30 June, 2016

#BookReview :: Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night (The Grantchester Mysteries #2) by James Runcie

The loveable full time priest and part time detective Canon Sidney Chambers continues his sleuthing adventures in late 1950's Cambridge. Accompanied by his faithful Labrador Dickens, and working in tandem with the increasingly exasperated Inspector Geordie Keating, Sidney is called on to investigate the unexpected fall of a Cambridge don from the roof of King's College Chapel; a case of arson at a glamor photographer's studio; and the poisoning of Zafar Ali, Grantchester's finest spin bowler, in the middle of a crucial game of cricket. As he pursues his quietly probing inquiries, Sidney also has to decide on the vexed question of marriage. Can he choose between the rich, glamorous socialite Amanda Kendall and Hildegard Staunton, a beguiling German widow three years his junior? To help him make up his mind Sidney takes a trip abroad, only to find himself trapped in a complex web of international espionage just as the Berlin Wall is going up. Here are six interlocking adventures that combine mystery with morality, and criminality with charm.

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The Perils of the Night is the second book in the Grantchester Mysteries series. Having read and enjoyed two Grantchester Mysteries before picking this one up, I had much expectations from this book.

By now we know Sidney Chambers quite a bit. He is a clergyman who has a knack for getting involved and solving mysteries around him. His personal relationships (Hildegard / Amanda) and his background in the army add to the character development. I was glad when Sidney finally makes decision on his relationship front as the triangle here just wasn’t working for me. I have enjoyed the many shades of Sidney Chambers so far and he feels real even in the fiction world. His sensitivity is something that makes him endearing to everyone. Perils of the Night bring together another collection of short stories. This time too, the stories range from murder to arson to spy thriller. I am starting to like the variety that the author consistently provides in each of his books. Sidney surprises everyone with his ways around the cases and especially loved the story where he is mistaken for a spy. However, while the leisurely mannerisms of the series felt charming towards the beginning, three books down it seems to be losing that charm. I wish the plots would call for some more urgency.

I am looking forward to watching the second season of the Grantchester TV series. They had made some changes in the first season and I had enjoyed both the book & the tv series equally. Let us see if it will be the same case this time around.




Review Copy received from the Netgalley



#BookReview :: Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard

If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. 
The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.
Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. 
But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. 
Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

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Mare Barrow is a Red by blood but has an ability that any Silver would kill for. And she is not the only Red out there with ability to turn the tide of the war that has been going on for ages with the Reds paying the price for generations. She is on the run but she hasn’t given up… as she tries to track down the people of her kind, Prince Maven is close behind her. Her time in the Silver courts has taught her a few things about politics and war. She needs these people to win the war and yet there are things that she needs to control if she ever hopes to win – her power and her heart. And there is the fact that Prince Cal maybe on the run with her, but his loyalties are questionable. 

The plot has evolved and with a whole new range of characters introduced there were quite a few surprises the author sprung on her readers. I quite liked them – the surprises I mean. It was fun to see new blood in the story while some of the familiar names faces became more familiar to me. I loved getting to know Mare’s family more closely and wish Cal would open up just a bit more. I also liked the general turn the plot has taken – especially with the new player in the war. Infact, I can frankly say that I was quite happy with this book except for two things – Mare & the cliffhanger ending. I understand that the author tried to show Mare dealing with some serious issues – but her voice felt irritating at points. I wished she would just stop complaining… Yes, there was a target on her back that no one else has – but she wasn’t alone in it. Instead of feeling any empathy or sympathy for her, Mare’s voice made me want to just shake some sense into her at times – it was annoying. As for the ending, I know cliff hangers are supposed to be epic and make us want to pick up the next book – but with the way Mare’s voice was annoying me, the ending only makes me dread the next book. So in a way, I had only one problem with this book – Mare. But end of the day, protagonist or not, Mare is just one character. There are so many things about this book that is likeable, that it was easy to ignore her.

Now while I try guessing what is in store for the third instalment of this series and pine away for it – you go give this book a try if you like Young Adult – Fantasy/Dystopia.


Review Copy received from Netgalley



#Spotlight :: The Shift by Genevieve Scholl


Author Genevieve Scholl brings us another remarkable read. Help her celebrate by taking a look: 


She is a small town girl with a heart for the country life. Very shy and pretty much a loner, but her writing helps her be more outgoing and talk to various people that she would otherwise have a hard time approaching. She doesn't write for the money or the fame, but rather to tell a story that needs to be told; whether that is her story or a character's story. As a lot of people know, from her various interviews, She started writing to express her anger and hurt over the bullying that she experienced in High School, but eventually she just realized that she loved to tell stories. She was born in Texas, grew up and still lives in Upstate New York, and wants to retire in Ireland.





