Book Review- THE DOPPELGANGER by Prateek Yadav

Book- THE DOPPELGANGER

Author- Prateek Yadav

Genre- Mystery/Thriller

Publisher- Aksamala

Price- 250

Pages- 169

Blurb-

The perfect plan for the perfect heist-a team of con-men, foolproof disguise and a painting worth millions, nothing could have gone wrong. But something did... A man finds himself on a bus to Manali with nothing but some cash and severe memory loss. Embarking on a frantic hunt for his identity, he begins to discover that his presence in Manali isn't an accident. The closer he gets to the truth, the more elusive it becomes. Ghosts from his past haunt him as he finds himself trapped between his doppelganger, the police, a sadistic gangster and his own dwindling sanity. The journey of the search for his identity ends up being a race for survival.

Review-

The Doppelganger has this power to attract any reader because of this fantastic cover and a very sophisticated name. I was so turned on that I didn’t even read the blurb of the book before saying yes to this book. Some covers I tell you. So the book covers one hurdle with complete ease, i.e., attracting a buyer.

Now was it a smart move, in general terms no. But in this case I was saved. The book turned out to be equally amazing. It is basically a psychological thriller. There is a lot of mystery, suspense and drama. So, can it be called a Bollywood script, no, because the author has maintained a great narrative style which helped this book to shine beyond the expectations.

The narration if we talk at large isn’t extraordinarily well but it isn’t average. The dialogues however were a little plain in comparison to the narration. And for writing a thriller, and that to of that order one needs to work on both, powerful narration and precise dialogues.

Now coming on the characters, there were abundant characters if one talks about them. There was a thin line, the author could have destroyed things by adding few more or reducing some but it was just a clean slate. The supporting characters, the main leads and the hidden faces were perfectly suiting the aura. To name some, I loved Rai, and then there was Mr. Robert from the side characters whom I adored. From the main leads well I liked Sameer, after a long time I liked the main lead. He was so dark and mysterious and lost that one has to fall for him. It was nice to see that the author added only those characters which were essential, as I already stated. There were no extra charms or glamour anywhere.

The story revolved around a painting, two brothers and some goons. Sounds artistic?

I was scared, I was thinking and expecting another Bollywood inspired con mystery but the book is much more than that, you can take my word.

The story might sound a little off beat in the starting because that was the sole motive of the author. I was not able to connect with the lead at first because it was hard for me to understand the scenario. But no pain no gain as they say, the story turns out to be really nice and refreshing. I have not read many books where the author played with the mind of a character and the reader. But from here I have developed a nice taste.

As we move ahead, the story gets some pace, all the pieces of the puzzle start falling in the correct line of order. The biggest mystery is yet to unfold but all the circles that were made for the readers were very nicely done. I was enjoying this game along with the players of the book and at the same time I was feeling helpless with the characters that had no idea where the maze ended.

At many places the author was touching the past, making it easy to relate to the characters and to know about them as we move ahead. I love reading flashbacks inside the story; it gives me a break from the ongoing drama. Thanks Author.

Flashbacks also help in creating more mystery and solving some queries at the same time, so it is a sure-sure win every time, if used properly.

The last quarter of the book could have been better. I don’t like reading all the explanations together; I like mystery to get solved step by step. But maybe it was the only way for this book. The ending mended all the dents though. I can’t say I loved it, but it was unexpected and that is what is needed from a suspense book.

So, all in all the book was a nice package of just one thing, i.e., Mystery and that is what makes this a great read. It is not a mixture of a lot of genres. You won’t find love, romance, humor, etc. You will find only what the book aims at. You can enjoy minimal flaws in the editing, which will make your reading experience smooth, also you can enjoy a little above the line vocabulary.

Recommendation-

I can recommend this book to those who are looking for a good book by a fresh author and also those who are fed up from romance.

About the author-

Prateek Yadav was born and raised in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He graduated in economics at IIT Kanpur, and is currently working at Cognizant, Bangalore. He is an avid fiction reader with a keen inclination towards mystery and thrillers. Besides writing he also enjoys sketching and painting. The Doppelganger is his first published novel. 

