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Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 252

My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

This book is a collection of fourteen stories about ordinary people suffering from various kinds of ailments which fills your heart with sadness and cry your eyes out. These are stories about people facing difficult times in their lives which are killing them slowly and steadily. It breaks your heart reading about such upsetting situations and makes you go silent. After finishing each story you need time to process what you just read as they have deep meanings hidden behind them. Some of them makes you stop and think that how grateful we are to be able to live a perfectly normal life while the very next moment we may question the sanity of every other human being. These are stories of pain, longing and passion which can effect a person adversely. The author has penned down each one beautifully which reflects deep emotions. The stories are short, easy to read and the language used is simple and easily understandable. My favourite ones out of the lot are ‘Untouchability’,’My Mother’s Lover’ and ‘Sleep’. If you are looking to read something deep and thought provoking then i highly recommend this book.

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Publisher : Bloomsbury

Pages: 310

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My Review : 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

The story revolves around two women, Emira and Alix. Emira is an African-American, working as a babysitter and living a life which she is not satisfied with. She works for Alix . Though she loves the children, she wants a more fulfilling job which will bring stability in her life and a reputation among friends who are already ahead of her in their career. Whereas Alix is living a lavish life but feels something is missing. She used to work for a cause but responsibilities are making her lag behind. But both of them don’t know that soon their lives are going to be intertwined.
The story is a breath of fresh air. Overall it is fun to read but has a dipper meaning hidden behind. It talks about social issues starting from discrimination, racism, inequality and women empowerment. The writing style is beautiful and the characters are absolutely adorable. It is a fast faced paced story without a single dull moment. It is a feel good kind of story, a light and breezy read with a touch of something to think about. The plot is catchy with certain twists which keeps you hooked till the end. Any girl in their mid 20s can feel connected to Emira who is trying to figure out what to do with her life. She is confused about her choices and which path to choose. Again their is Alix who used to be a headstrong woman but due to children and responsibilities she is losing herself somewhere. Adding to all that is their changing aspects of personal relationships and the ups and downs. It is a very normal yet heart warming story which is similar to many of our lives. I am quite sure if anyone picks it up they won’t be disappointed. It can be a perfect book for your next weekend.

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#blurb: Newly married, newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband’s crumbling country estate, The Bridge.
With her new servants resentful and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie only has her husband’s awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. But inside her new home lies a locked room and beyond that door lies a two-hundred-year-old diary and a deeply unsettling painted wooden figure – a Silent Companion – that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself…

Author: Laura Purcell

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 384

My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

After the death of her husband, Elsie Bainbridge moves into his family house, The Bridge, in a village far away from London with his cousin Sarah. Everything seems strange about that house starting from the awkward servants, mysterious noises and villagers’ ignorance towards the Bridge. As days pass by Elsie and Sarah discovers forbidden secrets which disrupts their lives. The spooky companions starts appearing and it seems that the life of every member of that household is at stake.

The book is beautifully eerie and keeps you awake at night thinking about the companions knocking at your door. The starting may seem to be slow but within few pages the book picks up its pace and keeps you hooked. The author has amazingly weaved such a tale of horror mixed with elements of psychology which makes chills run down your spine. The characters are mysterious and well casted. The backdrop of the story gives you the perfect spooky vibes thus doing justice to the theme. The most horrifying part was the diary entries by Anne Bainbridge from 17th century which explains almost all the supernatural activities. This is one of the best horror stories I have read in a long time and I highly recommend it. Also the cover of the book is lovely.

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#blurb:When a Mumbai politician is found wrapped in a plastic bag behind a park bench, DIG Ajay Biswas is asked to take over the case. Ajay arrives in Mumbai only to discover that his colleagues don’t want him there and that someone is deliberately providing false leads…

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 360

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My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Mr. Saane, a Mumbai based politician’s dead body has been found in a park. When police embarks on investigating the murder, they try to hide many facts and blame innocent people to solve the mystery fast. But their unethical ways comes to a stop when DIG Ajay Biswas takes over the case. Through his intelligence and experience he discovers the loopholes and tries to find out the real culprit.

Throughout the book we get to experience two time lines- one the present day and another set 40 years back in a world full of discrimination and prejudice. The book highlights social issues which created a barrier among people. Also it brings the corrupt practices of the police who are meant to make people feel safe. The underlying meaning of the story is vivid and thought provoking. At the end of each chapter the authors pour down their feelings and questioned certain practices. The story is well weaved casting bigotry and corruption with a mixture of thrill and suspense. There was usage of both of hindi and english dialogues which I feel may not appeal to many. Overall it was a good read. Also one of the characters was an Agatha Christie fan which I really liked.

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#blurb:The first in a new Norwegian crime series featuring disgraced ex-Chief Inspector Thorkild Aske, a damaged man with a complicated past Fresh out of prison and a stint in a psychiatric hospital, disgraced ex-policeman Thorkild Aske only wants to lose himself in drugged dreams of his beloved Frei. Wild, unknowable Frei. The woman he loved. The woman he has lost forever. Yet when Frei’s young cousin goes missing off the Norwegian coast and Thorkild is called in by the family to help find him, dead or alive, Thorkild cannot refuse. He owes them this. Tormented by his past, Thorkild soon finds himself deep in treacherous waters. He’s lost his reputation – will he now lose his life?