Nothing about me is normal… 


…but what exactly is ‘normal’? Just because I have two dads and no mom, my name is Elliot Marcus Smith even though I’m a girl, and I was born from a test tube… 
Does that mean I’m ‘abnormal’? 
I say no. 
But the sudden abilities that have been appearing since I turned eighteen sure do. Wounds are healing quickly, my vision has changed, as has my strength, and my sensitivities to other people’s emotions have become severely heightened. Add all that to the fact that I have been forgetting moments of my day as if they never happened, and it’s obvious that something strange is happening to me. 
But what? What am I becoming? 


Photo Credit: Jill Cadena David 


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29 June, 2016

#SpecialFeature :: #Interview with Moitrayee Bhaduri, #Author of The Sinister Silence


*** Special Feature - June 2016 ***

About the Author
Moitrayee Bhaduri is a writer, reader, and music enthusiast. She loves reading crime thrillers as much as she enjoys writing them. She adores epic detective characters like Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Feluda, and Byomkesh Bakshi. Since she wanted to read more Indian detective stories with women protagonists, she decided to create the character of Mili Ray. Moitrayee’s first book, The Sinister Silence is an action-packed suspense thriller that introduces private detective Mili Ray, an ex-super cop.  
Published by Srishti Publishers & Distributors, The Sinister Silence has been receiving great response and appreciation from the creative fraternity, booklovers, and the social media. The author has been featured in leading dailies like DNA, Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan Times, and The Asian Age, as well as on popular online news & blogging sites.
Moitrayee grew up in a close-knit family in Kolkata, the booklover’s paradise. She enjoys dabbling with different forms of writing – technical content writing, copy editing, creative writing, and more. She has worked with leading IT organizations in various writing and people-managerial roles. For now, she is settled in Mumbai, working full-time, and trying to focus on completing her second crime thriller. In her leisure, she enjoys traveling, watching cricket, and hanging out with loved ones.


Contact:


Interview with the Author:

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
As a kid, I loved listening to stories and narrating my own! My mother used to make subjects like geography and physics interesting by teaching me through stories. So I guess I picked up storytelling from her. Professionally, I decided to become a writer when I joined my first writing job with the Content Team at oxfordbookstore.com 

What inspires you to write?
People, nature, animals, society. 

What kind of research goes into your book?
I like researching on the backdrop or setting of my book. For instance, if I am writing on the IT industry, I should have sufficient facts to substantiate my content. A lot of research also goes into building the characters – to make them unique yet believable, relatable, and interesting. Since I am currently focusing on the crime-fiction genre, I read up/research on police procedures, forensics, administration, detectives et al. Traveling and interacting with people also help in gathering useful information. 

What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on my second book – The Musical Murders. Private detective Mili Ray will be the protagonist in this one too.  

How did you come up with the idea for your current story? 
My passion for music led me to believe that an interesting thriller plot can be built around Indian Classical music.  

If you could pick any famous author to review your book who would you pick and why? 
I would send my book review request to Dame Agatha Christie, the queen of crime-fiction. I would love to know her views on Mili Ray (my protagonist) and the Indian setting. 

Have you read any books that have inspired you to improve or change yourself in any way.
Absolutely. “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho tops the list followed by Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mocking Bird”. 

Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to get over it?
Yes, many times. I try focusing on an activity other than writing – like reading, singing, watching a movie etc. If that doesn’t work even after weeks, then I write anything that I have on my mind. For example: I could write a paragraph on “I have this writer’s block and I know only I can get over it. But how?” Spending time with ‘pen and paper’ or the laptop doing nothing also works for me. Importantly, ‘doing nothing’ also means disconnecting from the Internet at that time.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?
The editing bit. It is tricky and time- consuming but good fun! At times you don’t want to delete something because you are emotionally attached to the idea. But once you do, you realize that the manuscript looks neater :-)

Do you know the ending of your books before you finish writing them?
Yes, I have a fair idea of what the last chapter should look like when I start writing the first. However, when you spend a considerable amount of time shaping your characters, there may be a difference in the way they react to something in the final draft vis-à-vis their reaction to the same situation in the first draft. Therefore, the ending may change in the final version of the manuscript. 

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
That I am not one in a million. There are many people in this world who think like me and who would be interested in my writing. So, I should always write for myself, regardless of what people expect. Conviction in your own work is important. 