Connect with the author-

Twitter

Buy the Book-

Amazon.in

Check out the spotlight of the book here- Spotlight

Bookish Corner : March TBR

March TBR

I have read only four books in January and February and that is a shame. I have to update Goodreads challenge every now and then after I see the status of my reading capability. Well, its march, a big month and I have become extra ambitious and decided to read seven books this month out of which luckily I have even completed one. *Drumrolls*

Well, this month our book club has again picked two books and I couldn’t resist the temptation of being a part of both of them because the second book was on my TBR from very long but I never got time to find the book and start it but now I am all geared up. Now I am just waiting for my package to arrive on Thursday. J

So now here goes my TBR list for March.

1.       Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix:
I can’t believe I am on the fifth book of the series. I remember how I regretted my existence when I realized I haven’t started reading Harry Potter even after being a Potterhead. And I was super excited to know that a Book club was created on Instagram and they are reading the series. I jumped in. Now we are at Order of Phoenix. The book is pretty thick and I am not sure whether I will be able to complete within the timeframe because we have weekly discussions. But there is a thing with Harry Potter books that no matter what, you can never keep them down until you finish it. And trust me the books are far more better then the movies.

2.       The Hobbit:
The second book that is chosen which we will read along with Harry Potter and the order of phoenix is The Hobbit. It would be my first J.R.R. Tolkien book and I am very excited. Because just like Rowling, Tolkien’s books are super amazing. It is hard to manage two challenges along with your review books and a full-time job but I am excited and I know adrenaline rush can make you do wonders. 😃

3.       The Doppelganger:
This is a review book which I got from “The Book Club”. The most amazing thing about the book is its cover and that is why I took this at the first place. It is so intriguing and mysterious that I was drawn towards it automatically. I have picked it up this morning but it was not as interesting as I thought it to be. Let’s hope for the best.

4.       Walk in the rain:
This again is a review book which I got from again “The Book Club”. It seems like a very simple tale, less pages and an easy flow of words. I read few pages just to know what would it be like to read it and I think it would be a quick and clean read.

5. Goat Days:

It is a translation of a Malayalam novel written by Benyamin. This book sounds really interesting. It is not a very celebrated work but the cover, blurb, title, everything was rejuvenating. I don’t buy a lot of books of the writers whom I have never heard of but this book was an exception. I have this book in my closet from so long and finally I am able to pick this one. I hope I can complete it in March.

6. Vampire Diaries:

Vampire Diaries: The Awakening + The Struggle was a random pick. It was a famous name but I was not very sure if I wanted to read a Vampire story after watching Twilight. But I am hoping for the best. Till now I like Elena and Stefan, not to forget Matt. It is likeable but not lovable till now. I am about somewhere in the mid of the first part. Let’s see how it goes.

So guys this is my March TBR. Do let me know if you are reading these books so that we can discuss them a bit. Also if you have any suggestions for my April TBR do leave a comment.

You can check out my instagram page for more book related things: Jasleen

Also you can join the book club on instagram for mass reading: The Magic Book Club

P.S. The picture used in this post belongs to me and no other person can use it without my consent. Thanks :)

Happy Reading J

Guest Post : 1857 Dust of Ages by Vandana Shanker

I have been thinking lately about the changes in the reading trends of today's time. People tend to pick small books, with easy story to grasp so that they can achieve there Goodreads goals quickly and flaunt merrily. In the midst of so many books, do we actually miss the ones which deserve quite a lot of attention?

Well I have been a fan of Historic books only because of Mahabharata. Who doesn't want to read about that age? But when I discuss this with people they call me a high-class, over-the-top reader, and trust me they sound sarcastic.

So when this book came up in "The Book Club Group", this question popped up instantly. And the way the author has answered is quite fascinating.

Read what Vandana thinks on this:

How hard or enjoyable it is to write about historic things? How can it be made more refreshing for an impatient group of readers of this time?

It’s boring, irrelevant, too many dates – ask any student and you would hear these common complaints about History. But turn around to take a look at historical fiction. It captures attention with its juicy scandals, the gossip, a distant world of romance and heroism.

