Book Review: The Nidhi Kapoor Story by Saurabh Garg

About the Book:

Two dogs and a cat are butchered at the home of Nidhi Kapoor, a leading Bollywood actress. Left behind is a mysterious letter threatening Nidhi and her family.

Nishant Kapoor, Nidhi’s father and a superstar of the yesteryears is confined to a retirement facility in the hills. Tormenting him are his recurring dreams of someone trying to hurt him and his family.

A film set where Nidhi Kapoor is shooting for her much anticipated film goes up in flames. Trapped inside are Nidhi and her sister, Payal.

ACP Prakash Mohile is forced to take up the investigation. Rujuta Singh, a photojournalist chronicling the lives of policemen in Mumbai and shadowing Prakash, gets embroiled in the case.

Unwarranted incidents continue to happen and in absence of any real clues or motive, Prakash and Rujuta are forced to dig deeper in the past of the Kapoors. They unknowingly stumble onto a violent tale of lies, betrayal, treachery, infidelity and murder.

Time is running out fast and the unknown assailant is adamant on taking away from Nidhi everything that she holds dear - her career, her home, her reputation, her family and her life. With each move, he seems to be getting close. The answers however continue to elude Prakash and Rujuta.
What is it in their past that Kapoors are hiding from the world?
What grudge does the assailant hold against the Kapoors?
And, can they save Nidhi?

About the Author:

Curious marketeer by the day, Saurabh Garg is a storyteller by the night. The Nidhi Kapoor story is his first full-length story.

Apart from writing, Saurabh is passionate about startups, travel and poker. When he is not working on creating characters and plots for his upcoming stories, he likes to meet and talk to other interesting people and ask them stupid questions that often don't have answers.

Saurabh maintains a very elaborate bucket list. The item on top of his list is to visit every country in the world. So far, he's been to 15.

Originally from Delhi and based out of Mumbai, he went to Delhi university and MDI Gurgaon for his undergrad and postgrad respectively.

My Review:

Without any circumlocution, let me tell the prospective readers: this is the most well-crafted story of the contemporary times. The mystery is huge, yet palatable, the thrill is unvarying and consistent, the plot line is well thought-out. There have been so many points to admire about this book, I am compelled to enumerate them, so not to leave out any.

A lot of thought, research and plotting has gone into scripting this masterpiece. Honestly, coming from a debut author, this is an expert writing.
The characters have been etched with a precision such that their idiosyncrasies and behaviours are believable. Every character has a story. Right from the photojournalist Rujuta to the startlet Nidhi Kapoor.

The descriptions- of the city Mumbai, of the police and journalism profession- have been thoroughly entertaining and so apt. Add to it a cherry on top in the form of spicy bites of Bollywood, and you have the perfect entertaining read.
And then, there's more to it: the pace is so correct, it is a page turner. What else makes it a page-turner? The manner in which it unfolds. It is not a typical chronological sequence that the events follow, rather it unravels pivotal pints at the crucial time. Timing again is apparently a forte of the author. This works to intensify and amplify the thrill with which the reader reads, and then remains glued.
I don't know if it is just me, but I really could not find anything in the book that made it seem like the first book of an author: it could give John Grisham a run for his readers. No, seriously. This novel, only re-instates that the thrillers scene has finally arrived in India.

My Judgement:

It is a page-turner, an entertainer, and a well-crafted plot: all packed in one. Revel in its completeness, go grab your copy now, because you definitely don't want to miss the next bestseller on the block.

I thank the author for providing me with a review copy!
you can also like the facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/TheNidhiKapoorStory 

Spotlight: Beyond School by Chitra Anand

Title:  Beyond School

Author: Chitra Anand

Category: Fiction

Publisher: Leadstart Publishing  

Date: 2014

Price: Rs 124

Pages: 201

ISBN -10: 9383562404

ISBN-13: 978-9383562404

About The Book:

Beyond School centres upon the weeks leading up to 17-year-old Shail s final board exams, as his world becomes a pressure-cooker and the weight of preparing for the exams sends him fleeing rebelliously in the other direction. Along with Shail s journey from boyhood to manhood, Beyond School vividly weaves between the narratives of four main characters, seamlessly uniting the past and present of Shail, his parents-Urmila and Sushil and his mentor-Gladys, in a story that is honest, funny, heartbreaking and ultimately, incredibly human.

