfolded in different states of India, which makes this book all the more interesting. All the characters are so real, that one can easily relate them.

At times I felt few stories lack description, few stories feel like they are written in a hurry and there are few which couldn’t connect with the readers. A few editing errors are also spotted here and there. I would appreciate the author for this attempting and would love to read some more in from his in future and would expect that he will keep this things in mind.

There are four or five stories which immensely touched my heart but the best of the series was ‘The Anonymous Donor’

Final Words: A very nice attempt by Durgesh Shastri and I appreciate the author’s effort for penning down wonderful short stories which left lasting effects among the readers.

Title: 12 Strokes of Life
Author: Durgesh Shastri
Publisher: Gargi Publishers
Page Count: 160
My Rating: 3.5/5

Available at – 
Flipkart - http://www.flipkart.com/12-strokes-life/p/itmdwkewtmckhytt?pid=9788192960906&otracker=from-search&srno=t_3&query=durgesh+shastri&ref=45b27e85-b0ca-4a3d-9490-64578c8a5f80

Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/12-Strokes-Life-Durgesh-Shastri/dp/8192960900/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410097520&sr=8-2&keywords=Durgesh+Shastri

Review of "Nine (Book Two): Vengeance of the Warrior" by 'Shobha Nihalani'

Blurb:All future is defined by the past.

And therefore, the end is only the beginning.

After burying the vicious Kalingan warrior, Akash, Tara and Zubin are continuing their lives as before, hiding the fact that they are a part of King Ashokas exalted Nine and that each of them has powers meant to be used for the benefit of mankind, when needed.

Except, things are not as quiet as they seem to be.

The Kalingan warrior has risen once again angrier and more vengeful. And this time he knows each one of them. If they dont destroy him now, they will be hunted down and the world will be battling its worst, most terrifying chemical warfare yet.

This second book in the Nine trilogy will change the way you look at time and space.

Verdict: ‘Vengeance of the warrior’ is the second instalment of the NINE trilogy by Shobha Nihalani. This book starts where the previous one ended, not plot wise but the feel wise. Being a fantasy-fiction, this book is undoubtedly one of the best of its series because of the imagination and narrative power of the author.

The name itself sends a chill down the spine and I feel that the book will be known more as the second book of the NINE Trilogy than by the name. If I have to judge the significance of the name NINE, then I would say no other name would suit this series better. The cover looks catchy and would definitely drag onlooker’s attention. The book is very reader friendly and will raise an urge among the readers that this book is going to be good. Overall I loved the first impression of the book.

The Nine series is a fantasy fiction but can easily be compared with any thriller in the market. The enthralling narrating style of the author will keep the readers hooked till the end and will force them to complete the book in one go. I appreciate the author for distributing the story in short and crisp chapters which helps to maintain the flow. The readers will love the way the author has narrated the whole story by showing different scenes in different chapters. The choosing of words suits the atmosphere of the book and will take the readers into an edgy journey.

The characterization was wonderful as the previous instalment and the author has very efficiently named her characters which suits their personality best. The Three who are already introduced to the readers in the first installment, are very well presented in this book too and in a more improvised version. At few places I felt that the author has deliberately removed the lime light from a few characters to keep the suspense and that is very much visible which can be marked as a flaw of the book.

The plot of the book is wonderful and framed in an efficient way. Just as the blurb says, The Kalingan has risen again and possessed a body of a willing woman name Tejwashi and ready to take the revenge from The Nine, the Mauryan guards, the servant of the great king Ashoka and take the Chintamani, the divine and powerful crystal. Again the responsibility to save the human kind was given on the shoulders of The Three, who are now more experienced and more powerful. The plot is such intriguing and interesting that at the end I, along with The Three shout aloud, ‘To hell with Kalingan’. The war sequence is described in such a way that the readers will feel that they are standing at the war field and witnessing The Three fighting with the mighty.

This book is so good that any flaw would hardly register in the readers’ mind. But I felt there are a few unanswered questions, there are a few scenes where the readers can feel that ‘Shit, why Akash is not doing this,’ or ‘Zubin, has the power, why is he not using it’. Though maximum of the time the author manages to clear the doubt but still there are some loose ends.