Anything else that you would like to share with your readers?
If you like reading, please buy books, share books, and encourage others to read. 




Book launch of ‘The Sinister Silence’ in Kolkata (L to R – Mr. Biplab Dasgupta, Ms. Amrita Mukherjee, Ms. Yajnaseni Chakraborty, myself, Mr. Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ms. Mona Sen Gupta)


Reading from my book at Crossword Bookstore, Mumbai (L to R – Mr. Prasoon Joshi, myself, Ms. Sangeeta Mall, Mr. Damodar Mall)


As Guest Lecturer - with the fabulous students of Podar International School, Mumbai


About the Book:
When ace software engineer Saahil is found battling for his life on a rainy morning, it looks like a case of attempted suicide. However, Saahil's family strongly denies that possibility and calls in ex-super cop-turned-detective Mili Ray to investigate. While doctors are uncertain about Saahil's survival, the police discover the blood-soaked body of Saahil's colleague Farzad. Why are IT engineers being targeted? Is there a link between these ghastly attacks and Saahil's cutting-edge invention – the PA software?
Ray and her team – Advocate Gatha and ex-army officer Anubhav – dive into this case, which is turning murkier by the hour. Unaware that a conniving assassin is stalking her, Ray races towards a dangerous trap while murderous attacks continue to haunt the IT world. Who is behind these assaults – a jealous co-worker, an IT kingpin, an estranged friend, or someone else? With the killer on the loose, Ray's credibility is at stake...
Set in Mumbai, The Sinister Silence is an edge-of-the-seat thriller that traces detective Mili Ray's journey through a mysterious case that poses new threats every time she inches closer to her goal.


Book Links:


Giveaway:
·     
3 Paperback of The Sinister Silence by Moitrayee Bhaduri - for Indian Residents Only
a Rafflecopter giveaway

28 June, 2016

#Interview with Nick Knardirell, #Author of Minnesota: Her Account; Her View

About the Author:


Author, Nick Knardirell has written, produced and directed three original stage plays, written thirteen songs and six screenplays.  Her latest crime fiction novel, Minnesota: Her Account; Her View, was released October 2015. 


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Interview with the Author:

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I was 6 years old and had to stay home from school with the Chicken Pox. While at home I was bored; couldn't play with anyone because all the neighborhood kids were at school and my mom wouldn't let me go outside. So, I started journaling and have continued to this day. 

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
For Minnesota, I imagine a powerful female crime boss. I thought it would be interesting to see that world from the eyes of a female. 

Tell us about your writing process.
I allot a certain amount of time to write and  I stick to it. Within that time; nothing else matters. Once I brainstorm what each scene will be about, who will be in it, what light I want shed, I go from there. I'm hard on myself and I don't move from that particular part until all questions/every angle has been covered. 

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
If there were one, it would be that I can write absolutely anywhere and on anything that will hold ink including my hands. 

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Be willing to stick it out and become friends with the word "no."

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?
A blank composition book, pack of pen and a dictionary. 

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
I like to visit with friends and family. I don't have any one particular favorite place. 

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
I would like to spend some time in Greece. 

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
I cannot put an outfit together, I have to have help, I'm really a silly person with serious moments, I really appreciate things money could never buy. 

About the Book:



Minnesota, details the upbringing, rise and fall of crime lord, Fuada Busticnam. Leading a double life as a crime lord and an upstanding citizen with civil duties, Fuada would be the least likely candidate to commit any criminal activity. From prison, she narrates the life she led. Innocent bystanders who escaped from prison to clear their names must journey to Minnesota in order to find Fuada. Her brother and the FBI await Fuada's arrival, but mayhem ensues!


#GuestPost :: Interesting Facts about Karna by Surendra Nath

About the Author:
Surendra tries his hand at writing fiction off and on. A few of his short stories have been published in books and magazines. 'Karna’s Alter Ego' is his first attempt at writing a full length novel. Earlier he wrote a novella that sank without a trace.

For a living, at 58, he runs after children in KiiT International School, and the strength needed for all this chasing, he draws from his previous experience in the defence forces. He also publishes a children’s magazine – 'Kloud 9'. He is the architect of a Children’s Lit Fest, that is into its third year now in 2015. 

Yes, he is married and lives happily with his wife and daughter at Cuttack. He has distant dreams of retiring as an author.


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Karna's Alter Ego

Karna, the ill-fated hero of ‘The Mahabharata’, was killed by Arjuna in the final battle. (Karna-Arjuna rivalry was much like Hector vs. Achilles.) 
5000 years later, we have a man named Vasu, who is quite like Karna – born illegitimate, very talented but denied all credits in life, rejected in love. He begins to identify himself with Karna. Vasu misses a medal in the Asian games, gets caught for telling an innocent lie and is overlooked for promotion. And interestingly Karna appears to him after every debacle to assuage and encourage him. 
It seems Vasu is Karna’s alter ego. 
In the end Vasu is faced with a life and death situation quite like Karna had faced Arjuna in his final battle. Will Vasu, finally, break the jinx? Will he win the endgame? Or will he go down fighting like his idol.
This is not a mythological tale but a contemporary take on myths related to the mythological character Karna.

Do you need to be versed with the Indian epic Mahabharata to enjoy reading this book? Not really. There is a glossary of related incidents does in case you are stuck about some incident referred in my book.

Here are some interesting facts about Karna:

1. Just before the war, Lord Krishna made an offer to Karna – he could share Draupadi as wife if he switched sides. Karna turned down the offer. Yes, it’s true. I quote Sri Krishna in Mahabharata Book 5 (Udyoga Parva section 140, “During the sixth period, Draupadi also will come to thee (as a wife).”

2. How long do you think the Pandavas stayed in the ‘Lakshagriha’ (house of sealing wax), before it was burned down? One week, one month, one season, one year? One year is the answer. In Karna’s Alter Ego, Karna reveals that if Duryodhan had any intention of burning them down, he could well have done it sooner rather than wait as long as a year. He only wanted them away from his sight. The drama could well have been the Pandavas’ ploy to garner sympathy. When nothing untoward happened for a year, it was the Pandavas (Bhim exactly) who burned down the house, and along with it six hapless citizens, to give the impression five Pandavas and their mother Kunti were dead.  

3. Why did Karna not advise his friend Duryodhan to accept Sri Krishna’s offer of avoiding war by giving away only five villages to the Pandavas? In my book, Karna explains he did talk to Duryodhan about that option. Duryodhan responded that he was quite aware that Lord Krishna had, in a previous incarnation (Vamana Avatar), made a similar request to Mahabali asking for land measuring three-footsteps, and had measured off two worlds entirely, leaving Mahabali with no room to stand on. Duryodhan didn’t want such a trick played on him, in the name of ‘only five villages’.

And here is one interesting fact about Karna’s Alter Ego. Each chapter is a standalone story that draws an analogy between the protagonist Vasu’s life and Karna’s life. And the whole adds up to a bigger story.

My next book is a sequel to this one. Vasu sets out on a quest for Karna’s Kavach-Kundal that had been taken away from him by Lord Indra. 

About the Book:

Karna, the ill-fated hero of Mahabharata. Many feel he deserved to win. If only luck had favoured him...

5000 years later, we have a man named Vasu, who is much like Karna – illegitimate birth, very talented but denied all credits in life, rejected in love, misses a medal in the Asian games, gets caught for telling an innocent lie, overlooked for promotion. He begins to identify himself with Karna, and interestingly Karna appears to him after every debacle to assuage and encourage him. 

It seems Vasu is Karna’s alter ego.








27 June, 2016

#Spotlight :: To Catch A Fallen Spy By Barbara Devlin

To Catch A Fallen Spy
By Barbara Devlin
Blog Tour – June 27 to July 2

Lady Elaine Prescott, the most timid member of the Brethren, has spent much of her time in the shadows, forever blending into the background.  From her unconventional perspective, she studies people and their behavior, gleaning information most overlook, and she is content in her quiet little world.  When her unusual habit puts her in the right place at the wrong moment, she witnesses a violent crime, and her life is threatened.  To her dismay, Elaine finds herself in an unwelcomed spotlight and in need of a knight.
Sir Ross Logan is a master spy and the mysterious head of the covert Counterintelligence Corps.  In dark spaces he lurks, scrutinizing those he is charged to defend, and it is an easy and uncomplicated existence for a man of many secrets.  In the midst of a murder investigation, he is tasked with guarding a noblewoman, the gentle lady he has furtively admired for years.  Young and unspoiled, she is everything he is not, and he vows to protect her.  While he doubts not his ability to save her from a lethal villain, can Ross defend Elaine against himself?
Lady Elaine Prescott steps from beyond the shadows to claim her gallant knight, Sir Ross Logan, the mysterious head of the Counterintelligence Corps.


