Party to a Crime by Rohithari Rajan (Book Review: 3.5*/5) !!!

2115th BLOG POST

20^th Book of 2024

After reading couple of non-fictions, it was obvious that I will be picking up a fiction to enjoy a story. I got my hands upon a murder-mystery published by Rupa Publications and it didn’t take me twice to start reading it. I just completed reading Rohithari Rajan’s 285-pages novel named “Party to a Crime”. It’s a murder mystery based upon the death of a young entrepreneur and startup founder, Karan. The news has become the sensation and hence the investigation is paced upon to identify the murderer as soon as possible to provide the answer to the nation.

 

The book has been planned and drafted very well. I must say that the idea of telling the whole investigation set-up not from the Investigators’ angle but from the multiple suspects’ angle gave the book its high that it needed. It was fun reading how the four characters named in the synopsis of the book tells their version of their history with Karan, their involvement on the party night, what they did before and after the party etc. It is fun reading their versions as it seems we are reading short stories where the characters are interconnected with each other.

 

The book is narrated in a very friendly manner with short chapters which clearly makes it easy for readers to complete the whole book within one or two sittings despite it being of almost 300 pages. I still believe that author could have easily sliced the book by 50-pages. Few sections were definitely stretched and unwanted scenes are detailed which makes it boring to read the investigators’ expressions and thoughts between the interesting twists and turns being shared by the suspects. Similarly, the conversations with the characters sound very bland at times with no expressions whatsoever. Even when the death is revealed to them, their normal response irritates the excited reader within you who was expecting a reaction.

 

The way investigations take place where it’s being done on different days where each day opens a new layer of story keeps us hooked to the book. It helps keeping the book become a perfect page-turner. The story just doesn’t describe about the party scenes but about the human nature as well because the purpose why each of them could have been involved in this crime has a tendency and trait attached to their personality.

 

Author has described the whole party scene very descriptively which helps the readers visualize how the whole venue must be and even the party happenings as well. Rohithari never sounds like a new author at any junction of this book. His writing capabilities are amazing. In the pre-climax, the way he starts unfolding the whole thing amazes the readers by his presence of mind. His thoughtfulness in writing and crafting this story tells about his writing and imaginative skills.

 

I just felt that the climax could have been more happening. I felt that author tried writing this book as a script for an OTT series getting inspired by the new thrillers available on these video platforms. It felt like I am watching it as a series rather than a novel. It could have been better if there was a better conversation with the guilty at the end of the book. Similarly, I felt that the investigation part has no meaning in the story at all as the investigators just doesn’t do anything great to solve this mystery. It’s just the author’s narration that brings us to the answer of the whole puzzle. I wish author could have handled this part well.

 

Overall, this is definitely a great book to enjoy on a weekend at home. You will not miss going out at all. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA