Harlan Coben’s “Fool Me Once”

Harlan Coben’s “Fool Me Once” revolves around Maya Stern, a military veteran whose career comes to an abrupt end after she blows up an SUV carrying civilians during a mission. When footage of the incident is leaked online by a whistleblower organization, her reputation is destroyed. But there is far more to the story than what the world has seen.

The novel opens with the funeral of Joe, Maya’s husband. He was murdered during what appeared to be a burglary gone wrong while he and Maya were taking a stroll through a park. But was it really just a random robbery? To make matters even more unsettling, Maya’s sister had also been murdered only a few months earlier in what was believed to be a home invasion. Were these two robberies merely tragic coincidences, or was there an unseen thread connecting them?

After the funeral, Maya’s close friend Eileen gifts her a digital photo frame with a hidden nanny cam, hoping it will help her keep an eye on her young daughter, Lily. Haunted by PTSD from the military incident, Maya finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life. She struggles to connect with Lily, who spends most of her time in the care of Isabella, the nanny.

She settles into this routine until one day, when she spots something strange and unsettling in the footage from the nanny cam. She sees Joe, her dead husband, playing with Lily. Did Joe fake his own murder? Is someone orchestrating an elaborate deception? Or is Maya’s trauma finally blurring the line between reality and illusion?

From that moment onward, Fool Me Once hurtles forward at a relentless pace, plunging the reader into a whirlwind of twists, secrets, and revelations.

As Maya begins digging into her sister’s murder, she uncovers the outlines of a conspiracy that may have cost her sister her life. What initially appears to be two unrelated tragedies slowly begins to unravel into something far more sinister, with each answer leading to even more unsettling questions.

While parts of the novel are fairly predictable, Harlan Coben keeps the pages turning with crisp pacing and a steady stream of revelations. Even when some twists can be anticipated, the suspense rarely lets up. The climactic revelation ties the various threads together and delivers a satisfying conclusion.

Barring a few moments where the characters make decisions that feel a little too convenient or implausible, “Fool Me Once” is a thoroughly engaging thriller.

Colleen Hoover’s “Layla”

Colleen Hoover’s Layla is a slow-burn paranormal romance centered on Leeds, a bass player who instantly falls for the spirited and unconventional Layla when they meet at a wedding. Their connection quickly deepens, and Leeds becomes convinced he has found the love of his life. But a sudden, tragic incident leaves Layla fighting for her life. Though she physically recovers, Leeds is haunted by the feeling that she is no longer the same woman he fell in love with.

In an attempt to revive their fading bond, he takes her back to the secluded bed-and-breakfast where they first met, hoping to rediscover what they once had. Instead, an unexpected guest enters the picture, and Leeds finds himself drawn toward her rather than focusing on repairing his strained relationship with Layla. Can Layla reclaim the love they once shared? Or will this mysterious newcomer further fracture their already fragile connection?

What begins as a crazy love story gradually shifts into something far stranger. With a limited cast and a confined setting, the novel lingers for a long time before unveiling a twist that genuinely surprises. The story is unconventional and at times unsettling—occasionally even uncomfortable. As a paranormal romance, it asks readers to suspend disbelief and accept its improbable turns.

Although the final twist is compelling, it isn’t quite enough to transform an otherwise disturbing and uneven narrative into a truly gripping read.

Michael Connelly’s “The Lincoln Lawyer”

Michael Haller, a criminal defence attorney is a cynical yet rational lawyer who operates out of the back of his Lincoln town car. He had always feared he wouldn’t recognise innocence one day when it stood right in front of him. That time comes when he lands on a case of aggravated assault and attempted murder defending a wealthy realtor, Louis Roulet. Though the case looks like a slam dunk case for the prosecution, Haller finds a glimmer of a hope on further discovery to save his client. He throws the case wide open only to find himself at crossroads where he can save only one of his two clients.

With legal complications mounting, ethical obligations to be upheld and his own life at stake, will the Lincoln lawyer find a way out of this conflict of interest? Michael Haller, as a charismatic attorney with a blunt candour and an emotionally vulnerable father to his estranged daughter is a well written character. There are equally important well etched characters that come along.

An interesting premise and a seamless chain of events that ensue with a banger of a twist at half way through the novel makes this a gripping read. A point of no return with a brilliantly written courtroom drama in the second half finishes this novel on a high.

Highly recommended !!

“The Perfect Son” by Freida McFadden

Erika Cass, a mother of two, confesses to murder in a police investigation. Who was the victim? Was she the real murderer or was she covering her son Liam? Only Erika knows her son’s hidden sociopathic tendencies and what her son is capable of. “The Perfect Son” wastes no time and moves straight into the narrative with this prologue. 

Liam takes interest in a girl from his class and when Erika learns about it, she knows it is going to be trouble. But, before she could react, the girl goes missing and Liam is the last person to see her alive. The novel explores the theme of sociopath vs psychopath with this premise with enough twists and turns to keep you hooked. 

With limited characters, Freida McFadden builds up the suspense in a manner that the novel sustains the momentum until the very end. Though we foresee the twist at the end, the pace at which the narrative unfolds makes us oversee this shortcoming. The novel is strewn with plot deflections which add to the mystery quotient but the novel never goes off track into the sidetracks. The multiple POV narrative makes the novel even more interesting with consistent high points.

Reminiscent of her previous novels, “The Perfect Son” also survives on the shock value with unsettling themes. Nevertheless, a worthy read!

John Grisham’s “The Exchange”

John Grisham’s “The Exchange” touted to be a sequel to his previous blockbuster novel “The Firm” starts off as a legal thriller and later shifts into an international suspense thriller involving an abduction. Mitch McDeere, the small town lawyer from “The Firm” returns in this novel as a partner in one of the top law firms - Scully and Pershing.

After the life threatening encounter with the Mob fifteen years ago, Mitch and his wife Abby have been living a normal life with their kids. Mitch is assigned a case which involves construction firm Lannak’s lawsuit against the Libyan government over unpaid dues for building a bridge in the middle of the desert. Luca Sandroni who was managing the case before, suffers from pancreatic cancer and his daughter Giovanna is chosen to work along with Mitch for Lannak. When Mitch and Giovanna decide to visit the bridge in Libya, Giovanna gets abducted and the security personnel accompanying her end up being brutally murdered on video. 

Who is behind the abduction? Is it the Libyan colonel? Is it Mitch’s past catching up with him? When they wait for an outfit or the people behind the abduction to make contact, Mitch’s wife Abby is being threatened with pictures of her family and a contact is made with a huge ransom demand. Abby is caught in the middle of a hostage negotiation as the kidnappers only communicate to Abby. Mitch and Abby try every possible source to come up with the ransom amount. Will they be able to rescue Giovanna alive with the clock ticking? Will they close in on the kidnappers?

A promising premise with a potential to become an engrossing international thriller is let down by tiresome sidetracks with very little action happening throughout. The hostage negotiation takes a backstage at one point and the side track involving the attempt to raise funds for the ransom takes center stage until it gets boring. By the time the novel gets back on track, it is too late. The unconvincing link up to “The Firm” at the end and an abrupt climax makes this novel a futile attempt at giving a sequel. 

“1st to Die” by James Patterson

James Patterson’s “1st to Die” is the first in his Women’s murder club series. Lindsay, a detective in pursuit of a serial killer brings together three other women - forensic expert, an amateur journalist and an assistant district attorney to solve the crime. Though they are from different fields and are aspiring to excel in their respective careers, they have one thing in common - a woman in a male dominated profession. As the ongoing procedural investigation is heading nowhere with their condescending, credit-stealing male bosses around, they decide to meet every now and then to crack open the case and identify the killer.

A series of double murders shock the city as honeymooners get killed soon after their wedding. The killer leaves behind explicit clues to keep the police on the run and is always one step ahead planning and plotting the most sickening nature of crimes. The killer proves elusive as the women search for the missing link between the killings that take place. The protagonist Lindsay, fighting her own battle with health issues is bent upon finding the killer and the motive behind the murders. 