The Descendants
London
September, 1815

Secrets lurked in the shadows, beckoning as a welcomed friend for the undaunted.  Unfettered by social conventions, the spotlight of which forced many a lord or a lady to conform to the expectations of others, the blackness functioned as a form of liberty, wherein revelers conducted their covert games without threat of discovery or retribution.  It was in those dark spaces Lady Elaine Horatia Prescott found comfort and strength.

As the youngest member of a large, extended family comprised of spirited ladies with bold personalities and equally intrepid men, the famed Nautionnier Knights of the Brethren of the Coast, daring sea captains descended of the Templars, the warriors of the Crusades, she often hugged the background, taking pride in her ability to hide in plain sight.  Searching for some sense of herself, something not influenced by the rich history of her ancestors or her colorful relations, she fought to construct her own identity on her terms.

What she had not expected was to find love.

With great care, she moved swift and sure as she approached her target, skulking amid the outskirts of the crowd that filled the Hawthorne’s ballroom, during the height of the Little Season.  As she neared, he shifted, and she paused just shy of touching him and held her breath.

In one fail swoop, he pivoted, slipped an arm about her waist, pulled her into a corner, and bent to whisper in her ear.  “Lady Elaine, you are the only person capable of sneaking up on me, and I am not sure I appreciate your skill.”  Sir Ross Logan, the enigmatic head of the Counterintelligence Corps, brushed the crest of her flesh with his lips, she suspected not by accident, and her knees buckled.  

“Why do you not dance?  Why do you not take your place among the ton, with the other debutantes?  Do you not wish to snare a husband, marry, and have children?”
“On the contrary, I want all those things with someone of my choosing.”  She cupped his cheek, and he retreated, much to her chagrin.  “But I am here because you are here.”
“Elaine, you must stop this nonsense.”  Now he withdrew and attempted to push her aside, but she resisted, even as her heart plummeted.  And despite his complaints, he would not hazard courting attention, so she held her ground.  “I am not the man for you.”
“How do you know that?”  It was not the first time he rejected her, and she surmised it would not be the last.  “Why will you not give us a chance at happiness?”
“Because I have nothing to give you but misery and regret.”  As usual, Ross offered the same excuse.
“I disagree.”  As usual, she would not be deterred.  “And I will not yield my cause, no matter your protestations.”
“Neither will I.”  To convey his position, he folded his arms, but he could never fool her.  “Go back to your world of perfume and petticoats, as I have work to do, and I require no partner.”
“As you wish.”  Of course, she knew well the routine and her part to play in their typical drama.  So she marched into the fray, unabashed and poised in her determination.  A potential solution tripped before her, and she extended assistance, as would any woman of character.  “Sir Kleinfeld, are you all right?”
“Oh, my lady.”  With a toothy grin, he brushed off his lapels and bowed.  “Did I step on you?”
“No.”  Elaine giggled, because he was well known for such behavior.  “How are you enjoying the party?”
“Not very much, I am sorry to admit.”  Frowning, he glanced over his shoulder.  “The elder Miss Hogart refuses to grant me the honor of the Allemande.”
“Perhaps she will change her mind, when she spies you in a graceful performance of the waltz, with me.”  In a valiant appeal to his pride, she curtseyed.  “What say you, Sir Kleinfeld?”
“Lady Elaine, you are the soul of charity.”  When she rested her palm in the crook of his elbow, he covered her hand with his.  “You know, if my affections were not firmly planted in Miss Hogart’s garden, I should court you.”
“You flatter me, sir.”  To her credit, she mustered the courage to brave the rotation with one of the clumsiest, but good-natured, members of her set.
And so she ventured into the breach, imperiling her feet in her quest to win Sir Ross.  After the third trouncing of her toes, she swallowed a grunt of pain and prayed her savior would not linger, else she might suffer broken bones.  Just how long would her beau wait?  As if on cue, her rescuer presented himself as she predicted.
“May I intrude?”  Ross tapped Archibald on the shoulder.  “As I believe Miss Hogart seeks an audience.”
“Capital.”  Without so much as a backward glance, Sir Kleinfeld gave her into Ross’s care, and that suited Elaine just fine.
“I know what you are doing.”  Ross took her in his arms, twined her fingers with his, and they whirled in the soft light of the cut-glass chandeliers.
“I beg your pardon?”  She lifted her chin and avoided his stare.
“Do not dissemble with me, Lady Elaine.”  The tone of his voice declared she had scored a direct hit, and she reveled in her small victory.  Near the side wall, he pulled her closer.  “How dare you deliberately put yourself in jeopardy to bait me, as that buffoon could have seriously injured you.”
“But you are not the man for me, so you would never answer a supposed summons.”  Let him counter that.  “Or did you lie?”
“You lured me into the open, without thought of my mission or the risk to my safety, just to meet your selfish aims.”  Now that hurt.  “I ought to spank you.”
“Name the date and time, and I shall accommodate you.”  Swallowing her trepidation, she looked him in the eye, and he cast the hint of a grin.  “I challenge you, sir.”  She licked her lips.  “Resist me.”