Here are some reasons why I love reading and writing historical

1.       Past depends mostly on the writer’s words.  Despite all the struggles and squalor, one can paint the picture in all its vibrant colors. The image that comes alive doesn’t have to jostle with reader’s first-hand experience as it would in a contemporary setting. So the writer is free to select the historic details to create an aura of romance and nostalgia.

2.      The characters already carry a hint of tragedy, especially in the historical fiction set in times of war and strife. One knows that they suffered and died. It is a given. Their existence during the turbulent times is enough for the heroism and tragedy.

3.      It is a different world, different time. And you can make your characters chart paths that they would never do in the contemporary setting.

4.      Research is fun, especially if you are interested in the period. And the stories surrounding 1857 uprising have always fascinated me.

5.      Make it interesting for the impatient readers by dividing your bulky historical fiction into a series. Let’s admit it – one of the main reasons a common reader does not pick up a historical is that it is thick. All that recreation of the past, the setting, the characters – it takes pages and pages scare away the impatient readers.

I divided 1857 Dust of Agesinto a 5 volume series. Due to this serialization, it doesn’t become a heavy dose of history. I was able to concentrate on the historical romance and current investigation and move between the time frames. 

Storytelling techniques like continuous narrative and cliff hangers became handy. So for the present generation readers with short attention spams, the serialization was the answer.

You can check the spotlight and interview for more details about the book and the author: Spotlight Interview

Interview : Vandana Shanker - Author of 1857 Dust of Ages

"In Conversation with Vandana Shanker"

1.       Tell us about your journey as a writer? The transitions, the movements and the present scenario.

- It is difficult to put down a specific moment or a time period when writing happened. I wrote poems and short stories in schools but being a writer was never a serious goal. It was during the time I was pursuing my research in literature, that I became familiar with this very interesting and dynamic field of fan writing and I dabbled there. From there on, it became a part of leisure activities. 1857 Dust of Ages was the first attempt at my own novel. I completed writing it and then it did the rounds of publishers. In the meantime, I wrote by formula romance, Don’t Fall in Love which was accepted and published within a few months.

But Dust of Ages, which is very close to my heart, found it difficult. It is a niche book – a historical, set in 1857. There were issues with length, inserting and deleting scenes and so on. So I took the decision that I would publish it on Amazon and here we are!

2. Don't Fall in Love and 1857 Dust of Ages? How was it? The difference in thinking? The difference in genres?

- Very different. To the extent that some of my friends feel that it isn’t the same writer. Don’t Fall in Lovefollows the romance formula to the hilt. It is a Mills and Boons set in Delhi.  I did not think. I just opened a file on the computer and sat down to enjoy writing it.

 1857 Dust of Ages was a completely different story. It also has a romance at its centre but it is about these two people caught in this great historical turmoil. And they belong to the opposite factions. It also has elements of mystery and suspense with two contemporary investigators unearthing this scandal from the past. So in that sense, 1857 Dust of Ages is more ambitious, required a great deal of research and commitment.

They are similar too in the sense that I have tried to draw strong heroines, sensitive and supporting heroes and then of course they are set in my city, my Delhi.

3.      What are you expecting from readers with this book? And what readers can expect?

- First of all, I want the readers to read the complete series and enjoy it; I have tried to present the events of 1857 through the story of Princess Meera and Captain Smith.  These two people are attracted to each other and forge a relationship at a time when the enmity between their respective sides, the Indians and the British, is reaching its peak and the changing times test their relationship. The story is unearthed in 2016 by a team of an Indian researcher, Shiv Sahai and a British scholar, Ruth. So in a way time comes a full circle. 

It is not a regular romance; it is nuanced, there are lot of themes and trends. There is a lot of drama and suspense as the scandal is revealed layer by layer and we learn what happened to Meera and Richard. Dust of Ages is about conflict and war effect everyday lives of the people. I hope that readers are able to pick those subtle themes.

Readers can expect subtle and fulfilling romance as we journey to one of the defining moments of India’s freedom struggle.