James Patterson

The novel wastes no time and the solid premise catapults the novel into an intriguing suspense. The women’s murder club tracks down the most terrifying and unexpected killer half way through the novel only to stumble upon a shocking revelation that proves their judgement entirely wrong. Can they bounce back from this major setback? Until this point, the novel is brilliantly written with enough suspense to keep it going and enough twists that give a genuine thrill. The novel becomes a tad too predictable after the mid-point though it doesn’t get boring. It surprisingly keeps us engrossed until the very end.

The women getting together and bonding with each other is somewhat rushed. Due to this, the other primary female characters sans Lindsay’s are shallow. The logic takes a hit at a few places especially with the health condition of Lindsay after the midpoint. Despite these shortcomings, the novel still keeps us enthralled until the very end with convincing twists only to throw us off guard with an unnecessary epilogue. The twist in the epilogue is a big letdown in an otherwise brilliantly written novel. Highly recommended!

Agatha Christie’s “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”

Agatha Christie’s debut novel “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” is a murder mystery that introduces fictional detective Hercule Poirot, her very own Sherlock Holmes. A wealthy lady gets murdered in her manor at Styles and all evidence points to her husband Alfred. Was the murder premeditated or crime of passion? When there are more suspects within the household who could benefit out of the demise of Emily, was Albert the real murderer? 

The novel starts off as a template cozy murder mystery until Hercules Poirot arrives at the scene to investigate. The novel stands out in Agatha Christie’s brilliant staging of the crime scene and her intricate detailing of the evidence discovered at the crime scene. With the suspicion shifting from one member to another in the household, the novel develops into a slow burn whodunit with time, setting and atmosphere playing a pivotal role in finding the murderer. 

The detailing in the novel demands a close follow up of the happenings which might be confusing at times. But, the author makes an attempt to revisit and comprehend the ongoing investigation then and there, so that the readers don’t lose track. Though the novel progresses at a measured pace, there is enough drama to keep the readers engrossed.

A slow burn whodunit that stands out for the staging of the crime scene and the ensuing investigation! Highly recommended!

“The Inmate” by Freida McFadden

Freida McFadden’s “The Inmate” is a psychological thriller that revolves around Brooke Sullivan, a nurse practitioner appointed in the medical ward of a prison where she is forced to revisit her traumatic past when she encounters an inmate. The inmate Shane Nelson against whom Brooke testified in court is in prison for a series of murders involving their friends and school mates. When she meets Shane in prison after ten long years, she is forced to relive the one incident which she had had nightmares about over the past many years. But, was there something amiss in her testimony against Shane? Is Shane the real killer? 

The novel starts off with this interesting premise and travels back and forth in the timeline with non-linear narration. The twists keep coming every now and then, but the novel is tad too predictable for the most part. The novel solely rests on the mystery of that one incident which the author somehow manages to keep it under wraps until the very end. But, the unravelling of mystery is not set up in stages. The twist at the end throws us off guard but doesn’t settle well mainly because there is no strong backstory or establishment anywhere in the novel to justify it. 

With a weak protagonist who is dumb more than naive, a wafer thin suspense and a force fitted climax, this novel doesn’t hit the right chord! 

"சுபா"வின் "இரவோடு இரவாக"

எழுத்தாளர்கள் சுரேஷ்-பாலகிருஷ்ணன் இருவரும் "சுபா" எனும் புனைப்பெயரில் நாவல்களும், திரைப்பட திரைக்கதை மற்றும் வசனங்களும் எழுதியுள்ளனர். அயன், கோ, தனி ஒருவன் போன்ற ஹிட் திரைப்படங்களில் பணியாற்றியுள்ளனர். 