Bestselling, Amazon All-Star author Barbara Devlin was born a storyteller, but it was a weeklong vacation to Bethany Beach, DE that forever changed her life. The little house her parents rented had a collection of books by Kathleen Woodiwiss, which exposed Barbara to the world of romance, and Shanna remains a personal favorite.
Barbara writes heartfelt historical romances that feature flawed heroes who may know how to seduce a woman but know nothing of marriage. And she prefers feisty but smart heroines who sometimes save the hero, before they find their happily ever after.
Barbara earned an MA in English and continued a course of study for a Doctorate in Literature and Rhetoric. She happily considered herself an exceedingly eccentric English professor, until success in Indie publishing lured her into writing, full-time, featuring her fictional knighthood, the Brethren of the Coast.



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26 June, 2016

#BookReview :: The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood

Miss Ona Vitkus has - aside from three months in the summer of 1914 - lived unobtrusively, her secrets fiercely protected.

The boy, with his passion for world records, changes all that. He is eleven. She is one hundred and four years, one hundred and thirty three days old (they are counting). And he makes her feel like she might be really special after all. Better late than never...

Only it's been two weeks now since he last visited, and she's starting to think he's not so different from all the rest.

Then the boy's father comes, for some reason determined to finish his son's good deed. And Ona must show this new stranger that not only are there odd jobs to be done, but a life's ambition to complete . . . 

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This is one of those books that are bound to make you cry. The blurb was enough to realize that and so I sat down to read the book with tissues ready at hand.

The book is about the friendship between two very unlikely people and how it affects the people around them. When an 11 year old boy scout comes to Ona for odd jobs so that he can earn another scouting badge, Ona thinks very little of it. After all at the age of 104, Ona has seen and experienced enough of life. She never expected the boy to stick around or to form a relationship with him. But when he stops coming over, Ona assumes the worst. After a while, the boy’s father turns up and explains that the boy had died and that he was there to finish his work. As the parents of the boy and Ona get to know each other, they learn a lot about not only the boy, but also about themselves and life.

Beautifully written, this is a completely engaging book. The language and narrative used are both very eloquent and as such it added much to the plot. The characters are all very different from each other and have all been fleshed out quite well. They have their own quirks and flaws making them human and easy to relate to. The theme of loss is very strong in the book. With the boy’s death each person deals with the loss of his absence in their life. They each have their own take on it and their own process of dealing with it. At the same time there is this feeling that the author wanted to take a look at the aspects of love as well. I have to admit that the ending bugged me a lot. Without giving any spoilers, all I can say that the way the author wrapped up everything was all too neat for me. Real life is messy and not everything ties up so neatly no matter how much we want or try.


Review Copy received from Hachette India


24 June, 2016

#BookReview :: Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard

This is a world divided by blood - red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.
That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.
Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.
But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance - Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart... 


Special Powers - Oppressed People - A Prince - A Heroine from the working class.

The world of Red Queen is set in a fantastical dystopian world where people are divided into two classes; Silvers – the ruling class and the Reds – the servants and soldiers. It is not that simple really, but that is the general outlook of the world in which Mare Barrow lives. Close to her conscription date, Mare is offered a job in the royal palace. What seems to be a relief from a life in the army, soon turns into something much more. The Silvers have always had powers and the Red don’t – Mare seems to be an exception to it! She is a Red with powers and she is discovered smack middle of an event at the palace. She soon finds herself betrothed to the young Silver Prince as there is a revolution brewing and the Silver Court wants to use her as a pawn in the game.

Red Queen was interesting and disappointing at the same time. This book has some very interesting characters. Mare, our protagonist, is a rebel from the very beginning. From stealing to help out her family to try and save her friend from being drafted to the army, Mare does what she feels needs to be done. The Crown Prince Cal is my sweetheart in the book. He is the kind of a person I would like to see in the leadership position. He genuinely cares for the people of his kingdom and is not afraid to get down and dirty to root out the problems. Prince Maven was a character who surprised me – while I felt that something was off about him through the story, I just didn’t expect him to turn out the way he did. And the Evil Queen… Well, she is an antagonist that I dare not cross – especially with her special powers.

