Arun Swaminathan's
Wednesday 6 November 2024
"சுபா"வின் "இரவோடு இரவாக"
Saturday 2 November 2024
“Rage of Angels” by Sidney Sheldon
Monday 28 October 2024
ராஜேஷ்குமாரின் "மின்னலாய் வா விவேக்"
Rajeshkumar |
Wednesday 23 October 2024
“Thirteen” by Steve Cavanagh
“Thirteen” by Steve Cavanagh is another legal thriller in the Eddie Flynn series. Bobby, a rising Hollywood star is accused of murdering his wife Ariella and his chief of security. Ariella, also being an actress, the murder trial is high-profile and has enough media attention. With all evidence stacked up against Bobby, a con-man turned lawyer Eddie Flynn is pulled in as the defense attorney. As Eddie starts investigating along with his ex-FBI friend, they uncover the possibility of a serial killer being linked to the murder.
A serial killer infiltrating the jury in the murder trial to watch the proceedings against a man he framed - this is one hell of a premise!
The novel has consistent high points keeping the readers guessing. With genuine twists revealed at the right time, the novel is fast paced. The final twist about the serial killer’s connections is the only one that doesn’t fit well. The narration with dual perspectives from the protagonist and from the antagonist makes it even more gripping.
Eddie’s character as a street smart lawyer who carries some burden of guilt from his past and at the same time yearns for a future with his wife and daughter is well etched. The serial killer’s motive behind the killings and his manipulative moves against FBI to be always one step ahead and eluding capture are brilliantly portrayed.
Steve Cavanagh |
An intriguing legal thriller with a novel premise that never dips in pace! Highly recommended!
Friday 27 September 2024
“The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka
Wednesday 18 September 2024
“The Pram” by Joe Hill
“The Pram” by Joe Hill is a story that is part of Amazon’s Creature Feature Collection which features spooky tales from various authors. The story is about a couple Willy and Marianne who went through a depressive episode after Marianne experienced a miscarriage. They decide to relocate from Brooklyn for change in environment. They move into a farmhouse in Hobomeck, a small town in Maine.
Willy finds a lonesome bridle path near the farmhouse that connects to the supermarket. When the local man from the supermarket loans him a baby carriage to take home the groceries, things turn sinister. He strolls through the bridle path pushing the baby carriage around and starts to hear cooing noises coming from it. Is he hallucinating or is he experiencing some paranormal activity?
Willy had bottled up the resentment he had felt after the tragic incident and doesn’t express it for fear of doing so will seem selfish on his part. But, once he starts to like the stroll through the bridle path just to hear the cooing noises of a baby from the pram, he realises that he was hurt by the loss of their unborn baby more than he thought. Marianne, on the other hand suffers from the guilt and she wants to patch things up in their married life. Though Willy is the primary character and the story revolves around his desperation to have a baby, Marianne’s character is more relatable.
Joe Hill |
The story starts off slow with spooky descriptions of the atmosphere. But, it has a solid premise that keeps it alive. There is also a religious sacrament angle built into the story that blends well to suggest how religious rituals feed into people’s fear and grief. The analogy with Willy’s descent into depression and his stroll through the eerie bridle path with a fitting end in the climax is interesting. But, the unsettling climactic end with gory events that unfold doesn’t sit well.
Monday 16 September 2024
Periyar 146 - 2024 Birth Anniversary
"சுபா"வின் "இரவோடு இரவாக"
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