இவர்களது "இரவோடு இரவாக" ஒரு serial murder mystery ஆக ஆரம்பிக்கிறது. கிழக்கு கடற்கரை சாலையில் இளம்பெண்கள் அடுத்தடுத்து கொடூரமான முறையில் கொல்லப்படுகின்றனர். இவர்கள் சமீபத்தில் தான் காதலிக்க ஆரம்பித்திருக்கிறார்கள். கொல்லப்பட்ட பெண்கள் அனைவரின் தந்தையும் அரசு அதிகாரியாகவோ, மந்திரியாகவோ இருக்கின்றனர். இந்த தொடர் கொலைகளில் ஒரு pattern and signature இருப்பதால் போலீஸ் ஒரு serial killer-ஐ தேடுகின்றனர்.

 

சுபாவின் detective duo நரேந்திரன் - வைஜயந்தி இந்த investigation-ல் involve ஆகும் சூழல் ஏற்படுகிறது. இவர்கள் தேடுவது ஒரு psycho கொலைகாரனா? அடுத்த கொலை நிகழும் முன் அவனது mask அவிழுமா? இப்படி ஒரு template serial murder mystery ஆக இந்நாவல் நகர்ந்தும், அதன் treatment-ல் பரபரப்புக்கு பஞ்சமில்லை. ஆங்காங்கே சில twists திணிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தாலும், வேகம் குறையாமல் கதை நகர்கிறது. 

Pre-climaxல் கதையின் ஓட்டத்தை வைத்து வலுவான backstory இல்லாத சாதாரண mystery நாவலென brand செய்வதற்குள் climaxல் வரும் எதிர்பாராத convincing twist நாவலை காப்பாற்றுகிறது. Cheesy scenes-ஐ தவிர்த்து ஒரு good mystery novel. 

“Rage of Angels” by Sidney Sheldon

“Rage of Angels” is an epic saga that revolves around Jennifer Parker’s journey from a nervous and amateur lawyer fresh out of law school to the most sought after defense attorney. The novel starts off with Jennifer being setup in an act of intimidation of the key witness in a trial against a ruthless mafia kingpin Mike Moretti. With the case being the talk of the town, Jennifer’s career comes crashing down before it even kicked off. 

The novel doesn’t waste time and plunges into a captivating narrative right from the first page. The state prosecutor in Mike Moretti’s case holds a grudge against her for blowing off an airtight case he had put up. Jennifer struggles to find her ground in the profession she wanted to shine in. 

From then on, the novel shifts into a series of tense courtroom episodes that are nothing short of brilliance. There is also a poignant love story in between involving Jennifer and Adam, an attorney who might run for senator and eventually the president of United States. Meanwhile, Moretti also watches the growing success of Jennifer, a fierce, street-smart and independent woman. 

Sidney Sheldon yet again proves that he is a master story teller. The novel stands out in not portraying the actions of the protagonists and key characters against any moral yardstick. The  characters have their own flaws and sometimes repent for their actions and Sidney never keeps them within moral boundaries which brings out the human nature. Though the novel has some redundant courtroom scenes that deviate from the main plot, the novel stays afloat with interesting twists even in the subplots. The climax falls flat in an otherwise engrossing thriller.

A tale of romance and betrayal, a tale of animosity and revenge, a tale of unimaginable power and authority - all three intertwine in this novel to make it a compelling page turner!

“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!

"சுபா"வின் "விறைத்த விழிகள்"

எழுத்தாளர்கள் சுரேஷ்-பாலகிருஷ்ணன் இருவரும் "சுபா" எனும் புனைப்பெயரில் நாவல்களும், திரைப்பட திரைக்கதை மற்றும் வசனங்களும் எழுதியுள்ளனர். அயன், கோ, தனி ஒருவன் போன்ற ஹிட் திரைப்படங்களில் பணியாற்றியுள்ளனர். 

"விறைத்த விழிகள்" இவர்களது குறுநாவல். ஒருவன் திட்டமிட்ட ஒரு கொலை செய்ய எத்தனிக்கும் போது collateral damage ஆக இன்னொரு கொலையும் செய்ய வேண்டிய கட்டாயம். அது மட்டுமல்லாமல், அங்கே நடக்கும் எதிர்பாரா encounter-ல் தடயங்களும் தவறவிடப்படுகின்றன. பிரபலமான அந்த நபர் எதற்காக தானே இறங்கி அந்த கொலையில் ஈடுபட வேண்டும்? பண பலத்தால் தடயங்களை அழிக்க முற்படும் போது அது கைகூடியதா? இறுதியில் நீதி நிலைநாட்டப்பட்டதா? 