I loved the way the author has set up her dystopian world that is quite different yet familiar at the same time. It has a few elements that we have already seen in some books before – the inherent good vs evil feel and the love triangle that I feel is overused in most plots. But the narrative style holds attention through the book, making it a page turner.



Review Copy received from Hachette India



23 June, 2016

#BookReview :: Karna's Alter Ego by Surendra Nath


Karna, the ill-fated hero of Mahabharata. Many feel he deserved to win. If only luck had favoured him...

5000 years later, we have a man named Vasu, who is much like Karna – illegitimate birth, very talented but denied all credits in life, rejected in love, misses a medal in the Asian games, gets caught for telling an innocent lie, overlooked for promotion. He begins to identify himself with Karna, and interestingly Karna appears to him after every debacle to assuage and encourage him.

It seems Vasu is Karna’s alter ego.


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Vasu has had the worst luck right from his birth. He feels that no matter how hard he works or how deserving he is, things never go his way. From being an illegitimate child to struggles through his school life – things only make him want to take charge of his own life. But whether it is his personal life or his professional life, things always slip out of his reach. His luck never seems to look up and smile at him. Vasu feels that his life mirrors the life of Karna – the ‘ill-fated hero of Mahabharata’. He feels so connected to Karna that Karna ‘appears’ to counsel him. The twist in the story comes in late – too late for Vasu? Or just in time after all?

The blurb of this book felt interesting because I loved the idea of a mythological character being re-invented in the modern era. Also, the mention of Karna appearing to assuage the protagonist reminded me of the Munnabhai MBBS movie as well. So, I had to take a chance with it.

Vasu is an interesting character. His life and his attitude towards life catch the attention of the reader right away. He makes the reader to want to get to know him and understand him. I felt it was the biggest asset of the book – the characterization of Vasu. He is someone who not only intrigues the readers but also manages to hold their attention throughout. There are quite a few other side characters that play important roles in the story. They were introduced and developed well enough to keep pace with Vasu. However, I wished that the author had chosen different names for them and wished for slightly different placements. The author’s choices in these two matters actually made the book very much predictable at so many important points. The story flow lagged at a few places where the narration felt a bit pushy and preachy. But for most parts, I felt that the author has done a good enough job with the narrative which was quite simple and restrained. The best part about the book is the way the author has laid out a simple plot that can be looked at many ways. It is up to the reader to decide how much they want to absorb from it. 

If you decide to pick up this book, I would recommend that you give it time – it may take a few pages to really get into the story and to ‘get’ the flow. But once you do, you will only put it down after finishing it. A good debut.


Review Copy received from the Author



22 June, 2016

#SpecialFeature :: Moitrayee Bhaduri talks about her top 5 Fictional Detectives


*** Special Feature - June 2016 ***

Crime thrillers are irresistible. Whether the focus is on whodunits like ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ or ‘The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side’, action-packed thrillers like ‘The Devotion of Suspect X’ or ‘The Girl in Dragon Tattoo’, serialized dramas resulting in high adrenaline rush like ‘Prison Break’ or ‘The Practice’, I devour them all. The Enid Blyton series on the adventurous ‘Five Find Outers’ will always be a fascinating childhood memory.

For this post, my focus is on detectives from crime-fiction books. Some iconic characters like Holmes, Poirot, and Feluda have had their stories made into movies, serials etc. But like most booklovers, I continue to be attracted to their books.

Here are my top 5 fictional detectives


Miss Marple
Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple is all my all-time favorite detective. I was instantly drawn to her incredible ability to find similarities between people and solve mysteries through common sense. An elderly lady from the small town of St. Mary Mead (a fictional village) who knows more about human nature and murder motives than her more experienced counterparts is intriguing. I like the fine touches by Christie that make her books so visual- Jane Marple’s passion for gardening for instance or the English breakfast complete with scones, and perfectly boiled eggs! 


Sherlock Holmes
The world’s most loved, sharp-witted detective obviously had to be in my top 5. When one wishes to travel to London with the mission of visiting 221B Baker Street (address of Sherlock Holmes), when the stories continue to linger in your mind years after you have read them, when you wonder how he manages to be the master of disguise, the king of forensics, logical reasoning and more – you know you are Sherlocked! Add to that, the creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s magical storytelling that helps you visualize the old-world charm of England. Till date, I continue to be mesmerized by Sherlock Holmes. 