4. Do you wish to throw light on your favorite parts from the book? Share some quotes.

- Difficult to pick up a few. As mentioned earlier, the book is close to my heart. One such moment is there right at the end of the prologue as Richard Smith thinks of his wife:

‘Every evening, I try to escape this madness by thinking about her, Princess Meera of Navgarh, a rebel soldier and my wife. The news that the sepoys in Meerut had rebelled spurred both of us. Did I expect Meera to be a dutiful wife when all her beliefs, her convictions pulled her in the opposite direction? Was I surprised on knowing that she was in Delhi, amongst the rebels? Would she be surprised on knowing that I have followed her as an enemy… a British officer? '

Another favourite part of mine is when in the initial moments of attraction, Meera tells Richard that for her, her land would always be her first love:

‘Meera’s dark eyes met Richard’s brown ones with uncommon seriousness. ‘It’s harsh. But I haven’t known anywhere else. This place, this way of life, we know only this.’ Meera took in a deep breath as if drinking in the scene in front of her. ‘All I do know, Captain Smith, for me Navgarh is… jaan se badkar.’

And then there is turning point in their relationship at the end of Volume 2. What happens before and after it is the crux of the story

‘As Richard turned to face Meera, he caught a glimpse of her raised arm before it crashed behind his neck and he slipped to the ground.’

5. What were the challenges you faced in writing this book? How you overcame them?

- The first challenge for any writer, especially a first time writer is to write a book till the end and finish it.  It is difficult, especially if you have a full time job and then you are mother too.

Dust of ages required a year of disciplined writing. I had written the prologue and the letters exchanged with John Smith and Thomas Metcalfe years ago and forgotten. But now I sat down and wrote every day, sometimes getting up at 4 in the morning, till the story ended.

I read numerous fictional and non-fictional books on 1857 to create the setting, get the tone and style of letter writing and diary writing and so on.  This kind of research is important for a historical.

A major challenge was the choice between traditional publishing and self-publishing. I went for self publishing for Dust of Ages because I wanted freedom and control over the way it reaches the readers.

Wishing her All the very best for her new book.

You can find more about the book in the spotlight of the book: Spotlight

Have A Great Day 😃

Book Blitz : A Way Back Into Love (Love, #1) by Veronica Thatcher

Blurb

Nothing is perfect. Life is messy. Relationships are complex. Outcomes, uncertain. People, irrational. But love…well, that makes everything complicated. And when you are caught in a tangled web of secrets, lies, and complex affairs, someone is bound to get burned. 

Emily Stevens is a spunky, spirited college girl whose life gets turned upside-down when she realizes she's in love with her best friend of fifteen years, Derek Thorpe. As Emily prepares to confess her feelings to Derek, something happens one night which changes her life forever. Five years later, Emily finds herself in Boston, alone and heartbroken. Will she ever be able to forget the past? And what will she find when she returns home...to the man she left behind? 

Grab your copy @

Amazon.in

About the author

Veronica Thatcher is an exciting new contemporary romance author. Ever since she was very young, she’s dreamed of becoming a doctor when she grew up. While still forging ahead with that, majoring in pre-med in college, she unwittingly stumbled upon a new dream—becoming a published author. Some may call her an introvert or a wallflower, but she has always found she could express herself better in written, rather than spoken, words. However, never in her wildest dreams had she envisioned she would pursue writing as a prospective career, not just a hobby. Her love for writing goes hand-in-hand with her love for a good romance novel—whether it be a feel-good, sweet romance or a dark, suspenseful one. 

When she’s not studying, reading, or writing, she is usually found blasting her favourite songs, sometimes singing and dancing along to them. She dabbles in a number of activities, including painting, karate, singing and dancing. She is a huge chocoholic – probably the biggest – and she is an ice-cream junkie too. She considers herself technologically handicapped forever and has no shame in admitting that. She also deems chocolates her boyfriend, Patrick Dempsey the love of her life, and Friends her life!

Her first book, A Way Back Into Love, is slated for release in February 2017, and she hopes readers will enjoy it as much as she enjoyed writing it. 

You can stalk her @      

               

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