Featured Post

Book Review: The Hawa Mahal Murders by N.J.Kulkarni

Greetings everyone,
Which was the lastest book you found you couldnt stop reading?
For me it was, The Hawa Mahal Murders by N.J.Kulkarni. I couldnt believe its a debut book for the author. The book covers a big mystery story plot which keeps unraveling till the last page. I enjoyed reading a Crime Thriller after a long time. I savored this book slowly.



Do read about the story and book at: Spotlight: The Hawa Mahal Murders by N.J.Kulkarni

 Book: The Hawa Mahal Murders by N.J.Kulkarni


Story:
Smita has just re-started her new life with Karan Joshi when he suddenly makes all of them move to Mumbai. He insists on settling in the Hawa Mahal which is a bad replica of its Jaipur original. The place doesnt give Smita the good vibes. A murder occurs in Hawa Mahal on their first night there. The police are checking on everyone. Jai Rege the officer in charge is thorough in his investigation. His boss wants to close the case in 24 hours. There are famous people involved and residents of Hawa Mahal. To top it, Karan is acting weird.
Its a mix of dirty politics, corrupt system, race to reach the superior position, hiding more skeletons in the closet. Solving one murder isnt easy when the suspects keep getting changed, more are added and then there are series of murders. The victims are strangled to death. Is the Strangler and Murderer the same person? Are these murders plotted by a Serial Killer?
Whom to trust? Who is telling the truth? What is the motive for the murders? Are each murders and their murderers different or same? Will this case too be just shushed off with innocent people taken as accused coz the CM's son is one of the suspect ?

Buy this UnPutDownable book at: https://amzn.to/2KH5Ft4

What I liked:
The mysterious haze throughout the book. The description of people and places especially Hawa Mahal is always shady and with many layers throughout the book.

This book is difficult to put down. The mystery keeps getting tangled and the twists and turns happen till end of the book.

There are many characters in the book. Each character in the book has many layers and the layers keep getting peeled as the story progresses. The story of each character is unraveled in parts, revealing the connection and position as the book progresses. Its complicated and tangled up like noodles but without confusing the reader. I am still trying to think how the Author N.J.Kulkarni kept track of each and perfectly added the parts together.
I loved how mental disorders or serial killer mentality, childhood trauma and its effects on character building are weaved into the plot.

The flow of the story is steady. Even during the murders or the coups in guise of secret meetings with the Murderer... the flow is steady. Your breathe will only race. The narration goes in its steady pace.
The language throughout is simple and good. The story is full of complexities but the detailing of everything is simple for your mind to visualize and map it to each incident, suspect, place etc. You start to make a chart with all these details in your mind as the story progresses. I am still grappling with some of the loose ends or misplaced details after finishing the book.

The book is 280 pages but the story is huge without overwhelming. Perfect balance of story, mystery, crime, thrill and human psychology.

The story brought to light the working of the police, investigations, mind of a serial killer, celebrities and their real vs reel life.
Kudos to the author for putting in so much research, efforts to get the details in place.

I hope there is Book Series on Jai Rege and his investigation process. I hope the Author wont disappoint us :)

What I wanted more:
Everything is perfect about the writing, research, story plot. I just was disappointed with Smita's choice of profession in the middle of story and end too. Wish she had chosen something better.

Dont want to give out spoilers. So


Grab The Book at:


Do buy the book, read it, and leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Thank you in advance.

Bye. Take care.

Comments

Nita said…
Thank you for the review, Nilima.
Nita said…
Nilima, thank you for the review.
Nilima Mohite said…
Thank you Nita mam. It was my pleasure. Please keep writing. Hope to see more books from you or the sequel to Hawa Mahal Murders :)