About the Author:

Chitra Anand was born in Mumbai. She is a postgraduate in Physics and holds an Education degree. Beyond School is her first novel inspired by her journey as an educator.

Copies Available at all online stores:

1.    Flipkart:

2.    Amazon:  

Know More Inside Stories, Connect with The Author:

Twitter: @chtranand

Read the book? Write a review on Goodreads:

Spotlight: Fraudster by RV Raman

Title:  Fraudster

Author: R V Raman

Category: Fiction

 Publisher: Hachette

Date: 2014

Price: Rs. 250

Pages: 272

ISBN: 9350098008

Fraudster : The Story of Corporate India’s Black Sheep:

Fraudster is a suspense thriller from R. V. Raman set in the world of corporate finance.

Summary of the Book

Some people will do anything to silence anyone they think are obstacles. They won’t stop at anything, not even murder. In this thrilling novel, a young banker deposes before a commission investigating large-scale financial fraud. She is found dead the very next day. Meanwhile, a leader of corporate India falls to his death from his South Bombay flat. In a multinational accounting firm, the high-security server room is hacked. The hackers want more than just company secrets. Illegal finance, high-profile crimes and brutal manipulation combine in this tale of greed, treachery and corruption amidst corporate India’s worst members.

About R. V. Raman

R. V. Raman is an Indian writer and the former head of KPMG's Consulting Practice and the co-head of their Risk Advisory Services. He was also partnered with A.T. Kearney and Arthur Andersen, and boasts an experience of over three decades and covering four continents. Currently a faculty member at the Indian Institute of Management, Trichy, he teaches Business Strategy. He is based in Chennai and this is his first book.

Copies Available at all online stores:

1.      Flipkart: 

2.      Amazon:  

3.      Infibeam: 

Know More Inside Stories, Connect with The Author:

Twitter: @RvRaman_

Read the book? Write a review on Goodreads:

Book Review: The Hidden Letters by Purba Chakraborty

About the book:

She is a successful author, a loving wife and the world's best mom. Her doctor husband dotes on her, her teenage daughter idolizes her and her readers yearn for her writing. Shouldn't all that respect and love make her happy? 

Yet, she is devoid of inner peace. In the wee hours of the night, her slumber is disturbed by horrifying nightmares. All her harmony is abducted and lost amidst the bunch of hidden letters kept in her cupboard. Those letters were written long back by her cousin,presently a patient at a mental asylum in Kolkata.

Haunted by her inner demons and tired by the long-time secrecy, she decides to put end to her misery by surrendering to her husband and daughter, The Hidden Letters. . . 

Will she lose her husbands love and daughters respect? Can she forgive herself for her own selfishness which rendered her cousin's fate malignant?

My Review:

Engaging? Check.

Contemporary? Check.

Predictable? Check.

Bland? Check.

If these words fail to convey my concise review, then read on. 

This story of a woman, who is portrayed as one living an ideal life, what with a loving family comprising of her daughter and husband, is a take on dealing with emotional roller-coaster of a twisted event rooted in someone's past.

What is most endearing about the novel is the fact, that unlike other contemporary crap, this book explores real emotions, and it does that in a realistic and believable manner. The prologue is a precursor to what lies in the plot.

No wonder the plot draws to a predictable close, even in a cliched Bollywood climax, yet there is something inexplicable that makes one read through the book.

What makes the book even more worthy of a read is the fact that one can peel layers which have deeper issues, inter alia, disease and sickness, relationships, dealing with shocks, valuing relations, seeking redemption.

My Judgement:

Worth your penny! A welcome change from the superficial contemporary novels out there.

Book Trailer:

Find the book here: 

Thank you for stopping by, and reading through!

Book Review: Love, that shit! by Chandru Bhojwani

About the book:

Like a rollercoaster, relationships have their nauseating ups, downs, twists and turns... Sure, like a rollercoaster, relationships are also fun and exciting but what happens when the ride isn’t as smooth as you thought it would be? What do you do when you want to get off the ride but disengaging the safety harness is a lot harder than you thought? Or simply, what if you’re finding it difficult to get on a ride in the first place, especially when there isn’t a height restriction? 

...Unfortunately, relationships don’t come with perforated edges and Love, That Shit! (LTS) hopes to help you through the process of getting into, dealing with and even the aftermath of relationships. What sets LTS apart is its contemporary approach, aimed at enlightening while simultaneously, entertaining. 