இப்படி ஒரு template thriller ஆக அமைகிறது இந்நாவல். எனினும் characterisation, கதையில் வரும் காட்சிகளின் treatment, கதைமாந்தர்களின் செயல்களுக்கான justification இந்நாவலை உயிர்ப்புடன் வைக்கிறது. Predictable climax ஆக முடிகிறது, ஆனால் முன்னுரையில் அதற்கான suspense முடிச்சு well planned execution.

மொத்தத்தில் predictable yet free-flowing thriller!

பட்டுக்கோட்டை பிரபாகரின் "ஒரு ஏர்கண்டிஷன்ட் குற்றம்"

பட்டுக்கோட்டை பிரபாகரின் "ஒரு ஏர்கண்டிஷன்ட் குற்றம்" எனும் குறுநாவல் இரு பெரும் கார்ப்பொரேட் கம்பெனிகளுக்கிடைய நடக்கும் business rivalry-யை மையமாக கொண்டது. 

கிங் இண்டியா என்ற கம்பெனி நஷ்டத்திலிருந்து மீள ஜப்பானிய இஞ்சினியர் ஒருவரின் ஐடியாவை வைத்து புதுரக air conditioner ஒன்றை மார்க்கெட்டில் அறிமுகப்படுத்த முயற்சிக்கிறது. அதன் competitor கம்பெனியான நிக்கி பிரைவேட் லிமிடெட் தன்னுடைய உளவாளியை கிங் இண்டியாவில் plant செய்ய, இரகசியங்கள் கசிகின்றன. இரு கம்பெனிகளுக்கு இடையேயான rivalry, ego clashes, reciprocation என ஒரு cat-and-mouse game ஆக நீள்கிறது இந்நாவல். 

Pattukottai Prabhakar

சற்றும் நேரத்தை கடத்தாமல் முதல் பக்கத்திலிருந்தே மையக் கதை ஆரம்பமாகிறது. எங்கும் மையக் கதையை விட்டு விலகாமல், கிளைக் கதைகளுக்குள் சிக்கிக் கொள்ளாமல் ஒரு fast paced thriller ஆக அமைகிறது இந்நாவல். ஆர்ப்பாட்டமான action காட்சிகள், chase scenes, casualties என எதுவுமின்றி அரிதாக அமையும் simple ஆன espionage thriller.

"Misjudged" by James Chandler

In a small town of Wyoming... Emily, a divorce attorney is brutally murdered... Tommy, an ex- marine who was her client is charged with murder going by prima facie evidence... Polson, a honest detective who overlooks an evidence before making the arrest, later tries hard to get a fair trial for the defendant... Sam Johnstone, a disabled veteran suffering from PTSD decides to appear as the defense attorney... Ann Fulks, the prosecution attorney taking up her first murder trial, is desperate to get a conviction to boost up her career... Judge Daniels, at the verge of his retirement expects the case to be an open and shut one without any complications... A member of the jury is talking about the proceedings outside the court to a person who can be a suspect in this case too... 

With this interesting premise and well etched characters, does "Misjudged" manage to keep the readers hooked?

The novel introduces the primary characters with legal proceedings happening in the background. Though the idea is to introduce the nature of the characters and how the judiciary is run in the small town of Wyoming, the novel takes too much time dwelling into unrelated petty cases. But, once the stage is set for the murder trial, the novel picks up pace with some interesting courtroom moments and legal proceedings. The twists keep coming as the forensic evidence adds to more mysteries and some information is withheld from the defense due to the local politics. 

James Chandler

James Chandler builds up a brilliant legal thriller around the solid premise that is engaging for the most part. Though there are some loose ends, the novel is a decent thriller that has consistent high points and a convincing climax. 

“The Boys from Biloxi” by John Grisham

John Grisham’s “The Boys from Biloxi” is a riveting saga of friendship, betrayal, rivalry and justice that is set in world of crime. The novel is set in Biloxi, a happening city with pubs, casinos, gambling, prostitution and its connection with organized crime. 