Author: Heine Bakkeid

Publisher: Bloomsbury India

Pages: 416

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My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Thorkild, an ex-police inspector is freshly out of prison and struggling to get back to his normal life. He is on pills and looking for job when a past acquaintance, Arne Villmyr shows up with his son missing. Though he is convinced that his son, Rasmus is dead but still for the mental satisfaction oh his wife, he appoints Thorkild to the task of finding out Rasmus’s dead body. Thorkild has a dark past with Rasmus’s cousin and is still suffering from the aftermath of that accident. Still Thorkild embarks on the journey of finding Ramus in Northern Norway. The things he discovers in the search mission are shocking, dangerous and eerie at the same time. With hidden mysteries and paranormal activities it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The book starts slow but within 100 pages it picks up pace and keeps you hooked till the end. The plot is well built with an interesting cast of characters. Also the turn of events keeps you wanting for more at the end of every chapter. The story is set up in a little island with an abandoned light house where there is storm almost every day. The chilly atmosphere and disappearing people make it all the more enthralling. Also it deals with trauma and mental breakdown of the protagonist making us feel more connected to him and grieve for what he went through. With a spooky backdrop the mystery is weaved beautifully. If you are a sucker for mystery and thrillers it can be your next weekend read. It would have been a perfect 5star read but I felt some parts were dragged and could have been shortened easily. Nevertheless it’s a good book to enjoy.

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#blurb: Ease is a poetic journey within. It is an attempt to take a dive deep into the self, a place of acknowledgement, of appreciation and of a celebration our individuality is. The book revolves around the theme “comfortable in my own skin” as it touches the softness and the power of self love, self healing, gratitude and greater good. Ease is a collection of raw, unfiltered and simple poems. Ease is a collection of poetry, art and of different writers in collaboration.
It is about blooming, about how you are all you could ever ask for. Ease is a part of the author in words seeking to be a part of your journey. Ease is his present to you, it is his journey to you, for you.

Author: Mukhpreet Khurana

Publisher: White Falcon Publishing

Pages: 193

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My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

This is my second book by the author and I can proudly say that he has already become one of my favourite. There is a beautiful and enchanting tone to his writings which draws you towards his books. It gives a feeling of calmness and transfers you to a completely different world. His way of writing soothes your heart and mind and gives a feeling of contentment. He depicts small events of our day to day life in the form of poetry and short tales which keeps you mesmerized for hours even after finishing the book. With a Mukhpreet Khurana book you will never be disappointed. He knows how to keep you engaged with lyrical thoughts and captivating verse. Some of my favourite poems from the book are- A dream, You might and Magic tricks. The poems depict various facets of life starting from love, family, loneliness to heartbreak and self-love. They are short but deep and will take only a few hours to finish reading. His words seem so real which makes you connect to it more. It is spellbinding and thought provoking at the same time. It enriches you and warms your heart. If you liked his first book ‘Unlocked Silences’ then you are definitely going to enjoy this book too. So don’t forget to give it a go!

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#blurb:Aspiring actress Priya is dead. It’s a suicide, and rumour has it that Anil, son of politician and former Telugu-movie superstar Mohan Krishna, drove her to it. Just another film-industry scandal? Or something bigger, much bigger?

Partha, hired by Mohan Krishna’s family to handle the crisis, thinks so. Why won’t such a powerful father defend his son, Partha wonders. Is there an intra-family war? Whose interests are playing out in the media and on social media? Is a political game afoot or is this all connected to Mohan Krishna’s own dubious past? And why are student unions getting involved?

Even as Partha and his associates, Seema and Harish, confront the ethics of being involved in a war with no heroes, they are drawn into a dangerous hunt. They must negotiate a tangled and vicious world to answer one question: a young woman is dead—to whom is her death useful?

Author: Sriram Chellapilla

Publisher: Westland

Pages: 416

My Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Priya, a theatre arts graduate is found dead in her apartment. It appears to be a suicide but the police is not convinced. There is no trace of any suicide letter and moreover many things in the apartment appears to be absurd. When the police questions the girl who informed them about the dead body, many unknown facts come to light. It turns out to be another film industry scandal as Priya was an aspiting actor and was betrayed by some high profile peoplr of the industry. Also the political angle makes it more enthralling. If you have read the blurb you know it all. So what is the real deal? Why is Priya dead? Who id behind all these? If you want to know then pick up the book asap.

The book is beautifully written and keeps you at the edge of your seat. With commendable set of characters and a power packed plot the author leaves you awestruck. The story starts slow but as you keep on reading the pace picks up and makes the book unputdownable. As you keep on turning the pages be prepared to get surprised. And not to mention the final twist will leave you dumbfounded. It can be turned into a perfect bollywood movie with a nailbiting climax. If you are a sucker for murder mystery then you are going to love this book. With so many twists and a gripping plot the book will be a perfect weekend read.

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