Book Review: Murder In Paharganj(2.5*s)

A murder thriller has to leave you gasping to know more.

The anticipation of the progress of the story has to be so riveting that you don't want to put the book down. It has to tease and cajole you into waiting for a twist, the next turn of events.

Instead what Kulpreet Yadav has penned in his novel, Murder in Paharganj is an attempt to turn this around an share details upfront of almost every crucial moment, thereby killing the suspense.

Admittedly this is not a suspense mystery that requires detective style investigation and clearly Vicks Menon is not a detective.

Murder in Paharganj is fast paced in its story line and has some serious potential in the sub plots and credit is due for not sermonizing certain aspects of the book.

It has a variety of characters that have interesting facets of emotions to deal with and yet one wonders if the characters were flushed out further, their could literally be spin off novels on each of them, especially Jalaluddin and ACP Rao.

While the story journeys through the death of Israeli woman Sherry Bing, who had no reason to be murdered and the subsequent investigation into why was she significant to the story, it leads her Killer and investigators from Delhi to Udaipur and off all places Bangkok and subsequently back to India for the tepid climax - no surprises in the book and likewise no surprises in this blog, except for the actual climax for which you better read the book.

Vicks Menon has some way to go before he can be cast into a hero figure. He may be battling for his job (having lost his recently), love (girl friend also left him recently), his drinking which apparently was largely to blame for the loss of job and love and most importantly his self prestige, all at the same time but his journalistic skills are hardly a saving grace in this matter.

There is no great research, investigative piece or stroke of brilliance that really stands out except perhaps his determination to keep going despite his brushes with death.

How an international spy can leave a journalist alive despite being identified by him and being followed around is something that truly beggars belief.

Vicks girl friend is also highly under used in the plot. Her intelligence and contribution could be put to better use. Its like in bollywood movies where the heroine is only around for some eye candy and to throw in some romantic scenes and songs.

Personally I also think Jamie aka Jalaluddin would have made a subject for a normally or indeed ACP Rao.

All in all, its not a book or series I would include in my must read list.

Totally skip able.