Hugh Malco and Keith Rudy, two childhood friends who were once inseparable, part ways to follow the legacy of their fathers. Lance Malco, Hugh’s father makes money from vice whereas Jesse Rudy, Keith’s father is on the other side of the law as a honest lawyer turned district attorney. Over time, both families are often pitted against each other. With Keith and Hugh on the opposite sides of the law, how far will each one take things against the other?

The strength of the novel is the characterisation and attention to detail in staging a city of vice and violence. Despite the overwhelming list of characters, all the primary characters and protagonists have clear character arcs and get the much needed closure. In the first few parts,  there is everything happening in the novel - gambling, gang wars, murder, heist, drug trafficking, courtroom drama and at times the backstory and subplots diverge too much. However, the novel settles down as a tale of revenge at the later stage.

Though there are moments of brilliance in the courtroom showdown, most of the action happens outside the courtroom. The great detailing of the process of jury selection, choice of attire for the defendants, strategies employed inside the courtroom by the lawyers and jury tampering is John Grisham playing to his strengths. 

The novel is not a compelling page turner, but the staging and showcase of events makes it worth reading. The novel also touches upon the debate on death penalty but doesn’t make it preachy. The massive twist towards the end is a brave piece of writing.

The Boys from Biloxi has just enough to keep the readers engrossed!

“Rock Paper Scissors” by Alice Feeney

Alice Feeney’s “Rock Paper Scissors” is a psychological thriller set in an eerie chapel that is cut off from the city. A couple in a desperate attempt to save their marriage and patch things up plan a weekend getaway to a secluded place which the wife won in a Christmas raffle. On their arrival, they experience mysterious happenings in and around the chapel that are paranormal in nature. Is there a rational explanation to what they experience? Were they lured in to visit this chapel? What is it that is planned for them?

Adam, a screenwriter who suffers from face blindness and his wife Amelia arrive at the chapel to give a try at renewing their relationship. With secrets at stake which they have hidden from each other and their past catching up with them, they realise that their stay at the chapel is life threatening.

Alice Feeney

The first half of the novel is slow paced with the happenings restricted to a closed atmosphere. The letters written by the wife secretly on each anniversary and hidden from her husband serve  as a nonlinear narrative to the story. Though this narrative occasionally gives the high points, the novel tests your patience for an impending twist which takes long to show up. But, the author drops a banger of a twist after the first half and from then on, there is no looking back. 

The novel is filled with quotes that are superficial and often distracting. There are few knots that are put up early on and left unattended when the story unravels at the end. 

A novel surviving on a sole twist which is genuinely surprising, but one has to sit through a snail paced narration in the first half to experience it. 

“The Sky is Falling” by Sidney Sheldon

Dana Evans, an investigative journalist returns from Sarajevo with an armless kid Kemal whom she rescued while covering the war there. While both Dana and Kemal suffer from post war trauma, Dana tries her best to make Kemal feel at home. Jeff, her boyfriend turned fiancé works at the same studio. Just before their marriage, Jeff and Dana are forced to travel away from each other - Dana for work, Jeff to meet his ex-wife with whom the relationship is little complicated. 

Dana starts to investigate the deaths in the Winthrop’s family, a royal family in the US. The suspicious deaths of all the members from the same family in less than a year have many mysteries to be unearthed and Dana is bent upon to uncover them. While Dana is in determined pursuit to find the motive behind the killings, she finds every witness in danger and that there is even bigger conspiracy behind the murders. 

The novel wastes no time in getting to the premise and is well paced all along. The novel has an overwhelming list of characters that guarantees enough action and drama, but there are few characters which don’t add much to the storyline. The novel stays predictable at many places but the pace doesn’t dip. There is no emotional connect with most of the central characters. But, the complicated relationship between Jeff and his ex-wife stands out as a beautiful portrayal - a big plus to the novel. 

This Sidney Sheldon novel is a template murder mystery with additional ingredients that make it a timepass!