Challenging norms and common thinking at times, LTS hopes to keep you chuckling, or at least smiling, as you embark on the journey and absorb its message.

Book Cover:

About the Author:

Born in Africa, Chandru was raised between Nigeria, India and England where he obtained a MA in International Business and Management. After working in New York for three years, Chandru moved back to Nigeria in 2002 and joined the family business. During that time he was offered a full-time columnist position at the South Asian publication, Beyond Sindh. He went on to publish his first book, The Journey of Om in 2010 and is set to release a new book in 2013/14.

In 2013, Chandru played Dr. Vikram Randhawa in the Brit-Asian feature film, Born to be King and a sinister boss in the short, Inescapable. An avid fan of movies, cricket and basketball, Chandru now resides in London, UK with his wife and son.

My Review:

The first thing that deserves a thumbs-up is the quirky and zany title of the book. It lends it a sense of humor, wisdom and an offbeat characteristic which is ominous of the book to follow.

It gives you a delightful treat of teachings like,  'One must kiss many frogs before finding the prince/princess.' and to see that it justifies all the things said and discussed. The book, as you may have surmised, talks at length about relationships and love and soulmates and partners and families and marriage and kinds of marriages and mother-in-laws and father-in-laws and all such stuff that our lives are made of. Those who are married can seek solace in the fact that they are not alone, and those who are yet to initiate the escapade shall find some really precious pearls of wisdom.

The language is also easy to understand, embellished by the beads of sarcasm and hilarity every once in a while.

The book also kept me on toes with the smell of misogynist-ism in one chapter followed by sheer feminism in another. This means balance, and that is another trademark of the book.
Plus it also has witty humor, which applies universally, consider this: "Who is this 'they' we constantly refer to in everyday life? "They say its the thought that counts" .... Is it an individual or a collective? How did he/she/they come by such knowledge, wisdom and insight? Do they have qualifications or do they just jabber on while high on ganja and we, like sheep, follow their every word as gospel?"

At times, the book has a serious overtone, when explaining the perils of love and arranged marriages respectively. It brings to the fore the apprehensions people, as a part of the society face.
On the whole, the book is a light read and treats you well as a travel companion.
Also, look out for the various varieties of in-laws, its the cherry on the cake.

Best Lines: 

Bottom line, when shit happens.....flush it.

My Judgement:

The best way to read this book is one chapter a day, so as to keep yourself entertained for 23 days as well as for the better reason of not making it sound like another of those marriage guides, love tips or plain self-help.

Buy Here:

Book Review: About Matters of the hurt By Sourabh Mukherjee

About the book:

Genre: Romance

About Matters of the Hurt: Love Stories - Round the Clock is a brisk read with lasting impact - a collection of four contemporary romantic short stories, aligned in settings and mood with the four parts of the day. The collection paints love in its various hues that make it the only emotion worth dying for. A slice of life in true sense, the book takes us on a soulful journey as we relive loves lost or found or nurtured unprofessed in the deepest recesses of our hearts.

About the Author:

Sourabh Mukherjee works in a Senior Management position in one of the world’s leading management consulting and technology services firms. Born and brought up in Kolkata, India, Mukherjee has several fictional and non-fictional publications in magazines, journals and websites –some of them date back to his early childhood. 

Mukherjee loves traveling, and is a keen observer of human behaviour and cultural diversities. He is an avid reader of fiction, and is passionate about photography, movies and music. For more information about him and his book, visit http://www.aboutmattersofthehurt.com

My Review:

A collection of 4 stories, this book seems almost customized for today's reader. Do you get those times when you have an irresistible itch to read, yet you are short of time. This is the perfect book for that occasion. the first story has a poignant angle to it, and you should wait till the end to get the satisfaction of having read through it all. The author almost surprises us with the ingenious twist in the end. Another story plays with the themes of intoxication, hidden pain, and loss of a loved one. And the last one, Love Came Calling Again, is my favourite. It has a tincture of both hopelessness and hopefulness, simultaneously. And a subtle ending is a cherry on top. The first story, poignant and heart-rendering as it is, is sure to make you pause and digest what has happened. More so because it is a short story and is supposed to end abruptly, leaving you at it. The good thing is, none of the story leaves you in a cliffhanger.