Final Words: This book has an unmistakable speed which will grow an urge among the readers to turn the page. The second instalment of the series has done proper justice to its name and readers will eagerly wait for the final installment.

Title: Nine (Book Two) – Vengeance of the Warrior
Author: Shobha Nihalani
Publisher: Penguin
Page Count: 338
My Rating: 4.75/5

Available At –

Flipkart - http://www.flipkart.com/nine-vengeance-warrior-english/p/itmdzkcymxhxja2f?pid=9780143418832&otracker=from-search&srno=t_3&query=shobha+nihalani&ref=a8cffdd5-4ce7-4f6b-9744-0d868c762a8a

Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/Nine-Vengeance-Warrior-Shobha-Nihalani/dp/0143418831/ref=sr_1_2_bnp_1_pap?ie=UTF8&qid=1409906499&sr=8-2&keywords=shobha+nihalani

Note:
Book Review in Association with "TheBookaholics"         
Here is the Author's website link - http://shobhanihalani.com/

Review of "FlipHearts" by "Saras"

Blurb: Sometimes to win your love, you must lose yourself…

Entirely different souls of Raunak, Aryan and Shahid encounter even more divergent and bizarre problems of love. A nobody all his life, Raunak suddenly finds himself in the privileged confusion of choosing from his sweet first crush and the most popular chick in college. Aryan, a great admirer of the concept of friends with benefits, falls for an uptight, reclusive chick. And doomed to take the nice guy curse, Shahid falls for the vulnerable girlfriend of college’s gangster.

They have their own conflicts as they strive to conquer their respective love interests. If and how they do it is the story of FlipHearts…

Verdict: ‘FlipHeart’ is the debut novel of Saras. The blurb mentions the story to be the story of three friends who are very much different from each other but whose friendship remained unharmed throughout whatever is going on in their respective lives. For what I believe, the cover and the title complement each other very well but the blurb and the cover doesn’t much match.

Talking about the characters, Aryan, Shahid and Raunak are the three different characters of the story who has their lives entwined with the all so different girls in their lives. The best part of the book is that, once you start reading it, you can’t just let it go.

For me, I would say that the beginning is the best part of the book cause once the book picks up the speed, it at places loses the tempo giving it a rough edge towards the story. Moreover, the narration used by the debut author also leaves the readers loving the book all too much.

Another interesting part of the book, for which I may congratulate the author, is for pairing up totally different souls with each other giving the book its very essence. The characterizations have been done so lovely that anyone can relate his/her life to the characters in the book.

The situations all the girls and guys go through in the book is very well relatable to the readers that they fall in love with the characters the moment they read the book. The presentation of the book also speaks a lot about the book and the author for its tough for a debut writer to be so interesting in his first book.

For some, this book might only be a chicklit but I believe, the chicklit portion of the book also makes this book nice. Romance or chicklit is supposed to be known as a safe genre for the writers, especially first timers but the writer has shown how romance can also be broadened into a much wiser and better version.

Teenagers would love the story and the book for the book tells us a lot about the readers and about the mindset of the teenagers of our country today. Through the characters, the author has shown the different kinds of teenagers that our country has.

There were a few errors, which were unavoidable and which made the readers drop the speed and a few of these errors were of the mix and match of the names and pronouns. The author, at places wrote Shahid instead of Aryan, Aryan instead of Raunak, Raunak instead of Shahid and all vice-versa.

In places, if these were correct, the author mistook him for her or she for he and such mistakes catch the readers’ eye very easily and might also be a reason of some readers leaving the book mid way but to those people who keep on with this book till the end would surely enjoy the book and the turn in the events of it.

Final words: The book has a very easy to read and interestingly written storyline which gives the book its real meaning. Would love to read more from the author.

Title: FlipHearts… The Crazy tale of unsure lovers…
Author: Saras
Publisher: Rectitude
Page Count: 200
My Rating: 3.5

Available At - 

Flipkart - http://www.flipkart.com/flip-hearts-english/p/itmdssdjz5nawxqn?pid=9788192905709&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=flip+hearts&ref=567d96b8-2de3-4832-81e4-026a3690d413

Amazon - http://www.amazon.in/FlipHearts-SARAS-UPADHYAY/dp/8192905705/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=FlipHearts