Feluda 
The celebrated Indian detective Feluda (also known as Pradosh Mitter) was created by the legendary Satyajit Ray. Originally written in Bengali, Feluda is super intelligent and perceptive. He believes in using his ‘mogojastro’ (the brain weapon) to solve complex cases. A big fan of Sherlock Holmes, Feluda is seen applauding Holmes in several books. A detective so simple and sharp, Feluda’s cases always lead to a nail-biting finish. He works with a team – the hilarious Jatayu (a crime-thriller author) and the diligent Topshey (Feluda’s cousin). Feluda’s readers range from eight to 80-year-olds and one never tires of reading his stories.


Hercule Poirot
The ace Belgian detective, also created by Agatha Christie, the queen of crime, is another huge favorite. Poirot mysteries keep you on tenterhooks until the end. What I enjoy the most about a Poirot novel is that while I am dying to finish the book, I don’t quite want it to end! Poirot uses my favorite case-solving techniques – facts and ONLY facts. He shows us repeatedly that even the tiniest of evidences can make a big difference. He stands out as the perfectionist and the cleanliness-freak for whom modesty is never the best policy. 

 

Byomkesh Bakshi
Byomkesh Bakshi is another brainy Indian investigator who calls himself a ‘satyanweshi’ (seeker of truth). Written in Bengali by the noted author Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, Bakshi is a perfect mix of intelligence, common sense, wit, and charm. Unlike other famous detectives, Bakshi is married. Like Holmes, he too works with an assistant but doesn’t quite appreciate the partner’s probing skills. His novels are fast-packed and there is a thrill in the manner he solves the mysteries. The books also give us interesting insights on pre-independent India.

 

Other Stars
There are several other fictional detectives I admire such as Robert Galbraith’s (JK Rowling) Cormoran Strike, Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta, Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus, and Suchitra Bhattacharya’s Mitin Mashi. And how can I forget the low-profile astute priest-detective Father Brown, created by G.K Chesterton. 

If you love crime-fiction, I am sure you have read one or more of these interesting, classic detective stories. 

If you would like to tell us about your favorite detective characters, don’t forget to leave a comment on this post. You can also write to me at moitrayeebhaduri@gmail.com . Happy reading!


About the Author
Moitrayee Bhaduri is a writer, reader, and music enthusiast. She loves reading crime thrillers as much as she enjoys writing them. She adores epic detective characters like Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Feluda, and Byomkesh Bakshi. Since she wanted to read more Indian detective stories with women protagonists, she decided to create the character of Mili Ray. Moitrayee’s first book, The Sinister Silence is an action-packed suspense thriller that introduces private detective Mili Ray, an ex-super cop.  
Published by Srishti Publishers & Distributors, The Sinister Silence has been receiving great response and appreciation from the creative fraternity, booklovers, and the social media. The author has been featured in leading dailies like DNA, Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan Times, and The Asian Age, as well as on popular online news & blogging sites.
Moitrayee grew up in a close-knit family in Kolkata, the booklover’s paradise. She enjoys dabbling with different forms of writing – technical content writing, copy editing, creative writing, and more. She has worked with leading IT organizations in various writing and people-managerial roles. For now, she is settled in Mumbai, working full-time, and trying to focus on completing her second crime thriller. In her leisure, she enjoys traveling, watching cricket, and hanging out with loved ones.


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About the Book:
When ace software engineer Saahil is found battling for his life on a rainy morning, it looks like a case of attempted suicide. However, Saahil's family strongly denies that possibility and calls in ex-super cop-turned-detective Mili Ray to investigate. While doctors are uncertain about Saahil's survival, the police discover the blood-soaked body of Saahil's colleague Farzad. Why are IT engineers being targeted? Is there a link between these ghastly attacks and Saahil's cutting-edge invention – the PA software?
Ray and her team – Advocate Gatha and ex-army officer Anubhav – dive into this case, which is turning murkier by the hour. Unaware that a conniving assassin is stalking her, Ray races towards a dangerous trap while murderous attacks continue to haunt the IT world. Who is behind these assaults – a jealous co-worker, an IT kingpin, an estranged friend, or someone else? With the killer on the loose, Ray's credibility is at stake...
Set in Mumbai, The Sinister Silence is an edge-of-the-seat thriller that traces detective Mili Ray's journey through a mysterious case that poses new threats every time she inches closer to her goal.


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3 Paperback of The Sinister Silence by Moitrayee Bhaduri - for Indian Residents Only
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