சுந்தர ராமசாமியின் "திரைகள் ஆயிரம்"

சுந்தர ராமசாமியின் "திரைகள் ஆயிரம்", நாளிதழ் ஒன்றில் வெளியாகும் ஒரு வல்லுறவு சம்பவத்தின் செய்தியில் தொடங்குகிறது. பாதிக்கப்பட்ட பெண் தொடரும் வழக்கில் பல பெரும் பணக்காரர்களும், அதிகாரிகளும் பெயரிடப்படுகின்றனர். அதிகாரத்தின் ஆதிக்கத்தாலும், ஊடக சுதந்திரத்தின் துஷ்பிரயோகத்தாலும் உண்மைகள் விற்கப்படுகின்றன. எது உண்மை என்பதை எழுத்தாளன் ஒருவன் தேட முற்படுகிறான், அவனது கதையாடலில் இந்நாவல் பல திருப்புமுனைகள் கொண்டு பயணிக்கிறது. 

எது உண்மை எது பொய் என்பதை தாண்டி சமூகத்தில் பெண்களின் நிலை, அதிகாரத்தின் வரம்பு மீறல், மக்களின் ஒருதலை சார்பு மற்றும் preconceived notion, அரசாங்கம் மற்றும் பண பலம் படைத்தோர் நீதிமன்றங்களின் மீது செலுத்தும் தாக்கம் என சமகால அரசியல் மற்றும் சமூக சூழலுக்கும் பொருந்தி போகிறது இந்நாவல். 

ஒரு sensitive subject-ஐ சுற்றி பயணித்தும், அழுத்தமான வசனங்கள் இல்லாமல் தட்டையாக அமைகிறது இக்கதை.

Lucy Foley’s “The Paris Apartment”

“The Paris Apartment” is a locked room mystery that is set in an eerie apartment in Paris. The novel sets off on a high note - Jess, a young woman who has left her job in less than ideal circumstances arrives at Paris to stay with her step-brother Ben, but finds him missing. While she is on pursuit to find Ben, she stumbles upon secrets that the apartment and its residents hold. Are these secrets the reason for Ben’s disappearance? Was Jess too late to save Ben? With this intriguing premise, does the novel live up to the expectations?

The novel is presented with each character narrating their side of the story, very similar to Lucy Foley’s “The Guest List”. The timeline is sometimes confusing in the non-linear narrative style that the novel adopts. There is enough depth to the backstories of each of the characters, but the novel takes too much time to establish the relationship between the characters and the mystery connection each one of them has with Ben. The novel presents twisted relationships, dysfunctional families and the inner battles which the characters go through in a convincing manner.

The revelation towards the climax is a great twist, but do the readers have to go through the snail-paced build up to that revelation? Though the mystery in the novel piles up, there is not much happening within the confined atmosphere of the Paris apartment and it makes us wonder at one point where the novel is headed.

The Paris Apartment - Despite a brilliant and convincing twist at the end, the novel tests our patience with its slow paced narration. 

Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

Fifty-fifty starts off as a murder mystery with two sisters on trial, each accusing the other for the gruesome murder of their father, a millionaire. 

In a male dominated profession, a young female lawyer Kate Brooks who is part of an established firm is forced to stand against the firm after being subjected to harassment. She represents Alexandra, one of the sisters and is convinced that her client is innocent. An ex-con artist turned lawyer Eddie Flynn represents Sofia, the other sister and believes in her innocence. The prosecutor Dreyer convinces the judge to have a joint trial for both the sisters which means Eddie will be pitted against Kate with a possibility that either one or both the sisters will be convicted at the end of the trial. 

The novel starting off as a murder mystery is tense and has enough elements to sustain the suspense, but the brilliant courtroom drama that ensues is what makes this novel a compelling thriller. With a steady pace, the novel piques the reader’s interest with enough high points. The readers are kept guessing with their suspicion oscillating from one sister to another as events unfold in this taut legal thriller.

A plot that stands out from template murder mysteries, the intense courtroom drama and a convincing climax makes this novel gripping!