But the end certainly does leave you moved and dumbstruck for a few seconds.

And when the book proclaims that these are stories round the clock, it means it, like quite literally. 

Nothing too intense, nothing too light, the balanced approach of the book gets another thumbs up fro m us. 

We look forward to more writing from the author, now that the spark has been ignited. :)

My Judgement:

 Wanna keep up with your reading, but this is just one of those days where you cannot commit to novels, yet yearn for contemporary romance? Grab a copy!

Find the book: 

Book Review: An Incurable Insanity by Simi K Rao

About the book:

Her heart fluttered when she heard the sound of the key turn in the lock. She quickly adjusted her maroon silk sari with the yellow border, the one that had caught his eye, and waited eagerly for his footsteps. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... Yes, exactly seven steps before he stopped, hesitated for a few moments, then removed his shoes one by one and arranged them neatly side by side on the shoe rack. She smiled. He had been mindful of taking his shoes off every day now. "I am not used to it, but I will if you want me to. It's probably a good thing to do anyway." As he settled down, he would pick up the TV remote and, without looking at her, would say in his smooth baritone, "So how did you spend your day, anything interesting?" Shaan Ahuja found himself bowing to tradition and agreeing to an arranged marriage to the beautiful Ruhi Sharma. He went through the motions but had no intention of carrying through on his vows. His last foray into matters of the heart with an American girl had left him scarred and unwilling to try again. Thoroughly disillusioned and disgruntled he wasted no time in making his intentions clear to Ruhi on their wedding night. But, he was completely unprepared for what his new wife had in mind.

About the author:

Simi K. Rao was born in India and has been living in the United States for several years. Her contemporary romance novel An Incurable Insanity, published by Tate Publishing, was released on October 8, 2013. An Incurable Insanity is her first foray into writing. The inspiration for the story came from what she has seen transpire among and within the immigrant community. Some of the experiences included are her own; some have been garnered from friends and casual conversations with acquaintances. She also writes poetry, is an avid photographer, loves to travel, and is a practicing physician. She currently lives in Denver with her family. 

My Review:

 

Love: A temporary insanity curable by marriage.

—Ambrose Bierce

This tale is an attempt to prove the reverse

or at least give it a chance.

The first positive point in the author's kitty goes straight: her ability to prove what she said, that is quite an achievement for the author is able to give what she claimed to offer and not disappoint the reader.

The book compels the reader to rethink their ideas of love, the institution of marriage, arranged-marriage, the intricacies of relationships, the nuances of “compromising” and “reconciling”, two of the most deployed phenomena in relationships these days. The author has sculpted such abhorrent characters which one deems worthy of utmost contempt, for example the near relatives in both the families- the boy's and the girl's.

The approach of the book is highly engaging, and the writer certainly knows where to hit the reader to keep him glued. The characters are fickle, real and palpable. It may even be interpreted as a typical Bollywood-kind fairy-tale whereby the incorrigible man is melted by the purity, vulnerability and gullibility of his wife. The scenes and the depictions come alive on the palimpsest of the reader's minds, almost making it a blockbuster in the genre of romance. And the best part of it all is the fact that the reader does not feel like putting it down, rather gets hooked so much that one feels like finishing it as soon as possible. Certainly the male protagonist shaan was not entirely at fault when he says, “I don’t want to live under false pretences. I do not

Want to be instrumental in ruining an innocent life” which is known to all readers, by and by. The surmise is that it is probably the reason the characters are endearing: they know their mistakes, and yet have little in their control. The best characters to look out for are Sujoy and his wife, who at times manage to play the cupid, or at least ease the strains in the atmosphere.

The book has a very Indian touch to the whole plot, but its major low is that the narrative is highly chauvinistic, and more often than not, anti-feminist.

Best lines:

 Consider the sarcasm here: Given the mental state I was in, instead of telling you, I’d have probably preferred to kill you. Consider yourself lucky.

Or how it mocks the husband-wife relationship: Isn’t it nice how rapidly things change when husbands and wives become friends?  We become human.”

Or the poignancy in these words:

But what I admire most about this society is its openness. Back home, people play around behind

closed doors and carry on like saints, so when the river breaks its banks, the destruction is immense, irrecoverable.

Judgement:

So, if you hail contemporary literature to be an agent/harbinger of change, you need to think twice before announcing your belief because this book just establishes a contrary belief.